Life Before TV

Wim van Est's wife listening to the stage in the 1960 Tour
So why was cycling so popular with the masses. Well after the war there was not a whole lot of morale floating about Europe and the population looked to sport star's as their distraction from daily toil. Hero's were born and the star's of days past were hard men from the social working class. Hard men made that way by hard work with little payment. TV was also non existent and people would listen to the race via radio or wait for the newspaper the next day to read about it. This was the way most of the grand tours and classics started, to build up readership and gain popularity. So you can just imagine how people all over Europe were glued to the radio commentary listening to the daily stage and the amount of comradeship that was made by this.

The man she's listening to in the center: Jaap Kersten , Wim van Est , Martin van den Borgh

References:

• National Archief

Any information on this post or any stories you would like to share can be sent to me. Don't be shy, lets share the history of our great sport

Pre-race spin

Tomorrow is my first race of the season so I went out to the course for a spin of the legs after I did the couch potato thing yesterday. Glad to get the gunk out of the system before tomorrow. I must say that I'm not as pump as usual. My lack of fitness is sort of holding me back for getting to phsyced about the race. I'm also racing in the sport category again becasue I didn't sign up for the Israel Cycling Federation. So I will get that done in the next week.

I met one of my competitors from last year also warming up. He has gone up to the Expert level now so at least I can see that there will be some new faces around. I will need to get my focus on although I'm setting my sights on the marathons rather than the XC. XC seems to have more of the shine but I like slogging it out a bit on the longer distances, gives me a bit more time to make up for any silly mistakes.

Before the ride went up the the shop to get some suppliers, oil and what not. Also replaced my rear brake pads. they were worn donw pretty badly which is another indication to me that I have not been paying much attention to my two wheeled friend. Things are about to change, spring is upon us and today was uber warm making it my first ride with just a bib and shirt.

After the rains the tracks were pretty muddy but after two warmish days and todays pre-bake the track feels like it has been laid down specially for us. So smooth it unreal which makes them really fast. Need to pay attention becasue there are some vicious rocks strewn around and the extra speed may just bring those little bald headed bastards into my path.

The ride was really easy as I only did one loop on the track. Didn't want to over exert myself but the heart rate still climbed along with the steep uphills. This little monster below they save for us right till the end. It is one where yo can make up some time and I'm hoping tomorrow to just stay with the front runners toss the coin.

Volvo Challenge Sdom Race Photo's

Erez and Sharon coming over a climb

Descent into another carved out wadi

The feeding point mid-race, look at those mountains

Oren and I coming over the line

Headwind

Done and dusted

Back now from the weekend at the Dead Sea. Great weekend and had some good racing, most importantly had a fantastic time with friends.Took some pics but not many. Full report to follow.

Volvo Challenge Sdom

This weekend I have the lowest mountain bike race in the world coming up. Well the race is at the Dead Sea and being the lowest place on earth and being the only bike race that I know of down there makes it a historic race in my books. I can't say I'm in any sort of shape to be riding at the moment let alone racing. Luckily its a team event so I'll be going with one of my team mates from Spider, Oren. He's a great guy and into motocross so a bit on the crazy side. Should be great fun to be riding down there with someone from the team. This is my third running in the race, the first one my initiation into the world of cycling. It took another year to get into the racing scene and more serious about the sport, or as Mirit puts it addicted. I was on the bike about a week when I attempted this challenge in the desserts surrounding the Dead Sea. The start is at the lake itself so you can imagine that there's not much else to do than climb. Nothing too serious though if I judge by years past but still a challenge. The canyons that you wander through are from another planet and have you playing around on the walls as they've been carved out over the centuries by the flooding that occurs on a yearly basis. We've just had some rain and they are predicting some flooding so should make for an interesting trip.

A few pics

Trying to get into the zone

The punisher

It hurt all the way up

Keeping the legs pedalling

Peaking

Today went out onto the track to do some race pace training. woke up to pregnant greyness just waiting to burst. Well the drive up to Ma'alot I had a huge smile on my face becasue the rain would clean up the track a bit and settle some of the dust. Well that was the idea as I thought that becasue Ma'alot is higher than the coastal plain where I live there would be more rain. Well I was mistaken, the rain petered out the as I got closer. It was a touch cooler so that was already a bonus but as soon as we started warming up the front moved in and thought it a good idea to soak us. Dilema arose because we couldn't get on th etrack without having clay stick to everything, the mud here is like super glue and the little rain and turned the loose soil into a sticky mess. Choices, choices.

We headed back to misgac for the training as we knew that rain would not turn the soil into anything like it was at Ma'alot. Half an hour later we were all in our gear again waiting to get started. A quick warm up and we were off to the races, at least against each other. I went out with the main aim of getting my head ready for the race and it worked. I was in tune with my body, relaxed and pushing the power to the max. I ended up staying with some of the elite riders which should put me in good steed for Saturday. Its the first time in a long time that I felt so pumped to get onto my bike. I'm really glad that it finally came before the Championships. The only problem in my way was the fact I had forgotten to sign up to the race, the closing date was yesterday.I was so dismayed becasue normally it wouldn't be a problem to sign up but becasue it was the national Championships they get a bit more antsy. Ofir got on the phone as soon as practice was done and we luckily got it sorted out. All that was going through my mind was that they would say no can do and all the hard work of the year would have been for nought. Focussing on the race had taken over making sure all the small things are taken care of. Well I'm signed up now and the bike is in super condition. Tomorrow there's just one more small ride to keep the legs working and a solid rest afterwards.

Walking the course

After a rather well rested day yesterday I woke up staring at the ceiling at half five this morning. I decided to get out of bed and make some tea. I caught some type of head cold a with snotty nose that kept me bed ridden after the yesterday mornings exertions. I was pretty well rested you may say when I woke up today and had a quite relaxing morning. I had planned to go out later in the morning to get some pics of the course. Mirit was still sleeping so I decided to head out earlier and glad I did. The short excursion ended up taking well over two hours but I'm so glad I walked the course.
This is so important and I highly recommend to anyone not just to ride a course but to actually hoof it. I saw some new lines that I'm sure will save me up to a minute dues to cutting and floating up obstacles that I was riding purely the way the track was going. I will test some of the lines tomorrow morning for my last big effort ride before the weekend. I took plenty of pictures and when I get home later I'll load a few up to the Picassa for your viewing pleasure.
My thoughts are just to keep calm. There's so much work on the first half that if you don't keep things smooth you'll blow it big time. I know this because this is how I've been ridding the first part so hopefully tomorrow will go better to get the nerves in order. I need to get the course well under my belt in order to do well but seeing that the race is three days away things are on the edge. "Fly like a butterfly" - this is what i just need to repeat to myself.
After that tough exploration I cooked myself in the sauna again. Its getting better but still can't stay in as long as I'd like. The weather has thankfully taking a turn downwards and they have even mentioned rain. I really hope for coller conditions and plenty sleep.

Some racing photos

Seeing as I've been so useless at posting about my training here's some racing photo's courtesy of Nadav:

Before the pain

If only you knew the pain ahead

Actually realised how narrow my handlebars were in this pic

Making my move

And pulling it off

Blood and sweat

Savoring a hard faught 2nd

Race photo's

Here's a few photo's from the race:

Erez in cruise control, champion for finishing with his back not co-operatingDusty start to our race

That's me trying to avoid the the dust on the left

Rotem dominating the race, I think he started yawning already

The technical descent, fast and tricky

Club League - Misgav

Race day. Went all out but start a bit too fast in the first lap. There were not that many people who showed up so they decided to start the expert and the elite riders together. Being my first race I didn't know what to expect but went off like a rocket because I wanted to get into the single first. Came in with a super time but set me up for some pain in the next three. as i had over cooked it and the heat was baking my heat. The second lap also saw me loosing my concentration and flying on the downhill part of the course a bit too fast. Went into a corner to hot and paid the price. Counted at least two guys go past as I got my chain back on and luckily it was the ego that got dented and not the bike. I was filled with sand that turned to mud with all the water I was pouring over myself. The first dreadful thoughts of throwing in the towel for getting myself in to deep. It lasted only two minutes as I entered the next downhill piece and the cramps were moved to the back of my head as I tried to keep my beast under control. I was really starting to enjoy the race as i got into a sort of painful rhythm, keeping the pace as high as possible without falling off the bike in spasms of pain. The last two laps I found my rhythm and also got better after taking in the gels. I think next time I will rather skip the before race gel and rather take it after the first lap. I had used this in the first races but i don't really think its helps to such an extent, rather keep a bottle of isotone on hand for the first bit as the pecking order is sorted out. All in all a great intro into the expert level taking second place although it must be said we were only five riders. Look forward to the next race and more experience. Pictures to follow as soon as i find them online.

Race telegram

Late dot Pain dot Will have further report dot Need sleep dot

Resting up

Was supposed to go out today for a ride but after riding till sunset my legs were still a bit tender. From my running experince I find resting completely the day before is more productive as I want the energy levels to be at their max. What I haven't done till now is not going to be helped with an extra ride that will lower the energy levels. I'll do some stretching after supper with a few core strength excercises just to get the blood flowing. Mirit is in the kitchen with some carbs on the fire, pasta with mushroom sauce.

Pre-mushroomsOn another good note my weight has steadily gone down over the past two weeks. I'm trying to get down to about 72/73kg for the end of the year come Israeli Championships. Pretty happy with myself so far although I still seem to nibble on sweet things every now and then. The up side is that this lowered weight has not had an effect on the power i seem to be pushing out. I don't have any fancy measuring equipment but based on feeling I'm not as weak as I was feeling two or three weeks ago. Like Fat cyclist said about his race over the weekend, I go into this race with no expectations or pressure. I've moved up a category so expecting a win would be stretching it and I'm no where near peaking for the Championships so all i hope to gain is experience and a good time in my backyard training ground.

Smooth

News has not been on the low side but sitting and writing it down has been. My first race for over three month's is coming up this Friday. During the hot summer months the roadies take center stage as we dust loving fat tired daredevils fly around ever drying track. As you can see from the graph below the race is going to be really tough. Went out yesterday to do a few laps on the track and was turning in times about half a minute down on the elite riders. Good news for the upcoming weekend of the Israeli Cup in Misgav. The first half is really the tough part because of the steep drop on the technical track that is pretty loose because the soil has worked loose. The there's a huge climb to that has a serious kick in the beginning that calls for the granny gear to be whipped out.Today I got the bike back after a bit of TLC at the local Fox dealers. after the yearly maintenance check. They did the work in a day so decided to buy them a six pack for the good work. It put a big ass smile on their faces and sure they'll be sipping on some ice cold barely goodness as you read this.Now all I need is to get the cables replaced on the bike and I'm set for the weekend's race. Trying to fit all this in while still needing to put in the hours at work is tough.

I also found myself spread on the floor last night with a wicked smile spread across Mirit's face as she ripped the hair out my legs. Decided to go the bald route on the legs for no other reason that to see the veins popping out. Phsycology plays just as much a part of the race as anything else so I'm hoping that the other riders will be a bit surprised by my entry into the next level mid season. Just hoping to go there and get a good result as I must say that saddle time has been as high as I can get it without being fired. Happy days

Another sprint

Even as mountain bikers I'm sure we all want to avoid the above situation come sprint time at the end of the race. After today's stage of the Tour the flying Manxman, Mark Cavendish, was dropped on the final category four climb along with some other big named sprinters. I'm guessing that Liquigas and Milram really wanted their men in the front without having the invincible youngster blowing them out the water. It was a hectic final few kilometers with attacks coming in from everywhere, even Team Columbiawithout their main man was trying to set up Ciolek.
I happended across a great article by Mr Carmichael on how to beat the best. Here's his basic run down of how to come out on top:

1. Use your teammates
2. Use your upper body to protect your handlebars.
3. Look for diagonal lines.
4. Get your bars ahead.
5. Make contact if you absolutely need to.
6. Take off like a rabid monkey.

I can't wait for tomorrow as we head into the Alps. the cross over to Italy and there is the HC Col Agnel and the uphill finish into Prato Nevoso.

Profesional answer

Kathy Sherwin gives an answer I asked about on tire pressure. Nice technical article for all you bike geeks. Go check it out.

Cape Epic - Stage 4

Yet another epic day;) Sorry its April Fool's and the silliness has infected me quite badly and been jack assing around all day. Relaxed day for me but not so for our front runners. The Dolphins have arrived and took the lead early on never to look back. Their lead went up to three minutes at one stage but the chasers took up the slack again today to close the gap in the end down to just a minute and a half. Yesterdays sprint finish was repeated again this time for second by the same two teams as yesterday, MTN Energade and Cannondale Vredestein. However roles were reveresed today as Kevin Evans and David George got their own back again only a second separating these two teams. Although not as demanding as yesterday's ride, today's ride saw rolling hill's where the boys with power could show their prowess. A day without hills in this part of the country would be sacrilegious so two lovingly named hills, Heart Break 1 & 2, are thrown in for good measure. If you think that bike racing won't change you then take a look at this article. Thys Dullaart an avid vegetarian has sen his diet altered by this race to no extent. Trek seems to be keeping updated photo's on the race on their team website, I must add that these photo's are of real quality and could be considered art. Links to the regular guys who make this race possible can be found here, team BBB suffering from mechanical problems that we all love so much. Velowoo also seemed to have run into problems but then they did spot an ostrich.

Cape Epic - Stage 3

Down to business today as yesterday's stage seem's to have taken its toll on the riders. Jeremiah Bishop and Trek team mate and 24-hour champ Chris Eatough hit their grove and managed to even spot some more wildlife. Disappointment and excitement were witnessed today as songo team mates Christoph Sauser and Burry Stander were forced to withdraw due to the latter picking up a niggle in the knee. I will post later on this when more info comes to light, lets just hope that the BMX track still gets build for the kids. On the up side though the stage could not have had a closer finish with the top three finishing within 4 seconds of each other. Wish i could have been there on the finish line to see the top-of-the-top having an all out sprint for the day's spoil's. A two team battle seems to be evolving as Cannondale Vredestein, yesterday's stage winners, came in just a second in front of prolgue winners, MTN Energade. I can't sum up the race better than the guys on MTB Race News.

Cape Epic - Stage 2

Waited a bit too long today for the results to come through from the Cape Epic's toughest day in history. I think it took out more than I thought and the riders were tending to themselves rather than their admiring public. I can't blame them after seeing the graph of the route they took yesterday:I've been up that first "small" climb and trust me it is not that small and also nowhere near as short as it looks on that graph. A challenging 8% average gradient the Montagu Pass is nothing to be scoffed at esspecially when you have a 140km to undertake on the day. Yes I will repeat that for those of you who thought I may have mistyped that: 140km!!!! Ouch!!!! I think the liberal use of explanation marks is completely justified once you re-read that last sentence. As you can see in the picture the second killer is even longer and steeper and I will not repeat it becasue once should be enough to make you cry, 18% gradient's. Even the pro's were forced to push their steed's up these loose, rocky cliff's. What made matters worse was tip-toeing your way down the other side where had you had the abilities of a mountain goat you may just have been able to manage. Did I mention that the baking Karoo desert peaked at 39 degree's... centigrade. Roel Paulissen and Jakob Fuglsang made a miraculous comeback after the dissapointing start to this year's edition. They finished almost five minutes ahead of yesterday's winners, who managed to hang onto their yellow jersey. Burry Stander reflected on the past two days with grimace saying he had never hurt as much in his career. “I thought the Giro del Capo was tough, but this has been a nother level.” In third place was the German Alb-Gold Mountainbike team, Hannes Genze and Jochen Kaess. Pictures of the last two days can be found here and here. Also from the Trek Team a take on the race so far take a look at Jeremiah Bishop and Chris Eatough. these are two of the best in the world and to hear how difficult the race is from these guys can only mean that this is not a race for the timid.

Cape Epic - Stage 1

So the first serious test was taken today and who other than world champion Christoph Sauser stepped up to the plate. He and Burry Stander took the yellow jersey off the MTN lad's who looked like they have more than needed yesterday finishing 20 minutes off the pace. Team Bulls put in a great effort to finish just behind the winners and taking up the rear was the Norwegian pair, Martin Bratland and Kristian Torgersen. So a bit of a twist as some of the underdogs made their way to the front of the pack. Lets hop ethey keep it up and make the rest of the race interesting.
Race reports from the pack are around and one of the reason's for only posting this now was waiting for the tired legs to cool down and then make their way to their laptop's to give us their insight. Jeremiah Bishop gives us a brilliant insight into the race and almost poetic way of describing the "magic" that the Cape Epic is. He mentions seeing two monkeys and not sure if tha tis a dig at the race leaders or a genuine spotting. Quote from the man himself and one I'd like to use on my competitors this season: "we reeled them in like tired fish", brilliant. Team Dolphin Trek were more than pleased with the ladies finish on the second step of the podium and in good position on the overall. Here's a quote by Fabienne Heinzmann: "It was a good day for us. Katrin was fast at the start, which helped me as I'm always a bit slow at he beginning. We worked really well together today. At about 50 km's in the race, we caught up with Sundstedt and Syder. Too bad we had too let them go, as I was low on food and had too stop for a gear problem as well. Overall we had fun, today was tip-top!".Photo's of the the Trek team from the first grueling stage of the Cape Epic. Team Songo's day is summed up here, with some valuable insight from team Manager Bobby Behan. Songo have a YouTube channel so be sure to keep refreshing for the latest from the race. Also great to get some reports from the midpack, as Team BBB were more than happy with their day. Full results here.