La Bella Vita :)

Last time I blogged, I had just experienced my first ride in Italy since I was last there in 2009 with the Australian National Team. Needless to say the magnitudes of the climbs were a shock to the system as I hadn’t seen anything bigger than a highway on-ramp for the past few months. I was struggling to turn the pedals and on the first day I averaged a cadence of 60rpm. Including the downhills. OUCH! But I found that despite my ‘suffering’, climbing still hadn’t lost its appeal to me and I found myself eagerly searching for the biggest bergs around to conquer!


I had the pleasure of staying with fellow Canberran and professional cyclist currently riding for the Lotto Ladies Team, Vicki Whitelaw at her lovely apartment in Luino looking over Lago Maggiore. Each day Vicki and I would venture out together where she’d show me a variety of climbs around the area. On one particular day, I said to Vicki that I’d like to do a longer climb and she pointed me in the direction of Alpe di Neggia in Maccagno which is about 25km long. Within 10min I hit the base of the climb and weaved my way up on the switchbacks focussed on reaching the top. Turns out that about 5km up I took a wrong turn but at the top I found myself staring down at Lago Delio, a mountain top lake... Not a bad thing to stumble across. Still determined to find the top of Neggia, I descended back down and took the turn which I was suppose to and plugged my way through the little mountain villages to the top. Once I got to the top I was rewarded again with spectacular views.... A solid, but good day in the office. I definitely slept well that night!


Alpe di Neggia

Other highlights of my trip include watching the Tre Valli Varesine, a UCI 1.HC race in Varese. Vicki managed to get us VIP passes which meant we were able to get right up close and personal to the riders and jump in one of the official cars for part of the race! It was a great way to get another perspective of bike racing, especially Men’s racing as I have never been in a follow vehicle for a Men’s international race before. The hot conditions and repeated hills took its toll on the riders and only a handful of riders finished... At one stage I saw Mark Cavendish roll up to the barricades, jump off his bike, leap over the fence with his bike and roll away...Even the big names have bad days, they’re only human!



On the 19th, Vicki left for her campaign in the Plouay WC in France in preparation for the Trophee D’Or (where I hear she just won the TT –GO VICK!) and generously offered for me to stay on at her house as I had some unfinished business with some bergs to attend to... Although I was on the verge of scratching my eyeballs out after having to listen to myself 24/7, I was saved by the chance to meet up with 2 other riders from Canberra who have been selected to compete for Australia in the U23 World Road Cycling Championships. It was great to see familiar faces, oddly enough on the other side of the world! But it was great to catch up with them, over probably the best coffee in the World, and I’m amazed at how well they are doing and wish them all the best in their prep for Worlds!


View from Coffee, Lago Maggiore

A few mountain passes, scoops of gelati, too many coffees and a fungi pizza later it wasn’t long before my stay in Italy was up and I was on the plane back to Holland where I was greeted with wind, rain and cold temperatures... Welcome home?? The trip to Italy came at exactly the right time for me, my broken ribs and lack of performance was getting me down and the trip got me right back to where I want to be and now I have my eyes firmly set on my goals and there is no way in hell i’m looking back! I feel fit and strong, not sure if that translate into being fast yet, but it is more than I could have hoped for 3 months ago :)


My next race is Middag-Humsterland, a UCI 1.2 in Holland before Holland Ladies Tour, a 6 day/7 stage Tour starting on the 31st which will also be my last with SwABoLadies for the season. I haven’t raced for a couple of weeks and am keen to get stuck back in! Although I love training, especially in Italy :p, I ride my bike to race and that’s when I’m at my happiest :) so BRING IT!!!


I realise that it is hard to describe events that occur with countless ‘you really should have been there’ moments; and no doubt you are familiar with the old saying ‘a picture is worth a thousand words?’ Well I’ve decided to make a sort of video montage of my Italian trip... just for something different :) – so let us know what you think! I’m by FAR no computer genius, but you could put a movie of grass growing to a funky beat and make it exciting... so here goes:



I’m also going to attempt to do a daily video diary of Holland Ladies Tour but lack of internet may mean a delay in posting (one of the pro’s of women’s cycling :p) but stay tuned!

Until next time

Take care

Miffy xx

 

View from Lago Maggiore after a lovely pizza dinner on the water watching the storm roll in...perfect end to my trip non? report to come :)

Rookies Guide to Hill Climbing in Italy

1. Before you leave the house, place one bottle of San Pellegrino in the fridge (don't ask questions, just do it.)

2. Put sunscreen on because you WILL burn. However, if you like the idea of getting skincancer or rad tanlines, then please skip to step 3.



3. Wear your helmet. Just because you’re in Europe and don’t wear a helmet, it doesn’t automatically make you ‘Euro’. Much thought and dedication goes into the making of a Euro Cyclist (see rules here) and therefore you just look like an idiot wannabe.

4. When you’re 10kg over race weight don’t expect to be able to climb well. You have obviously been training for the descents, not the uphill. So stop kidding yourself.



5. When the old Italian man riding with you asks if you want to go the flat or the steep way home, always choose the flat. Believe me, after experiencing the ‘flat’ way, riddled with the repetition of the word ‘Dura’– you’ll be thanking your lucky stars that you didn’t inflict what could have been the ‘steep’ way on yourself.

6. Don’t laugh at the man with the compact chain ring, because right about now you’ll be wishing you had one too.

7. When riding up hill, don’t look up the road. Believe me, its best you don’t know what’s coming. DO however, enjoy the view on your way up – it takes your mind off the burning ;)



8. Hills in Italy aren’t like those in Holland. They are about as steep as your driveway, but go on for about 10-30km; So don’t feel the need to ride hard for the first 100m = bad idea.

9. Climb the steepest hill all day – the one to your house in the hills (footage to come) and collapse on the couch with your nice cold bottle of San Pellegrino.

10. Enjoy yourself, because you’re bloody lucky to be there. And smile, because nothing feels better than a hard day in the saddle :)

Drop Box

Noordeloos criterium today...800m course, back half cobbles, lots of corners... face says it all 'OUCH!'

<< Injury: A particular form of hurt, damage, or loss>>

Injuries show no prejudice, whether you are a recreational sports person or Chuck Norris – they happen to everyone. Injuries generally manifest themselves as a massive inconvenience to say the least, and have a habit of occurring when things seem to be too good to be true.


The sport of cycling is definitely no stranger to injuries; in fact it comes with the territory. In a sport where you descend roads at >90kph on tyres 23mm wide, participate in mass bunch sprints travelling at >70kph with only a helmet on our head as protection, to those unfortunate enough not to have caught the cycling bug – you’d think we were mad.

Every cyclist has fallen off at least once, and is going to fall off at least another handful of times in their career. Take Australian rider Stuart O’Grady, he has punctured his lungs, broken 5 ribs, broken collarbones, head injuries... you name it and it seems like poor Stuart O’Grady has had it. Michael Rogers crashed in the 2007 TDF when he was in the virtual yellow jersey on the road, forcing him to withdraw from the race. Adam Hansen suffered a crash in his Giro debut back in 2007 and had to have surgery on his hand to put two of his fingers back together and Robbie McEwen had to cut his 2009 race season short due to a leg injury suffered in the Tour of Belgium...


Hardman Jens Voigt himself, a true pro.
video of Jens Voigt post crash in 2009 Tour

So why am I talking about injuries? Well if you take a look at all of these riders and their somewhat horrific injuries, they have all recovered from them and are still racing at the elite level. Crashes and injuries happen, it’s a fact of life; but more often than not it IS possible to recover from them, and come back to have just as good form or even better form than previously.
I haven’t had the pleasure of being exempt from injury and to date have suffered a broken wrist, back injuries, torn hamstring tendon and most recently broken ribs...oh and who could forget the road rash which leaves you constantly searching for a non-damaged patch of skin to sleep on or which makes you cry out in the shower? When such things occur, more often than not your first reaction probably isn’t suitable to post publicly on the internet but censored, is something along the lines of ‘damn. That’s annoying’.
All athletes are the same, and patience isn’t one of their strong points. With broken bones requiring weeks of rest or leaving you confined to the trainer for what seems like eternity, it is not uncommon to think that is all too hard, after all, you’re only human. Every time I feel like giving up – I remember why I’ve held on for so long and suddenly things don’t seem so hard :)


Chechu Rubiera post crash on Stage 5 Amgen Tour of California, the same stage which saw Stuart O’Grady having to abandon the Tour due to injury. (photo from: Justanothercyclist.com)

Of course there is always the desire to rush back into things when you see the slightest improvement, but one thing i’ve learnt over the past through years is to look after your body. In cycling, your body is your tool of the trade; it needs to be working as efficiently and effectively as possible to ensure success. Sure, some people think it is tough when they hear of people riding with injuries but most often than not these people are tiptoeing on the line of being hardcore and just plain stupid. Last year I jumped over to the side of stupidity. Shortly before I was due to ride for the Australian team in the Giro Donne, I suffered a nasty crash in a handicap race in NSW. I was taken to hospital with injuries to my neck and back. I was determined to not let this set me back and continued to train despite the pain and ultimately paid for my decision. During my whole time with the Aussie team, I was receiving daily treatment on my back and it became a limiting factor in my performance and upon returning back to Australia, had to have several weeks off to get it all sorted.

This is one mistake i’m not looking to make twice. Although this time my injuries are different, the recovery process is the same. It involves lots of patience, self discipline and learning to listen to your body. I have been reassured that I will not cause further damage by riding with my broken ribs – it just hurts a little but I am ‘picking my fights’ as you could call it and yesterday when I was scheduled to race in the rain, with cobbles and tight corners, I politely declined the offer - I need to recover properly before I start putting my body through such risks again :)


So the point of my story? Injuries suck, yes, but it IS possible to make a recovery however you have to be PATIENT and SMART. Listen to your body; after all you’re the only person who can tell what is going on and learn when the pain is OK to push through or when you’re body is telling you that enough is enough. Injuries happen to everyone, but what makes you different is how you deal with it, this is where the pros really shine.


Until next time, happy pedalling :)
xx

Veteran Cyclists

You know, the ones who talk about how good they use to be, have bikes that rival those of the pros, race for 50th in club races, half wheel you in training rides, spend more time in their knicks than what is deemed socially acceptable...Not to be mistaken for hubbards (see definition by Joe Lewis here)

This weekend I had the privilege of watching my Dad compete in the ICF World Masters Championships in Soumagne, Belgium where men aged 40+ were competing to be the best in their age category in the World. To be honest, upon first hearing the name ‘World Masters Championships’ you’d think that the competition and the racing wouldn’t even come close to rivalling the likes of racing in open grades but after watching this race up close, that statement couldn’t be further from the truth!

Dad and I in London :)

For those ‘fortunate’ enough to have ridden the Australian Open Road Nationals course in Ballarat, this course was similar to that but on a smaller scale. A 9km circuit with a 4km berg on the finishing straight, tough to say the least!

Whilst I was waiting for my Dad’s race to start, the race for the 60years+ was finishing up. The race finished 1km up the hill, a thought that would make ANYONE cringe. On the final lap, two men were on a break out front, followed by a smaller group of about 4-5 riders then a larger peloton. When the last climb came around, the two riders still had a gap and were obviously going to win the bike race. I was surprised to find that watching these men cross the line inspirational and very motivating. Barely able to get out of the saddle and sprint, the winner literally crawled his way over the line where he was assisted by the crowd though sheer exhaustion.



In this race, age was definitely not a limiting factor. This man was probably old enough to be my grandfather and he had pushed his body to the absolute limit, just as any pro would. It was just proof that your love for a sport does not grow old with age and these riders still get the same kicks out of the sport as we do.

Before his race, Dad and I were chatting to a rider who had travelled from London to ride his bike and when we asked if he’d just raced (in the 60+ category) he said that “I’ve been here for a week and raced yesterday, these guys are all too young for me, i’m 70!”

Like many veteran cyclists, in his spare time he is often seen travelling to all the monuments in cycling and just spending quality time on the bike! Dad and I also had a great time exploring parts of the Liege-Bastogne-Liege course and the infamous Mur de Huy upon which the Fleche Wallone finishes.


the Mur de Huy: 1.3km long; 9.8% gradient; 17% max gradient.... all in the seat cause I can't get out of the saddle :s OUCH.

I often tell myself that when i’m older, I’ll realise when it’s time to hang up the bike but something tells me it isn’t going to be that easy. It is hard to give up something that has been such a big part of your life. Cycling has provided me with arguably some of the best moments and experiences i’ve had in life to date. When most people are thinking of retirement, I’m pretty sure I will still be trying to figure out how I can win the sprint on the morning bunch ride, after all as my Dad keeps telling me “You may have ridden for Australia, but you’re not a TRUE cyclist until you’ve won every Canberra morning bunch sprint!” Luckily for me, that is a long way off yet :)

In the meantime, next time i’m riding near a vet and he starts picking up my high heart rates, instead of worrying that he is probably going to think he is about to have a heart attack, I secretly know that he is getting that sick satisfaction you get when you push your body to the limit, is enjoying every minute of it and start to ramp up the pace ;)

I’m back in Holland now and have a busy racing schedule this week before I head off to Italy where my inner Vet will come out and I will try and venture to some of the climbing monuments on the Italian/Swiss border :P

Until next time

Take care xx