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Back in Vissenaken, for a few days at least!- 16.01.2012

Phew, a day to turn around and get things done; update the website, write some cards and letters, visit friends and maybe even lie down and relax :-)

Spain was great fun though I returned feeling very jaded; not surprising given the volume that we managed to fit in during the 7 days that we were there. We were blessed with fine weather for the full duration; never below 17 degrees. With an evening flight on Wednesday it meant that we were late home in Berlare; I felt empty on Thursday. I could still muster energy to get excited about my new bike however; fresh from www.n7evenbikes.be , it’s beautiful. I have never ridden such a good looking bike! It matches the kit perfectly too.

I was kept occupied on Friday with the inevitable unpacking, washing and packing up again; team training on Saturday in Luyksgestel meant an early start. It was fantastic to have the whole team together again, this time on the bikes. The weather was kind and allowed a solid training session without (too much) interruption!! Following the training we were treated to some fantastic food at the Sengers’ house. Thank you www.sengers.com

With one more solid training under the belt yesterday I am now taking it easy, letting my body recover and repair. This week I begin exam marking and on Monday I fly to the sun again to spend two weeks with www.citruscycling.co.uk . Good timing I think given the winter wonderland that could be seen from the bedroom window this morning!:-)

A couple of pics from activities over the New Year.

Joking after 10 mile TT on New Year's Day

The drawing presented to Nick, from the first little man to the final image!!

Nomadic- 06.01.2012

My Christmas was not actually spent as planned. Normally I should have been in Yorkshire with my family; P&O Ferries had other ideas when they cancelled my ferry home on Christmas Eve. I have great friends in Cheltenham and this is where I spent Christmas.

Between Christmas and New Year I could fit in 5 quality days of training; by day 5 my legs were complaining somewhat and had earned a good few days of recovery. I headed down to Brighton to celebrate a friend’s 50th; I am sure that he will appreciate me mentioning his age on my BLOG! ;-) It was a great end to 2011 and I blew out the cobwebs on New Year’s Day by chaperoning young Josh during his first ever 10 mile TT; the nephew of the same friend.

A few hours later I was back on Belgian soil and planning my next trip; 7 days in Benidorm with Sofie and Eline for some endurance training in the sunshine! So this is where today’s BLOG comes from. We now have 3 training rides in the bag, each one in 18+ degrees :-)

The team kit was ready just before the New Year and looks great; very similar to last year with a few subtle changes and several new sponsors!! Photos will follow in a few days when I get round to taking the camera out with me!

I am really grateful to personal sponsors who have stayed on board for 2012; Specialized http://www.specialized.com/gb/en/bc/SBCExperience.jsp?eid=4927&menuItemId=10837 , Shock Absorber www.shockabsorber.co.uk Citrus Cycling www.citruscycling.co.uk , Althletic Mind www.athleticmind.co.uk and www.cyclingnews.nu . Without personal sponsors I simply could not continue to pursue this way of life; THANK YOU.

Celebrating a special birthday with cycling mates.

The last 10 days in pictures!- 26.12.2011

On Friday 16th I said goodbye to friends in Cheltenham while attending a black tie dinner to celebrate the end of the school term. 16 hours later I was in snowy Ovifat for karaoke and snow fights. After 5 days of good training and lots of drawing I could present Nick Nuyens with a black and white image during an evening for his supporters; an interview over De Ronde with Michel Wuyts. 

I am now back in England for one week enjoying some good company, mild weather, quality training and quiet recovery time. 

Happy Christmas everyone, and Happy Birthday to the best Mum in the world!!! :-) xxx  

Dubbel Leven-20.12.2011

The last two weeks have continued to be as busy as ever; I have frustratingly found very little time to draw. This has left me with quite a challenge over the next 3 days; completion of a black and white ready for an exhibition on Friday evening.

At 3am on Saturday I left Cheltenham behind. Being busy for the last 10 days there was a blessing; I simply did not have time to think about the fact that my departure from great friends was going to be a little bit gut wrenching!!! I really feel like I am leading a double life; a life in England and a life in Belgium. Leaving things behind in England felt harder than ever this time, the friends that I have there have been so supportive, encouraging and generous over the last weeks. Thanks to everyone at DCS; I miss you all!

I am now in Belgium; I travelled directly to Ovifat for a weekend with the team. Unfortunately a small problem with my car and delays on the ferry meant that I missed out on langlaufen, I did however get to enjoy a late night walk and snow fight, plus some serious karaoke! The heavy snowfall through the night meant that we were limited on Sunday morning but the company was good so no one was complaining!!
The area where we stayed was beautiful; I promise photos soon.

Training and drawing are heavily occupying my days between now and Christmas. I am really looking forward to Friday evening when I get to expose my paintings at a function in Herenthout with Michel Wuyts and Nick Nuyens.

I will jump on the ferry on Christmas Eve and arrive in the north of England on Christmas day; perfect!

 

Life is Hectic- 29.11.2011

For the last few years everything has fitted round my cycling. Suddenly cycling is now fitting round everything else. This is how I used to function prior to leaving my teaching job and moving out to Belgium. However, an age old saying rings in my ears as I rush from one location to another or back to where I am living to get a training session in between lessons; ‘A change is as good as a rest’. How true this is proving to be for me right now.

Despite fighting to find the time to draw or really relax at the moment, I absolutely love the life here. There is no doubting that I will return to teaching when I have finished with cycling.

This weekend was an exeat; all the students go home on a Friday evening and do not return until Sunday evening (normally there are lessons on Saturdays and activities on Sundays). After training in the Cotswolds on Saturday I headed to Monmouth to visit a friend. On Sunday I could train on the roads there which are really beautiful and generally very quiet. I took a route out of Monmouth to climb up to Skenfrith before taking in Abergavenny, Usk and several little villages perched high up on the west side of the Wye Valley. Unlike many scenic route in England the roads in Wales tend to be much quieter; almost barren in places; I considered a real treat to be out on the roads and ‘have them to myself’!

Training continues to go well, as does core stability work. I am still focusing on building up some volume so that the back can gradually adjust to being on the bike for longer durations.

The team is keeping busy in Belgium; eetfeesten and social gatherings. I miss it, at the same time but accept that I can not be travelling to and from Belgium all the time. I will see them all in 3 weeks and am really looking forward to that.

I have news of other sorts so will use that as my next BLOG, hopefully a little more prompt than this one!

A vast and open landscape in Skenfrith

Long time, no BLOG- 11.11.2011

It's been a long time since I last added to the homepage; my apologies.

There has simply not been enough worth talking about! About two weeks ago I came down with what was intially a viral infection. This sparked off my asthma and set me on the side for a full week. It was unfortunate timing since it was the week that I had planned to spend in Yorkshire with family while continuing to build up the volume on the bike.

I was finally back in action at the weekend and managed a steady 3 hours on Sunday. The situation where my back is concerned coninues to make positive progress despite occassional off-days. I am learning that particular things tend to trigger the symptoms; primarily sitting in one position for too long! This means that driving is quite an issue!

The second half of term at school is well underway and I am fully occupied here as a cram ridiculous amounts oft hings into each day and manage to train on top of it all! I love it this way!

One final mention for the team. It is complete for 2012 and I was super envious of the first gathering which involved playing indoor football. I am looking forward to December when I will get to meet all the girls!

Team talk; all look's like lots of fun to me.

A short break ahead- 21.10.2011

I have really enjoyed the last 3 weeks at work and have managed to throw myself into teaching and have definitely integrated in the school community very well :-) I've been so busy that I haven't even had time to think about my back! I have, however, managed to ride my bike! How refreshingly novel to finish a ride, unclip and swing my leg over the bike while straightening my back and not feel one little twinge of pain in my lower back! I am working on core stability twice daily and enjoying a pilates class too; something I never thought that I would find myself doing!

Today is that start of a 2 week half term; for me more time with friends and family! :-) I will travel up north later in the week.

Trying to be relevant- 11.10.2011

When I decided to return teaching for a few months I knew that it would be difficult to maintain a relvant BLOG; especially since I would initially still be taking time off the bike.

Back Home- 30.09.2011

My time in the North is flying by and I am really looking forward to my next venture even if it does mean packing several bags, again!!!!!

I have spent a large chunk of time with my sister; reminding me how much I miss her when I am in Belgium. Nothing in particular achieved but just simply enjoying time together; that is special enough. :-)

I have begun light exercise each day now- walking or swimming; comfortably up to 2000m in the pool most days. This definitely does not aggravate my back. Next week I can start stabilisation work.

Circumstances in Belgium have resulted in me having to look for new accommodation for 2012. I was really upset to hear that it was no longer possible to remain in Vissenaken; however I naturally remain extremely grateful for the happy months that I have had there.

I hope to find a solution in the coming months enabling me to remain in the ‘streek’; I am very content there since I have made great friends over the last 4 years and know the roads well too. 2012 will be my last year of racing and I do not want to make such a big change for my final months in Belgium. Naturally if you are reading this from the Belgium and know of possible solutions in that area please do let me know ;-)

I have literally just received the news that the team will become UCI in 2012; THANK YOU to Henk, www.cyclingnews.nu and indeed all the sponsors. Also, of course to the management; Marc, Filip and Peter.

Lastly, the tooth is out! I simply have to tidy my room up so that it is not viewed as a health and safety risk by the tooth fairy. This time tomorrow I will be rich! :-)

Bye-bye Muur- 09.2011

It's what everyone has been talking about in Belgium for the last 3 days! A sad decision in my opinion; not just from a cyclist/spectator point of view, but also from an artists point of view. The photo below has been on my BLOG once before, but I thought it appropriate to 'bring it out' again; it was taken from the top of the Muur.

I return to England this week and feel like that this is a definitive line under my season. Despite having stopped racing over a month ago things have painfully dragged on for me with regards to uncertainty. I am looking forward to being in England; initially with family, a little later with friends in Cheltenham where I can throw myself into some work :-)

I have one last thing to resolve before stepping back into physical activity and that is a tooth; it HAS to go. My uncle will have the pleasure of tearing it out; I will gladly let him do it. It is currently making me feel really sick :-(

Next BLOG from the other side of the pond :-) Enjoy the worlds- my favourites: Vos for the women. Cancellara, Gilbert or Sagan by the men!

The end of me creating new pieces like this?

View from the top of the Muur.

Definitely not about the bike- 12.09.2011

It’s tough being in Belgium and not being able to ride or race my bike; I feel like a vegetarian forced to endure time in a butchers! So naturally I am doing everything I can to occupy my little mind! :-)

During the last 3 weeks have completed no less than 4 books (Left for Dead, Nick Ward; Little Women, Louisa May Alcott; Open, Andre Aggassi; Sister, Rosamund Lupton), two paintings and undertaken lots of promotional work for the art. The thought of another 4 weeks off the bike is a little less daunting than the sound of 6 weeks off that I heard three weeks ago ;-) !!!!

I hope to return to England within a week of my next consultation with the spinal specialist. Once there I have arranged a stint back at Dean Close; my employers before I decided to race my bike! I am extremely excited about returning to the world of teaching and boarding. It’s been over 5 years since I last taught and I am expecting huge changes in the classroom. However, I am ready to jump in the deep end and prepare for an ultimate return to the profession!

I am keen to know when I can get back on my bike and am also excited about training again, specifically in the Cotswolds and the Forest of Dean; an area where I discovered bike racing! Everything will become a little clearer by the middle of the week I hope.

By the way, I HIGHLY recommend Open by Andre Aggassi (it was actually my second time of reading it), even if you are not a tennis fan I promise you that you will LOVE this book :-)