Team Rider Life - During a Pandemic

After coming back from New Zealand in February 2020, refreshed and ready for an exciting race season, on a high after such good results in 2019 landing the win at the local again and finishing 3rd Overall in Welsh series. I went back to work for 6 weeks then lockdown number 1 hit and it didn’t take long before that build up of motivation disappeared.

When the first lockdown was announced, working from home became the new norm, it became mentally exhausting very quickly. From the video calls, sitting in front of the screen and not seeing anyone; the only escape was riding, setting goals and training harder ready for what was hopefully going to be a fun summer series of racing. Month after month races were getting postponed and pushed back even further, watching as the whole world got taken by surprise by the virus.

The goal was to ride more than ever, so I gave myself the challenge of 500mile and 100,000ft in May, bearing in mind I’d ridden every day in April! To entertain myself I set a personal goal to ride every trail in Eastridge in one ride which was a definite highlight that month.

So even though I was not enjoying the new temporary way of life, it turned out that in the 7 months between March and October I only had 20 days off the bike. So I can’t complain too much. However, what I didn’t realise is the massive fatigue and the mental addiction riding was having on me. Returning back to work exhausted and frustrated that I couldn’t ride as much.

The best things were the Sunday group rides (when we were allowed) and it made me realise how important it is to have friends and family round and that being isolated isn’t good for the body or mind. I also made sure every ride had a purpose and took my camera out to document this once in lifetime (I hope) event. By putting out a series of lockdown photo diaries kept me sane and occupied my brain in a creative way.

We managed to put together an amazing Halloween video for Trash Free Trails raising the awareness of the dream that is a litter free outdoors, again at a period in the pandemic where we could be around people albeit a super small group. Digging and maintaining trails played a massive part in getting through the year, the ‘local’ was getting more use than ever and it meant it needed some much needed TLC.

Then came Autumn, the hope of a winter series was looking positive and every one was racing fit and ready for a new start. The bike had been in the shop and was prepped, feeling fitter than ever, surely this couldn’t have been a better time to get back between the tapes.

Boom Lockdown V2, hopes and dreams shattered and back into the early nights, mud and rain. It’s not an easy night riding on your own, it scares the life out of me riding around the woods listening to all the animals screaming at you. Well I guess we are in their woodland!

The Christmas break provided some rest to meet up in small groups again and have some fun, that’s why we ride right!?! Things were looking up, all races were booked up and looked like we might get back to some sort of normality... How wrong was I? I finished up the year doing over 4000 mile and 800,000ft! And couldn’t have done it without the support of the shop and our awesome sponsors keeping me rollin.

Fingers crossed for 2021 and don’t forget to say hi if you see me on the trails. Mental health is important, get outside, hone those skills, take deep lungfuls of fresh air and set yourself some new goals and challenges.

A short film about Marv's love for digging.

Stay safe out there!

Cheers
Marv