Busy times are ahead
By Jonny Walker on 25th Jan 13
Things have been pretty quiet of late, which I guess is a good thing as the next few weeks are going to be pretty full on.
Since I last wrote I've had a bit of time off over Christmas – time off from riding – but I kept busy in the gym ahead of The Tough One.
I had a few nights out with some mates, but the less said about that the better, and now it's all systems go for 2013.
One thing I did do was spend some time with professional downhill mountain bikers the Athertons – Gee, Dan and Rachel, who live in North Wales.
I was supposed to go for a day, just to have a bit of a laugh and do some riding with them, but ended up staying for four days.
It was a great time.
We basically spent the whole four days riding different kinds of bikes – trials, BMX, mountain and enduro.
What made it so much fun was that we could do what we wanted, when we wanted.
They have a great riding area and an amazing set-up and it was great to see how they go about things.
I'm certainly looking forward to getting back there whenever I can.
The best thing about hanging out with the Athertons was that I got to enjoy some quality bike time while having a real laugh.
Because it was such good fun it didn't feel like we were training or really practising, which is how it should be.
It was just a bunch of bikers on their bikes.
The Tough One didn't go quite the way I hoped it would.
Finishing second to Graham isn't a bad result, but I got so nervous I was a mess before the race.
I don't think I've ever been so nervous beforehand and I don't know why.
Maybe it was because it was the first race of the year and because I've set myself some pretty high targets for 2013 but I'm not sure.
All I do know is that I didn't ride anything like I know I can and that's disappointing as there aren't too many extreme races I get to compete in on home soil.
Hats off to Graham he rode awesomely, but I'm working hard so I know I can do better.
Like I said things will be getting busy soon.
I have the Barcelona Superenduro event and Hell's Gate in February but before that the opening round of the British Extreme Enduro Championship.
It'll be good to race against Graham again, as well as getting to compete with Knighter.
I'll make sure I'm not as nervous as I was before The Tough One and hopefully that will show in my result!
Jonny
