WELCOME TO MY WEBSITE. ALL MY LATEST NEWS IS RIGHT HERE ON THE HOME PAGE.
England and back- 18.05.2012
I went, I saw and I returned! Where does time go? Fortunately I could see the whole family even though I only had 6 days in England- that is mum, dad, brother, sister, niece and nephew. Of course I could 'geniet' from the beautiful weather and super country lanes. Since my passion for cycling did not develop until I was 20 and living in Bath/Bristol/Cheltenham there are still opportunities to discover new roads and routes when I visit home; every cyclists dream! :-)
I go to Maastricht tomorrow to be with the team for the weekend; it's been a long time. My progress on the bike is slow and since a blood test revealed a rather low red blood cell count warnings not to push it have been repeated. I need to find more patience!!!
New news on the art page... please take a look after enjoying the pictures from my time in England.
Always difficult to get fair reflection of the work itself when it is already hanging in the frame, this does give a good idea of the size and intricacy of a piece of work that I completely about 10 years ago and is now hanging in my sister's house!
Open fields near Follifoot
A typical view, here taken from Nearby
The 'All Clear'- 08.05.2012
This is what I got at the end of last week! I can race again! The road back is not going to be quick or easy but I am ready for it. After a consultation with the specialist and my doctor I am fully informed about what has occured and what to expect in the coming weeks. Training and racing through a viral infection caused an 'ontstekking' on my heart (swelling/infection); my body will need time to recovery now.
Now I will take a trip across the pond and visit my family who I have not seen since November; the last weeks without family have been tough! I will stay in Yorkshire for a few days and enjoy starting my second 'winter' of the 2012 season. I intend to enjoy every minute of it despite the current bad feeling s on the bike; riding it is not right, it's a privilege, always!
A short tour, with dry weather!- 03.05.2012
On Friday I lost my friends- the wires and cables! :-) In celebration I stuck two panniers on my training bike and took myself off for a few days touring! I was the luckiest girl alive for 5 days; I think! No punctures and not one single drop of rain! I did a loop that initially took me southwards, then headed east, then north and zig-zagged back home! For those who like to look to a map here's the route!
My last night was spent in a super B&B in Bierleu Haut, close to Chevron. I can not recommend it enough; a most comfortable house but more importantly two fantasitc hosts; both with a unique and inspiring story to tell. If you have a slightest interest in travel to any country you would be inspired by this lovely couple! No website I am afraid, but trust my word! Shamrock Guest House; go there!
For the flemish readers there is a nice article here about me from today's paper!
Day 1
Vissenaken- Tienen- Hélécine- Orp-Jauche- Jandrain- Jandrenouille- Foix-les-Caves- Ramilles- Eghezée- Leuze- Tillier- Franc Waret- Vezin- Nameche- Goyet- Mozet- Wierde- Naninne- Dave- Profondville- Arbre- (Six Bras tour)- Bioul- Maredsous- Sosoye- Falaen
Day 2
Falaen- Anhée- Dinant- Sorinnes- Achene- Leignon- Pessoux- Scy- Barvaux Condroz- Maffe- Some-Leuze- Granhan- Hotton- rendeux- La Roche-en-Ardenne- Houfflaiz- Tavigny- Hachiville- Trois-Vierges- Wilderdange- Weiswampa- Ouren- Auel- Elcherath- Winterspelt
Day 3
Winterspelt- Urb- Setz- Schonberg- Andler- Holzheim- Bullingen- Rocherath- (N658-258) Schleiden- Gemund- Wolfgarten- Heimbach- Schmidt- Nideggen- Berg
Day 4
Berg- Nideggen- Boich- Schlagstein- Udingen- Kreuzau- Lendersdorf- Duren- Rolfsdorf- Schevenhutte- Gressenicch- Mousbach- Vicht- Zweifall- Mulartshutte- Rott- Roetgen- Lammersdorf- Simerath- Eicherscheid- Imgenbroich (langs Rur)- Monschau- kalterherberg- Sourbrodt- Botrange- Mont rigi- Jalhay- Surister- Polleur- Theux- Becco- La Reid- Haute Desnié- Stoumont- Targnon- Bierleu-Haut
Day 5
Bierleu-Haut- Tergnon- Lorcé- Harze- Harzé-Xhoris- Comblain-la-Tour- Comblain-lau-Pont- Mont- Anthisnes- Hody- Limont- Esneux- Strivai- Plainevaux- Bout-de-Rotheux- Rotheux-Rimière- Neuville-en-Condroz- Engis- Saint-Geoorges-sur-Meuse- Verlaine- Seraing-le-Chateau- Chapon-Seraing- Vaux-et-Borset- Les Waleffes- Tourinne- Lens St Servais- Abolens- Trognée- Cras Averna- Walshoutem- Waasmont- Lincent- Hélécine- Tienen- Vissenaken
Germany; stunning views.
Roads without a car in sight :-)
Churning the work out- 26.04.2012
I was not so smart last week when I created Sybar; large and on black paper! Not good for the copy center!! Since I had promised prints to a few customers ( a promise is a promise!), I had to quickly produce an alternative print friendly image. Gradually building up the online shop; keep looking!
All sorts of everything- 21.04.2012
I am still wearing my cables and monitor; 6 days to go! I will be arranging a small party to celebrate 'losing' it next Friday!!!
The week has been a combination of painting, 'cycling' (related activities!!), work for art promotion and work on the website (online shop slowly being built up).
I am VERY lucky to live here and not be hassled about leaving things lying around; most people simply would not stand for the mess I make! It is restricted to a small area but it's mess all the same; perhaps it's interesting for 'oma' to watch my progress on certain pieces. It's certainly rewarding for me when I finish a piece, can collect it from the framers and deliver it to a happy 'customer'. The piece in question this week can still not be displayed here; a little more patience please. In the meantime the latest works are coming along well as you can see below.
Thanks to Guy (www.belisol.be) I was able to watch Fleche Wallone on wednesday from the comfort of the VIP tent. From there I was willing Jelle to a win; the tent was at the bottom of the Muur and clearly he didn't here me!! However, it was still an enjoyable day despite being on the 'other sides'. It was great to see the girls in action and in particular Anna (in her first season of racing) produce a great performance.
On Friday I joined with www.10speedhr.be , Hedwig Neeson and Stijn at www.labasdiest.be to chat about cycling, art and life in general!! A small sample of work my work can now be seen in La Bas in Diest, so get yourself there if you are in the neighbourhood; the soup and taart come highly recommended!
Lastly a link to an extensive article about me! Thanks for your interest Giles; nicely put together. Also a shout for this online publication which gives a very balanced coverage of cycling in GB, on the continent and accross all disciplines for BOTH male and female; nice work boys!
http://www.thecyclingpost.co.uk/latest-issue/
Loving my 'office'
Wired up- 13.04.2012
I am now the frustrating 'carrier' of a heart monitor which hangs round my neck and is attached to my torso with 5 cables. This is not going to be an easy week (it cannot be removed and must not get wet!!!).
Flying is also forbidden otherwise I may have been in Yorkshire today at a small, but special, family gathering. Uncle Kevin, I will just have to visit you at some point; Australia is perhaps more appealing than Yorkshire anyway ;-)
So, drawing continues, the website is getting some new pages (online shop and updates on the art news). www.10speedhr.be are keeping me busy with some exciting ventures for exposure of my work.
My latest piece is taking shape and I am happy with progress.....
Another week without structured training, a sprinkling of appointments and permission to ride my bike at a 'steady level'! Not what any racer wants to hear but there is nothing to be gained by worrying about this situation. I did try doing that for a few days (I'm only human!); it got me nowhere ;-) A couple of days in the Ardennes seems to have helped me regain a little perspective on my situation; at least I can still ride my bike :-) Thanks to all the people here in Belgium for the kind words via e-mail, text message and phone calls; you can not begin to imagine how much your support means to me; non-judgemental support with nothing other than my own personal well-being at the heart of it.
On friday I will be fitted with a monitor to follow my heart for 2 weeks. Following that hopefully some conclusions.
My mind has inevitably wandered to things other than racing; art is taking a front seat. Five weeks ago I started a course in life drawing. I have never had any formal training or education in art. Life drawing was always something that appealed to me. It's easy (in my eyes!) to have a photo in front of you and create an image from it, it's another thing to have a person in front of you and create an image from that! Each lesson follows the same pattern; a series of 5 minute poses for artsists to quickly 'sketch', followed by 2 or 3 longer poses of about 20 minutes. Five minutes is not long, it is truly an art to create an image which is accurately proportioned and a good reflection of what is in front of you!! I have posted many of my efforts below; enjoy!
Since my latest 'big' piece' is (again) a gift I can not yet display here on the website. A little more patience please for this piece in arcryllics. Next up a seriously emotional image of a famous cyclo cross rider; for the rider himself... Always an exciting challenge.
A control freak without control- 27.03.2012
At the age of about 11 I developed an initially worrying habit of fainting. I soon learned to read the symptoms; a rapid increase in my heart rate accompanied by a very pressurized sensation in my chest, an indescribable change in body temperature (very cold but sweating?), loss of consciousness would swiftly follow an overwhelming sensation to vomit. When I ‘came round’ I would still feel extremely nauseous but would be aware of my heart rate being extremely low with the tightening sensation persisting in my chest. This routine became a part of me; the doctor told me that it was my age: ‘you will grow out of it’. Indeed it became less frequent in my 20’s, though I became an expert at reading the signs- a rapidly increased heart rate and blurred vision frequently occured with the main triggers being a hard training or suddenly movement after a long period of rest. The ‘loss of consciousness’ phase became less frequent if I stood or sat very still. I could thus remain in control of the situation and only feel the initial and later symptoms of increased and lowered heart rate with some nausea and chest pressure.
I have not completely avoided losing consciousness during my sporting career (it has occurred in each of swimming, triathlon and cycling at least once); even with an admission to hospital (following a TT in England) I left assured that I had simply ‘perhaps gone a little too deep’. That is what sport is all about after all; it was to me the most obvious explanation. I claim that I know my body and I stand by that; for me these sensations are normal. A tightening chest pain after a tough training for me is normal; I’ve gone deep like I should.
As I read this back I see now how normal for me could be interpretted by anyone else as abnormal. Last Thursday some of the symptoms that I have described above became so extreme for a prolonged period that I considered it no longer normal. 5 days later and with the results of countless tests my case is being evaluated in Leuven. I will be more certain in the coming days.
The past days have not been so easy; Gent-Wevelgem missed, Ronde Van Vlaanderen and Dottignies out of the question, indeed a question mark over the rest of the season. Having a history of heart problems in the family may not be encouraging but, despite this, I remain encouraged. I have ideas about my art work flying round my head to keep me distracted and so many friends simply offering conversation as a distraction. I look forward to jumping back on my bike and being in the peloton again very soon.
One thing that I feel compelled to mention is how, if I was Belgian, this situation could never have come about. In order to gain a race licence in Belgium you must undergo a medical and present the resulting certificate to the federation upon application for your licence. This medical includes an ECG. The ECG was one of the first procedures that I underwent which showed an abnormality in my heart rhythm. Something to think about BCF?!
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!