Checking in...

Hello!

I'm still here, don't worry, don't fret, I haven't handed in the key to the blog rental, it's just that it's veldrijden season and we're veldrijding. Don't believe me? Check out some great photos here and race reports here. Whilst I'm obviously chasing form both in the legs and lungs (come on lungs don't let me down) I'm pleased to see my path to facial austerity coming to fruition.

A little bit of a round up post rather than thorny issues...although is this the beginning of one? I have an angle I wish to pursue in another post, ON YOUR LEFT!!

Great videos on Andy Waterman's blog, at last as an English speaker you get the inside story. Oh and while Andy's a Stybar fan I think I root for Albert... Does that allow us to dress in supporters club jackets, heckle each other and throw beer on our opposing rider (or rubber chicken at Stybar's chicken wing)?

Cobble addicts need to check Geoff Waugh's photo's here. Then sit back in a semi comatose state of euphoria until the next hit*... or spring. It's not far away (don't say that I'm enjoying cross too much) and apparently Lars Boom's focusing his effort on the classics. Does my Boom/Boonen showdown seem closer to reality? *Arenberg - a two hit process. The bike hits the cobble, you hit the ground.

Pavé blog have a kit. Cool Eurostyling at work.

Have a look at the 'flick through' of embrocation mag no.4 Undeniably makes me want to buy it... or figure a way of scaling the video whilst maintaining resolution to have a read.

Back home.

Simon Nurse (future HCTB rider) is promoting his race in Cardiff this weekend. Apparently the speed has gone up this year so bring the nitrous or pray for rain.

I'm putting some artwork together for Chipps at Singletrack mag for the Todmorden cross (3rd Jan) watch out for the artwork, then be there to see the craziness.

Team HCTB are soon to have some apparel...well t-shirts to be exact and if there's enough demand beyond the team bus, we may release the design for general consumption. We may also have beanie hats, but they seem to cost a fortune, so we may not. I'll keep you posted by posting, but not by post as they're on strike - I can post but it won't be delivered. OK?

Velocake slink into my bloglist. Cake + Kernow + cycling = class.

There it is, I'm spent and now need to call upon Blackalicious to round out this post with wordsmithery beyond my lowly apprentice like skill... while I return to the artboard.

Can't see the wood..

...for the cyclocrossers weaving through the tree's.

I feel like I've had a bit of down time on the blog yet with our busy lives there's been quite a bit happening. Racing and training have taken precedence in my valuable free time, with a good few hours spent either frequenting my local park, trail and secret space. The turbo has wakened far too early and has developed an earsplitting squeal, so much so, I was forced to abandon ship and finish a session early to retain my sanity and eardrums.

I've regained my mojo concerning my drawing and have some to upload, I try not to pressure myself into producing output yet I feel like a slacker when I don't. It feels great when you're inspired, get a vibe and want to do something creative. The only thing holding me back is current thinking in space and time. Come on theoretical physicists the world over, let us into the secret of time travel.

The Belgian pro cross ranks head to Namur this weekend, and I'm sure I could conjure a headline from the the words Citadel, Prince and Albert but I won't. Albert's put everyone to the sword so far (3 for 3) and the focus has been on Nys' poor form. The season's only in it's early stages yet, lets not forget Albert's tree incident that put him in hospital and out of action for a good chunk of the season, so there's plenty of time to see Nys come good. Yet the rabid sportsfan always wants results NOW and we may be seeing a changing of the guard. Time to start looking at the U23's to figure out another young pretender.

Back to Namur. I fumbled through the Sporza report airing Albert's concerns that the course is for Mountainbikers ands today had some clarity from cxmag (my flemish isn't so good). So with this in mind maybe Albert should fit a moto....make that maybe everyone else should fit a moto to keep up. The two video clips show the huge elevation transitions of the area. The first is retro, grainy and is right at home at Here Come the Belgians. The second is short and sweet but shows the height gain eloquently.

So what's next? More training, more racing, some drawing and getting stoked on the Belgian cross season.