I tried to race bicycles (Not very well). But I loved it. Here I am racing at Brands Hatch, riding up Graham Hill (We quite frequently raced round the track in an anti clockwise direction). This was a 20 lap criterium. Photo Taken in August 1984.
In 1985 someone talked me into entering some triathlons. Here's the end of the Tanners Hatch Triathlon. It consisted of an 800m swim, 35 mile cycle and a 15.8 mile run. When I sent the entry form off I had never run further than 6 miles in my life. I had increased this distance to 11 miles by the time of the event. The last 5 miles were painful but an event I'll never forget.

By the end of the year I had started to develop Knee injuries. In 1986 only after 5 triathlons I decided to stop the triathlons and only cycle race. However the knee problems returned mid season and stopped racing for that year. In early 1987 I consulted a specialist and after a private exploratory knee operation my worst fears were confirmed. I had to give up competitive racing.
The good news is I can still ride it just takes the correct combination of rest and training before I do event. I don't race any longer there's no way I can maintain the training necessary for such a dicipline. This is the 1996 June Polaris event. A Polaris event is a two day orienteering event. You have seven hours the first day and five hours the second to visit as many checkpoints as possible to accumulate as many points as possible. If your over the time limit then you get penalised badly. This was painfull as well. I blame Phill for that. He's alot fitter than me.
The lack of being able to cycle forced me to look for an alternative sport. One that was challenging but did not strain the joints so much. I believe I found one. It has so far be reasonably painless. It would appeal to all adrenalin junkies out there. see my parachuting page.

 

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