Le cantal, the Oxygen Challenge and a fine performance

I'm riding through what seem deserted villages as soon as I leave the motorway on my way to Le Lioran, a ski station in the centre of France. On my way in I've already passed le Puy de Dome, a peak of 1800 meters but this was on the motorway and I've stayed overnight in Orleans because of major jams in Antwerp and Paris.

My sentiments and emotions are the same as ever when I'm driving through this country….I don't belong in Holland. It's these vast and varied spaces and emptiness that I need….this is the place I wish to be. Anyway, I was talking about the empty villages. It really felt unreal that there was literally not a soul on the main road, the shops were closed, the traffic lights out of order and the shutters of the houses shut. Where have I landed I wondered? How is this still possible, in this time and age, that I truly am traversing through ghost towns between 12.00 and 14.00? Is this really the area where this major event, the Oxygen Challenge will be held? Arriving at the scene I can hear the speaker from afar and fair enough, there are cars parked….but a sense of being hopelessly out of place creeps up again….have I done the right thing in driving 1000 km for an event without character?

I pick up my number "mon dossard" and am being welcomed in a very nice way. Although there are not that many people around, it looks well organized..but then this is an A. S.O. event. A couple of guys ask me to take their picture and after a short hour, I decide to check-out the campground. Again, an empty street and village, but the campground looks nice and the welcome is warm. During the rest of the day and evening the campsite fills up with mountain bikers and contact is soon established. Even now, I feel at home and at ease, and I haven't even raced…..my race starts at 11.00 tomorrow and my only goal is to stay in one piece and to enjoy myself. This is my first event after surgery and I'm nervous and excited. The weather seems to hold….the sun is shining and it's going to be hot.

Saturday 23 May 2009

I survived and I even did it in a very good way. I was glad I had changed my race from 50 to 35 km….especially after finishing and having heard other stories. This was not your usual 35 or 50 km race…this was the toughest so far in my racing history. But boy did I ride well, all considering. One of the few to remain on the bike during the final brutal climb towards a ski-station, passing technical passages thanks to control and strong legs and helping out others standing aside their bikes with cramped legs. Had I not taken pictures or helped out or even talked to others just for the fun of it, my time would surely have been 20 minutes better, but who cares. The competitor in me stood up for sure, but the tourist as well as the nature lover was stronger.

The Belgium mountain bike connection

It has been a fascinating and exhausting two weeks. More and more I'm convinced that I want to pass my exams one way or the other in order to bring into practice my knowledge, experience and, most of all, passion. Last week the job brought me to Malmedy, in the Belgium Ardennes, for a test weekend organized by a Belgium mountain bike magazine. Magazine subscribers could test ride bikes of number of brands and the maximum number of 300 had enlisted. Two colleagues and I, all three relatively new to the company were sent out to help, advise and measure the bikes.

We worked our butts off, unable to take a lunch break and working round the clock to help all the Specialized enthusiasts get on a bike, personalizing the suspensions and making sure all comments were heard and questions answered. With over a 100 tests on Saturday and slightly under a 100 on Sunday, we were happy with the performance of our small team and the bikes. Hard work, but very worthwhile. Off to work on Monday morning though, and it was not easy to be as present and kind on the phone as usual…..tired.

After a day off on Koninginnedag, off I went again to Belgium on the Friday, but to Houffalize this time. Houffalize is the spot for World Cups and one of the most technical and exciting tracks of the WC circuit…..Because of the Specialized Factory team with Christophe Sauser and Lene Byberg I was interested in taking a look…but would I be able to get close….and did I really wanna go? Perhaps I should have kept quiet when someone in the office asked who was going to Houffalize, but I raised my hand and had already asked the team manager by email whether I could meet the team. When our suspension guru said that I could bring some parts to the team, there was no way out. I felt obligated to go, and dragged my tired body to Houffalize.

So I arrived on Saturday 2^nd May in Houffalize and dropped off the spare parts. I hung around and was shown around. I could take a close look at the bikes, the newest technology to be tested this weekend and the machinery of the bees surrounding the athletes. With all due respect, I didn't want to get into the way of anybody and most of all, of the athletes. I shook hands with them, but the dazed look on their faces told me that they had no idea who I was of where I came from….They are experts in closing themselves off. Where the mechanics and 'trainer' (nutrition and soigneuse) were happy to answer all my questions and chatter away, the riders would not start talking to me themselves. I respect that and was not surprised, nor offended….I guess it is part of their daily routine. Although it was a short and very interesting day, I decided to take off in the evening, to my precious little home in Amsterdam to get some rest. That means that I wouldn't be there for the big race, but I'll watch it on TV.

It was a rewarding day; I met Thomas Lapeyrie, who is riding for the Scott team and whom I know personally. He's a fine lad and an excellent rider and it was great to talk to him and his parents for a short while. I handed over the relay to my colleague Axel who I saw Saturday evening, for the day of Sunday and stepped into my little green monster to head home. There is also the French Cup race to take a look at, because of a few friends that compete….Too much ; )

A sunny morning on a train. Mine is well protected

Train ride

Riding in a group

Spring is in the air! After months of miserable grey skies, we can finally play outside without fearing the cold, beenies or thick gloves. The playing outside constitutes of riding my road bike during endless hours. It just isn't my thing.


Until I got (bought) my new bike.
Again? Yes, again, but the difference between my 'old' and new road bike is significant. Off course it's a Specialized, a 2008 model Ruby carbon bike in a 48 size. A small, fast and furious little thing. With the bike, a whole new world opened up for me. It still is and will remain a form of training for me. A way of accumulating hours and base speed....
The real roadies wouldn't talk about accumulating hours; they would talk about "making kilometers", but I know better after numerous years of training with professional schedules. Schedules help and they make my life easier to get into shape....it's not just about making/ accumulating kilometers, it's the way you build it up and pace yourself.

My new bike, thus. My position is better and I tire a lot less quickly....the frame is stiff and I can now approach bends and other obstacles in a whole different way. The transfer of power is definitely more efficient.

With the new bike I can now join my collegues on the weekly lunchrides. Initially, the girls would go together and the men could head off at their usual quik pace...but I've only ridden once with one of my female co-workers. My first group ride was a nervous and exhausting affair, where my male co-workers wanted to be the first of the group. I could do nothing but follow.

In the beginning I figured that we were going to ride in turns; 'take over' head to head and I was not afraid to do my part of the job. However, it seems that my initiative was taken up by most of the guys as a signal to ride faster and faster, without much consideration for my first time group effort.
It's not all negative though. To me it is a pleasure to ride in a group to come to grips with the group dynamics of cycling. I had learned a bit during my studies in Sospel and Coustellet, but that was always to nervous; everybody had a say about how to ride and the experience building sucked that way. But now, I can feel and learn what it's like to hide behind a big back and feel the difference in energy expense; I can renew my nervous relationship with the technique of nearly touching the wheel of the person in front of you....It's cool.

It still remains a way of training and not of living though. Mountainbiking rules.
Enjoy the ride

The courtesy of Dutch bikers

How long have I been back now? Just over three months and how often have I ridden around on the sinewy roads around Amsterdam and the foresty lands around Arnhem? About 15 times?

The people I encounter during my rides are rude.....so far I've had one or two responses in my greetings to the riders I face. It would have been nice to say 'encounter' but I don't 'encounter' anybody, because they're so rude.....The 99% percent majority of men don't want to recognise that cycling can be done with pleasure...that the joy of riding can be visibly on one's face or in one's attitude. They are grumpy men, who take themselves extreeeemely serious. The 1% of ladies I meet does say hello....in strong recognition that we are a rare breed.

I always say hello when I 'encounter' a different rider, be it a mountainbiker or roadrider....it's the way we do things in France....in saying hello, we acknowledge the pleasure of being outdoors, we recognise the passion of riding bikes and in saying hello we also acknowledge that in case of emergency we help eachother....It's the way it should be.
But here, in the Netherlands, we just want to outsmart eachother on our bikes....Greeting eachother would be the equivalent of actually enjoying your surroundings....of acting as if riding under grey skies and rain is part of the deal here, but that our passion is stronger than our mood or desire to have another stroopwafel and cup of coffee on Saturday or Sunday morning.

In all honesty people....lighten up...don't worry and be happy....enjoy the ride and show it.

Specialized's french network

Here I am, back in France, for a week of visiting clients, with my tandem colleage of the outside sales. The week is almost over, I'm going home in a couple of hours and I'm not even unhappy about it.
It's been really cool to see some of the people I'll have on the phone, to see their shop and where and how they are positioned....but on the other hand, I've really been sick as a dog all week. Does is matter what it is? The flu, or a conjunctivitis or just a really nasty cold? Not really...i should not have left my home to go to France in the first place on Monday morning. It will take me so much longer now to recover and get back into the full swong of training....I screwed up my health this past week and the consideration of other people was not there.

You know, driving in the Jura and Alsace and Colmar, Dijon and Chaumont, the snow and wind have been spectaculair. It has also made me realise that I miss the place. That I miss the big open spaces and nature. I really really miss the place.

I've seen faboulous bike shops, shacks and traditionalists....machos that will never talk to me me on the phone but who always ask for a male colleage, kind and funny guys that will appreciate my knowledge of cycling and one woman that runs a shop. However, all in all, I'm not all that impressed this week. Let my sick bones and stuffed and sore head and eyes be the reason for it.

Specialized Safire

It ain't mine.....let's put that in front of anything else. It is a beautiful bike though!!

On a cold winter day with a stiff wind I decided to go for my first big ride since my knee surgery on the first of october 2008. It's not my kind of weather, but I have to re-begin my training some day, don't I.

So, this bike is on loan, from the job though, let's put that straight!! Don't know whether you knew, but I started at Specialized in December. I just wanted to see some bikes last week; I'd like to KNOW what I'm talking about on the phone to customers, but instead of just seeing and touching, I got one on loan. I could bring it home hahaha.

I'm not going to bore you with the specs....I'm testing and comparing with my old Epic, and after one long day I can't give any definites.....

It's sooo light though! In the background the skaters on the frozen ponds and lakes and in the foreground this beauty of a bike. The weight did make a difference during the final kilometers, when my legs hurt, my knee burned and the power had gone. There the difference was obvious. On any other bike I've had, I would have suffered those last 15 minutes, but now it felt difficult but souple. That's it for now. Happy riding, whereever you are.

I'll keep you informed.
Winter day

IAMSTERDAM

I admit, it has nothing to do with riding bikes..But this picture was too good to ignore. Amsterdam has bathed in sunlight the last couple of days and with the temperatures close to 0 C and the ice rings in the city I couldn't resist. Happy people enjoying a few moments on the ice under perfect conditions.

I wish the world a pleasurable passage into the new year, health and happiness in the new year and lots of good riding.

More bikes

While my first mountainbike is in my cellar with a flat tire that simply will not stay inflated, while my race bike is still sitting in storage in its protective bag, I saw a cruiser bike that doesn't have my name on it yet, but which I adore....and its comfortable. I can put my feet down, without fear for my knee(s), I can look around with a straight back and it will ride through mud and sleat with its fat tires. I simply love it. The colour too!! hihihihi.

My first week in my new job was allright. I haven't seen a bike yet, at least not the ones I'm supposed to sell....I merely had to get to terms with the software.
With all this going on, I do pose myself the question that I should stay in touch with my trainers course and the ideas and knowledge obtained. I gotta find myself a few people, to write schedules for, in order to verify my diploma....Fair enough, it's winter, and who wants to be bothered with schedules when the weather is too miserable to ride anyway, but I'm looking and I've got a few ideas.
Have a great Christmas everybody and happy riding now and in 2009!

Back in Amsterdam

The last three months I haven't been able to write....these things happen. In accordance with my orthopedic surgeon in Saint Raphael, I decided to have knee surgery. My left knee this time, after having had the same operation on the other knee two years ago.
So, reconstructive surgery to have my anterior cruciform ligament replaced. It went well, very well. 8 Weeks after surgery I was back on my bike for a fantastic short therapeutic ride on the seaside front of Saint Raphael.
The sun was shining, a cold wind and fresh air, after weeks of physiotherapy and therapeutic pain. We took the swelling afterwards for granted....it had been worth it.

Tomorrow I start my new job at Specialized in a small town not far from Arnhem in Holland. It ain't the South of France, but it is Specialized!!
In the mean time I have found my new city bike....gotta safe some money first though.
See you soon!

Pret

Ready to roll; enfin, bref il faut dire quelque chose. 3 heures plus tard il pleuvait et j'était très triste d'avoir partie!

A blue dutchman on the Mont Ventoux

I was minding my own business at home yesterday, when I received an sms that I "could check such and such website to see pictures of the Mont Ventoux". It took me a few minutes to realise that it was my brother and after browsing through hundreds of pictures to find my brother's, I got him. I think his time was decent too.
And I was so proud of him, not only that he has conquered the beast, in hot conditions by the looks of it, but also that he did it in the colours of my club in Saint-Raphael, OCR. So I downloaded a picture.



We are a crazy family. Raised with judo and karate and other martial arts, but both more into riding two wheels. Don't get me wrong; I still love judo and I wish I was still able to practise it... Mountainbiking is judo on two wheels in a way. I have to struggle with the terrain and if I don't give way and move with it, in order to pass difficult passages, the mountain and the terrain will win. Very symbolic perhaps, but not less the truth.
I am still in Amsterdam; prepare the tons of theory concerning rules, regulations and measurements concerning bikes, competitions and organisations and I try to ride as much as I can. The weather is a big 'casse pied' It's grey, cold ,wet or windy. Honestly, I'm miserable on my bike. But things need to be done in order to be fit.
The week after the exams its time for........Le fameux Roc d'Azur! HA HA

Back home in Amsterdam

After a forced, yet pleasurable holiday in France, I came back to Amsterdam last week. The usual culture shock occured. The big city mentality that shocked me, the crowded streets and people taking the sidewalk for themselves; the defensiveness of the majority of people; survival mode......more and more I outgrow the city.

I go for rides, but get bored; the little technical hills to practise were vandalised by the local council....somebody complained that mountainbikers were having fun on these hills, and he/she didn't approve of it. Welcome back. It annoyed me.

Yesterday I cycled to Arnhem. Off I went in the morning and 4,5 hours later and 110km further I arrived. I was cold the whole way through. The weather forecast was slightly wrong and I carried only my team shirt....not enough when the system is comfortable at 30 C and all of a sudden its 10 degrees colder.

Don't think I'm not enjoying myself, although I sound grumpy. I am grumpy, mea culpa!!

My holidays were wonderful. Just have a look at the pictures. I witnessed nature renew itself when the cigale crouched out of its last shell; I visited the old village of Oppède le Vieux in le Luberon and was utterly amazed why people had chosen such a spot and height to build a church; my mum and I visited Cluny and were flabbergasted by the size and magnitude of the old abbey and what it has signified; we went out for dinner more often than financially sound, but had fun doing it; we got acquinted with lots of nice people whom I haven't said 'goodbye' to. All in all summer is doing its thing with and to me in a different way than usual and this is refreshing.

More later.

Cigale

Hij kwam uit z'n laatste huid kruipen

A Royal reward after a big hit

After a big hit during the raid, the guys looked at me, saw nothing and put me back on my bike. The big hit, however, was on my head, on my cheekbone to be more precise and when the group looked at me, afterwards, they must have seen a vague empty look. They did not see any suffering because I was in shock. I felt a crack.

The only woman of the pack, a difficult track and a wet and slippery surface.....I couldn't follow. I listened to some advice and I went on my face big time. I felt the concusion occur and I knew that I should not continue this madness. The guys however did not understand the severity.

I am mad, very mad. Because with a concussed head they made me continue and the next accident was bound to happen. Thinking in hindsight, I cannot think at all, it's a blur, it's been stupidity and most of all, it's absolute irresponsibility to leave someone alone to sort out her misery.

And so, with a concussed head and a cracked menisc I stepped into my car on Saturday morning and drove to Arnhem. We arrived in Arnhem at 22.00, went to bed, ready for the big Royal Reward ceremonie for my dad on sunday.

The icing on the cake after a disastrous week and the emotions of my dad were genuine. He was surprised, surrounded by family and friends and everybody was very, very happy.

Final preparations

Sunday afternoon; it's raining cats and dogs.....it's pissing down and it's not the first day. We've had rain like this for two consecutive weeks now and although I do not mind to much, it's giving me bad vibes for the 5-day Raid that I am about to embark on.

The last two weeks have been filled with preparations at Sospel. I was sleeping in my tent and luckily I put up the big one. Luckily, because that way I did not bring in the drab, the humidity of my shoes....I could take it off in the 'living-area' and sleep dry and warm, thanks to an excellent silk sheet and down sleeping bag.

We've had fun, held a bbq, yelled and cursed and kept on preparing our raid. Last week we've been busy mapping our routes. It is up to us to find appropriate roads, single-tracks and escape routes, to put it in a road book and to map the direction (compass) and mark each turn, twist and change of surface. Very good practise and I enjoyed it. It's part of the course, because as a guide you may have to map your own itinerary some day and spend 5 days with a group of people and lead them through the mountains and forests.

All said and done, I still fear this thing. For two weeks now I have a nagging feeling that something is going to happen and so I basically decided not to participate. This normally means failing the course, but I rather argue for my life as of why I don't want tot participate, than to break a leg, arm, shoulder or knee only to say afterwards: "didn't I tell you so". The internal battle is enormous. The pressure from my envrironment is hard to take, but this one is up to me. My decision to keep me safe and sound.

The weather forecast for next week, during the raid is bad....very bad. A third week of continuous rain is foreseen....so this means riding and cycling and slipping and getting wet and probably cold and nasty, every day, one hour after setting off in the morning. Is it wise? Is this the right thing to decide by the course leaders? Are they truly prepared to put suffering and misery before the educational benefits of a Raid like this?

Questions they have to answer!! I'm not convinced. Look at the picture of my bikes. My bikes? Yeah, they are there....underneath the sheet, to protect them the best I can againt the rain.

Preparations for a Raid

The course year is coming to an end. The first of 3 intense weeks has come and gone, the group is living under tension and it is gonna be hard for me to finish them.
We are preparing for a Raid; 5 days of tough riding, without support. The major goal is to start and finish as a group and, very important, in one piece. But 'the group' doesn't exist. A few of us are living in or near Nice and go home every night, one of us has a job to do and he has the permission to miss days and weeks....which I am starting to resent.
About 5 guys are staying in a little bungalow on a campsite, where I used to go, but I don't like the owner and I can no longer stay with these 5 guys....the tension is too big, the bullshit they're talking about too stupid and so I moved to another campground, where I'm happily living my life. Boy, it was so nice to be able to decompress at night. To make my own dinner at the time chosen by me and to get some studying and reading in as well. And then there are Antoine and Gaetan, who are sort of squatting on a parking lot, in one of those white converted vans.. They are the 'white van men' but I adore them and consider them my buddies.

We climbed the Turini last week; 24km. of climbing up to nearly 1800 mtr. A big one, my first, and it took me and them 2 hours. But, it will be the first mountain to climb when we start our raid on Monday the 26th. It's going to be tough, very tough, with a backpack on and the pressure of climbing this sucker of a mountain as one of three and the first 24 of 140 km of that day.
However, I did it and I did it in style and the guys were happy for me! Here they are on the Friday, before we can head back home for two days of well earned rest.

I must tell you about Collin and Joanna, an English couple whom I met in Sospel on Thursday. I recognised them as my neighbours on the campground. Because the spaces are big, 'neighbours' is slightly exegerated, but they were the closest by.
Anyway, Thursday night they invited me for dinner and a nice glas of wine. Excellent company.....good, honest meal and a few laughs. It was such a nice way to step out of the Sospel and the cycling circle that I wish to thank them through this entry. Thanks guys...and I do hope that we'll meet up again. Whether it's in Sospel or surroundings or in the UK. Even though the cycling circle will be my future, there is so much more and we tend to forget this, when we are encircled in the group-dynamics. "We" may not be the right thing.....I'd love to be slightly off the beaten track, even when the course dynamics demand total devotion. A lot of guys think, eat and sleep bike and stepping out of their environment is very, very neccessary for me. I believe that Antoine and Gaetan have similar attitudes...why we get along. So, the campground dinner with Collin and Joanna did just that. It allowed me to step out of the glas bowl and be me.....
In about 10 hours time I'll be back in Sospel for the second to none preparations. I'm tired.
I went for a ride last night and this morning. The new tire is enabling more grip and gives more stability down hill, but it's heavy uphill. This morning I went for another ride. Both were just one hour rides, but at 100%. The recovery was good enough this morning and that relieved me. My right leg is tight and tires quickly and I will have to manage this carefully.
See you later.

First bush fire of the year?

I was happily eating a bisquit in the kitchen, looking out of the window to look at the cat, when I noticed this vale yellow haze in the distance. Just behind the Malmont....I was wondering....when all of a sudden it daunted to me; A fire. A big one by the looks of it and not far. At first I thought it was La Motte, as usual, but no...it's closer. Figanieres perhaps.

Merde. With the wind blazing since a few days, it's obvious that this is a tough one to crack for the firefighters. The wind from the Mediteranean, gusty, and sometimes even nippy....up to 80km/h.
It is this yellowish, brown colour that I will recognize forever, after my bush fire experience in 2005, when I had to secure the campground where I was working, where a van caught fire and burned down, because there was no pressure on the waterhose and where we ran from spot to spot with our big extinguisers, because the pine cones exploded and flew tens of metres far away to immediately catch fire on the ground.
It's a haze of clouds that veils the light of the sun and the sky and that turns your environment into an evening of sickening colour; that weighs heavy and that makes you bow your head.

It's the first fire of 'the season'. Coincidence that it happens with this wind? Has somebody been negligent with his or her cigaret but? Somebody burning leaves in the garden....surely, you're carefull with 80km/h blazes around your house. Will we ever know what has caused it...?

It truly is a Mountainbike Paradise

After a weekend of tough riding, I decided to take it easy today. I'm in full training mode for the 5 day Raid which is coming up in two weeks time and I might even overdo it slightly. Next week is a rest week, while I will be in Sospel, for the first of 3 heavy weeks.

I stumbled upon a steep path uphill to the Malmont. It is a on the property of the Domaine du Dragon, one of the many wineyards around Draguignan. They knew I was up there....I had permission to have a look. They had warned me it was a steep climb, but with the smallest and lightest of gear I happily and slowly went up their hill. I cannot judge about their wine, but they sure have the best view and coolest area to grow and nourish their wine. Who does not want to work in a wineyard high up on the Malmont hill, with stunning views and no nuissance of nearby roads. The best thing yet; who would think that high up on the hill there is a treasure of good taste.....It was another wow experience.

They also have holiday homes for rent....Not bad. It's an old bastide, well done up, with a magnificent pool. If you bring your mountainbike along, I'll guide you aroung on the Malmont, on the best tracks of the area. Afterwards...the pool!! What a joy.

surprise - no brakes - long live the adventure

Don't you just love surprises....
In one month I have to participate in a 'Raid', part of my studies. We will be out on our own, by bike, during 5 days and without any outside support. 5 Days of riding by mountain- and road bike out on the trails of the Mercantour National Parc. Me and the 15 guys of the course and so it is in my best interest to be prepared.

So I prepare myself seriously by riding and practising. Although I am still a bit handicapped because of the pain in my hand/wrist, I can ride my roadbike for hours. Now here comes the surprise....
Here I am, happily turning the legs around on the roads and my speed increases and increases....I have always wondered whether my brakes worked well and the guys and mechanics have made fun of me that I didn't know how to ride a roadbike......Until last week, a car decided not to give me the right of way on a roundabout. I hit the brakes, hard....and nothing happens. The damned bike DOES NOT STOP. Well, that was it. That was my 3rd almost accident and I have had enough of it.
I don't hesitate, ride to the shop immediately, tell of my 'adventure' and finally, after 6 months of complaining that the brakes on the damn bike are useless, he believes me. He believes me....
Unfortunately, changing pads will not solve the problem, I'll have to change the brakes entirely and it's gonna cost me, 'cause the bikebrand has issued a frame that does not allow many deviation of the original parts.......To be continued this week!!