Trans Alps

Last minute as usual.....

It seems there is something with Shane (our South African Cape Epic friend) and six weeks notice...earlier this year Andy and I had 6 weeks to prepare for Cape Epic.....again it has happened....Shane had a spare Trans Alps entry and at the time of notification Andy and I had 6 weeks to prepare. We now have 11 days and I am winging my way to Germany in 6 days to meet up with Andy who has been sunning himself in Greece for the past few days.

Following my awakening at the Anaconda MTB Enduro a month or so ago I went coach hunting and found myself a Russian with a mean streak for interval training.... Nikoli....he is lovely but I swear I have never trained so undistracted in my life. Nikoli writes my weekly plan and I adhere to it like none I have before...why?..because I have a feeling what he prescribes is working....bizarre! In the last few weeks I have become somewhat of a hermit with my training..or more appropriately a mole..rising at 0440 to leave at 0500 and ride 2-5 hours as my new master desires.

The Noosa crew are missing me, Andy is missing me, I am embracing Mondays with a new appreciation (my day off the bike) and I really believe I am stronger. I am motivated by the suffering of Cape Epic and swear never to put myself in the pain box so completely trying to stay within 2 minutes of Andy...instead I will be stronger and ride as an equal team mate (or so I hope).

Trans Alps will be my new debut, unfortunately at the expense of the Noosa Enduro, but the Enduro will be there in 2010 (hopefully) and then I will win!!

Now...I am packing, laminating profiles, weighing my collection of gels, bars and powders, getting my bike fit (new bottom bracket, new tires, new brake pads and new frame...don't ask), singing the praises of Stinky, Greg and Jo (Le Cyclo Sportif; Orbea), Nikoli, Pete (Incline) and Eamon (KWT nominees; Onza tires) and thanking Emirates for their 30kg allowance (hallelujah).

Here we go again...8 days, 634km, 22 077m climbing....WOOHOO!!