Unseasonal Weather

What is going on with the weather at the moment? Crossjunkie and myself had a great training session today but I was way overdressed and spent the session feeling very warm.
Alan introduced me to his cross training route just round the corner from our homes - result.
The area has a little of everything including some nice barriers where Alan passed on his technique for smooth dismount, bike pick up and remount. Plus some good steps, climbs and downhill sections all in all the lap really flows well.


STOP PRESS Alan even got me doing some running - uphill sprints 5 in total as I am struggling with my thighs pumping up on the runs. then a final tortoise and hare with A giving me 45 second start before he set off - he wouldn't have caught me if I hadn't missed a turn and gone the wrong way, my excuse and I am sticking to it!!!


Next Saturday will see our boys (Jack and Matt) taking part in the Go Ride cross training session at Manchester which they are looking forward too nearly as much as we are!
Then Sunday should see us up at the Lakes for the NW Cross race which I hope lives up to it's surroundings if you see us and you haven't introduced yourself then please do so.

BLOG POST

Don't be shy get posting your rides, recipes, stories photo's etc lets here from you all especially those of you further afield!!!!

Lakeland Adventure

School half term so our clan set off on a wet Saturday morning up the M6 heading to one of my favourite places in the world - The Lake district.
We stay at a great campsite at Watermillock on the shore of Ulswater which gives great access to a wide variety of bridleways and trails to explore.

Don't be fooled

Sunday morning and the weather was having none of the met office's forecast and was stubbornly blowing a gale and dumping heavy showers on our heads, undeterred I set off on my planned ride to Keswick via Dochray and the stunning old coach road to St Johns in the Vale.
For all you Peaks obsessives this is a great training ride steep climbs lose stone track and a great drop down a gravel and rock strewn track!
Just avoid it when the weather is blowing hard and wet it makes it a real challenge and as it is very exposed don't do what I did and ride it alone with no survival bag.
The plus side was having the route almost to myself and the expressions on the faces of the few walkers i did meet was priceless, as I cheerfully greeted them with a "good morning what a fantastic day" as i rode through a puddle that covered my feet!!! A quick blast down the old railway line into Keswick (great to take younger riders on this route) and i arrived at my sisters hotel very wet, very muddy but with a huge smile on my face.

Should you be here sir??

Monday afternoon and Matt my youngest, Russ (brother in law) and me headed off to Whinnlatter to ride the blue trail. As I pulled onto the car park the looks of the baggy shorted full sus mtb crowed were agog, obviously they all thought i was mad riding a road bike on the trails.
The blue route is the latest addition and is aimed at the less extreme rider, Matt coped really well with the climbs and loved the berms and jumps (all can be rolled) and i really enjoyed the twitchyness of riding a rigid frame on some stunning single track. If you are in the area go ride this you will love it and the cafe serve some great food and coffee. To experience the full fun of these trails then ride a mtb (a must on the red route as there are plenty of drop offs that would catch you out) then you can jump and drop to your hearts content, you can even hire one from cyclewise on site. If you want to sharpen your handling skills on your cross bike then ride the blue trail and you can practice sprinting out of tight switchbacks, trying to keep traction as you climb slippy tracks through dense forest and amaze the MTB riders showing them that 5" of travel is not necessary on a bike when skill and fitness are in abundance (well we can dream).

Matt ripping up the track

If anybody fancies a day out in this area let me know as there are some stunning rides I aim to do in the near future we could have a HCtB Lakeland day out.

Boggart Hole Gallery

More Pictures in a rather random order...

The Art of Racing

Crossjunkie has a great post on his blog following Boggart Hole last Sunday which has led to a number of comments from readers including myself. Read it and form your own opinion and comment accordingly.
Cross is new to me this year and I have to say I am really enjoying the races, the atmosphere takes me back to when I chased up and down the country racing my mountain bike 20 years ago! We were all doing downhill and cross country on the same bikes and the vibe was pretty cool and laid back off the course with the racing as intense as it could be. Just how I am finding cross races.
The beauty of cross for me is the race with in the race as Alan points out, for many its not about finishing in the top ten but either finishing, beating the guy or girl that beat you last time or only being lapped once by a team mate.
I had convinced myself that I wasn't going to be competitive those days are behind me or so I thought. My aim for this season was to do a few races not get lapped by Alan more than once and just enjoy riding my bike in the mud with no thoughts about where I finished overall.
So why have I now got a turbo trainer and heart rate monitor and have been seen practicing dismounts and remounts? Safe to say I have drawn the line at going for a run.
Sunday despite not feeling 100% I found myself not just waiting in line on the assents but attacking and entering corners with the aim of either catching the rider in front or dropping the rider behind. I was also determined not to let the guy who I spent most of the race with get past me on the final lap, Alan had only lapped me once so that goal was achieved but I was happily opening the door marked pain to keep ahead of the next guy!!
So does it prove that once a competitor always a competitor just with different goals and ambitions?
My new goal is now to see if I can get higher up on the finish line and push Duncan a bit. So if you wish to help me on this quest please make sure Dunc has lots of work to do (order t-shirts, hats and anything else you can think of) and send him a pie!

Boggart Hole: The good, the bad, the ugly...

The third race for me in this far too short season (I'm loving it, can we make it last longer?) and I saw this race broken down into 3 parts.

The Good.
The course. A little bit of everything for everyone. Wide open sections, field loops, sinewy woodland downhills, off cambers the list goes on. The kind of course you don't really master as you're preoccupied with trying to go faster whilst forgetting to be smooth on each component. Challenging, so much so I wanted to do it again...and again. It's only then do you realise how good it was.

Here Come the Belgians. 5 team members entered, looking good, riding better than good.

The support the team had from the sidelines. Many thanks to everyone who shouted "Here Come the Belgians!" whilst we tried our best. It makes a difference, makes your legs turn over a little quicker... and also made me chuckle every time I heard it.

The midpack gentlemen. Good banter once we were into the racing and a sense of care after a couple of crashes to fellow riders.

The organisation. Hats off to Manchester Wheelers. Sorted course, quick results, photos and a write up, doesn't get better than that.

The Bad.
The course. A small slimy bank with questionable traction to tarmac climb. It sucked but I'm just frustrated I didn't really master it.

My Start. Got to the grid too late, too far to the back and once away was boxed in with no chance of opening the throttle and getting on top of the gear. Maybe I wouldn't have been any further forward with a better start yet you can't help wondering.

My remounts. I wasn't smooth at all. More mental than physical the course had my head in bits.

Pulling my left foot out of the cleat a couple of times every lap. Doesn't really help does it.

The Ugly.
The Course. Off camber tree roots to front end washout dumping me on the ground without ceremony. Took with it the confidence to push on the last lap. A result is better than a DNF and separated shoulders hurt, believe me.

Midpack grumblers. Pass someone into a corner and be mumbled at for racing...eh?

So...
A thoroughly enjoyable race, next stop Wheelbase cross which will debut a new handlebar setup and hopefully a refreshed set of lungs. See you there.

Boggart Hole Clough in pictures

Many thanks Jo for these - the post race pics capture the atmosphere beautifully.

Boggart Hole

Fantastic showing from HCtB yesterday with 5 Belgians lining up on the start line. Plus 3 mini Belgians racing in the under 12's (we need shirts for these budding stars). As we waited for the off it was pleasing to hear people talking about us - who are they? were have they come from? and were did they get the name?? Well at least we are getting people talking!! Just wait until we start doing a full on Columbia High Road style team strategy!

Alan top Belgian home great ride after a rushed morning! Rich best turned out Belgian (it's those shoes).

Top marks to the organisers for a well run event and a great course giving something of everything and really maximising what was on offer. Although their ears might have burnt once or twice on the tarmac climb out of the woods, short sharp climb 90 degree turn onto tarmac it was the only time my griffos lost traction !!!!

Next race for me will be the Lakes RC at Brockhole visitor centre which should be a fantastic course if the surroundings are anything to go by. Lets hope for another good turn out for HCtB and hopefully we have all got over the various levels of cold and flu!!

Yummy for your Tummy

With all the high tech gels, drinks and bars on the market it is nice to have something in your back pocket that is home made, nutritious, low in fat and tastes great.
This recipe for granola bar or flap jack is courtesy of the famous Lakeland pedlar cafe in Keswick and fast becoming a favourite in our household.

First get your ingredients together

One can of condensed milk - I use the light version

250g oats

75g dessicated coconut

100g dried fruit (dates, cranberries, apricots)

125g mixed seeds (sunflower, sesame, pumpkin)

125g natural unsalted peanuts (chopped)

1. Warm the condensed milk do not boil!!!

2. combine all the ingredients with the condensed milk and place in a grease proofed tin

3. Bake for 1 hour at 130 C gas mark 1

4. Leave to cool for 15 minutes before cutting into bars (makes 16 large bars)

ready for the oven

finished and cooling

I have added more fruit and more seeds and it tastes great so don't be too precious about the quantities.

Just watch your riding mates faces drop as you tuck into a bar of this when they are chewing a power bar.

I hope you enjoy making and eating this as much as I do

belgians of smaller stature

There were 3 Belgians racing last Saturday - all under 9. We might not have sorted out a small enough team strip (yet) but they were under starters orders and off, crossing it with the best of them.


Mark's Matthew, and my Jack and Ella all raced hard, sweated up a storm and earned their goodie bags from British Cycling Go-Ride. Jack even won some cold hard cash, coming 3rd in the under 10s from a somewhat lowly grid position - it's difficult to strike that balance between pushy parent and seasoned old-timer passing on advice. No, we'll settle for pushy parent.....go on son, muscle your way in to that starting grid. Go on! And yes, old armwarmers make great legwarmers for a 9 yr old.


Ella did particularly well, being half the size of most of the other kids and missing pedals on her push-along Puky bike.


Matthew took it all nonchalently in his stride, posing on the grid there like an old timer who has seen and done it all before.

Mini-Belgians - it's the future you know.

recharge the batteries

Pendle Hill

After a hectic few months at work I felt in need of a couple of days off to recharge the batteries and clear my head of work worries.

So last Thursday and Friday I took advantage of a lull and the promise of good weather to have some time off.

Being in HCtB is not all about racing and training you can be a part if you just enjoy riding your bike or bikes and last Thursday afternoon was definitely time to keep the momentum in my training but as importantly to be out on the bike enjoying the pleasure of riding.

Here in Lancashire we are blessed with some stunning country in which to ride and as often is the case you tend to fall into the habit of riding the same routes so with deliberate intent I set off to ride some new roads.

Setting off I hit the harder climb from home instead of taking the usual easier route and soon I was climbing from town onto the moors that surround Burnley.

Turning left on the climb out of Lanebottoms (great name) I rode along a narrow lane that was new to me, consisting of some great descents and climbs with the scenery ranging from open moorland to wooded valleys. I even had to cross two cobbled fords which were very slippy and daunting on 23's with 110 psi in!!! Just a slight wet foot was the only casualty.

The first cobbled ford

This road led me into Colne and from a quick blast through the urban traffic I headed up Skipton Old Road towards Lothersdale and the Yorkshire boarder. This is one of the longest climbs I have ridden it seems to reach skyward for an eternity, however the views across both Lancashire and Yorkshire to feast on it certainly is worth the pain and elevated heart rate!

what goes up................

The other reward was the downhill ride to Crosshills, the road set off as straight as an arrow inviting you to tuck down and let the bike flow. A sudden moment of sanity (rare for me I know) saw me sit up and scrub some speed off just in time to see the cross roads ahead.

Some great lanes just watch for the tractors coming round the corners as they are bigger and tougher than us.

Once in Crosshills I turned round and headed home via the main road, another long drag up the moss before hitting Colne, Nelson then Burnley, the final Kilns climb just to finish me off - if you ride with Crossjunkie you will know this climb!!!

Just under 40 miles under the wheels a good workout, stunning views - even more rewarding after turbo sessions in the cellar, good climbs and great descents.

The cobwebs were well and truly blown away and the batteries felt nicely topped up.

Welcome!!

Over the past few weeks we have have welcomed some new folks to the Belgian fold.........

Jez - Islay, Scotland
Adam - Warrington, England
Jason - Seattle, USA
Maury - California, USA
Steve - Yorkshire, England

Let us know what you are up to and how you are wearing your Belgian shirts.......

loose ends

Shameless crossjunkie self promotion...........

http://crossjunkie.blogspot.com/2009/10/loose-ends.html

More Leverhulme Park...

A few more pics of Sunday's race.

Top one courtesy of Dave Haygarth again. Bottom two from Jo (HCtB supporters club) showing either absolute speed and power in effect or the fact it's very hard to focus a camera using a dog as a tripod (or would that be quadropod).

Train hard, Race easy...

Like all good PRO racers I attended my first Majorcan training camp of the season. Unlike all PRO racers my training camp revolved around a Friday night worshipping the mystical Majorcan spirit know as Túnel. I don't know what's in it, but the fact it's green and has bits of plant secreted in the bottle says something about the potent powers of this liquor. Tastes damn good that's all I need to know.

So with a Saturday rest day (some would say repenting) I was all set to race Leverhulme Park, Bolton on Sunday. Or so I thought. I awoke with a time delay upset stomach which didn't seem to have the impetus to leave me. I organised myself with plenty of time to spare (unlike my previous raceday) and with a combination of stomach calming tablets and coca cola was on my way to race.

The journey there had all the hallmarks of a late arrival and missed opportunity. We were hopelessly lost yet still managed to find the spot, sign on, cram a 10 minute warm up on a section of the course, throw a gel (or two) down my throat and get on the start line. Good fortune.

With a large field (120) we were called up according to National/Regional status which left me on the second row, looking at a midpack finish from the off, a place I was happy to occupy.

From the off I thoroughly enjoyed myself, grooved through some sections, remounts were sweet, had to grind through other sections and pretty much rode a flawless yet unimpressive (speed wise) race. Rain half way through the hour caused grass to turn greasy, mud to become tracked out and caution to be had when descending.

On the whole I had a great race, felt a little more powerful, could get the hammer down on some parts of the course yet was floundering on other parts. Many thanks Horwich CC I had great fun.

Race notes.

Gentleman award goes to Luke Beswick who lapped me by announcing his presence on the right then proceeded to thank me as he passed. Thankyou Sir.

I was battling with a Gent over the last few laps, managed to drop him on the last half lap and ride alone to the finish. Yahoo! Unfortunately the rider I was battling with in Northwich swept me up and dropped me immediately. How fortunes change within a few weeks. Boo!

The starter's officiousness broke all our game faces...Yeah that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

Photos pilfered from Dave Haygarth here. Dave gave a cheery "Here Come the Belgians" chant as I rode passed - much appreciated. I intended to introduce myself but thought stopping to shake hands a little foolish on the first lap of many.

Thanks to the Belgians fanclub attendees for giving moral support (Jo & dog). The dog's face was a picture as I shouted his name prior to ascending the stairs. Note to self - the breath you just expended shouting your dog was needed after remounting, heck, made me chuckle though.

wot i did at the weekend

1st ss 1st belgian and 20th!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpP8xpUODxQ

Forgive me...

for I have sinned. Or at the very least offended some minor diety. In the last ten years I have broken exactly one component, a rear mech at last year's Three Peaks (well I suppose I also bent my frame in the same incident). This year I had a 'clean' Peaks but it has been sandwiched between a snapped ergo lever and today's sacrifice; a rear mech and chain.
Racing at Graves Park in Sheffield things were going well, a good start and with a bit of lead over fellow Belgian Winkie. Then that horrible tinkling sound as a branch inserts itself into the rear wheel followed by a distinct 'crack' which I vainly hoped was the branch. No such luck. Bugger! Shouldering the bike and walking back to the start (it obviously happened at the furthest point from the start) I hear the bell sound just to rub it in...


Otleyrich

Three Peaks

Better late than never. Well it's all over for another year, although Al is probably plotting his equipment and strategy tweaks already ;-)

For me this was the year of descending like a Jesse, last year's wrecked frame and a woeful lack of offroad practice foremost in my mind. I've not fitted crosstop levers and I'm not feeling comfortable in the drops on steep stuff. Despite gaining a minute or two on Winks on each ascent he passed me (and then some in the case of Whernside my bogey peak) before he finally sucumbed to the dreaded 'bonk' at the top of Pen-y-Ghent lane. I pass Winks again descending from the summit and fully expect to be caught despite using the sneaky 'trod' above the initial section of track but I hadn't realised how far gone he was. I spot Nick (suprisingly/worryingly close) then Al and Heather. Words of encoragement are shouted but as I pass Heather with me running downhill I get a look that that speaks volumes about my descending! Past the double stile and onto Pen-y-Ghent lane and I can relax in the drops. Soon I'm flying past Jo (Belgianette) who I see and Will who I hear (surprise) and the others before exiting onto the road. I quickly catch a couple of riders and a bit of a group forms. I feel reasonably fresh so end up doing two long turns on the front which elicit some thanks when we eventualy cross the line and are being stripped of tags and numbers, which is nice.

Successes: Team moral, Jo's shoulder pad stitched into the jersey, wheels built Thursday before the race stayed perfectly true, no mechanicals or punctures (thank you Landcruisers), Oom Johan, Here Come The Belgians jersey (with special padded shoulder thanks to Jo's needlework skills), stamina and climbing.

Must Try Harder: time - not sub 4, descending (terrible) - practice needed.

Thanks to Jo's immaculate pit support, Mark, Sarah, Max, Will and random supporters John, Kate, Roary, Mat, Claire, Sol, Tamsin.

chapeau!

goed gedaan u allen - de drie musketiers - chapeau voor de 3 pieken! Wij verhogen onze mutsen om u uit het wild noorden. volgend jaar zullen!

bravo à vous tous - les trois mousquetaires - chapeau pour les 3 pics! Nous élevons nos bonnets à vous depuis le nord sauvage. l'année prochaine, nous allons joindre à vous tous!

well done all of you - the three musketeers - chapeau for the 3 peaks! we raise our bonnets to you from the wild north. next year we'll join you all!

Currie before training!!!! its the future

OK the 3 Peaks are now over so for the obsessive amongst the Belgians it is now time to stop analysing and accept that now you have to do cold turkey. Friends and family be patient with your Belgian as they uncontrollably scream Simon fell! cramp!and land cruisers! it will soon pass (well we hope!).

They need to have a new focus so what better than a muddy cross race - I am sure there will be a smattering of Belgians on Sunday for the NW cross at Bolton.

Yesterday I was out visiting a potential new client in Bradford the sun shone all day and to my utter dismay there were many cyclists out enjoying the weather, just a slight hint of jealousy at their good fortune. Not to worry with kids at swimming club I had plans of a slightly earlier finish a bite to eat and getting out for an hour as the sun set. However the best laid plans etc. on arriving home like an eager puppy my hopes were dashed in a nice way as my good lady had got a curry lined up with an accompanying bottle of dry cider - discretion dictated that my Bonn Ami was maintained and i didn't sulk like a child at missing my longed for ride.

All was not lost as after collecting the kids I headed to the cellar for a turbo session. 5 mins warm up then a block of 5 30 sec sprints with 1 min rest, 5 mins recovery then a second block. It was the second block that the thought hit me that this was possibly not the best session to follow a curry and cider as I contended with the twin delights of my heart trying to break through my chest whilst at the same time fighting the urge to barf!!!

Happy days