A reminder to myself...

to go here next year;

I'm loving Bart Aernouts at the moment - partly because of the Rabobank connection and also for seeing his 1x10 Di2 set up at Ruddervoorde. Can't beat Pauwels' butter wouldn't melt interview technique but at the end of the day Nys is still the Boss.

Koksijde

A thousand words.

Randoms.

Knowledge and stuff.

ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL
BUT SOME ANIMALS ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS.

I respect knowledge and experience but care little for opinion. In my dealings in everyday life I come across less knowledge based on 'hands-on' experience but more and more people prepared to spread what they think or have read as their input into a particular situation. In my mind this is wrong.
For example, if you want a wheel built for a specific purpose it's best to find someone who has built A LOT of wheels before - for YEARS they will have learnt what does and does not work from experience and their advice will be clear and helpful. On the other hand, you could listen to the multitude of conflicted opinion that exists and pick out anything that you consider right. Often this is simply recommendations of a certain product that is in favour at the time but without the reasoning why it works better than anything else. If you're lucky you'd get a good set of wheels or you could end up with a mess someone else will have to fix - usually someone who knows what they're doing better than the random opinion that hindered the initial process.

That may all sound rubbish to most of you. The thing is the people with experience don't necessary shout about it, they go quietly about their business while other 'flash in the pan' merchants come and go around them. This applies to every walk of life, I use the bike world as my example because that's my world but it happens everywhere.
Back to the opening lines of this entry.....we do all start equal but it's how we behave and handle ourselves that gives us our status not an online persona with n friends.

Give it four to five years and it'll be 'Here come the Dutch':




My Sunday's are falling into a nice routine recently. They start with catching up on sleep till mid morning, breakfast and shower then down to the supermarket. When back home I have an hour or so to do some jobs then sit down watching the weekends racing live while eating dinner before some online time till Katherine gets home for tea and a relaxing evening.

Chilling.

Push to Start.

When the flag drops - the bullshit stops.

Elbows.

I love the style of Under-23 racing. Full of attacking, no fear and usually a fair number of offs.


It's been a strange weekend so far. A good day in the shop yesterday, quiet enough to mean a couple of us had time to address some personal projects. What began as a joke has now taken a life of it's own and has gone too far not to see the light of day - already looking forward to riding next year. I have a page of scribbles, full of ideas based on changing one of my existing bikes for a slightly different use.
Today, with the day to myself, I got to watch Kevin Pauwels have back to back wins and still got my fair share of jobs done.

Rabobank are deep in the game;

Really looking forward to the return of Lars Boom in December for his usual dabble in the mud in preparation for the Classics, and then it all starts again!

Pattern.

BS

Now we know

Keep talking.

Big talk today about future plans.
More photographs.
Did some stuff - saw some things.

Had a little discussion about training partners with someone who gets paid to ride, I'm not alone in my views.
Also working in the bike trade we know too much, it's easy when you believe in the bikes you sell but there is one universal truth we're not meant to tell anyone;
'It's not about the bike'
It's not the tyres or carbon bars either. The enjoyment of the ride will mainly be based on your attitude, your comfort on the correct fit and whether you stay upright going round a wet corner is down to skill not the right rubber compound in a tyre.

Enjoy.

Seeing clearly.

Singular.

The hardest part of a solo ride is starting. For a change this morning I got a lift with Katherine when she went to work, this meant I had to be up and out of the door with no room for hesitation. Looking at the weather it was tempting to get back in bed but my body and mind were crying out to ride.
The best thing about cycling, in my opinion, is riding. Not commuting, training or racing but riding for the sake of it. I prefer to either be in a pair or solo, any more than that and it gets messy, these days even finding one other person is difficult but then again I haven't just ridden in ages.
Today was a belter. Revisited a couple of old favourite climbs including Church Hill in Crayke before my traditional route back from Easingwold - over the scary bridge, past the posh school, cross two busy roads and then wind down back into Tad.

I'm reading one of my favourite authors at the moment. He writes about life and cycling so well by just addressing the little moments so many others overlook. It's great when you find a book you could read all in one go but decide to take it one chapter at a time to make it last.

100%

Do we give 100% effort to anything anymore?
I'd like to say I do but having a few things going on at the same time means sharing time and effort between them all.
I hate the fact life makes you choose but there are no wrong decisions only different outcomes.

Mileage.

I'm having a hard time with Rapha at the moment but that is another story. The Continental films keep coming and mostly hit the spot.

I've always had a lot of time for Ira Ryan, in my limited dealings with him he has always come across as a good guy. I like his attention to detail here;
It all starts with one giant bag
Thinking a lot about triples, a bar bag full of sarnies and day long rides in the Yorkshire Dales at the moment.

Daily.

Everyday...
I listen to music.
I am more sure I found the one.
I knowingly spend too much time on the internet.
I sleep for (at least) seven hours.
I am convinced the world is getting less intelligent.
I'm glad I am patient but want a bit more motivation.
I wonder how I'd done if I'd gone into the family business.
I think too much.
I'm glad I get to be myself.
I want/need more tattoos.
I think of those who aren't here anymore.
I smile.

New things.

Could mountain biking be on the list. Maybe not while I live close to York, I like being able to just ride out of my front door too much but someday probably.

Back to it.

*I'm now a Godfather.

*My collection of race long footage from this season's Belgian campaign is growing and providing inspiration when most needed.

*Fed up to the back teeth with so much rehashing of what we all know already. I'm going to start learning new stuff and doing new things.

*Beer supplies just about right.

In no particular order.

Looking forward to the weekend.
Family celebrations.
Problem solving.
Studio headphones and my music.
Standing up for myself.
A perfect fit.
Having a laugh.
Short term goals - long term plans.
Knowing when not to be part of the crowd.
Secret beer shop.
Strictly.
Our big day plans.
I get custom, you're a customer.
Reading.
Her.
Having contacts.
Not paid to sit at a desk all day.
Never, ever using Twitter.
Helping others get the bike they want.
"Tips and Tricks"
Inside jokes.
Not giving a fuck.

Another on the list.

Let's do this.