Team Sky had their official launch on Mon 4th Jan, I had entered a competition via the social network site 'Facebook' and last Wednesday I received a text to say I had been successful I was 1 of 300 out of over 2000 who applied. The instructions at this stage were to be in central London by 0730 on Monday where I would receive a further text on where to proceed to the start point (there were 3 in total.) It was very cloak and dagger but the team were concerned to many cyclists would attend and the police would put a halt to the launch.

I set off for London sat nav programmed for a car park near tower bridge  I left at 4 did not want to miss this opportunity arrived in London -5 on car temp ouch!!! I was thinking maybe shouldn't have brought the Bianchi and should have brought the mountain bike!!!! I set off on my target of Charring Cross station It is one of those things I can tick off commuting through London by bike and with my previous history of being knocked off by a car lets just say my head was more like an owl looking around at everything. Waterloo Bridge found with the aid of a couple of commuters who were happy to take me as far as they were going. Heading towards Charring Cross thought would ask a couple of cyclists who were locking their bikes up and I asked if heading in right direction (I was about 100 yards short, it was still dark!!!) It transpired these 2 were also here for the ride and had cycled in form Sidcup. So we popped into McDonald’s for a coffee whilst staring at our phones!! As we chatted amazing the bond between fellow cyclists Dan stated he cycled round London for his job oh great I thought I’ve ended up with a courier. It turned out he was a Paramedic on the London cycle response team (small world). We got the start location text at half 7, for me it was the inner circle at Regents Park and luckily Dan and Neil’s was the same so heading up safety in numbers.

We arrived safely at the Park and joined approx 40 cyclists already there. No sign of the Team Sky (was this going to be the greatest hoax in cycling history??) Next a Jaguar drove round the corner with all the logos followed by another Jaguar with all the bikes on the roof!!! At this point everyone’s jaw just dropped. You can see they have got the money behind them makes a change to the Skoda’s a lot of the continental teams are using. After a picture opportunity and a brief we were off heading for 3 laps of St James Park. We were told the pros would ride at the front followed by the marshals then us, which made sense for obvious reasons!! However nearly straight away the plan was out of the window, as the pro’s dropped back and mixed with the riders.  I had a thoroughly enjoyable ride and got the chance to talk with Chris Froome, Steve Cummings, Michael Barry, Ian Stannard, Kurt-Asle Arvesen in depth about training, their bikes, equipment, team set up, morale and their planned races. One interesting thing came up and I’m sure some mechanics were getting stick that night around the dinner table as some of the seats were loose!!! The bikes looked absolutely amazing and you can’t appreciate how light they are until you pick them up. The kit looks awesome simple yet effective and Barry they must have listened to the discussion we had out in Italy as all the riders have their name on their tops unfortunately not on the back but on the sides I guess so they can be seen by the cameras on the motorbikes.

All 3 groups met up on The Mall with 3 laps around the park this time the pros were at the front. The tourists that were braving the cold certainly got some good pictures. It was hard to take in the sights as there were so many cyclists and was it almost like a race with everybody trying to get to the front!!! At the end there was the usual PR episode with free Gatorade bottles and drinks and a Team Sky Musette with a few goodies. I managed to locate Wiggins and even got his signature and a brief chat. I managed to meet the 2 who I met earlier and rode off for a coffee before enjoying the ride back to the car taking in a few sites but unfortunately having to concentrate on the traffic and directions.

 Team Sky will change the face of Cycling even more for the better they certainly made a lasting impression you could already see their meticulous detail and planning. Their website is now up and running links below and they have even used my review of the day on the website without my permission... so I may have to contact them and ask for a Pinarello Dogma as compensation!!! I have never bought a Pro Team replica top however this season will be a first and should be available in March. If you visit the websites below I’m sure you’ll agree the kit and bikes are stunning. I certainly know which team I will be following next season. I hope the rest of the country does to, which should hopefully increase Cycling’s popularity even more.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/britishcycling/sets/72157623136091486/show/

You can just make out me and the wheelers shorts 5 pics from the end!!

 http://www.teamsky.com/article/0,27290,17553_5833507,00.html

 http://www.facebook.com/TeamSky?v=photos&sb=4&so=45#/TeamSky?v=wall