Exploring

Steve and myself went out exploring yesterday evening. Since it does not get dark here until almost 11pm, this means that we had plenty of daylight to use. We had heard of a place where the locals go swimming, so this is what we went in search of. After not looking too hard we found this small lake type body of water. Along with a zipline that was made for kids of a slightly lighter weight than myself, but don't worry I did no harm to the ride. There is a trail going around the lake so we ride it to see what all the park had to offer, there was a putt putt course. On the way into the park there was a few signs for athletics fields etc., along with a sign for a velodrome with Eddy Merckxs name on it. After a little bit of looking we found the building which housed the track. The front doors were even unlocked, so we made our way inside and had a seat and watched some smaller kids riding. I have to say for kids of about 12 they were very good bike handlers and quite quick. Next month the Junior World Championships will be held there so I am looking forward to having a look at those races. I have also been told that there will be a post Tour de France Criterium, that will include the yellow jersey and other riders from the tour in it, talking place on Monday. This should be fun. Even if the results are staged.

Till Then

Matt

Rest and sight seeing

I have taken the past few days to recover from the last few months of racing. I went into town to see a castle, but did not get in. So I walked around some more and ended up going into Sint Baafs cathedral. I have to say if any of you come to Belgium and end up in Gent. One place you have to visit is this cathedral. There are some world renowned paintings that have been around since the 1500s. The Architectures is unbelievable. There was even a man playing a harp for the visitors. After this I strolled around to find a bakery (brood and banket), since the usually have some really good food to snack on (i.e. chocolate croissants, £1 pizzas).
Now that my self imposed break is coming to an end tomorrow, I will be racing again. My legs have been feeling better over the past couple of days and should be back to feeling good.

Matt

Second Interclub (UCI) Race

So we pull up to the parking lot set aside for the team cars, of the teams that will be participating in the race. What do I see the Davitamon Lotto car parked next to the Quickstep car, which just happens to be a little way down from the Unibet team car. In all there were about 6 pro teams involved in the race. This was probably the most difficult terrain I have raced on. when we were on traditional roads they were good, but when we were on cobbles they were bone shaking. I raced over the MUUR which just happens to be included in the Tour of Flanders along with some other long rough sections of cobbles. The Muur is really steep and windy. The scene was just like on television when you see people lined on both sides of the road cheering and trying to keep the riders moving. I have to say that I was more worried about not getting caught on the wrong side of the split, but I did not have any luck on the part so I went on a solo mission on the other side of the climb to make it across to the front group. Luckly the team car came past and handed me two fresh bottles and a coke to keep me going. I only had a couple of swigs of the coke and ended up just throwing it because I was trying to chase and could not with the coke in my hand. After a little bit a few guys came across to me and we made it to the caravan just behind the frong group. With a little daredevil riding we made it to the middle of the caravan then the next few cars did not want us to pass. Now you are thinking how is that the road should have plenty of room for both the cars and riders, and I chuckle saying no the road was barely wide enough for just the car. Since the cars were blocking up and a gap was opening up between the cars they excellerated and we lost the caravan. So once we got on the next cobble section they just disapeared out of reach and our official bid for bridging across was gone. Which was not so good because I was feeling really good and just sat in the wrong place at the wrong time and missed getting a really good result.

Till next time

Matt

Still cool and raining

Hmmm. I am sure you are curious about what experiences have occurred off the bike here in Belgium. Periodically someone will get bored and want a haircut, so one of the guys will usually volunteer to cut hair. Well one guy was getting his haircut and ended up with some bald spot on the back of his head. The even funnier part was that he did not want it to be fixed and has left it for the past couple of weeks. I am not sure if I have told you this yet, but four wheelers are legal to drive on the streets here, which can look quite funny when you are accustomed to seeing them on the road. I have had a chance to make a trip or two into town to see different sights. I have to say I have never been to a place where there are so many churches and very large and artistically designed. Sint Barths Cathedral has one of the oldest and largest oil paintings surviving today that is made up of I believe 13 panels. Due to my trip getting extended I hope to see more sights in my down time.
Now to the racing. I have had some good rides lately. Yesterday everything was panning out to be a good result. This was until we came through the roundabout and I hit the ground pretty hard and slid, due to the fact that it has been raining for hours and the surface on the roundabout was slick. I got away with scrapes on my hip, knee and torso. The only real damage to the bike was the cap on my left shifter cracked and came off. I have today and tomorrow off from racing and then on Wednesday I will be racing in an interclub. This is supposed to be a brutal race with more cobbled climbs and roads. I thought having done a race called Rouge Roubaix in Louisiana I would be a little prepared. Man was I wrong. The first time I raced on cobbles my hands were tingling for about a half hour after getting done. I will give you guys an update when I get back from the race on Wednesday.

Matt

Whats new

Here goes the last couple of races. Two days ago I raced in Holland again, which was not so bad because the ride from the farm to the start line on the bike was only about and hour or so. The race was quick and windy. The race schedule says it was a criterium, well I beg to differ. Since the course was over two miles long. The next day we had another race that was optional, but I rode to the race just to see how I felt and decide if I would race or not. I rolled to the pub where you sign in and decided that I was probably not ready to that days race, but Staf Boone decided that I should have a strong coffee and see how I felt after abit. I ended up feeling pretty good in relation to the previous thirty minutes, which was probably not 100 percent. I went ahead and entered the race and had an agreement with Staf that if I started to feel under the weather I could pull out. The race was 16 lap and 8 euro primes on every lap well after a couple laps I found myself off the front and with about a minute gap. I ended up with 4 primes. I ended pu getting reeled back in by two guys Patric and Mario. Patric who rode for CSC and finishe top ten and top twenty in races like Paris Roubaix. When they caught me with the rest of the peleton I expected a counter attack so I prepared and was luck because the whole group went with them and I jumped in the middle, then they attacked on the cobble section and my scewer came loose to they are off the front and I am losing contact with the main field since I am laying on my bars and trying to adjust my front scewer. I tried to get the guys on the team to slow the field downe for one minute and I would get back on, since I was still feeling good, but they did not get my signal and rode away. I ended up 15th on the day.
Matt

Whats up?

Well; I did my first interclub two days ago. The race was 160km with cobbles sections that rattled you to the bone; there were broken wheels and flat tires all over the place. We go one man in the lead break and I was in the chase group. There was a 70+km loop with a 10km loop that we did 7.5 times to finish the race. The pace was just as fast as the kermess races, but this lasted for 4hrs. So I was pretty tired by the end. My placing was 35th, not the best but I am happy for my first interclub. I have been told that they tend to be harder than some of the pro races just because a large number of the guys are bidding for a contract or are ex-division one professionals.
Yestarday I lined up for another race, with 11 laps (rondas}. My plan was to just sit in and roll with guys but not put in my own attack and use the day as a solid training session. About 2/3 of the way through the second lap, I found myself off the front with 6 other guys. This break ened up staying away for the whole race and I crossed the line in 6th. Just did not have the snap needed to close the deal in the final 250 meters, but I think my sprint is getting better.

Matt

Late Update

Everything is going well right now, I am racing againg later today. I have had a few races in the past week. They have gone well in that I am riding stronger and more intellegently. The last race I finished 13th and finished 3rd for the bunch sprint. This was good because we got two of our riders down the road. I got nipped at the line by about half a wheel. The race before that was a hilly race in relation to Belgium. Still even with the hills all the guys here still ride in the big ring. On Sunday there is an Interclub race with some cobble climbs, should be interesting.
Sorry for a short update, but I need to get ready for the race.

Matt

Evergem

well I raced yestarday in Evergem. The race was not real long, but still a good race. We; the team had been told that one of the riders needed to win. So this we were able to do. The course was really windy, and only had one corner you could not pedal through. The guy who on the team who ended up winning did so in a sprint off the front a little bit. I was able to pick up a prime (intermediant sprint for money} wich helped to aid in the food buying process for this week. I was very pleased that the whole team worked together to pull a break back pretty quickly whe Staf Boone gave the order. I ended up 24th on the day wich would have been ok, but i was much further up when i was nudged off the road and on the sidewalk so i sprinted down the sidewalk until i found an opening and jumped back in just before the barriers started and i would not have been able to get back on the road. Depending on the weather we may race tomorrow or not until thursday. We were supposed to race in France on thursday in a pretty large Criterium, but the race director backed out of giving us start money and taking care of expenses, which he had orgionally promised the team. I had a chance to go on a new ride today out to a town called Brugge with a few guys on the team.
Other than racing, everythingis good the farm is now full with 8 riders. I have had a chance to see some of the historical Cathedrals here; which are really ornate in design.

Matt

First Flat

I raced in Ter Hand yesterday and got a pinch flat (hit a hole in a corner @ about 30 mph) with about 5 laps (18 in the race) to go. This would not have been so bad, but I was in a break wich would have guaranteed me a top top finish at least. No worries, there are many more races to come seeing as we race just about every other day.

Matt

Wondelgem

Races yestarday, in Wondelgem. About 1km from the house. The course was 5.4km with 17 turns. The race had a hand full of ex pros, the FDJ development team, Marco Polo cycling team amongst others. So the race was fast. When it was all said and done the top speed was 48mph. We started with 100+ riders and finished with about 40. the course had pretty good roads. I race again Sunday, so the number of races has picked up quite a bit. There is a race on the schedule for the 25th of May in France. This is a pretty big Criterium, so it is a good place to be seen, also a race in June that has a prime on ever single lap. So I am looking forward to what is to come.

Matt

Hello,

Well I had this week of from racing because the only people who are allowed in the races this past week are Belgium nationals. I will race again tomorrow; wed, then sat. So far things are going good still. we finally got our heater and hot water back today, it was off for the past 6-7 days. not so bad, since the shower is in the kitchen {keuken}. So when someone is cooking this helps a little bit. Also found some hair clippers left over from last year, so i can keep looking clean cut. I am really liking the fact that the bikes have right of way over cars and there are real bike lanes everywhere ane the bikes have there own traffic lights also. Cars will literally stop at a corner to let you go by before they turn and will back away from the exit of a parking lot etc. when you are coming down the street so you have enough room before they enter the street. So there is a much different feel to things here. Emily no i have not had time to go to the museums but plan to on my next complete day off. There is also chocolate everywhere, and the good stuff. Also the other day a friend and myself found a baker that gives us bread baked that day that did not sell, so we get fresh baked bread daily for free. That goes well with the farm fresh eggs every morning.

Yesterday was another race essentially this one was like the Joe Martin Crit, with the big hill and everthing, along with the 40mph {60kmph} speeds just to stay with the race, there were a couple of times where we tried to get away and one of the guys was pulling at those speeds and then shook his elbow to singal for me to pull through, I first smiled then gritted my teeth and began to move through, luckly the next guy pulled though shortly after. Divitamon Lotto had one of there scouts out watching the race, so that is very exciting to know these guys are showing up for the races already. I race again tomorrow, and this race goes past the farm where I am living.


till next time
Matt

Dronger II

The detqils for the race. The course was about 10km from the "farm", so the ride to the race was not so bad. Other than the fact that it was raining. We found the pub where registration (inscription) takes place. For this race the change room a little different, in that it was a boat hanger. Once I got dressed and ready for the race the rain stopped but the thermometer did not get higher. Once the race started everything was good. After about three laps there was a break with two guys that have won 12 of the races so far this season. So I jumped and got in, after about 7 laps or so in the break we gained such a lead the main field was pulled from the race, and our break was left to duke it out for the win. When everything was sqid and done I came across the line 9th. So I am happy with how things are going so far.

Dronger

Last night we raced in Dronger. I was able to get into the winning break in the first three laps of twenty. I was able to pull out 9th, so my first top ten here in Belgium. Also the first cold and wet race.

Matt

more racing

well I had another race on sunday and was able to finish 17th so that was not so bad, my legs are coming around, the race was in Merelbaker (sp). the race was pretty much single file the whole time. I ended up in A two man break with some lithuanian continental team rider. Then last night again we raced? I finished one or two spots out of the money, just to keep my spot in the line a few times I had to ride at 36mph. Just missed the winning break, but still had a good ride and getting accustomed to the racing here

Holland

holland race

holland race

first race

well I had my first race in europe and it went pretty well, how does it compare to races in the state? Well it was 80km, 50 laps, we averaged 31mph. It had a little sting in it since I had not toed the line in about a month. I almost pulled out a top 10 but let q guy push off the road with 3 laps to go. That ok, just the first race, and I had been dive bombing under many riders to move up and I think one guy just did not feel cofortable with me do this at such speed, since we did not slow down for the corners.
there were some pictures taken and i will try and fin them for the blog

Matt "I am learning the metric system" seagrave

New Rig

countdown

Well, it is just about that time, for me to get on the plane and make my way to Europe, more speciifcally Ghent, Belgium. For those who read this blog and live in Corpus Christi, at the wednesday ride the Channel 3 news will be there to film parts of the ride so the more people who show up the better for the cycling community.
On another note I will post up pictures of the new rig and its saddle in the next few days. The saddle will be something you will want to see. This is because there is a gentleman who lives in Corpus that makes custom carbon saddles.

Till then

Matt Seagrave