Wellington isn’t renown for its great summers; a mate is always quick to remind me that if the weather was perfect all the time, everyone would want to live here and we’d be overrun by Aucklanders (just like Aussies but not quite dumb enough to live in Canberra). As our summer goes into its last death throes of amazingly calm, sunny, cloudless days, the arm warmers and undershirt have only just emerged from their longest hibernation ever. And I probably won’t need them for tomorrow’s ride either.
Come next Monday, however, I’ll be on the other side of the world and months of unzipped jerseys and SPF30 will be but a memory; a cold, wet, distant memory. And I have to say I’m almost looking forward to it with a strange enthusiasm and a hint of romanticism. Almost. No amount of fitness gleaned from training in perfect weather can prepare one for the rigours of a Belgian spring.
We know how the body will react when it is pulled from its warm cocoon and plunged into an icy bath. How the mind will handle it is a bigger concern. We can prepare ourselves physically to the nth degree, but if we’re mentally inept then the sag wagon becomes a likely option. At which point something deep inside takes over, thought processes return to normal and the mere thought of getting off the bike is quickly and methodically banished. Not here, not now.
Let the hardmen be hardmen, let it rain and blow and the cobbles turn to mud when they grace these roads. But Merckx have mercy on a fair-weather soul, even if only for a few selected days. Let our Flandrian Best suffice and our tubulars have sure grip on dry stones. Failing that, at least keep us upright and we will drink a toast to you night after night.
Bring it on.
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@ChrisO
It's a good thing you don't like Ouzo, combined with your recent weight loss, you'd be more likely to find a short, round, bearded lady who would let you tuck dollars down her pants.
@ChrisO Halloumi! The one place (other than Greece) where this heavenly cheese is actually affordable.
@Chris
Fuck me, it's going to be epic! Not only the Keepers Tour but the Spring Classics! Should be one hell of a Belgian Spring!
@gaswepass
I wondered the same after watching the film. According to my girlfriend's South African dad, it was indeed. He wasn't quite interested in politics at the time, so he couldn't say if it indeed was a resistance thing, but he knew half the songs by heart after several decades...
@tessar
Now that you mention it, the halloumi sitting in my fridge is from Cyprus, but I can't say I've ever thought it was expensive - we get it pretty easily and cheaply here. I always have some around. Maybe the Arabs are trying to starve you out.
I do love it - grilled, on manaeesh flatbread with zataar spices. Cypriot food is mostly the same as Lebanese from what I can see.
@Buck Rogers
Fuck me, it's going to be epic! Not only the Keepers Tour but the Spring Classics! Should be one hell of a Belgian Spring!
It's KILLING me that I can't move until fall! I would love to be there for the Classics this year!
@Sauterelle
You and me and about 1,000 other cashed strapped Velominati!!! But, it is a matter of priorities and I suppose I could sell a kid or two (hell, I have five) to get there if I REAAALLLYY wanted to.
Not sure where to post this so I will throw it up here (maybe we could have a permanent link at the top of the page for "Current Races" or something that is always open to remarks about stuff going on in the present not related to a thread?)
http://www.cyclingnews.com/races/volta-ciclista-a-catalunya-2013/stage-4/results
How awesome is this?!?!?! Not only does Dan Martin win the stage on snowbanked roads and take the overall lead, Valverde abandons! Now I truly never wish a crash on anyone, not even Piti, but at least they say he is not hurt that badly at all and should be fine.
I suppose it was all okay as he had so many blood bags available for immediate transfusion.
@Buck Rogers
I need to unload my house then I will be moving to Belgium! I'll be able to go on all the KT after that!
@wiscot
This is all I see when I look at this...