I just received an email from Rapha; “The New Tweed Softshell and City Riding Collection” – that’s exactly what I need, tweed. Set a new trend at the Kuipke. We’re here for the Gent Six Day 2010.
Maybe not – my shorts have caused enough raised eyebrows.
* * *
Night three?
Lots of Dernys, lots of beer – Franco sick, Iljo fraying a little at the edges, the Danes calm under fire and bed for us at 03:45.
In the mornings I feel like one of those people in the films who have miraculously survived a plane crash, they stumble dazed and bleeding among the rescue teams.
Or in my case – the beer delivery guys.
One of my little regrets here is that I haven’t had the time to watch the Under 25 racing – ‘the Stars of Tomorrow.’
Or as was the case the other night; ‘the Casualty Admissions of Tomorrow.’
The US laddies fell off whilst warming up, both broke their collar bone – one team down.
Then the New Zealander, Christopher Magic caused a monumental pile up, he pulled out in embarrassment, but not before one of the other teams had to pull out with broken bones.
From 12 teams, nine survive and they’re all a tad nervous – understandably so.
The Belgian and Dutch riders continue to ignore me – as they do with all runners except their own.
All of the other guys are cool, even big Bartko who’s supposed to be ‘superior’ has a nod.
It seems much harder this year to get time to write – the time just evaporates and there are always errands to run to the shops, to the camper – Marc Hester has a web site and I’ve been sending him pictures every day, where more of my time goes.
And Michael has just taken delivery of a new bike, a Dolan – Specialized used to be happy to let him ride his Principia but this year have told him that he needs to ride an ‘anonymous’ frame.
There’s a new track Specialized in the offing but not ’til 2011.
They don’t mind Alex riding the Principia because he’s off to HTC.
Yes, they’ll be on Specialized too next season – none of us really understand…
Anyway! The point of the story is that Michael wanted pics of his new tool for his website – something else to do.
I did a wee interview with him about the bike, which will hopefully be live soon – some interesting stuff.
And, Bang!
Over my right shoulder, the big Aussie Under 25 rider, Alex Carver clatters that BT onto the boards.
But he’s up and away again after a rapid wheel change.
On the way to the shops earlier, I noticed that they’ve erected a plaque to Isaac Gálvez who lost his life in a crash at the Kuipke in the six of 2006 – a nice touch.
The Spaniard was a quality rider – World Madison Champion – and by all accounts a nice man.
Tom Simpson’s bust used to be in the Kuipke entrance lobby, but they moved it to the cycling museum at Oudenaarde.
And whilst we’re on the subject of ‘Kuipke’ I saw it translated as ‘bowl‘, but I think that Dirk, our mechanic’s translation is more accurate: ‘tin bath.’
Lots to do, best turn off Dean Martin and head for the cabin. Yeah, Dean Martin… if you were here, you’d need some mellowness, too!
Ciao, ciao.