No Copy

Roses

One more cycling "goal" this year, just before the start of the academic year: the Belgian edition of the Ride for the Roses, this Sunday in Bredene.

You might know the Ride for the Roses as one of Lance Armstrong's Foundation's initiatives regarding cancer, and here in Belgium as well it is meant to keep the disease under the attention of the public as well as raising funds for Kom Op Tegen Kanker (the Flemish anti-cancer league). If that's not worth supporting...

Should you be at the Belgian coast this weekend, and you do not fancy the 150 km trip, there is also a 45 km family tour. The weather forecasts are good, so what's keeping you?

Note: Roses is probably a lot of people's favourite dEUS song, but I still prefer Theme from Turnpike... Anyway: here you have both:

I'll be back

This morning, I received the picture that was taken while I was climbing the Col de Haussire during last week's Vélomediane.

[photo]

Let's face it: I don't look tired at all, do I? But then again, this climb is not even halfway the ride...

Still: I managed to finish the Claude Criquielion Classic feeling fit as a fiddle. The reason probably is that I hooked up with some guys from Gistel, a neighbouring town, quite soon in the ride and that our average speed was pretty low, even without taking the many stops involving flat tyres, unwilling chains, food and drinks, and... uhm digestive problems into account. But we sure had a lof of fun. But nevertheless, next year, I'm going for silver! That's right: I'll be back...

Bicycle race

Off to La Roche in a couple of hours for the Velomediane or Claude Criquielion Classic tomorrow. 172 km, 24 climbs, a 3300 m height difference to overcome... I have no idea whether I'll even be able to finish this ride. After all, it's the first time I ride a combination of this distance AND stage profile. We'll see. Can't blame it on a lack of preparation at great altitude,though... :-) :

NOTE: This is one of the pictures I should be updating my Flickr account with any time soon. Have been neglecting it for some time now. Perhaps I should cut down on the cycling a bit?

NOTE2: I know: Queen is not the kind of band you want to admit liking in certain circles. But I have always had a soft spot for Freddy and his gang. And having seen his statue in Montreux this summer, my kids are also taking an interest in the band.

They especially seem to like Bicycle Race. I wonder if that's a coincidence...

Yesterday

[photo and video via BelgiumKneeWarmers, a blog I recently discovered and would recommend to every cycling fan!]

Tomorrow

[photo via]

Nude

Summer vacation is reaching a pinnacle: we're packing for our yearly holiday as we speak (well, ok: right now, it's my wife who is doing most of the packing - it's a matter of talent).

Nothing fancy this year: just a cottage we've rented in the Ardennes, somewhere in the region of Bouillon. So yes: posting will be low, if not non-existent for a while. I know it was earlier this month too, but hey: first of all, it's still summer holidays and also, Joppe had to spend a bit over a week in hospital due to some salmonella-like infection. I'll spare you the details but let's say dehydration was what his condition was leading to.

Fortunately, he's better now and all ready to go. And actually, so am I. I'm looking quite forward to some hiking, kayaking, swimming and of course... cycling. Especially for the occasion (and inspired by the results of the mini-poll I did earlier on), I did it. Well, actually, my wife did. That's right: again a matter of talent. And also a matter of her enjoying it inflicting upon me the ordeal that only women normally go through. Well, now I know how it feels. It didn't hurt a bit. It even feels quite... uhm, liberating and cool. Especially afterwards. But even the depilatory activity was not that bad at all. I'll bet giving birth is not so painful as women tend to make it seem. Tsss...

Anyway, here's the result:

Enjoy your holidays too! And enjoy the picture. I am not so sure how long this state of 'nudity' is going to last...

NOTE: I wonder how many 'unwanted' visitors the title of this post will attract. I seem to remember Sam had a rather surprising experience with one of his boob photos...

What can you say...

GODVERDOMME!

Stanford = Kemmel

Went for the first serious bike trip after the (sometimes busy) exam period yesterday. A great ride through my favourite corner of our country, de Westhoek ('the Western corner'): 110 km from Koekelare to Kemmel (Heuvelland) and back, via small towns and villages like Elverdinge, Vlamertinge, Bikschote, Esen and Vladslo (well-known for its German military cemetery and Käthe Kollwitz' statues 'The Sorrowful Parents') to name but a few.

The weather was excellent: not too hot and not too much wind, which enabled us to keep a steady but agreeable pace. An almost perfect day. Except for the puncture and the somewhat unforeseen fact that we were not allowed to climb mount Kemmel (a short but nasty climb) because of the Ypres Rally.

Now, of course, the latter was our fault. But what really spoilt it, was one of the volunteers for the race forbidding us to pop into Kemmel's bakery for a piece of rice cake. Even though we would have been on 'paid territory' for only a couple of minutes, "no is no." "But the policeman over there said it was not a problem." No way. And if we could bugger off , because "it's always the same with these cyclists." Something along those lines.

I don't think he's ever heard of the Stanford prison experiment, but he somehow gave me an awkward feeling. Put someone in a uniform and the power that comes with it, does take over at times...

Shave everywhere?

[photo via sfist]

If you are a keen cyclist like myself, you have probably also wondered if you should shave your legs too, just like pros (and many amateurs) do. Why? There are several reasons. Personally, I don't do it. But I am curious to know how it would feel. Or look like. Silly? Poofy? Or is it true that it makes the muscles in your legs come out more? It's just: I don't have muscles in my legs. Well, at least not to the extent of a professional cyclist or well-trained amateur. Here's the deal: let me know what you think, okay? Write a comment or vote in the poll in the sidebar (mind: there are 5 possibilities -you might want to scroll down a bit). I might be tempted to go along with the majority :-) ...

In the meantime, check out the intro on this site. I wonder if they're serious. If not, it's hilarious. If so, it still is... [via Ads of the World]

She hates soccer

"Men steal precious broadcast time.
Men ignore us, pay attention no more to our needs.
Men are unable to communicate.
Men pay attention only to the ball.
Men all of a sudden seem to think they know all about everything.
Men grow ugly watching football. "

How about that?  Yep, apparently, there are some women who are not exactly looking forward to the World Football Cup. Want some more? OK:

"Romantic getaways have been replaced by jeering and other loutish and boarish behaviour over 22 men who have nothing better to do than running around on a field, kicking a ball back and forth for no apparent reason. Is that what separates us from the animals?" [via Coolzûr]

Personally, I think they're right. A man of intelligence does not watch football. He watches cycling.

Did I tell you I went to see the first stage of the Giro d'Italia, which took place in Seraing (that's right, in Belgium) this year? I think it might have slipped my mind. Anyway, I was able to shoot some nice pictures, like this one from the guy who would eventually win the race and who - if you ask me - stands a good chance of winning this year's Tour de France as well:

If you want to see some  more photos, you can always have a look on my Flickr pages.