BMX’ing in Manchester

 

I was up bright and early, for the journey into Manchester, as I had promised to take my Little nephew to the BMX park at Platt Fields http://www.manchesterbmx.co.uk/WebPages/trackbuild.html I had never been BMX’ing, and wanted to see what it was like.

Firstly to collect Little Lol, then a big breakfast at a great Cafe’ in Burnage, before we set off for the track..

I remembered well Platt Fields Park from my younger days,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platt_Fields_Park when we all had to walk the 5 miles there and back on Sunday afternoons for the ‘Family Walk’ !- no wonder we were all tall and skinny (in them days anyway!) –Can you ‘spot’ me ?

So, back to 2012, and on arrival at the BMX track I was amazed at it, and to find that there were only 2 children using it… So, Lol was soon kitted out with a bike,helmet,and protective pads, all for the princely sum of £3-20 for 2 hours, and with his personal coach – Jotown…

I thought it may not be too easy, and to be fair with my lack of BMX knowledge, and Lol’s hesitancy…it was difficult at first as he couldn’t manage to get up the hills in the first straight, having braked on the start ramp…but, undeterred he went back up to the start ramp, and set off again, with Jotown running behind him ‘encouraging’ him up .. down, and round the bends. He managed to get round the lap, and then again and again and again…soon he was having a great time, and I wanted to ‘have a go’.

‘Do you think I should hire a bike and join you ?’ I asked

-‘No Uncle Joey, you’ll show me up ‘ !

So, with that I returned to be his personal coach, and timed some of his runs.

Although cold, it was sunny, quiet, and great fun ..so thanks Lol…you may one day be doing this !!…and I may be joining you