While many of us are whiling the hours away on a turbo, some are racing the cross season. One of the busiest Probikekit riders has been Josh Hand who has just finished his season in spectacular style – both in terms of position and bike trashing prowess.

Josh Hand and his mud machines

The SRAM sponsored Notts and Derby Cyclo Cross League has kept Josh busy since the beginning of September. The U-16 rider had his first race at Allestree Park near Derby and he’s kept a good diary of his races throughout the year.

The reports of his two best races at the end of the season follow. I’m sure we all agree that Josh is a great young talent and one to watch for the future!

20^th February – Thornbridge Hall, Bakewell

This was the last race of the Notts and Derby season, so I knew it was my last chance to get some good points on the board. I did what I like doing during this race which was to find a wheel to sit on and then try and leapfrog between riders in the parts of the course I was strongest in. This worked well for me, and I got my best finish of the season, 25^th Overall and 1^st Junior. I was over the moon with this ride, especially after the run of bad luck I had been having previously.

21^st February – Thornbridge Hall, Bakewell – BSCA Schools National Championships

This was my last cross race of the season, and I was determined to get the win to make me Over 16 Champion. The snow overnight had made the course really bad, but still it was a good race. The Over 16 race was put in with the Senior race, so it gave me more people to race against. I started well leading the whole field for the first lap, then slipping into 2^nd for the majority of the race. But then my bad luck came back, I got a stick caught in my rear mech and chain, ripping off the mech hanger and making a mess of the bike. This meant I had to run for a small amount of time, pushing me down into 4^th overall in the whole race. This is where I finished, but I was also 1^st Junior so got the win I had wanted.

1st in the race, 2nd Junior for 2010

The perils of racing

Now onto a tough early season training regime and hopefully less mud and mechanicals for the 2010 road season! Well done from everyone at PBK, given Josh’s form at the minute, it’s sure to be a good one.