Introduction and a ramble
I'm Tom, 18 year old from Bingley, West Yorkshire, studying BSc Computer Science at Sheffield Hallam University. I have now completed my first year at Uni and am eagerly waiting for September for Sheff Round 2. Riding, Drinking, Laughs, Life and maybe a little studying too, but more about that later.
One thing that you'll realise quickly is that cycling is my love and passion and even though I may not be the fastest or most knowledgeable, I'm hooked by this mad thing where I sit on a rock hard saddle for 4 hours and I turn my legs as fast as I can until it burns. I think it comes to down to the fact that I'm just simply an adrenaline junkie that regulary needs a fix of fear/nerves and Epinephrine, a cocktail of all the hormones and neuro transmitters make for a good day in my opinion.
I get the biggest kick out of getting back from a ride and looking at a map and seeing where I got to, or seeing the distance and thinking "I could have done more. Damn". The risk of getting lost or finding a hidden gem of a road that needs to be ridden and explored. Or when you've had a poor ride and you've felt like you performed dreadfully but in fact you conquered a few monsters and maybe set a KOM on Strava.
I was never really sporty at school, sure I could swim probably 3rd best in the class, but everyone swam and it was no big deal. I plodded on swimming for years and it meant that when I became a Lifeguard I bossed the swimming. Result! But I tried other things. I was always a good runner, I weighed less than half of some of my class mates and I could run after the football when others were weezing and out of breath. I tried Football, never have I failed at something so badly. I played Rugby League for 2 years, but being built like a skeleton didn't do me any real advantages, sure I could run with the ball but when faced with a 12 stone opponent I would freeze and then proceed to mentally compose my Last Will and Testament.
My Father always said that I preferred individual sports to team sports and I believe he's right, whilst my parents never pushed into sport or anything really, they have been supportive every step of the way. When I took up Golf when I was 15 they were slightly unsure, but 4 years later I still play, but what with work commitments and University I rarely play sadly.
I came across cycling through a friend, I started with a mountain bike that I bought with a month's wages. I would regularly go downhilling and at first I had a great time and I was sure I'd get better and be near Atherton before I was 25, but after a few crashes I gave up and switched to Road Cycling, something that looked more graceful and somewhat-weirdly in my mind, looked more relaxed. Whilst friends were buying driving lessons for their 17th birthdays, I bought a Scott Speedster S50 on what turns out to be the best whim I've ever taken. I was unsure and instead of obsessing about the bike, I was more worried about what a huge amount of money it was. That's one thing I've always tried to do, buy my own belongings. It's all very well having it bought for you, but you don't appreciate the value of it if it's given to you. I've worked hard and long hours for the majority of my belongings and proud to have done so.
Anyway cutting a long story short, I nearly died. If I were to lift my cycling jersey you would see a 4 inch scar on my stomach that goes around my navel and then proceeds to go down to my shorts. This permanent slither of dead skin is due to my appendix rupturing a few days previously and having gone septic and infected, along with a few other major problems such as Peritonitis and stomach ulcers I was pretty ill and was told by my consultants, I was lucky to be alive. Due to this medical problem I lost 2 stone in weight and pretty much all of my body muscle, so I had to start again.
So back to the modern day...
Apart from struggling to get my muscle back and seeming to be fighting a loosing battle with cycling and life in general, I recovered well and joined the SHU CC. In November I crashed on the ice. Bugger. In February I was involved in a car crash with me being on the bike, lucky to be alive and walk away. Still can't really understand how I had no injuries from what was a serious crash. Competed in Varsity, did appallingly but Hey Ho, ce la vie as Mother would say. New bike, New times.
In June 2013 I'm finally starting to feel like my legs might be working for me, I've tried to make a pact with myself that I can ride every day in Summer, so hopefully when I go back to Sheffield I can perform well as Sheffield Hallam University Cycling Club Road Captain (snappy title), hopefully to look pro to everyone whether at SHU or Uni Of.
If you got to the bottom, then congratulations!!!!! You receive a FREE COFFEE from yours truly!
Thanks
Tom x
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