The Legitamacy of it all

What have I been up to you ask?? Well, riding my bike of course, duh! The past few weeks have been a bit slower than the first few, which in some ways is good. Some of the time was spent with the Belgian cold/flu sort of thing. A bit frustrating because the last time I got sick was last year at the same exact time. This winter I even made it though a few rounds of the flu unscathed. Maybe, its just all that international travel stuff. Anyway, I am now back on my feet. I did a kermis while I was still hacking a bit, survived that and we ended up with a man in the break. Not too horrible. Also, did a UCI 1.12 in Anzehem this past Saturday. I ended up struggling with a few flats. This sort of brings me to a point that I struggle with. I’m not sure how to relay some of the details of racing here. How do I really describe the aggression, and mentality of it all? What is it like to do a UCI race here?... I can try, and have tried. But, without actually having first hand experience, I feel I am only scratching the surface. Describing the racing/lifestyle here is about as unique as the racing itself.

Besides going on about the whole lifestyle thing and that being a professional cyclist is 24 hour a day job, what else can I say? Well, I will say that I feel the Cycling Center is a legitimate endeavor. Take for example a UCI race. We show up with a crew that takes care of everything except us putting on our shorts and actually pedaling our bikes. The races involve “real” caravans. Take a look at some Tour de France coverage, look at the caravan, that’s pretty much what we have fallowing our races, less a few spectators of course. In the race there is a constant stream of information from Bernard in the team car (through the radios), and Ann is always armed and ready in the feed zone. What more can you ask for?? All I really have to do is race my bike. Piece of cake, right? Well lets just say that I hope to be able to say that at some point. Remember, the mentality in races here is nothing like that of the US. Its go hard from the gun, and go even harder until a break forms, and then go even harder. Very little room for playing “patty cake.”

Aside from the actual races themselves, there is a ridiculous amount of support that the CC receives/provides/has access to. Training guidance, bike fit, diet consultation, massage therapy, etc. etc. its all there when you need it. It seems as though there is a Pro tour team car in the driveway every week, someone or other stopping by to see how things are going. The point is that there are a lot of people looking out for the well being of the CC, and the goings on within it.

A bit more about myself….

Right now I am in round 2 of Bret vs. Belgium (or however you wish to look at it), but with a slow start, as with last year, I feel as if I am only in round 1.5. Not trying to sound negative at all here. It’s just that I am very anxious to get some good racing in, and little time to open up all that winter training and preparation. Almost like an impatient little kid. I’m getting very itchy to really get into a race and dig deep. Only in the past few days have I begun to feel near 100% again. Finally stopped coughing, man that took a long time. Now its time (a bit overdue at that) to go tear it up…so look out Belgians here comes a big ol’ American with a bull’s-eye on his back…see if you can catch me…ha!

All of you who sent questions or comments thanks, I have tons to work with now. Not that I didn’t before, but now I got a little bit of an idea of what some of you want to here…ahemmm…only some of you though.

Below are a few pictures that a fellow CC member, Eric (thanks, Eric), took at a UCI, I was not racing in this particular one, but I hope some of the pictures give a little bit of an idea of how things work.

A view from the caravan, keep in mind that we have good position in the caravan this day. Meaning there are a ton of other team cars behind us.

Above: A shot of Sean doing some motorpacing for a nice solid warm up. Yes, you are looking through the rear window of the team car.

Below: A view of the inside of the team car