Hanging up my wheels. Thanks... and farewell.

I’m not certain exactly when I fell in love with cycling. Probably somewhere around the age of 7. Since then, I’ve never been far from a bike. Even after losing my leg at the age of 21 I kept on riding, even just for fun.

In 2008 I had the privilege of briefly working for British Cycling and was exposed to their World-Class paracycling program. And watched as their riders won medal after medal in the 2008 Paralympic Games. It was then that I became inspired to get into the sport myself.

In 2010 I joined the Irish Paracycling Team. I was brought along to a week-long training camp in Newport on the track and did my first ever track races at the end of the week. And from there the journey began.

By the end of 2011 I had progressed rapidly up through the ranks and won my first World Championship title on the road time trial.  And followed it up a few months later with another title in the Individual Pursuit on the track in 2012.  These are perhaps my 2 greatest and favourite achievements.

Along the way there have been many ups and downs. The pain of losing a medal in London 2012 by a mere 1/10^thof a second and the joy of a silver medal in Rio 2016. The disappointment of suffering a puncture 42 minutes into an Hour Record attempt – and the satisfaction of smashing the record a year later.

I’ve won multiple National titles, over a dozen World Cup medals, 5 World Championship medals, a Paralympic medal and achieved a world record. It’s been a prosperous career.

I had hoped to carry on and try to qualify for Tokyo 2020. Up until the end of 2017, things were progressing well. However, as I entered the 2018 season, I began to notice changes in my balance, coordination and general mobility. Walking became much harder and my cycling took a big hit. I had a big drop off in my power output which lead me to seek medical advice.

I discovered that I was building up fluid inside my spinal cord which was causing these issues. The only cure for the problem is surgery, and it’s complicated at best. I have tried to train to overcome the deficit but it’s clear that it affects me far too much.

After racing the World Championships in the Netherlands on the track, it was obvious that I am no longer able to compete against the best in the world ()certainly on the track) My best simply isn’t good enough any more. And with no funding and an inability to raise further funds even through things like crowdfunding, it was clear that it is foolish to try and carry on and see if my time trial skills were still at a competitive level. I have literally poured every last penny I have and every last ounce of energy into trying to succeed. I am broken both physically and financially.

So with immediate effect – I am announcing my full retirement from competitive cycling.

There are a many people that I would like to thank and shine a spotlight on. First –to my coaches Neill Delahaye and Kyleigh Manners. Neill has been my National team coach for many years. He’s been there through all my successes since 2013 and guided me to my Paralympic medal. Without him I never would have made it this far.

Kyleigh Manners (the man behind 42 Degrees Coaching) has been like a big brother to me this past year. When I needed a change and to re-invigorate my love of cycling, he offered to help me out. His training plans are hard, but designed to get the most of a rider. He helped get me a second chance – and for that I am eternally grateful. These two individuals managed to squeeze every last drop of talent I had left out of me.

To the national bodies of Cycling Ireland and Paralympics Ireland, and to Sport Ireland I also send my heartfelt thanks. Without their support, the sporting life of a Paralympic athlete would not exist.

A few other notable mentions from me: Xavier Disley at Aerocoach and Blake Pond at NoPinz. These two people are almost solely responsible for my success as a time trialist. The gains I made from an aerodynamic point of view, both from my position on the bike, and from the manufacture of aero clothing kept me competitive even when my power output could not match up to that of my competitors. 

And to the various companies and sponsors that stood by me year in and year out (3T Cycling, ZipVit Sport, Pace Rehabilitation), a final thank you. You make dreams possible. Same goes to each and every person that donated to my fund-raising campaigns overs the years. You made a difference.

And no thank you would ever be complete without a thank you to my partner Susan. She has stood by me patiently waiting for this day for years! Through all the races, long training camps away, and the countless day of me complaining of the pain and suffering I was going through. Thanks babe for all your support.

To those that ask me: “what next”? I have no idea. I want to stay involved in cycling somehow, but every single athlete who leaves sport and re-enters the real world can attest to, the transition is rarely a smooth one. I am open to any and all possibilities and hope that the next challenge will somehow find me. And in the meantime, hopefully can just enjoy riding a bike for fun for a while.

I'll be continuing my work not he UCI Paracycling and Athletes Commissions and working towards making the sport better for the future. Finally, I wish each and every one of my teammates the best of luck as they continue their fight for qualification for the Tokyo 2020 Games. I hope to see them all achieve their own form of greatness when they eventually get there. With a bit of luck, I'll be there commentating on their successes!

Colin Lynch

The Dreaded "S" Word

Being a competitive athlete is a tough job. And make no mistake about it - it IS a job. For some, it is a second job, on top of their usual 9-to-5 gig working in an office (of some kind). For others, it is their sole focus. The choice to be a full-time or part-time athlete is governed by a multitude of factors ranging from previous work and family commitments to financial support available. And usually for most athletes, it really does come down to money.

If you are able to make a living as an athlete you are probably both very gifted and very lucky. If you are an ‘able-bodied’ athlete, the opportunities to make a living this way are more readily available. Of course, it depends on your chosen sport, the prevailing market and financial rewards available, as well as your personal marketability. But for Paralympic athletes, the opportunities are few and far between.

I am sure there are some Paralympic athletes out there making a decent living off of sponsorship and marketing deals. I don’t think any of us will ever get rich from pursuing our sports, but that is not the aim. The aim (at least for myself) is to merely compete. But even something so seemingly simple is a very expensive proposition.

Most Paralympic athletes rely on national sports funding of some sort. If you are lucky (and talented) enough to obtain access to these funds, your life and career path in your sport will be considerably easier. In Ireland, Sport Ireland are ultimately the provider of such funds. Each year all athletes, able-bodied or Paralympic, must apply for funding based on a set of criteria for their individual sport. Your level of funding is directly tied to your level of performance. It’s a cut-throat system that rewards success and leaves little to no room for failure.

The primary measurement of performance each year (for paracycling) is your performance in the World Championships. Whilst there are several other opportunities to meet funding criteria throughout the season, the main one is World Championships. Get it right and you’re set for another year. Get it wrong, and your whole career can come crashing down around you in an instant. 

The reason funding exists and the way it is monitored and awarded can be a bit contradictory at times. Whilst funding is based on year-to-year performances, it is also primarily there to get you to the next Paralympic Games. Ultimately you are expected to be at your peak every 4 years but at the same time need to prove your worth each and every year. And in my opinion, where the system falls down is that it doesn’t allow you to have an ‘off’ year.

Even the very best athletes in the world can have an off year. Injury, illness, overtraining, undertraining, changes in personal circumstances, pressure, unsuitable courses and a host of other reasons can lead to a bad or unlucky season. When that happens - if you have understanding and supportive backers who see your value over the long term, then you are going to be OK. But if they are short-sighted and just look at you in terms of your last 12 months, you are going to be in trouble.

I have worked within this funding system since 2011 and it has served me well. And I am grateful for the support I have received. I have managed to perform reasonably well year in and year out. Until last year. In 2018 year I had my off year. What went wrong? Everything. 

I wrote about it in an earlier article so I won’t dwell on it again. Mistakes were made and circumstances were unfavourable for me last season. I’ve learned from it and moved on. I have re-focussed my energies in the right places and have returned to my previous best form. And continue to improve each week.

I recently found out that I will not be funded this year. Despite missing the required time by only 10.8 seconds (over a 20 minute race), and despite me STILL being expected to try and race and qualify for Tokyo, I will receive no direct funding this year. I may still get federation support to prepare for and go to some races, but for now, that is it. (For instance, I’m shortly headed to training camp with the team to prepare for the upcoming Track World Champioships, and then to actually go race, so the financial burden for 4 weeks will be significantly less. I still need to buy various bits of equipment and supplies, as well as fund my training and living expenses whilst at home.)

In a good year, when I was fully funded by Sport Ireland, I would still rely on the support of great sponsors. But in the coming year that support, if I can find it, is going to be critical. For me, sponsorship usually comes in the form of discounts on equipment. No one provides actual monetary support but being able to purchase the items I need at a discount is still very useful. 

There ARE companies that provide me with product at no cost. Zipvit gets my biggest thanks for being with me for the last 6 years - and asking virtually nothing in return. Just good performances! Last year Michelin tyres jumped on board providing me with much-needed tyres. And of course, no thank you list would be complete without mentioning 3T. The equipment and support they have provided over the years has made perhaps the greatest impact on my training and racing to date. They have proven to be a partner in all senses – with equipment and social support. I am proud to call them “my friend”.

I have taken to crowd-funding to try and fill the gap for the coming months. I hate it. I hate asking people for a handout and for help. It’s depressing and demeaning. Furthermore, the response has been lukewarm at best which makes me question if it’s even worth continuing. People love to cheer you on and give you the thumbs up on social media… but when you need more than that, it becomes challenging to say the least. But with the current political climate, and the fact people aren’t exactly guaranteed a return on their investment with me, I can sympathise.

I’m doing my utmost to try and focus on the training as it is my surest way back into the team and some sort of financial support (if only in 2020). The next 6 weeks are going to be HARD. My training plan calls for me to perform on a level I haven’t previously achieved. But I’m up for the challenge. If you don’t push yourself to the limit, you’ll never know your true breaking point.

So. If you’ve read this far and want to share in my journey, pop over to my GoFundMe page and drop me a fiver. Or more. I won’t hold it against you if you do! And if all you have to give is a thumbs up… I’m still accepting those. 

Thanks for reading and stay tuned. The best is yet to come.

GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/qnnmsj-tokyo-2020-paralympic-games

The Michelin Power Competition Tyre

Last year I went out and purchased a set of the Michelin Power Competition tyres. The An Post-Chain Reaction cycling team were using them, and I had read some positive reviews, especially in relation to their low rolling resistance numbers, so I thought I’d give them a go. And I was not disappointed.

For the last few years I have been using Vittoria Corsa G+ clincher tyres on my training wheels. And whilst they are fast, they do not last very long in my experience. Furthermore, they are somewhat thin (as is typical of a fast tyre) and I found myself suffering from far more punctures than I’d like. And lastly, I had the sidewalls blow out or more than one occasion, leaving me on the side of the road looking for a lift home. So I was on the hunt for a tyre that was still fast, but provided a little more life and protection.

Out of the box the Michelin tyres do seem a bit odd.

They are coated in a gritty white substance that makes you think something has gone wrong with them. But fear not – it’s simply a protective coating that you can rub off by hand once they tyre in installed on the rim (or before you install even). And unlike some brands of tyre, they actually fit onto the rim relatively easily the first time. 

My very first ride proved my choice was the correct one. I can’t say they felt faster than any tyre I’ve used before as the Vittoria is a very fast tyre. But they certainly matched up nicely. They roll beautifully and despite having no discernible tread on the surface of the tyre, they still grip the road when needed. I was able to push my bike through corners with no loss of grip or handling. 

I have ridden these tyres with different pressure in them to see what works best (for me). I’ve ridden from between 80 and 120psi. And I haven’t noticed a massive difference in handling or comfort at either end. On some of the rougher local roads, the lower pressures are probably better though.

I initially purchased the 23mm version of the tyre as I prefer a narrower tyre normally. After using the tyres for a few months and clocking a several thousand miles (long training camps), I did notice the tyres seemed to be wearing down a bit. However, this is primarily due to the fact that the Power Competition is a ‘race’ tyre (the clue is in the name). Despite them wearing down, I still hadn’t had any punctures or sidewall issues as I’d had with the Vittorias. But anyone can tell you, no matter how good a tyre, getting a puncture is sometimes just luck of the draw.

After my overwhelmingly positive experience with the Power Competition, I thought it would be worthwhile to try out Michelin’s next tyre in the line-up: the Power Endurance – and go up a size to 25mm. Once again, I was not disappointed. In fact, I found my ‘every day’ tyre of choice!

The Power Endurance looks virtually identical to the Power Competition. But when you hold it in your hands and examine it a bit closer, you can feel the difference. It’s (tiny) but heavier and the tread section is (a tiny bit) thicker. This is where the ‘Endurance” part of the name comes in. They are designed to still provide that excellent rolling resistance and road feel of the Power Competition, but have a much longer life and improved puncture resistance due to the thicker tread.

And I found after a few rides that I actually prefer the 25mm width, especially for the rougher roads where I live. I run these tyres at 90psi and find them super-comfortable. The handing is still perfect as the tyre seems to share all the same handing characteristics of the Competition.

I have since started using the Endurance variant for my daily training wheels, and running the Power Competition tyres on my race wheels. I normally use tubular tyres for racing but Michelin don’t yet offer these tyres in tubular format (although the Cofidis pro cycling team were using them all year and I expect them to be publicly available soon). However, for many of my races, I started using the clincher Power Competition tyres. They are that fast and handle that well, that there was little reason to keep using tubular tyres!

I train and race all over the world in all sorts of conditions from perfectly smooth dry roads, to rough and wet country lanes. I put in thousands of miles a year in training (and far less in racing) and need tyres that can not only match up to my high expectations, but handle everything I throw at them over the course of a season. I don't have to settle for second best and therefore am always looking to find the best equipment I can get, especially at prices I can afford.

I think these tyres are often overlooked. I am very happy I ‘found’ them and made the switch, and am looking forward to using them again next year (and hopefully get my hands on the tubular version as well). They have not let me down yet and I can happily recommend them to anyone looking for a tyre that is both fast and lasts a while (and at a VERY affordable price).

(If you've read this far, and want to help me carry on to Tokyo 2020, can donate ANYTHING here: https://www.gofundme.com/qnnmsj-tokyo-2020-paralympic-games)

The UCI Paracycling Commission: A peek behind the curtain.

What is The UCI Paracycling Commission?

I have just returned from my latest UCI Paracycling Commission meeting. And thought it would be a good idea to explain a little about what the Commission does and how I came to be a member of it.

Back in 2017 at the Paracycling Road World Championships, I was elected as one of 2 representatives (one male, one female) for Paracycling to be on the UCI Athletes Commission. The Athletes Commission is made up of 2 representatives from each of the 10 different UCI cycling disciplines (Road, Track, Cyclocross, Paracycling, BMX, etc). It’s a 4-year term and we meet once or twice a year to discuss issues that affect all cyclists across all our disciplines and to engage with the management of the UCI – providing input from the point of view of the athletes. 

In addition to the Athletes Commission, the UCI also has individual Commissions representing each of the cycling disciplines. These Commissions are appointed by the Management Committee and usually made of up senior people with relevant experience in that discipline. And each Commission will have a member of The UCI Management Committee as the ‘head’ of the Commission. 

In the case of Paracycling, the Commission (7 official members plus a few “unofficial members”) is made up of senior UCI staff who work with Paracycling, and several senior people from different cycling federations who do lots of work for Paracycling. In addition, we have a representative who is a former cyclist and is also now on the Board of the IPC (International Paralympic Committee). And lastly, they always appoint one of the two elected athlete representative from the Athletes Commission to sit on the Commission and speak for the athletes. That’s where I come in. 

Phew! Got it all?

Much like the Athletes Commission, the Paracycling Commission meets at least twice a year. We meet all over the world - often in conjunction with major Paracycling races (as many of the Commission are already there working, or in my case, riding). For instance, our first meeting was after the Paracycling Track World Championships in Rio in March. Our next meeting will likely be after a World Cup race in May. Or it can be a simple meeting (like yesterday) where we all fly into an airport and meet at a nearby hotel.

So – what does the Commission actually do? For me, this is the exciting part. We oversee almost every aspect of Paracycling! As a group, we help shape the current and future shape of the sport. We discuss any and all topics relating to Paracycling, and ways to continue to help the sport grow and improve. We discuss rule changes, upcoming (major) events, equipment rules, course selections, race distances, new events, classification issues, and lots of other items I can’t even think of right now.

As a full member of the Commission, I am able to submit proposals with new ideas for approval. Sometimes they can be for a rule change, or they can be for the addition of new events. I recently submitted some ideas for some new events on the track, which have been met favourably. The proposals will then have to be submitted to the UCI Management Committee for final approval at which point they will become official events or rules.

Everything we do int he Commission is done 'democratically'. Everyone is free and encouraged to not only bring ideas and issues forward, but to participate in discussions as each point is covered. We do not 'vote' per se on proposals, but rather come to an agreed consensus. Only in the case of a very divisive issue would a formal vote be needed – and even then the proposal would still need approval from the Management Committee.

One of the major issues we are currently discussing, and will continue to discuss for the next few years is over the system of factoring used int he Paralympic Games for some Paracycling events. It’s a major issue because in 2024 the Paralympic Games will cease to have ‘factored’ events. 

An example of a factored event on the track is the 1km TT for categories C1-C3. Essentially athletes from the different categories all do the race – and their time is factored against the times of other athletes in the different categories. Because a C1 rider is much slower than a C3 rider, the C3 rider’s time is multiplied by a factor of (approximately 93%). This is based on years and years of data, comparing the times of the riders in different categories to work out what the factors should be.

In a normal UCI World Championships we do not use factors. We simply race against people in our own category for medals. However, in the Paralympic Games, there are a limited number of medal events awarded to Paracycling. So we have to decide which events will feature combined categories (with a factor applied) or which will be stand-alone events. There are even some events that combine categories with NO factoring – which is completely unfair and unreasonable in my opinion. Some examples of this are: there is a C1-3 factored 1KM TT on the track, individual medals for each category in the Individual Pursuit, and 1 set of medals for the C1-3 road race (meaning only the top 3 across the finish line get medals, regardless of their category, whereas in a World Championships, the top 3 in EACH category across the line get medals).

That’s the background info and explains where Paracycling is right now in terms of medals, factoring and the 2020 Paralympic Games. And as mentioned, in 2024 there will be NO factored events. On the surface this sounds like a great thing, right? It would be, except the IPC is not awarding us any extra medals. Which essentially means we either need to cut events, run events as combined (with no factors) or get creative.

So the Commission is now getting creative. Part of our job is to try and come up with solutions to the problem. How can we continue to have races in the 2024 Games that allow athletes reasonable chances to win medals in different events, without cutting the existing events? The answer is…. you can’t. But we are working towards solutions that will make as many people as happy as possible! It’s going to be a long process but it’s exciting to be a part of it.

As the athlete representative for Paracycling, I also see it as part of the job to liaise with the athletes. I try my best to provide as much information as I can to athletes, and to be there to answer any questions or concerns they have. My fellow athletes are always welcome to contact me with their questions and concerns. I will always bring those concerns forward to the Commission if appropriate or answer myself if I can. The free-flow of information in both directions is an important aspect of keeping riders informed, happy and a part of growing the sport for the future.

It is a real honour to not only represent my fellow athletes on the Commission, but also to be able to bring forward my own ideas. It’s gratifying to see the impact I may have on making the sport better for both the current and next generation of riders. I want to make sure I leave the sport better than when I found it. And I believe my fellow Commission members feel much the same way. We are all in it to try and keep the sport as strong as possible. It is a dedicated and passionate group of people and am excited for what the future holds!

(If you've read this far, and want to help me carry on to Tokyo 2020, can donate ANYTHING here: https://www.gofundme.com/qnnmsj-tokyo-2020-paralympic-games)

Rewind: Let's start at the beginning.

It's been a while. A long while. But I'm still here and still going strong. Sort of.

So let's recap. Last I posted (back in 2016), I was about to re-attempt the Paracycling Hour Record in Manchester after a failed attempt the previous year, when my front tyre blew 42 minutes into the effort. Happy to report (and is old new by now), that I smashed the existing record, riding 43.133km. So ticked that box off!

2017 you ask? A great year. I won all three World Cup time trials, and placed 5th in the World Championships. The World's course was a bit lumpy for me, and still only finished 14 seconds off the medals.

Now - 2018. My "annus horribilis". Everything that could go wrong, did go wrong. I trained well through the winter with an eye on the time trial title at the back end of the year. I hadn't planned on riding track in 2018, but circumstances convinced me to give it a go.

At the end of 2017 I was elected by my Paracycling peers to represent them on the UCI Athletes Commission, and I was also subsequently appointed to the UCI Paracycling Commission (a real honour for me). Both the Commissions give me the chance to speak up at the top level about issues important to cyclists. And in particular, being on the Paracycling Commission gives me a real chance to influence the direction of Paracycling our the coming years. I've already seen some of my ideas embraced and implemented, and has given me renewed faith in the the UCI's support of Paracycling.

All this to say, my first Commission meeting was schedule to take place in Rio in early 2018 - at the Paracycling Track World Championships. My thought was - if I have to fly all that way for a meeting, I may as well do some racing. I decided to race, but it wouldn't be a focus and I wouldn't do as much specific track prep as in previous years.

The training sessions that I did do on the track went well. I was producing similar power numbers as previous years and was confident of putting in a decent performance. I wasn't going there to win medals, but hoping for top-10 finishes and to score some valuable Tokyo qualification points. Everything was on track (pardon the pun) until about 3 weeks before the competition. I discovered I had an infection in my foot which would require a few days off and a course of anti-biotics. This marked the turning point of my year.

Due to the infection my training and preparation for the World Championships suffered. But I was still hoping for those top-10 results. But any chance of success was well and truly scuppered when I picked up another infection 2 days before flying out to Rio. It meant I would be racing whilst still taking anti-biotics and fighting off the infection.

And so it went. I had my worst World Championships ever - finishing last or close to last in all my events. My times were diabolical and miles off what I was capable of. In fact, my worst results since I started racing. So disappointing and demoralising.

I took it on the chin and got to work on the main goal of the season: time trial World Championships. I decided to focus on training for the rest of the year rather than the steady diet of racing I had done in previous year. I headed off to Teneriffe for a long block of road miles and to clear my head. Very much enjoyed it and fell in love with my bike all over again.

I had another trip to altitude in France. Always a tough proposition. The riding is 'fun' in the mountains, but the physiological demands of riding in the thinner air play havoc with your power output. I always just try and get through these trips with the reward of better fitness and power output awaiting me back at sea level as my motivation.

All in all, I spent about 8 weeks riding my road bike up mountains. Unfortunately, each time I cam e home and hopped on my time trial bike to race, I was terrible again. I hadn't done enough training and racing on my TT bike and was missing the specificity I needed. I felt uncomfortable in the position - something that has never been a problem in the past. I was completely out of sync with my bike, and it showed in the few local time trials I tried to do.

In order to maximise my chances of success at the World Championships, I decided to head there 3 weeks early and train (on my TT bike) on the actual course. It would give me a chance to prepare specifically for the race, on the course and on my bike. I've done this in the last with great success.

I was able to ride the course over and over and work out the best strategy to attack it on race day. I did race simulations and crunched all the numbers. The first part was a steady, albeit gentle, uphill drag, culminating in a short and punchy hill, before the course looped back to the start, mostly downhill or flat. I knew I had to get up and over the first part of the course as quickly as possible and back onto the more suitable terrain if I wanted any chance to succeed. I focused all my energies into preparing for this part of the course.

On race day, I did exactly what I had trained for: I got up and over that hillier part of the course as fast as I could. And yet, I still lost a minute in time to the fastest riders! Simply put: I was too heavy for my power in comparison to the best riders. On the second part of the course, I still lost time, but in general I matched the top riders on any flat or downhill section. And in the end, I only managed 12th place.

There are serious repercussions to my results this year in regards to staying on the Irish team and my future funding. In short, my funding is gone and my place on the team hanging by a thread. I'll go into both these things another time, and discuss the fallout (mentally) from the season that was. Suffice to say, it isn't pretty. But I find myself now, several weeks later, refreshed, reinvigorated and motivated to carry on and right the wrongs of 2018.

So what does 2019 hold for me?  All will be revealed. Soon.

Thanks for reading and I hope to start writing and posting on a regular basis once again!

(If you've read this far, and want to help me carry on to Tokyo 2020, can donate ANYTHING here: https://www.gofundme.com/qnnmsj-tokyo-2020-paralympic-games)

I've got just one more Hour to ride this year

Just a quick update post.

After this disappointment of my Hour Record attempt last year, and the subsequent elation at winning a silver medal in the TT in Rio this year, I will be going for the Paracycling Hour Record once again on October 1 in Manchester.

The attempt will take place around 2:30PM. Currently there is no live feed, but am working to get one in place.

Hopefully all goes to plan this time around and will update my blog (along with some thoughts about Rio) after the attempt, once I have some time off!

Not Now, I'm Busy... Busy Living.

I’ll admit to being a cynical person at times. In my (short) career as a Paracycling rider, I have seen people do amazing things on a bike. I have been out-ridden and put to shame by a guy with one arm and one leg. I have seen men in wheelchairs descend mountain passes on a handcycle faster than I can on my (speedy) road bike. And have been outsprinted to the finish line time and again by riders with one leg.

When you’re surrounded by such talented individuals who constantly push you to your limits, it’s hard to by inspired by them as they are your equals in many ways. You don’t look up to them so much as you just want to beat them! But to many others who look at our feats on a bike - we are inspirational in all that we do.

My point is, it can be very difficult to meet people that inspire ME. People who have a story or back ground that jumps out oat you - or are doing things under such difficult circumstances that it makes you stop in your tracks and re-examine everything you are doing in your own life.

But Matt Hampson is one of those people.

Most people outside the UK (or even IN the UK) probably won’t have heard of Matt. He was a talented rugby player with a bright future ahead of him, until a freak training accident in 2005. Whilst preparing for an England U21 Six Nations match, a scrum collapsed on him dislocating his neck and severing his spinal cord. The resultant injuries left him paralysed from the neck down and breathing via the aid of a ventilator.

Matt spent almost 2 years recovering from the injury. And whilst confined to a wheelchair for the rest of his life, he hasn’t let his injuries slow him to a grinding halt as you might expect. He set up a charitable Foundation (http://matthampsonfoundation.org/) so that others who have suffered similar catastrophic injuries through sport can receive support and assistance. 

As well as his Foundation duties which include, visiting, mentoring, providing advice and fundraising, Matt delivers inspirational talks to young people and businesses around the country. He is also a forwards coach at Oakham School and Oakham Rugby Club, an ambassador for both the RFU's injured Players Fund and Restart (The Professional Rugby Association's charity), Patron of Special Effect: a charity set up to help disabled children communicate through technology.

The Foundation has a driving ethos – to help people “Get Busy Living”. And whilst it normally has the express goal of helping younger, disabled people get into sport, it occasionally also helps people like me; the more ‘established’ athlete that needs an extra push to keep achieving their potential.

I approached the Foundation earlier this year with the hope of receiving some assistance with the purchase of some of my equipment for the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. Most people see my successes and podium finishes, but don’t realise the amount of financial resources that go into it. Virtually ALL my equipment is purchased by myself, and at the level I race at, it’s crucial to have to have the best possible equipment. Giving away valuable seconds in races due to sub-standard equipment would be a complete waste of all the training that we do in order to be our best.

I was invited up to the Foundation HQ back in February to meet with Matt. I’ll admit I didn’t know what to expect. After meeting Tommy Cawston (CEO of the Foundation), I was introduced to Matt. They asked me to tell them my story and my background. As someone who lost a leg from playing rugby, I felt a certain kinship with Matt. It’s true that my situation and injuries pale in comparison, but at the root of it all, we were both just young adults with a certain gift for athletic endeavors, injured playing a sport we loved and left to deal with the aftermath.

And while I was there to talk about myself and try and convince these gentlemen that I was somehow worthy of their support, I couldn’t help but feel in awe of Matt and what he was doing to help others. As we spoke about what the Foundation does - and how I could play a role in inspiring other youngsters to be better and achieve their own goals (which isn’t always about racing at the highest level of the sport - sometimes it’s just about coming to terms with their injury and getting active again), I felt my creative juices begin to flow again. 

All of a sudden it was no longer about myself and what I needed – it was about what I could do to help the next generation of disabled athlete achieve their goals. This was a defining moment for me – I had found someone to inspire ME. Someone that made we want to be a better person and give back instead of just taking. Here was an organisation that I wanted to be involved with; that would allow me to use my status as a Paralympic athlete to help improve the lives of kids who had suffered terrible injuries and were looking take back control of their lives and get involved in sport again.

So, for their part, the Foundation has helped me out with a generous donation that has helped purchase some of the much-needed equipment I’ll use for racing in Rio (and in the run-up to it). Without a doubt this equipment will have a big impact on my performances. And for my part, I’ve found an organisation I can get behind and stay involved with not just this year, but for many years to come. 

I can’t wait to get out there with the Foundation, and help other people Get Busy Living!

Big In Japan**

The email arrived in my inbox months ago. I was being invited to fly to Japan and take part in the Saitama Criterium and then race in the Japan Paracycling Cup. Both firsts for Paracycling in Japan – and both firsts for me.

There wasn’t even a second of hesitation as I hit the reply button and sent back my answer: YES. Without a doubt, yes. It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and there was no way I was going to pass it up.

For those that don’t know – the Saitama Criterium is an end-of-year ‘race’ held in Saitama – on the northern outskirts of Tokyo. It is organized by ASO, who also run races such as the Tour de France. It is less of a race and more of a procession as riders follow a scripted race plan, lapping the 3km city centre circuit in front of the thousands of fans gathered to watch. Each year the Tour winner is there along with a host of other supremely talented riders. A few other local teams are also invited along for good measure.

This year as part of the festivities, they held a short time trial on the course, with one rider from each team doing a lap of the course as fast as possible. Along with the Pro riders, they also invited 7 women and 7 Paracyclists to take part. This is where I came in. I would be putting my best lap time up against the likes of Simon Geshke, Joaquim Rodriguez and yes… Chris Froome. It’s all a bit of fun, but it’s not every day you get the chance to race against top Pro riders, in front of 100,000 people!

Accompanying me on this epic journey would be fellow Irish (current) Paracycling TT and Scratch Race World Champion, Eoghan Clifford and our faithful coach Neill Delahaye.

The trip to Japan, despite the long distance, was relatively painless. Sitting on an airplane for 12 hours at a time is never a lot of fun but we got to Japan in one piece. I made sure I had very little sleep before the flight so was able to sleep a bit on the flight and arrived in Tokyo at 6:30am ready for a full day ahead.

We were met by our host, Ryuji Hiratmatsu who works with the Japan Paracycling Federation. Ryuji would be key to us enjoying our trip – and is also the key person behind the Japan Paracycling Cup that was taking place the following weekend. I’ll have more on him in my next post as he deserves his very own article.

The next few days would prove to be a whirlwind of adrenaline and jetlag. We spent a fair bit of time travelling between the hotel where we were sleeping and the hotel where our bikes were stored – just to be able to ride them on turbo trainers in a conference room! Unfortunately the city streets are a bit busy and not really conducive to proper training. All the while, trying to get over the 8 hours of jetlag we were dealing with! Fortunately we only had a couple of days of this to deal with before the festivities started.

Our second night there was spent mingling with all the other invited riders. It was a bit surreal hanging out in a hotel ballroom, eating sushi and drinking beers whilst Grand Tour podium finishers, Paris-Roubaix and Milan-San Remo winners and a host of other cycling gods walked past. I admit to be a fanboy, and I had brought a few jerseys with me to get signed by some key riders. It also gave me a brief chance to introduce myself and chat with them.

The next morning was the big day. Once again we found ourselves in our little hotel conference room, with (effectively) our backstage passes, waiting for the festivities to kick off. Pro riders wandered the hallways freely. At one point I saw Chris Froome sat on a sofa, so I headed over with my Yellow Jersey to get a signature. He invited me to sit down and we chatted for a short period of time as he (mostly) quizzed me on how I lost my leg and my cycling background. I’m not sure why but I couldn’t stop my leg from twitching – I was that nervous!

Eventually it was time to get the event started. We headed downstairs and through the hotel lobby. Throngs of fans had lined up for photos and autographs. Although not exactly for us! All the riders gathered outside the main entrance until Froome came out – and then it was time to leave. We headed out on our bikes onto the race circuit. We (myself and Eoghan) we mixed in with all the other riders. We pedaled around the race circuit in parade fashion – Froome and his teammates just off my rear wheel at times. It was surreal.

After a lap of the circuit we headed to our pit area – which was located inside a small concert arena. The race actually passes through the arena each lap in front of hundreds of seated fans all watching and cheering you on. After a brief introduction – the Paracyclists all headed back onto the course for another lap in front of the crowds. They probably had no idea who we were, but that didn’t stop them from cheering us on as we rolled past. Many of the fans at the edge of the circuit leaned out across the barriers, high-fiving me as I went past. I was loving every second of it.

After another short stop back in the pit area we were called up to the start area for the time trial. Again we rode around the circuit past the gathered crowds to a row of seats near the start ramp. I picked a seat in the long line of chairs and sat myself down to wait for my turn. As I sat there waiting, 2 of the Pro riders sat themselves down in the seats beside me to wait. Let’s just say it made for a photo opportunity I won’t soon forget.

Finally it was my turn to get underway. I rolled up onto the start ramp and waited for the clock to tick down. 5-4-3-2-1…. and off I went. This wasn’t a normal time trial. It was just one lap of a race circuit – on a road bike as fast as possible. An all-out sprint to see how fast I could go around the 3km circuit. There were several corners to negotiate, a descent and ascent under an overhead road (twice), a 180-degree turn in the road, and a passage through the arena on soft rubber floor covering.

I was riding so hard that everything was just a blur. I was pedaling as hard as I could and could barely see where I was going at times. I could hear the cheers of the crowd as I sailed past but definitely not paying much attention. Just trying to get to the finish. And it was over before I knew it.

In the end, I didn’t break any speed records. In fact, I was one of the slowest of the Paracycling riders, but as the most ‘disabled’ that was to be expected. Furthermore, riding a road bike instead of a TT bike doesn’t do me any favours but all that is irrelevant. I was only 37 seconds slower than Chris Froome – and to me – that’s a win. 

**Title is in reference to the Alphaville song “Big in Japan”.