Hi everyone.

Sorry I haven't written in a while, but my summer holidays have started now, so normal service will be resumed! My holidays started a bit early because of the strike, so I'm looking forward to getting loads of training in. Thanks to Alex, Tony and Nigel for the training on Saturday, even though it was very tough. We started off with this time trial thing that I haven't done before. We used the small circuit and were set off with the slowest rider first, and we had time gaps in between us. When we were overtaken, we had to take a lap out and then go back in. I was tired after this, but then we had to do it again for much longer. I was working hard with Alex and Ali for most of the time and was pleased when we had a couple of recovery laps.

After that, we did some one - legged sprinting. Ali, James and I were having some good races during this and I think we pushed each other very hard. After that, we had a race where the last person dropped out each lap. I was in with Tony, Alex, Ali and James with two laps to go. I knew I wouldn't be able to win the sprint, so I attacked at the top of the hill. I wasn't surprised when Alex reeled me back in. We than had a sprint for the line and it was just Alex, Tony and I who were left in. I attacked again just after the sprint, but I got caught again. When Alex went for it, Tony started chasing, but I couldn't hold on. They dropped me, and Tony ended up beating Alex to the line.

I'm off to Chopwell tonight for mountain bike trauining, and then I'll see you at training on Saturday.

My next race is at Fort William in the SXC series next weekend. I think I'm taking the Rowland bros up, but I don't think James is racing. I'd love to do well up there, because it will be my first race on my new bike. I feel pretty good at the minute, but I'll have to see how I feel closer to the time.

See you later,
Joe.