Team Identiti rider Jordan Lunn selected for Team GB 4X Program

Identiti Bikes rider Jordan Lunn is not only one of the nicest guys in the 4X game, he would leave most of us for dead in the start gate.

Check out this great report from an Elite training session with some of the biggest names in the British 4X at the Manchester indoor BMX track and British Cycling HQ....

This week saw the first meeting of the Great Britain 4X team; 12 hand selected riders from nationwide turned up for a training and tuition session, at the British Cycling headquarters in Manchester. I was fortunate enough to be one of the selected riders, and gladly took the offer.

Will Longden, British Cycling Gravity Co-ordinator, have arranged for the team to be tutored, alongside himself, under the watchful eyes of Scott Beaumont Ex World Champion and current Team rider and Grant White, Team GB BMX coach. The session started at 11.00 and after a long 4 hour drive, it was great to get out on the bike to start off with on the perfect track that is the Manchester indoor BMX track.

The team was split into two groups for more in depth specific training. Experienced elite riders, and less experienced elite, women, junior, and youth riders, of which I was in.

Our group started off with Will on the 8 man Pro Gate gate start. It was great to get some pointers on how to make my gates even faster with some better body positioning.

After getting an hour of gates and sprints in on the track, we then swapped over with the other group and got to play on the 3rd and 4th straight; notoriously technical they made for a good session. We had Scott giving us a few pointers on how to get through the deep transitions, and after a few runs I was getting through the Pro line in different ways, as well as the last straight.

We all finished off the riding session with mixed group full laps. This had everyone panting by the end of a lap, and even saw a few textbook 4X lines taken in the corners. With the track session done, it was time to head back to the classroom (somewhere a lot of us thought we would never have to go again!). This time at least we were all learning about something that we enjoyed.

Will Longden and Scott Beaumont talked us through our goals for the year, and how to get them, taking into account everything from mental preparation to nutrition. We also spoke about Worlds selection and what they are looking for in eligible riders.

It was a great day, which shows a positive future for British 4X. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and look forward to the next time we all head up to Manchester for another session.

A big thanks to Will and Scott for arranging the day and forming the new team, British Cycling for the use of the facilities, and as ever all of my sponsors Identiti Bikes, Halo Wheels, Gusset Bikes, Schwarlbe tyres, ODI, TSG, MRP, White Brothers, Flying Tiger Paintwork, Drift Innovation, 100% Goggles, 365 Skinz and JT Racing.

Until next time, take it easy!
Jordan ‘Whippy’ Lunn