Checking in...

Hello!

I'm still here, don't worry, don't fret, I haven't handed in the key to the blog rental, it's just that it's veldrijden season and we're veldrijding. Don't believe me? Check out some great photos here and race reports here. Whilst I'm obviously chasing form both in the legs and lungs (come on lungs don't let me down) I'm pleased to see my path to facial austerity coming to fruition.

A little bit of a round up post rather than thorny issues...although is this the beginning of one? I have an angle I wish to pursue in another post, ON YOUR LEFT!!

Great videos on Andy Waterman's blog, at last as an English speaker you get the inside story. Oh and while Andy's a Stybar fan I think I root for Albert... Does that allow us to dress in supporters club jackets, heckle each other and throw beer on our opposing rider (or rubber chicken at Stybar's chicken wing)?

Cobble addicts need to check Geoff Waugh's photo's here. Then sit back in a semi comatose state of euphoria until the next hit*... or spring. It's not far away (don't say that I'm enjoying cross too much) and apparently Lars Boom's focusing his effort on the classics. Does my Boom/Boonen showdown seem closer to reality? *Arenberg - a two hit process. The bike hits the cobble, you hit the ground.

Pavé blog have a kit. Cool Eurostyling at work.

Have a look at the 'flick through' of embrocation mag no.4 Undeniably makes me want to buy it... or figure a way of scaling the video whilst maintaining resolution to have a read.

Back home.

Simon Nurse (future HCTB rider) is promoting his race in Cardiff this weekend. Apparently the speed has gone up this year so bring the nitrous or pray for rain.

I'm putting some artwork together for Chipps at Singletrack mag for the Todmorden cross (3rd Jan) watch out for the artwork, then be there to see the craziness.

Team HCTB are soon to have some apparel...well t-shirts to be exact and if there's enough demand beyond the team bus, we may release the design for general consumption. We may also have beanie hats, but they seem to cost a fortune, so we may not. I'll keep you posted by posting, but not by post as they're on strike - I can post but it won't be delivered. OK?

Velocake slink into my bloglist. Cake + Kernow + cycling = class.

There it is, I'm spent and now need to call upon Blackalicious to round out this post with wordsmithery beyond my lowly apprentice like skill... while I return to the artboard.

Can't see the wood..

...for the cyclocrossers weaving through the tree's.

I feel like I've had a bit of down time on the blog yet with our busy lives there's been quite a bit happening. Racing and training have taken precedence in my valuable free time, with a good few hours spent either frequenting my local park, trail and secret space. The turbo has wakened far too early and has developed an earsplitting squeal, so much so, I was forced to abandon ship and finish a session early to retain my sanity and eardrums.

I've regained my mojo concerning my drawing and have some to upload, I try not to pressure myself into producing output yet I feel like a slacker when I don't. It feels great when you're inspired, get a vibe and want to do something creative. The only thing holding me back is current thinking in space and time. Come on theoretical physicists the world over, let us into the secret of time travel.

The Belgian pro cross ranks head to Namur this weekend, and I'm sure I could conjure a headline from the the words Citadel, Prince and Albert but I won't. Albert's put everyone to the sword so far (3 for 3) and the focus has been on Nys' poor form. The season's only in it's early stages yet, lets not forget Albert's tree incident that put him in hospital and out of action for a good chunk of the season, so there's plenty of time to see Nys come good. Yet the rabid sportsfan always wants results NOW and we may be seeing a changing of the guard. Time to start looking at the U23's to figure out another young pretender.

Back to Namur. I fumbled through the Sporza report airing Albert's concerns that the course is for Mountainbikers ands today had some clarity from cxmag (my flemish isn't so good). So with this in mind maybe Albert should fit a moto....make that maybe everyone else should fit a moto to keep up. The two video clips show the huge elevation transitions of the area. The first is retro, grainy and is right at home at Here Come the Belgians. The second is short and sweet but shows the height gain eloquently.

So what's next? More training, more racing, some drawing and getting stoked on the Belgian cross season.

Race Leathers...

We've been riding and racing in our team jerseys for a short while now, so it's an opportune time to tell you if they're working, what we like or dislike and how you could own one. Head over to the teamsite for the complete story.

Superquick post. Expect the man of the woods to head for the fields later in the week.

Stop.....GO!

Our first race as a defined team has been and gone (check our reports here & here), and with it a combination of excitement, frantic designing, bike building, worrying and general stoke for the season opener.

I now feel flat. The general pace that everything came together has been replaced with an ethereal calm. I think I'm addicted and I want more. It's just too quiet.

Quiet is a slight understatement. The turbo has been dragged kicking and screaming from it's summer hiding place. It's hibernation rudely awakened with a volley of intervals and will do so until it's battered body can return to slumber. Not for a good few weeks yet.

My design output has dried up this week, a victim of modern life and it's tribulations. I have the key for the floodgates and expect to turn it in a short while. Keep an eye out for a limited number of team caps making an appearance, you'll have to be quick to get your hands (or head in) one.

The Vuelta's been chugging it's merry Sangria'd way around Spain yet hasn't found it's way on my radar. Even as a child, it wasn't a race I followed or was interested in. Uncanny then, that I flick Eurosport over to see Lars Boom laying waste to the breakaway and finishing alone. Fantastic. Hopefully Rabo will channel his talent towards the only races that matter...The Classics. A Boonen, Boom shootout in Roubaix, how the fantasy cycling mind wanders.

Having said that Boom looks better covered in mud thought, doesn't he.

The cruelty of the microbiologial world has visited Bart Wellens, which is harsh as he's a great competitor. Wax on, wax off karate kid.

So after a flurry of spectating, back to quiet...in preparation for tonights turbo session.

The Racing Post...

We're going racing this Sunday and we're logo'd to the hilt. Check out the teamsite for the calm before the storm (or shine before the soiled).

Uncle Museeuw is giving us strength (in spirit and nothing else I hasten to add).

Team Work....

I can finally come clean. You've noted the infrequent posts, the eluding to a secret space out there and the non too subtle post about something happening at Here Come the Belgians.

Well without further a do, the secrets ready to be told....Roll the drums Teppo!

I'm very happy to announce Here Come the Belgians has a TEAM.

It started as an initial hare brain idea between myself and Alan 'crossjunkie' Dorrington and now over a few short weeks has developed into a sartorially elegant team kit, uncanny choice in riding machinery and their livery and a group of like minded people with an eye for cyclocross and the cobbled classics.

So what does this mean for me? The Here Come the Belgians team has it's own blog (the secret space here) and team members will be contributing their own perspectives on riding and racing. So for me this blog remains as my semi literate artistic vent whilst any riding experiences I have will be over with my team mates on the team site.

Then what does it mean for you? Get a vibe and some aesthetics over here, then get over to the team blog to see what, how and where we've been riding. A variety of perspectives and attitudes coming together in a collective team effort. As a heads up cyclocross is 5 days away and we'll be getting dirty.

On another level, our team could be yours. This isn't an elitist exclusive effort and if you're interested in being part of the team it's really very easy. I'll deal with details when I post about our kit later.

There you go, that's it, I'm genuinely excited about the forthcoming months. Look out in the next few days as I and I'm sure Crossjunkie will be covering the kit, bikes and riders.

So then, why are you over there when you could be Team Here...

The Journey...

Or should that read "it's where ya going..."

So where are The Belgians going? We've some exciting news in the next few weeks so make sure you keep calling around to see what's happening. Ironically in continuation of the secret theme there's a few secrets in our pocket and a secret space out there.

I didn't plan it like that, it kinda just happened.

For the classical explorers (I'm seeing Indiana Jones and the giant ball thing), you may be able to find the hidden place (don't worry no evil curses hanging in the air). If you do, drop me a line, I'd be intrigued.

For the rest of us, the secret will out, with a little patience.

It's truly good stuff, and that's just the start.