Team Work....

I can finally come clean. You've noted the infrequent posts, the eluding to a secret space out there and the non too subtle post about something happening at Here Come the Belgians.

Well without further a do, the secrets ready to be told....Roll the drums Teppo!

I'm very happy to announce Here Come the Belgians has a TEAM.

It started as an initial hare brain idea between myself and Alan 'crossjunkie' Dorrington and now over a few short weeks has developed into a sartorially elegant team kit, uncanny choice in riding machinery and their livery and a group of like minded people with an eye for cyclocross and the cobbled classics.

So what does this mean for me? The Here Come the Belgians team has it's own blog (the secret space here) and team members will be contributing their own perspectives on riding and racing. So for me this blog remains as my semi literate artistic vent whilst any riding experiences I have will be over with my team mates on the team site.

Then what does it mean for you? Get a vibe and some aesthetics over here, then get over to the team blog to see what, how and where we've been riding. A variety of perspectives and attitudes coming together in a collective team effort. As a heads up cyclocross is 5 days away and we'll be getting dirty.

On another level, our team could be yours. This isn't an elitist exclusive effort and if you're interested in being part of the team it's really very easy. I'll deal with details when I post about our kit later.

There you go, that's it, I'm genuinely excited about the forthcoming months. Look out in the next few days as I and I'm sure Crossjunkie will be covering the kit, bikes and riders.

So then, why are you over there when you could be Team Here...

The Journey...

Or should that read "it's where ya going..."

So where are The Belgians going? We've some exciting news in the next few weeks so make sure you keep calling around to see what's happening. Ironically in continuation of the secret theme there's a few secrets in our pocket and a secret space out there.

I didn't plan it like that, it kinda just happened.

For the classical explorers (I'm seeing Indiana Jones and the giant ball thing), you may be able to find the hidden place (don't worry no evil curses hanging in the air). If you do, drop me a line, I'd be intrigued.

For the rest of us, the secret will out, with a little patience.

It's truly good stuff, and that's just the start.

Secret Space...

It seems that anyone with any interest in cyclocross are on a steady countdown to the season's opening salvo. If plans aren't being made, then there's are niggling feeling that plans should be made, to the extent of list writing and box ticking.

Bikes being built.

Wheels being changed.

Technique being perfected.

Intensity being increased.

So where's it all happening? The Secret Spaces.

Out there somewhere, in the woods, there are cyclocross riders quietly tearing around, afraid to give themselves and their secret spot away. Or are there?

The world of BMX has many secret dirt jump trail hidden away in a far away magical corner of a woodland. Some you find, others you won't locate unless by invite. They're a protected environment for the use of a select few who have toiled to create their playground.

The world of surfing have the secret spot. The mysterious cove that can only be accessed by a winding path, hidden from view until the last minute. A break that only works in a particular weather condition that only those in the know can figure out. And those in the know only want to let a small select few into their secret.

I could go on. The Snowboarder with secret powder stashes. The Rockclimber with a secret bouldering cellar. I even have a secret parking space in my local supermarket.

Yet as for the Cyclocross rider the secret spot may well be alive or may be a concept worth thinking about. Someone's out there in the woods somewhere with a course of mythical proportions, barriers, steps, flyovers, the works.

I have my eye on a few spots that may start as secret spaces but will end up being inclusive rather than exclusive.

It's good to share, right?

Fuelling the Fire...

A preseason increase in training intensity won't get far without an increase in fuelling. And what's the most important meal? Breakfast, my friends!

Seriously, last year I ate toast prior to racing and was timely visited by the man with the hammer. It was a blip in my general breakfast health, as my normal regime revolves around oat based cereal. Namely Muesli.

Muesli you ask? Well let's have a look.

Muesli was invented around 1900 by Maximilian Birchner-Benner a Swiss physician. Comprising of uncooked rolled oats, nuts and fruit. It can be either dry or fresh and great fuel for riding, but you probably knew that already.
What I didn't know was it was originally called 'd'Spys' (German Swiss for 'the dish') and whilst I eat it with milk and I get the concept of it being eaten with yoghurt, I gather it can be mixed with hot chocolate or coffee (latte rather than double espresso). You probably eat it that way already.

The thing is I don't and in an attempt to challenge my conservative British palette I will endeavour to savour the delights of a bowl of d'Spys mixed with the finest coffee I can find in the hidden depths of my fridge (I'm sure there's a sealed tin of Illy somewhere in there).

I might do a review once I've sampled it.

If it's a favourable review I might try to ride after sampling it.

The photo? Tasty nuts? A parts bin from the Brooks Bicycle Saddle factory. I have a few more Lucky Charms from this place that will be gracing these pages in time to come.

Stop the Bus...

Can someone stop the bus... I want to get on.

Two cross sessions down and my estimation of progress has been halted. Any concept of form with the steady state road wheels and a constant (although pot holed and pavé'd) surface provide, have been dealt a cruel blow. The switch to cross skills has leveled my field whilst I play on the field.

Dismount, Mount, Dismount, Remount. A mantra soon to be reverberating around the hidden corners of our greenspaces and a skill set I blatantly need to practise.

The racing season countdown is on in earnest. Even though our summer has been autumnal in weather conditions (we don't have summer anymore just spring, pre-autumn, autumn, winter) there hasn't been any concept of time running out, a fuse slowly reaching it's powder keg. Until now.

I've even cut my hair to be faster.

It's that serious.*

*Actually it isn't. As dog owners eventually look like their animals, so cartoonists must look like their characters.