Sorry I can't ride, I'm...

With the power of social media, we feel like we know so much about each other within our small mountain biking world. We know who rides for what sponsors, where certain racers regularly ride, what racers are achieving podiums and who is on top. We make assumptions about riders progress from what they post on their Facebook or Instagram pages, assuming they must be capable of more because a) They've been in the sport longer, b) They seem to be out training every weekend or c) They have the best of kit and/or bikes. How much do we really know about what else they have going on in their lives that impacts on their riding? Why do we assume racing is the most important thing going on in their lives?

This is what this blog series is about. What else is going on in the lives of racers? How much do they have to juggle? Does racing often have to take the backseat? I'm going to ask a few racers to answer these questions and tell me how they finish this sentence: "Sorry I can't ride I'm...". So to get the ball rolling, I'll start.


I'm Zara Kane, I'm 24 and I got into mountain biking less than two years ago. I have been racing the Scottish Downhill Association Series this year on my Lapierre Zesty XC bike and on occasion, borrowing Rona Strivens old Transition downhill bike. I've only really had the chance to ride my bike at races this year, and been out training about 5 or 6 times, and here's why...


Sorry, I can't ride, I'm...


...Studying


I have just completed my degree year of university at SRUC in Ayr, studying Outdoor Pursuits Management. Trying to juggle 3rd year assignments and exams with racing was incredibly difficult. I felt like any time I had to ride my bike, should really be studying time. Constant worrying about whether or not I was studying enough led to me only really getting out to ride on the actual race weekends. I think I have only been out riding about 5 or 6 times this year outwith racing. Luckily I managed to keep it together for my uni work and resulted in B's across all of my modules. I felt like riding and racing took a huge hit from studying, but unfortunately part of adult life is about prioritising and making sensible decisions once in a while. With my honours year ahead of me, I feel slightly more prepared and hopefully it'll be over before I know it.

...Working


During term time I had an office job in Glasgow, trying to work my studies and racing around a part time job was pretty hard too but bills,rent and more importantly race entries have to be paid somehow! Luckily I managed to find a dream job for the summer, at Glasgow Wake Park, working as a cable operator and coach.

...Wakeboarding


Through working at the wake park I have picked up wake boarding, riding regularly to make sure I am always progressing which helps me coach our more advanced customers with tricks. I absolutely love this sport and its a perfect break from racing as I can go for big air without the same hard falls I'd get in mountain biking. Also as I don't take wakeboarding as seriously I don't beat myself up about any tricks I can't get, whereas with downhill I can get pretty upset if I'm not performing as well as I feel I should be. I am currently riding at least 4 times a week to keep my riding progressing at the wake park and may be entering my first competition next month.

...Seeing my long distance boyfriend


I've been with Sam for almost two years now and couldn't have found someone who is as perfect a match for me. I live in Ayr and Sam lives in Cumbernauld, outside of Glasgow. I know that's not the longest distance in the world but with both of us having so much on the go it makes it pretty difficult to schedule in time to see each other. We both have so much to do and fit in, by the time we see each other, we're too exhausted to try go a ride together and end up passing out watching TV like most normal couples.

...Training


At some point in my schedule I try desperately to squeeze in some time at the gym to keep my fitness and strength up. This is pretty difficult when I spend so much time in Glasgow and Cumbernauld as my gym is in Ayr. My gym in Ayr, Bene-Fit, is amazing, the staff are always eager to help you out, and it's my dream gym. If I could I would go there everyday if I could! I've found in the winter is when I have the most time to go to the gym, and I plan this winter to work harder than I have before. [Please note, this photo is from a different gym]

...Exhausted.


So after trying to fit all of this in, yeah I'm pretty done in and struggle to get out of bed. My days off are usually spent recovering, and more often than not, being a student, I find that the days I am ready to go riding, are the days where I have no money for diesel. But that's life and university is a small but important stage in my life. I'm hoping things may be easier to juggle once I finish up my honours year, move from Ayr and have a full-time grown up job.

Obviously there is more squeezed into my life than this, I see my friends once in a while, where I've got a couple of free days I'll travel home to Isle of Bute to see my family, I snowboard and climb when I have the chance and some days I'm just too busy doing nothing at all.

Stay tuned for more racers stories!