Christmas Time!!

Me and my snow man on christmas day

Hi Everybody

Not so much has been happening since the last update altough definately the weather has got cooler. This picture on the right is a picture of the track bike that I have been doing all my training on for the last few months after breaking the previous one.
Altough have got out for a few road rides but generally quite sketchy riding on the winter roads here.
As for the track have done many laps in the last month mostly riding 1-3hours on the track/rollers which is not so scenic :(
Got a cold early December which took a few weeks to come right and took it easy.

As for this christmas been my first white christmas decided to get creative on christmas day and make a snow man for you all back in NZ.
The photo on the right is the church across the road on christmas morning with the lights still on.

Now am looking forward to this coming year.

God Bless
Chris

Round and round!!!!

Tower Brugge

Hi Everybody
Been awhile since the last update. Had a week off the bike after the last race in October.
During that week went for 2 runs first one ran 8k then the next on did 11k so my legs got a we shock from that as haven't run since the triathalon I did back in March.
The following week started back riding this time on the track with a few easy rides on the road and tried a cyclo-x race as well, which found out that it was not for me, so will be spending the winter on the track.
So the last weeks of October were mainly spent at the track training altough did managed to get out for some rides on the weekend on the road which was quite pleasent riding through all the autumn leaves on the country roads of Belgium. Also in October found a church in Gent, so have been attending.



On the 5th of November the track bike didn't fear so well after a few sprints in a session on the track could here a creaking noise (not the first time iv'e heard this noise) Oh dear I thought to myself.
The sound didn't to good so I slowed down and to checked sure enough found a crack in the Stearing tube not just one either, two one in the top an one on the bottom so that was the end to that track session. So the next few days road on my road bike until sorted out another bike for the track.


Managed to sort out a track bike so got back training on the track and even got to ride on the Kuikpe 166m track which is wicked as its like a merry go round you fly through the laps really quick and alot more force going into the banking. So can't wait for the track racing to begin over here.

God Bless
Chris

Change of seasons

Hello to all,

Well here is the update from the 27th of September,
27th Just went out for a nice easy spin in the wind.
28th Had a race in Sint Laureins where my string of wheel breaking continued this time heading out of a corner on the last lap ping goes a spoke in my front wheel as some guy thought it was nice to swing into my front wheel a few laps earlier. So therefore didn't think it would be safe contesting a mass sprint so tried to ride off which did split up the bunch but didn't let me escape that easily so end up finish 19th.
29th Went for a nice easy ride with a friend down to Oudenaarde where we had lunch before heading back to Gent.
30th This was a slighty bigger race in the size of the field nearly 120 starters. Also this course at Tielt was bigger than usual with 2 little climbs one which had a Clasification on which I ended up finishing second in. Coming into the last lap was kaose as was still a big bunch so managed to postion myself no to badly going through the tight technical section of the course before entering the town where moved up the bunch on the hill ready for the dash to the line unfortunately got a little boxed in but once got out went on my merry way to claim 9th place.
1st October just headed out for a gentle spin.
2nd Raced in Hoogelede which involved a we trip in the car to get to the race it was pissing with rain which made for slippery roads surprisingly only sore 1 crash in the race mid way through on a corner. Had a solid race and finish 6th in the mass sprint.
3rd Got up to not much caught up on the house chores.
4th Raced a Dienze Pettegem was a windy day on a short course unfortunately missed the break of 5 riders so just took it easy till the last lap where I powered away from the bunch to claim 6th again.
5th Easy ride
6th Lottenhulle another race in the wet unfortunately wasn't my day tried tough ending up 10th.
7/8 easy rides
9th Hoogelede the smallest field since ive been here only 24 starters but my legs did not want to be pedalling so hung on for half the race before calling it a day as knowing had another race tomorrow altough still finished 14th.
10th Raced in Deerlijk which was another big field with 113 starters so made for mayhem on the first few laps the pace was hot, which only left 2 groups in the race with about 15 in the front an 25 in the rear unfortunately for me I was in the rear, due to some more disasters with my wheels this time 1 spoke in my back wheel went at 3 laps in then 1 in my front a few laps later but still hung in there as the wheels were still managing to turn round. It all came back together then split with 4 laps to go and me been in the second split not surprising with wheels like that. Unfortunately on the last lap got a puncture so had to roll home in 21st place which was not bad considering all that had happened.
11th Took it easy went for a we look a the park where I took this picture above looking towards the Sint Petiers Station Gent.
12th Last race of the season in Hiest Op Den berg which was on the other side of Anterpwen unfortunately didn't go so well just finishing in main bunch 46th actually.

Hope you enjoyed the read

God Bless

Chris

OH DEARY ME!!

Where in the world am I!!!!?

Well,well.well!!!
Crap is the one word that somes the last few weeks up altough could use alot of other words.

But here is a more detailed explanation of the last few weeks.

7th of September had a race in Hulste not to far from Kortrijk.
So since my legs were feeling like lead and the circuit having lots of corners made a not so nice race altough managed to come 9th.
8th just went for a nice easy ride in the lovely rain.
9th Some more riding in the rain, excitement of the day was a runner not looking were he was going I was riding in a cycle lane at 40k, he approached at 90 degrees to it, then just turned an ran straight into me not giving me anytime to do anything to avoid him, Man I felt sorry for him as bold him to the ground instantly but also crashing on top of him. Who does that. Lucky he was alright, just had minor blood nose out of it but could of easily been alot worse, An as for me just had a bit of a sore neck but managed to keep the scabs this time so I was happy enough.
10th Easy ride
11th Had a big day today been our last interclub race with this team Euroasia.
Anyway we got in the car an started off to the race, driving to the race I found out wasn't going to ride for Nippo team, So feeling pretty crap did a small warm up an got to the start line a bit angry, so after missing the main slit of the day was chasing but couldn't bridge the gap today, so a few people from the main bunch rolled off the front with 1lap to go an I just let them go an get a good 600m before I jumped across an caught them just before the finish an sprinted them finishing lucky 13th. So not to bad for a big race an having that news before the race.
12th Rest day off the bike went to a Catholic Church in Kortrijk which was very traditionally if I could say.
13th This was going to be a ripper of a day as woke up an yep had awesome legs like you get every now an again, It was good as it was a big race in Zwevegem had the Ameteur Belgium National champ on the start line as well as a heap of other good riders.
So on the first lap got in a break an drove it really hard which made it stick so there were about 20 of us in the front group. So the first 8 laps managed to pick up 3 sprint primes an was pulling away from the bunch on this little hill where the finishline was every lap.
That was all good that part of the race now here is where it turns to custard with 5 laps to go broke a spoke in my back wheel so I said to mechanic/bottle feeder need a back wheel ready next lap to swap, everyone in the group heard me say this so the raised the pace the following lap me put in my hardest gear already for a smooth wheel change, OH DEAR NO BACK WHEEL so had to wait for him to get one by this time the group had got to far away, Eventually managed to start my chase but only to find the wheel he gave me was only pump up half way so couldn't go round the corners very fast. So the following lap pulled in an got my wheel out of his car so now I had a decent wheel proceeded on my chase. Got some help from a commasaire motorpacing me to 500m off the back of the 2 group as the front group had split in 2 so when I caught them with 1 lap to go just rode straight past them an tried to get to the front of the race but couldn't do it so ended up 6th only to get relegated to 13th for the assistance I got from Motorpacing. Well all I can say is oh dear an some how managed to keep my cool after the race.
14th Some more good news, not- we had to shift back to Zwevegem and euroasia couldn't pay for food or race entry which is pefectic, so left me hanging. So just packed up an went for a nice easy ride up the cannal to Gent to get away from it all an say good bye to Martin my South African friend/team mate as he left to go back home.
15th Caught a train off to the otherside of Antwerpen to another biggish race similiar to the one on monday, I was glad to do this race as it was all on nice roads and had 1 big loop before going onto a smaller 7k finishing circuit unfortunately didn't go with the right move in the closing laps an ended up finish 29th. Lucky some others were going back to Kortrijk which saved me a long train ride home. Thanks guys.
16th Had a well deserved rest day.
17th Easy ride with few nice we sprints. Sorted out moving back to Gent.
18th Shifted back to Gent an did race in Nazereth which is not so far from Gent maybe 15k
This race was not so good as big open roads which did not work out so well as everybody was marking me. Still finished 9th tough
19th Another race in virtually the same place but better circuit and windy so the race blew apart within 3 laps leave a group of 12 riders out the front but some how managed to stuff this race up on the last corner again but didn't crash just had to slow down way to much which led to me ending up 10th.
20th Had another restday an did some baking this time a carrot cake.
21st Race but not to good pulled out after 5 laps as could feel sinus starting to come on.
22-now just taking is easy gone on gentle rides am just wanting to throw off this sinus. Will hopefully be back racing within another week but will take it easy.

As you can see why I didn't really want to update my blog as nothing good has really happened in these last few weeks.


God Bless

Chris

Fun Times or not

Me at Lille at the massive markets

Hi Everybody

Had some good times an not so good this last week. 3 Top 10's in the last week an had a stupid we fall on some road works which ripped open scab on my leg.


Spent the last day of August just chilling had a nice restday.
Wednesday the first day of September it was like christmas for me. A nice we brown box arrived from NZ which contain all this useful stuff from back home.
SRM Crank finally back from repair in Germany.
Spray on suncream that doesn't get in your eyes :)
Marmite
Wrist splint that is bit better than the support have had.
Cream for eye to heal up better.
Once I got the Srm hooked up headed out for a nice 3hour ride on sum hills. To my favourite coffee stopping point in Brakel.
Here's the picture of the Roundabout at Brakel with Coffee Shop in background.
Thursday was a nice easy spin with a few sprints in prep for tomorrows race. Plus moved to Kortrijk Centrum to live with team director.
Friday I Raced in Beverien-Lei'e which was a bumpy race which my wrist didn't like to much an struggled to grab drink bottles at 50kmph. I came in 8th place so wasn't to bad considering.

Saturday had a nice easy ride 3hour spin on some hills except for the roadworks which I was going about walking pace an sliped on a mound of gravel which led to me ripping my scab open on my hip which was not so good. After dinner we headed off to France to the markets in Lille which are gigantic. Thousands of people were still walking round the streets.
Sunday Raced at Ruiselede which was a fast race as break went off the line an kept going until it stayed away till last lap where bunch caught up with 2k to go then then was a massive dash to the line where I came in 7th.
Monday had a awesome day just chilling an resting caught a train to Rosselare to sort some stuff out with the people at the hospital.
So all it all in not such a bad week.

GOD BLESS

Chris

Back Racing again

Hi Everybody

Back racing again, last week had my first race back on Wednesday a 170k Interclub in Oudenburg which is sort of towards the coast to the left of Brugge. This race was a bit longer than the usual kermesse (Race).
So wasn't to bad apart from the rain towards the end an been a big bunch maybe around 170 riders making it very fast, on the last lap got caught behind a crash which made the bunch split up as for wrist seamed to of copped alright, was a little sore for the last 2laps an grabing bottles out of the feed station.
Ended up 55th about 20sec behind winner an was pretty happy just to finish an get that one behind me as needed to find out how I was going.
Took it easy on Thursday just went for a little spin in the morning then went an watched the Japanese Juniors do there final Kermesse.
On Friday packed up for the day an headed off across the border into Holland for a Criterium in Zierikzee which didn't go so well as had cobbles so pulled out after a few laps as didn't want to upset wrist. Got a nice Ice-Cream tough.
Spent the night in Gent then went for an easy spin back down the canal home on Saturday.
Sunday race was alot better as wrist is now strong enough to change gears from the hoods now the race was in Maria Aalter it was held in rather nasty conditions which was definately to my favour windy an hail/rain which split the race up quite nicely me ending up 3rd so pretty happy to be starting to get back to where I was before I crashed.
Monday had another race in Ooigem which didn't go so well as legs were cramping from about half way but still managed to sprint and get 10th.
Today just chilled out and had a nice well deserved rest day.

God Bless
Chris
Me just before the crit in Holland as you can see only got a little bit of road rash left on my leg.
An eye has healed up quite nicely.
Have still got wisdom tooth nudging its way through.

Making good Recovery!!!

Zwevegem Windmill

Hi Everybody

This week has been takening it easy altough managed to get on bike pretty soon after getting out of hospital which has made it go alot faster.
Report from training this last week goes like this:
Wed rollers 30min day after getting out of hospital.
Thu rollers 1.5hours very fun stearing at the wall.
Fri got out on the road for 2.5hours nice an easy.
Sat nice long ride on the canaals then some hills for the last few nice scenery.
Sunday was similar
And as for today just chilled an went into the Centre of Kortrijk had a look round which was interesting.
As for the wounds they have mostly scabed over an a healing up nicely.
Today also had fun pulling the stitches out of my eyebrow as definately time for them to come out. Just got a little bit of bruising still an slight scab there. As you can see in picture

As for the wrist is recovering as well can do most stuff now ie opening jars, doors.

Pic from main Square Kortrijk

Hopefully be back doing some racing this week.

God Bless
Chris

Kerb always wins

Me at start of first race for new team Eurasia.

Hi Everybody

This last week I haven't had much good luck altough did win a bike for sprint comp in Kermesse only bonus.

On the 13th didn't get up to much just went for a 2hour ride with the U19 guys

14th was race in Muelbeke unfortunately it decided to rain again as this was my first race with the new team was wanting it to go well so was conserving myself and then with 3laps to go some guy swung over and hook his rear skewer in my front wheel ripping 3 spokes out and ending my race the only bonus was that I didn't crash.
15th just took it easy an went for another 2hour spin.

16th Had a criterium in Moorslede, a short race on a 1.3k circuit which we did 51 times so as it was raining thought since my legs have been alright I would ride off by myself for the first 10laps before getting joinned by 4 other, which 1 only lasted 2laps with us then there was 4 an we worked well together staying at around 1min ahead of the main bunch most of the race I didn't know but there was a points comp which I happened to win, scoring myself a nice towny as you would call it over here. But the end of race wasn't so merry last lap I was on front an coming out of the second to last corner acelerated at maximum going for the win which didn't work out to well going into the last corner at just under 60ks which was 10ks faster than the other laps where hit the Zebra crossing an slid across the road then must of face planted the kerb. Which KO me for maybe 10min cause the next thing I remember was opening 1 eye again a been in an Ambulance heading for the Hospital.

Where they proceed to go through the medical proceedures, x rays an scans, cleaning out wounds on my legs an arms but not to bad have had alot worse very lucky indeed.
Which I must say were alot smoother than back in NZ. So once 8stitches were in my eyebrow I asked how many more an he said 2. Cause it was going into my right eye that had already had surgery to before could hardly feel the needle go in for the Local so when he was finished I said good job now hi Five, which he enjoyed the sense of humour. So spent the night in hospital an was cleared in the morning to go back home by this time I was starving luckly had a waffle an a bannana in my bag to save me.
So just takening it easy for the next few days until I start riding back on the road.
Here the pic of me happy enough 2days later.

God Bless
Chris

The Shift

Picture of U19 Eurasia guys yesterday just before race.

Hi Everyone

The last few weeks since the 3rd its been a bit of kaose as with mechanical problems with bike parts not been strong enough then punctured. Made a move to Kortrijk Zwavegem yesterday, where I am based for the next few months racing for eurasia.

Whats been happening since the 3rd of August

4th August, was Race at Lockeren which had a few stretches of Cobbles, but didn't go so well as big chainring bent on the first lap, so was on left with one gear that wouldn't jump off. Lucky it was a 12 sprocket not an 11 so made good use of the race still continued in that gear for another lap as they were paying big Primes every lap from the second lap so got my 50euro prime then pulled out.

5th was not a bad day, managed to dodge the rain on 3hour ride out to bike shop to buy myself a late birthday present a new cycle computer.

6th Not to much easy spin.

7th Nice easy 4hour ride with team mate round the roads of Ouudenaade.

8th Finally another Race at Bottlelare this time didn't go so well either, punctured this time on the first lap so just rode home. As couldn't do much about that.

9th Raced in Erondegem which was a hilly race for Belgium 1000m climbing an cause it was hot an no wind lots of people were suffering from cramp including me by the last laps. Yippee this time made it past the 1st lap with out many problems. I ended 3rd as cramp got the better of me. So went for a nice Ride back home with Luke who took me on a scenic detour which involved catching a canaal boat across to the otherside of the Canaal to get on the bike path.





10th Raced in Lovendegem which was on a Small 5k circuit which we had a 1k stretch of cobbles down the finishing strait so made for an interesting race as it was windy an started to rain halfway through the race. To cut it short I won 5 primes and finish 7th.




1th The big move packed up all my stuff in the morning an Ken Hashikawa the manager of eurasia came an picked me up an dropped me off to where I will be staying for the next few months in Zwevegem, which is pretty close to Kortrijk. After unpack an getting introduced to the U19 Japanese guys im staying with went an watched them race which they didn't go so bad for the first race im sure they will improve been over here. Just before I went to bed the fulla's gave me a cool little gift an a Japanese lollipop which tasted a bit like a Mactintosh origanal flavour would be the closest to it in NZ.




Keep you posted
God Bless

Chris

What a week!!!!

Hi Everybody

What a week 5 races in the last 7days an my birthday. Here's a pic of me up the road yesterday chucking a bottle off.


Start off with last wednesday the last race of the series at Dienze I was leading into this race but all turned to custard on me as legs were good but wheel wasn't so lets just leave it at that.
Thursday was slightly better with a 15th place in a race in Deerlijk.
Friday and Saturday just did some nice easy rides.

Sunday was my Birthday so of course had to have a pre race meal from the bakery today man it was delicous.
Race was at Knesselare which was a good 1hour ride up the cannal to get there.
I had a bad start to the race puncturing with in the 2nd lap so managed to get a wheel change and time trial back on which lucky for me was the peleton slowest lap of the race but in saying that there is no convoy so it was a solid effort.
Spent the next lap at the back, started moving through up to the front as saw it was starting to split up so got to the front and started to roll with team mate Mario to break the field up an sure enough that happen caught the front of the race.
Kept the pace on then that pack split down to 6 of us with 4laps to go so that stayed away 2 more went off the back so there was only down to 4 of us where they sort of Tag teamed me as 1 of the dirty belgies had paid the others out and I didn't know as they weren't racing like they usually would if they had done that.
So basically 2 of them went up the road an 1 just sat on me so I tried making him roll by letting the gap go out to maybe 300m with 2k to go but he just sat there so pulled it down to 50m with 750m to go then swung over he still would roll through. So left it to 500m where I went as fast a possible flying past the 2 guys with 20m to the line unfortunately the other guy who had a free ride rolled me by few cm.
So close yet so far away.
Tom sorry about the wheel that I borrowed after I punctured spoke loosened up during the race lucky it was only just hitting the brakes a real little bit unlike the other day.
Not to bad of a way to celebrate your birthday.
Had a nice we dinner that night to celebrate as well.

Now Monday was pretty good race as well ended up getting up the road at the start of lap 2 with a group of 4 of us but shortly was down to 3 then he punctured an I was just down to 2 where we were caught mid race by a group with 6 so there was 8 of us then that end up only been 5 going into the final lap so after going into the sprint led it out for team mate Mario as had arrangement with him. He Won I finished 5th and got 4 primes so was nice day at the office once again.

Well deserved rest day today.

God Bless

Chris

Legs get going

Hi Everybody.
Update from last week is that we had a few major things happen like finishing 6th in dienze then 2nd today with a 12th place in Sundays race and 11th last tuesday, team had a night out and I watched the first post tour crit in Aaslt which pretty cool atmosphere.

On Tuesday 20th we had a race in Westkapalle which was up and towards the east of Brugge I didn't have to bad a race finishing 11th but good on my team mate Martin from South Africa taking the win from a bunch sprint.

Wednesday we had a the first race of a 3 race series in Dienze photo of me ready to race. Started the day with a nice we warm up ride to Dienze then raced and rode back home. Ended up 6th in a bunch sprint that invovled a nice we roundabout that you had to navigate your way through every lap an unfortunately got a we bit boxed in.

Thursday had a well deserved nice easy 2hour spin

Friday had a nice easy long ride over the roads of Flanders towards France loved getting lost an just riding, found a way back to Ghent eventually.

Saturday was nasty as it was raining in the morning and didn't really feel that inspired to ride so just went for a nice easy couple of hours in the afternoon once it had cleared up a bit.

Sunday had a horrible race in Nederzalm which is sort of more central Belgium we drove the course had a we little bump in the middle of the course but was predominently on small narrow nasty roads and hailed in one part of the race so made for lots of crashes which I managed to avoid 5 of them as was near the front of the race the whole time ended up 12th in the sprint as didn't want to lay my life on the line on the risky 7 corners leading into the finish.


Monday was due for a rest day as had a pretty full on week, I went to Aaslt an watched the first after tour crit which none other than Fabian won which was pretty much certian him or Pettachi were going to win.
As well picked myself up some new bits an pieces for my bike, so apart from alot of walking was a pretty cruisy day. Got this pic of them on the first lap before my camera battery died.


Tuesday 2nd Race of Series in Dienze. Well started off with a we ride out to dienze and legs were feeling pretty good. Got into the break on the second lap and stayed away until about lap 12 or so picked up 4 primes and as you can see wasn't hurting myself to much. Once the bunch finally caught us I just made it look like I was suffering as much as possible. On the last lap pretty much quite alot of breaks went until Mario my team mate got off up the road then about 500m later I decided to ditch everybody and ride across solo to him where we ended up taken 1st and 2nd me 2nd unfortunately couldn't out sprint him. However that does put me in top spot on the 3 day Classement tough leading into tomorrows last race so with a good rest tonight we will have to see what happens tomorrow.

God Bless
Chris

Settled into racing.

Hi Everybody

Had a awesome week really, getting over that jetlag and settling into the way things run over here.
Raced twice since the last update.

2nd race i did was a Criterium Friday night. It was definately a step up from the crits back home, this was held on a circuit 1.6k long which had 3 corners which were definately far from flowing I would say, we did 46 laps which made for a good 150 sprints out of the corners ouch. However managed to pull a respectable 9th for my second race.

Saturday was planing on going for a nice 2hours, went out on my journey to get to the other side of Gent altough a few horrible Tram lines lay in between getting there so it all turned to custard when bang goes the back tyre as i cross the tramline which slashed my back tyre, oh deah least I didn't crash just made for a trip to the bike shop to get another tyre which was a change in direction on where I intended on going. On the way back cruised through a few cool old towns got a cool we pic from one of the we towns I rode through.






Sunday had the 3rd Race which was a race out of Borsbeke which was held on open roads and had 150 starters making for a fast race despite a nice little hill on the 9.1k circuit which we had to do 13 times. This was far from my best race but deffinately not my worst finishing 29th just in the prize money as they only payed top 30. Then we had a nice we ride back home.


Jazz Stage

Went out and had a look around the town as the Festival of Gent is on at the moment. Man there was alot of people out an about on the cannals and Streets, they had all kinds of things happening, from Jazz, skits, bands and maybe 6+ stages all round the centre of Gent. Was pretty cool evening though didn't understand a word they were saying.

Cannal

God bless
Chris

First Race in Belguim

Hi everybody the last week has been a bit of kaos.

Left NZ on the 9th to depart on another stint racing in Belgium
Flew to Amsterdam via Kuala Lumpur which was a pretty good flight managed to get to sleep on the last flight. Once I got to Amsterdam had a nice we train ride to Gent where I am now racing for Kingsnorth Wheelers for the meanwhile.
As for the first race in Belgium was a we shock to the system as haven't raced for a few months so was pretty happy with blowing out the cob webs and just finishing this one.
Only up from now.

God bless
Chris