Training, new team, and Belgium preperations

After a rest week from my 3 week block that included the California trip, it was back on the bike Sunday for an endurance ride.  The weather was fantastic, about 55-60 and sunny, which is typical for late January to early Febuary, then it will dump on us till May-June.  The weather and upcoming racing season must've prompted people to ride at a ridiculous pace.  Despite the fact that I didn't have legs, I was sitting in the group just fine, taking my turns at the front every now and again.  About 1/2 way into the ride the pace ramps up and I head to the back.  Even though racing in Oregon starts mid February, this is no reason to "light matches" just now.  The season lasts until September, and I'm traveling to Belgium, where I'll need those "matches" in June, so going hard in a non-race environment is exactly what I don't want.

Needless to say I'm at the back of the group having this great mental discussion with myself, when we get to a particular section of the course that is part of the first race in February.  Right when we turned on that road it was as if there was money on some imaginary line, and everyone took off.  Finally getting my bearings I sat up, content with having a "nose breathing" ride home, enjoying the weather.

Ranting aside, I mentioned earlier that I am traveling to Belgium in June to race bikes until September.  Graham, from the California trip, told me he wants to come.  Having an ex-pro racer come on a trip like this, where my ultimate goal is to get a contract is a huge help and resource, not to mention a hell of a fast bike rider!  Graham and I have decided that the best way for us to prepare and travel over there is by creating our own team, just for the two of us, and try to attain sponsorship and support.  Though we would be racing under our own team in Belgium, the autonomy isn't a bad thing as we would be the "unknown" riders, which could ultimately help.




In preparing our sponsorship proposal I've stumbled across a few cool photos during a criterium in August last summer, take a look.