Born2Ride

Getting the Mojo Back

28Oct09

Getting back on the bike has been harder than I thought it would be. The combination of bad weather and lack of time has meant that my riding has been more sporadic than I would have liked it too have been. Having said that if I really wanted to be on the bike I would have but the excuse of “It’s still the off season” was just too easy to say so quiet often I stayed in bed and although I got some really cool rides in over the past few weeks there has been no consistency in it.

It has all been about riding with mates and enjoy the bike for me and as the days have worn on I am enjoying it more and more. From the raw emotion of my return to Kinglake to the caffeine of Beach rd the past few weeks have been about finding the energy that riding a bike gives me. And now I am ready.

1^st of November is the end of the offseason and the start of the preseason and with that comes discipline. I have already sat down and started to map out my training plan for the next few months with Sarah Riley my coach and I have also taken a good hard look at my weakness and where I need to improve on for next season.

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Tags: Beach rd, Kinglake, Sarah Riley, Training Plan

VDB- La Redoute Liege-Bastogne-Liege 99

13Oct09

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VDB- Vuelta stage win 99

13Oct09

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Franky Boy

13Oct09

I don’t pretend to be Frank’s best friend but I feel honored to have known him and had a season where he advised me and helped me out. I didn’t listen to everything he told me but the fact he was willing to take the time to care about me and my riding shows his best side.

I don’t pretend to understand him but I have never met someone more complex yet so simple. He was at home on the bike.

I send my condolences to his family and friends in Belgium and around the world.

Rest in Peace Frank

Nick Mitchell.

Grand Prix de Denain. Wherever he went so did the media

Team Presentation

SL371158

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RIP Frank Vandenbroucke

12Oct09

After reading a number of reports this morning it appears that Frank has died. I hope that in death he finds the peace he couldn’t find in life.

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Season Over

06Oct09

The Season is done and dusted now so it is time to reflect and take stock on what has happened, plan for the future and recharge the batteries for next season. What could have been a season left in tatters has recovered to be described at worst as mixed and as best as positive.

I have written before that I am extremely positive for the future and after returning to Australia and reconnecting with my contacts I have only reaffirmed that.

My form at the end of the season was fantastic and a big part of me wants to keep going with the racing and training but with next year in mind and a lack of a Herald Sun Tour start I will be resting up with the my eye well and truly on next year.

From now the plan is to implement a lot of new and exciting ideas in my training and I will be keeping you up to date with what I am doing. I have already been resting for a week now and will be rolling around on the road bike for awhile and also getting out in the dirt on my mountain bike. I have already gotten back in the pool and started focusing on my bad ankle again to get that up to speed before I return to the gym.

Odds for the World Champs in a cafe in Vichte

Start list for Lichtervelde

Last ride in Belgium. Having a rest at Tongerlo Abbey on a foggy Flemish morning with Sven

Back over red soil

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Tags: Herald Sun Tour

Vichte

22Sep09

Vichte done and dusted. Legs hurt a lot over the first lap as I cleared the lactic but felt better as the race went on. Happy that I could help Peter get into the break. Now we will see how I am tomorrow.

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Viane

21Sep09

Complete about face today. Friday I was swapping off with Mancebo and tore my lungs apart in the process. Today I was swapping off with Boonen (less than a week out from worlds) and felt awesome. Hopefully I can back up tomorrow for Vichte, Wednesday in Lichtervelde and Saturday in Tinnen.

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Tags: Lichtervelde, Paco Mancebo, Tom Boonen, Viane, Vichte, World Championships

“I now have only good days or great days.” Lance Armstrong

20Sep09

I wish this was true for me. However, I am not Lance and I am chasing cheap form and I knew that sooner or later I would have a really bad day on the bike. That was yesterday.

The Championship of Flanders also known as Koolskamp is a tough race with a lot of big teams and big riders. I was extremely motivated and had felt in the past couple of days and races that I had turned a corner mentally and physically and was ready to attack the race.

crossing a gap

After a short neutral section I found myself right at the front of the bunch when the flag was dropped and found myself following the very first attack of the day from Francisco Paco Mancebo. It was me and him swapping off using only the 53×11 and the 53×12. The attack last about 15km but the damage it did to me was massive. My lungs were destroyed and so were my legs.

There was not that much crosswind but there was enough to force the race onto the footpath and into the gutter during many of the straight sections of road. This meant that the bunch was splitting and reforming, which, caused me to go deep on a number of occasions to close these gaps.

A brief respite under brakes into a corner

After a couple of hours I couldn’t make my legs turn any faster or push the pedals any harder and I watched the wheel in front of me dissapear up the road.

Cheap form comes when you have no base. It comes quick but it leaves even quicker. I am hoping it was a bad day and I will be good for my last couple of races.

Looking back now the race was a great experience because I got to be off the front with a guy that has finished top 5 in both The Vuelta and The Tour.