Time to fully focus on Olympics after Rihanna night out

I was invited down for the Helios Awards by BP where I met retired US sprint star turned commentator Michael Johnson. I'm not sure if there's anyone with a better voice in sport and all I wanted was for him to come up and say "hi Lizzie".

Anyway, one of the PR girls there asked him if he'd say hello, he did just that, I blushed and that was pretty much it. Also, I posed for a photo with him and he signed his book for me. What a cool guy and, as I said, what a cool voice.

I was put up for the night in the Landmark Hotel - now that's pretty posh - and the following night I was invited by Adidas to their box at the O2 to watch Rihanna in concert.

I've got to say I was a bit shocked. I reckon she should have had an over-18 certificate for the concert. Put it this way, she was really going for it.

But it was a good night with fellow cyclists Becky James and Jess Varnish and some of the triathlon girls before starting the push to next year.

There are times as a cyclist where you pine for a normal life, whatever that is, and you get that towards the end of the tough season but, after my winter break, I didn't want a normal life any more.

I wanted my normality, my routine and to get back into training which has increased in recent weeks both on the road and in the gym. And training's going well apart from when the snow started to fall in Manchester yesterday which makes things a bit trickier on the bike.

At the moment, I'm slightly in limbo. There's been all sorts of rumours about my Garmin-Cervélo team and I genuinely don't know what's happening. As it stands, I have a contract with the team but there's been uncertainty about its future. I hope the situation sorts itself out soon as we're supposed to be out at winter training camps preparing for next season, which is obviously a really big one with London in mind.

The one good thing about uncertainty is that it tends to help my riding and my training - I actually find it easier to ride my bike. The way I see it is that, if I'm in peak condition and able to win races like last season, then everything will be okay. Being on the bike is a bit like escapism and I love it.

I got a few headlines the other day for my comments about Nicole Cooke and me at the World Championships. You say one thing over a cup of tea and it gets blown out of all proportion!

It's been made out to be quite a big deal but Nicole is a fantastic bike rider and she deserves to be a team leader when she's on her best form.
We're just working to have the best team possible to go for gold at next year's Games - everyone wants that.

I've also joined Twitter although I've not totally got to grips with it yet. It seems a bit dull probably because I'm only following a few people, mostly cyclists.

I can't help but think what's wrong with a proper sentences rather than all these hashes and slashes. Anyway, my mates are giving me some tips to get up to speed so I'm sure I'll get the hang of it soon.

Follow Lizzie on Twitter @L_ArmiTstead