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I'm back!- 01.02.2012
It’s been far too long again since I updated here. However, I am certain that things are now becoming much more settled; that is to say the season is almost here! In fact, for some girls in the team it is! Good luck to Anna and Birgit as they tackle the wonder that is Qatar! ;-)
My brief stay in Belgium was as busy as ever. Along with 5 other team mates I attended Velofollies in Kortrijk on it’s opening day. It was great to be able to meet some of the teams generous sponsors and supporters without whom who simply wouldn’t be racing. Velofollies is a high profile bike show attracting huge crowds and the atmosphere was super. The girls were seriously happy to have met Mega Toby to; the highlight of the evening (apparently!). Thanks to Alain Sennesael we have some great photos of the evening, in addition the teams supporting website- http://www.cyclingnews.nuhas had a revamp; check it out!
The following day we managed a solid 4 hours training in Flanders and the wind! The team training weekends are great for getting to know the new girls; both on and off the bike as we all tuck into spag bol after the training! :-) I began marking exams that evening and have been doing so ever since! I finished them yesterday; what a relief!
Since last Monday I have been with http://www.citruscycling.co.uk in Benidoleig; I love it here! On Monday I will join the team in Benidorm; it will be fantastic fun to train as a team for the full week. The last weeks have not been as smooth as I would have hoped; I knew that things would not be a breeze this year given how I ended last season but I am keeping perspective and believe that everything happens for a reason! I was able to train today with a very positive sensation and feel that the problems of the last weeks have been resolved.
Pictures from Vellofollies.
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.