I have started running and biking at the same time. This made it to complex to handle and visualize the progress.. so I have searched for a techky solution.. HERE IS IT
http://www.garmin.nl/product/?pid=010-00467-01
The Garmin Forerunner 305 is wonderful “not so” pricey tool that can be setup in different profiles and with multiple features. The best one is the possibility to “compete” against yourself. This makes the trainning a bit more interesting…
Or in dutch “word mountainbiker”
become a Mountainbiker
That’s the title of a new book I’ve bought, ok, I know you can not become a mountainbiker by reading books about it but I like this particular book. It’s written by sven nys, roel paulissen and roel van schalen and describes all kind of aspects of mountainbiking disciplines and parts that are used on the mountainbike.
It is a bit a book for beginners and maybe not that interesting for all of us but I particulary like two things. The first is the description of the 10 best moutainbike marathons from all over the world that roel paulissen has competed in and the second part is the simple training schema for biking mountainbike trips around 60 km. (and on the their website also schemas for 100 km trips www.starttosport.be)
I just started this week with the 10 week schema to be able to ride a mountainbike marathon of 60km. This should help me in getting in to shape (after these 10 weeks we will go to compete in limburg mooiste a nice mountainbike marathon in limburg) I know it would have been better to train also in the winter period a bit more, but I hope to get into shape with this training scheme. (training is about 4 to 5 times in a week so I hope I can keep it up these 10 weeks….)
After many many kilometers I have decided to go for another bike… I did not wanted to choose from any other bike type then Garry Fisher, as the frame fits my style perfect.
I know, 2010 has only just started, and we have seen quite a bit of snow and ice already (and there may be more to come still), but before you know it spring has arrived! And spring time means, … yes you guessed right: mountain biking!
Well for me it does, anyway. And I also know already where I want to ride (more or less.) If you don’t, or are simply looking for ideas, please check Upcoming Events. And of course you are welcome to add your own!
/Ernst
The Beginning
Bart Brentjes was the “last of the titans” for this year and we really got what we deserved. After a year of nice weather and dry routes, we had the “perfect storm” to face this time.
We started, as usual, early, because me and Ernst decided last year to go for the 100 km race. Well, this was easier said then done … we had a full year of 100 km rounds to keep training for this distance. Bart and the rest (sorry Erik for not being able to participate) went for the 70 km. BBQ was arranged, as every year, at my place…
11 oktober, 6.30 time to get out of bed and to pack my stuff for the bart brentjens challenge. Today I will go to Eijsden together with Mario. For Mario it is his first mountainbike event. I’m at Mario’s place around 7.15 and we put the bikes on the back of the car, and off we go. The last days the weather wasn’t really good so we hope the track is not to muddy.
We arrive at Eijsden around 9:15 – 9:30 together with 3000 other bikers.
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On possibly one of the last summery weekends of 2009, Reli and I participated in the Grand Raid Godefroy, a mountainbike marathon held every year in Bouillon, Belgium (near the French border.) Out of the possible distances of 40-70-90-130 and 160 km we chose to ride the 90km race. Excited to find out what the Ardennes terrain this far south would look like, we left for Bouillon on the morning the day before the race.
Today I went with Erik for a daytrip to Rheden (Gld). For me it was to long ago that I have been mountainbiking and I needed this excersise as a training for the Mergelland route later on in September.
We started with sunshine and 18 degrees celcius. The first eight kilometer were up and down but none of us had to walk besides his bike;). After five kilometer we saw a bunch of deer (with young ones). After these first 8 kilometer the track was relative flat but in one of the most sceneric areas of the Netherlands. After 40 kilometer Bas could feel the lack of excersise during July and August and his legs were heavier and heavier.
After 45 km Bas and Erik decided to split up and Erik choose the challenge of the Posbank instead of biking directly back to the car. After 3 hours of mountainbiking both Bas and Erik did 50 km in one of the most beautiful spots in the Netherlands. Not the most challenging track but a track in beautiful nature.
And Bas……… He needs more excercising and training for the Mergelland track.
While Ernst was mountainbiking his 100 km in Houffalize Erik myself and my dad went for a biketrip in limburg. We decided to go for the Epen and Gulpen mountainbike routes and combine the two to get some km. For my dad this will be his second mountainbike experience, so he will not folow both routes and will stop after we have done the Epen track of 25 km. We started out well, not to fast so my dad could follow us and we also could enjoy the nice weather and surroundings.
almost at the end of the Epen route (after the steep climb of the “Vaalserberg”) we crossed a road and some people where standing there, all waiting for the Eneco tour (the dutch cycling tour over multiple days) so we decided to wait and watch the Eneco tour pass by. After the 3 man at the front there was a gap of 17 minutes so we decided to follow the mountainbike track down the hill and there we watched the peloton come by (wow really fast, and what a sound 100 man shifting gears) we finished our last 2 km of the Epen track and stopped at the startpoint. Here we installed my dad on a terras and Erik and myself went on to bike the Gulpen route. What a nice track a lot of climbs and downhills. after 60km of biking (almost at the end of our track) I made a small mistake in the downhill and fell, hmm not so nice a big knee and a lot of pain.
Back at the terras after 9 km biking with pain in my knee we asked the waitress for some ice.
After eating a nice dinner and a trip back to Breda we could say we had a good day some fine mountainbiking and we even watched the Eneco tour. And dad next time both trails ? 🙂 well just look at the pictures for an impression of the day.
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Yesterday, 23rd of August 2009, the 6th edition of the Houffamarathon was held. Almost 2000 bikers (including myself) enjoyed a well-organized race through the beautiful countryside surrounding the village of Houffalize. The weather has been good the past week(s) so the tracks were all perfectly dry (dusty even in some places), safe a few passages through the small Ardennes rivers.
Last year, in conditions far worse than this year, I participated in the 75km race and finished in just under 6 hours. This year, after 110km Limburgs Mooiste and 2 weeks of ‘training’ in the Alps, I decided I would enter the 100km race.