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helen wyman xypex-verge sport

being quite content with a situation or, conversey, being in a rut, can reasonably be seen as two sides of the same coin. i have occasionally been envious of friends, mostly in london, who, after a few years in one occupation, decide that the time is right for a change. i sometimes wish i had their fortitude and openness to change. i've been writing the post for over 21 years and felt no great desire to change tack and write about mountain bikes or model railways; nor have i pressured myself to seek alternative employment just for the sake of change. it may be one of life's certainties, but the desire to embrace it has not become one of my life's priorities.

helen wyman xypex-verge sport

not everyone, however, has the luxury of making their own changes. sometimes unexpected changes land from a great height.

this is something that professional sports people probably accept as a part of life. some can carve quite a comfortable living from their chosen vocation, but ultimately, the annual salary is supported by sponsorship; not necessarily the ideal situation, but one that is an endemic component of sport and subsequently professional cycling of any genre. therefore, when the sponsor(s) decide that they have achieved all they set out to achieve, through a particular investment or contract, the athlete has little option but to accept it as part of their chosen career. that, however, does not make it any easier to accept.

helen wyman xypex-verge sport

british cyclocross rider, helen wyman found that out at the end of 2017, when title sponsor kona bikes decided to end their association after eight successful years.

"It all came as a bit of a surprise. Having been told my Kona deal wouldn't be renewed left me in a really difficult position as (I was informed) mid-summer, right in between the two seasons, months after the end of the cx season when contracts are available and months before the next season."

helen wyman xypex-verge sport

i confess to being less of an action person and more of a wait-and-see sort of chap, the type of fellow who frequently hopes that by ignoring any particular situation for long enough, will allow it to sort itself out without any user interaction. i believe the technical term is 'burying one's head in the sand'. i can't pretend that it's a strategy that always works; in fact more often than not, user interaction is ultimately required, much later than it should have been implemented.

thankfully, helen wyman operates with an entirely different mindset. "Waiting around wasn't something i was happy to do, so I set Stef on the case to get a group of individual sponsors to allow me to continue. It's been frustrating, a distraction and to say the least stressful." helen wyman xypex-verge sport in that respect, the wymans have been very successful, announcing new sponsorship deals as the new year began. for the foreseeable future, helen will race under the banner of xypex-verge sport; the former manufactures a crystalline concentrate for waterproofing concrete, while verge sport will be well known to followers of the richard sachs cyclocross team as purveyors of quality cycle clothing. additional sponsorship will come from from kindhuman bicycles (a hitherto unknown brand for me), grimpeur brothers coffee, london cycle café, look mum no hands!, charm city, feedback sports, challenge tyres, and motorbike racer, bradley smith, whose race number 38 will feature prominently on the verge clothing, while helen's helmet will feature replica colours.

helen wyman xypex-verge sport

according to helen "KindHuman bicycles have been a leader in establishing the Xypex - Verge Sport program and have kept the project focused simply by their name. Being a kind human, on and off the bike and making and sustaining a program where everyone involved, from fans, partners and other riders, are treated as kind humans, is the goal."

helen has, however, goals other than simply providing quality representation for her sponsors by way of sporting success. "I'm excited by the progress the sport has made over the past few years and encouraged by the avenues for change already in place. I believe that the best place for me to influence the sport is from within. My immediate goals remain unchanged; to be the best I can be. I'm exceedingly grateful for the opportunities offered to me, and never take them for granted.
"Off the bike, I'm keen to develop riders and products to make cyclocross a more inviting place for sponsors, riders and families. Over the years I've been involved with cyclocross, it has become less accessible to some, with financial barriers playing a part and a perceived lower prestige, with a lack of Olympic status. I want to make sure this myth is busted."

helen wyman xypex-verge sport

it is most gratifying to see one of the sport's top riders and more approachable personalities provided with the professional support they deserve, to continue in the milieu which has provided them with success and us with the entertainment we desire. however, to be somewhat blunt at a time of celebration, that's the cyclocross season taken care of, but what does a professional rider do for the rest of the year?

in this particular case, it's the helen wyman cycling centre where helen opens the doors to her racing and training regime. based in france, the centre exists to help any of us achieve our own goals by way of training camps and cycle tours, augmented with worldwide training days and clinics. "For many seasons, I've run cyclocross training days around the world, working with groups of up to 40 riders. Passing on the knowledge I've gained over the years is a great way to help others in cycling."

if any of us were seeking the meaning of the phrase 'happy new year', this is probably it.

helenwyman.com | all images by kristof ramon

helen wyman xypex-verge sport

thursday 4 january 2018

twmp ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................