A Cylist In France: A Season Review

It's been a while but here's our latest update from our cyclist in France.

Andy Phillips's blog posts have been a popular addition to our blog and will continue to do so on SportTrades Pulse.

For those of you who are new to Andy and our blog, Mr Phillips is a Cat 2 cyclist whose progress we have followed throughout his season.

Here's his final post of the season. Before you read it, I'd like to say thanks to Andy for his blogs so far which have been a great addition to SportTrades: Pulse.

As a cycling fan myself, it's been great to read what it's like to be a cyclist and I'm already looking forward to next season when Andy starts writing up again. Anyway less of the introduction, I'll hand over to Mr Phillips and let him do the talking as he looks back overall at his season.

Andrew:Well I did not win my weight in apples. In fact I did not win very much over the season. My goals were to win a race, to get on the podium at the Departmental Championships and to go up to category 1.

I did not achieve any of these. Perhaps my goals were too vague, perhaps my training was not adequate enough or perhaps racing in only my second year in category 2 was just a lot harder than I thought it was going to be.

I am not sure. I think I am a strong rider but it isn't always the strongest that wins. I have found it hard this year as I still do not know many of the riders in cat 2. I don't know who to watch out for !! Also tactically I still make lots of mistakes. I am sure I can win a race but I need to learn how to if that makes any sense.

The season started good and proper on 28th March. I rode well in the first few races finishing just outside the top 10. Some mistakes along the way but some strong rides especially at Montamise where the peloton split into two and I managed to chase and catch up with the leading group on my own. Was very happy with that and it was cramp on the final lap which ruined my chances of a top 10.

The 24th of April saw my first Podium. 5th at La Rousselière. I was very pleased with this as in this particular race the 1st and 2nd cats went off together, the 1st cats having to do one more lap than us. The pace was very fast and set by the the 1st cats.

I spent most of the race towards the back of the peloton more or less hanging on. On the last lap it was all still together and I got myself to the front. I came round the final bend in 3rd position and was up there with the big boys. Yep I can do this!

It really is a bone of contention with me though that quite often the 1st and 2nd cats go off together. It just ruins the races.

Sometimes 1st cats will breakaway and by luck they can take some 2nd cats, who have been lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time, with them and then it's race over. They clear up on the Primes and we might be racing for 5th place. It's not fair.

The Departmental Championship was a bit of a disaster. In this race we are just up against people in our age group. Unfortunately I skidded on some oil and crashed.

After April on most occasions I have been there or there abouts.

I have had eight top 10 finishes and two 4ths. In fact there is some footage of me on youtube finishing 6th at La Chapelle Baton. Here's one of the vid's of me taken on the stage. Please excuse the language, lol.



I have had some bad luck along the way, a couple of mechanicals and another accident at St Fraigne. This was really frustrating as i managed to chase down a 5 man break.

The race was there for the taking but unfortunately one of the guys cut across me going up a hill and it took me and one of my team mates out. I was very cheesed off but that is cycling and it happens even to the best sometimes.

So no wins and certainly not enough points to go up to category one, which is slightly annoying but that’s cycling I guess.

St Fraigne was a great race as we road passed our friends Bed and Breakfast called Le Moulin de Merlageau. I can't forget to mention Babs and Lorna here as every lap they were out there cheering me on.

The two of them were waving feather dusters and holding up banners! They even had a Karaoke machine rigged up in the garden to sing a few songs and to make sure I could hear them! What a laugh and when I crashed they were there to do the First Aid. Certainly something I won't forget in a hurry.

The last race of the season took me to a place called Secondigny on 10th October. Every year there is a cycle race which coincides with the annual Fete De Pommes.

The atmosphere was fantastic. Lots of people watching the race, a brass band which played tunes for us when we set off, a fun fair and displays of various scenes all made out of apples.

The race was very fast with the 1st and seconds going of together. It was hilly and hard. I enjoyed it and again finished in the top 10. Yes it's true the winner wins his weight in apples. The winner just happened to be the guy who took me out at St Fraigne. So Pommes to you mate!

Well that's it from me this season. I have enjoyed writing on this blog right throughout my season.

It's been great to see the response of you guys reading my blogs and I thank you for your support, as your support does mean alot to me out here in France.

Remember you can follow me on facebook by becoming a fan of ‘The English Cyclist In France’’. I can also be found on Twitter @cyclistinfrance, where you're more than welcome to chat to me about my cycling and anything else really.

Au Revoir For Now!

A Cyclist In France: Andy's Take On The Tour So Far

We thought that with the Tour de France going on at the moment, who better to talk about the race so far than our own cyclist Mr Andy Phillips. Andy's a Cat 2 cyclist whose progress we have followed on the blog since the start of this year.

Andrew: I live on a road with two other houses. My neighbours are French and I don't see a lot of them during the month of July. I think they are glued to their TVs watching the tour. In fact Bernard's garden which is normally in tip top condition looks more than a little untidy after 3weeks.

This year everyone is very happy at the moment. A Frenchman has been in yellow twice . Not only that but a Frenchman from this region. Yes Chavanel is from the Poitou Charentes. I think he comes from a big cycling family and one of the guys from our club has been in a team either with him or one of his brothers. In fact I have been in a race with his dad. Small world hey?

I was pleased to see Chavanel back in yellow. It was a pity he lost it over
the cobbles. Normally the early stages are flattish and set up for the sprinters and he had quite a good lead which would have meant he should have stayed in yellow for a few days but the cobbles this year set the cat amongst the pigeons. I think he had two punctures. I am not sure what I feel about the cobble sections this year.

Good for the spectators yes, but not when as a result of punctures or crashes favourites could lose so much time that they could lose the Tour. But there again with the team back-up radio, communication between team cars and riders etc perhaps the Tour needs something like the cobble section to bring some excitement back. It has in some respects become all so predictable.

It is a pity that Frank Schleck crashed and has withdrawn from the Tour as a result of the cobbles. But that is cycle racing which is more than can be said for the stage prior to that which was closed down by Cancellara. What a nonsense that was.

Ok, might be able to understand that it was right for the peleton to wait but once it was all back together again they should have raced and there should have been a sprint. A lot of people took a day off work to go and watch the stage and many may have lost money. I would have been well cheesed off if I had waited hours at the finish line to see that. It was bad enough watching it on the telly. Was not impressed with Cancellara, but what can you do.

Team Sky are doing well. And I believe that at one point on Saturday's stage Geraint Thomas was in virtual yellow. I am also pleased to see that Mark Cavendish is back to his winning ways. A couple of really good stage wins. A lot of that is down to his team and his lead out men. But it was good to see him cry and it was good to see him thank his team. Perhaps he has been humbled! My opinion of him has changed a bit, perhaps the same can be said for other cycling fans as well.

Obviously I want Bradley Wiggins to win the tour but there is a rider I respect very much. He is as tough as nails and gives it 100% all the time and fights and fights untill the last. I generally don't like Australians but Cadel Evens is a worthy world champion. He is currently winning the Tour at the moment and I would love to see him win the Tour. I read somewhere that he's the first World Champion to lead the Tour de France in 20 years. It would be great for Cadel to win it as he was unlucky not to win in 2008 when Carlos Sastre suprisingly won after a tremendous time trial before the Champs-Élysées. Hopefully this time Cadel can do better, but it's still a long way to go yet.

Well I have not had a great deal of time to follow the Tour as much as I would like this year. Family, work, training, guests and life getting in the way. Is going to be interesting now we are in the mountains. I might just go and check on the nieghbours to make sure they are still alive.

Right that is it from me at this stage. Remember you can follow me on facebook by becoming a fan of ‘The English Cyclist In France’ or just join the facebook group ‘Help me Win in France’. I can also be found on Twitter @cyclistinfrance, where you're more than welcome to chat to me about all things cycling.

A Cyclist In France: A Big Scary Nurse

It's been a while but here's our latest update from our cyclist in France. Andy Phillips's blog posts have been a popular addition to our blog and will continue to do so on Sport Trades Pulse.

For those of you who are new to Andy and our blog, Mr Phillips is a Cat 2 cyclist whose progess we follow. So far on the blog we've heard how Andy got into cycling, his training methods and the start to his season which so far has been a mixed one. So what's next?

Andrew: Well I had some goals that I wanted to achieve this season. One of which was to get a podium position at the Charente Departmental Championships. This is a tough one as in my age category there are a number of first cats so it was always going to be difficult. The race was at a place called Reparsac on the 30th May.

I did quite well and was coping with the pace. Unfortunately it was a wet day and on the 3rd lap I crashed and skidded down the road. I got back on my bike and did another lap but I had a badly sprained wrist and a bad dose of road rash, and had to give up. Interestingly enough a couple of laps later there was a big crash at exactly the same place so perhaps there was something on the road.

The nurse was interesting to say the least! (see photo). Bit scary if you ask me. It was quite disappointing as my parents were over and had come to watch the race. They came last year to watch me at a place called Villefagnan.

Unfortunately at that race someone had a heart attack and the race was abandoned. So my parents have been over twice and have not seen me finish a race yet.

The crash at Reparsac sums up the last couple of months really. I have had some top 10 finishes and at times I have felt very strong. I am still making mistakes and some big ones. For example at Londigny, a race which could have had my name on it, I almost rode straight into a field.

My chain had come off for some reason and in chasing the peloton down, which I think I was doing quite well, I did not see an ‘S’ bend in the road. I was just watching the riders in front of me. Has anybody else ever done anything so stupid? I always cycle the circuit before the race but on this particular occasion I did not. I had driven it in the car a few days before but I forgot the ‘S’ bend.

One of my main gripes over the last couple of months has been the fact that quite often the 1st and 2nd cat’s race at the same time. The only difference being that the 1st cats do an additional lap to us.

This happened in the race yesterday at Prignac. The turnout was good. A lot of riders from all categories. I thought because of the number of riders that each category would have its own race. But no. At the start line when they announced that the 1st and 2nds would go off together my heart sank. I have never seen so many 1st cats before.

The pace was set by the 1st cats. It was a long flat circuit and some of the roads were quite narrow. There were attacks going on all the time and 5 second cats managed to get away with some 1st cats. Race over! Total confusion!

I stayed with the peloton and was strong at the end and finished 1st in the bunch sprint. So 6th overall. I was pleased with my performance and in some ways it was the best race I have done for a while.

But it is not fair that 5 guys were possibly pulled along by some 1st cats. It’s funny because at the race in Touvre a couple of weeks ago the 1st and 2nds set off separately and the 2nd cat peloton was lapped by some 1st cats. We had to let them go and would have been disqualified if anyone had been pulled along by them. SO WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE?

Well enough of my moaning. Summer has arrived. The races are getting hotter. I think I ride quite well in the heat. I suffer. But there are riders who suffer more than me so bring it on. I have also had a good month of training. My friend Christian who is largely to blame for me cycling has started racing again and I have done some good training rides with him.

I would also, at this stage, like to thank Tony who helps to keep me on the road. Again after the crash at Reparsac he stepped in and did the necessary to get my bike and gears working. I would also like wish Paul a speedy recovery after another nasty crash. Hope to see you back on your bike soon.

Right that is it from me at this stage. Remember you can follow me on facebook by becoming a fan of ‘The English Cyclist In France’ or just join the facebook group ‘Help me Win in France’. I can also be found on Twitter @cyclistinfrance, where you're more than welcome to chat to me about all things cycling.

A Cyclist In France: One Mistake Is Too Many

Regular visitors of SportTrades Report would know by now that we're following a Cat 2cyclist in France called Andy Phillips. Here's Andy's fifth post which tells us how he's had a mixed start to his season so far.

Andrew: Well it's the end of April and I have 5 races under my belt so far. Boy have I made mistakes. In a race one mistake can be too many. The trouble is I quite often make quite a few.

The 1st race was at a place called Maine De Boixe. This is quite a tough one as there is a tough climb and this year we had very strong winds. In fact we had very strong north easterly wind for weeks.I cant say I had a chance to do anything wrong in this race as the hill and the strong winds played havoc on the peleton and it split into 3 on the second lap.I found myself in the 3rd and largest group.

The stronger riders in this group soon broke away and we chased hard until the end of the race. The end result was a respectable 14th. I was very pleased with this as we worked extremely hard to catch up with the guys in front. In addition last year, my first season when I started as a 3rd cat, I was dropped on the 3 lap in and road this race on my own.

My second race was near Poitier in the Vienne. Mistake. Trying to ride a very steep hill in a far too large a gear and pulling a muscle in the back of my leg. A stupid mistake.What was I trying to do? Nonetheless I had a strong ride.The peleton split into two and I managed to get myself into the 1st group. I managed a top 15 finish.

The next race was quite local near Ruffec. Had my usual problem of wasting too much energy. I worked too hard for everyone else. I have got to let other riders cover the attacks as opposed to trying to do it myself. I had this problem last year. Got to calm down. It was a very hard race and the wind was impossible. In fact many riders packed. I came 12th. One of my teammates came 5th and he thanked me afterwards for all the work I had done. Next time he can return the favour and work for me.

The Peleton Mafia operated at the race at St Maixent. The 1st and 2nd cats set off together and the peleton was controlled by the 1st cats. So much so that they let a breakaway of second cats get away on the 1st lap and then just stopped. I moved to try and bridge the gap but no one came with me. Mistake. I should just have not bothered.

Instead I rode at least half a lap "chasing potatoes" as they say here in France. I wasted energy. Also once I was caught I made similar mistakes as I had done the week before. In the end I had nothing left and was dropped on the second to last lap. I was still quite happy. I did not pack and on occasions had 1st cat riders getting on my wheel to get back into the peleton.

My 5th race. Yes I made some mistakes in the sprint at the end. However I had decided before the race that I was not going to do anything. I was going to let everyone else do the work. As it happens the 1st and 2nds set of together again. It was a flattish race and the pace was so high it was impossible to try anything. In fact for most of the race I was somewhere towards the back of the peleton. On the last lap I got myself up to the front . I came round the final bend in 3rd.

There was then a long false flat and then a straight flat out sprint to the end.There was a little argy bargy on the climb when someone deliberately tried to put me off the road when one of his teammates attacked.A bit extreme if you ask me and i told him so in my very best English!!! God I wish I had started racing years ago . I probably made a dozen mistakes in the last 2 kms. But I managed a 5th place. The 1st 5 get on the podium. I have now broken my duck and have 3 points towards my goal of going up to cat 1.

What I learnt from this last race is that doing the things that I keep telling myself to do before each race - i.e as little as possible - can actually work. I have got to save energy at all costs.I know I am a strong rider. I have just got to ride sensibly.

Well that is enough from me for now. Remember you can follow me on facebook by becoming a fan of ‘The English Cyclist In France’ or just join the facebook group ‘Help me Win in France’. I can also be found on Twitter @cyclistinfrance, where you're more than welcome to chat to me about all things cycling.

A Cyclist In France: 13's Unlucky For Some

Regular visitors of SportTrades Report would know by now that we're following a Cat 2 cyclist in France called Andy Phillips. Well I think it's fair to say his first three posts have proved to be very popular with more than a few people commenting on them.

Here's Andy's fourth post which tells us how he fared in his first race of the season, which as you're find out did not exactly go to plan. However as always it's a good read, over to you Mr Phillips.

Andrew: At the moment i'm sitting here eating my French bread and having a cup of coffee wondering why I had nothing in my legs last saturday. The race was a controlled event as a warm up for the start of the season . Luckily there were no points and no prizes as i managed to finish a very dissapointing 13th which if i'm being honest with i'm far from happy about.

I can come up with some excuses, which of course count for nothing after the race has finished. I only made the decision to take part yesterday morning so I had not properly prepared but there have been other races where mentally I've not been psyched up on the way there but once I've got there I've found my focus, so I want to find the real reason.

The first 3 laps of the race were controlled behind a car. Alarm bells started ringing when I found that I was struggling even with this. At the end of the 3rd lap I rode hard up along a false flat into the wind to get myself to the front, which is where I like to be. The car then pulled away and the race started but I struggled with the pace. Perhaps I had used too much energy getting myself to the front. I don't know. All I know is my legs were burning and thats not a good sign towards the end of the race.

In the Charente the 1st cats and the 2nd cats start together so the pace was being set by the 1st cats. Not a problem I thought, I have kept up with it before. But this time I had nothing. I have never felt like quitting before but yesterday was the first time I have felt like it, albeit only briefly. Once I was dropped off the back I recovered, got myself riding to a good rhythm, and rode the race on my own to the end picking off a few guys that had also been dropped on the way.

As I was going around the circuit I saw more and more guys at the side of the road who had packed. In fact only a few finished. For me the most annoying part was after having riden 3 laps on my own pushing myself into the wind a guy that had packed and was having a chat with one of his mates at the side of the road decided to get on my wheel and have a free ride.I was not having that so I had to ride even harder to drop him.

Well why was I so tired? Last week was our club test ride. It was a very hard event. 100kms in the freezing cold with very strong winds but I was strong. I came 6th in the club, having ridden with and kept up with 1st cat riders. I could have done even better if I had not got cramp. Again why did I get cramp? I have never had cramp before. At one stage when I first got it I was dropped but I managed to get back to the group I was riding with.

Towards the end of the race I tried to get on the wheel of someone who was riding away from the group I was in. Unfortunately I got cramp again lost a few metres which I could not get back as we were cycling into a very strong northerly wind. Nevertheless, I finished ahead of all the other 2nd cats in the club and rode most of the way with 1st cats, and felt positive about the start of the season.

So the big questions are why was I so useless yesterday? And why did I get cramp last Sunday? Why were my legs burning? Am I not doing enough training? Or have I done too much training? Come on guys help me. Any comments and advice would be much appreciated.

Well that is enough from me for now. Remember you can follow me on facebook by becoming a fan of ‘The English Cyclist In France’ or just join the facebook group ‘Help me Win in France’. I can also be found on Twitter @ cyclistinfrance, where you're more than welcome to chat to me.

A Cyclist In France: Training To Win!

You may remember in January, we announced that we'd be following a Cat 2 cyclist in France called Andy Phillips. Well after his first two posts which are worth reading, Andy's back with his third.

With less than two weeks to go until the start of his season, which starts on March 13th, Andy tells us more about his training and how he's desperate to win a race this season. Over to you Mr Phillips.

Andrew: Well our season is fast approaching. Our neighbouring club based in Civray is supposed to be having its test ride this weekend. This is the first major test to see how fit you are for the season, so it's abit of a nervy time even if everyone is in shape.

Unfortunately the weather has been downright dreadful recently with have 110 km hour winds in the country, so we've put that test off for a couple of days. Our club EC Taize Aizie will be having its test ride next weekend on the 7th March. The ride
is basically 100 kms. It is open to all the local clubs and is a race in all
but name.

Last year, when I was building up to my first season I was blown away in the Civray ride. I did a little better in our club's ride. This year I am a lot stronger and I hope to come in ahead of all the cat 2 riders in our club. It's a tall order maybe but it will be interesting to see how fit I am compared with everyone else.

Certainly training has been difficult with the terrible weather we have had. I should be at an advantage as, in that not having a lot of work on at the moment as meant that i've been able to train more. I feel I'm in the best shape possible and that this will help do well in the ride, at worst i'd like to finish second out of the cat 2 riders in our club!

Training overall has been 'ok' this year, with a few hit and misses along the way. It hasn't been as structured as last year, but thats because I've been training on my own and we've moved house which brings added stress as well. But we're settled in now and i'm more focused than ever.

The early races will all be part of the training to peak for May. I have started some intensity with repetitions on hills. I slowly increase the time spent climbing and then reduce it quickly to build it up again. Once the season starts I will be racing on Sundays. I will aim to train a minimum of 3 days per week - to include one lengthy ride, one session on hills and a sprint session. All that and a fiancee, life couldn't get any better could it?

One of the strangest things that the season throws up are the prizes on offer. For example I won an adult entry to the Valley of the Monkeys last year. It's a great day out for families if you're ever near Romagne and is a primate wildlife park. Kids will love it, the marmosets are particulary memorable. Here's the website for the Valley: http://www.larosevacances.com/activities.htm.

I also won a suitcase for coming second once, which to be honest with you felt like taking the mickey. This was due to the fact the bloke who came third won a case of wine, which between me and you probably cost more than the suitcase! As you'd expect when racing near Cognac, the prizes are of an alcoholic nature and are worth celebrating about.

However winning prizes is not what encouraged me to take up cycling, it was the passion of the sport and the determination involved. That being said i know when i win a race (which will hopefully be this season, please god) that i'll be delighted and will want to keep that winning feeling going.

Thanks to those who have commented on my 2 posts so far. Would be nice if you could leave your names, instead of writing in 'Anonymous'. After letting you guys know of some wierd prizes that I've won, what are the strangest prizes you've won. Doubt anyone can outmatch my prize to a Monkey Wildlife Park!

Well that is enough from me for now. Remember you can follow me on facebook by becoming a fan of ‘The English Cyclist In France’ or just join the facebook group ‘Help me Win in France’. I can also be found on Twitter @ http://twitter.com/cyclistinfrance, where you're more than welcome to chat to me.

A Cyclist In France: Hills, Climbing And French Humour

You may remember that a fortnight ago, we announced that we'd be following a Cat 2 cyclist in France called Andy Phillips.

Well after introducing us to himself in his first post, Andy gives us a insight into his early cycling days and about the lessons he thinks he'll learn going into the start of his season starting on March 13th.

Andrew: When I started training in 2008 I hated hills! I weighed about 85 kilos and I remember the first time I was introduced to the hills of the Charente in the south west of France. God did I struggle. I was taken to a place called Nanteuil-en-Vallee and the hill my cycling friends made me climb was long and steep. I got up it though about 5mins after everyone else, which obviously made them laugh! I hated the hill, and although I rode up it a few times that year I tried to avoid it at all costs.

As I lost weight my climbing capabilities increased and I also learnt that you could pull up on your pedals. Now that sounds stupid to most of you I am sure but I had never ridden a bike with shoes that clipped into the pedals before. So when you are out of the saddle dancing up the hills pulling up on the pedals it's easy. Two weeks ago we went back to that hill in Nanteuil and I was first up racing to the top with a 1st cat rider from the club. That was a great moment for me and proved that through a little weight loss, i have really improved my climbing skills.

There was a funny incident earlier on which i've just remembered whilst speaking about hills.A couple of months ago i was climbing up a hill not too far from where i live with my cycling friends. As i was passing a young looking cyclist i heard him shout something that sounded like 'Grandad Grandpa'. I couldn't work out why he would be calling me this, considering i was going up the hill quicker than him. going up this hill quicker than him.

10 seconds later and he's at it again 'Tu est un Grand Pere' it sounds like, which means 'you are a great father'. That may well be the case as i'm a family man, but i just dont understand the French sense of humour! When we got to the top of the hill, this guy caught me up he said 'Tu est un grimpeur.' Ah I get it he reckons I am a climber! Interesting when I first started riding with him he said I was a rouleur (a good all rounder) and then when I got a bit fitter he said I was a sprinter and now he says I am a climber. Really I don't know what I am? What i do know is that the more i train and prepare myself the better i can become.

In terms of spritning, it's something i can do but i don't think that I am an out and out sprinter as I don't particularly enjoy the bunch sprints. However, I did get one of my second places last year in a bunch sprint, which came as a nice suprise. I have got a lot to learn with sprinting and the positioning on the road and when to go and when to wait etc. I wish I had started riding years ago as some of the guys have years of experience and know all the tricks including some rather underhand ones!

So the season is fast approaching. The training is going ok or at least I think it is. I am new to this and I dont know if I am traning too much or not enough.What should I be doing at this time of year? I don't ride as much with the club as I did last year as I prefer to do my own thing . They are also a bunch of nutters and it usually ends up going mad and ending up as a race and I find it hard to control myself and and up joining in!

I am the same in a race - I just waste too much energy riding at the front. If I am not attacking (usually too soon), I am chasing down others who attack. I have got to learn to let others do it. I would say that I am an attacking allrounder. However, this year I have got to use my head more and try and control myself.

As ever if you want to keep in touch with me over the season, remember you can do so via becoming a fan of ‘The English Cyclist In France’ on facebook or just join the facebook group ‘Help me Win in France’. I can also be found on Twitter @ http://twitter.com/cyclistinfrance where i will try and reply to any comments during free time i get from pratice and my work. Lastly you can also follow me right here on SportTrades Report. I will get back to you guys in a fortnight or so where my training would have really picked up.

A Cyclist In France: Introduction To Andrew Phillips!

Cycling is now getting more coverage than ever. With the success of the GB Olympic Cycling Squad in Beijing as well as recent glory in the Tour de France for Mark Cavendish and Bradley Wiggins the sport is now fully in the mainstream.

On our blog we already follow the new British Cycling team Team Sky and we will be giving you updates on them throughout the year and beyond. However there is more to cycling than the big teams and those famous faces and SportTrades are delighted to announce that we will be following a amateur cyclist next season.

His name is Andrew Phillips and after living in France for the last couple of years, decieded in an attempt to get fit to buy a bike and join a cycling club. Last year after much training he raced as a category 3 rider in the Poitou Charente Region in the South-West of France. Throughout the season, which starts around the beginning of April we will be hearing from Andrew and we think it’s a brilliant chance for cycling fans to hear a different perspective to the sport. Here's Andrew’s first post for us which describes how he got into becoming an amateur cyclist and what his hopes are for the 2010 season...

Andrew: Do you know I am racing against guys who spend more money on their cycling shoes than I did on my bike? Well thats the truth and my journey into cycling is something that even suprises me.

When I was 43 I saw an advert in the local super market for a bike for sale. The price was 250 Euros. Included in the price was a spare set of wheels, a turbo trainer, a pair of cycling shoes my size and a suit case to put the bike in. A bargain I should say. So I bought the bike and as I was unloading it from the car one of my French neighbours saw me and said “you can come training with us if you like we go Tuesday and Thursday evenings".

That was the start. I only bought the bike to do some riding and to get fit. Instead in May 2008 I started training with some French guys in a proper cycling club. They have been great and have been very patient with me. They have made me suffer and I have been put through hell and back. I have always been quite fit but I have never been in such shape as I am in now. Within a few weeks i was able to ride about 80 kms and by August I was occasionally coming back from the training rides smiling.

There was talk of me participating in a race towards the end of the season but I decided that I would continue with my training throughout the winter and start racing in 2009. I trained hard throughout the winter. As I had not raced I just kept going when everyone else was having a rest. I got stronger and stronger and teamed up with some other guys who had different ideas on training to the guys that I had started riding with. It really took me to a different level and I ended up being caught in the middle of people all offering me different advice on how I should train. Even arguments about the size of my front chain ring. Help! This was all getting too technical, but i learnt quickly that thats what the sport is.

I signed up to race for 2009. As I had never raced before I automatically was placed as a category 3 rider. In the UFOLEP organisation there are 4 categories and a separate category for people over 60 or 65. I did quite well in my 1st season. I achieved three 2nd places, one 3rd and a 5th. I obtained enough points to go up a category but have yet to win a race, though four podiums in my first season was more than i could have dreamed of! Towards the end of the season I bought a frame which a friend spotted on Ebay. With the help of some other friends and by begging, borrowing and not quite stealing I now have a proper racing bike which I will be using for the 2010 season. This will definitely be a great help!

My objectives for next season are to win a race, to obtain enough points to go up to category 1 (should be tough as there are a lot of very strong 20 year olds and younger) and to obtain a podium position in the Departmental Championship. This is definitely possible as in the championship I will be racing with people the same age as me, though'll it will be just as tough as these guys will have more experience than me.

Hopefully you’re hear more from me over the next couple of months when i can let you guys know how my training goes on. Aside from my training it will be also a big couple of months as I am currently in the process of moving house with my family. If you want to support me please become a fan of ‘The English Cyclist In France’ on facebook or just join the facebook group ‘Help me Win in France’. I can also be found on twitter @http://twitter.com/cyclistinfrance Hope you enjoyed my first post.

SportTrades Report Manager Adam Dennehey is delighted to have got this link up with Andrew. "As a cycling fan, i think it will be good for people intrested in the sport to remember that just like football, the sport is more than just the big names. It should be intresting to see how Andrew builds on his success from last season and how he can go wheel to wheel with the french cyclists and hopefully build on Wiggo and Cav's success from last year". There will be more from Andrew over the coming months.