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The Off Season

Traditionally the off season for me has been a period to unwind, relax and reflect on the seasons racing. This year has been different, in-fact, since 2005 I haven’t thought that way. 2005 was the last time I pedalled in true anger. Moving abroad to sunnier climes where the possibility to road-race was non-existent, I cycled for fun/my job.

OK, those of you who know me and where I was based could argue I could of competed in triathlon. However, my time consuming preparation before a bike ride would mean that I would probably be eliminated from a triathlon due to taking longer than the permitted time allowed, or such like. So, when I moved back to the UK in late 2008, the plan was to race in 2009. That didn’t happen due to one reason or another.
I decided in the summer of this year that I want to return to competition in 2010. So here I am. Thinking what to write. OK, my off season. Well here it goes…..

This has been spent mainly getting sick, visiting friends and reunions. One such reunion was in Copenhagen of all places. My first time to Scandinavia, and certainly not the last. Meeting up with a great bunch of ex-colleagues and workers from my time spent working in Lanzarote with a predominantly Danish bunch was fantastic.

Then a couple of weeks later, out to Belgium to watch the Ghent six day track race on a Saturday night and the Koksijde cyclo-cross in the day. The dhb waterproof kit was well and truly put to the test at the cyclo-cross event!

On the Sunday I organised a ride along with a couple of good friends of mine. The results have already been posted on the Wiggle blog along with all over twitter! Great photo’s I am sure you agree. I shouldn’t have cycled, as I was sick, but the guilt of organising and then sitting on the sidelines due to the bad weather & being ill would have been on my mind all the way home, soft-tapper I ain’t! Oh yeah, I managed to win the sprint along the Schelde canal as well as first to the top of the Molenberg, sorry, had to get that in!
So, now, onto next season. One more soiree to attend, the Wiggle Christmas party, then it’s full on continuing the preparations for next season. A training camp in late Jan/Early Feb will round it all off nicely I think.

Until next time, “tot straks”.