January 2012 Update

Hi readers (if you’re out there!),

It’s been a while since I last blogged on here. A lot has happened recently so I’ve been lax with my updates, but now I’ve got some breathing space I thought some of you may like to know what I’ve been up to.

Academically, it’s been very hard for the last few months. I was doing ok juggling training, blogging and studying French Law up until around mid-November but then the proverbial really hit the fan. Numerous deadlines, some assessments which didn’t score as highly as I’d've liked and I think by then I was missing my family and friends a lot. To make matters worse, my workload meant that I had no time at all for training after studying/sleep. 9am-8pm days are really not pleasant, and only made worse when you come home alone to a cold flat and a few more hours work on assorted essays/presentations. The lack of riding, though, did have a serious effect on my happiness and general well-being. I don’t want to get all new-agey or psycho-babbly on you, but when you have got used to the familiar endorphin/adrenaline buzz of riding 8-32hrs a week for the last few years an then cut it abruptly… obviously you go cold turkey pretty abruptly.

These are very much First World issues and in the great scheme of things probably the pitiful whinings of a young man with nothing really to complain about, but it was genuinely unpleasant for me, unaccustomed as I am to being anything other than resolutely cheery or upbeat. However it’s all massively important life experience, for which (bizarrely) I am extremely grateful. If I could go back and change anything, I wouldn’t. It has been an education and I think I’ve matured a huge amount in the last 5 months. I’ve also developed far more compassion and understanding for those battling with depression or mental health issues which, somewhat shamefully, I would have given short shrift to in the past. So all to the good.

I am tremendously grateful however to those who stuck by me or offered their support during the period when I was a moaning irritant (some may suggest I haven’t left it :-p ). Namely, Alice, my parents, Joey, Guillaume, Beef, Chessington, J-bird, Ginge, Smiffy, Spraggy, Craig. (with that line-up one wonders how on earth I could have been depressed at all!)

So, hardest academic semester is over. Less work this semester (apparently). More sun. More heat. More riding. More fun. Brilliant.

Moving on…. the boys at Cyclefit have really come up trumps on the team-issue bikes this year. Investing a lot of their time (and money) in me and I will be eternally grateful. This year I’ll be throwing my leg over the 2010 Bicycling Magazine Bike of the Year, the Guru Photon for crits and RRs. On the TT front, I’ll have a Guru CR.901. Both will be in matching Cyclefit livery (I’m hearing rumours of a return to Orange) and have a mix of Shimano 7900 and electronic components. As you can see… no expense spared!

On a related note…. the International Cyclefit Symposium is coming up very soon on 25/26th January 2012. I believe there are still some last minute tickets, so if you want to spend two days of education with some of the most expert and qualified professionals in cycling then don’t hesitate to sign up.

Other developments- anyone see the 5th January issue of Cycling Weekly in the UK? Very nice ‘ride’ article by Chris Sidwells about me and one of my favourite rides in Devon. Only downside was sponsors were cited as ‘Bike Fit’. Of course they are not! It’s CYCLEFIT!

Last bit of good news now… very pleased to announce a new sponsor in the form of Condor Ferries. I’m (as keen readers of my blogs will note) frequently travelling between the UK and France at the minute, and Condor have very kindly agreed to help me out with that- for which I am very grateful. We’ve got some exciting projects coming up in future and I’m keen to work with them more. Thanks guys.

Last thing… I never hear from you! By you, I mean readers (if there even are any!). Please don’t hesitate to comment on a post or email me at tom@tomstaniford.co.uk if you have any comments or suggestions . It’s nice to know you’re out there and hopefully enjoying what I’m writing.

Thanks everyone,

Tom