Viner....just like the old days

Due to a number of problems with DART, our old bike sponsor, we moved back to Viner bikes as our official bike sponsor.

These bikes are fantastic... good old Italian craft-work. I was even luckier when Peter presented me with a full carbon version - the MITUS. This bike is the donkey's nuts. Super stiff, super comfy and looks super pimp.


The paint job is done out in our team colours (light blue) and has been specced with Dura Ace and a Deda carbon chainset. We've also been given arguably the best non-profiled high pressure wheelsets on the market - the Fulcrum 1's.

As soon as I get some pics of my bike I'll post them on London Cycle Sport (with John's support I hope?)

2 PEAK to sponsor me

I'm delighted to announce that Beppo (Hilfiker) from 2PEAK [http://2peak.com] will be helping me with my training. Beppo has given me access to some of the hottest cycle training applications around. What I really find amazing with the application is that on days when I can't train through illness I can re-calculate my training programme and it simply 're-drafts' a new programme taking into account that I've had less days to train. Furthermore it still keeps all my previous data and future entries like upcoming races etc. Wicked stuff man.

There's also access to some pro riders' programmes which rocks. I like Kashi Leuks' programme. If you access the Cannondale website and find Kashi you can go straight into his schedule and see how the pros train. By the way, Jens Voight's programme is their too.

Why not check it out at http://2peak.com.

\From 2PEAK\
At 2PEAK we have a clear philosophy: under any circumstances, we show you the most effective way to achieve your best possible form timely for your targeted seasonal peak. In each case you are the benchmark. You define your time budget and your goals, while we follow you day by day.

Forza Italy

Italy was great. The idea of the training camp was to get a good solid block of training done.

Monday
Flew out to Forli. Claire and George flew out that day too. Dunks met us at the airport and then we headed back to Cavi. Met the boys once they got back from their recovery ride.

Tuesday
Relocated to the Monestry in Sansapolcro - awesome monestry where we encountered live monks walking around in their monk garments. Jame Burrows took us on a local route to the monestry purched high up on a mountain. The heavens opened up and everyone scattered for shelter. By the time I got down to the cross road everyone had disappeared. Thanks to my Garmin 301 forerunner I was able to trace my way home.

Wednesday
Headed out for a ride with the boys. Dunks, Kev, Jamie Burrow and myself continued on and completed 150 km. We did 2600m of climbing. Weather was lovely and hot. Felt knackered afterwards though. Good ride.

Thursday
Went out with Dunks, Kev, Alex and Clayton. We did a hard climb lasting over an hour. Will try and remember the name of the climb. The climb takes you to a dead end where a hole stack of masts can be found and seen from miles away. The climb was awesome. Dunk and Kev raced on ahead leaving Alex, Clayton and myself dragging behind. The descent was pretty scary, but fun. During the last 2 hours of the ride I suffered and discovered later that I was coming down with something... the lurgy. Thanks Briggsy :-(

Friday
Woke up with a really painfull throat. Briggsy had indeed passed his lurgy to me.
Alex Hagman, Neil and Gazza went to ride the crit. After thinking that it might be bullet hard it turned out to be a pozer procession. Was awesome for the guys to ride a race with Italian pros including the likes of Cunego.

Saturday
I just chilled out and tried to recover. Caught up on washing and odds and ends and got ready for the race the next day.

Sunday
Race day - the Grando Fondo was near Moncatini where the weekend-long cycling festival was taking place. Dunks, Kev, Gazza and Neil rode a great race, but it was super-powerful Duncan that rode exceptional. He finished 13th in the end with Kev in 19th. We stayed a while and had some food before heading home on the 3.5 hr journey.

Monday
Felt a lot better. We went for a short ride to the local village for a light easy spin. Then headed back to Cavi to pack and get ready to catch our flight home.