...put me on 2 wheels and I have no road sense whatsoever...

I have discovered that I am a secret sports fan, it's been going on years and I've just realised it. Yesterday I found myself watching the athletics from Birmingham followed a little later by Bradley Wiggins 1 hour time trail world record attempt, followed by the Isle of Mann TT highlights. This wouldn't have been so bad if it was a one off but I have had the Isle of Mann TT on record for the past few years. I look forward the Rugby 6 Nations at the beginning of every year, there is often a World Championship or Olympic Games or a World Cup (Rugby preferably or football as a consolation prize) and then there are the Iron Man competitions they show on TV and the various athletics meets and occasionally boxing. When did this happen and why didn't I even notice?

The Isle of Mann TT is one of my highlights, it is simply incredible. I have my favourites of course, there is the fan's favourite, Guy Martin and let's hope he wins a TT race this year, there is the old guard, John McGuiness (21 times winner) and Bruce Anstey (lap record holder and 10 times winner as of Sunday) and the young guns, such as Lee Johnston and Michael Dunlop although he's a seasoned racer he is young,, who will be one of the greatest ever, just like his Uncle Joey, the King of the Road and many others such as Ian Hillier who deserves a win after 30+ operations after an accident that meant he has both his legs and is still racing and is very fast (2nd Sunday).

Here is Bruce's fastest lap from 2014, on board camera: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2g5ldr

I am not a biker, put me on 2 wheels and I have no road sense whatsoever, I am dangerous and not in a cool way, stupidly dangerous so I don't ride bikes and as I get older, I realise that they actually scare me more with every passing year. Watching the IoM TT, the bikes hit very close to 200mph and the frames, wheels, forks, all flex and pull in different directions. Seeing the front wheel of a bike wobbling while the rear wheels are snaking, all at 200mph and all the rider says (Bruce Anstey in this case) is "it got a little out of shape..." I can't fathom it, I would do an emergency stop after that and push the bike back.
Now the thing is, biking was always looked on as being cool and without doubt it is but these guys aren't that type of Barry Sheen cool, they are nerds. Mostly soft spoken, they live for the race and in between times they fill in the time with "mechanicking" or BMX riding and family. They are not the archetypal heroes on two wheels that we expect. I think they are amazing, they have no fear where every year my fear grows, maybe it is the the thrill of the race that out weighs the fear of death and many die on this course, there is usually one per TT (this year it was the Frenchman, Frank Petricola in practise 3 days before the racing was due to start) or maybe they just know how to bury it deep and live off the adrenaline rush. I do find them fascinating as personalities, they are a different breed and their lives are bikes, they use the IoM TT as their family holidays and they come from all over the Globe to compete and yet the prize money is low, £20,000 for the most prestigious races, bear in mind that is a fraction of the cost of the bikes but it might cover the transportation and running costs, so this isn't about the money, these races are pure unsullied competitive man and machine against the course, against time and against the various component elements that seek to crush him. This is a time trial race, each rider goes off 10 seconds apart and invariably the faster racers can get held up by back markers and it is this uncertainty together with the varied conditions of the course, that make this so exciting. One part can be bathed in sun where the mountain can be misty and windy and in other parts the overhanging trees can make the road damp. At these extreme speeds this isn't about reactions, it is about memorising the course because by the time you see the next bend it's too late, you're already into it and with the variable track conditions it is a case of "he who dares Rodney, he who dares...."

The rest of the week to go. I missed last nights highlights but I have them recorded so a double dose tonight. I am thinking that I might have to go over and visit the TT one year, although I seem to have promised myself a number of trips that haven't happened yet so I guess this will be one that I will just have to hope for and see if I remember to book tickets and accommodation in time.