New Bikes & Another appearance on TV

two down...one to go!

This has been a very hectic week for me and Jonas. Directly after my race on Sunday, we headed over to Hamburg, Germany to pick up the BABOCO team bikes from STEVENS. It was over six hours in the car. Worse yet, it rained most of the drive there!

sticker thanks to Christophe Podevin

By the next evening, we were on our way home. With only a handful of hours sleep, we headed back out in the morning to Baboco team manager Steven's house to drop off the goods. By evening, I was wiped.

My favorite Challenge tires with my fav TRP's

It has taken quite a few days to normalize from that stressful trip but i am almost there!  It probably didnt help to continue to stay crazy busy all week with putting the bikes together, working out part compatability issues, get my workouts in - all while catching up on many other projects i'm taking on. I always thought of myself as multitasking queen but i am now realizing i really suck at it!
As for the bikes, they are gorgeous. With Jonas' help, two of the three bikes are ready to go!

Stickers courtesy of Ludwig de Troyer

You'll see a full bike review of my gorgeous machines on CYCLOCROSS Magazine shortly.  And to check out my latest column as well as reviews on all the newest greatest cyclocross parts, race gossip and event coverage, you can subscribe to an online subscription HERE.

As for my next TV appearance, here is the info:
"Recipes for Athletic Excellence with Cyclocross Champion Christine Vardaros & Award-winning Actress Tonya Kay" is airing on Vegetarianism: The Noble Way of Living on Monday, September 19, 2011. Airing Time: 5:30am. 11:30am, 5:30pm - CA time.
Here is the link to see it on internet: http://suprememastertv.com/webtv/

First Cyclo-Cross Race under the Belt

by Romina Tierlinck

by Romina Teirlinck

Well, it didnt go as wildly wrong as it did in my imagination the days leading up to the race. In fact it was almost pleasant - i say almost because sunny skies with 30°C temps and strenuous efforts don't really play well. It was a strange feeling to have cotton mouth within thirty seconds of the start of a cyclocross race, especially one in Belgium. Thankfully the temps qualified for bottle feeds, but by the time i made it to the pits my mouth was so dry i was afraid that the watered-down energy drink that Jonas especially made for this weather was going to be too thick. Good thing i trusted him as it went down very well.

Although delerious from the heat by the end, I ended up 2nd. I must admit it felt great to stand on a podium again...and to be joined by two strong gals whom i admire. I was also pleased with my general sensations on the bike. I am clearly not with any real form yet but this event gave me hope that i can have some decent fitness in a month from now for the first two World Cup events in Czech Republic.

by Robert Goedgezelschap

Thanks to all of you who continue to believe in me and a special thanks to those who made it to the race to cheer me on! I felt like a rockstar, albeit a sweaty soggy one!

by Patricia Cristens

First CX Race - present but not ready

Tomorrow i race my first cyclocross event of the season. It is a low-key race  - in fact it is so low key that the organizers can't bother to list the word "women" on their program even though i am sure they like when we show up. But this is Belgium - a reminder that i am no longer in the USA where women racers are given a lot of respect.

Here instead they have a handful of women-dedicated supporters (those who come out specifically to cheer for women or come out early to the races to catch the women take off just before the elite men). There are also a couple of race organizers here who find women worth highlighting.   We females are forever grateful to their support!! And their support seems to be spreading to others who are now taking interest in female racing which of course helps the sport to grow faster.

Oops. I am off the topic. Yes, tomorrow is my first crosss race. Thankfully it is purely just for training as I am not especially ready for the speeds just yet considering i started training again on the bike about a month ago.  I also have not received my new STEVENS bikes yet - they come next week, so i will be racing on my heavy bike from last season. But heavy legs, heavy bike and all, i will be there at the start with my typical goofy smile in place, happy to see all those friendly faces who come out to cheer for me!

Thanks for reading!

So Random

I just found a photo of myself on a russion website. Very cool!! I only wish i knew what it said.
I know it has something to do with cycling but that's about all i can figure out. Still cool!
CLICK HERE to check it out.

The Race to Train

first race by Marc van Est

Now that the summer is almost over i am finally getting in some racing to prepare for cross season. I would have started earlier but injuries got in the way. I was nailed with a nasty 3rd degree groin pull, while the other groin was only 2nd degree. Walking up the stairs to the bathroom became a workout in itself! I was so slow up the stairs that i had plan my pee trips well in advance! Getting back downstairs was a breeze - i was so fast i flew down...headfirst a few times when my legs just gave out.  I used to joke about that chair lift that you can attach to the staircase railing, saying it was the perfect gift for an athlete but for that period of time i was really wishing one would magically appear. No such luck.

Once i was finally able to walk up and down stairs without falling on my face, i was ready for training again! My kickstart back to highered fitness was a training camp end of July in the Vogezen region of France. Jonas and I stayed there for eight days. It was cold and rainy some of the days but i didnt care - i got to ride basically painfree! But how slow was I!! It was humbling to suck so badly but i kicked my own ass knowing that it was for my own good.

Once back, we joined in for a couple of weeks on a collection of group rides for some low-mod tempo rides - the Old Mans ride (although their nickname is beginning to be ironic since they now attack the ride as if it were a race), the Kiek out of my hometown (an evening group ride that does a nice steady low-mod tempo that provides for an almost mindless training), and the Sterrebeeks (yet another steady ride where the hills are the only places they race each other.) 

2nd race - pre-rain- by Jonas Brufffaerts

I knew i wasnt quite ready for training races but with cross season around the corner, i started up. Last weekend was my first race. The speed was super high but with not so many turns where interval training is required, i was able to easily ride it out with the peloton. Considering the last two years i was not able to finish this race, I was pleased.

2nd race (Affligem) by Jonas Bruffaerts

My second road race, which was today, did not go nearly as well as the first race. On paper, my 34th out of 80-100 starters doesnt look so bad, but I suffered badly this time around.  There were just too many tight turns on narrow roads, which meant repeated intervals.  Heavy rains that started up part way into the race did not help. It meant that on every turn, you had to go from now a mere 5kph to 50 in two seconds. That hurt - especially since i was sitting way too far back in the peloton when the rain started.  After many many turns like this, combined with bridging too many gaps left by riders who couldnt hold the wheel, i was completely blown.  It was a good workout but still i wanted to rock it for the folks who were kind enough to come out to support me today!  I had yet again a very large cheering section - super cool!!

2nd race by Robert Goedgezelschap

Next week is yet another chance to dig deep in honor of the upcoming cross season so bring it on - that's what i always say (or at least when the optimism is still there.) :-)

I will have my cross season schedule posted shortly. I am almost done working on it. Hope to see you out there one of these races!!

Thanks for reading.

CYCLOCROSS Magazine GOES DIGITAL

CYCLOCROSS MAGAZINE NOW HAS A DIGITAL VERSION AVAILABLE– especially for those who live outside USA or on their computers! Order NOW to get a 12 month subscription PLUS back issues 8-12, for the PROMOTIONAL PRICE of $20 USD (in Euros this comes out to €13.85). Start reading EVERYTHING ABOUT CROSS and checking out the gorgeous color photos TODAY! Thanks! (I am one of the writers by the way)

Show your support by subscribing to CYCLOCROSS MAGAZINE !!!

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Why should you subscribe to CYCLOCROSS Magazine?

Because rising superstar Nikki Harris is featured in the latest issue of CYCLOCROSS Magazine. Here is the front page, but to read the rest of her very colorful interview, including lots more fun photos CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE. You can also order an online subscription so you have it right away! Instant gratification rocks!!!!

BABOCO Training Camp

The BABOCO Team training camp article is finally online at CYCLOCROSS Magazine. Click HERE to read the article and click HERE to subscribe to the magazine so you dont miss anything like Nikki Harris' Feature Story all about her chameleon lifestyle in the current issue. There is also an option to subscribe to the ONLINE magazine.

Mountain Bike Race #2

by Danny Zelck

Well, result-wise it was not ideal. Even so, i had a great time and an even better workout. On the day before the race, Belgian MTB Marathon champ Kim Saenen kindly took me around the course to show me around. And on the day, Nancy Bober and her husband Andy saved a parking spot for us!

There were lots of other folks that i knew at the race which always makes it more fun. And thanks to all those who kindly cheered for me and took photos. Dat maakt mij heel blij!!

Next week is my first road race of the season. I go to Boutersem, BE Sunday, June 12. The elite men also race there so I expect the crowds to be thicker than normal. It is in an undulating section of Belgium so that should be fun.

The following week on June 18 i am back on the mountain bike for yet another "force-building" workout. It is held in Boom, BE - part of the Belgacom GP series.

On a completely different topic, it finally really rained today. The farmers (and our mini garden in the back) really needed it after a two-month drought. But now that the rain is gone, it is time to get on the bike! Till next post...

Offseason Tales

courtesy of Peter Meere

Sorry it's taken me a while to update my blog. I've been busy with training, going to the gym, random writing projects, training camp, and other time-heavy activities.

(The published story BABOCO Team training camp should be published soon on CYCLOCROSS Magazine . I will post the link as soon as it is published just in case you want to read a funny story on my adventures with an all boys team. )

But of all the events keeping me busy, it feels like the Flemish classes are the most exhausting! It's three times a week for 3.5 hours each, plus the extra hour to get there and back. And once i am back after 10pm, it's hard to go directly to sleep so i find myself up way too late doing nothing but mindlessly watching tv since i am too tired to do anything real at that time of night. bugger. 

The classes are done at the end of June so i cant really complain.  But after taking this one class, i cannot see how people would want to go back to school later in life. Taking tests suck. I always want to be perfect so it is way too much pressure. I have had two tests so far. the first was perfect, but the second had a mistake so naturally i was ready to quit the class. HAHA. (I should be happy considering it's an advanced class, but that doesnt offer any consolation.) It's amazing that i can bike race with my feelings towards being judged. Anyway...

Aside from the classes, i have been training hard while simultaneously recovering from that nagging pelvis/knee injury. Progress is slow but at least I see improvement.

As for my offseason racing, i decided to change it up this season with a few mtb cross country races. I just did my first race last weekend (albeit a bit too early for my fitness level). It was a real shock. I dont know how it happened but i forgot how to ride a mountain bike. Considering i used to do National and World Cup events in this discipline, I am embarassed that i am now a complete neophyte of sorts. 

No matter the outcome of the first race, the workout was great! I can easily see how it can be good cross training for cyclocross season.  With that said, i will try it again this Thursday. The only drawback is that the next race will be in front of a few thousand people instead of only a few hundred in attendance last weekend. Ugh. Hopefully the crowds will be kind...


Curious what other cross racers living here in Belgium are up to in the offseason? Check out my story on Tour of Belgium where i ran into a few of them such as Niels Albert, Zdenek Stybar, Tom Meeusen, Vincent Bastaens, and Radomir Simunek. CLICK HERE for the link.

In the news, on TV and finally back on the bike

As of a few days ago, I am finally back on the bike. It is hard to tell my level of fitness (which I expect is not too high at the moment with three weeks off the bike) but I dont care at this time of year.

Regarding the injuries, they are definitely improving.  I started physical therapy in Leuven yesterday at the same place where Tom Boonen goes from what i hear, so they should be good enough for me!

I told them i no longer want to feel like a piece of wet smushed spaghetti on the bike. They both nodded and told me they had just the plan for me - yippee!!

Today, for the first time since that fateful day in Zolder, I feel hopeful - that i can be great again ;-) (ok, well maybe i was never great but "good" is great with me!)

In the news: I came across an article on BikeRadar.com where they included some quotes from me. I love their site so that was a huge honor. Click HERE for the link.

AND as for my tv appearance, when i find out more about it, i will let you know.

Thanks for reading!!

Offseason Blues

OK, well not exactly feeling blue but it is strange to be off the bike for so long.  I don't think it would be as strange if, with the bike, i also abandoned everything that  comes along with it - the routine, habits and lifestyle.

Last night, Jonas called from work during a night shift. His parting words were, "Go to bed on time." Normally the unspoken words that followed were "so you can be fresh in the morning for training."  But without a scheduled training the next day, I responded, "On time for what?"  He tripped over his words and the phone call ended in confusion. 

When i got off the phone with him, I remembered that it was a Saturday night. Shouldn't "Saturday night" have a special meaning during my three weeks off the bike? I read on Facebook all the exciting plans in store for everyone, but i was going to bed on time.

WTF?!?

The Season is FINALLY Over



By Florent Bouchat



Part of me wishes it would go on, the other part cannot be any more relieved that the pain is over. Some - or maybe many - people think it was silly of me to race with hip pain but now that i have been off the bike for a week with continued hip pain, seems to me riding didnt make a lick of difference. So with that said, i am glad i continued since i had an immense amount of fun the last races!



If you want to read all about my last day on the bike this season, check out my story (with plenty of photos) on CYCLOCROSS Magazine.

A BIG THANKS to Baboco, my teammates, family, friends, supporters, Challenge Tires, PROBAR, Mt. Tam Bikes, Specialized, Concap, Coach Elmo and of course JONAS! The support is so immensely appreciated!!!

As of today i am off the bike for a full nine days. I thought i would go crazy without riding a bike but it's actually been easy.  I've kept myself busy with house projects, writing articles, and catching up on emails and other stuff that's been put off a bit too long. I also finally got a new computer to replace the one that was stolen in Girona last year. It's definitely helped to keep me distracted.  The hip pain also makes it a bit easier to stay off the bike :-(



The last two days Jonas and I have been up at 7am to greet the workers who are installing our new water boiler and "burner" to heat the water.  Once they are done, another set of guys come to switch us over from oil to gas.  A gas line was just installed on our street a few months ago, but before that, gas was not an option. 

I dont mind the early rising but I must admit having no heat or hot water for what will be three whole days by the time the project is over is a bit inconvenient.  I tried to take a "bird bath" this morning and found that after one minute my bitties were numb. Brrrr....

Next week they come to insulate the walls, then the solar panels go up by May. We got extra solar panels so we can heat our water on electricity - green electricity that is! It will also save us a bunch of money on gas. Our new fancy water boiler has a gas/electricity switch so you can decide what you want to use to heat the water - cool, huh.

Thursday i have another appointment for my hip - an x-ray and some other eco-something-or-other test to determine where i am in the recovery process. Fingers crossed all is back in order SOON, especially since Team Baboco has team training camp starting April 7th.  It will be in Benidorm, Spain - the equivalent of Boca Raton but with hills for those of you who dont know the town.

Thanks for reading!

Back at it again...

Since that fateful crash on my hip in Zolder World Cup, it's been a long road back to full health.  Even now I still have a dull pain in my hip and my power is probably not fully back.  BUT i will give it a little tester this Saturday at GVA Trofee Lille here in Belgium.  I figured, why not?  I learned that i wont be doing any further damage on my body and I'll get to play with others on the bike again. I really love racing! I love it more when i am doing well, but it's unfortunately still fun on days it doesnt go too well. 

Before the storm...by Peter Schepens

One such day was two weeks ago when i tried to race a bit too soon for my own good in Hoogerheide World Cup, the last round of the series.  Half-ass training on the road is one thing (all i was capable of at the time), but racing against the world's top riders on a heavy course with power climbs and ankle-deep mud is a whole different type of riding...one i was completely unprepared for.  After a lap, i pulled out of the race.  But that one lap i really cherished. I had an absolute blast.  A BIG part of the joy was easily thanks to the VERY LOUD cheers i got from a few groups of folks out there!!!! I cannot thank them enough for making my one lap a real pleasure.  THANKS GUYS for your cheers!!!! 

The very next day after this saturday's race, I have a speaking engagement at ECOPOP, Belgium's ecological fair.  I'm talking on the benefits of a vegan diet for the environment as well as for your health.  My friend Jürgen started a facebook page yesterday on my talk. Very kind of him!! He runs Organic Athlete's Belgium branch.

Directly afterwards, Jonas and I head over to Aalter to say hi to the team at the "Eetfeestje" (eating party) of our teammate Pieter de Meyer. He races for BABOCO on the road.

Before the weekend, Jonas and I have a very special day on Friday.  In the morning, while i do my training, Jonas will oversee the insulation of our roof.  Our house will be a warmer place!! 

And in the afternoon, a guy comes to give Jonas his prize.  A few weeks ago, Jonas entered one of those random contests where you can win a week in Germany to a case of wine - or something like that.  well, we got a call saying that Jonas gets his prize - and a wine tasting - tomorrow.  Jonas and i have a bet. He thinks it is a legitimate prize and i bet it's a sales pitch.  Anyone want in on the bet???

That's all for now. I gotta get back to working on my speech for ECOPOP and finish editing my feature interview on Nikki Harris for the CYCLOCROSS Magazine. It's gonna be a great read so dont forget to order your subscription to the magazine.  They also have online memberships where you get the magazine online for those of you who live outside the USA.

On the Ground at Zolder World Cup

taken by Chris Claeye

It was "game over" early in the first lap.  Pity because i was actually feeling good about the race despite its treacherous nature as the course was covered with ice and snow.  My slip and fall on the icy pavement damaged my hip, causing me to immediately lose power in my right leg. With only one leg, it was as if i were pedaling only to the right side the whole time. i cannot even count how many walls, barriers, snowpiles, and fences i rode directly into. 

with only optimism on my side, i started the GVA Trofee's Azencross in Antwerpen three days later.  Again, my start was great and was feeling solid as i rode in 15th position until the benefit from all the massages, icings, stretches, and osteopath appointments the last days ran out.  Immediately both legs were without power thanks to an overcompensating lower back.  I quickly slid back in the peloton until i finally called it quits. 

taken by Krist Vanmelle

And again, three days later, with twice the amount of optimism i had in the previous race, Jonas and i headed out to Luxembourg to race the Hotel Threeland in Petange, LUX.  It is more like a mountain bike course - one big uphill, followed by a downhill.  And again, big mistake to attend.  Not even my start was good.  With a heavy uphill as a start, requiring lots of power, i was completely useless.  The downhills were just as bad since the jagged pain in my right him once again made my right leg useless, causing me to continuously turn to the right on straight lines.  i even managed to land in a ditch on one of the laps.  but i did finish - kind of.

the following day, with no optimism left, i sat the next race out.  Pity because it was Fidea's Tervuren right next door to our home.  I did, however, go to spectate.  What i found is that i really do not enjoy spectating a race that i really wanted to contest.  As a very very nice consolation prize, I was awarded with great company that evening.  Mo Bruno Roy, her husband Matt, and Lyne Lamoureux of Podium Insight joined me and Jonas for a nice dinner, drinks and bike race watching. 

My next event is Pont-Chateau World Cup in France scheduled for 2 weeks from now.  time will tell if i am healed enough to go.  If there is any doubt, then i will sit this one out - especially since it is something like an eight hour drive away!

If you want to read the more amusing version of my last week, it is published on CYCLOCROSS Magazine HERE.

Thanks for reading and hope you had a very nice holiday season.
BEST WISHES FOR A MAGICAL 2011 !!!!!