Spring in pictures.

Just as promised - photos from here and there.

It is not all train in rain stuff - sometimes sun and fun.

The season start ended in two miles with a puncture.

Only MSc dissertation left.

A place that I will truly miss.

Warming up in Cumnor.

Sluggish - but slippery!

Less sluggish now!

Effort, rollers, effort, rollers, effort, rollers...

Heading for lunch.

Enjoying my Michelin starred lunch (porridge with raisins) in the track center.

Learn, reflect and progress. Yet again!

Oh well, yet another week of racing is now packed. I went hard in the beginning of week (just as planned) and finished the hard efforts with another midweek time trial. This time over ten miles and in Freuchie. The performance followed the set plan and the weather gods seemed to be on the side of the cyclists as the first drops leading to overcast came at time the time of results. The performance of Freuchie was, more or less, a tune up for the weekend's main race – the university 25miler in Oxford.

The two days leading up for the 25 is where we, quite honestly, believe that I actually lost the form as I made a decision to take rest. The reason behind that decision was due to insufficient recovery. So, on the day of the race I felt good, but as it soon became apparent – it isn't about how you feel, it is how you perform. It wasn't my strongest characteristic that day. However, despite the lack of performing, I managed to look good on my bike; but I shall go into that in a minute. My power output was way down and I never really got into the zone, if I may say. Anyway, on the positive note, as I said, I looked good on my bike. That is to say, my average speed was respectable in contrast to the below standard power output. Overall – sluggish, but slippery. At the end, I was fourth and so much about that.

That race was then the end of BUCS time trials and from there we travelled, in moderate silence, to Dover and took a ferry over to Dunkerque the very next morning. Now, I am writing this bit of babble in Bergen aan Zee. A holiday village located Alkmaar and right next to sea. We are here to spend five days of quality track training in Sportpaleis Alkmaar in preparation for BUCS Track Champs or evolution training, as we like to call this for a good reason. Today, we had two sessions and oh body, did I enjoy it. It was brilliant and I certainly hope it will remain like that.

Tomorrow, in addition to the two track sessions, it is a good day for photo update! Stay tuned.

Tough times.

Ok, time to get back on with the blog. No excuses, no nothing. After all the busyness in the university and some racing miles – it is just time to type something up.

University work is something that did cause stress and distractions for a while. However, the while is now over and everything bit of course work is submitted. Happy days in a sense, although there is the thesis to get on with.

Riding has been ok in training, but the start of the racing season that I so much looked forward to has been tough (some other adjectives would be suitable as well...). A week ago, it was the university champs in 3up time trialling in Oxford. After traveling through the country I ended up stranded with a puncture after two miles or so. Bad luck, I thought then – which it honestly was. As the opening test went to the bin, we carried on training and on Wednesday night I found myself from Cleish, Fife, riding a midweek time trial over five miles. It all went to plan and I really was looking forward to the universities 10 miler, held on today in near Cambridge.

Total disaster, and yes, I'm a fair bit freaked out. I don't want to go to much into providing different or long explanations. Saying that, one word is enough: asthma. It was quite apparent when I reflected my feeling to what was apparent in the powerfile – interesting stuff non the least. Putting things to context; it has been said that 'love is important in life, but you know, oxygen is even more important'. That is very much applicable to time trialling as well. Considering the performance itself and the eventual outcome, 6^th place, it may not sound all that bad. But it is, by definition. The disappoinment shed some tears even, I gotta admit that. I prepared to give my all and I rode to fight for win. Yet I did not.

There are certain ideas to go with from here regarding the breathing problems, thanks to Sami for some consultancy. Each one them is luckily sound and valid. Just gotta do some testing, I guess.

Now it feels that I am digging deep. The character is tested when you are up against it, said Dick Vermeil, a famous NFL coach. Now it is up to me to prove my character to myself: learn, reflect, and progress.