(Semi) Retirement
Saturday, October 31, 2009 at 7:22 PM
Well..... I reached 65 years of age in September and I've decided to find some time for myself.
As far as the Full-Cycle business goes I've closed down my unit in Sub-4 Ltd, which means that I'll no longer be doing biomechanical & physiological assessments or bikefitting. So what will I be doing?
I'll still be coaching, but limiting the number to ten riders - who are now signed up. They're a very diverse group which makes it more enjoyable and satisfying for me.
I'll also be dealing with the many follow-ups I get from past assessments, and I've had a few approaches to do consultancy work.
But the thing I really want to do is ride my bike more than the once in ten days which has been the norm for the last few years. I figure if I don't get into some kind of shape now I never will.
So thank you to all my previous assessment clients. My SRM ergometer has gone to a local sports scientist, who will do physiological testing for my riders, and I'll try to find the right place to refer any new enquiries for biomechanics and bikefitting.
Ironically, this is the first time I've worked on my website since I started Full-Cycle. I've had a 'website coming soon' notice there since the early days. I paid someone to build a site for me but I didn't like it and I just haven't had time to do any more on it. Now that I (may) have time I'll try to do something better than these temporary pages. After a lifetime in cycling and more than 20 years coaching I have quite a few interesting tales to tell and I hope to be able to use this blog to pass them on.
Reader Comments (6)
Hi Ken - sorry to hear you've finally packed up from the Sub-4 unit but glad to see you're finding time now to get out on the bike and build that website we discussed once or twice. Look forward to seeing how it develops.
Thanks for the message Rob. I've only just read it because I'm still not sure how this blog works! Hope you and Suzanne are both well. Ken
Hello Ken
Very interested to read about your cycling background.I am still cycling and like you, used to meet up at Shaw Lane, Headingley to ride with the chain gang in the early sixties.I remember all those guys you mention and a few more.Ken Wilson was a hero to all the juniors in those days and nobody else could match him.
There must have been at least 100 riders that met on Tueday & Thursday evenings for the mad sprint to Addingham,coming back via Guiseley.I remember one time, half the bunch going through a red light in Otley and then a police car chasing us all the way to Burley in Wharfedale before we were pulled up.We were all lined up at the roadside and names and addresses taken.I gave a false name but others were more honest and were find accordingly.
Fond memories & best of luck in your semi retirment
Hi John,
Thanks for the comments.
I remember the red light incident well. When the police realised people were giving false names they started asking riders the name of the person next to them; of course most replied "I've never seen him before". Did you go to the court case; they fined everyone, those nearest the front got fined the least, those at the back got fined the most. The funniest part was when Jack Macklam was in the box and tried to explain that you just can't brake hard in a fast moving bunch. The magistrate said that there must be some situations when you just had to - like if you came round and bend and there was a big cow in the road. Jack replied "I didn't see any cow"!
Fond memories indeed. Cycling is not the same now.
All the best,
Ken
It's great to hear from you and see what you've been up to. In your blog I feel your enthusiasm for life. thank you. dszoii dszoii - Tory Burch Shoes Outlet.
i sat on a wall outside the otley court while Macklam and several others were tried,it was a very sunny day,and was told by these criminals all about the macklam Cow evidence !!.the chaingang had also
Barry Hoban who came back from the continent to see his dad then came out with us he had a real
sun tan and had no problem up the drags from burley to leeds ,while the rest of us were gasping trying
to hold on to a wheel,i noticed also Pete Fryer found it ok,he was only carring about nine stone up the
drags!.Danny Horton was another hard case when he eventually got up to the "Falcon" standerd.
Sometimes we got to the Harry Ramsden roundabout when the bradford chaingang were coming by.
God the shouting and waveing each time! Richard Simpson was away from us at that roundabout and
a man in a car pulled out nearly hitting Richard,he got out grabbed Richard but the the gang arrived he
jumped back in the car but Mick Dewhurst with his pump hit the back car lights,but the guy did not report
this at all !.