- Not stopping to think or get those essentials such as a washing machine and fridge, we then went to the French Alps for a 2 week training camp. Having been to the Alps a few times before, we decided on a new base camp. The 2800 metres altitude of our previous camp in Val Thorens was a little unnecessary (along with the 2 ¼ hour bike ride from the bottom of the hill to the accommodation) so we opted for the much nicer 45 minute hill of Les Deux Alpes, at 1700 metres altitude.
Blogs
Thu, 16 Sep 2010
All new, new, new for Helen
By Helen Wyman - Horizon Fitness Racing Team
Some people say that the 3 biggest stress causing factors in a person's life are getting married, moving, and starting a new job. Having done all those things in 1 week 6 years ago, I figured that just doing the moving part would be easy. That was until I realised how many ‘useful things’ we had accumulated in our 6 year stint in Tielt-Winge. Luckily, Belgium is smaller than most districts in a place like Canada, and with just one van and six car trips, we were into our new home in Oudenaarde.
The weather was amazing, and the training is just unique, with all the major cols within close enough distance of the apartment that we can ride to different peaks each day. Although on the day we rode up both sides of Col du Galibier, it definitely felt like it was a little far away.
There are so many English and Dutch cyclists training or on holiday (a concept I’ve never quite grasped, riding slowly up 30km climbs all day long, I get the stopping at the top bit though) in the region and a day doesn’t go by when you don't pass people. I met a Dutch guy on Col du Glandon who had run Alpe D’Heuz the previous day, RUN! For anyone who doesn’t know, Alpe D’Heuz is the famous 21 hairpin climb where Lance Armstrong won a time trial stage of the Tour de France in 37 minutes, again not my idea of fun. Having said that, it was quite amusing the amount of people who tried to hold on to us while we were doing sprints on each alternate hairpin, watching as they blew spectacularly.
So now we are back in Oudenaarde and it's time for the cross season. This morning, Stef and Ronny left, giggling like school children, to build a new cross training course for us in some nearby woods. They came back 2 hours later covered in mud and tree branches. This afternoon I went out in my very shiny new national champs kit and matching helmet to play on it. It was so much fun; they really should take up course building as a profession.
The final new thing is my carbon cross bikes. I’m really excited to ride them for the first time and see how they compare to the old frames which I loved so much. Every day something else arrives for them, it’s like Christmas. Except Stef hasn’t had to use the tranquiliser dart on me just yet like he has to from the 1st of December onwards, and I don’t have a ‘I love Kona’ badge made up like my Christmas one.
Anyway, final road race of the season this weekend, then first cross race next weekend, so bring on the mud!
For more information on the Horizon Fitness Racing Team, visit www.onthedrops.com.