Last November Planet X posted on Facebook about a new ladies team that was being developed in the North East. They asked for women of all abilities to get in touch, to attend the social ride and then plans would be made with regards to the team. About 20 ladies turned up to Yarm, we went on a 90 min ride, got to know each other and had chance to chat and ask questions. Team kit was ordered, training dates for weekends as well as training plans were issued to us individually. We all made sure that our bikes were fitted to us and had fitness tests arranged so we knew how hard to push ourselves in training.
The first racing series is the winter series in Croft, 3 races remain, the next one being Valentine’s Day, the details are on British Cycling website and are open to all category riders. The atmosphere at these races is not unlike pre Triathlon! There are men racing alongside the women’s race and there can be about 100 people milling around the sign in desk. It’s all organised, race numbers are issued and its race time. The race at Croft is 15 laps and it is brutal. The wind hits you on the start line and the only reprieve is on the straight before the corner that brings you back up to the paddocks. As well as Croft, the team have races pretty much every weekend through to September.
The ladies team now has its own website, it can be found on the home page www. Wattcycle.co.uk. Use the drop down arrow to find the women’s team, we also have our own page on Facebook.
It’s been an amazing year so far with training and racing and it’s still only February. Thanks to Stephen Cannings for taking the time to chat to me at the Lincsquad do last year and giving me that bit of confidence to try this out!