Paul Hudson

I'm slowly recovering but had a set back last week when I returned for x rays. The shoulder is not mending properly so if its not improved by next Monday its plates and screws...... Not happy. I did manage a ride yesterday on the turbo for the first time in 3 weeks.... Cabin fever has been setting in lately and I have found I have a short fuse as of late as the girls at work have found out. Forgotten how much riding is good for the soul. I'll be out there again and I'll appreciate it all the more. For now the bikes have no rider.

If there is one event that always brings the sun out in its glory its Margam Park in Wales at the national MTB event. Year after year I can count on dust and plenty of empty bottles. Well it started off that way on Friday but come Saturday it was time to debate on tyre choice and what areas were going to be ride able or not. To be honest I'm one of those riders who is not that fussed rain or shine as long as I'm riding I'm happy. Nicky (Hughes) came back from her epic race of 2 hours so I was interested in her views on the tyres we had sent her out on..... Ummmm sounds like we got it right. I knew I was not going to be fighting for the podium today but I was gong to enjoy the fast downhill and hopefully make some good time up on the other riders. After the initial scramble in the first lap I settled down to the job in hand of picking riders off. I just love riding behind riders and "learning" them. Then just waiting for the right moment. Well the right moment was on the last lap right at the top of a long drag. I waited and waited and waited until we just hit the top....... Up into the big ring.....10 strokes later and we are into the downhill and no looking back.

Now how much fun is that..... hit the bottom then about a mile of marshland and I'm home. The rider in question was Ross Porter and he is an ex-downhiller I use to race many moons again..... We exchange words at the end but none are printable..... Moments like this make me feel so alive and I know why I race. I don't care about the position but my race was right there.

As for my next ride its time to jump on the road bike and race at Lewes on Thursday evening at the one of three yearly events which starts at a pub and finishes at the pub...... Bring it on!!!

Its been on the cards for sometime now.... riding a BMX again. It started about the same time Tom from Upgrade phoned me about the involvement with KMP. I had been speaking with my ex team mates of Vincent Frames (BMX freestyle team from the mid 80's) about getting together for a few beers and a large trip down memory lane. Well you guessed it... After a few meets it was decided we would get some bikes and see if the old magic was still there. Quick call to Haro bikes and five bikes were sent out. We also had Katie (boss's daughter from Vincent frames) wanting to play as well. As soon as NIcky heard about it she wanted in as well....... So much for a boys BMX day in Brighton!!!!!

Friday night was meet at my place in the evening a few beers, a take away and build the bikes together straight from the box.... mIdnight came and went. Saturday was the day we would ride and I expected vast amounts of pain to be mixed in with the ride and Sun. We got all three..... Off to Brighton and ride at Hove Lagoon ramps and the seafront. Not going to go on about the tricks but though the guys dont do much exercise I was amazed how quick all the tricks came back. Someone video us most of the day so as soon as its edited it will be up.

Well as the Sun was out again yesterday we thought lets do it again, but unfortunately it was just me and Nicky as the guys could not move from all the bashing.

It was fun and I hurt today. I just forgotten how much practice you need and how hard its on the body...... But hey...everyone loves to go back to there youth and I have a feeling the bikes will be out again.

Ha ha.... Well you lucky boys and girls who have a new kinesis KM810 on the way, are you in for a good ride. I have known the guys at Upgrade for quite a few years and I have ridden and raced a lot of their bikes. It's got to be said this one gets the biscuit. I was lucky to receive a pre production model last summer for testing.... which I love. All I can really say is my first ride was at the Brighton Big Dog in the solo category vets (not my thing)....... The top spot on the podium is a mighty fine view. Now I have blown my trumpet a little bit, the nitty gritty of the bike without going to deep it is super stiff and tracks unbelievably well in singletrack..... Im glad to say its also seen quite a lot of airtime without any problems. Im not much of a weight weenie but Paddy says his is 20lb..... So I think that's a challenge and that barrier needs to be cracked. May the riding and racing comence