Okay, I’m now living in Belgium. House is big, it’s got 5 bedrooms, a large living area, a big area for bikes and internet....so everything really! There’s sewer works going on outside so it’s loud in the mornings but you learn to cope. Because the DFL team have used the house for many years everyone in the town knows who we are and why we are here so everyone is really friendly.
The only things I have a problem with are the bike paths. Its fine when there is a group of 6 or more because you are allowed to ride on the road. The bike paths are really narrow and they twist and turn and they are very rough...I’ve had 7 punctures since Sunday. However, you would think that this makes the rides horrible but you would be wrong! They are hard, because of the constant little climbs, and because you know you are riding in Flanders everything just seem right. Last year I got told that when I move to Belgium that I will be a bike rider in the land of bike riding. Last year I didn’t really feel this way; this year I do.
So for this first week I have just been training because of a few issues with my licence. I could have raced Sunday but again, i had no licence, so I took 4 hours on my own, I got very lost! This week we are doing long hard rides. Monday was 2 hours steady, then Tuesday and Wednesday we took 6 hours hard each day, today (Thursday) we have done 2 hours recovery, Friday (tomorrow) we are doing about 6 hours hard again. There’s a big pro race this Monday so i hope for the safe arrival of my licence.
That’s all really, because I’m sticking to the bits that you may want to know. I could go on and on but I would bore you, and myself really!
So, until next time....I love you all, behave, and I will talk to you soon!
Matt
