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Ohhh yes.. So i am meant to be this die hard amatuer racing cyclist, that's trying to make it... oh yes I nearly forgot...

I have to say It's been hard to write a blog lately, but with the high rating's and all, I have to figure out something to write. Well I  have now been back in Ghent  for maybe 4 weeks now, and certainly don't plan to leave anytime soon! So yes, what's to say? well I am working a couple of job's, training, and racing kermeses in Belgium again this year. It was a spectaular feeling to just come back to Gent, having now known the place, after living here for 9 months last year. Last year was hard, coming here, one scared little boy, a big culture shock to the extreme, now it's like totally easy. In my opinion if one is to travel somewhere, you should spend 2 years to an entire life time in that place, wherever that may be, to fully learn and appreciate the language and culture, but that's if you really want to absorb your self in another place, but anyway whatever....

So racing is going OK.. My whole perspective has certainly changed, that's for sure..

I know that i have prepared myself very very well for the season, so I might as well race right? so with these kermeses I am just doing 2 per week, and taking them as they come. For the racing season, my objective is just to stay healthy, happy and relaxed and then hopefully some results will come my way.

So my first race back I managed to scope in for a top 20, which I was pleased with. and then today top 40, sweet!!

So i certainly have a lot of freedom... One of the great thing's I have realized being in the environment that I have been in, is like more of a real world perspective, it's hard to explain, but coming to Belgium is more like a reality check then say maybe France... (I think), not that i can say for sure, but the big impression i get is, with France being very team orientated and then usually when you start of, they put you in a certain division i think, and then you just spend the next few years moving up, in the so called divisions, I think! What fun..( not that i have ever raced in France before) Belgium is more... every man for himself. I have really been able to see exactly where i stand as a bike racer and as a person in the last year. I've seen and experienced a lot in the last year, and racing is just another thing I do now, rather that it being on my head all the time. And having a life outside of a cycling mad communtity is what helps.

Also life is just so much easier...but of course that depens where you are in this tiny country. Every race is so close, just pedal there, sign on and race! and pedal home! Some would say I am in the wrong country because I'm good at climbing hills and not much a flat kermese racer, but I cannot see my self anywhere else, at this point of my life. Anyway, who knows how things will turn out... So still keeping up with dutch of course. speaking is pretty hard with all the dialects, but it gives me something to work on, a bit of purpose in life! So things are going bloody good, and I will continue to keep this page updated when i figure out something else to say..

TD

Heist op den Berg, Tangtiguies Rumes & Alice in wonderland

Sooooo.....It's been a while, but I am here in Begium now! I arrived on a real sketchy Ryan Air flight which left me in Charleroi airoprt. And what awaited me? well freezing cold weather, clouds, hail, and lots of rain, not what I was expecting...( for those of you who have not yet flown with Ryan air, so do it. You will have an adventure of a lifetime. )

So before I get into some real solid yarning. ( "yarn" - New Zealand jargon for 'conversation' ) I just cut straight to the facts. As you can tell by my title, those are the three races I have competed in Belgium to date. So I start form the top. Heist op den berg, 110 km train ride, plus a 20 km bike bike to the race from Leuven train station. race started at 17:30, finished in the bunch, nothing special. course dead flat, just did it to give the legs a warm up. the fact that I managed to get back Luven train station afterwards is another story!!!! ( by the way I am curreently staying in the south of belgium, hilly races etc.. before I go back to gent. ) Dus.. The next day I did it all over again...only this time in a small wallon town, called Rumes. Race was only 8 KMS away, so i was pumped. this time round i was racing the wallon region of belgium way in the south, next to France, where yes French is the Lingua Franca. And no, the locals certainly didn't appreciate my Dutch!! I have learnt my lesson there!! or even my spanish either... ( you never know, with europeans being such great linguistics.... )  ( Now I am really taking the piss ) OK anyway, race was certainly different, course was rolly and lots attacks, in fact there was never a time, when not attacking, not I figured would just go with it to try and get my legs going. I took 2 primes, which i was quite pleased with. Unfortunately no result, but i will just settle with the primes. Only second race anyway.

Ok so that brings me to today, so am currently situated in the middle of nowhere! yer... Like somewhere in the Ardennes near luxembourg. Don't ask... the fact that I  even managed to get here from the train station is yet another story....That's one hell of a yarn, which I won't go on about here. So yes, Here obviously because to race in the more so called, 'hillier races or Belgium'. which brings me to race report Number 3, Todays race. "The Ardennes Challenge", which I titled "Alice in wonderland.....""""  yer so I biked out to the race, about 40 km's, Turned up, atmosphere was pretty big, signed in and got on the start line. So freezing cold, and not to mention it starts raining on the line. I did the whole race with my Polar fleece on, and no regrets either. Ok so the race??? well it was like being Alice in wonderland. It was like quite a big race, because we didn't cover a circuit like, Like I have always done in the north of belgium. It was 114 km plus 3* 7 km laps. It was all very well being a climber and climbing hills like all the time, but the fact of the matter was, the break was gone. And in wallonia, It's another world to the north of belgium. the racing is completely different. once the break was gone, it was like 80ks's of just rolling in the bunch, easy az. Never before have i ever finished a race in belgium, and had an easy time, but I have now! In Flanders, the racing is constanly hard, regardless of the situation. Anyway finished the race just in the bunch and I could never work out what the blistering barnicoles was going on...and i never even recall doing a 3 lap circuit at the finish. it was like all well climbing hill's and stuff, but I just didn't know the situation or anything, it sucked ass. Alice in Wonderland, really was.

So Wallonia really is another world to the North, ( Flanders ). It's been great to experience the culture. It's really quiet. I think a great place if you just want to escape, or maybe ride some hills.

So I figure, I will knock it to the race the day after tomorrow, located also in the ardennes. Now i sort of know the deal, ( Break or easy training ride ) I hope for a result.

So feelings? well a little doubtful, I haven't being able to walk the walk yet. But I'm feeling confident and ready. The season is long... so I just have to try. Depending on how i go in the next race, will post another blog, otherwise if morale is not so great, will just not....

Adios, Salut, Bye, Dag!

TD

Just for anyone out there whom may be interested....

Well for people that have sort of followed me or held a little interest and maybe been keeping up with the blogs, thought I would write another blog. At least before I go back to Belgium late next month.

So yes, still driven and determined to go back to where any young, unknown amturer cyclist needs to be, BELGIUM of course. It's been nice and quiet having been back in New Zealand for about 4.5 months now.
I can just get into a really good routine, of training and a bit of work from time to time, rest and and eat, while also doing it, with in the nice summer climate, my third on the go!

In other news,  I've just completeled my TESOL Diploma now, which took me nearly two years to complete, and it's been a good feeling to know I have a back up plan if the cycling dosen't work out. So that's good. Also good for moral.

 Anyhow.. I've made some drastic plans to head away to Wallonia( south of belgium, where they speak French) for a week or two and hit up a few races where it's hilly before i head up to my beloved township of Gent. The purpose of my little two week excursion is to hopefully make a good showing in the much 'Hillier" races of Belgium, well just see what i can do... as form will be nearly 100% and i probably wont get much chances to do it, once I'm back in Gent, so I might as well give it a shot.

 Apparently, some say it's just 'incredible' how much a rider can improve over an "off season" (the period after the racing season, where one just rides a whole lot basically). I really hope this theory/belief proves correct, because I am hoping i can at least make some changes from last year where i didn't have a year of results that's for sure. So just playing it "cool" doing all the training, working and just building that ever so important "condition" for the long season ahead. I have got some goals, but going to keep them to myself, and then just blog about them soemtime soon.

Well one things for sure, I know exactly what to expect. Having done nine months in Belgium last year already. Rode an entire season, went through a whole lot and now I'm only stronger and determined to go back to the same place, and see what i can do this time, for ROUND 2. ...

That's it for now, keep reading and keep following, things cold get interesting...

TD

Not long till im off to belgium, so bike needs to go..

Up for sale going cheap is a Kuota Kharma 2011 model, Click the "trade me" link, for more information and photos. If you're interested in the bike, email or phone me.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/sports/cycling/road-bikes/large-57cm-over/auction-450082175.htm

Cheers

Tom

New Zealand Elite/U23 Road Cycling Championships

11 laps.13 Finishers all together, including U23 and Elite. 60 riders forced to quit.

I did everything I possibly could. good position. luck. Good fitness. There wasn't one more thing i could have done. I lasted  7 laps. pulled with four to go. Jeez i'm in an insane sport... I would say, the race was three times harder than a belgium kermese, any day of the week. For me it was totally game over after the fifth lap, but i carried on anyway till four laps to go, as it was great training plus i need to last the extra few laps to have made an improvement on last year. quite sad isn't it? yes i always question why I still devote my life to the sport. I guess i just love it to much. It's a love-hate relationship.

So i did all this training for this race and even though i have Another "DNF" sitting next to my name, just like last year, i was able to come out of it feeling good about myself. Because i can a lot from that race. But mainly, because i gave it everything, there wasn't anything else i could have done, and that's that. I have to be happy with that. Very unfortunate though i could not have got a result. But last place was 13th. That's how insanely brutal the course was. 11 laps of  a 12%, 1.5 km hill. It's torture. Overall i'm disappointed not to have gotten any result, i really thought i was at that level, i've being putting in a lot of work in and a lot of 5 hours rides just concentraing on torque power and what not, thinking i would be up for it, but i guess not. It's time to freshen up now, then give Belgium another shot, keep grinding at it..

 For me i did this race last year as a first year U23, so i knew it was going to be tough. i went into the NZ champs, with the mind set of '5 laps', i didn't care what kind of day i was going to have, shit or good, as long as i lasted 5 laps. That was my goal. I lasted 7. so I have to be happy right? haha. Hey well at least i have made a reasonable start to the year, I haven't taken any blows to the morale from todays champs. so things are obviously going up! anyway a few day easy for now, that into the next training block for Belgium! Wicked! Apart from that, other things taking up my time is just working part time, my TESOL Course, and still unsuccessfully trying to speak Flemish!  Boy, that one will be a long shot... so yes i go back to Belgium roughly last week of March.

Well hopefully this wasn't a bad update, not sure if theres any other races in NZ until before i go back to Europe, so in terms of cycling talk, i don't think there will be much to rant on about, but there will be always be something worth putting in the blog.

Kind regards

Hodge

Tour de Vineyards

Disappointing. Is the only word really. I had a lot of confidence coming into this tour as i've done 7 months of Belgium kermeses this year plus one decent training block in my legs in the short time i have been in New Zealand so far. I pulled the pin on the second day, about 10kms from the top of the takaka hill. Deffinetely a new low point for me, but here is two reasons that aren't really good enough, now that i think about it..But i am going to make up a couple of excuses anyway.. (1) my back wheel/bearings is kapot ( broken ) (2) I had just finished a weeks dose of antibiotics for my throat which seemed to have swelled up, and for one reason or another i feel that might have been the cause why i was riding like such a sack of shit. well it better be the reason, because the day after i got back from Belgium i have started training and i have never felt quite so good. It's definitely a setback. But anyway it's behind me now.

This week,I have the biggest race ever, this sunday "NZ Elite/U23 Road Championships. It is very important.
So all my cards will on that one. Also besides from the odd casual club race, it's basically the only race i am doing in NZ, also you could say only race available haha...

Anyway it's probaly a good thing that Vineyards tour was in 2011 and i sucked at it, because it means i can start the new year fresh, with fresh moral. Things can only go upwards form here i should say. Considering i got my ass kicked all year in Belgium, why not just add this one to the tally?  Good attitude i reckon..

Sounds like I'm on a bit of a downer, but I'm not. I am raring for Nationals this Sunday. i am of the antibiotics and what after affect also.. It's time to make a fresh start for the year. a morale boost would be great. Can't wait to re'update. stay tuned.

TD  

My season in Belgium is over.It's been fantastic.

Well this blog is going to be a long one, and most likely my last one for a while.. well at least until December, before i start the New Zealand season, and i have some decent smack to talk about. so please, keep tuning in.

2011 as been the best year of my life. And adventure. and its not even done yet. I was eighteen in march, when i packed up my bags and traveled on my own to Belgium. this year has not been a year for results or pal mares,  or what ever you want to call it. it's been a year of character building, getting a lot stronger, maturing, and stepping way out of my comfort zone, into the big world. and most importantly, making a big impression on the people here, who have so much passion and love for the sport.

Of course i had some good showing's in the races, took a few primes and and had a few good results, but i have just been sucking it all up and learning as much as i possibly can, and getting stronger while doing so. The year has been full of ups and downs, both on the bike, and off it. There are things i have done this year, that  for sure changer my character a whole lot. taking failure this year as been the big one. I mean i have basically ridden an entite season, march till october. maybe 50 odd races? i haven't kept count, but that's a lot. a bit too much i'd say. In August i came very close to quitting entirely. just ask Ian whitehead. my body had had it. nothing in the system. and morale was worse than shit. and i was a shit as well, not really creating much of a positive atmosphere to say the least. but then i rested,  had a good yarn with another kiwi.then got out of it, and came out a couple weeks later with my best result. top 11, haha. yes small reward, but i came out after that down time, feeling strong and healthy, mentally stronger, and pretty unstoppable, and that's whats important.next time, should not be too much trouble.

Character building of the bike. well for anyone that hasn't kept tuned in with my previous blogs i am working over here in belgium for a restaurant. Easier said than done. I will tell you what really fucks you're morale up. Rejection. I know this word pretty well. getting a job in a country you cannot speak the language of is tough.
two weeks spent, going to 15 odd restaurant  a day, every day, getting told "No, no job for you Jongen" does take it's toll on he morale. But i kept at it, an eventually after the 100 odd bars,cafes and restaurants that i visited, i had one call back, and that is where i am working now. right on the korent markt in the centrum Gent. and it's been great. i actually really enjoy it. Never before have i actually looked forward to washing dishes for 4 hours. and i think the reason behind it, is because it's a complete change of scenery that i really need. 7 months spent cycling and only cycling and socializing with only cyclists and talking only about form, weight, and what ever other shit cyclists talk about. it's really nice to be with people that are not cyclists. in fact it's the best thing in the world. Which i never appreciated that, until now. but anyway, i got a job and i took a lot of failure to get there, and it's all just build up my confidence and character.And plus, the money will be saved for when i come back.

The racing and next year. OK, so the racing until belgium probaly does not suit me a whole lot, and very limited number of hilly races, so i have not been able to show my true cloours a whoel lot. well never actually. But no doubt i am in the right place, and next year will be done a little drifferently. reasons... Of course no doubt about this year, obviously i made a few mistakes, but for this year, i couldn;t imagine myself anywhere else in the world. i believe i have made a lot of progress and have come out so much stronger. The kermese style of racing is 2.5 hours from the guns till the end, fucking hard. sometimes you get course which are short and many corners, and sometimes longer circuits.  but its very surgy. No real sustained power. well unless, you're good enough to make it that way. but if you're just surviving like me, its always up down, up down. 0-50 kmph, then down again, repeat. so in other words, 7 months of building explosive power.so pretty good for trackies. Of course, you can make the winning break, and it's be different, but that hasn't been the case for me this year. So next year? I coming back to Gent, Belgium. But, with some organisation, i plan to do a very good base over the NZ summer, and will hopefully do at least 2 tours in asia before and after the season in Europe. Tours which i will be in good knick for, and where if i can achieve a result, will get me more exposure to the bigger teams. and after the season I'll be looking at doing either Tour de Indonesia or Tour of Tasmania, the tours are hilly and it gives me more exposure. The season in Belgium, i will be aiming to get results, but also will be training with it. So no it won't be just a year of kermeses. And at  Kingsnorth. it is perfect, i have the luxury to do just that. But it's still a long way of, and i will focus on the fundementals first, like finding  a coach, and doing things better and more professionally.

It's not over yet. My season has finished, and I'm fairly exhausted, so i am now resting, ( for 2 weeks )  chilling out, working and looking forward to doing a few things, which i haven't got around to yet. and i tiull have 5 weeks left to do that, so gonna be sweet!!

Last but not least, thank you to Alain and Yves Boone this year for helping me out, advice, food, steak, bidions, I needed the help and all the food haha. and jan czech for having me over for dinner a lot of times this year. But my two biggest helpers are my Mum and Dad. Cycling is an expensive sport, and i work to put everything into it, but my parents always do what they can. helped me financially when i really needed it, and continue to do so ,thank you

I still have over a month left, to earn some money, and to do some things which i really wanted to do, so looking forward to that, and then i'll board the plane on 12 novy to head straight into the NZ Summer. Thanks everyone for tuning into my blog, all over the world, and please stay tuned, over the nz summer, i have some races to ride and smack to talk. I'm a man on a mission.

TD