My world.

Competitive mindset.

2012-01-27T16:08:00.003Z

So last I tallied about dreams and targets in sport. But another things is how to achieve them. This post is not about the training plan or specific training about it. I'm talking about the philosophy behind my thoughts about how to attain the form. My thoughts are from my head, movies, books etc.

I believe that in cycling, and more specificly in my disciplines, one always gets the results that one deserves. Right? You race as you train; if you back up in training when it hurts, you are likely to do that in racing as well. So if you give your 100% in training and prep, you will end up the result that you deserve. Same thing is that, if you give your 50% in training and prep, you'll end up with what you deserve, although the results may not be satisfactory.

I, personally, try to do things before race 'perfectly' so that on a race day I can just enjoy, ride the hell out of me and bag the result. I can only do that if I've got the feeling that everything is done for the performance. By this I mean that I'm in control of myself – I control the controllables and forget about the uncontrollables. The things that I can't control don't matter so why bother thinking about them. I'm still working on it, but I think that it is starting to work.

A track cycling legend, Chris Boardman, has said: 'Develop a fascination with the journey rather than the destination – or focus on being better rather than being the best. It means you never fail, only have opportunities to improve.' And I can only agree. It is the journey that brings me the happiness more often in many ways. Improving, taking steps, going towards the dreams keeps the motivation up. I think this has been a vital thing for me on my training.

On the last bit, we are in centre field of a velodrome on the way to the starting block. By that time the only thing that matters is that moment. Living in the moment and loving the hard battle - once I always attain that, it will be great. Some people call that flow. Then, only then, I can ride my perfect rides:

-Where are you?
-Here.
-What time is it?
-Now.
-What are you?
-This moment.

My favourite quote from Peaceful Warrior, I strongly recommend that movie to everyone.

P.S. This was just an overview. I could go more into setting mind correctly. Just drop a comment or question... :)

Chasing my sporting dreams

2012-01-17T16:25:00.002Z

I've had some very enlighting discussions with my friends and family about life as an athlete and I thank you for that. I've also faced confrontations by some people about my choice, but that's just opinions from people that don't know the real me. Everyone though, have their own opinion and are right to stand behind them. It isn't always easy to tell people that what I'm doing and why, because to large majority this may not make any sense or sounds like loads of bull.

As it is apparent in this blog; in my life the thing is sport, and then sport and probably sport. It might sound obsessive or selfish, but it really is not. It has been the love of my life since I was like two feet tall kid and it is the real me. These things I'm about to write – I've learned slowly during the years and the main difference is from for example the skiing years, is that when I was younger I thought that I understand what sport means and is to me – but now I know that I understand.

Yes, I dream of becoming a hero in my sport, which through years has changed from basketball to alpineskiing and from floorball to now cycling. But becoming an absolute hero though, is not the absolute. Nor is winning medals or beating opponents. Still, don't get me wrong. I would lie saying that I don't want to win medals or be the best, because I want. I dream of winning medals and dreams keep one awake and alive. But ultimately I'm after my very own pure and perfect performance, the moment when I give my all and reach my best performance ever. The thing is that it may be so that the day I reach my optimum, my perfect ride in a world championship race or whatever it may be – I may not win or even medal, because there may always be someone faster. Whether, it brings me the rainbow stripes or medals – it just isn't all up to me. But by making my best performance ever is all up to me and it can bring the glory. I train, I prepare, I just try to let all the trash in my head go and concentrate on the moment, on the performance, there and then.

Still, the lifestyle I've opted for ain't an easy one. I've had to let go on certain things and it is not easy to tell friends time after time that I ain't coming out, because I'm training. Some people understand it and some don't, which not in my control. It has distraced friendships and personal relations, it bothers me but I can't say that I regret it. At the end of the day, there is only one cycling career for me and it is now, only now.

I train and compete to live my dreams. My childhood dreams are there to be achieved. The dream is to be an exceptional athlete and happy, maybe even to ultimately win medals. I don't want to feel after my career, that I left something undone or I didn't go all the way – that would be bothering and I wouldn't be happy.

That is why I do, what I do. And most importantly, what I do – makes me happy and is what I love the most.

'A warrior does not give up what he loves, he finds the love in what he does'

And how I'm gonna achieve what I'm after? That is another story, more about that later on.

Sun shines in Wales...

2012-01-13T17:12:00.002Z

...which, to be honest, I wouldn't have bet on. Anyways, I arrived back here yesterday night after driving through Iberian Peninsula from Villamartin to Bilbao to catch a ferry. For our luck the ferry was run as scheduled this time and we werent forced to drive through the whole France.

That being said we still had to drive from Portsmouth to here. We knew that it would take roughly 2,5hrs and had a plan to pick up some Chinese take-away on the way home. It was the plan, but we missed the Chinese by two minutes, as the ferry was a tad late and our position was somewhere underwater. Still, I gotta admit that it was a minor setback in comparison to what we faced on the way down to Spain. Hot dogs weren't too bad option afterall.

Back to sunny Wales then. My recovery from Spain seems to be spot on and our OTA-file (Over Training Avoidance) is almost as green as the lawn at Stamford Bridge. We had planned for a 2,5hrs ride to get back on the bike as soon as possible, and the ride was mega cool, also literally. Changing from +20s to +5 at the end wasn't that big deal as I expected or my new winter kit is a proper one. I had good time on the road, despite that I got ridiculously muddy just before I was home. Farming season has apparently began?

After this, so called, recovery week, it is time to pick up the intensity for the first time this season. I'm not sure if I'm very curious to start the phase, as it bloody hurts at the beginning. But once you get goin', they're alright. Saying that, it is about time to start building the power as the first test is in sort of five weeks time.

And yet, today I'm not gonna miss the opening restaurant and take-away times. Whether it will be Chinese or Indian, that I'm not quite sure about yet...

Almost over and out in Spain.

2012-01-09T15:13:00.004Z

Just another cruise interval.

Tired, empty, exhausted – there are many words to describe my feelings at the moment. My trainin camp here has been almost perfect if not perfect. So far no single rain drop, almost no cloudy skies and tough going. Now that we are leaving for Newport on Wednesday after 25ish days I can admit that the time here has been productive, no doubt about it.

Now though, it is time to reflect a bit backwards. Since the first ride on 18^th December I have now gone through 31 structured training sessions and two more to go from steady paced rides to gym and from mountains to time trial. Some days have naturally been better than others, but ain't that just normal? Surprinsingly I've had only one or two bad days, and luckily one of them was on rest day. Happy days.

It all seems to come pretty well together and after a recovery week I expect supercompensation to occur to boost my training in Newport. At least I think that even during the training camp my form took steps forward – whilst I squatted my bests at gym, I still managed to climb somehow. Not to say that I've become more of a climber, not at all – I just happened to get up the hills by riding rather than walkin' with my bike. ;) I just know my limits better now, and on Monte Alto it was all too apparent. Luckily for me, there are no significant uphill struggles on velodrome and I'm quite confident that I can reach the upper banking easier than before...

Everyone isn't born with ability to climb.

The post analysis also tell their own story, and they're encouraging I reckon. Altho, I've only based my training here on heart rate zones and the wattages have only been checked afterwards. Still they've been fairly ok, which can be seen from this pic, que?

Srm file.

Anyway I'd like to quote Tanja Poutiainen this time to sum up the training camp:

'Tästä on hyvä lähteä.'

'It is good to continue from here.'

And yeah, I had opportunity for a bit different riding aswell, sorry to all for not having helmet on...

2011-12-31T18:26:00.006Z

2011: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec

All life, all feelings through the year and what a year it was.

Happy New Year To Everyone!

Feb photo: (C) British Cycling
Jun photo: (C) Antti Haavisto

Viva la Espana!

2011-12-22T19:21:00.003Z

Ode to travelling.

2011-12-13T15:47:00.002Z

Here, I am again in Wales having big time troubles with my travel plans. Some of you may remember me telling about my adventure to Canaries, or should I say, almost to Canaries as I never got there. When I went to universiades, Finnair forgot my bike to Finland. Last time I travelled home my train was delayed by some hours because of an unknown problem in train tunnel. Yesterday Norwegian failed with the timetables and we missed our train and had to pay 56 pounds more pounds to get home two hours later than planned.

We had planned months ago that we will stay over Christmas and New Year in southern spain. We booked everything and until this morning the plan was to catch a ferry over from Portsmouth to Bilbao. However, some might guess what I'm gonna say next. A text message came, not from a friend or a mysterious girl, but from a ferry operator:

'We are sorry to advise that your Brittany Ferries crossing on 15/12/11 at 22h00 to Bilbao has been cancelled because of bad weather. Please call 0870.......'

Fucking hell, just a text message. The I got an email saying the same thing. Then I got another email from them, which wasn't not about a sudden change in weather. Hell no, it was my ticket and they also thanked me for using Brittany Ferries. Cheers for that, much appreciated. The helpful lady in the office was very sorry of course and promised refund our crossing or choose another crossing week later. Thanks again. Not that, it was her fault, but come on: a ferry week later. I tried to laugh at it, but it wasn't real tho. Hah. Now what?

We have a new plan now. We will drive additional 1200 kilometres through all France and to get France we had two options: train or ferry. Not very good ones when considering my latest travelling history, ehh? Anyway, we opted for Eurotunnel train from Folkestone to Calais as it might work, I'm not sure about that anymore. I'm just waiting for another text message to arrive.

Travelling is fun and relaxing, said someone. I seriously doubt that. None the less, training is going alright, uni work is coming together. And also I was so happys to see so many friends at Levi!

'The only way of catching a train I ever discovered is to miss the train before.'

-G.K. Chesterton

My training, part I.

2011-11-25T13:47:00.003Z

Some people have asked about my training: How much I do? What I do? How I do? Why I do? I thought that I could share publicly in blog some of my training principles and thoughts about our methods and systems. I will split the articles into a series of smaller areas, so that the stuff won't be too heavy at once. In this first bit of text I highlight main areas of our training system and then open them up individually one by one by giving examples and explaining our visions.

These are the main categories (not in any kind of order):

In the gym
On the bike
Being versatile
Recovering
Playing mind games

Now, I'll pick up some general pointers that are important to me and Paavo when planning. Certain things are just too easily said, but following them might be tough job. Myself, I find the first principle very hard to follow at times, but I'm learning all the time

1. Respect and listen to your body; if I feel that I need to rest - it definetly is better to rest. If physiological fatigue is too high, then rest - like today. If my head is not there, it is better to rest. But I don't make these decisions too easily, especially as my mind plays tricks often after lectures.

2. If there is a plan follow it. For example when I do intervals and have the idea is not to go over certain heart rates - I will not go; I either ease up or stop that particular interval. Also the length and recovery time is there for reason. If feeling good and feeling easy, it still is better to stick to the plan - training is not about individual session, it is more of a continuum.

3. Be flexible. In my case the uni work causes distractions at times, then I have to be ready to adapt the plan. I have a long term plan (mesocycle of roughly 6 months), which quite stable and rarely modified. Then comes the macrocycles (4-6 weeks), which are more often modified due to uni work, illnesses or other things. The shortest ones, microcycles (1 week), are modified sometimes daily and sometimes not at all. It really depends on what else is going on at the time.

4. A target, that is yet challenging but achieveable. I always have a target in my mind. My eyes are on it always when I train. It makes the planning easier and it gives me a focus and a reason to bust my ass off in training. Targets also provide guidelines on how to train as they may vary very much between training cycles. And remember, it can be anything from losing weight to gaining strenght and winning races. I often use power outputs or times as my targets - winning is not necessarily a good target, as my opponents are always uncontrollable.

5. Be honest. If I do well, I want to share it. If I feel good, why would I hide it. Progress is the key towards the targets and once I take a step towards it, I'm happy. If I do badly, I share it aswell. Of course there are days that are nightmares, but afterall I'm often able to take the positive out and laugh at them. I want to say that even the worst days can provide significant data to your training. A practical example for two weeks back: I had felt amazing during last couple days, but then one day after resting the numbers were simply terrible and I was confused, disappointed and angry. However, after analysis that nightmare turned up to a big benefit, as it revealed something very, very important about my performances and it was only one day of training, to be honest it even wasn't bad one - I only had too big expectations.

If any questions come up, please don't hesitate to contact. :)

My week in Finland.

2011-11-20T18:55:00.004Z

My short break in Finland is just about over. Tomorrow I'll be heading back to Wales to get back to basics - training and uni. Here, despite this being a recovery week, I've ridden cross country, indoor athletics track and rollers; run; started maximal strength work outs at gym and streched. Still the training load has been rather low. The training has been goin' alright - nothing spectacular, but on the right path. Otherwise, I've been just chillin', taking photos and having a good time here.

Yesterday I did a bit of coaching aswell with the juniors of my cycling club. I enjoyed my morning with them so much - the joy and enthusiasm was only so refreshing and it made me feel good. At first we had a nice sprint session in Mylly, from which we continued to coordination and sprint training completed in stairs. Thanks kids, I hope meet you in training again!

I'm proud of my last season and it got a nice little bonus last Friday, as my cycling club, CCH, chose me as 'The Cyclist of the Year 2011'. I'm feeling very honoured by this. Thank you.

Myself with our Club President and Veera
(C) Jaakko Tanskanen

'Great Faith. Great Doubt. Great Effort. - The three qualities necessary for training.'
- Chien-ju

Home is where your heart is.

2011-11-14T15:21:00.005Z

My home is in Finland, this is just beautiful. I came here last Saturday and I've had so good time. I took an easy weekend just eating well and just hangin' at home. It is all good here and my bed is still comfy. Last week was definetly a hard one in terms of training, but I had this trip to wait for. I had the weekend off training, but today I was back on it doin' roughly 3hrs around my home city Espoo with mountain bike. It was definetly one of the most enjoyable rides for a while!

'The only Zen you find on the tops of mountains is the Zen you bring up there.'
-Robert M. Pirsig.

Officially autumn.

2011-11-07T16:16:00.000Z

Only because today was the first day I needed to wear my cold weather jacket when I went training. Despite weather becoming colder, darker and more often wet, stereotypical British weather (?), autumn and winter time also provide some delights – such as more often tailwinds on the way back home as the winds come from north now and I more or less always finish my rides coming from north. Another way to notice that the winter is coming is that I've been commiting myself to indoor training more often. Not that I'm complaining about it - these couple weeks have been better than I've expected really. And on the plus side is also that I've been able to get some consistent number out and they've been alright. Just gotta keep on. Anyway, it is only five weeks until the first training camp of the new season.

So as mentioned, the training has been fairly good, I've managed to avoid any flus or illnesses – knock knock and the modifications in training plans have been minor. Also the fact that we have found a really good system to detect the recovery and fatigue has helped me to balance the training load and recovery. I just to have to remember not to make it a rocket science. In near future it is just about training and progressing – this week is a tough one, but next week is easier after the three weeks of increasing load – that I'm looking forward to.

Not so glorious October day.

2011-10-25T14:28:00.004+01:00

Yesterday the weather and conditions were quite the same as last Friday. The route was ashtonishingly beautiful. And everything went well, the annoyingly strong headwinds during the first two hours didn't bother too much, then a nice climb and an amazing ascent and I was looking forward to the tailwind section. That time I was 70km in to the ride in Monmouth where it all turned around. I almost collided with a Fiat, that suddenly wanted to park in front of me. It just stopped right there. I skidded and avoided the collision, but a kilometre or two later I felt a slight wobble in my rear tyre and saw that there was a couple centimetres completely torn bit, but no puncuture just yet, and I still had forty odd kilometres to home. Things just got worse before the tailwind section - how nice. I eventually decided to keep going trying to avoid any bumps or cracks on the road to save the tyre as long as possible. Actually I managed fairly well and after some 25 stressful kilos later the whole thing exploded. Luckily, I didn't crash or anything as it exploded and the wheel was alrgiht too. Then I had no option, but to call a taxi to home. At home I replaced the tyre and the tube, but the tube exploded whilst I pumped it, but thats another story. These days just happen, no worries – besides it was Monday and that explains a lot - I guess.

Torn and later exploded tyre.

Today has been a lot better though, despite the ever strengthening winds. This morning I did two hour plus including 18 high cadence intervals on my bike. Although, the legs felt a bit tired the rpm's seemed to come out rather well. And now it is time for coffee and to chill until at 6pm, then it is gym time.

'Not the wind, not the flag; mind is moving.'

Wumen Huikai

Glorious October day.

2011-10-21T18:33:00.002+01:00

Today I had the first longer ride of the season, meaning steady four hours in glorius autumn day. The only thing here is that holding steady pace is almost impossible. This country is just valleys, hills and mountains, which means going up and down almost all the time. And the hills differ from the ones back in Finland – here on a new route one just might take a turn to left and face 4km uphill, nothing spectacular but still loads of work. It ain't funny always, but I've learned to cope with it.

Anyway, today is 21st October and the weather was +13 celcius, partly cloudy with moderate winds. I just couldn't have asked for more. This week the training load has been slightly reduced and I just had rest day yesterday and I started to feel smooth on my bike for the first time this autumn, okay, maybe second. All in all, I rode the full four hours in Welsh autumn day. Next week it is time to get to the real business, as the preparation is successfully over and base training starts.

'Ride your bike, ride your bike, ride your bike'

Fausto Coppi

When a reporter asked him what it takes to become such a great champion.

Can I have a take away home delivery please?

2011-10-15T19:24:00.002+01:00

Here I'm again with this big question. To cook or not to cook – however you want to put it. I really like cooking and chefing, but as if I don't have the energy to do it properly – it might just be better off ordering something delivered to my door. As said I like to cook, I really do and lately I've been even more into cooking than earlier. The thing is, that more or less home made sauces always beat Barillas or whatever. Although I sometime use Barillas or whatever, they just don't taste as good as home made. If I screw totally up with the spices I may turn to some quick options, but for my luck – I prefer spicy tastes, so it just isn't that big deal whether there is bit too much of pepper or even cayenne pepper. Spicier foods even enhance metabolism in body and they're even used in weight loss products, so what's not to like?

Another thing, if I put the fact of better taste aside, is that as I do everything myself, I know exactly what's in there. Alright, I don't grow my potatoes or broccolis on my yard, but still. And as I know exactly what's in it I can eat more, because of the more suitable ingredient content. That I really prefer! In cycling maintaining high power to weight ratio is essential, for that the keys are maintaining weight, training hard and eating correctly. To be able train a lot – one needs energy a lot, but the answers for eating a lot,energy and maintaining weight lays within the ingredients. At times it is too complicated for me, and I ask for a big double whopper mac or whatever.

To answer the header. Now I'm unsure if I have the energy to prepare food properly or prepare at all, so I'm just about to pick my phone up and make call. After that call it would take some odd 20 minutes and I would have a warm meal on my door. Whether I'll make that call today, I dunno. And where should I call? Chinese, Indian, pizza, fish n' chips or burger place? Lets be honest, the latter three are ruled out anyway, and I think you know why. Chinese or Indian, or maybe I just rest for a while and then prepare my own food? Or maybe I don't rest at all and do some yoga? No yoga for me, definetly.

Well, behind this non ending chitchat is another good week of training and tiredness due to that. It has all gone according to plan, and that makes me happy. First, there is a plan and a system to follow. Secondly, it seems to be working. Tomorrow I have another gym session and then the week is over and on Monday a new one starts all over again – riding my bike, going to gym, resting and wondering what to eat. There is plenty more than that, but still to say – that is pretty much what I do in addition to uni work. At the end, I think, it is worth mention how amazing does Coke taste in glass bottle!

'Though the bamboo forest is dense, water flows through it freely'

- Basho

P.S. Apparently resting and streching helped. Time to be a chef.

About training, puncturing and photography

2011-10-08T13:30:00.004+01:00

Today is a rest day and I woke up at 5.45am, but for a good reason. Wales beat Ireland in Rugby World Cup semifinal at 6am this morning. Now I'm almost two weeks into a new season and training has started well. During these two weeks I've completed roughly 30 hours of training so far and I'm feeling good about it – the progression is there. I've been to road rides and gym, but tomorrow we'll have friendly match in floorball.

I'm feeling good on my bike and even better in the gym, that might due to the fact that progression is obvius when at gym, but on the road it ain't so simply as heart rates, speeds and everything varies due to the winds and so on. Although I gotta admit that the performances don't matter really at the moment, as the most important thing is preparation for the coming months. I very much like training at the gym, as it is very practical and it seems to really work for me!

Just to say that everything ain't so well and good – I've had an amazing streak of punctures. Altogether five during last week. Yesterday I ran out of spare tubes, Co2 cartridges and patches. Today I've shopping then. I've filled the stores and I'm ready take on the challenges provided by the Welsh roads again tomorrow morning. Next week I'll get set of new tyres as well, and hope that they'll reduce the puncture rate, ehh?

Photography then. I've been trying to learn to use my camera properly and I think I can just manage the basics now. I've found photography such nice way to get my head off training, it happens almost automatically. Just walk around watching and trying to find something interesting is very relaxing. Here's something that i've managed to make through the lens:

'One falling leaf is not just one leaf; it means the whole autumn.'

Shunryu Suzuki

Training towards 2012

2011-09-28T12:32:00.001+01:00

Blog silence is now broken. I had a bit of break in updating, but to be honest there hasn't been much to report. I've been resting and taking it easy mainly. Now I've moved back to the island and the academic year has started together with new training season.

Off season is now gone and I'm on the prep phase going towards a new season. I had my appendix operated during the offseason and it all went as planned – so those problems should now be well fixed. When I come to think of the next year, I can see so many things to look forward. Clearly the biggest thing for is gonna be in next April, when I'm to hand in my Dissertation. That means graduation from Uni, which is big. Secondly, I can see myself riding my best season so far, as if I can stay healthy for the season during past couple years. The major plan has been created, I know what I'm going towards and I'm prepared to go for it. It's all about the execution now.

At the end I want quote an American speaker and author, Denis Watley, who has counselled and mentored Olympic winners and Super Bowl champions. I completely believe these words of wisdom:

'The reason most people never reach their goals is that they don't define them, or ever seriously consider them as believable or achievable. Winners can tell you where they are going, what they plan to do along the way, and who will be sharing the adventure with them.'

A very special place.

2011-09-04T10:49:00.002+01:00

During the off-season, or transition phase, I have time do things I don't usually have time for. I spent last couple days with my old friends in my old home town – Nilsiä. I lived there for four amazing years and it is always so good to go back. The town has changed a fair bit during last years. This time I slept on Tomppa's and Krisu's sofa and trained with Tahko Alpine Ski Team. Thanks, I'm aching big time! I rode mtb, did athletics, went to gym and played with bmx. I also hooked up with some buddies from school and even visited one birthday party.

Good times and big thanks!

'The whole moon and the entire sky are reflected in one dewdrop on the grass.'

Dagen

Tahko

Tomppa at the top of Kinahmi

My season 2011.

2011-08-27T09:38:00.001+01:00

Now couple days after the last races of the season, I'm sitting down with coffee and thinking my season backwards. So many things happened last season that I can hardly remember all of them, I really don't, but it doesn't matter really – the main thing is that there were the main moments that I learned from and I'll never forget.

I started my training on October after another disappointing season, with new focus. I decided to leave sprinting for the big boys and took individual pursuit in to my program and adapted my training. From the very beginning it started to work. The winter hours were put into action in late February as I started in my first World Cups. I did a clear personal best and I was sure that it will only get better. But it wasn't quite so.

After a week at home in Finland I was spot on back in work in Wales, but couple days later I started to feel feverish. I thought that alright some viral flu and a rest week will do. It only got worse and worse. After two weeks of more or less high temperatures I flew back to Finland as I wasn't getting any treatment in Wales. I don't know today how long I could have lasted if I didn't come to Finland. As I went to hospital here I was straight away hospitalized and got out only 10 days after. I was diagnosed with acute abscess around appendix, which is rare, but yeh – it all started to get better as soon as I got the right antibiotics. I still didn't know if I was to ride my bike at all this season. I was just happy to get back to full health.

On April the first I got out of the hospital seven kilos lighter and my hemoglobine was around 120s. All the work started from scrap. The goal was to get into some sort of racing condition at the end of the summer as I started my training slowly again. My first session was 20 minutes on indoor rower just trying to hang up the total time. For then on I added the load and got better and better.

I recovered surprisingly well and got on the start line monts ahead of the plan and well I did. That was the first signal that the season wasn't lost and I kept working. Seldom I've felt so good after a regional race than that day. That little trophy for a 2^nd place from Kauhajoki Chrono means a world to me. I was second and I had had a decent ride and I was on podium in my very first race only less than two months from the illness. A little race, with hell of a meaning!

The real season started in the beginning of July with NC U23 time trial and I was in rather good shape. I started well, the people in split times and my service care said that I was doing a good job. Then came a thunderstorm and forced me to abandon. It didn't happen that weekend, but to be honest it wasn't supposed to. But that day meant to me that I'm in contest for top places in Finland again and the track season was only beginning. Next weekend was the omnium in which I fought well, but still others were stronger. I knew where i was going, and I knew I had no chance in the omnium, but still whatever the race is I hate losing. It has been always hard for me to do training races without caring about the result, but this season I had to learn it.

The next weekend was a team sprint, from which we got a bronze. But the next weekend was the weekend of my season, the weekend of my first NC golds, the weekend that meant that I'm really back. The kilo gold felt so good, but I couldn't quite yet take everything out of it as we had still the Team Pursuit coming on. The calm Friday night I got one gold and silver. I don't know how it all did happen, I just started to feel amazing earlier on the morning and I somehow felt that the day is gonna be a good one. It had all turned out good. It got even better the next day as I won the Individual Pursuit and was in finals with my good friend. We had a good final, and it felt pretty special to ride with a good friend in the final – I enjoyed it. I had had my best NC season ever after a spring of doubts and emptyness.

Then it was all about the Universiade in China. Tapering went well and I did well in races too. The track was good, but not quite as fast as indoors. I was 12^th in Individual Pursuit, 13^th in Sprint and somewhere in Keirin. The trip was amazing and I met so many so amazing people. It was the perfect way to end up an unforgettable season.

Now after the season I still can't believe everything that has happened. I ended up with the best results so far and I have many questions without a clear answers, and some of them will never get one. Why did it all come so well together? What made the difference? I'm feeling so lucky now, but at the same time I know that the hard work did eventually pay off. But what happened this season is special for me, and actually I'm sure that this season was a turning point for me and my career. All the special moments this season hail from March. A friend of mine said to me after the track nationals that: 'Can you remember the day when you felt so good after your first road ride?'. And I sure can and still I enjoy riding my bike more than ever. Now I do know that I can be a winning rider, I also know that it is only matter of working hard and one can overachieve.

At last I want to give some thanks and credits to people around me:

My mom and dad – you were here for me on the bad days and on the good days, without you I don't what would have happened.

My friends – the support from you guys helped me to get back on two wheels fast I'd never believed myself.

The staff at Newport Uni – thanks for the support with my academic work, I wouldn't have passed my year without it.

The people at Jorvi hospital – without you I might not be riding.

'Life is the only thing worth living for.'

Chien-ju

Shenzhen, 26th Summer Universiade

2011-08-26T08:07:00.004+01:00

The Universiade was big, it was huge and it was far from here. We flew over Russia and landed in Hong Kong on 11^th of August. The flight went well and I even got to visit the pilot's office as the captain was my friend's, Illi's, father. It was so cool, thanks Matti! The organizer had made the custom issues easy for us and we were soon arriving in the athlete village. It was all good, despite me lacking my bike and two other guys lacking their poles.

After some 15+ hours travelling we got the room keys and I settled in with two archers. The funny detail in the apartments was that they had the toilet and shower on the balcony. We were told that the architect had forgotten them from the drawings. Anything can happen. After a good night sleep it was time to start gettin familiar with the heat and the surroundings. Afterall, organizers took care of the bike and it arrived the village as we were in the opening ceremonies.

The opening ceremony was overwhelming. I have no words really to describe it. Colourful, big, cheerful – everything. They opened the stadium wall and we walked with other teams into a packed stadium with 13.000 spectators. Just hours earlier I figured out how big the Universiade was: all athletes were transported to the ceremonies in buses escorted by police cars on cleared and closed highways. Wows!

After three days of training it was racing time. We started at 8.30am and I was in the middle of the race. I went on too quickly and died a little bit. Finishing with 4.50,231 was enough for 12^th place which at the end wasn't too bad. I lacked only tenths from my PB, as many people lacked many seconds. The heat played big – we had tad over 50 celcius degrees in our warm-up area and in the sunshine the temperature reached sixties. I had slight troubles with breathing during the race, but still the ride wasn't a bad one. On that day I still had the sprints left. At the time of the qualification I was white and felt very much uncomfortable. A bad ride, but qualified. I clearly didn't make it easy for myself, hahaha. On the first round I faced Miao Zhang, and he took it quite easily with the last 200 meters being 10.9s. On the repechage I got the place three and went from the whistle. It lasted until 650m when the guys caught me and the second one passed me. Korean won, I was second and the Japanese was third, which meant that my sprint was over. If it had been one-on-one repechage I would have won, but it wasn't and I was out. Still to say that it was the ride that got most cheers from the spectators.

After two days of resting I had the Keirin, which was just a bonus race for me as it fitted the program. The big guys are bigger than I am and I had no chance in my first international Keirin. They went when they wanted and I cried in their wheels. It was more about some more track time than trying to really do the impossible.

My races were now over. I can't complain on the results. They were a good standard in big races in a hot weather. My main race went almost as planned, but I was surprised by the heat. The sprints and keirin were good experiences for me. I'm happy how I coped.

The rest of the days were cheering for other Finns, shopping and enjoying!

Now I'm happily jetlagged in Finland!

Almost on the way to Asia.

2011-08-09T05:39:00.002+01:00

Good morning,

I'm up early this morning. I was to go to the velodrome around eight this morning. But as I look out of the window and saw the rain radars, it wouldn't make any sense. Rain, rain and rain, which means no track time today. I'm not really complaining. This summer has been amazing and this is the first morning I've had to adapt my track session because of the weather. So far so good and I'm off here in two days time.

Now it is only less than 40 hours and I'll sitting in airplane on my way to Asia for my first multisport games. The 26^th Summer Universiade will be held in Shenzhen, China from 12^th to 23^rd of August and cycling will make its first appearance in the games. I heard from my Swiss friend that Summer Universiades are only second to Olympic games when considering the number of participants - I'll catch you there Simon! This year there will be 12.000 athletes and 73 from Finland, to me it seems quite big having mainly raced here in Helsinki. I'll be riding the Individual Pursuit as my main event and other events as they seem to fit the program.

I thought that I'll add here some more links for you:

Universiades 2011 – official page http://www.sz2011.org/Universiade/

Official Live Stream http://www.fisu.tv/su4/shen.html

More Live Stream http://eurorivals.net/2011-summer-universiade:-live-other-streams.html

I dunno whether the cycling will be in the streams. In the athlete village there are internet spots, but what I don't know how well I can keep my blog updated. But stay tuned in my Twitter!

http://twitter.com/#!/antonaro

'It is everywhere'

Chuang-Tzu

Competition venue (C) www.sz2011.org

Overloading.

2011-08-04T11:22:00.003+01:00

Just today after the last 2km effort it occured to my mind – what's the point in cycling? I figured quickly out that I guess I'm doing this, because I like it pretty damn much and I like to push my limits. I couldn't breathe nor walk too well, but riding hell of a distances or intervals, in my case, can be fun. I'll go back to the moment the question occured: fourth 2km effort this morning after an intense six days of training, dead legs, no power nor did the heart beat any more than 85% of my max. Some would say it indicates fatigue. There I was hanging on my tribars thinking about the answer.

I didn't quite find the answer yet, despite the fact that I like it. But as if I come with a clear answer I'll share it, definetly. That moment pretty much sums up my last week. I've been doing loads of training after training, intervals after intervals to overload slightly – and now I've got there, I'm dead tired and my legs are completely empty. So target achieved - my form is currently low and fatigue high, but fitness is good.

Now it is just to desing the taper and let it its magic. Supercompensation must be the best thing in the world for an athlete. I'm so looking forward to Shenzhen!

'When you get there, there isn't any there there.'

- Gertrude Stein

Milestones.

2011-07-27T14:00:00.000+01:00

What a weekend it was. Now after all the Nationals during last four weekends, I don't really have words to describe the way I'm feeling about this season. Since I got on back on my bike in April, it has been an amazing journey all the way to this day. Still the journey continues.

The first three weekends weren't bad. In the time trial I had a good form, but an electric storm forced me to abandon to my service car. It was shame, but it happens – no can do. The next weekend were the omnium nationals, which was a weekend of intense training for me. Finishing fourth was a decent performance. The next weekend I had only Team Sprint to ride for various reasons - some of you may know why. Anyway, we got third in the team sprint – which meant that Jarkko got his first medal ever from National Champs. I'm happy for you mate!

The following week I kept the training loads on the normal levels as we had decided with my father earlier on the year, despite the Nats being on the next weekend. Still on thursday I went out for TT training and some Team Pursuit work on the evening. Friday was the first race day of the last part of the Nats and I had the kilo and team pursuit in my program. I had felt good on the rollers earlier on the morning, but I'd never had figured out the way it all came out. The plan was to take the first half of the kilo relaxed (Well, if that's possible) and then give it all on the second half. It worked well, I felt still very strong at 600m point and kept going. I was the last starter so I only had to wait for my time to figure out the results. I rode 1.08.00, which was hard to believe at first and I won my first National gold medal and shirt. I just couldn't take all out of it yet as we had the Team Pursuit still to come. I can't say anything, but I'm proud of the team. We managed to nip 3 seconds from the target time and finished second after a team, that was far stronger on the paper. Thank you Juhana, Juhani and Mikael!

If I'm honest I might have slept only couple hours the following night, I was stoked about what happened on the calm Friday night. The next morning was the 4km Individual Pursuit in my program. The schedule was changed couple times during the day, but it didn't bother me too much. We had a plan with Mikael: the final should be our ride. That's what happened. We were in the finals with two clearly fastest times. The finals were at first interrupted by a short shower, but then it was time to go. My ride was brilliant: for once I started slowly building it up towards the end. I didn't see Mikael for once during the ride except on the finishing straight, but I heard my father shouting on the last lap that I'm on the lead. Later I heard that I was on second place until half way through, which was a good sign of my pacing. I won my second National's jersey the very next day and rode two times under 5mins in couple hours outdoors. Bloody hell, I thought – in April I had the same amazing feeling when I got back on my road bike just to ride some 30 odd kilometers for the first time after the illness.

The weekend was completed to sheer perfection on Sunday when my father took National bronze in over 50yrs men's class. He rode his PB and even had to overtake the other rider. I had even more butterflies in my stomach than I had during my own races, haha. It is a tough job being on the spectator side.

So I ended having my best national racing season ever with two golds, a silver and a bronze. Still the major race is to come in August. Now I'm training intensely towards the Summer Universiades 2011 in Shenzhen, China. I'm very confident that I can give my very best in there, training looks good, the form is building up and I'm sort of highly motivated. I'm looking forward to one of the best experiences in my sporting career.

'There's no meaning to a flower unless it blooms.' - Hsin Hsin Ming

The racing season is on.

2011-07-22T22:08:00.003+01:00

Quick update of the results from the major races so far:

NC U23 Time-Trial: DNF
NC Omnium: 4th (Disciplines: 1-6-9-2-9-2)
NC Team Sprint: 3rd
NC 1km TT: 1st (Outdoors PB: 1.08.00)
NC Team Pursuit: 2nd

Today I got my first champion's shirt in kilo. I'm simply happy. If someone had told me about this kind of day during the spring I'd have laughed. Back then I was only hoping to get back to my bike. I can't really describe the way to this moment.

We also won silver, and I mean won, in Team Pursuit. Biggest cheer to boys - Juhani, Juhana and Mikael Thanks, it was a real pleasure riding with you guys!

That's what has happened so far. Things are looking good towards Shenzhen.

'Life is the only thing worth living for.' - Chien-Ju

Training day.

2011-07-03T19:41:00.007+01:00

'Do not seek the truth, only cease to cherish your opinions.' -Hsin Hsin Ming

Time trialling versus golfing?

2011-06-20T13:42:00.005+01:00

After the first very intensive training phase I had couple days to recover and finish up the four week block in pair's time trial Nats. I paired up with Juhani and we enjoyed a good performance in terrible weather. I even had to remove my visor after only 15km, cuz I didn't see a thing which may be hazardous when slipstreaming, eh? The rain maybe slowed everyone down a tad bit, but anyway the winners were clear! Congrats Aki and Mikael. We ended up placing 5th, which we were happy about considering us being total time trial amateurs - or at least I was as the race was only my second during last 7 or 8 years... Long time anyway! All in all, fifth place in 54km ride in 1h15mins wasn't a bad results at all.

Changing shifts. (c) TeeCay

Earlier on the week I also rode my first kilo for a long long time and the performance was pretty much okay. I lacked the top end of it, but managed an easy 71 secs with training wheels, which lead me to conclusion that I'm on the right path. After the time trial I had a long ride, which made altogether 4+ hours before the rest day. And golfing I went. I played nine holes in Kurk Golf with my father in morning sunshine. I managed to birdie one hole and hit couple more decent shots and some worse. Who cares? We both played to the buffer zone, which made a nice round even nicer. In other words I scored 48, which is a decent result for me.

To answer for the headline, I'd say that I like golf, but I better stick on riding my bike. I think it is fair to say that I'm better on my bike than with the clubs. I'm certainly sure that my swing isn't good enough to earn any money... ;)

From now on were approaching the precomp phase of training, and the efforts will become more intense towards the targets. Better rest now to be ready to hit the efforts. See ya on the bike!

'To a mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders.'
Chuang-Tzu

Daily basics.

2011-06-09T19:19:00.004+01:00

Since successful trip to Kauhajoki I've been training loads. Loads of efforts are now bagged, but as I see my schedule there are even more waiting for me. Everything seems to be in order at the moment: I'm having good time on my bike, training is going as expected, sun is shining and the doctors told me that my appendix can be removed after season – good news! Some training then:

Besides all the sport related stuff I've started working on my dissertation. It is gonna be very interesting work. Also some of my friends had their grad parties. Congratulations to Victo, Joppe and Tom (the only party invitations I got, cheeeeeers!). Well done boys, as you see, the world is wide open for you now with that bloody cool hat!

As we have gradually increased the training loads on the daily regime, we've noticed that we gotta come out with some recovery methods. So here are some: cold bath (as I don't have a proper one, we filled our rubber boat with cold water), swim or a beer that serves as a special treat – altogether is the best to me!

'Do not seek to follow in the footsteps of the men of old; seek what they sought' - Basho

Back on the start line.

2011-05-29T19:14:00.005+01:00

From here... (24.3.2011)

...to here! (28.5.2011)

I'm feeling happy about this weekend.

The time-trial was a shy but decent performance and I finished second. For once I managed to do a steady ride with good pacing. I feel that I still left something in spare this time though.

In other races (crit+road) I did what I could, but I'm definetly lacking some endurance. Anyways, Juhana won the crit and Antti got third. Well done guys!
Today it was a rainy, windy and cold day and I managed to do 95km of the distance on the race pace, which wasn't too bad.

I'm very happy with my time-trialling and there is lot more to come! I can say that I found my long lost love with time-trials. :)

'Not the wind, not the flag; mind is moving.' - Wumen Huikai

The best place in the world.

2011-05-23T09:52:00.002+01:00

Home is the best place in the world. Here I am now, all stuff unpacked and loads of bike service to do. Still it is time for a cup of coffee first. Last week was a recovery week and now it is training full on again - I'm really looking forward to it.

I already had my stomach checked this morning, and with a quick word; everything seems to be fine there.

All good, all good, all good.

'Nothing is exactly as it seems, nor is it otherwise' - Alan Watts

An academic in making?

2011-05-13T18:04:00.003+01:00

The end of the academic year less than a week away from now. I just handed the last essay of the year in handful of hours ago. Six days to go and then it is over and I can completely concentrate on riding my bike. Still not to forget that during these last six days we do have two exams to finish of. The exams just don't sound as bad as essays - you either know the answer or not. In case of an essay you have to find the answer one way or another. Not say that I won't prepare for the exams.

All in all, the academic year has been good and I've had pretty much fun. Just waiting for the last bits of work to be marked (and exams completed) to see the final grades, but so far so good. Not a bad year at all resultswise anyway. Besides I can finally cope with Harvard referencing...

On the plus side is that I'm now also officially qualified Level 2 coach by British Cycling.

Cycling is good. Finally I've had rides during which I'ev felt like cyclist. Feeling like a cyclist doesn't necessarily say that what kind of cyclist though, haha. Tourist, wannabe or whatever it may be. Still the training seems to be effective and I'm progressing week to week. I'm quite confident that I can start riding some competitions as intense training rather soon. And that feeling makes me smiling even wider.

To answer the title; yes - but there is still some years of serious bike racing before it. :)

'There's no meaning to a flower unless it blooms.' - Basho

You will never be forgotten, Wouter Weylandt.

2011-05-09T18:10:00.002+01:00

To Wouter Weylandt.

I can't really describe what I feel now. There was an accident in the Giro, far away from me, which took life a young passionate cyclist. It hurts me and everyone in cycling world. He was doing what he loved the most, he was flying down another mountain – he was living a dream of so many cyclist in the world until...

The world of cycling has lost one its many sons. Wouter Weylandt, you will never be forgotten.

This is dedicated to Wouter and the people closest to him:

Tiger Army - Afterworld

I sit and think of you only, only
Like a dream, you came to me, meant to be forever
Without you I am so lonely, so lonely
So tell me where have you gone now, where have you gone?

Our love will live in the afterworld
Some things will never end, they're just too strong
It soars into the sky, beyond this world

I'll wait for you into the afterworld
We'll be together soon, it won't be long
when life goes by so fast in this world
In this world

Beyond the heavens above, beyond anything
Beyond the moment our eyes stare and see eternity
Beyond our bodies in this life, beyond the end
Is the place where our love will never die

Our love will live in the afterworld
Some things will never end, they're just too strong
It soars into the sky, beyond this world

I'll wait for you into the afterworld
We'll be together soon, it won't be long
when life goes by so fast in this world
In this world

I'll wait for you until I leave this world
I'll carry our love into the afterworld

This is not farewell, I'll meet you in the afterworld
Don't despair my love, I'll see you in the afterworld

'Live every day like your hair was on fire.' Chien-Ju

Journey man's baby steps

2011-05-04T22:11:00.001+01:00

Some steps taken, loads ahead. Anyway I'm feeling pretty much alright. One milestone was achieved couple days ago as I managed to do some intervals. On the plus side is also that I'm almost back on track with my uni work. It is now only to take the final sprint towards the exams and then I'm off to Finland to have some tummy controls and see my doc – although I don't even know who my doc is, but who cares.

Oh yeah, I also started weights training again yesterday. There is no photos of it for a good reason. I was there boldly on the free weights room, but... with some biggish rugby lads. I was like mickey mouse lifting my amazing 30 kilos. Although I tried to explain the guys, that I'm a cyclist and I've lost lots of my body weight – they laughed me out from the gym and told me to go home to train with a stick.

Just kidding!

I was in the gym doing my own stuff, no one laughed at me, I had good time and it wasn't too bad. Anyway, I still have some problems to see me in the mirror with these bloody chicken legs, haha. I know it ain't a bad thing for me now and I could get it back if I wanted, but it feels quite funny. So be it!

All in all, I'm back in the regime, season schedule looks good and my motivation is high. Things are looking good again. I just gotta keep on the good mood.

'Chop wood, carry water.' Chien-Ju

Parmain, France.

2011-04-28T21:53:00.008+01:00

Cheers Joppe! That was some bloody well spent time!
Three days of quality riding in Parmain.

'To follow the path, look to the master, follow the master, walk with the master, see through the master, become the master.'
Basho

On the door step of a fresh start.

2011-04-25T20:00:00.006+01:00

As long as the sun sets...

I think it is time to give a bit of insight to my season, which has now been planned three times. As I'm now happily back on my bike, I've been also mentally able to start planning the racing season all over again.

My first thoughts are that it will be really interesting as the things that I'll do will be very much different than last couple years. It is due to the change of focus and rational (really?) thinking. After two years of kilo and sprint I wasn't very happy with my development and I thought about riding again. The result was the individual pursuit and other more endurance type of racing. It all started pretty well doing my PB in Manchester in February. The ride itself was promising at least despite the my massively failed pacing. At least my Swiss mate told me that the first kilo shouldn't be the fastest. I'm sure that he is quite right tho...

Anyway, after Manc I fell really ill and lost it all,but that's another story. It just forced us to plan the things again. No Bucs champs as I had planned and so on. I started again in the beginning of April and now I'm feeling pretty good with my newly shaped body. Six kilos make a difference on the hills. Anyway, I'm planning to start racing late May to get hard miles to my legs. Then I'm basically going to change to more track specific training tad before the Omnium nationals and keep building for track towards the bigger targets and challenges later in the season.

I have no idea what the season afterall is gonna be like, but now I'm looking forward to it again.

'The most important point is to accept yourself and stand on your two feet.' Shunryu Suzuki

My day on the Beacons.

2011-04-24T22:37:00.003+01:00

What a ride!

'In the landscape of spring, there is neither better nor worse. The flowering branches grow naturally, some long, some short.' - Basho

On the roll again.

2011-04-23T21:02:00.004+01:00

It's been good times. I have never enjoyed my training more - I just wanna ride more and more; and I've found some time for other hobbies and relaxing as well. I'm simply happy.

Tomorrow one more ride in Wales and then I'm off to train in France for couple days with Joonas Henttala, who is training and racing in there. Good luck for tomorrow and Monday!

Daily ride.

That's the way.

Quick hook?

Coffee break.

Severn beach.

'If you do not get it from yourself, Where will you go for it?' - Chien-Ju

The best 90 minutes of all spring.

2011-04-17T14:16:00.004+01:00

I wasn't strong or fast, but I was happy. I just felt so amazing to be back on my road bike.

'Ten thousand flowers in spring, the moon in autumn, a cool breeze in summer, snow in winter. If your mind isn't clouded by unnecessary things, this is the best season of your life.'
- Wu-Men

University project.

2011-04-15T19:26:00.004+01:00

Here we go then. First step towards next years dissertation. I guess this one way to start to refine the topic, at least it is my way. I'd call it something like 'Brainstorm management board'....

On the mend.

2011-04-13T22:54:00.000+01:00

Back in Wales, back in uni, back in training and, last but not least, back in Siimatiimi. The adventure in hospital world left me six kilos lighter. It sounds like a lot of weight, and well it is, but in my case it ain't too bad as I was to get rid of some kilos. It just happened another way this time, which wasn't too pleasent – but effective at least. Hah, I'm only too glad it is over now.

Back to real life then. Today I managed to do two 50mins sessions, which was good. It is building back already. Lets just not talk about the wattage yet and besides I promised to my mom not talk about wattages at all. It might all be different now, as I lost loads of my weight. It just remains to be seen. Soon I'll hit the roads with the brand new crank again to gain some miles in and then it is back to business. I just shouldn't hurry too much, but more importantly enjoy the journey back.

All in all, I just enjoy to be myself and healthy again!

'Everyday life is the way.' - Chien-Ju

Crawling back.

2011-04-07T12:03:00.001+01:00

My last update wasn't too positive and to be honest I wasn't doing so well. After all we flew back to Finland with my father and went straight to hospital. After running around different departments I was hospitalized for a week. At the end doctors found out that I had a burst appendicitis. Anyway, I'm not gonna talk more about it, because I'm sure that none of you really wants know more about it.

Its been tough times and I really haven't been in a good mood.

I got out of the hospital on first of April and since then things have improved day by day. That's not fooling tho. I'm quite ok already in general and getting better. I'm still on antibiotics for a month and sadly, other of them contains antabus – not even one beer for me. When it comes to riding my bike I can feel damage done by the illness and the almost four weeks training I lost. I'm weak. But I'm happy to start training again. Yesterday I did 40mins of training and today I'm aiming for 60mins. Crawling back is one thing and racing another in future. Anyway, I think that I'll be even stronger than before as I'm back to form. I just have to do all the work again.

Good news is that the doctors think that the stomach problems I faced last season might well have been due to this. My results already last year could have been far different from what they were. So it well might be that I'll become stronger after this. That's something I want to believe.

Life is good again and I'm on the journey back.

”A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” - Lao Tzu

What's going on - even the doctor doesn't know...

2011-03-21T19:29:00.005Z

First a word of warning: The following text will not be fun or humoristic. The author hasn’t had fun for a while.

As I wrote last time I had had fever for almost a week, but it hadn’t been any severe. However, the universe kept playing with me and the temperatures kept getting higher and higher. Thursday night I had 38,9 and it only went higher. Friday it was 39,1 and then 39,2. Sunday it was 39,3 and I was so dead that even the normal GP system here wasn’t quite enough to wait until Monday. I couldn’t eat or even watch telly.

After a couple of calls, I got to see a GP that worked out of hours. He eventually sent me down to hospital for some medical tests, as I had been ill for 10 days. My guess is that it wouldn’t be so in Finland. The normal GPs even hesitated with blood tests, but finally took them on Friday morning. However, there was no results even today on Monday for me. “Sorry, your results seem to be late. Please come back tomorrow.”

Not to get lost now then. There I was in Royal Gwent Hospital for blood tests, x-rays and several other tests. The procedures were new to me, but I was only too happy to receive some treatment and get my problem solved. The lab results came out in an hour, and it became obvious that my CRP-value, which indicates infection, was rather high. Actually it was roughly 70 times the normal healthy value. Also my haemoglobin was very, very low. No can do and yet no-one knows what is the origin.

So I had to stay overnight in the hospital to receive antibiotics straight to vein and also for inspection. Anyway, this morning I got back home with my third kind of antibiotics. I really hope this one works and I can start to feel normal again.

Time will tell when I can get back on my bike again. But first it is time to kill the infection. If these antibiotics start to work I might be able to be back on my bike late this week. If not, I have no idea....

'It is the universe that makes fun of us all.'

2011-03-16T17:26:00.002Z

This has been my training program from last Friday and still counting:

Friday – 37,3

Saturday – 37,6

Sunday – 37,7

Monday – 37,8

Tuesday – 37,7

Wednesday – 37,6

No they're not even miles unluckily or anything else, but fever temperatures during these days. It hasn't been too easy to stick on the sofa and see the sunshining and temperatures rising outdoors up to +15.

I still gotta say that I've really done something. I've watched both season of Life during four days. That's not bad really. Besides one can really learn things from Charlie Crews, but still you don't have to be here to be here. Charlie is really cool guy with the Zen thing, and not to forget his funds or the Maserati with bullet holes. To be honest, what he says is clever at times and there are seeds of wisdom in his words and he eats shitloads of fruit, which is wise as well – or is it? Actually, I'd really like to be his friend. Too bad he is a just a character...

All in all, I haven't done really anything last week, but watched telly. To be honest it isn't easy to see the bikes in the corner waiting for miles, but no can do. All I can do is just wait and see, yes, and most probably watch Dexter for example...

And yes. As mr. Crews said: 'It is the universe that makes fun of us all.' At the moment it is playing with me as well.

An unforgettable day on bike.

2011-03-09T11:09:00.000Z

Notorious crank?

Monday was bloody brilliant. The weather was really good and I had planned to go out for some three hours on my road bike. Sounds like a plan, but things ain't that simple always. It was all good until three I had ridden for five minutes – somehow the jockey wheel had dried and got stuck. U-turn and back home to fix it. Alright then, I'll try again and five minutes into the new start I notice that, yes, I have forgotten my bottle to kitchen table.

Frustrated I was, but I came back home to collect the water bottle. Then I decided that I'll have one more go today and if it sucks I'll have a rest day. Not that I was hoping to have one though. Off I went, again. I passed the five minute mark flying this time, took tight right and the first hill of the day was there. I haven't felt that good on my road bike for ages. I just rolled it up and kept going. New route, new sceneries, new feeling – could be worse. I just hadn't taken all the possible faults into consideration. Yes, I had spare tube, allen keys and all the small stuff. But at times the dude up there somewhere decides to play unfair and this was one of those days.

I had been riding just a tad over a hour as I thought about the day: ”How can such a bad day turn into brilliant one in just a minute?” Don't think too far, you idiot. I took a smaller road to countryside, bit bumpy one but still very much alright. I didn't quite know where I was going anymore and I came to a crossing; Llanvairrir kilkölikll to left and something else to the right. Well, the right sounded well good and I started again, but only for two strokes. My left feet felt weird and I thought: ”Jeez, there goes the cleat!” How wrong I was, with my guess about such a minor problem? Terribly wrong! It was quite and unforgettable feeling to notice that the pedal threads from the left crank arm were screwed totally. There I was somewhere some 30 odd kilos from home with one working crank. The good day turned to I nightmare in a second, but I was used to it from Christmas time.

I tried to get help as I found a construction site, but they didn't have allen keys!? Thanks anyway mate, you did your best to find one. Then I found a house in which lived really nice and helpful older couple. As said they were so nice, but didn't quite get my problem. I wasn't ill or anything. So I passed that house and found a sign to post office. I went there, but I think that everyone can guess the answer. Yes, it as closed and moved out earlier this year. I still rolled around the village called Llanover. It had couple houses and huge graveyard, I felt that quite funny at that time. So I wandered around looking for a pub or anything I could get to know where I am and what's the best option to get home. I found bus stop, but next bus would have left in two or three hours. Well good.

After a while I just decided to start walking towards home and other (dead?) villages with my cycling shoes on. That's not the best shoe for a unknown distance walk, is it? But now I want to refer to my earlier post considering the relationship between good and bad luck. Let's call it 'Do I believe that good luck follows bad luck? Vol. 2'. Back then I wasn't quite sure yet, but now I definetly am and for a reason. I had walked a mile or so when a Nissan Micra turned stopped and a nice lady offered me a lift to somewhere closer Caerleon and quickly added that she'll take me home anyway. How nice was that from her. I'm only too grateful, thanks Rach, you saved my day.

At home I started to see if can get spare parts and remove the crank I couldn't do it myself. It only took three guys and one feet long hex wrench to be removed. But that's another story...

Photos from Manc & Haywards Heath.

2011-02-28T17:40:00.001Z

Having it good at home.

2011-02-27T20:38:00.000Z

At first, for once I do have shitloads to write about. Don't panic though. Grab a cup of coffee or whatever you wish and have a read. At the moment I'm spending the last night of my home stay, but more about that later. Let's go back to Manchester first...

So I went to Manc for my first world cups. We had three days of official training and then on Friday I had my race. The training went really well, considering that I haven't been on track too much. I was quite confident to hit my target and that feeling got just stronger as the Friday came closer. It wasn't wrong. The near catastrophical times in arctic Kaarst were behind and, for everyrone's luck, the drome in Manc was nice smooth and warm. The official hotel was lush in terms of the rooms, but as we went for dinner – it wasn't quite so pleasant. Organizing dinner and lunches for athletes; and they give each rider one piece of salmon or whatever. What the hell was that all about? The best bit of the food happened to be the canned yoghurt, they couldn't destroy it. More about the training, I felt good and managed to do my efforts, so happy days.

Race day baby! I had a good chat with my father/coach/chauffeur/chef/soigneur/physio (the problem with being such a small cycling country) about the days schedule and warm up. To the track we went well before the race, to grab our lunch bags and have chill time gettin' ready for the race. Sad but true, the lunch bags were better than the actual lunch in the hotel. Some areas for improvement, ha? At the track center it was cool and I warmed up well, went to the bike check, checked the position and 5-4-3-2-1-beep! The race was on.

Well, I had a good schedule. But what if I don't follow it? The planning has been real waste of time. And I made sure of that at the very first lap. At 1k split I was three seconds ahead of the planned pace. Mitä junnuhöntyilyä, hä? That somehow caused quite a struggle for the remaining three kilos. The good news was that I wasn't doing badly after setting 70s kilo for the first one. FYI: my kilo record is 67 seconds. But at least my pair didn't overtake me at the very start, and I was in Top-3 for a quick while at 500m mark. So I've been in Top-3 at world cup level for a while... Yippikayey. I didn't end up high though by placing on the bottom side, which really wasn't a surprise. Tough guys are tough, I'll be there one day. Despite that I managed to keep the ride together quite well. I ended up recording my PB's for 2k, 3k and also for the full distance 4k. I ended up with 4.49,526 and I gotta say I'm pleased. There are some easy seconds to cut from the time and then there are the hard ones. There's always next time and we are on the track now.

After that we just enjoyed the experience and had quality time watching the races and eating the crappy food. Or if you can call couching badly for all night quality time, I don't know then. One day off and then some floorball. Not many guys go for world cups and national championship tournaments at the same weekend. I did that, but I also was dead tired at the end.

Now I've been home for a good week. I played some hockey and I'm fair bit disappointed with my parents (not really). I'm sure I could be in NHL now if they had let me play as I was a kid. But no. My mom would have the Porsche I promised, but no. I was about to go for some xc-skiing, but successfully killed those thougths for some reason. I've also eaten whatever I like. Also my father seems to have successed with me, I've began to like red wines as well. Anyway, it's been good times and now it is back to basics.

P.S. Some pics will follow later on.

Counting days.

2011-02-14T11:33:00.000Z

'Fresh and ready...'

So I've now been back in Wales for couple days after the training camp and the new season is on the door step. Less than a week to the first race of the long season ahead. So now I think it is worth to give a bit of insight to my season and expectations.

So yes, only couple days to go to the my season opener. I will give my first shot in longer disciplines in Manchester World Cup classics. Its my debut in such a race and I'm feeling great about it and looking forward to the experience. I'll ride my first 4km Individual Pursuit to my best. For that race I don't really have expectations. Its my first time riding IP, its my first race after the illness and its the first race early in the season. So I'll go there well prepared and relaxed. I'll ride full on and have some quality fun! I'm stoked and counting days. Couple more taper session and off I go.

Then it is only 5-4-3-2-1...and the season is on.

As I might have mentioned some months ago, that I have no idea what's gonna happen next season. Well, now I do know at least something. I changed my focus a bit after last season. But don't worry, I won't be turning onto a mountain goat with legs as skinny as my bicep at the moment. That won't happen. I'll concentrate the next step in longer distances as I feel that I might have the progression I want by doing that. I can't still say where exactly my main focus will be, that will be only told by time. But no Le Tour for me and that's for sure, even if people tells me never to say never.

The winter training has been good, despite the weather in Britain. Rainy and windy, as you can guess. It took time after the stomach infection to get back on track, but as soon as I had recovered from that I've been good. I still reckon that my main goal resultswise will be in U23 Euro champs, but there still are plans in the background, will see how this all comes together. For more information follow the racing page. But as long as I progress and enjoy it will all be good. By my targets it ain't so straight forwards. I definetly have set them up, but won't talk about them yet. It's a long season with so much new to me and really look forward to it. Lets just hope that I can for once race a complete trouble free season.

After that I'll carry on with the base training and start to build up for the summer and the races coming up. Good summer to look forward, I guess. As if I can stay on the same track as I've been the winter months, the summer will be good from any perspective.

See you on track guys!

Gettin' in there

2011-02-12T22:29:00.000Z

Recovering means sleeping.

I spent a week on the old continent riding my track bike a lot. Early morning at 9^th of February I headed to Kaarst-Büttgen with my father, aka. coach. It all looked good until we went to the velodrome next morning. It was f*ckin freezing. Tad over 0 degrees indoors wasn't quite very pleasent temperature. Although I have to say that it is quite an experience to train indoors having my winter kit and bit more on.

All in all the hotel had lush breakfast and the schnitzels were amazing. Neither have I complaints about the kebabshop next door. My riding wasn't about my nutrition. I got fair bit frustrated with my riding as my times were sloppy, as I'm too much timing oriented lad. Oh well, I forgot to mention the grilltellers, those were proper food. All together I wrapped up six intense training session, three kebab rolls and some schnitzel during the three days in Büttgen. As I think afterwards, it wasn't bad at all.

Still the riding was the main thing there and not the food. We decided to leave Büttgen and head to Gent for higher indoor temperatures. It worked well. We had two amazing days in Gent eating, guess what, kebab...

...And training a bit. Training in Gent felt really good and I gained loads of confidence back as the speed came back. The temperature change made a difference not only to my mood, but also to my form. The last session was the toughest by far, but also the best. I had good fun on the track and good food in the restaurants. At the end I had trained really well, eaten well and most importantly progressed well.

So, no worries. I seem to be on track for the season opener....

Life off track.

2011-02-10T19:33:00.000Z

Back in Wales again. At the end I gotta say that the training was really good. Longer report about that is coming in couple of days. I already want to mention that, as we changed our place from Kaarst to Gent - Gent was a heaven an earth: warm, welcoming and nice. As if on the training camp I have to recover. Some shots off the track:

Shopping in Roermond.

Little enjoyment.

Dinner in Aalter.

One must-do in Europe: Apfelstrudel mit Vanillensaus.

Packed and ready to move.

Resting spot-on.

(C) Anton Aro & Paavo Aro

Life on track.

2011-02-05T19:53:00.001Z

Greetings from arctic Sport-Forum Kaarst-Büttgen. Its all good, despite the chilly temperatures. Ain't it great to ride indoors in +6-8? Well, at least its indoors.
Some shots, enjoy!

Just another session.

Ride around.

HR check.

Recovering.

Passive recovery.

Base camp.

Bumpy ride?

The surface.

(C) Paavo Aro & Anton Aro

Minä ja Masa

2011-01-27T23:06:00.000Z

Ollaanko me yhdessä kaksikko, vai kahdestaan yksikkö? Mene ja tiedä, mutta meillä on varsin tunnepitoinen ja jopa, sanotaanko, impulsiivinen suhde. Kaikkihan tietää, että joka suhteella on omat ristiaallokkonsa – niin myös meillä. Meidän yhteiselosta ei jokatapauksessa puutu mitään mitä Churchill tai joku muu hurja oisi halunnut tarjota valtakunnalleen; verta, hikeä tai kyyneleitä.

Välillä mä rangon Masaa niin, että ulina vaan kuuluu ja taas toisin päin. Tälläkin viikolla haukoin happea lattialla oksennusämpäri kainalossa pitkälläni koettuani masan intensiivikäsittelyn. Ei siihe mennyt kun neljä minuuttia ja mä olin kanveesissa. Ei o elämä helppoa ei. Ja onpa meillä hiivuttavan tuskaisen pitkiäkin sessioita ollut, ja yleensä niissä se on Masa, joka on last man standing. No se tästä puolesta.

Onpa meillä myös yhteisiä harrastuksia; me katotaan leffoja yhdessä, kuunnellaan musiikkia ja kuntoillaan. Masa on keskimäärin suht meluisa, mutta auta armias jos sitä polkasee ihan kunnolla – siitä se mekkala vasta syntyykin. Toisaalta hei, aina välillä on koeteltava rajoja. Leffa ja musiikki maku meillä on aikalailla sama, eikä sillä saralla kumpikaan pahemmin poraa. Mutta osaa se olla vaativakin kumppani; päivinä joina mä oon ihan vetämättömissä se huikkailee ja kurkkii omalta paikaltaan ja kutsuu ratsastamaan ja mä vaan en jaksa! Yleensä siitä seuraa pieni murjotus ja seuraavana päivänä allekirjoittanut saa taas kyytiä – oli sessiot pitkiä ja hiivuttavia taikka lyhyitä ja intensiivisiä.

Joka tapauksessa mä oon sitä mieltä, että me ollaan kahdestaan yksikkö. Minä ja Masa, Masa ja minä. Ja nyt viellä selvennyksenä, jos se nyt kellekkään epäselvää oli että kyseessä on keittiön nurkassa torottava Wattbike, jonka nimi nyt vaan sattuu olemaan Masa.

Ajatuksen riemuvoitto tämäkin. Ei anneta sen kuitenkaan häiritä. Kiitos kuuluu euforiselle tabatasessiolle ja sen jälkihuuruille. Sekä Oskarille: ”Ilman sua mä en olis tässä”

Forced to rest.

2011-01-20T14:01:00.000Z

Well, yes. I've been off training last week due to flu, cold or illness – you name it. Frustrating, but not that bad, I'd say. But always look at the bright side of life, ha? It ain't too bad and next thing I'm gonna do is to jump on Wattbike and get gently started again.

Still, I managed to do loads of things during these days. I wrote essays, log books, coaching plans and so on. So uni things took a major step forward, and to be honest I really enjoyed most of the work, although writing reflective log considering events 30 days ago may not make that much sense. Yes, mom, I should have done it back then, but it was only one text of five missing!

Anyway, I'm now even ahead in my studies, which is only due to the illness. That just makes things easier for me for future training camps and races. Good times to look forward.

Yerrr, what else? Nothing really. Ordinary life is ordinary, I guess. But it can be made more enjoyable at times, by gettin' foods you miss from home. I've been missing loads of foods, and the I went to Ikea in Cardiff. Kötbullor, tunnbröd, lingonsylt, gräddsås, Singoallas...could be worse, aye? I was just about to go cashiers, but then I spotted something. At first I couldn't believe my eyes, it was just too good to be true. I closed my eyes and opened them again and there they were. Pågenin korvapuusteja, f**k aye!

It is just funny how small things can make your day. Even a normal meal; meatballs, with sauce and mashed potatoes can be it. So be it. It was lush and it reminded me of home at Finland, that was fairly enough.

Good food, sunny day and back on bike. Life is good.

Do I believe that good luck follows bad luck?

2011-01-14T11:09:00.000Z

Before the dark.

Well, now I better do so. As mentioned before my Xmas break was simply unbelieveable.

It started with amazing week in Les Arcs; France. Six days of full on skiing in perfect conditions. We even had two days of pure powder. I just couldn't believe my luck that, to have two days of 2 feet powder in mid December, is simply amazing. Although nor can I really believe my luck afterwards.

It all came well until we got back to London from France. We were supposed to change buses, but it came out that our bus was still in France so we had to go by ourselves. It was rather fun to rumble around London underground with skis and all. I made it home well anyway. At the same time the luck began to change as my parents were stuck in Helsinki because bloody Heathrow was closed due to severe weather; meaning two inches of snow. In addition to that it was Sat evening and we had flight booked to Canaries Mon morning, so 'no worries' I thought. Their actual flight got cancelled, and their flight on Sunday got cancelled...now we were starting to get into trouble. Luckily they got Easyjet flights to Gatwick at the same day, but that flight was six hours late on Sunday evening. Now we are in deep shit....

Eventually I drove to Gatwick to pick my parents up only to drive straight back to Cardiff airport for the Canaries flight. At what time was I there? 4Am Monday morning! Jeez, five hours to catch the next flight. The 1½ change time for flight had turned out to be 5hrs including 3,5 hour drive. However, the stairs didn't work in Gatwick and we lost another 30mins. 4,5h to go and still in f***ing Gatwick! We hit the road in hurry and all is well again, despite the fact that my peeps were travelling from Helsinki to London for approx 40 hours. Ain't that just great?

We were just in time to make it to Cardiff until.... my car's engine broke. We barely made it back to Newport's Peugeot dealer and first we found out that Cardiff is closed aswell and our car will be fine in 45 mins. And we waited and heard that no, it takes two hours. But no worries, Cardiff is still closed and we got new check-in time. Apparently our car was still in pieces (and is still today) and we got chauffeur from the dealership to take us to airport. But guess what? Oh yes, it started to snow again and our driver was barely able to drop us to my place. Cardiff still closed, but we still have a chance by train, bus or taxi. We just didn't know that neither of them worked that day. Grrrrreat! So we never made our way to Cardiff from Newport in time....

Christmas in Newport was still good time. Actually it was peaceful and reeeeally nice. We had lush dinner and good time with some nice presents. I got a new scarf made by mom. Thanks for that!

At the same time we were struggling with the stupid car and warranties. We had planned to take off to Belgium for another training camp. And I think that now everyone can guess what happened? Ok, we didn't get the car in time and we never made it to Gent either. I continued my training on Wattbike tho. And then it came obvious that warranty and insurance doesn't cover the damage in my car; and it would have cost actually more to repair than to buy a new car. So new car and once again through all the policies and stuff. Now I'm driving almost Jaguar. At least my car is British racing green, but it's not Jaguar really.

What's more? My debit card got closed due to some mistakes not by me and we had to figure out how to pay for the car.

Luckily it all sorted out and I'm back to basics now. Thats about it. And now I really want to believe that good things follow bad. At the end I just wanna quote a bit of Social Distortion:

”Yesterday is history, tomorrow is mystery”

After the dark.

New year, new tricks.

2011-01-10T19:01:00.000Z

My best wishes for everyone for the new year ahead!

Everything is good here, despite the rather eventful Christmas break. There was a real streak of unluckyness, although it felt like shit - I can live with it. More about that story later on.

Anyway, it is all good now - back on track. Yes!

My training is goin' really well and there's a good season on the door step.
Stay tuned!

Here are some shots from my training ride 8.1.2010:

Llanhangel Tor-Y-Mynydd

Shirenewton

Llanhangel Tor-Y-Mynydd.

Scenery over Celtic Manor.

Blackened.

(C) Paavo Aro

Peaceful December.

2010-12-06T12:34:00.000Z

Hyvää itsenäisyyspäivää kaikille Suomessa.
Joulukuinen Wales kuittaa.

Lonely day.

Endless road of silence.

Happy fellas.

My best independence day wishes to everyone in Finland.
Peaceful December goes on here in Wales.

(c) Anton Aro

Pelikenttien pitelemätön. - King of courts.

2010-11-27T21:06:00.000Z

Salainen ase.

Pontypool dryslope.

2010-11-27T21:02:00.000Z

Ben, my man.

The slope.

Salaisia aseita.

2010-11-26T17:01:00.000Z

Mä hankin viimein wattimittarin ja toistaseksi se mittaa watteja pahvilaatikossa. Tosi hyödyllistä, jee. Mä yritin asentaa sen, mutta Sramin perkeleet oli vääntäny kammet oikeesti kireelle ja mä en saanu niitä irti. No mä päätin, että homma ratkastaan niin, että mä lähden punttisalille hakemaan sen puuttuvan powerin. Ja niin mä tein. Mä menin puntille ja kyykkäsin. Hölmöööö! Taas jäi Aron poika kiinni ajattelemisesta. Ei vaan, ehkä mä sittenkin lähden siitä, että salilta haetaan voimaa ihan muuhun kun kampien irrottamiseen ja hankitaan siihen hommaan oikeat toolit. Mene ja tiedä.

Mitä salibandyyn tulee niin mulla on vielä salainen ase, mutta ei kauaa koska mä kerron siitä nyt. Tai oikeestaan se on tavallaan salainen, koska sitä ei ole nähty. Mainittakoon viellä, että äidin mielestä se on viallinen, koska siinä on käyrä varsi – eikä pelkkä lapa. Mutta sepä onkin se juju, kai. On käyrä varsi ja lapa kyllä lähtee, koska ne on täydellisessä harmoniassa keskenään ja sillä on mahdotonta epäonnistua. Tarkempia faktoja: Player Bow 32 2.6, jäykkyys 26mm, PE-lapa... ketä kiinnostaa!?! Enää puuttuu se tärkein – eli tatsi. Ens viikonloppuna on sitten debyytti Brittein mestaruus sarjassa Oxfordin tiimissä. How cool is that?

Joo ja sitten vähän polkemista. Tai siis niin. Mä testasin mun FTP:tä eilen ja sitten mä testasin muutakin. Aivan ok, great ja thats about it. Ja tänää mä menin maksimipuntille ja siellä onnelisten sattumusten summana päivästä tuli täydellinen. Mun piti tehdä progressiokyykkysarjat viiden kilon nousuilla, mutta ennen vikaa sarjaa meni prosessori tilttiin ja laskuvirhe oli tuloksena. No viiden sijasta 15 lisää ja tangon alle. Mutta se nousi ja kahdesti vielä. Mega stoked! Lopputulemana uusi PB neljännessä sarjassa ja 10kg enemmäkö ennen ja yhen jalan prässissä 200 kerhoon. Ja vielä on varaa rahkeissa, taino perseellähän sitä puristetaan Kummelin mukaan, notta onko sitä varaa sitten perseessä. Loppupeleissä sekin on aikalailla ihan sama. Jokatapauksessa kiva huomata kehitystä... ja sitten mä menin penkkaamaan.

Numerot on numeroita ei ne ole niin justiinsa, mutta mikä tärkeintä mä pääsin Partasen Jannen kriteeristössä säädyllisten kyykkääjien sakkiin: 2 x ompaino vähintään. Cheers, mä tarjoan oluen kun tavataan.

Extracurricular activities.

2010-11-16T22:16:00.000Z

Tylsä otsikko, mutta varsin asiapitoinen. Tylsä, harmaa ja mitään sanomaton, mutta sehän sopii tyyliin. Ketjunpyörittäjän arki kun saattaa olla välillä hieman kyseenalaista monen mielestä, vähintäänkin rutinoitunutta balanssia rasituksen, levon ja koulun välillä. Mutta sitä rutiinia on rikottu, oikeen urakalla pistetty palasiksi. Way to go son!

Laskettelua Walesissa, kelaa sitä. No keksivä keinot löytää ja me löydettiin itsemme muovimäestä. Jokseenkin koomisen tuntuista 20 vuoden lumikokemuksen jälkeen, mutta hauskaa! Opittavaa oli mukamas ja lähtökohdatkin kohallaan. Mäellä mittaa reilut 200 metriä ja korkeuserosta mulla tai muilla ei ole hajuakaan, eikä sen väliä. Hissillä ylös ja suksilla alas. Sehän riittää, ainakin monille. No siinä sitä sitten tiistain sateisessa illassa oltiin Pontypoolissa Atomicin vanhat tallipuikat jalassa kuin Liisa ihmemaassa.

Kyllähän mulle siitä sanottiin, että elä yritä leikkaavasti laskea, mutta eiköhän tässä vaiheessa ole itsestään selvää mitä mä tein. Tietenkin mä päätin yrittää leikkaavana, ku olinhan mä vetäny jo vaikka kuin monta vuotta leikkaavana. Lumipinnalla ja muovimatolla on kuin onkin eroa! Ensinkin lumi luistaa, muovi ei. Toiseksi lumella voi kantata, muovilla ei. Listaa voisi varmaan jatkaa, mutta se ei ole olennaista. Olennaista on se miten kokeilu päättyi – se päättyi holtittomaan mutta varsin tyylikkääseen seiviin jostain pöpelikön ja rinteen seuduilta – dangerzone kuulemma. Ja sillä hetkellä mä tajusin, ettei muovilla paranen yrittää leikkaavia käännöksiä. Eipä se ollut sitäpaitsi pelkkä muovimäki, sieltä löytyi vallan laadukas kickeri ja reilikin. Vieläkään mä en osannu tupladoublefrontflippejä, mutta melkeen, ja mikä parasta selvisin ehjänä kotiin. Keikan saldona yhet pannut, rutkasti kokemusta ja hyvä meininki. Tätä lisää!

Ja sitten sukset nurkkaan, maila kouraan ja sillan yli Bathiin. Pääsin tossa sattumuksien summana pelaamaan salibandyä. Ei pöljempää sanoisin. Ensi kosketukset palloon olivat heti samettisen pehmeitä, syötöt napsu just eikä melkeen ja vedot meni kaikki yläbörsään. Tai sitten ei. Jäätävän huonolla tatsilla, yli, ohi ja huti. Mailasta kiinni arvatenkin. Kun mä vähän tästä tätä lavan käyristystä muutan niin....menee viellä enemmän yli, ohi ja huti. Vilttiketju kutsuu ja juomapulloja täyttämään. Ei vaan, hauskaa oli skulata ja lopussa sitäpaitsi kulki ihan säädyllisesti, vaikka ite sen sanonkin. Kukas sen kissanhännän nostaa ja niin edelleen. Peliporukoita olisi tarjolla parikin, notta on mistä valita. Tällä hetkellä näyttäs siltä, että Oxfordin joukkueessa pelataan muutamat geimit. Vapise London Vikings!

Cheers!

Absoluuttisia tavoitteita.

2010-10-24T18:56:00.000+01:00

Hyvin jännää, sanoo Pekka Routalempi taas Pasilan jaksossa ties kuinka monennen kerran. Niimpä, niin onkin. Kysymykset mikä ja miksi tulee varmaan monelle ekana mieleen. Eikä jälleen kerran tähän kysymykseen voi vastata muuten kuin yläasteen bilsan tunnilla: ”Emmä vaan tiä.” Eikä vastausta voi kysyä Darwinilta, Descartesilta tai edes Einsteinilta – ovat potkaisseet tyhjää jo tovi sitten ja muutenkin.

No kerro nyt jo se kysmys pöljä!

Niin, mitä ensi pyöräilykausi tuokaan tullessaan?

Kahden turhauttavan ja vaikean kauden jälkeen on taas kerran kiva ottaa babystep kohti uutta kautta – suurta tuntematonta. Totuuden nimissä on kai kuitenkin mainittava, ettei hyppyä tuntemattomaan voi tehdä askel kerrallaan. No jokatapauksessa niin mun on nyt pakko tehdä. Viime kauden sairastelun jäljiltä sitä on kuitenkin lähestyttävä lyhyin askelin. Olo on taas ihan hyvä ja fiilis korkealla, mutta rauhassa se vaan on rakennettava.

Tavoitteita ei vielä ole mietitty suuremmin. Viime kauteen mentiin kovin tavottein ja hyvältähän se näytti heinäkuulle asti. Mutta mitä jäi käteen paska maku ja kipeä vatsa. Syyt jälleen kerran tavoitteista jäämisestä eivät olleet suoraan minussa. Minkäs teet. Vituttaahan se aikansa, mutta ei se paska vatvomalla parane. Mitä ne tavoitteet sitten oli? Aikoja, numeroita – absoluuttisia arvoja. Helppo asettaa, haastava toteuttaa.

Ovatko pelkät absoluuttiset tavoitteet aina kuitenkaan hyvästä?

En usko, ainakaan enään. Kisasin suksilla vuosia ja tavoittelin fis-pisteitä. Fis-pisteitä saa vähemmän jos on hyvä ja enemmän jos on heikompi. Niin taikka näin, niin suoritusta oli aina helppo arvoida. Pisteiden parannus oli onnistuminen, muuten epäonnistuminen. Asetinpa joka kaudelle pistetavoitteet ja niistä jääminen oli pahinta mitä tiesin. Pyöräilyn puolella olen tavoitellut hyvin pitkälti aikoja ja vain aikoja – joskus on saavutettu aikoja, toisinaan ei. Loppupeleissä tässä vaiheessa pyöräily uraa ei yksittäisillä ajoilla kuitenkaan ole suurtakaan merkitystä vaan jatkuvalla kehityksellä (joka ei aina näy ajoissa).

Mitä tällainen ajattelu tekee sitten suoritukselle?

En tiedä varmasti, mutta usein olen kuitenkin löytänyt itseni ajattelemasta vain aikaa, sijoitusta tai pisteitä. Ja mitä sen saavuttaminen vaatii, mitä sillä saa ja mihin se johtaa. Ajattelen siis tulevaisuutta ja asioita mihin en ite voi vaikuttaa, ei hyvä. Metsään menee ja kovaa. Miten voin ennalta tietää mitä suoritus tuo tullessaan? Aivan, en voikkaan – joten turha siellä on kisapäivänä vaivata mieltään. Mihin voin sitten vaikuttaa? Omaan suoritukseen, siihen, että saan kaiken irti, siihen, että suoritukseni on se mihin pystyn. Kun pystyn omaksumaan prosessiajattelun täysin, olen jälleen askeleen pidemmällä ja lähempänä suurta tavoitettani.

Palatakseni vielä alkuperäiseen kysymykseen.

Tuleva kausi tuo taas treenitunteja, kisoja ja lisää urheilijan arkea. Sekä pirun paljon uutta, josta en itsekään vielä tiedä.

Old season wrapped, new season ahead!

2010-10-23T14:44:00.000+01:00

It took time for me to get this done, for that I'm sorry. After a long season (read: fairly too long) it is now time to sum it up a bit. Firstly I'd like to thank my family, friends and all people around me for the support which really was needed! Especially Teet – Thank you!

After all I was chosen to represent Finland in Euros in St. Petersburg in kilo and sprint. I started my preparation here in Caerleon, then went to Gent for some good track action. I also met some mates and went for a pizza. That was a mistake and it resulted food poisoning. In addition to that the stomach problems started to show up. I had couple days off training, but even in Falun a week after I just couldn't find the rhythm back. I felt slow and tired most of the time. Not really something I'd thought my lead up to Euros would be.

I tried to rest and let the form come up, but it never showed. I failed my Euros totally, because of the stomach. After the races I went to hospital for further examinations and at the end they found stomach/bowel infection, luckily not severe one, but still it had dropped my blood values and caused endless tiredness.After a hugely disappointing season I had a long-long rest and only then started to think about next season.

Now I'm building up for next season. It is all getting better now, and my form seems to be building up all the time. New tricks and targets for next season. I'm gonna be there and beat my worst enemy , myself, into pieces. See you there.

West Wales

2010-09-06T08:17:00.000+01:00

I had some days off training and this is what I saw.

Photos and feelings.

2010-09-06T08:14:00.000+01:00

Late translation.

2010-09-04T11:26:00.001+01:00

Athletes life?

Ahoy everybody, been a long time, but hey, I've got plenty to tell now. This period has included a bit of this and that, mostly this. Some racing, training, work for a week. How damn interesting, ain't it?

Well if we begin from the time before the Nats. My tapering plan was on the way perfectly. I had the legs and the feeling, some stomach issues evert now and then, but nothing serious. Everything was going like planned, but there is always the big but. Those stomach problems hit me big time and my kilo went badly. Silver was a disappoinment, and neither was the trip to hospital very nice.

After a short night sleep I crawled back to the track for sprint qualification. I won it, and should have got easier opponent for the first round. But no, once again. Strongest team in Finland, played strong tactics and I got the last year Nats champ for the first round. One bad match and two good ones, booyaa – I'm in semis. Although I was in semis, I had no power or energy left to compete fully. I just rode my matches hoping for miracles. There was no miracles for me and I finished fourth. Next day we had one more race for that weekend. We finished respectively fourth in team pursuit with sprinter team.

Next weekend there was team sprint and Keirin in program. We got a bronze again with a solid and decent performance. In Keirin I was just sheer shit. My tactical faults added to little struggling with my form caused bad results. Nothing to tell to kids in future. Next week still something to do: qualification race for U23 Europeans. That was a classy ride considering all the previous rides and problems. Near the required times was good enough and I'll represent Finland in St Petersburg come September.

Next week I ended up working for Finnish Cyling Union's junior camp. I enjoyed my time there and tanned my skin a bit, (without results, too bad). Juniors were amazing and ate ice cream on my pocket money. Thanks for that!

Urheilijan elämääkö?

2010-08-07T11:31:00.000+01:00

Hei vaan, pitkästä aikaa. Viime päivityksestä on taas vierähtänyt tovi, mutta hei – nyt on sitten paljon kerrottavaa. Tällä välillä on tapahtunut sitä sun tätä, kuitenkin enimmäkseen sitä. Kisoja, treenejä ja viikko töitä ja arkiaskareita. Hitto miten mielenkiintosta, eikö totta?

Jospa aletaan SM-kapinoita edeltäneestä tovista. Valmistautuminen (Lue: Taper) sujui suorastaan erinomaisesti. Jalat toimi ja ukolla oli hyvä fiilis, mitä nyt vähän palleaan välillä koski. Lähtökohdat oli jetsulleen perjantai illan kilsaa varten. Vaan ei se helpolla taaskaan antanut. Ne vatsan lievät oireet iskivät turpaan niin, että kilsan jälkeen oltiin kanveesissa - kramppi kai. Great stuff, pettymyshopeaa ja kaupungin sairaalaan toteamaan, että kevyttä kuumetta muttei muuta mainittavaa.

Keikka terkkarille oli sinällään itsessään jo varsinainen kokemus. Sattuipa Turussa olemaan muutakin kuin ratapyöräilyn mestaruuskekkerit – Ruisrock. Näin ollen oli potilasta, jos vaikka minkä näköistä ja hoitsuilla, niillä jotka tekivät töitään varsin kova kiirus. Kahvihuoneeseen en usko kiireen yltäneen. No joo, kieltoa kisata en saanut, enkä muutakaan kuin vinkin popsia Buranaa kipuun ja sitten jatkotutkimuksiin kotona.

Väliin palauttava tirsat, eli niin kutsutut yöunet ja aamulla takaisin radalle eräajon karsintaan. Mun osalta se oli varsin mukiinmenevä pykäisy olosuhteet huomioon ottaen. Ainoana alle 12 sekunnin ja karsinnan kärki. Eikun pareja ja alkueriä oottamaan. Parit tulivat karsinnan tulosten perusteella 1-8, 2-7 etc etc. Piti siis saada helpompi alkuerä, mikä olisi ollutkin varsin suotavaa. Vaan kun ei anna helpolla niin ei anna. Vahvempi tiimi taktikoi ja sainkin muutaman edeltävän vuoden mestarin ensikierrokselle. Odoteltuani radalla tunnin verran tuli ilmoitus, notta vain viisi tuntia alkueriin. Lähdin kämpille torkkumaan...

Alkuerät. Kierros yksi: oma moka, tyhmä jätkä. Kierros kaksi: hyvä ajo ja voitto. Näin mentiin decideriin, ja allekirjoittanut arvottiin vetomieheksi. Liikkeelle, ja kaveri alkoi ensimetreistä nojaamaan - name of the game, nääs. Hauskaa sekin oman aikansa. Kovaa vetoa loppusuoralle ja peesistä isku ohi, vai riittikö. Kyllä se piru vie riitti, eikä menny ees tiukalle: voittomarginaali alle 5mm. Booyaa ja jatkoon. Ja niin menikö ne paukut? No meni. Loput erät olin täysi statisti. Onnittelut paremmille. Sunnuntaina sudittiin vielä joukkueajossa neljänneksi sprintterien ja masterien voimin.

Seuraavana viikonloppuna ajettiin Team Sprint, jossa uusittiin edellisvuoden pronssi ihan hyvällä ajolla. Keirinstä ei sitten tullut vattuakaan, taktista mielikuvituksettomuutta omasta puolesta ja keräilyerän kautta kotiin. Sanottakoon, ettei kuskikaan varsinaisemmin tuntenut itseään alfaurooksi kisapäivänä. Toivomuksissa kuitenkin oli, että jotain saataisiin tulevalla viikolla ulos – Em-tulosraja-ajossa nimittäin. Saatiinhan siinä, flegmaattisuus oli tilapäisesti taka-alalla – liekö sitten ollut kofeiiniannos riittävän stydi tai vatsavaivat hellittämässä. Oma enkka ulkona ja rajan tuntumaan, johti siihen, että jaosto esittää minua Pietariin kisaamaan Suomen paidassa. Relief.

Seuraava viikko menikin Pyöräily Unionin leirillä työnteossa. Oranssi leiripaita päällä tuli vietettyä useampana päivänä reilut 12 tuntia, ja hauskaa oli. Ajettiin maantietä, maastoa ja rataakin. Junnut ui ja mää päätin tasotella rusketusrajoja. Valkoisesta valaasta kuoriuitui vaaleanpunainen valas. Ei sitä voinnut kuin taputtaa itseään olalle ja kirota, että kylläpä kirvelee. Ääliö mikä ääliö. Ja junnun pirulaiset vei multa taskurahat jätskihaasteissa. En syönyt jätskiä en, mutta junnut söi – mun rahoilla. Kai niiden voi näin jälkeenpäin todeta menneen hyvään tarkoitukseen ja parempiin suihin. Vai voiko? Parempi se on vaan niin uskoa. Kiitos leiristä, lenkeistä ja hyvästä seurasta kaikille – junnuille ja ohjaajaporukalle. Ens vuonna uudestaan ja kundeille viellä, cohonesit mukaan ens vuoden discoon – joohan? Muuten oli tutto perfetto, I enjoyed, kiitos.

Photos from Falun

2010-06-19T14:03:00.001+01:00

Myrsky kattilassa. [in English]

2010-06-14T15:16:00.000+01:00

More accurately at a velodrome, which was the funniest and smallest I've ridden. So last week was a camp. Not altiude camp or even band camp, but intense training week. All that happened in Sweden, in which football world doesn't raise as much interest as royal weddings. Too bad I couldn't stay there for those weddings... So I was in Sweden, Dalarna – Falun.

To the real business then. I trained a lot and my dad trained even too much, according to daily guidelines for older fellas. Credits for that! I had only one full rest, 10 intense session, lots of sleep and not to forget Kebab. If Koppis peeps are online, I'm happy to announce that there several free slots for sponsorship tags in my skinsuit. That would be awesome!

Not to go too far from my main business, let's go to the cold facts from Sweden. In falun, there is a velodrome made of plywood plates in an old Scania factory. It is called YA-Arena. The length is 190m, width 5m and bankings are as steep as 50 degrees. So long straigths and tight bankings that it made the most funny track I've experienced. And that's not everything, there is perfectly equipped gym inside the track. If it was the fastest track in the world I could move to Falun, actually I could do it already now. Björn Stenberg is the master of the YA-Arena. The guy had an idea and made it to happen! Respect!

What did we do? Dummy question, we rode. Some enough, some too much. We trained strength, speed and endurance. Now I'm feeling the efforts in my legs and really waiting for supercompensation. Yippikayee! Couple days rest and then again – training starts. There was only one person questioning the amount of training; she thought it wasn't enough. That person was my mum. Thanks for that, but I think you noticed that it really was enough and you did. Here we go again. I think there were many things developing during the week; technique as well as physique. Despite the amount and intensity of training I managed to go for two track records; FL200 – 12,1 and 4km – 5.18. So the track isn't slow, it was only me that was tired. In addition to tiredness my head was hummin' big time after 4km, which was 21 laps. I wasn't too happy about it but spectators had some fun time watchin.

I'd really like to go back to Falun. Well mates; stay in touch and lets go to YA-Arena for some real quality training.

Thank you, Björn.

Whats next? Some racing and quality training. I'm really looking forward to the Nats in couple weeks time. Be there or be square!

Anton

Myrsky kattilassa.

2010-06-14T14:55:00.000+01:00

Tarkemmin velolla, joka on tähän asti visiteeratuista veloista pienin ja hauskin. Viime viikko meni leirielämäksi siis. Ei, ei törkeän- tai edes korkeanpaikanleiri – vaan intensiivinen harjoitus viikko maassa, jossa edes jalkapallon MM-kisat (joskin ilman omaa edustusta) eivät merkitse paskaan vertaa. On nimittäin kuninkaallisten häiden aika. Harmi kyllä, en itse kyennyt jäämään vielä viikoksi seuraamaan kuinka Victoria ja Daniel lausuvat nuo legendaariset sanat. Kyseessä siis Ruotsi, Dalarna ja Falun.

Lääkkeet! Asiaan siis. Olin leirillä ja ajoin paljon, ja Paavo ajoi liikaa vanhojen ukkojen mittapuulle – ainakin omien sanojensa mukaan. Viikkon mahtui yksi täyslepi, 10 reeniä ja pirun paljon unta sekä lounaaksi kebabia. Jos Koppiksen väki lukee niin sponsorinpaikat paidassa on tyhjiä, ja saapa kypäräänkin tarran laittaa.

Ettei nyt ihan karata sivuraiteille niin mennääs sitten kylmiin faktoihin, tai johan tässä kolmesti karattiin. Falunissa on Scanian vanhaan tehtaaseen rakennettu vanerinen velo – YA-Arena. Mittaa 190m, leveyttä 5m ja kallistusta 50deg. Niin on suorat pitkät ja kaarteet lyhyet, että on hauskin rata ikinä! Saa kallistaa, taittaa ja taaplata. Eikä siinä vielä kaikki, sanois Ostos-TV, silläpä keskellä mitä mainioin punttis. Well, too good to be true? Might be, jos se vielä ois kaiken tän lisäks maailman nopein rata niin mä muuttaisin Faluniin, voisinpa mä nytkin muuttaa. Isäntämiehenä velolla häärii idean isä Björn Stenberg. Miehellä oli unelma sisävelosta ja nyt miehellä on sisävelo! Vau.

Mitä radalla tehtiin? No, ajettiin tietenki, se kai on ihan perusidea. Toiset riittävästi ja toiset liikaa. Tehtiin voimaa, nopeutta ja kestävyyttä. Nopeus, voima, kestävyys, nopeus, voima ja kestävyys. Nyt on olo piesty ja superkompensaatio haaveissa. Heh, pari päivää lepiä ja sorvin ääreen. Tästä on hyvä jatkaa, kunhan ensin palautuu. Äiti vielä haastoi vieressä, ettei tämä riitä. Kokeileppa ite: maksimikykää, startteja kertaa kolme settiä molempia. Ompa paha, kyllä lähtee. Hauskaa oli ja selvää kehitystä sekä ajoteknisesti, että fyysisesti. Treeneistä huolimatta leirin loppuun syntyi kaksi YA-Arenan rataenkkaa, lentävä 200: 12,1 ja 4km: 5.18 - ja pönttö vislasi huolella 21 kierroksen effortin jäljiltä. Katsojilla oli kyllä hauskaa.

Takaisin on kova tahto. Hyvä pyöräilijä toverit; ottakee yhteyttä ja lähetään Faluniin YA-Arenalla treenaamaan laadukkaasti! Kiitos Björn.

Mitäs sitten jatkossa muuta kun Faluniin takasin? Viikkokisoja ja kovaa vauhtia kohti Turun Sm-kahinoita. Be there or Be Square!

Parhain terveisin, Anton

Helsingin kisakevättä..

2010-06-13T14:37:00.001+01:00

Kauan on kulunut....

2010-06-13T14:28:00.000+01:00

...eli mä ryssin tän homman. Vannotin äidille, että mä päivittelen tätä blogia aktiivisesti. Ja paskat! No joo, se siitä. Nyt mä otan itteäni niskasta kiinni, jälleen kerran.

Koti on ihan kiva ja mikä tärkeintä Helsingin velo ihan ajokunnossa. Maalit rapisee ja ikää karttuu, 70 vuotta tulee kesällä mittariin. Mitä pyöräilyyn tulee, niin konkeli liikkuu päivittäin ja kisapäiviäkin on kertynyt. Kaikki torstaikisat ovat olleet ohjelmassa ja kilsan kisoja on vyön alla useita. Hienoa, kai? Ajat ovat olleet luokkaa 'ihan jees', mut ku parempaan pitäs pystyä ja pystyykin – pian. SM-kahinoihin on nyt kuukausi ja sittenpä en tiedä. Haaveissa olisi päästä hakemaan keskiseen Eurooppaan Güntherin maille hakemaan kovuutta, saas nähdä.

Mitä kuluneelta toukokuulta jäi sitten kouraan? Vesisadetta, hellettä, mopopeesiä Teetin perässä ja treenejä – unohtamatta Combatin 10v-keikkiä. Teinpä myös pikaisen kambäkin maantielle, ei muuten päättynyt hyvin – tai ei kovin huonostikaan, ymmärsin tulla ajoissa pois sentään. Kivasti oli SM-kortteli tampereella kevään ruttoisimmassa säässä ja matkana 40 kieppiä (eikä kiepin mitasta aavistustakaan). Muut poijjaat levitteli linimenttiä sun muuta ja minä vedin talviajorytkyjä niskaan – amatööri kyseessä siis. Oli kylmää ja astma teki tenät jo lämmittelyssä, mutta kun Mansessa oltiin niin starttiin mentiin ja äkkiä pois oikeiden kuskien tieltä kuuden kiepin jälkeen. Äiskä tiivisti homman nimen pikaisesti elämäni ehkä harmmillisimman keskeytyksen jälkeen: 'Mä jo alunperinkin ihmettelin, että helvettiäkö sä tänne lähdet.' Niinpä!

No radalla kaikki on radallaan. Välityksiä testattu ja senteistä se on kiinni, tarkemmin 8cm enemmän on liikaa. Samapa tuo, ei haalareita oo varaa riisua, töitä kun on enemmän kun riittävästi. Helppo kuitekin jatkaa kun suunta on oikea. Hulluko sitä nyt väärään suuntaan töitä tekisi. Kiva on reenata, kun pyörä kulkee – ja sehän kulkee.

Kirjoittamishetkellä makaan sohvalla katsoen futista. Go Oranjes!

Been a long time....

too long, according to my mum. To be honest I promised to update my blog often, but failed that miserably. Sorry mum! Anyway, past is past, now I'll be active.

It is nice to be at home, ready meals and easy days. Velodrome back home is alright as well, not perfect but rideable. No worries on that side. When it comes to my training, it is all good as well. I've competed several times and had some promising results, but simply not good enough. There some work to done, I guess. Nats are in four weeks time and after that there are some open plans. Personally I'd like to head to Europe to get some quality races in my legs.

Last month included some real experiences. Wet, cold, heat, cycling and Combat's 10yrs-gig. I actually made a comeback into road racing. There won't be another. It was too cold for me and I gave up on early stage, which was my luck. Probably? As my mother already wondered before race: 'Why the hell are you going there?' Good question!

But on track I'm on track. Tested the correct gearings and had some decent rides. Well done, and also lots of work to be done as well. Luckily it is nice to train as I know what to do and why. At the time I enjoy riding more than ever.

By the way, at the moment I'm laying on the sofa watching some football. Go Oranjes!

Destination: Espoo, Finland. -Part 2-

2010-05-01T17:13:00.000+01:00

Lepiä Bielefeldissä ja vähän muuallakin. Löytyi rata tai kukkatarha tai oikeestaan molemmat - enemmän se oli kukkiva velo ja romahtanut katsomo? Huomattua tuli joka tapauksessa, että kaikissa meissä asuu pieni luontokuvaaja. Tämä selvisi spotattuani sorsan suihkulähteessä....

BIELEFELD VELODROME (tai siis jämät...)

SYNTYNYT LUONTOKUVAAJAKSI?

JA LOPUKSI...

"Mut entä jos on ihan kauhee hätä?!?"

(c) Anton Aro

Destination: Espoo, Finland. -Part 1-

2010-05-01T16:43:00.001+01:00

Hola! First year of uni behind and time to come back home for a while. First stop was in Oostende and second in Gent.

Oostende SportPark Velodrome (Find the rider!)

Training going on.

Speeding up in Gent.

Effort in Gent

"Hey mum, I'm coming home!"

(c) Paavo Aro

Some skies.

2010-04-04T11:31:00.001+01:00

Cold day in Herne Hill.

2010-04-04T11:09:00.000+01:00

Nyt on ratapyöräilyn kehto - Herne Hill - nähty ja kilpailtu. Tai no kilpailemisesta voidaan olla montaa mieltä... Rankka sateen huuhdottua radan seitsemännen kerran suorin kotia takasin sorvin ääreen. Huhtikuu 18. merkkaa vaan ja ainoastaan. Enivei, pari fotoa....

Quick pic of my new girl friend.

2010-03-25T23:17:00.002Z

Dolan Forza

Looking good?

2010-03-25T22:54:00.000Z

Hei vaan kaikki.

Mä olen täällä taas tarinoimassa. Vaiherikas pyöräprosessi on onnellisesti ohi ja alla uuden karhea Dolan Forza. F**k aye!
Kaikki kondiksessa, kaiketi? Pyörä liikkuu lupaavasti, asento alkaapi hahmottua ja niin edelleen. Tutto perfetto tai jotain sinnepäin sanois italialainen.

Heya!

Here I am with some news. New frame arrived and she is a beauty, Dolan Forza.
It is all good over here. Times are improving and riding position is in fine tuning. Great, aye?

Frontal area

Side

Tough day on my bike.

Copyright: Paavo Aro

Project: Powerful Sprinting Position

2010-03-12T17:55:00.000Z

I'm starting to develop my sprinting abilities and one of the fundamental issues is the riding position... So here is the start:

Back to basics; season opener behind.

2010-02-24T17:04:00.001Z

Illan alkuja vaan.

Pietarista selvittiin hengissä ja hyvinhän se Omnium debyytti meni. Kokonaisvoitto ja kolme osakisa voittoa neljästä. Way to go! Bonuksena pari PB:tä, mutta niistä hyshys. Miinuspuolena mainittakoon parin tuubin suuruinen tilastotappio. Hyvä reissu enivei!

Good evening!

Back home from St. Petersburg. I had a successful debut in Omnium and as a bonus made some PB's. Way to go, keep the level! Despite two punctures the trip was just great. I really enjoyed racing. Thank you St. Petersburg people!

From Russia with love.

2010-02-21T19:15:00.000Z

Terrrrve,

Luminen Pietari kuittaa. Vanerilla eka kertaa kokeiltu, eli siis täkäläinen baana. Ylihuomenna kauden avaus; 500m, pudotusajo, 2km sekä linja-ajo. Ei oo nopein rata, mutta grippaa niin julmetusti. Kiva ja hemmetin helppo ajaa. Ja kivoja ihmisiä, viel kun puhuttua ymmärtäis. Suosittelen kuitenki.

Hey all,

St. Peterburg calling! Velodrome tested. Season opener only two days ahead. Grippy track, not that fast, but anyhow - easy to ride and enjoyable. My recommendations even for first timers.

The first road ride of the year.

2010-02-16T21:04:00.001Z

Some shots I discovered on the road 14.2.2010. Equip: Nokia Xpress Music.

Through the night.

2010-02-10T20:11:00.000Z

Ensiotoksia pimeässä maailmassa. Mitäkö näin? St. Juliansin kaupungin osan ja heinän korren.

My first shots in dark Wales. What did I see? St. Julians district and a single hay.

St. Julians

Single hay.

Copyright: Anton Aro

My greatest hours.

2010-02-04T23:04:00.001Z

Noniin, ompa taas. Tän päivän osalta kuvat joutaa romukoppaan. Petän katsojat ja avaan sanaisen arkkuni tuulettamalla fiiliksiäni. Sanalla sanoen hieno päivä! Sanoistani tosin voi olla tulkittavissa ironiaa, jopa sarkasmia, ei sen väliä sattuuhaan sitä. Ja sitä paitsi mähän liiottelen karkeasti, hitto vie, aamupäivällä elin elämäni kenties hehkeimmän parituntisen ja illalla kukkana kakun päälle pikku setbäkki. Tänään mun maailma on potkinut mua suoraan kiveksille ja mä vaatimattomasti limuautomaattia kylkeen. Hyvä päivä! Älkääkä kukaan tulko sanomaan, että huomenna on varmasti parempi - mulla on aikanen herätys!

Niin siis, päivän ohjelma oli jotakuinkin seuraavaa. Herätys, velolla 12-14, kotiin, ja iltareeni. Hyvin meni kunnes piti lähteä velolle. Ovesta ulos releiden kanssa ja jess - hemmetin iso jyynäri Mersu oli blokannut mun auton. Pikku vikoja, totesin ja eikun kihnuttamaan autoa ulos. Viis minsaa ees ja taas ja auto irti. Ykkönen silmään ja kaasua - puhelin soi! "Ei perkele", ajattelin ja vastasin. No se oli Wattbikeltä tyytyväisyyskyselyä ja teknistätukea - kiitos siitä, hyviä vinkkejä tuli! Ykkönen silmään ja kaasua - puhelin soi! Nyt alkoi jo vahvemmat kirosanat virrata, se oli s**tanan sitkeä lehtimyyjä - oli myynissä sitä ja tätä, tarjouksesakin vielä - mukamas. Enhän mä mitään brittilehtiä tilannu, varsinkaan kun aihepiirit liikkuivat elämäntyylin ja neulonnan välillä. Stricly no go! Samalla tajusin ettei mulla ole käteistä ratamaksuun. Hätähän ei ole tämän näköinen. Suikkaan kampukselle pikaseen automaatille, ottaa viis minsaa - niin mä ainakin kuvittelin. Aika-arvio meni nappiin tai eipä siihen tainnut ees viittä minsaa mennä kun totesin että ykskään koulun tomaateista ei anna rahaa. Joko on rahat loppu tai sitten ei toimi muuten vaa, kiitos ja heihei - on aika kova kiirus. Vihasta puhelua kotiin ja matka jatkuu...

Matka velolle siis, jos se joltakin jo pääsi unohtumaan. Ykkönen silmään ja kaasua. Edessä on este, tienviivoitusauto! Pari kertaa kävin näyttämässä nokkaa rinnalla ens ja sit urku auki. Pököhän lähti niin pirusti ja ohi. Huh, este selvitetty. Niin eikös mutkan takana ole mummokuljetus sitten tietysti. Ohikaan ei tietty ole asiaa keltasilla viivoilla, eikö muka? No ei!!! Aikansa se siinä körötteli mummot lavalla ja kääntyi johonkin, älkääkä kysykö mihin - en siinä vaiheessa kovin kiinnostanut. Hanaa ja lämä tiskiin (mainittakoon nyt tässä, että kyseessä oli kiihdytys etanan vauhdista rajoitusalueelle, elä äiti hermostu.) Renkaan vitutuksesta vinkuen kaupan parkkiin ja hirveetä kyytiä tomaatille - vain todetakseni olevani kolmas jonossa. Ei hätää, äkkiä tää jono tästä menee. Tai sitten ei. Ensin vuorossa oli joku raskassarjalainen tekniikan ihmelapsi, no aikansa se otti ja se siitä. Enään yks, jess. Ja virhe tulkinta taas. Jonkun äiti siihen sitten siirty lapsensa kanssa hakemaan karkkirahaa (kai?) ja tottakai, lapsen piti saada painella. Arvatkaahan ottiko aikaa? No otti! Itsehän suoriuduin nostosta sähäkästi. Tottakai, koska mä osaan käyttää tomaattia ja mulla ei ole lapsia.

11:58 tiukka vasen ja sitten oikee velon pihaan, kamat ulos ja reeneihin. Lämmöt ylös pari vetoa tai no vetoa ja vetoa. Ei ne mihinkään kulkenu - tunsin eilisen jaloissa vahvana poltteena. Vähät siitä, lisää kierroksia koneeseen. Lopussa huomasin myös unohtaneeni urheilujuomat kotiin (ei, en puhu bissestä) ja päädyin gatoradeautomaatille. Se pirulainen söi mun kolikot! Mitä tehdä? Kävelä hattukourassa infoon ja kysyä apua. Tosimies ei sellaseen alennu. Vähän aikaa tähtäilin ja suuntasin kipakan ninjapotkun kylkeen - kops, mä sain mun gatoradet, erävoitto! Siitä sitten kotiin lepäämään.

Loppu hyvin kaikki hyvin? Pöh, se setbäkki meinas jo unohtua. Puolan kisojen aikataulua ja lajeja oli muutettu - no go! Mitä tehdä? Nyt kiristää jo näinkin kärsivällisen kaverin pantaa uhkaavasti. Mistäs ne parhaat neuvot tulee? Isältä tietenki. "Ota olut, kuuntele musiikkia ja lue golf lehteä, haettiin just sun uus Pingi kaupasta." Tällä tiellä ollaan. Hyvä olut kesken, Gaslight Anthem kajareissa. Hyvää yötä.

Bell Meteor ProModel (mission completed)

2010-02-03T16:10:00.001Z

Mitä tehdä, kun vanhaan kypärään ei mahdu pleksit sisään, yhdet mallit ei sovi ja toiset firmat toimittaa vääriö tuotteita? Ostetaan uudet lasit, ei. Tilataan vielä yhden mallinen kypärä, ei. Custom kypärä, ei. Käsistään kätevänä ja innokkaana kaverina tilataan pelkkä visiiri. Sitten napataan uuden karhea Dremeli kouraan ja laitetaan kierroksia koneseen! Ränännänänää! Pultataan visiiri paikalleen ja voíla! Kuin helppoo! Tuloksena ainutlaatuinen, sairaan nopee ja kaiken lisäks sopiva kypärä!

What to do when glasses don't fit the old helmet, some model are not for your head and some companies deliver wrong models? Lets buy new glasses, bad idea. Lets order one more helmet, bad idea again. How about a custom helmet, even worse idea. As I'm such handy and patient guy I ordered just a visor and after a quick Dremeling session it was all done. Perfect helmet in fifteen minutes. Piece of cake! Result: unique, lightning fast helmet!

Copyright: Anton Aro

Los Velodromos! Me likes!

2010-02-03T14:48:00.000Z

Ratapyöräilijän toinen koti. Sisävelodromi. Eihän ulkorata voi olla koti, kun ei ole kattoa pään päällä.

Another home of track cyclist. Indoor velodrome. I love the fast and smooth environment.

Copyright: Paavo Aro / Anton Aro

Sisäharjoittelua ja asentotestiä.

2010-02-03T14:19:00.000Z

Paskalla kelillä on paree pysyä sisällä, oltiin sitä sokeria tai ei. Asentotestiä ja aerobista harjoittelua.

Sometimes Welsh weather forces me to stay indoors. Riding position test and aerobic training.

Copyright: Paavo Aro

Mun maailma. - My world. is alive!

2010-02-03T13:22:00.000Z

Tervetuloa mun maailmaan.

Ensin on varmaan ihan hyvä vähän kertoa itestäni. Mä olen Anton Aro ja tällä hetkellä ikää on mittarissa 20 vuotta. Sillähän ei toisaalta ole väliä, joku älypäähän joskus sanoi, että ikä on vaan numeroita - niinhän se onkin. Tällä haavaa mä olen opiskelijaurheilija. Opintojani suoritan soljuvasti University of Wales, Newportissa. Ja mitä urheiluun tulee. No, mä opiskelen sitä - kolmen vuoden päästä mä oon ammattivalmentaja (äiti toivoo ;)), ehkäpä myös ammattipyöräilijä (mä toivon). Ei mutta ihan tosissaan, kyllä mäkin sen tutkinnon haluan - elämä ei saa pyöriä pelkän pyörällä jauhamisen ympärillä. Ja kai se radan kiertäminen alkaa joskus turruttamaan. Välillä voi juoda vaikka oluen, mielellään hyvän sellasen.

Niin, siitä urheilusta joo. Se jäi vähän noiden edellisten hajatelmien alle. Olen siis pyöräilijä, tarkemmin ratapyöräilijä Suomesta. Tavotteet on taivaissa ja niiden eteen tehdään sen mukasesti töitä. Kärsivällisyyttä tää puuha vaatii, isot tulokset tulee aikanaan.

Mun maailma. -blogi kertoo enemmän kuin tuhat sanaa, ilman sanoja. Saatan mä runollisella tuulella yhen tai kaks tekstiäkin väsätä, mutta ne on sen ajan murheita sitten lukijalle - katsojalle!!! Kuvia luvassa siis....

Mun maailma. kertoo mun railakkaasta opiskelijaelämästä pyörän päällä, kotona ja reissussa ja avartaa mun näkemystä maailmasta!

Tää on mun matka mun tavoitteisiin.

Enjoy!

Welcome to my world.

First I'd better introduce myself. My name is Anton Aro and I'm 20 years old. Actually the age doesn't matter - like someone said "age is just numbers". What a genius was he! I'm student athlete and I'm studying in Uni of Wales, Newport. And what about the sport? Well, I'm studying sports coaching and graduating in three years as a professional sports coach (mum hopes ;)) and then in couple of years I'm trying to be a professional trackie (that's my hope ;)). To be honest, I find my degree studies very important as I won't be cycling through my life. Other thing is that cycling can't fulfill all my life. At breaks I love to have a beer, a good pint of ice cold beer!

Back to track then. About the sport. So yes, I'm a cyclist - track cyclist from Finland. My targets are high and I'm committed to work hard for them. The worst thing is that it regards lots of patience which sometimes isn't my best side. Big time results come some day in future!

My world. -blog tells more than thousand words at each time. Maybe one day I'll wrote down a note, but I promise that won't happen very often. So it is all about photos...

My world. tells the reader the story of my student life on wheels, at home and on road!

This is my journey to my targets.

Enjoy!