More gravel, and sunshine. Is this really November? Its as if daylight-savings time took the calendar back a month instead of an hour.

As they say in Belgium, "steal the weather." Saturday is looking up too.

rest day

No ride today. Bike needs a rest day. Bikes need those. It sure is nice out though.

Today the clouds opened in the middle of my ride,



creating some interesting contrast.

back on

Winter training will not be televised.
But it will be camera phoned, if phoned can be a verb indicating the taking of pictures.
First day back on the bike today, scary, Halloween.
The previous few days were spent getting the gravel machine in working order. Plenty of gravel roads to explore north of Lincoln. Mid terms are almost through, and the forecast for the next week looks like September. The plan is to set a solid base through the winter, get closer to graduation and go to school in the spring then hit the Belgian racing circuit again in May.
So if you're riding around Lincoln, NE gravel, dirt or pavement, I'll soon be seeing you.

Yesterday saw the first snow fall of the year, and the calendar has just made its way into October. Given the impact of El Nino on this winter’s forecast, this month should continue on this weather trend, but the rest of the winter should hold warmer and drier than average. These indications suite my off-season well, though I ought to remember that should does not mean will.

When it is time to get back on the bike I’ll likely build my cross bike back up, not to cross race, but because gravel opportunities are simply too numerous. Also, riding on loose terrain helps maintain a fresh pedal stroke, and hones handling skill. The cross bike will also prevent me from taking the road bike off road which though fun, is unneeded wear to race equipment.

The first round of exams for fall semester is over, so I officially have a moment.

This season finished informally ended August 23rd, the weekend I flew back from Belgium to the Sates prior to the Monday I started school. Formally the season will end when September becomes October. I will have October off and then pick the wheels up again in November.

Success came for me this year. I made more progress in 09 then in combined previous couple years. This I attribute towards gains in my understanding of nutrition and the importance of training quality versus quantity.

Specifically I made big improvement in climbing and time trialing with strong riding in the mountainous Tour de la Province Liege, and two top 20 performances in two separate stage race time trials; Ronde van Antwerp, and Ronde van Vlaams Brabant which immediately followed Tour de Liege.

My overall fitness/capacity improved as well, also on a much steeper curve. This summer I was able to actually play a part determining some race outcomes.

The year started with a bang, a couple wins, strong at Tour of the Gila, then strong fresh off the plane in Tour de la Manche with 12 overall.

Condition continued in Laarne 10th, in Bertem 3rd, Liege as lead domestique, Vlaams Brabant in the time trial, and in the Tour of Antwerp time trial. A crash in the final day of Antwerp prevented me from finishing and keeping 10th overall. Naturally I always want more, but I am still proud and fortunate.

Now facing the off-season I am left with a few opportunities for next year which makes the uncertainty typical of the autumn months easier. At the same time school which is also on my mind is close to its finishing stretch as I anticipate finishing my bachelors in economics in the fall of 2010.

It was a solid season, and a noticeable increase in my growth curve which I do intend to improve upon for next season. In a fitting signature to 2009 I was able to help out at a few local races here in Nebraska after my arrival back, a refreshing experience I enjoyed.

This fall I plan to take it easy by means of reading and writing for my classes. I also am planning a few more volunteering events. Besides that if I don’t see you before November Happy Halloween, but afterwards I expect to see you all on the roads.

update

The stage racing saw my form improve with each consequetive day which was promissing though I was unable to get anything going in the last two days of Vlaams Brabant.

A week or so later I did a race near Roeselare, Belgium, followed the right wheels, stayed away with a group of eight for most of it, and then made a wrong move in the final to finish 6th.

Around a week following, Ronde van Antwerp began. I finished 15 seconds down in the 5 km prologue, nearly sliding out in a corner. Then I rode myself into the winning splits each day to keep myself at 10th overall into the final day. On the last stage I came into the local laps with the peloton intact, and went down in a crash. Picked myself up and looked for the team car for my spare bike, but by the time the car could get to me the race was well up the road. The race would pull me from contention at the start finish.

Today I have a race in a town not 7 km away.

Saturday I have another single day race.

Tuesday I have my last race in Belgium for the season, and I fly to the U.S. on Friday, August 21st to start school Monday.