Bonjour, I'm Melanie and welcome to my blog!
I have always loved creating things from whatever stuff I could find. I have especially enjoyed incorporating nature as a theme, with a touch of some magic dust whenever I can.
I enjoy active living, healthy eating (if ice cream counts...) and reading. This blog is where I will share my projects, thoughts and adventures.
Thank you for visiting my blog!
In Ryan's words:
The ride was EPIC in every way... bone rattling, brain shaking cobbles. They are a totally different experience, I have never ridden anything quite like them, downhill, uphill, flat.. they just suck the life and speed out of you..
If you are not familiar with Koppenberg...no more has to be said out loud...
A piece of advice from a fine Finnish friend; bring your mtn biking shoes.
Interesting facts from Koppenberg:
•"Koppen" is an abbreviation for cobblestones which in Dutch slang language are called kinderkoppen, or "children's heads".
• Incline of up to 22%.
• Also used for the annual Cyclo-cross Koppenberg race. The cyclo-cross course follows only part of the cobbled road, using some of the
surrounding fields and roads for the other sections of the course.
Sunday morning something magical was going to happen at the Giro d'Italia... i felt it. It was coming. It was coming with a big bang, and i think every Canadian cyclist felt it. And heard it!
Saturday night, i dug out of our chest THE flag. Yes THE flag. This Canadian flag traveled to the 2010 Tour de France. And it has a great Canadian story to tell.
Ryan has family in Belgium and got a chance to see the 2010 Tour de France. Not to mention that the route for the Tour de France was only 30 minuted away from Ryan's family place. How convenient is that.
On the day of the prologue, 2 certain someone jumped the fence and walk among legends. (Note to self, when among legends, make sure you always carry a sharpie!) And then there was Ryder. He was definitely on our bucket list.
On the next day, Ryan and his cousin went off to see the Tour. A wild fourth day at the 2010 Tour de France -- a 132-mile ride from Wanze, Belgium to Arenberg Porte du Hainaut was won by Thor Hushovd. Chavanel rode with the maillot jaune, but the cobblestones were too much to overcome, twice giving him flat tires and causing him to switch bikes. Our Canadian flag was flying proudly in the wind. Then something magical happen. Ryder noticed our flag that he just signed the previous day. Recognized Ryan and his cousin and then he attacked and attacked. He won 4th at the stage 3 of the 2010 Tour de France!
So needless to say, I wore my lucky Hesjedal attire with pride and watched the Giro d'Italia as it unfolded.
Hesjedal erased a 31-second deficit to Joaquim Rodríguez (Katusha) 15km into Sunday’s 28.2km final time trial to take the virtual overall lead. He didn’t take any unnecessary risks from there and when Rodríguez crossed the line almost two minutes after the Canadian, Hesjedal officially won the Giro by just 16 seconds, the fourth-smallest winning margin in Giro history.
The victory is historic on several levels. It’s the first grand tour victory for Canada (Steve Bauer’s fourth in the 1988 Tour de France was the best result until now) and it’s the first grand tour victory for the Slipstream franchise since it entered the elite peloton in 2008.
Not to shabby, eh?
and lets not forget Leah at the Exergy Tour Stage 3!
I am so over powered with pride and joy today it is just ridiculous! A day in cycling history for sure.
Maybe we should declare a Ryder Hesjedal Holiday and wear pink all day.
art from Mike Joos
The Tour de Whiteshell Road Race took place at Seven Sisters this past Saturday, and the image above somewhat describes a bit how i felt at this race.
This was one of my first road race. I am a triathlete, not a roadie by any means, and i felt a bit out of my elements. I am the head-down, get-through-anything type of person. I am the lone wolf who works on her own. I need to do 3 sports in my race. Road racing is so different from triathlon and i have a lot to learn from this sport before i get comfortable with it. In short this is what a very wise person,the Winnipeg CycleChick herself, told me: "There is a time to be slow, there is a time to be fast and there is a time to be really fast and they all have a reason why. There is a time to pull and a time to draft. Learn to read other competitors body language and react to them." Oooufff! All the tactics that i have to learn! Next road race will be better.
This is how much i am a triathlete at heart: all cyclist will have their energy bars, gels or whatever nutrition they carry with them in their cycling jersey's pockets. I had my gels taped to the top tube of my bike. I still somewhat prefer this method because i do not have to fiddle around in my back pocket to search for my gels.
Next race i will not be boxed in towards the finish line so that i can react quickly to whatever is going on at the front of the pack. I will be more in tune with the other competitors, and come out with flying colours!
Leak Kirchmann pulling the boys along for a ride! It was amazing to see someone of this "stature" at work!
art from Mike Joos
So i am hoping i will be feeling more like this at the next road race.
