tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51178047413219292292024-02-21T07:16:12.310+01:00Daniel Patten - Making My Way!Daniel Pattenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06460798063543202081noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5117804741321929229.post-8440335005000779912018-03-19T21:39:00.000+01:002018-03-19T22:20:07.401+01:00Team Merlin!<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Over two months into 2018 already, I thought it was time to finally get back to blogging. To not
only round off and sum up the 2017 season but also to inform a little more of what's in
the pipeline for 2018, that ofcourse being Team Merlin! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Team Merlin!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">That last
blog post came way back in July. I continued racing throughout the summer and
into the early Autumn, rounding off my season mid October. Though I still had
some nice performances during this time (such as winning the Overijse three day overall classification)
it ultimately was a frustrating season. Unfortunately it always just lacked
that little spark, that little edge and that little bit of luck. With the winters again lack of contract, continued uncertainty and an on-going and
ever-growing frustration with the structure and politics of the sport that once again unexplainably leaves me in such a position, this
ultimately carried over onto the road. Never the less I am grateful
to the Assez's and Asfra-Flanders for the 2017 season, the team from which this blog began
back in 2010.</span><br />
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Asfra-Flanders, volle gas!</div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">For 2018
once again nothing was moving, years of battling to have a contract continued. Something had to change,
I had to take some control.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Eyes on the Prize!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
February 2017 I was approached by Merlin Cycles to help them make some
promotional videos in Belgium, using my knowledge of locations and featuring in. From the outset it was clear I was working with
a friendly, respectful and open minded company. This continued a few months later when needing a new bike, something Merlin were happy to
provide in the form of the Merlin Nitro SL, a bike I have been nothing but impressed with from day 1. You can check out the videos that we made in February 2017 once again here:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Made in Belgium - Merlin Nitro SL <a href="https://youtu.be/03yVom1-118">https://youtu.be/03yVom1-118</a> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Made in Belgium 2 - Merlin Fuse <a href="https://youtu.be/3BIH6Kecy1c">https://youtu.be/3BIH6Kecy1c</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Filming in Flanders.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">At the
start of November I reached out to Merlin Cycles to see if they were interested in me riding in their colours in 2018 and supporting an individual project. The
response was quick and positive, once again confirming my already positive
experiences with Merlin and the road to 2018 began in earnest. Things are
evolving all of the time and i’m sure this will also be the case throughout
2018. Racing in the UK, Belgium and beyond, representing Merlin Cycles whenever and wherever
possible and as always leaving it all on the road in doing so. As always this
year will also be about representing inside and outside of racing, on and off
the bike, whenever and wherever the road takes us. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Whenever, Wherever!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Appropriately the first National Series race in the UK on the 15th April just happens to be the Chorley GP, hometown of Merlin Cycles and therefore an ideal early season goal.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Breaking Away in the Chorley GP 2016.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">So far in
addition to being on Merlin machines, 3T will provide the finishing kit,
Castelli the clothing, Sidi the shoes and Stages the data measurement. Science in Sport will
once again fuel me for the year, a relationship that has been developing over
the last years and one i'm very happy to continue with and likewise with the support and
advise from Mark Huxley.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Fuelled by Science!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">In case you missed it, please find a link to Merlin Cycles' own blog post on
the evolution of Team Merlin </span><a href="https://www.merlincycles.com/blog/2018-team-merlin-dan-patten/" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.merlincycles.com/blog/2018-team-merlin-dan-patten/</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> as
well as the official press release here on Velo UK </span><a href="https://www.velouk.net/2018/02/05/news-dan-patten-rides-for-team-merlin-2018/"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">https://www.velouk.net/2018/02/05/news-dan-patten-rides-for-team-merlin-2018/</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">.</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Don't forget to also check out www.merlincycles.com!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As the
season gets closer, a big thank you to Debbie, John, Rick and all at Merlin
Cycles for the support for the project. Likewise as always to my family and friends, both near and far and ofcourse my girlfriend. We’re looking forward
to bringing something different to the road in 2018. Keep up to date on Instagram/Twitter by following me @dfpatten and ofcourse keep following along on here. Until next time!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On the road with Team Merlin!</span></div>
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Daniel Pattenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06460798063543202081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5117804741321929229.post-25809899422522234782017-08-07T16:33:00.000+02:002017-08-10T16:59:58.056+02:00Chapter 2017…whistle stop so far.<div style="font-family: Helvetica;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">With the year flying by I thought it was time for a brief tour</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-align: center;"> of whats been happening so far in 2017.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-small; letter-spacing: 0px;">Back in Flanders!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Without a contract late last year, for 2017 I returned to Belgium and to the Asfra-Flanders Racing Team (where this blog began). As always in Belgium a big program of racing, though this year for me would also see it balanced with other projects, including </span>proudly taking on the role of<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> Science in Sport Ambassador, coaching and having the pleasure of watching a good friend of mine make week by week progress in Mark Huxley as well as another Ambassador role writing a series of blogs for Viva Velo. The year so far has also involved many other roles and projects which you can see in a month by month overview of the year so far below.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Fuelled By Science!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">January saw me returning to North Carolina </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">once again to visit great friends and ex teammates. Having been based there for much of 2013/2014 it’s always a delight to return and this year it saw me laying down the foundations for the season ahead.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Ched18DTV1rr1RO-nrRi_QsQxoRbDxDj0Yj295CiCRFKaq4P7hyphenhyphenSIAEGPlqFgp3HYPYzjj09LNL4FOQHk38A70I9Axg85JWlqnk12-vgkNZZVqhyphenhyphenNfPqk9xb3A3KfyOQP14FtYRlRJX5/s1600/16300493_10210803928146819_2017303822470788471_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="809" data-original-width="1080" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Ched18DTV1rr1RO-nrRi_QsQxoRbDxDj0Yj295CiCRFKaq4P7hyphenhyphenSIAEGPlqFgp3HYPYzjj09LNL4FOQHk38A70I9Axg85JWlqnk12-vgkNZZVqhyphenhyphenNfPqk9xb3A3KfyOQP14FtYRlRJX5/s320/16300493_10210803928146819_2017303822470788471_o.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small; letter-spacing: 0px;">February saw me back in Belgium and continuing preparations for the season ahead. Having been based so much in Belgium over the years, this local knowledge was put to good use with Merlin Cycles in helping them to make (and featuring in) a couple of promotional videos. These videos can be seen here:</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Made in Belgium - Merlin Nitro SL <a href="https://youtu.be/0183yVom1-1"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">https://youtu.be/0183yVom1-1</span></a> </span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Made in Belgium 2 - <a href="https://youtu.be/3BIH6Kecy1c"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">https://youtu.be/3BIH6Kecy1c</span></a> </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCFORkDF3u5T-EPaqjccucpFH4urqr2cdSl_nBcKJ6ymB446R7PX5KwzduoqErypmf4uZ5M_OWafmYBGsXP6JSG2VvbnPbsOFMQEG5vdGhTobsHBC0EzVYOa8VXVADjk-a8lj6pDVLIj_n/s1600/17504392_10211327122986363_8904726922437061849_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="607" data-original-width="1080" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCFORkDF3u5T-EPaqjccucpFH4urqr2cdSl_nBcKJ6ymB446R7PX5KwzduoqErypmf4uZ5M_OWafmYBGsXP6JSG2VvbnPbsOFMQEG5vdGhTobsHBC0EzVYOa8VXVADjk-a8lj6pDVLIj_n/s320/17504392_10211327122986363_8904726922437061849_o.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">And action!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">This was just the start of a relationship, as just a few months later Merlin Cycles kindly</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> sponsored me with a Merlin Nitro SL to use for the remainder of the season. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMVZ9o4OcnKevXVcn_TDee8GSnDyUBI1L_pc43hjrA-OScclknm7dqWub4JzFioD7fQ6Qnw_HE-jpV0yJ_b2qkJtOIum3ZKjkM0dx4irWS8-7PxySIS-CgwhDm95UCRVihElylM9h3LERF/s1600/19390878_10212192661144276_3973362722549319982_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="809" data-original-width="1080" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMVZ9o4OcnKevXVcn_TDee8GSnDyUBI1L_pc43hjrA-OScclknm7dqWub4JzFioD7fQ6Qnw_HE-jpV0yJ_b2qkJtOIum3ZKjkM0dx4irWS8-7PxySIS-CgwhDm95UCRVihElylM9h3LERF/s320/19390878_10212192661144276_3973362722549319982_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span>Merlin Nitro SL!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small; letter-spacing: 0px;">March also saw that local knowledge being put to good use with some guided rides around the classic roads and for full effect at classics time of year.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-qzTeOtCDPNFIqutAZ38Sl91CK-peO7BsEf3S6HbmLtOQaoR-UHWqejF6x901P7xPQgT7pd0TiVke2DWQWXkvkkWhAVWHempheKBaM52V72LYz98UEUMl0xBcvzedUA_eV_hbVOwqJrj9/s1600/17212107_10211206684535477_1374772094713754276_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;"></span></a></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Live Belgium!</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">March and April also saw me get underway with racing once again. With the uncertainty throughout the winter and a long season ahead this really was about continuing to lay the foundations for the months to come.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioCR9ndpyZW0vJ1n7ZY3eZrbchQzaG8Rf3aXTyKgkSnAM2ib_yC90caCnF_HcofJ-9FTEcqIGBUtk6iJHWYsUgwkGUxeDhLTOGJDi3vNCmySD4lmD6W8yuxN0o8X8nEsM2bvJNo0jnESfX/s1600/18198577_10211675312770890_855118930215079524_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioCR9ndpyZW0vJ1n7ZY3eZrbchQzaG8Rf3aXTyKgkSnAM2ib_yC90caCnF_HcofJ-9FTEcqIGBUtk6iJHWYsUgwkGUxeDhLTOGJDi3vNCmySD4lmD6W8yuxN0o8X8nEsM2bvJNo0jnESfX/s320/18198577_10211675312770890_855118930215079524_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: x-small; text-align: start;">In Bruges!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Having featured in a promotional video for Velusso at the end of last year, May saw me return to Mallorca with the guys again. Always a pleasure to meet and ride w</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">ith people, pass on knowledge and share stories. It was an absolute pleasure to be in the company of Matt Prior and all for the week!</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEc2LagyEm_zfPwq2NFHpy4jao4Sz8gKGGtriXoHSh77K5_6YEZLDOxQJDXG8XrNxKcHI1BbfSL4coVOd5H8UO7-h7gsLLMpL3NXw1A_RMq1YYOC2ph45vByosSF2fT5gMxEIOeDXfhIT9/s1600/18403818_10211779897905453_2466180048200971679_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEc2LagyEm_zfPwq2NFHpy4jao4Sz8gKGGtriXoHSh77K5_6YEZLDOxQJDXG8XrNxKcHI1BbfSL4coVOd5H8UO7-h7gsLLMpL3NXw1A_RMq1YYOC2ph45vByosSF2fT5gMxEIOeDXfhIT9/s320/18403818_10211779897905453_2466180048200971679_o.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Top company in Mallorca!</span></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">With some racing sandwiched in between, June then saw me on the road once again with Polocini. This time it was a road trip to Italy where guests were able to ride the famous climbs of the Stelvio, Gavia and Mortirolo (amongst others). With most of the week based in Bormio, Livigno was also taken in as was Lake Como and the Madonna del Ghisallo for a fantastic week on the road with yet again a great group of people!</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMLclC5dCOl3taF4Is4at6YVA-kluuITO_ysDwaA_LGSVmJrb8Kv7GkQ75YDj7xMq03SZG6DKoCdbvmTO_Knv20zo7AJRVeQ1LVCR7PyoJBAYfanoehX3YUuH10K1k6vtuQ1nhvLOquQMI/s1600/19388298_10212162065699409_3439033220165084318_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="565" data-original-width="1080" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMLclC5dCOl3taF4Is4at6YVA-kluuITO_ysDwaA_LGSVmJrb8Kv7GkQ75YDj7xMq03SZG6DKoCdbvmTO_Knv20zo7AJRVeQ1LVCR7PyoJBAYfanoehX3YUuH10K1k6vtuQ1nhvLOquQMI/s320/19388298_10212162065699409_3439033220165084318_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Passo Dello Stelvio!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small; letter-spacing: 0px;">Once back it was a little more racing before a weeks break with my girlfriend for my birthday in July. A relaxing week soaking up some Vit D sunshine by the Med, keeping fresh and ready for the second half of the season to come. We still managed to make a tv appearance as little did we know we was on the first flight back into Tabarka.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-WWc1RwmtHqibmNCrmTnh5araxENBQDs8G600K31pvnKKiSJumo67bTBhxHBn-7Wce3g9cR_SSjvJvZ3Br7rTQScP0boK-Gm8A3hcNg78V27ojkBCCg8GoQPf8Ag0cMC4XKgYRx9-TmOp/s1600/19905276_10212412546601275_4262660890121206424_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-WWc1RwmtHqibmNCrmTnh5araxENBQDs8G600K31pvnKKiSJumo67bTBhxHBn-7Wce3g9cR_SSjvJvZ3Br7rTQScP0boK-Gm8A3hcNg78V27ojkBCCg8GoQPf8Ag0cMC4XKgYRx9-TmOp/s320/19905276_10212412546601275_4262660890121206424_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Holiday mode!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small; letter-spacing: 0px;">In the latter part of July and now into August the second half of the season got truly underway. Already with a string of nice performances over the last weeks, with the body in good shape and so much racing to come, it’s hopefully shaping up for a good last couple of months of the season. And with thoughts still on trying to open doors for 2018, then hopefully it's a great time to be racing hard at the front of the peloton. As always i’d be more than happy to hear from you!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Hdb-fTSgPrnc5GcDO7svDfUeqJO8TyoUCrt5a_uHjJzLUqidKdF-5PTzrzEy-4-eRqkjfyxuiGEdBIvclHUcQAijAj_AGJ5ZqBohWK0jxTPC-KlAEoh2JtKswilf-goPcfazza4KFPL7/s1600/20229908_10212524606122693_3441410379764796856_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="718" data-original-width="1080" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7Hdb-fTSgPrnc5GcDO7svDfUeqJO8TyoUCrt5a_uHjJzLUqidKdF-5PTzrzEy-4-eRqkjfyxuiGEdBIvclHUcQAijAj_AGJ5ZqBohWK0jxTPC-KlAEoh2JtKswilf-goPcfazza4KFPL7/s320/20229908_10212524606122693_3441410379764796856_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small; letter-spacing: 0px;">All or nothing!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Thank you as ever for the continued support, truly appreciated! Keep following along on here and ofcourse on social media streams, until next time!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW7EwuavaGGst9WKPHMjSKDFoYq8PpR6Z6gaR-8Jk88wA4rx51BTf3WXhjMlpipyYyJUwS3HugICDFPGPe-wGw-Cq5Z8Emg7BTPSTKqKwuY6TWOxfKm_3D2eL-e5c7GQrfjFGCoUYEugEh/s1600/19554123_10212278188802414_5354820668986760359_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="720" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW7EwuavaGGst9WKPHMjSKDFoYq8PpR6Z6gaR-8Jk88wA4rx51BTf3WXhjMlpipyYyJUwS3HugICDFPGPe-wGw-Cq5Z8Emg7BTPSTKqKwuY6TWOxfKm_3D2eL-e5c7GQrfjFGCoUYEugEh/s320/19554123_10212278188802414_5354820668986760359_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Strike a Pose!</span></div>
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Daniel Pattenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06460798063543202081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5117804741321929229.post-36273873898136000462016-12-30T20:47:00.000+01:002016-12-30T20:47:12.715+01:002016, that's a wrap!<div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">With 2016 nearing it's end and the last posting on here back in May, I thought it was time for an update to round off the year. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4MdM-lAsl6VuUllh3_fUavxwn2Y_4rlcD3c9ibSGjDUzdNONTqzbY1UykBTKXecwFJomNZ3MTKGGQbzK0PPZquyQ5JRm0SS_QLQIduKNuh5cnD0IBzu1CcwyEF4G61_adLXSsCF40m99/s1600/13244036_10208501143738648_3582201281583350562_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4MdM-lAsl6VuUllh3_fUavxwn2Y_4rlcD3c9ibSGjDUzdNONTqzbY1UykBTKXecwFJomNZ3MTKGGQbzK0PPZquyQ5JRm0SS_QLQIduKNuh5cnD0IBzu1CcwyEF4G61_adLXSsCF40m99/s320/13244036_10208501143738648_3582201281583350562_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">And action, pre stage 1 Amgen Tour of California.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">That blog posting came just before the Amgen Tour of California and what a privilege it was to do America’s Greatest Race and one of the biggest races in the world. My race began in San Diego with a km 0 breakaway day which can be seen here </span>https://youtu.be/bT7lTEtYltk<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> and continued </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">riding for my team to the races end in the state capital of Sacramento. An amazing race to be part of and courtesy of ATOC and Microsoft Band I was one of the riders to be tracked throughout the race. This can also be viewed here </span>http://amgentourofcalifornia.com/competition/microsoftband as well as an interview with Frankie Andreu reviewing the data from that Stage 1 breakaway day https://youtu.be/6y531V_NAa8.</div>
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Day out front in San Diego.</div>
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Present in California. </div>
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TV time in America's Greatest Race.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px; text-align: center;">Once back from ATOC the season continued and included a solo breakaway and claiming the King of the Mountains classification at GP Wales, the Team Classification with a superb 2nd overall for Scott Davies at the Tour de Alsace, amongst others.</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px; text-align: center;"> </span><br />
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TV time in Wales.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;">I was back in Belgium for the last months of the season, always a special place to race. Aggressive racing as always and the performances </span><span style="font-size: 12px;">continued throughout this period with results</span><span style="font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;"> that included 3rd GP Lucien Van Impe Erpe-Mere, 6th Memorial Briek Schotte Desselgem and 12th Izegem Koers. </span></span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span>Volle gas in Flanders.</div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Podium time with the Naesen brothers.</span></div>
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After two years in these colours a big thank you goes to Sir Bradley Wiggins for the opportunity. It's been a privilege working with and representing such a legend and sponsors and something i'm truly grateful for. </div>
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Dubai and working with a legend.</div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Post season has been particularly busy as I continue to look to secure a new team for 2017. Post season has also seen a Flanders-Roubaix-Ventoux-Valkenburg-Flanders road trip with Polocini as well as a trip to Mallorca and filming with Velusso.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Road tripping with Polocini. </span></div>
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On set with Velusso. </div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;">As I write this however my situation for 2017 is indeed still very unclear, any suggestions i'd be happy to hear from you. </span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 12px;">The last 2 years with Team Wiggins has continued to show my all round professionalism, in my performances and devotion to my team and sponsors, on and off the bike, as has been the case throughout my career. </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica";"><span style="font-size: 12px; letter-spacing: 0px;">It's amazing to see the level of support i'm getting and I thank you all. Thanks Cycling Weekly for reporting on this too http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/latest-news/daniel-patten-still-searching-team-2017-305091?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=Social.</span></span> <span style="font-family: "helvetica"; font-size: 12px;">And ofcourse a huge thank you to my family, girlfriend and friends for the continued support throughout the year as always!</span><br />
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Many thanks.</div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">I hope you’ve all had a wonderful Christmas and see you in 2017. Until next time!</span></div>
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2016, that's a wrap!</div>
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Daniel Pattenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06460798063543202081noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5117804741321929229.post-72858453507386413132016-05-11T12:53:00.000+02:002016-05-11T12:53:39.851+02:00Rolling with 2016.<div style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; line-height: normal; padding: 0px;">
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Home training.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">With the 2016 season well underway and having not posted an update on here since last November (apologies) I thought to keep this update more of a brief review of where the bike has taken me in these last 6 months.</span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Hanging out in Croatia.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">It wasn’t long after that last blog post back in November and I was heading stateside. The trip to North Carolina provided an ideal transition into winter training, whilst getting to catch up with great friends and experience at first hand the Thanksgiving holiday in the USA. </span></div>
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Thanksgiving in the USA!</div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">The festive season was ofcourse spent at home with family, but it wasn’t long into the new year before I was back in the sky again. Early January saw a 2 week team training camp hosted by the Cambrils Park Sport Village in Tarragona, the Catalan region of Spain, an ideal location to continue laying the foundations for the 2016 season ahead.</span></div>
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Tarragona training camp.</div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Whilst on camp it became clear that I would be starting my season with the Dubai Tour. A week after returning I was UAE bound to get the season underway and what a location to start the 2016 season it was!</span><br />
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Kicking off the season in Dubai. </div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Next it was back to Belgium and neighboring countries to kick off my 2016 European campaign. GP Lillers (France) in early March followed by Wanzeel Koerse Wanzele-Lede (Belgium), Dorpenomloop Rucphen (Holland) and rounded off with a nice breakaway in the Handzame Classic (Belgium).</span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span>Breaking away in Belgium.</div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Some racing in the UK followed including the first national series race of the season, the Chorley GP (another breakaway) and most recently a call up to Le Tour De Yorkshire. Sandwiched between these races was the Tour of Croatia, a first visit there and another good 6 days of racing. In between racing I've been keeping busy with Polocini, Yellow Jersey Cycles and Kinetic Velo, riding, chatting, advising and sharing stories from experiences on and off the bike. </span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span>Breaking away in the UK.</div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">It</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">s full circle for this 6 months as I head stateside again later this week for my first Amgen Tour of California. A race i've been wanting to do for a long time, i'm happy to say that in the last days its finally worked out that I will indeed be on that start line in 2016. As always keep following for updates on Instagram (@dfpatten) and Twitter (@dfpatten) and ofcourse on here in the future.</span><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">California here we come.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">Until next time!</span></div>
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Daniel Pattenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06460798063543202081noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5117804741321929229.post-25437941665877150142015-11-11T18:51:00.000+01:002015-11-11T20:01:17.176+01:00Season 2015 over and out!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">So thats a wrap on another cycling season, the first of WIGGINS. With thoughts already turning to 2016, its time for a brief review of the season gone. My last post was way back in March and with things already rolling nicely having had a good couple of weeks training/racing for the Great Britain National Team in Mallorca and kicking off my Belgian campaign with the first Pro Kermesse of the season.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">However from the moment the Tour of Normandy began (the week after previous blog post) the body turned far from right. Not to dwell too long on the negatives, after my spring campaign was heavily disrupted, eventually the problems were identified and with the right action the body thankfully soon got back to normal. July onwards saw my expected level of performance return. As always big contributions in the domestique role, 2 wins in my own right in the UK at the Peterborough CC RR and Victor Berlemont RR and some very nice performances and results in Belgium, in particular 3rd in the Grote Prijs Gemeente Kortemark and 5th in the Memorial Fred De Bruyne Berlare.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">After this it was onto the inaugural Abu Dhabi Tour. Finally an opportunity to do such a race, something i've ofcourse wanted for a long time and want more of in the future. The 4 stages gave a somewhat balanced view of the all-round rider I am, both in terms of my eagerness to ride aggressively and be representing out front and being the loyal work horse leaving it on the road for the team. It was certainly a nice race to be part of and WIGGINS represented well across all 4 stages. You can check out coverage of each stage here:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 21px;">Stage 1: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 21px;"><a href="http://youtu.be/CYVs6AhBkBU" style="color: #0068cf; cursor: pointer; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 21px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">http://youtu.be/CYVs6AhBkBU</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 21px;">Stage 2: <a href="http://youtu.be/3vXXU9yc-2U" style="color: #0068cf; cursor: pointer; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 21px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">http://youtu.be/3vXXU9yc-2U</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Stage 3: <a href="http://youtu.be/i24AALeQ1wQ" style="color: #0068cf; cursor: pointer; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 21px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">http://youtu.be/i24AALeQ1wQ</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Stage 4: <a href="http://youtu.be/HaA_0RosTak" style="color: #0068cf; cursor: pointer; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 21px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">http://youtu.be/HaA_0RosTak</a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;">Alongside my racing its also been nice to work with sponsors and friends alike for other events, meeting a lot of new faces, visiting new places and adding a few more km's along the way. In particular with Sky, which included taking part in one of the many 'Sky Rides' this year, this one in particular being in Bristol aswell as having a very nice and informative day at Sky HQ itself and ofcourse getting to see the incredible and inspiring 'My Hour' of Sir Bradley Wiggins at the Olympic Velodrome in London. Also new to this year was joining up with Yellow Jersey Cycles and in particular joining them on there 'Saturday Social Rides' when back home in Essex. Popularity of the sport is increasing all the time and its another nice way to offer my insight and share experiences throughout the season. When both in Belgium ive been jumping on Polocini's rides around the famous and familiar roads of Flanders, again offering my insight and sharing my experiences, always a pleasure for me and those involved. And most recently contributing to a 15hr 'Spinathlon' in Tonbridge in aid of The Royal British Legion and the Poppy Appeal, a pleasure to contribute towards such a special cause and a great job done by all those involved. All ofcourse looking forward to more of in the future.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 13px;">For now a big thanks to all that have supported me during this 2015 season, it's truly appreciated as always. A winter of training awaits and then its onto the next one...until next time y'all!!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"></span><br />Daniel Pattenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06460798063543202081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5117804741321929229.post-14004395039542603422015-03-21T11:48:00.000+01:002015-03-21T11:48:50.902+01:00WIGGINS.<br />
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WIGGINS begins!</div>
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So yet again its been a while since the last blog post (December 1st). Writing that the last post I was already in the knowledge of what was going to be happening in 2015. And that is ofcourse WIGGINS!! It was a nice secret to keep until the official announcement was made early in the new year. That official announcement coming on Sky Sports News and as a long time fan of Sir Bradley Wiggins himself, Sky/Sky Sports/Sky Sports News and 'Sport' as a whole, simply the best way for the news to break!<br />
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Sir Bradley Wiggins breaking the news on Sky Sports News!</div>
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Sky Sports News..simply the best way for the announcement of WIGGINS!</div>
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It goes without saying I am extremely happy to be riding for WIGGINS! It's a huge privilege to be working with and learning from Sir Bradley Wiggins himself and all in this exciting new team. A new team with great plans and a team that is uniquely different. No surprise from day 1 it has simply felt right, a great fit and im looking forward to the season ahead. Special mention to Simon Cope too. Having known Simon since coming into the sport, its great finally getting the chance to work with him.<br />
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A great way to start the season, training & racing with the Great Britain National Team in Mallorca! </div>
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And ofcourse continuing to put the hours in at the end of the garden!</div>
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Those that know me well know its the kind of opportunity I have been working towards for a long time. Through my cycling years and even way before them in my athletics years. A rider with good testing figures such as a VO2max of 83.8ml/kg/min, a rider with wins every season, a rider that has unquestionably rode selflessly for others year by year and at the same time rode aggressively to excite races, I have always been looking for that bigger opportunity. However like every walk of life that dosn't always happen. Having also gained a Sport Science and Management degree from Loughborough University, maybe others would have stopped before now. However knowing myself and the passion and desire I possess and satisfaction gained from the sacrifice the sport requires, I simply couldn't stop. With WIGGINS I feel im getting a great chance, a chance to show and that chance I feel I have earned. A team that is uniquely different and a team of opportunity!<br />
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Kicking off the season in Challenge Mallorca!</div>
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A privilege to be racing for Great Britain!</div>
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And training with the National Team too!</div>
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Yes it will be a year of new opportunities and new opportunities have already arisen having spent a two week training camp in Mallorca with the Great Britain National Team, including racing 2 days of the Challenge Mallorca in the colours of Great Britain. It was a great 2 weeks, a great way to kick off the season and quite simply it felt right! We have recently had our first official WIGGINS team get together in Manchester, where riders, management and some sponsors got to come together for the first time. Yet again, it felt right! Ofcourse another thing that has always felt right to me across these years is Belgium and last week I was there training and racing the first pro kermesse of the season, all in preparation for the Tour de Normandie, our first WIGGINS team race which kicks off next week!<br />
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Back racing in Belgium!</div>
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And back training on the classic Vlaanderen roads!</div>
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So now its time for me to pack a bag and hit the road again. I look forward to keeping you up to date throughout the season ahead. Many thanks once again to Sir Bradley Wiggins, Simon Cope, XIX Entertainment and everyone at WIGGINS for making me feel so welcome in this new team. Also to my family and friends for all the positive responses received from y'all!<br />
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Until next time!<br />
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Stay tuned y'all!</div>
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The hard work continues!<br />
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The WIGGINS road continues! </div>
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Daniel Pattenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06460798063543202081noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5117804741321929229.post-42414858512147026412014-12-01T13:01:00.000+01:002014-12-01T16:35:15.772+01:00Back to Blog.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Winning in Tennessee!</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">With over a year since the last blog posting, you could certainly say this one is well overdue. The last year or so has been mainly characterised by loyalty and integrity (or the lack there of them). Unfortunately it lacked some of each at key times where as other times provided a nice reminder that both do still exist. As someone that truly values both you can understand why the times with both proved more pleasurable. Early on in this </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">blog-less period was a period of time that didn’t exactly leave me with inspirational words to fill a blog posting with. However I will focus more towards the positives now, but once again stories that you simply couldn’t make up and stories im sure will go in the book sometime down the line. </span><br />
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One day I will write a book!</div>
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It was unfortunately a lack of loyalty and integrity that saw me starting the 2014 season in new colours. However my season did get underway in the 2 week long stage race, Ronda Pilipinas with the Asian Continental squad of Team 7 Eleven by Roadbike Philippines. As it turned out this would be the only race I would do with this group of riders but what a race we had regardless. With everybody committing it truly was a great team performance and i'll always remember and take that from the race as well the good people met along the way. Day in day out we controlled the race which was hugely satisfying in its own right but it also meant wins and podiums would also come our way in the team. I also made the podium with a 2nd place finish on stage 5, after committing to a breakaway which also contained our team leader Mark John Lexer Galedo, then escaping in the later stages from the breakaway taking second behind Chun-kai Feng. The rest of the time the enjoyment truly came from all of us taking control at the head of the race each day and as always being a loyal domestique and carrying out those duties day in day out. Not knowing what to expect before this race, it was a nice surprise to see how quickly everyone gelled together and raced in such a manner. Unfortunately these would be the only experiences racing with these guys, but regardless the people I met both on and off the bike and the experiences that came with made it worthwhile.<br />
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Hugely satisfying teamwork day in day out!</div>
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And still time for a breakaway!</div>
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The next 3 months of the season unfortunately saw no racing and after allowing time for things to change, unfortunately there were no signs of this happening and so the rest of the season had to be planned for. A no-show season at this point was certainly not going to help in anyway and so I needed to be able to race again, even if that meant alone. With 3 months of no racing at that point of the year, I aways going to be chasing condition, but regardless it was certainly nice to be racing again and doing so in the country where I have spent so much time and have such a loyal connection with, that country being Belgium. Loyalty and integrity will always exist when it comes to Belgium and me. 22nd in Verrebroek proved to be the best result of the period, however without racing and in very good company, to still be in the hunt for the win right until the closing kms was certainly respectable. Still riding in the colours of the team I was able to ride the pro kermesses which lead me to the summer, at which time I was I was officially free from the team. After some discussion with good friends across the pond I decided to head back Stateside, which is where the rest of the season would be spent.<br />
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Flanders!</div>
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Always great to be racing in Belgium..and with great company such as the National Champion Stijn Devolder!</div>
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Always great company in Belgium!</div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Safe to say and never in doubt, loyalty and integrity continued both on and off the bike throughout this period, which im truly grateful for. You know who you are! During this period I would be racing for Cycletherapy/VOmax, based once again in the beautiful state of North Carolina. I would also guest for United Healthcare of Georgia p/b The 706 Project and even extend my stay in the US/take a trip to the Caribbean for the first time to guest for Incycle-Predator to finish the racing season in Trinidad and Tobago. I had 3 wins and 6 other podium/top 5 placings, but once again huge satisfaction also came from being/riding with and for others, especially when the others have become such good friends. Though I won't give detailed race reports on this occasion, getting the first win of the season after such a stressful previous 12 months certainly came with huge satisfaction. It came with a road trip to Knoxville, Tennessee for the two day SRS event. The first day saw a downtown criterium which I was very strong in and rode very aggressively. Unfortunately sometimes you can ride that strongly and that aggressively and it still not lead to a result. However I knew the sensations were good and so it proved as in the next day's road race I went solo for the last 50km to earn my first win of the season. Backed up by a couple more wins in the following weeks and an abundance of enjoyable moments with great people, spending the last months of the season in this way, being in the places I was and with the people I was with, it was certainly time well spent and something I am truly thankful for.</span></div>
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Memorable months Stateside in these colours!</div>
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Endurance BMX with Jon Hamblen!</div>
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More Stars and Stripes!<br />
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North Carolina truly is beautiful! </div>
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Trinidad and Tobago Teamwork!</div>
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On and off the bike!</div>
<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"><br /></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Once again a huge thank you for the support over the last year, both family and friends. Once again you know who you are! Im back home, off season break has happened and now already starting to lay down the foundations for 2015. The plans a</span>re in motion and im looking forward to whats on the horizon so stay tuned for an announcement coming soon and more blog postings in the future.<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"> Until next time!</span></div>
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Daniel Pattenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06460798063543202081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5117804741321929229.post-55402704677368215412013-11-05T21:24:00.000+01:002013-11-05T21:37:59.133+01:00Season 2013..Over & Out!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hanging out in Hollywood! </div>
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So its been a few months since my last blog posting but now a week into my off-season its time to put some words together and sign off on this 2013 season. Having stepped on the plane to the USA way back on February 4th and now already in November its been a busy 9 months. 5 months in USA to start with + 4 months between USA/Belgium/UK = a lot of km's covered in those 9 months..by plane, car, boat and ofcourse by bike!<br />
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Many km's covered in 2013!</div>
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Winning in the USA!</div>
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The official stats: 3 wins, 4 additional podium placings and 2nd & 4th place finishes on overall classifications, amongst others. Add to this the hard work on and off the bike for the team and sponsors and it dosn't paint a bad picture at all. Then add to this all the new people ive met along the way, all the places visited and all the stories that have come out of season 2013 and it will certainly occupy a chapter or two when I finally get round to writing that book.<br />
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Lots of new places visited in 2013..</div>
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..and lots of Stars & Stripes along the way!</div>
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So whats actually been happening since my last blog posting!? Well the answer to that is quite a lot and far too much to write about in this review. But in brief more time in the USA included some more nice performances including another podium, 4th place overall finish at the Green Mountain Stage Race and another nice team performance in Bucks County Criterium the day before flying back to Europe rounding things off nicely across the pond. There was some in-season summer time at home with my family (which made a nice change) with a race or two included and a nice run of Pro Kermesses in Belgium, including some nice breakaway action which ofcourse was a delight having spent so much of these last years there.<br />
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New & Familiar Places!</div>
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And so for a few thanks. Too many people to mention everyone by name (for fear of forgetting someone) so i'll keep it fairly brief..but thank you all regardless! To all at Team SmartStop Mountain Khakis..managers, staff, teammates, sponsors et al..thanks for welcoming me into the team this past year! The Dave Rayner Fund for your continued support in 2013..greatly appreciated as always (please check out http://www.daveraynerfund.com/ ) To my coach Luc Wante for once again keeping me in shape..even from across the pond! To Blair Morgan & Paligap for yet again continued support in the form of Cycleops Powertap. And ofcourse to all my family (especially my Mum, Dad and Brother) & friends (new, old and everyone in between) for your great support throughout the year..in the UK, Belgium, USA and wherever else..truly thank you!<br />
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Thanks y'all!</div>
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So the bikes are away and the bags unpacked. Time to recharge the batteries before the path to 2014 begins. That's it for now..until next time!<br />
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That's a wrap on Season 2013!</div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #37404e; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
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Nighttime fun!</div>
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Once again its been a hectic month or two and so too much to write about in a single blog post. I really should start writing a book! So I am going to keep this fairly short and sweet focusing on another victory added to season 2013 and a return to Europe after 5 months away!<br />
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Winning in Winston! </div>
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So it was decided I would make a return to Europe to coincide with National Championship weekend towards the end of June. The weekend before however would see another important race in the home city of Team Smartstop P/B Mountain Khakis, Winston-Salem. In its inaugural version and with pending UCI status for next year the Winston-Salem Cycling Classic would be important anyway. Throw in the fact that it was in the home city of the team and the importance multiplied greatly! After strong showings in the criterium the night before myself, Chris Uberti and Curtis Winsor were in the main break of the day early into the road/circuit race. Having felt so strong the night before and on the day itself, I was certainly in race winning mood. With our main rival team also having 3 riders in the breakaway it was clearly going to be a big showdown in the closing stages. Im glad to say I got the better of that showdown, after covering an attack from our rivals inside 2 laps to go, I then managed to go clear and ride solo the final 12km to the finish. Race long breakaway and solo to the line....not the first time thats happened ;-) Teammate Chris Uberti then made it an even better day by making it a 1-2 for Team Smartstop P/B Mountain Khakis! Sounds so simple lol Clearly it wasn't but right from the get go I was in one of those moods where I truly felt it was going to be a winning day....and so it proved!<br />
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Winston-Salem Cycling Classic Success! </div>
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So winning in Winston came on the Sunday and come the Monday I was boarding planes from Charlotte to New York and then onto London! What a way to end that part of the season and to return to the UK with another win in the bag. Unfortunately fortunes changed by the following weekend with the National Championships being a write-off due to sickness. Having spent the days leading up to it in bed zapped of energy, suddenly the good feelings of the weekend before had disappeared. I started because "you never know" but I soon realised that being on a bike was not where my body should have been at that time. A trip to the doctor, some anti-biotics and some rest has seen the body return to its good state again...still in UK...cue go to Wales for some British Cycling Premier Calendar action. The good feelings were back! Unfortunately an untimely flat tyre and being left with a long chase was the ultimate undoing on this occasion. I eventually made it back into the race after coming across Flavio Zappi further along the course who made quick work of getting me through the "normal traffic" back up to the race (thanks Flavio!). Unfortunately the rest of the race ultimately became just a good training day, but result aside the way I felt bodes well for the rest of the season ahead. Back in England, I just had my first spill of the year. Hitting some diesel dropping on a bend, luckily it wasn't on the faster section of the descent! A few more war wounds added to the collection but luckily nothing too serious.<br />
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Hanging out in Wales!</div>
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First spill of 2013!</div>
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For now this blog posting comes from England. Where exactly the next one will come from is not yet known. Its been great to spend some of summer-time at home with my family and I even spent my birthday in England this year which is the first time I can say that for a while. Ofcourse ive also made a return to Belgium in this time and after 6 months away it was certainly great to be back to the place where so many of my previous blog posts have come from!<br />
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Back to Belgium! </div>
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Once again please support 'The Dave Rayner Fund'! Support them to support us cyclists racing in foreign lands: (http://www.daveraynerfund.com/ - Twitter: @DaveRaynerFund - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheDaveRaynerFund)<br />
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Winning! </div>
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Until next time....<br />
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Daniel Pattenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06460798063543202081noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5117804741321929229.post-14707429034098822562013-05-14T05:57:00.000+02:002013-05-14T05:57:23.889+02:00Season 2013 Up and Running....<br />
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Checking out a piece of Route 66 in California....home of SmartStop Self Storage!</div>
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So its been a long time since my last blog posting way back at the end of February. Though I was looking to keep the posts coming frequent, the simple fact of the matter is ive been in a pretty uninspired writing mood over the past months. As reported in that previous post, I got struck down with an illness soon after arriving in the US. Though I was getting back on the bike as I wrote that post, just ahead of training camp and the start of the season, things have just not been right since. Something im not going to dwell on for long, but the effects of the illness itself and training missed in that month were multiplied as the season got underway. Quite simply I just felt extremely out of sorts. When im going to a bike race and not enjoying it there must be something wrong! Certainly not the way I intended my 2013 season to start with Team Smartstop Pro Cycling P/B Mountain Khakis. However im happy to report there have been much better sensations on the bike in these last weeks, suggesting the turning point on this season. Sometimes in these situations you just have to let the body do its thing and have a little faith.<br />
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Its not all been Hollywood glamour so far this season!</div>
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Nothing too much to shout about in those opening races for me personally so i'll give you the highlights show, recapping more recent events. Mid April saw my first podium of the year at the Dilworth Criterium. A dominating ride by teammate Nate Ward saw him take the win from a two man breakaway. I was to get ahead of the peloton in the closing stages to take 3rd. It was a good team performance and a sign of what was to come in the coming weeks. Before I get to that, sandwiched between was the Foothills Road Race in Alabama, which saw top 10 placings for myself and teammate Travis Livermon. A bit of a game of cat and mouse at the end, which on another day could have produced another outcome. But ofcourse thats cycling sometimes.<br />
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Team Smartstop Pro Cycling P/B Mountain Khakis 2013!</div>
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And to most recently and im happy to report that aswell as another podium, I was also to take my first win of the season and secure second on overall at the 'Heart of Carolina Omnium'. A three day Omnium (basically a stage race but decided on points for placings on each stage rather than time) comprising of two criteriums and one road race. And so it turned out to be quite the successful weekend for myself and my four teammates in the race. It was nice to actually look forward to racing once again. A clear sign that the body was coming around. Across the weekend we raced well as a team and throw in the fun that we had in doing so, success was never going to be far away for Team Smartstop Pro Cycling P/B Mountain Khakis.<br />
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Jon Hamblen....Winner!</div>
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And so it proved! Teammate Jon Hamblen taking the win in the 'Adam Little Memorial Criterium' solo from the breakaway, backed up by another strong ride by Chris Monteleone in 3rd. Pat Raines and Nate Ward also secured top 10 placings in the finale.<br />
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The 'Asheboro in Motion Criterium' on the second day was about helping Jon keep the overall lead aswell as securing our dominance as a whole on the overall Omnium. That we did and in fact the only thing we didnt quite do that day was win the bike race. 2nd for Jon, 3rd for myself and 4th for Nate securing our dominance on the overall Omnium.<br />
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Onto Sundays 'Denton Tour de Kale Road Race' and that was about three things 1) Helping Jon to secure the overall Omnium 2) Ofcourse trying to win the race 3) Try for all of us to move up a little bit more in the overall Omnium (after all there were a nice amount of $'s up for grabs!). It was one of those days where everything fell into place after another good team performance. Always in control of the race, we had riders in the right moves at the right times. Nothing more nothing less. Soon after bridging to the breakaway in a chase group, I wanted to test the breakaway out by making it a bit harder up front. After covering a move with around 35km to go I rolled off the front and into TT mode and the correct decision it proved to be soloing the remainder of the race for the win....happy days! This was backed up by Pat in 3rd, Chris in 4th and Nate 15th. The impact of this result was great for the overall Omnium too. Jon remained on top, I moved up to 2nd, Pat 3rd, Chris 4th and Nate 9th. A nice weekend indeed!<br />
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I love a breakaway....1st win of the season!</div>
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So there it is. There have certainly been ups and downs over these past months. Luckily the pathway on this US season is on its way upwards. The remainder of May is pretty low key, but this on the plus side allows some time to re-establish some routine in all aspects and prepare for June and the rest of the summer ahead. Thanks once again for all of your support over these last months, greatly appreciated as always! And on that note please remember to check out http://www.daveraynerfund.com/ (Twitter: @DaveRaynerFund / Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TheDaveRaynerFund?fref=ts) who continue to support me and many riders racing abroad. The rest of the season awaits for me and my Team Smartstop Pro Cycling P/B Mountain Khakis teammates....until next time!<br />
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Season 2013 looking brighter again!</div>
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<br />Daniel Pattenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06460798063543202081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5117804741321929229.post-75154308208959125182013-02-27T05:50:00.002+01:002013-02-27T06:13:16.376+01:00Stateside blogging!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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New Colours for 2013!</div>
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So this is my first blog post from across the pond aka stateside aka the USA. Despite everything tending to be bigger here in the US, I intend to keep my blog postings shorter and more frequent this year (well this is the plan!).<br />
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Its been a little over 3 weeks now since I took off from London Heathrow. A smooth flight to Philadelphia was followed by some airport time before another flight onto Greensboro, North Carolina. From there it was a short drive to Winston-Salem and the home town of Team SmartStop P/B Mountain Khakis. A longggg day but I had made it and I could begin to relax.<br />
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Philadelphia....home of Rocky!</div>
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A relaxing site in North Carolina!</div>
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After a very nice few days in good company and nice accommodation (thanks to Joe Carpisassi!), meeting new people, collecting new kit/equipment and generally trying to adjust a little to life in the US, it was time for the first little road trip of the year. Destination Athens, Georgia (and Phil Gaimon's crib...thanks Phil!) where I would be located for the next few weeks until returning to Winston-Salem for official team training camp/presentation. That time has come and so Thursday we make the trip back to Winston-Salem.<br />
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Gravel roads of Georgia!</div>
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Though I arrived safely and have been adjusting to US life the last couple of weeks here in Athens have been far from smooth. Struck down by illness my days have generally been spent on my bed rather than on my bike. However luckily I seem to be on the mend now. It was far from ideal timing and disturbances to training are never welcomed, but experience has taught me that rest and recovery are far more important during these times. My winter had been illness-free until this so good foundations for 2013 had been planted for the season ahead. This is just a slight setback and having experienced my fair share of setbacks in the past, I do not intend on letting it spoil the bigger picture!<br />
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Little Details!</div>
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And that bigger picture in 2013 is a season with Team SmartStop P/B Mountain Khakis. First time I am on a team from the USA, I have been very impressed since the second I touched down and was met at the airport in North Carolina. I look forward to what the season ahead will bring! This seems as good a time as any to mention some of our main team product sponsors that will be very much part of my life both on and off the bike this season:<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Wilier Bikes (Zero 9 training/race bikes & Blade TT bike) with VP Pedals, SRAM components, Ritchey finishing kit, Reynolds wheels, Maxxis Tyres and San Marco Saddles. Lazer Helmets, Mavic Shoes, Tifosi sunglasses and Polar Bottle(s) covering the accessories whilst Champion System are covering the Kit. Mountain Khakis provide the casual/off the bike clothes and Keen the casual/off the bike shoes. Yes I am being well looked after!</span><br />
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Team Sponsors! </div>
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And ofcourse a mention to my personal sponsors: The Dave Rayner Fund who continue to support me, Paligap (Cycleops) likewise and also to 'Beet It' for help in the nutrition department. All greatly appreciated! </div>
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Evolution over the years & continued support over the years from Paligap/Cycleops!</div>
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So thats all thats really been going on so far. Given the big move, a pretty unadventurous first few weeks in the states mainly due to being bed bound. But thats all soon to change. Onto training camp now and then afterwards its time to get down to business...race time! Starting immediately after camp in the Carolina's, by mid March I will be West Coast bound...Tucson Arizona, San Dimas & Redlands California will keep me busy for the first month. Im sure there will be much to report! </div>
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Will be on the open road a lot this year...on and off the bike!</div>
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Until next time....</div>
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Daniel Pattenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06460798063543202081noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5117804741321929229.post-8353387644371496702013-02-01T13:21:00.000+01:002013-02-01T13:21:49.036+01:00Season 2013 and USA Calling....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The racing season rapidly approaches and for me in 2013 that will mean the USA! Those that know me and those that have followed my progression in the cycling world here on my blog will know how much that has involved Belgium. The Belgium chapter will continue I can assure you of that. However for season 2013 the USA beckons and a chance to try and make an impact on the American cycling scene and a chance to continue making my way in the sport.</div>
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And so to my new team for 2013, <b>Team SmartStop P/B Mountain Khakis</b>. A US Continental cycling team based in North Carolina. After success on the National Criterium Calendar (NCC) circuit in the US in 2012, the team will be looking to maintain this status as well as add to it with success on the National Road Calendar (NRC) circuit in 2013. I am looking forward to getting rolling with the new team and excited about what the new season will bring. You can ofcourse follow mine and the teams progress through <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"><span style="font: 16.0px Times; letter-spacing: 0.0px color: #000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Twitter (</span><a href="https://twitter.com/dfpatten"><span style="font: 13.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; letter-spacing: 0.0px; text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">@dfpatten</span></span></span></a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> </span><a href="https://twitter.com/TeamSmartStopMK"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px color: #0000ad; text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">@TeamSmartStopMK</span></span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';">), Facebook (<a href="http://www.facebook.com/daniel.patten.161"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">http://www.facebook.com/daniel.patten.161</span></span></a> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/SmartStopProCycling"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">http://www.facebook.com/SmartStopProCycling</span></span></a>), Instagram (<a href="http://instagram.com/dfpatten/"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">http://instagram.com/dfpatten/</span></span></a>) and ofcourse here on my blog site (<a href="http://danielpatten.blogspot.co.uk/"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">http://danielpatten.blogspot.co.uk</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">/</span>) and the teams website </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue';"><span style="font: 16.0px Times; letter-spacing: 0.0px color: #000000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">(</span><a href="http://teammk-smartstop.com/"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px; text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">http://teammk-smartstop.com</span></span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">/</span>).</span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">For now I am getting ready to make my move across the pond at the start of next week. I will have a few weeks to settle into US life in my 2013 base of Athens Georgia, before team training camp in North Carolina at the start of March. After this the racing begins...US style! A solid winter of training so far, it all bodes well for a great season ahead. My new team have been fantastic already in support of my move to them and I look forward to many great moments with them this season! A big thank you must also once again go to 'The Dave Rayner Fund' who will continue supporting me in the USA this year...your support is very much appreciated as always! Please check out and support The Dave Rayner Fund at <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">http://www.daveraynerfund.com/</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">For my Belgium following, rest assured you will see me in my new colours on the roads of Belgium sometime this season whenever I find myself back in europe. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">To my family, friends and followers everywhere, as we head into season 2013 I thank you all again for your support. Team SmartStop P/B Mountain Khakis....heres to a successful 2013....lets go! </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></span>Daniel Pattenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06460798063543202081noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5117804741321929229.post-18406002590238223652012-10-16T18:26:00.000+02:002012-10-16T23:41:53.175+02:00Season 2012...over and out!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My 2012 season began way back on the 19/02 and with my final race on the 14/10, it is finally time to relax, reflect and look ahead to the rest of 2012, 2013 and beyond!<br />
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There have been ups and there have been downs (expected as a cyclist) but the good times always outweigh the bad. All in all I took 3 wins this year, 1 overall classement win, and 3 further podium placings amongst other 10's. As always I lived up to my reputation of riding aggressively, attacking at every opportunity and helping to get the Soenens Construkt Glas colours out front in the bike race. As well as this I again got to show this year my selfless side as a cyclist, helping my fellow teammates all in the name of the team performance. All proving that satisfaction in this sport dosn't just simply come from winning alone, but giving 100% on the road!<br />
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In case you missed them, here are a couple of videos of breakaway action this year:<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000099; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://vimeo.com/44242512" style="color: #99aadd; text-decoration: none;">http://vimeo.com/44242512</a></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cccccc; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #99aadd; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small; text-decoration: none;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdNMDf5KsvQ&feature=share" style="color: #99aadd; text-decoration: none;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdNMDf5KsvQ&feature=share</a></span></span></span></div>
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And so to some credits for 2012. Firstly I would like to thank everyone at Cycling Team Soenens Construkt Glas for your support this year. Its been a great year riding with and representing this team!<br />
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To my coach/trainer/therapist Luc Wante, who has been the one responsible for my successes this year by again keeping my body in great working order week after week for the duration of the season. Also to Dr Piet Daneels for again getting me healthy during illness. Both of whom are helping me to continue progressing in the sport.<br />
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To the Dave Rayner Fund and the Grays Public Purposes and Recreational Charity for there financial support this year. I am so grateful for your support and you have made this year possible. And never taken for granted...I ofcourse continued racing hard from start to finish in the chase of prize money on the kermesse circuit!<br />
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To other individual sponsors and helpers who supported me in one way or another with equipment/products. This includes Blair Morgan and Paligap for continued support with 'Cycleops' Power equipment. To Allen Bridge who helped me out with 'CNP' nutritional products and to James White Drinks for support towards 'Beet It' products.<br />
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To Martin Williamson and Ed Hood at VeloVeritas (www.veloveritas.co.uk) for continuing to support me in my cycling career and continuing to publish my blog posts on there website.<br />
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And finally (last but not least!) to all my family and friends for the continued support. So many people to mention by name, but ofcourse my parents and brother and everyone else that has followed, been part of and/or supported me this year. Im sure you know who you are...it means everything!<br />
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And so time to put the feet up for a bit...the future awaits! Until next time...<br />
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<br />Daniel Pattenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06460798063543202081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5117804741321929229.post-14046072809433769752012-09-01T13:16:00.001+02:002012-09-01T13:16:53.637+02:00Was only a matter of time....<br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Time again for an update as this 2012 season in Belgium continues. Yet again the consistency has continued but also now I can happily say that consistency has been rewarded with some wins. Victories have been near all year but found myself just missing out. However with 3 wins and 1 overall classement win in 2 weeks, I have finally been able to enjoy that sweet feeling of success again. It was simply about keeping the faith knowing that it was only a matter of time before the persistence paid off.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">And so to these wins, the first of which came in the town of Wambeek-Ternat here in Belgium. Also a place I was victorious in 2011. Yet again we would be faced with 13 climbs of the cobbled berg and without doubt the hottest weekend of the year....cue strong-mans race! Eventually the race would come down to 5 of us left at the front. Going over the top of the cobbled berg with 2 laps (around 15km to go) I saw I had a little gap and instinctively took a chance. With the race and the weather taking its toll on everyone it felt like it could be the right move to play. And so I was right. I quickly established a nice lead over my other breakaway companions and as it happened it was a lead that only continued to grow. Hitting the berg for the final time I continued to ride strongly and I knew once over the top that it should be mine. Still when you have been waiting for a win all year there was no chance I was slowing up. Thankfully nothing was standing in the way of victory for me that day. I took the solo victory, 54 seconds ahead of the chasers and could enjoy that moment that I had been waiting for all season!</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">This race is actually part of a 2 day classement and so I returned on the second day for yet again another 13 climbs of the cobbled berg in pursuit of the overall classement. Clearly heavily watched I soon realised that the best form of defense was actually to attack. And so I got away alone and made the break come to me. Again with the conditions this race was never over and so I had to keep doing a lot of riding to ensure we stayed out front and importantly for me ahead of the other classement contenders. In the last laps this was especially the case when some of the other breakaway riders were thinking more about individual victory. Though I came to close to winning again (placing 4th) the thoughts of the individual win had to take a bit of a back seat to ensure I won the overall. And that I did. Another successful weekend in Wambeek-Ternat which coupled with the results also there in 2011 meant I had 2 overall classements, 2 race wins, 2 further top 5’s, 2nd berg classement x3 and some additional primies for good measure. Just for reference I also placed 7th there back in 2010. Safe to say I like this town!</span></div>
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The timing was great as the following weekend would see me having a slightly different weekend racing on the Island of Jersey. Having visited there in 2009 I finally made my return this year. Cycling is very popular on the island and continues to grow. This weekend of racing is certainly evidence of that. Over for 3 races (time trial, criterium and road race) I ended up walking away with 2 more wins. I was to take victory in the time trial and road race and barring a crash in the criterium I was still in contention for the win there also. I was to finish 6th in the crtierium, but 2 out of 3 is not bad! Along with the racing I got to have a nice (extended) weekend on the Island of Jersey. Was made to feel very welcome by a good group of friends who I had not seen in a few years, got to have a good catch up, see how cycling is growing on the island and got to see more of the island itself. I also got to see ‘Big Maggys’ coffee shop, something that was just a concept being thought of back in 2009...now its a reality and some hours were certainly spent in there over the weekend. I left Jersey on my 650km road trip back to Oudenaarde satisfied after a very enjoyable weekend. Thanks to everyone there that made me feel so welcome!</div>
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And so to the rest of the year. There is still 5-6 weeks remaining of the season and with the condition still good im looking forward to what it will bring. The first win of the season is always the hardest and now that is taken care of, along with the further successes that followed, im looking forward to continuing to finish this season off in style! <span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;">Until next time....</span><br />
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Daniel Pattenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06460798063543202081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5117804741321929229.post-78726084392477785922012-07-10T11:16:00.000+02:002012-07-10T11:30:52.862+02:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Riding hard and back to writing about it!</div>
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So its been way too long since my last posting. Since that mid-April time post, my race schedule has increased, my condition also (always a satisfier) whilst the weather like much of europe has continued to be mixed. However with nice spells of nice, sunny belgium days, the good weather has outweighed those bad days....just! We'll get the real low point of these past months out the way first and that came on my return to the UK for the National Championships, which certainly did not go to plan. Not helped by a run-in with a 4x4-trailer combination just two days before, but given I got away without broken bones, im not one for too many excuses. Maybe this was just a sign to stay in belgium :p<br />
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And to the good side of racing, which has been non stop for me really since the last posting. Unfortunately my first win of the season has still eluded me, though another podium placing with a 2nd in Sint Kornelis Horebeke amongst other top 10's has shown I am trying ;-) The 2nd place in particular was a strong showing where I had been in a 100km+ 2 man breakaway, before being joined by a teammate and one other rider in the latter stages. My teammate would then attack and I would take the ride to the finish and make it a Soenens Construkt Glas 1st and 2nd. Nice to be part of that!<br />
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Along with the results however, I have more than ever been showing my strengths as a rider. Certainly as history has always proved a man for the breakaway (we will come onto this with some videos below), but also with the work I have been doing within the races for my team. Whether it be pulling/controlling on the front, chasing down attacks, helping riders to move up when necessary, usual domestique duties, etc, I have been doing it in these past months. Not only doing it, but enjoying it and showing how capable I am at doing such work. Maybe my calling really is as breakaway man/loyal domestique!<br />
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My most honourable day on the bike however came just two days ago in the pro kermesse GP Jean-Pierre Monsere Roeselare. A race that remembered the Accent Jobs Willems Veranda's rider Rob Goris who sadly died just last week. With a breakaway gone which included the likes of Stijn Devolder, 3 Topsport Vlaanderen riders and 2 Landbouwkrediet riders, it was left to the team of Accent Jobs to bring back the breakaway. Given the circumstances of the race and my willingness to work I saw it as an opportunity to get to the front and join in the chase. Something appreciated by the riders and something that on such an occasion was a privilege to be part of. And after a good long chase, the breakaway was pulled back, proving once again that satisfaction does not just come from winning alone.<br />
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And so to those breakaways. Two of which came most recently and luckily were documented. <br />
Fleche Ardennaise (Ardense Pijl Topcompetition UCI 1.2), a race regarded as one of (if not) the hardest one day race at this level for the parcours that it tackles. Going in the early break may be seen as a hard move on such a race, which is cue for me to go on the attack (like I need an excuse :p). I bridged across solo to the breakaway of 3 that had just gone and proceeded to drive it to get the gap out. Unfortunately only 2 of us out of the 4 were prepared to work but despite this we got the gap out to 3 minutes over the peloton. However in such a race this time would be lost as the race and the climbs wore on. Clearly "in the zone" and riding strongly (and neglecting hydration just a little...oops!), cramp would set in further into the race. Eventually caught by a chase group I continued working in this group at the head of the race before eventually being swallowed up by what was left of the peloton, with heavy cramps having set in. Regardless of a 50th placing and 3rd in the hill berg classement, I had left my mark again in the Ardennes. You can see it on the following video:<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #000099; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: 20px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://vimeo.com/44242512">http://vimeo.com/44242512</a></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Next up came IWT Oetingen (UCI 1.2) and coming just a few days after the Nationals I was out to make up for the disappointment experienced there. Cue attack again! I was in the early break before being caught. Went again alone before taking a slight wrong turn. Back in the peloton I was soon to attack again and finally third time lucky the break of the day was away (sounds so simple lol). I went over the Bosberg 1st, the Muur 2nd amongst other climbs and would be leading the berg classement. The break would swell but with the main teams represented it was all looking good for me. Then we hit the finishing circuits and a circuit that I would relish....cobbles! However yet again misfortune as on one of the pave sections I would get a flat tire and with only 50secs over what was left of the peloton I was out of the breakaway and in no mans land. Back into a once again reduced peloton but still leading the berg classement I would continue to the finish (in and out the cars mind due) placing 64th only to find out I had missed out on the berg classement by just 4 points, finishing 2nd. A disappointing end to what had been a great race for me. But once again I could take heart in the performance and once again satisfaction could be taken by another epic breakaway day. Again you can catch some breakaway action on the following video: </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdNMDf5KsvQ&feature=share"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdNMDf5KsvQ&feature=share</span></a></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Hopefully I get some luck back on my side in the races ahead. Finally taking a few days off from racing, I will race again in a kermesse in a few days time in my teams home town of Ingelmunster, before taking to the start in the Ronde van Luik (Tour of Liege) next week, followed by the Ronde van Namen (Tour of Namur) at the beginning of August. Good times ahead im sure! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;">Until next time....</span><br />
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<br />Daniel Pattenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06460798063543202081noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5117804741321929229.post-20840421162166349972012-04-17T15:06:00.010+02:002012-04-20T11:49:29.612+02:00Back to the front....<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 394px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0t6dQBZ5OslHvPuHuA-nePt4NAFPM4eXT8thVTShqLW6JjOJeOzwAoJeUAIi5mdSSIixNKW4kUNdQxYJ4LGZaijrg-OR3SCd1c2TLIamXWG3wrU3tTCfbxsbFAn8x9qQkUpsrao8RMBkT/s400/549551_3287251692701_1009933044_32355729_302275120_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5733400161267790322" /><div style="text-align: left;">So last time I was posting about the great weather we were experiencing in Belgium at that time. Unfortunately the sun has gone and the rain has returned. Clearly 20 degrees+ in March was a treat. Im hoping a treat that returns soon.</div></div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">None the less come rain or shine I have continued on my road to recovery, and in the weeks since my last posting, have recorded my first podium position of the year with a 3rd in a kermesse race in Bury. The heavy rain, wind and reduced temperatures would make for a hard fought battle in Wallonie. Clearly the easiest way to try and stay warm was to go on the attack (not that I need an excuse) and as early as the second lap that is where I went and the breakaway was formed. Despite attempts to bring us back it wasnt going to happen on this day. I took my share of primies and for the first time really felt I was getting back to normal. I was in the mood to ride! As the race wore on the weather took its toll and the breakaway began to split. Six of us were left at the front and would fight it out to the end. Bodies that were shutting down at that stage due to the wet and cold trying to ride away in pursuit of victory. It would not work out to be my day on this occasion but 3rd was certainly a sign that I am getting back to normal. And on top of that, despite the conditions I was enjoying being back out there and going for victory again at the front of the race. Later that week I returned to Wallonie and produced another top 10, this time in Taintignies Rumes so consistency is starting to build again.</div></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwOhCTIu6Ra_BpYaF8CPpeUjx1d-FgWoohGivmotZE2uAqkrFnou1Ofax_dpDYfGRs07piQaiA5hVit8CWLLYEFK4ubgKuDhzp7cYhpFuVuqf5ECgJUoprOV13Ck67NkdPsYJMc7n_SJ4X/s400/IMG00701-20120409-2253.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5733400717644052162" /><div style="text-align: center;">Nasty weather in Bury...</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdF_vcP9k8eokbh7W9gEZSgS3_CRi9BNuGul9UCanWtbSB6huM9aZY58wwf0qbEQwEqHz1Ea6eMZZVP6jPEl1yy9AtUa28E0YSZszx1GSNB-r7yQFxURPcGLEbnA7ngrmu4OkD80vQWyZg/s400/521744_3412251137586_1009237917_33272764_733482895_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5733400174112223266" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">...but first flowers of the year earned.</div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Im sure inspiration has also played its part in these last weeks. With classics fever in these parts, its certainly first hand inspiration on a plate. Even more so because it would be Tom Boonens classics year again....Harelbeke, Gent Wevelgem, Ronde Van Vlaanderen, Paris Roubaix....Tommeke Tommeke Tommeke Tommeke!</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO6vWgU9WRGr02rLaBMcYG_12e6hOnXWEkU58TealK-lCpLTo54bQPfwAXD2CYUn676e-YYC0ypAGVAhiECb6dzaJBEDGQBLzYkwyn2eyswvoMzinKfoOuygg0k4DFUhugFFkV7t2-QcDN/s400/IMG00658-20120401-1441.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5733400179458775778" /><div style="text-align: center;">Koppenberg Action RVV.</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNhgWAQuOAxEe6QkRVQWVYhERWVWccbY392HLKe9dexuxYIGjd3w4KccImNU4x9jrQpc6SaAIXvcSeMgGRHGg2gIR-iX_kwd1KcdEyTSA-22Uwa0lmdsxQDd9hsRt4tT-k8vWXhlcDdYQ-/s400/photo-2.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5733404187009663538" /></div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi58hDIc4PU65FTtCsBpLdlbXHWdxBE9vevBAjqSPrKO0JSmW0SI8g3p8fqARf9vumgVDOfkzsYoC9j_7fcsVZ2d3vJ96dKKTYIZ9ayDqXeiUQVamrRHzOr6_qLQgPKZe-2aTv3gGEkEuJO/s400/IMG00666-20120401-1605.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5733400187347908882" /><div style="text-align: center;">Paterberg Action RVV.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Given my returning form I have my first Interclub competition for my new team this coming weekend. GP Affligem, a race which takes in some of the famous bergs including the Kapelmuur and the Bosberg amongst others. Also the cobbled climb of Wambeek-Ternat, the location of one of my wins from last season. This week in training I went to recon the section of the race taking in the Kapelmuur and the Bosberg. With rain expected on Sunday it was important to look at climbs such as the Kapelmuur in the wet to assess ideal tyre pressures, lines to take, etc. And after 6 climbs of the Kapelmuur and 3 climbs of the Bosberg its safe to say I know them pretty well ahead of Sunday.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Until next time....</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYGaHjPIF1FgZ4DpBUj3oHCxGse5qOlBbYxZ3zI2eSykw6VX5ENO8MX4GK7cFY2HdhkigjV5FZKLg3iUtYPgil-_aYF0rJeKq6z1pYVeON1a0VV8d6o8K7JRvPUnzWbkM5OhW7AyGUA531/s400/IMG00724-20120418-1434.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5733400725142429762" /><div style="text-align: center;">The Kapelmuur.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5NZsy4g2cqNhrPBhYD_7BLDpDjHUoPzzQic8iqut3L4HBQoQlLxGH0L4lXEtmQaHFUhfRx-E4zy35SOag2fKsIT2HqiYII5g-lVyQHdfELeM4UW8GW9HTmIjAAJuiRUpP6ezVZi7H69aI/s400/540460_393599103993995_100000317259216_1298985_1309976935_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5733400156831053442" />Daniel Pattenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06460798063543202081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5117804741321929229.post-38266449404753643572012-03-26T21:30:00.015+02:002012-03-30T09:53:59.391+02:00Getting back....<img style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyphenhyphenn_Z9cFJwk3l_ziaWvlCQlItUNnTuKjFbkcwhGnX9IxVnN3_7ZlSbxa3fkYVOO2QsDjl-LyFtf4S00bNMrZWeyn_TAIWqTil73KgagoJnByXUSId_xyt9CgNQxtVa0SgfBX0QI2DnjjH/s320/431226_3279470620645_1083928044_33090173_94778526_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725401187389895634" /><div style="text-align: left;">So its been a fairly quiet start of the season for me, but I can say now that things are underway. A blood test here in Belgium revealed lower iron levels, which most likely explains my lethargic start to the new year. Since then things have been progressing nicely for me and the body is finally getting back to some sense of normality. Training has been consistently better and I have begun racing and quickly finding my feet again.</div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 182px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoSTmbv89Q-_EevkUJRyScVDTB_0Kj1U9qOaEhROztf3Fw3CeOTwv8ep2BvKVP1zcbRHV4VL7IgxVn8JJZnZ7fLCsfRpkwZJsuk3kKBY4hRu2XG6a_yqkFq6_6qLNTqljucK5H-QtdCOfd/s320/552622_3235552700986_1631765397_2548669_714120957_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725402986624902626" /><div style="text-align: left;">Of course what has helped has been the great weather conditions that we are experiencing this month in Belgium. 20 degrees +, sunshine and bright blue skies certainly helps morale. And with such nice weather, what better than training on the famous flanders bergs or to spin out on the Schelde peloton to help find the legs again.</div></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuBiFVc0oAprwTV0yKccOvKegGKc0eTVKPUEyweiC2mqc4O3YU4miUOI7gWX7GZ22F5XtPvrJ3j8hJC6oGPn9qOfBqwnvC-MRGsobj-XRsqyPTONR1q1towiQDUsljNZO9zBrdUBqBLF73/s320/64012_3279472700697_1083928044_33090177_1401628466_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725401175384704834" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYOdvbnl24z3sE3aeEdTJdoRGLLkT-QoNUBwZ9ishCeeAChGVjRpLCoYpBB5319IvGqq3DEZkleOzeUrFuEpfT-dlVji3oMOyrOiqFCPP2cGj_SZmmQUcn6Kzkt55RvIuG8FQS2ivePe9j/s320/420178_3279529262111_1083928044_33090312_958912148_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725415770021372450" /><div style="text-align: left;">Early season racing in Belgium is known for being a little on the crazy side and this year is certainly no exception. Big pelotons (in the line), fast racing and a lot of eager riders certainly keeps things interesting. For me its simply been about finding my legs again, which in a few races seems to be happening. After solid performances in both Meulebeke and Ichtegem where I rode strongly but without any major result (31st and 28th respectively), I already produced my first top 10 placing of the year this weekend past with an 8th in the Beloeil kermesse. I may only be trying to find my racing legs again, but that dosnt stop me getting involved with the attack fest that is kermesse racing. From km 0 the race was on and I was very much involved in the action from start to finish, which can only be good signs and certainly an indication that things are getting back to normal.</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ1lf9VeHFhKb0Xduogin_r2SpCnBrNKLC6E2W16QYKvH61ZTm1GRuMW-r7eXNNwId6nZN1To903PncPb3FjnRpGCVzYedZyGCPQZJc1voHkFDndWlQYHVApWFdUQuJZ4t_-XhqW-A5-IB/s320/464980_3365464067886_1607677721_32862772_1882276162_o.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725401210405975810" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 211px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii8rUZs2XSk08PKglw2-wVs76u6GrW5ep18-eejppPsXMTNaa1gQI1apeocYZzMt-6EP7S0S4tLexZN-rSg7Bixj1RS5hrzXBMnOO8MgNHQCMiBPdypjxCXBmhKRUTY1-mvmzTzkt6vVoL/s320/464320_3365426026935_539767001_o.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725402978835913778" /><div style="text-align: left;">In between training and racing, I also did a bit of acting for the filming of a tv advert. 100 euro gig for riding up and down a section of the Paddestraat cobbles (not much acting involved there) numerous times on a nice sunny day and a lot of banter to go with....was a nice way to make some extra euros. The belgian classics have also been in full flow, with the biggest of them all, the Ronde Van Vlaanderen coming up this Sunday. Seeing it all first hand once again continues to inspire me and remind me of where I want to be.</div></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7HnxAK6RE2cbA2CetzjUl7rHjyaU9enso7j0UfL92yEZ7T1LucTlnvgJrG0T2_Dcg77NZZlgwunTEhSHcauU_4U4qRvFUqPW4azaMGObKonIdMDGS5pbhzR6RVpr2ipfa55TmtPjxgwqu/s320/photo.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725589450759273090" /><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUYDeYhzAOiBGb6NaICFptwNQuuGUq5V4omm41ggoMNaWOx76-XX3b8-hOrnPb2e33YmGSp8VFxgnAXO5wKK6RofLKXnO2jp_wtJFdgGEurfj2KVmTIFrIAyfLNvA6o0DOI-5f4eQh-Xv0/s320/563627_10150678957871950_680456949_9320647_1278507802_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725401190380720210" />So I am up and running and im sure theres going to be a lot to talk about in the coming weeks. Good times ahead....until next time!</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 217px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdgmDZd-s6tvED__8nzu-JXfbTsS_RFXuxVI2123XRuHQbSkk6kaXZ_2FaoRVzVzT6HWwUMBkPwJzc6C8hl3NfthhcwxTs02qoluQdDB9GePEH7TWXlg2pF8h8Ii4dUQ4nhW-MXWwfIzqm/s320/429917_312923072096347_100001359715143_794178_1288366999_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725401183294521826" />Daniel Pattenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06460798063543202081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5117804741321929229.post-90757362171178476022012-02-05T19:50:00.020+01:002012-02-13T11:37:06.703+01:00Season 2012 is here....<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFbiVJnurUnWRgreHwjMOeElcvJPv5alLv7_rizYInDcEWxH2IAQezgKnqX_dFEUcbmJ4py8uIYqRtd9P57WtoF8AKBo1ff4ItjPafJ7v7WLpChCUI31JLcfBBHjsZZlVgK1TjAubT4QvO/s320/409013_2925013653974_1519879359_2850758_496352488_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707880794671410514" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia;">The season is here and so I thought it was about time that I posted my first blog of 2012, to fill you in on whats been happening over the winter months and what I am up to in this coming season.</span></div><div><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Georgia; min-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Georgia"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">The winter consisted of some functions, some visiting, catching up with UK life, not to mention a couple of trips back to Belgium. It was really nice to be back at home with my family, though I wonder now where the time has gone. I also began to learn dutch properly, using the Rosetta Stone learning program and that has been coming along nicely. Training through November and December was "relatively" smooth and over christmas dinner I even decided I was going to participate in my first running race in a fair number of years, taking place on boxing day. My Dad would also take to the start line with me. Clearly I wasnt going to be the runner that I used to be, but put in a pretty reasonable performance for a "non runner" finishing in 11th and really enjoyed the outing. It reminded me once again why I always loved the sport so much. My current "non running legs" however were not so appreciative afterwards (thats what you get for spontaneous running outings ;-))</span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Georgia"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXe61ghvHuWMNlWYRuJ1iFcAy3xPc9uasr-wG1N3GBMCxlOJIS9hYxqf6Xh3m3VcNt2cIttwsqjyfK5qlVsd9Bzic2BwU0Gn2pbhoOsBBLwsOxcACWrwFV4nI8cRkd3_DmY3L863jHPHxC/s320/IMG00478-20120108-1243.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708559873142089794" /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">Back in the Athletics column...</span></span></p><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1DauQoi410HkjXNVn9WyXq4C4K-RqgH4J3vDhPFG5OxU6oL42yutFJIZcUxNYQpGQaMN1_IXTHXZYY7mvPfBtKIV2sW1NUuh8ga39KeJLRNLISfeG3qaPe6-wHIXGDZem6x_6soH6ftn6/s320/IMG00514-20120201-0904.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707880814019675730" /><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Georgia; min-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">Some 'extra credit' Rosetta Stone Dutch!</span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Georgia"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Georgia"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">Into the new year and January wasnt such an inspirational month for me. Not ill and not injured, but just didnt feel myself. Lethargic and just waiting for something to click in place. However we took the sensible option of not pushing it and scaling back the training, given that the winter until that point had gone smoothly. Having got to see my chriropractor, Matt Rabin, by the end of the month (he was on team duties with Garmin Barracuda in Australia until that point), my body was put back right and normality restored.</span></p><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge29fidA3O3MxOGtNfG56OUCJOpQpkmQt1eVNbpyFJdYlbEGCiVgcbf99FCwcom0mCm6fg3ZThOc1-CG8jj-tfw0A8YEF_zLUlnidZoWXExgFNXOkXXi9D6N4juMwwZDO7tidhJZsal2yT/s320/IMG00528-20120206-1507.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707880834495011938" /><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Georgia; min-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">Sunny Mojacar (Almeria/Spain)</span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Georgia; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Georgia"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">As experience has taught me, some easier weeks like those in January, do not do any harm. And so it has proved. On the 1st February I moved back to Belgium as just a few days later I would be off on training camp with my new team for 2012, Soenens Construkt Glas. The training camp was held in Mojacar-Almeria, Spain. We were generally doing up to around 5hrs most days, some of those hillier than others and both on the flat and in the hills I was ticking along nicely and no ill effects of the lethargic January. I am happy with how my week progressed and so is the team so things back on track. Early season racing in Belgium can be very unpredictable so I will just be finding my feet again in those early races and continuing to work on my condition. My first race is already scheduled for the 19th February, a race which includes the "club championship", officially kicking off season 2012 for me.</span></span></p><img style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; font-family: Georgia; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSaWpFi7mg1KY5ncSMptjwzOEte5cNVV1h4mps665b2lv932V0u7z2GKMGak3FAglvUxz7xPMRA_m1W8zj_deUgqV8X3xUl1sTrVSrxU47ZMIF95MRAE7tcPw44A-2VXCreRmR3m0oqrS0/s320/IMG00555-20120209-1335.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707880858866114978" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia;font-size:small;"> Some nice climbing...</span><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Georgia; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:85%;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAbA26SDglhgn2fyrNQCqzMlYuakP2We_5gzFby3yEXVBZSTvNMwM76MF7KaVmRq6elNINnUieC1mPwZ1VkJy_bgPblZWdkq_bejhBVPoE0uVf3MMPsTdMBnWPW6A4x7sMn6GjSfTpvg8R/s320/IMG00553-20120208-1552.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707883018969755906" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; font-family: Georgia; " /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Georgia; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:85%;">...and some time to relax!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Georgia; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:85%;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Georgia"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:85%;">And so to my new team for this season, Soenens Construkt Glas. A long established and one of the best amateur teams in Belgium, I am happy to be on board for 2012. Though its a team from West Flanders, I will continue to be based in East Flanders at 'The Hof Ter Kammen’ in Leupegem/Oudenaarde. Talks with the team began last summer after some very nice results on my part and immediately I was offered a place for 2012. Though I enjoyed my time with the Asfra Racing Team, this opportunity will give me bigger opportunities, an even better race program and hopefully then with success the ideal platform to go onto even bigger things. I will once again be supported by the Dave Rayner Fund, whose support I am most grateful for. I have also received a grant from the Grays Public Purposes and Recreational Charity (a local organization to me at home). This support from both of these organizations is again allowing me to race in Belgium and I will be looking once again to repay there support with much success in 2012. For now I am concentrating my efforts on this year and looking forward to a successful year for myself and the Soenens Construkt Glas team.</span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Georgia"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:85%;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvziSGE0TOlq5509VEGfWBOPFeNnQtyD1DNUvRP-HseNHt_I8G4tdsb0LfHD6fj89qiqMU7kv4cIfuGLfbUbHsZipAjlye5UOrPnhAl1V-xEOomlvXwWS57gc7C5e-3RiCJLwceKKSz2nY/s320/image001-2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5708387407677248370" /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Georgia; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;">Soenens Construkt Glas 2012...ready for action!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Georgia; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;"><br /></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Georgia"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><span><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrBlH40KOywgDlQk-JuXpy7mR7mjfz72EpgUXgAU6rjnbNlr5cUwYjDOfj6BlY6vbrpwRXtVSIIdKx3PeqJeyL-9almjAxKoHXgBKaP_ZF9ieMWhijeATbgBXd5gC4oSGC-c4clzOPZj2H/s320/IMG00542-20120208-1335.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707880805967545506" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; letter-spacing: 0px; " /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Georgia; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">My 2012 teambike....Pinarello Dogma 2</span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Georgia"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Georgia"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">Equipment wise I will be racing on a Pinarello Dogma 2 teambike. I will be training (and racing sometimes) once again with my Cycleops Powertap Powermeters thanks to the support of Paligap. Training and racing in Belgium usually produces some interesting figures, so I will look to report some of those within my blogs. </span></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Georgia; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Georgia"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">The season soon begins and I hope I will be blogging about the many successes in 2012. Thanks for reading. Until next time!</span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Georgia"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqWOJwXvqaISZUhfHIqr7-NiULdkDmfaAKHnkeGauo0bbU-HlaX0f-FLYPRo5iyyvYSrr12xVDPjnYlCo-ouOuIh3BjEGhC7xdIvb89WTBugnrHBaK9H7XerNClNreQViE3vC2GHuMq2m0/s320/IMG00568-20120210-1752.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707883061182033314" /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Georgia; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"> The calm (before the storm that is early season racing in Belgium)</span></p><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibubo1zFOn3Ch4ZmU5V89fxbR5EkBXH1suTn0_4sYRC2cUYmyrUYJuPUTgmEWjY8jId9UOP9jF3PICCSIvPBgY2uXacQOcj6ZeslVdi2906v4D6v2D4K81u1dnhMMVedeCMg_cyhZRWNGd/s320/IMG00549-20120208-1336.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5707883047455788658" /></div>Daniel Pattenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06460798063543202081noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5117804741321929229.post-87144653569301819092011-10-29T16:24:00.020+02:002011-10-30T14:34:56.184+01:00Dank u wel - Thank You !!!!<img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 242px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEVwtnaTAEQOjWhs-kCJ7Cv3nlkNoirC1yeA1zFZIr5nqjg0FQeo9JZshHFjljZh8chzr9yclCT2M68lE78i5j-Gyn6HeoPp7vuDhuS0dCjKfPsBYTY_629Z-fpe0N7PXudfSE_RHo6KQl/s320/261238_181426381914990_100001428878366_488600_590599_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668922082450647938" /><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:100%;">So Im well into my off season ‘rest up’ now and with thoughts again turning towards getting back on the bike, I thought it would be a good time to sum up the 2011 season and most importantly thank those that made it possible.</span></div> <p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><br /><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">Two wins, two other podiums and twelve top ten placings, in addition to a two day overall classification victory, meant 2011 in Belgium turned out to be another successful season. Of course more wins would always be a bonus, but wins are certainly not easy to come by in Belgium. True to form my attacking nature continued and even though it didnt always lead to victory, I have many many good memories from Belgium 2011.</span></div><p></p><p></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;font-size:100%;"></span><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 217px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiruwjzeC9XG3CpAXFQIorIpgCXVOt8SjQb2YrHkahfNu2Hmha_k9GEltScNb_u3SVpyB_xoolJ0KmgyuDbfOjS9usDo5fCEsjuwV4jcMlKc4SLAFMNWTRzaJRBMLlW54ZnpQool_bM8asy/s320/248620_2004025772832_1009237917_32377350_6747387_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668920836788046322" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUld7-bcE96Duk341wimfjONa-_rQJFdoh21hBSmOJxIs3dvm8eTpU4X27pG9CPgWDg0MJ8ETlVfhdqqq7p9w2MEyOlOKGIaTl27aJBSqn0-cQ6ukTPMj_3b4B3bwkTLx3lb5EMqb0_yTl/s320/241719_1958162626360_1011577828_32281036_3470637_o.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668920835902789218" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBwb-eokqsTRkjOawmsx6Dqr7RArL1N87x0aOBrXem_bD3mcRvheou1MgiaRt5e7jDivlpnxh5_m0JXyLNHXpdzSl9dwfGxOmJWFXZLIDWWGXhlNHK4hVJZWo1fAjQp3ycLcyz8e765uFz/s320/300843_1868094272793_1554166452_31392986_3885868_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668922106722387490" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:100%;">I also have a lot of people to thank. To my sources of funding - The Dave Rayner Fund, The Grays Public Purposes and Recreational Charity and The Thurrock Sports Council. I believe that racing in Belgium is the best chance for me to get the opportunity to continue progressing in the cycling world and without such support, I would not be able to do it. I am extremely grateful for all your support!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM2GpW2UmC10qbW7Je0ZHZ4G-ip-XNq4M_2lydEU3XCgshqSmHwD1Yh3GQ63koM-GMSYP-aEjtQB8x06blXkhgOJhkE1prngC3nyiq-1ERT2lugSnsi8UmmZtDLo_SVvrCf-u2ZduztNCc/s320/253676_2019124710296_1009237917_32398831_7373059_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668920856821976258" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " /><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2DACRZXZ0qJlZj0U5XyPxOOomj_BZzqphe-aDm0uCujTtR-uTvweyFbbqpmYaE3vZPsOs8bnQI2piqcKd7ppYVkk92Z-TBAWIjwWsL8jk5OPodJ9hOhEqthhjQCJA2dpQSm-ZrK7DqhO/s320/315671_2319410537254_1009237917_32726075_1888591866_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668925605118140994" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px; " /></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;font-size:100%;">To David Harmon of the Spokesmen Agency who has been my manager this season. Unfortunately other commitments mean that David will no longer be representing riders in 2012, however I am very grateful for the help this year and look forward to staying in contact in the future. This leads me nicely onto Onix Bikes, as it was David that hooked me up with Craig Middleton of Onix Bikes. A big thank you to Craig and the whole Onix Bikes crew for supporting me this year and in the companies maiden year in the peloton. Im sure big things are planned for Onix Bikes in the future! Onto Paligap, and in particular Blair Morgan, who continues to help me with Cycleops Powertap Products, thanks once again for the continued support!</span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ7q5rP0bDdrGZ8PaKk2l4ar521SWYX4wi-e3h0oqKgBInGS_LlIQrPJQASwoY21XJvteu3O1Hgah7ZBAwRnfQn6GDKwXiPijTAUBHZVNBCZIYm941W84hyphenhyphenXIpwxSb3bkhojkCn8-tioBx/s320/IMG00135-20110401-1736.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668931208760715026" /></span>One of the most interesting developments in 2011 has become the impact of Luc Wante on my life in Belgium. Not only has he got me back on my bike (and kept me on my bike) after crashes and injuries, but he has also taken care of coaching me. Im looking forward to what 2012 will bring under Lucs guidance! And to Dr Piet Daneels who has also kept me healthy again in Belgium this year and is always keen to see me progress in the cycling world....much thanks!</span></p> <p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 14px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:100%;">Whilst Luc and Piet keep me healthy in Belgium, it is Matt Rabin that does the same when I am back in the UK. Not least so, last winter when I missed most of the winter with an achilles injury. However it was Matt that got me back on the bike then and between Luc, Piet and Matt I truly believe I have the very best keeping me in healthy working order. Now that is peace of mind!</span></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 215px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYKvMJaG5KLBX9Id-Q8QauQRQ0ZhsOJ1NCgmR95pD2xkhH0S9_Shm28XjPsPthLNhGnxu5JF5ZGSdBG74cEv5VX9wgY6lAOfvSbzIWKh3oDP-Wvi5O6pdAhVK52Lyycz2gshT7NlmAVJR5/s320/225423_1801338472045_1197306509_31661513_6996293_n-1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668920831950628066" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiUnwUEhQQYOjpSP2Qz7qNvefVZAK3l_Ka4WPLD3rirpneb_twIAhZ-Lk04g84-s8qCIexFeXYraJDnkok5spfhSIkuu5cCbeeQZfNmuFDLlQJW9FagVlOEdvzkg7ov9ChCPDrd-YOb_JY/s320/255683_167252643337805_100001592115518_430881_3331769_n-1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668920860522656018" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV03z3yD20RbIPwaykxghs6SWeKLJvCm9jBLQjaxUoStUcOvE4I4x6Y5lBcYoE_8QanzH86H7gaBmk74_G9ftPvv2_G63IfhBmMWmNe03RUYRtoVQkwEZHdX5vc8UZ5s-kf7NjnSE_YtjC/s320/268622_2133421530134_1083928044_32397067_5433368_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668922099826923794" /><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:100%;">Now this blog could go on and on thanking people, but it could be endless haha So my additional thanks (im sorry if i miss anyone out!) go to Adrian Timmis @Cadence Sport, Wouter Marijsse, everyone at the Hof ter Kammen, Luc and Ronny Assez and everyone involved at the Asfra Racing Team, Simon Jobson, Mal and Brian @Le Beau Velo, Ciclos Uno and importantly all my family and friends that have continued to support me in 2011. Many friends (and fans), new and old in Belgium and the UK....you know who you are! And all my family, especially my Mum and Dad and Brother who continue to support my cycling career in more ways than one! Thanks to you all....keeping the faith!</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;font-size:100%;">2012....BIGGER AND BETTER....CAN'T WAIT!!!!</span></p><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 201px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCXL-YshjanPu1lAHt_5mH1aijrmt-_xWEZqquHpUQYk-FBCTysMVfXZ1RcZk9R00NSi6Tr-iNwA_ts2hOlOQTSqH1xm1HVZREiSk38D4_joRJNKjVWIatoCkMHE3xelE4NesxIALCUmTP/s320/300545_2214555195936_1009237917_32625219_6657445_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5668922102131155538" /> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica; min-height: 14.0px"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span><br /></p>Daniel Pattenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06460798063543202081noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5117804741321929229.post-83166707487970149562011-09-21T21:09:00.015+02:002011-09-27T20:40:18.527+02:00An Onix Year!<img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipvKQDAjtrJCo0Ts7uWzd5HFCIfC309dLOsgC34wFM2yczNtt8sJf7DCTXV0R_Uiykh5zVZVwLFmZV9H5NaKw1Vmoq2PukEKiCSg4VDerwhhIVa5UlENHb6pj9ddJTwql4YPsjPrNZx7DG/s400/312062_1868090952710_1554166452_31392966_165579_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656769844652493170" /><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:85%;">It was back in January of this year during a training camp in Majorca that I first heard about Onix Bikes and the possibility of working together for the season. After a little browse of www.onixbikesonline.com I was soon to give the man behind Onix bikes, Craig Middleton, a call. From that very first conversation I soon realised how passionate Craig was for Onix Bikes and where he wanted to take Onix to. After returning from training camp I would make the trip up to Preston from Essex to meet the man himself and from that first meeting it was clear for all to see that a lot of work and thought had already gone into Onix Bikes and that was clearly set to continue in the year ahead. I got to see the equipment I would be using for the season and I was more than satisfied with what I saw. Over the coming weeks we would talk specifications and I would be given two bikes from Craig....one Azzuro (my race bike) and one Aurious (my training bike). As you will find out in this blog the two soon become interchangeable, as I found out quickly that the Aurious was more than capable for the demands of racing. In return I would publicize the bikes through my racing and training and something I saw as even more important, was a testing role. What better testing ground for an up and coming bike brand than a season racing in Belgium. If a bike can survive a season in the heartand that is Flanders then to me it has passed the ultimate test.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 269px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnjKhyphenhyphenyXMp7ZiPE41L5rVIzvZjy5s1bxwf3JW34WF4LKmTDj4PUF3aWo8PxdPCZ8NDY6oanEE8LIvWobPpY-_tJb_PW53r6Q_zmMyqnHATj3iTBXNEm0RHKT0lMMdJ96VIlmSoHbo7GZhQ/s400/225423_1801338472045_1197306509_31661513_6996293_n-1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657110364631551602" /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">These bikes have not simply just survived this season....they have thrived! Lets start with the Onix Azzuro, given to me as my race bike and top of the range of the Onix collection. As in my initial review of the Azzuro earlier in the season, this bike is a stiff machine designed for performance. Initially we wondered would it be too stiff when it came to some of the rough roads, the pave sections and the cobbled bergs. Conclusion......it was never an issue! The Azzuro has been ridden over the rough stuff throughout the year and performed superbly from day one. Here Onix really have designed a top of the range frameset capable of any demands placed on it. When it comes to racing everyone wants a stiff bike and with the Azzuro you get that. But equally important is having a reliable bike that handles well and you feel in control of....exactly what you get with the Azzuro! And after all the demands that have been placed on the Azzuro throughout this season, it is still going strong and as a test of reliability I think that says a lot right there!<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvBdgqdSUD_2VG-8uIAAhRa0FUSpW_3iDthcD8a7zIhvc8wBKX7CnPVKL75W27ao06hHcRiOK32gsd8viWbDKVrIFOtcEb2BmDq01nL4xIAvhFKsz6y046pA6_ZgIcfiZvV8VUrLiLxR_e/s400/IMG00269-20110926-1047.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656769828246412242" /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">And onto the Aurious, the bike that little was known about prior to me testing one. The Aurious is maybe the dark horse of the collection and I think Craig was happy to here the positivity about this bike matching that of the Azzuro. Due to geometry differences I had to go with a size smaller when it came to the Aurious (52cm compared to 54cm Azzuro), but it was a good choice, something I was soon to find out as soon as I set out on my first ride on the Aurious. The bike just felt right. Normally with a new bike there will be the usual constant adjusting of components to get the desired position feeling right. It was simply not the case with the Aurious. A few little adjustments and I felt right at home. Feeling comfortable and in control of the bike underneath you is a big must and with the Aurious I certainly get that. This again like the Azzuro is one reliable bike. This bike has been ridden hard this year in Belgium, just as much as the Azzuro, as it has been ridden over the flanders pave and up the cobbled bergs countless times (sorry Craig I am drawn to the rough stuff in training) and like the Azzuro has held up perfectly and still going strong. And in terms of performance this bike could quite easily be mine or anyone's race bike. In fact it has been my race bike on many occasions this year. Racing in the hills of the Tour Nivermais Morvan, up the Muur de Huy in the Tour of Liege and on the kermesse circuit, in and out of the corners, over the pave, up the bergs, this bike has been able to cope with every demand placed on it and not let me down!</span></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj25cTKu5WKsH_Uhv_V96XYW4oxtCT6oRl9Gf0HLDG9D2pQx0ODdKOTOQFStENooQMCNmyR0q2PjpJPo2_yg-FclOpIMGB_HVVMOa1sPzMd4HWKhz-wi49oRAku3BYuTnRswxEd8_HiRbpZ/s400/IMG00268-20110926-1046.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656769833799166594" /><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:85%;">Onix Bikes is a company that is making its way and 2011 has been a big year in the development of the company. Craig is certainly not resting on his laurels. Much work is going into making the bikes even better for 2012. Trips to the production base, the Interbike show and constant hard work is going into Onix Bikes to take further steps forward for 2012. Craig was also very smart to produce Onix kit. Produced by BioRacer, this is for sure some quality kit and spreads the Onix name even further. I am not exaggerating when I say this is some of the most comfortable kit I have worn so far and it is a pleasure going out on my Onix bikes kitted up in my Onix Kit. If the bikes and kit are anything to go by, then anything coming from Onix in the future will not be short on quality!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 271px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr2ay2ZXfTkyJjRtdAvQTdNDA7EMxi4eDLtBCXJItUwPfdR0Tk8jrcUVqw7b7me40yItdUbKZPsNHtVe9ZRCIXQ4eX0xBAwJIikCeFhyphenhyphenitj5nDcPzeCIl2X2Exy4YSp3Y5yx_1SP8x6NHi/s400/248620_2004025772832_1009237917_32377350_6747387_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656769848619870946" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 204px; height: 325px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVp350hofPhFSpCAeSI5AGIsZ56hB-Sf5lQ0i647WtfApif55RVSaFDHXWxUnBDeUYD5USPi0PpJpl13mtNfZH8ZkYLBHQ22Fk5IB3Bmf_ohhdju8pa6Mnyj7Azx1Yh_r1MN-IDmhZVIla/s400/300545_2214555195936_1009237917_32625219_6657445_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656769837931099874" /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">It has been a pleasure to be involved with Onix Bikes in what is its real maidnen year and whatever team I find myself on in 2012, Onix has played a key role in getting me there throughout 2011. To have a company that is just starting out have confidence in my ability as a cyclist and to provide me with the equipment I need for a season in Belgium, is something I am truly grateful for. With only a couple of weeks of the season now remaining, Onix bikes have already taken me to two wins, two other podiums, eight further top ten placings and a two day overall classement all in Belgium this year. This again speaks volumes about the quality of bike coming from Onix. Onix Bikes are gathering momentum...join the Onix movement!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ">Onix Bikes Website: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="text-decoration: underline ; letter-spacing: 0.0px"><a href="http://onixbikesonline.com/">http://onixbikesonline.com</a></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:85%;">Twitter: @Onixbikes (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;">http://twitter.com/#!/Onixbikes</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Helvetica;font-size:12px;">) </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;">& @Cyclecraig (http://twitter.com/#!/Cyclecraig)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ">Facebook: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-family:Helvetica;"><span style="text-decoration: underline ; letter-spacing: 0.0px"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001263792700">http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001263792700</a></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:85%;">Onix Bikes YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/Onixbikes</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:12px;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWKrmwSwNzKvS_CGXbYIgl730lQpZtNwqaTjNM_55e9YLDA0uxpOHQfOQLxaXzPFcqF56EPD7AVcRd7PY7hd0l9sQCxvARws0U3DvXMt2v_mf3zDmkAghqJySSxAeAIIvUbeBhSfZa34dU/s400/IMG00264-20110923-2243.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656771031354778530" /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:85%;">Until next time....</span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;"> </span></div></div></div>Daniel Pattenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06460798063543202081noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5117804741321929229.post-19709684013463064152011-09-03T14:47:00.010+02:002011-09-05T11:31:35.371+02:00back to winning and back to typing......<img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSS8z5SI0DbNR2rbu-pUsIo-VAwFuRCMYaEOytBQLoEitRt6KMqC0DoHBI7whhtEV8UCjtfFL9RD66Oc2Ox6hwA0rI9SvZBffi05ksGe0GyxGTy83eEdoczQwROgt5935WnTAO9PmePgmK/s320/300843_1868094272793_1554166452_31392986_3885868_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648125222665954130" /><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family:Courier;font-size:100%;">Yes I am still alive....though the last week I have not moved far from my bed after being hit hard with a chest infection! Anyway I apologize for my lack of updates recently. It has been a pretty busy few months of racing and the weeks have just been flying by without even knowing it. My trusty macbook has also been playing up on me, which couldnt have happened at a worse time (apologies for any spelling mistakes as I am currently typing with a belgian keyboard which my computer does not recognize :)). Remarkably I have held good form for the most part over the last few months and with that has come some good showings and more importantly some good results. Most recently 2 weeks ago I took my second win of the season. It was a kermesse race in Wambeek that saw me and a rider from the Kazakhstan national team (Alexey Lutsenko) dominate and ride away about halfway through....never to be caught again! With a cobbled berg each lap for 13 laps, the course certainly is selective and so it proved on this day. We worked well together and I would go on to take the win come the finish. Coupled with a 5th place in the same race two days previous, it also meant I took the overall two day classification. On both days I also took 2nd in the berg classification so it really did turn into a successful series of races for me.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhiBoL95vvi3LLSuauX4kuJNC-pgJs0Yt2dL88RIdTsqhVxJxv7vznqkT53IB3WOkx11U4Py0A1mOSH_a6qdfvywfwCAge0jR9t1Bfg_n9FB11N4v1rhvyT-dar8LTvrnl69K095yazZFF/s320/300545_2214555195936_1009237917_32625219_6657445_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648125219390641106" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 201px; height: 320px; line-height: 17px; " /><p style="text-align: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Courier; min-height: 12px; "></p><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family:Courier;font-size:100%;">Between my successes in Gits and Wambeek I have had a number good top 10 placings, the best being a 3rd in Merelbeke and 4th in Ingelmunster.....both very strong performances and coming very close to the win on both occasions. I also had a very strong showing in the Belgium cup race (Beker Van Belgie) Zillebeke-Westouter-Zillebeke where I was away on the attack from km1. Though the breakaway would begin to split up on the finishing circuits, I always remained in the front, attacking probably more than anyone in my search for freedom. Though the break whittled down, unfortunately we were to be caught by another small group in the last few kms and I would end up 12th. Not the result I was looking for but certainly a strong showing having been out from the off. I would also have an attacking Tour of Liege (Ronde van Luik), stage 2 in particular where I was out for most of the day. Going over the famous Muur de Huy in second place, I would continue pushing on in the second half of the race when the peloton was closing in. It was inevitable that we would be caught eventually, however yet again I think I showed the type of rider I am and continued to ride even when it was only me left out front, until they finally dragged me back. I actually found myself in nice time trial mode... well that was until I see the lead motorbike turn off up a road that resembled a wall and at that stage of the race that was to be the rhythm breaker for me and the peloton would swallow me up.</span></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIuuyY3LcsZYf5K_hrd04FDYKTLhpWFt4yhc_oULF3G0kKkfk20X7bhy0kVqcp7wbfqM74ckJO0K_hB1ZTawFvZNGyqhO1aLg8kYe0R0uOznNla6pS8GZDh9H75AEwLjhZQBv4AfP9s8og/s320/312062_1868090952710_1554166452_31392966_165579_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648125223540869026" /><p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 17px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Courier; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); min-height: 12px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></p> <p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 17px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Courier; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">A couple of weeks later I would come very close to winning the first stage of the Tour of Namur. At this point I was beginning to get a bit tired and in need of a break. However despite suffering through most of the first stage (and I was hanging at times), I was able to come alive at the end and get away in a small move in the final 10kms. With 3km to go it was just three of us but we were soon joined by eleven more. I misjudged the finish a little, leading the race through the final chicane with around 50m to go, only to be swamped and ending up with 9th. With 21 seconds time gap over the peloton this did give me an ideal opportunity to try and go into a jersey in the next days. However events on the road over the next couple of days meant the advantage soon slipped away. The last couple of days I would lend my services at the front of the peloton to help control things with the team of the leaders jersey (EFC Quick Step). It was something I had done for a little bit on the 4th stage to help bring the gap to the breakaway down. However it was something they were clearly grateful for as on the final day they thanked me for the help and asked if I would help again....ofcourse I obliged. Its important to make friends in the peloton and im sure one day the favour will be returned. Above all else it is</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" "> something that once again showed the type of rider I am and the work I am prepared to do, as I look for a chance again to move up for 2012.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align: center;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span>
<br /></span></p> <p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Helvetica; min-height: 16px; "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;font-size:100%;"></span><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9VvuYer_mCtDVxR8oHGQ7AxiCoME_RD_Wj8M0U9YcbvdbXknv0aqZbMlHD3wjw2z3xBjYjnWYojTv8i330IQ2L_MmFM9cJM95b-i5T-OjXQ1lpdZt8dGy5FiHC5MsstZBCUnBqnv3iTJz/s320/281388_231761413527391_100000806031486_596800_2160122_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648556885431347938" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfh4z0S79X1GRA_ex0N_lKCzH6QV8mmToXfOdfR4BICY7oX9rAEhyphenhyphenPvt-DMN9smizRaNX417kKtDHQBauBobIwyo6n9dpvtIloD2nG9JjULvO_WN5HqU-gSGvglHAB1N2Iz9hyphenhyphenlQLZHmU8/s320/283321_231761680194031_100000806031486_596813_6914006_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648556889195198018" /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">
<br /></span></div><p></p> <p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 17px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Courier; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;font-size:100%;">So that kind of fills you in on the last few months for me here in Belgium. With just over a month of the season remaining I hope to get over this chest infection as quickly as possible so that I can get back to racing and add to the win tally before the season is out. In a few days I will be posting a blog about Onix Bikes, how they have helped me this year and my overall impressions on the bikes as we approach the end of the season. Lots going on with Onix ahead of 2012 so be sure to check out: </span></p> <p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 13px/normal Georgia; color: rgb(0, 0, 153); "><span style="text-decoration: underline ; letter-spacing: 0.0pxfont-size:100%;"><a href="http://onixbikesonline.com/">http://onixbikesonline.com</a></span></p> <p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 17px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Courier; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); min-height: 12px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"></span>
<br /></span></p> <p style="text-align: left;margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 17px; font: normal normal normal 10px/normal Courier; color: rgb(42, 42, 42); "><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;font-size:100%;">Until next time....</span></p></div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZqrzcOEp1J_4mmjZg8nZx4gx5DhxBHKUuXI3waoAE8pg34APsxIKUzgZj01eIbCTPN5Z2gL32eMeQeUdUNhOnrogvPx705rZehpYOniLdLLbHy1aov7LR0zUiphreNEqDbqTZkFs-Y_N5/s320/308911_1868091592726_1554166452_31392970_5969849_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648125228501610898" /></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDHrKsLmcOrfnh4wn8Tjs9AEHfZg_nCU7jeyd5tHHX6LMw5OkOz4nR99TAOQLYzjIEqoSwUNT7ywsJtEEPtHH4mr-qX8UK_KEqZAFRlw4ei9xnN_C1IH1eIArQ-O-C5EZ53RlypyEpRNiA/s320/316204_1868093152765_1554166452_31392980_1343244_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648125227696253090" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:monospace;font-size:85%;color:#2a2a2a;"><div style="text-align: center;">
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<br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family:Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;"><pre style="text-align: center;line-height: 17px; white-space: normal; "></pre></span></span>Daniel Pattenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06460798063543202081noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5117804741321929229.post-52991198669406219012011-06-14T20:05:00.009+02:002011-06-15T07:16:20.753+02:00Up and Running in 2011....<img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh611ir9Cdu55CJW1fPKliNajJ5pTFjK77ppzjFXDfEgaYLk-jQL6aRX31BZvTJM4dyhXfZE3wSOkDQtUCGXGLZB_3K_sS61UO3wkTW-8aeGIt3F3q4GrArIBLslI8FYbmwoi3Cdis7LKm7/s400/blog+photo+2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618168122294617874" /><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:arial, serif;">So its been coming and Im happy to say I have my first win of the 2011 season in Belgium. And oh what a fine day it was. Everything fell into place and to finish it off with the win was extra special. After a lot of bad luck before and in the earlier part of the season with injuries, crashes and what-not, it is a nice feeling now that things are going my way. Patience has paid off, not that I doubted it, but it is certainly nice to blog some success rather than the 'what might have been'.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">So in ten days or so I had four races, the first three came within four days of each other. This was a deliberate plan to put a little block of races together, as 1) we knew the form was building and we should use it and 2) in preparation for upcoming races. The first three races would see me finish 2nd in Wodecq, 9th in Ghoy and culminating in a 1st place in Gits (Hooglede). A week later I would then place 8th in Sint-Kornelis Horebeke.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDnljt_Nst40xQBaYkhNmfMuLnWNvFG7XMHpTtACYdrTYSTMFqrJ3L-R_BIr7gJm12SSX1pFqa6nqlWrStv7oGgV0q9xmZLfEptpfHKy4u-JslrJpLACFEUARi6_Ec7sQJdweQuLiA8IQa/s400/2627.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618168100679105666" /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">So to the win, which came in a 140km Kermesse race in the town of Gits. With 35 euro primies every lap (for 22 laps) I attacked for the first two laps, taking first 2 primies solo. No mean feat in itself as these primies are hotly contested. However the fact that I raced away for these two laps, I soon realised that I was on a very good day. The break then started to come across and the breakaway of the day was formed. A strong break with three of the Quick Step feeder team riders in, amongst others. There was little messing around and we worked well building up a nice lead. However sensing the moment, me and one of these Quick Step feeder team riders (Jens Wallays) went clear with about 50km to go. Jens Wallays is a very strong and talented rider and we worked hard and built up a good lead, splitting the remaining primies in the process. Over the last few laps the gap began to reduce and by the end was a little under 30 seconds, however we agreed from the moment we got away that we would keep working to the end to stay away. Jens jumped with around 1km to go, however I kept cool and gradually got myself back to his wheel. He looked but knew that at that point of the race that was where I was going to stay. Once round the final corner Jens had to lead it out and my perfect race would be complete as I would get the better of him in the sprint. I did encounter a huge speed wobble on the cobbled finish to the sprint, however had enough momentum to carry me over the line for the win in front of the big crowd that had gathered in Gits and the celebrations could begin! Next came the flowers, the trophy, the photos and the interview (which due to my "beetje vlaams" was in English - I will look to change this soon). Then ofcourse the usual collection of prize money, which on this day with all the primies included was certainly not too shabby. To show how much it meant, Asfra team manager Luc Assez was soon on the phone and inviting us round his house for champagne and so ofcourse the celebrations would continue into the night :) A day that will certainly not be forgotten!</span></span></span></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj84pcujGLybYNltagD7ZexwzQzaFO34Rzn4O2MZxiBZmejTuyjqPRd4bUbPBspviDE9tawoqenXSHb0GHBBJ6adD9iYu8Xu481wbeQ2EkTmWhLVkFp5UYGUBdIdcWVrjOhRAaeJ_IkEbVw/s400/blog+photo+4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618171441665415698" /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 312px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp9Kx8KXwAG-c_IkH_3uQIFZpy4sB7iwqMHLgLgyuvMkBtYUZ0a2XPskwOrujt9o7X3MoHteKRxhjn_n7kJFtwhoF9vzb4OqMwRKdkFVWX-QJtkvBxzpk6M8kT7vEu-9MiCfgMeF_R0MWC/s400/1214875-8f38bd68488734a70a1ebfadacb11007.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618168106184293778" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 282px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhQQEkmxP7xGWHEz4UgxxBf2ZJ1xjEhwgECmBGg_vBv4lc71-hLDprvEZ6mqjwCuIY4puMbtjE2IkGJhwiQuXt2aU3PCu0its4JWQCBC5n1_dvXopFCnKpt36TgOaLZt0A4unk0ZCOB55p/s400/1214875-ce6d7fa1a42ef9ca46ccd5f1296f16a6.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618168113141205250" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia, serif;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Ofcourse the win was the perfect way to finish off a good few races in quick succession. However three days earlier </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I was also 2nd in the town of Wodecq, coming very close to the win. Again riding very strong, from the start I got away. The breakaway again formed and we worked hard to build a good gap. I then saw a moment to attack with about 13km to go and went clear, though the remainder of the break would pull me back with about 3km to go. The attacks continued but we continued to mark each other. In the sprint I almost still had it, until an ex pro by the name of Jean Zen would have the better of me taking the win in the closing stages. But this was clearly a sign that the good form that was predicted was certainly there. This was also followed with a 9th in the town of Ghoy (where I took victory last season) two days later and most recently an 8th in Sint-Kornelis Horebeke. Not wins, but more strong performances that tell me the form is where it needs to be. Horebeke in particular I was very strong and aggressive from the start, however cramp in the later stages would not allow me to sprint when still in contention for the win.</span></span></span></div></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#2A2A2A;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivEJ7H3TVPNvOtjnJCPt6Gn7CtOgcCxvUml19CChWqVOYokXRybAaW5RgMUEa6V4xjJjBhN6wwz4fOe5CimUJnbTEU2WIMuUvEO7xKFjBhHu9W-xqwRqptAUnOlei-7JrClDeomz_J98vA/s400/blog+photo.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618168113891590050" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9QOJp1iqTra0HHvlGWlURYGZsenu0PlO_KfwOw0KetFopJdjHqSmTbo-aHB7hnJZhPD6pj5Y8mxy96huNjA6AdI3H9sMDWk_0AGifTjTcn39Ras5lnE1UeziYlZMEAYDoXtMl1GHp000L/s400/blog+photo+3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618168235797226226" /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#2A2A2A;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">So all in all its been a ten days thats turned around this first part of the season for me. The hard work and persistance is paying off and things are shaping up nicely for the upcoming races. Next for me is the five day six stage Tour Nivermais Morvan in France starting tonight. Good to be doing a stage race again and even more so at this time with the legs coming into such good form. Then comes a trip back to the UK for the National Championships which takes place on the 26th June. My first trip back to the UK since my season started and I will certainly be looking to impress come race day. </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#2A2A2A;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#2A2A2A;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Ofcourse I will be returning with my Onix Bikes, which have certainly been performing splendidly. Its great for me to be part of something that is growing all of the time and hopefully with me putting the bikes through there paces here in Belgium, this will help to continue with the ever growing reputation that Onix is building. Belgium is ofcourse a very hard place to win a bike race and Onix already in its short existence has a win on Belgium roads. It was the Onix Azzuro which crossed the line first on this occasion, which hopefully gives an indication of the quality of bike that is coming from Onix. I will be looking to add more in the very near future! </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;color:#2A2A2A;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#2A2A2A;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Until next time......</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:100%;color:#2A2A2A;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 17px;font-size:13px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:100%;color:#2A2A2A;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 17px;font-size:13px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 17px;font-size:13px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" line-height: 17px;font-size:13px;"><br /></span></span></div>Daniel Pattenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06460798063543202081noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5117804741321929229.post-25522081603429842212011-05-12T20:45:00.002+02:002011-05-14T16:14:09.076+02:00Wouter Weylandt Special Forever!<img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 284px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvBYQ9_1Y-d8YLgJbA9CLb4TwkxY3YXZFwuY5q_NGtuzrQt23au45lGF2q20PjlDQDU6ZDnntzyRKM1bOAA3FT7KFuHs97H4gl3EDupL8MmQzFiJROEkgRT4upF8ctX4eEsLcFU3vQlG0q/s400/222641_1974287406261_1515348664_2234530_2807657_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605921076739514226" /><div style="text-align: left;">So ive been meaning to put together a blog post of my latest experiences of life here in Flanders. This season has certainly had its ups and downs, but all this seems rather irrelevant after the events of this week. Cycling indeed has its fair share of tragedies and the death of Wouter Weylandt in stage 3 of the Giro this year is another one added to that list. My first memory of Wouter Weylandt was when I watched a pro criterium in Sint Niklaas back in 2008 and since that night have always been a fan of one of the most popular Belgian riders around. It is so sad that his life would end at such a young age and in such tragic circumstances. Indeed cycling can be a dangerous sport, but you never expect something like this to happen. Just days on it is difficult to think about. My thoughts are certainly with Wouter, his family and friends at this terrible time. Wouter Weylandt will certainly not be forgotten, especially on my rides along the Schelde....a route that Weylandt used, and racing will be in his memory. RIP Wouter Weylandt x</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 269px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6iI4dWNoeGq7KX1zgeH2I1HK9Zk96hjB5AeXNlcWWcEqrJZGenHOUpVgOq9ruPAfSye3sfYrvSTHMOrDBOqG0rPyf-wI-e6g1H57uhnzmC7t1UImLa-X_Yxv4dwi_t4qEL4sUp84GCz_z/s400/224771_1805713901428_1197306509_31667330_6517778_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605921085427426914" /></span><div style="text-align: left;">My season has continued on its stop-start path, summed up most notably by a kermesse in Kruishoutem. Having not long been back from injury I was my normal aggressive self from the off and happened to escape inside the first couple of kms. Though the front group was to swell to around 18 riders, this was to be the move that would stay out. Despite my lack of racing, I was very much switched on during the race and was riding strong to cover any threatening moves. Of course I took my own chances to force a further split and with a little under 20km to go I was successful. Going through 2 laps to go I had broken clear and was soon to be joined by 4 other riders...one of them being kermesse king Mario Willems. I was happy to see Mario, in the knowledge that I knew he wouldnt then be chasing us. The five of us were away and so it was to prove decisive. However going into the final corner for the bell lap I was to meet the road....the result of a tubular rolling off the rim at 50km/hr....race over and skin left in Kruishoutem! A race where I had been so strong (and rode so smart), when maybe I shouldnt have been able to so soon, was over for me and to rub salt into the wound (literally) I had to watch the four of them sprint it out for the win without me. My chance for a big result so early on the comeback trail had gone, but if anything this race again reminded me of why I love racing in this country so much....excitement from start to finish....and I was a big part of that.</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 269px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRczKzzxNlCr4D7dT80uw9VB_TNGjpMkuNHt9Aczz-Hn0xBoqW5T5w-jiIsICeQxePbk_EocQzcgotje5Xbi4sMXguj8Y71SEhIu2tOAdGks85Y6IJtvSWPU6DcIGNuWP6FNp7jN8PNOA5/s400/225423_1801338472045_1197306509_31661513_6996293_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605922491467993202" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 269px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXGDkhFkaLXmvVjlBo0n2-qxUsDilK1Jv7rzDCbJIIb3hjF8lTGcLNlTsFNKps7HEbqc2b96IFuSNYaAtZqX-62-Wpa9eQ4EzzPsB0t5v7DLEEE4olvkdvw8VPQdf52XNrBWrI1QvAJUaV/s400/230346_1801338592048_1197306509_31661514_370658_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605921083830854194" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNtx135hnhn4K5ey6qBSq-vaufaDpm4hM3FMwxi9Ip2SYXgVoKZfn2ySBdmJOpdb-LIVtvHYC3v4Ck1IcxZULQOdXAu9tK_z9TAwJ2wgMbpq5W8YhtpMwaswIsVDxAAcTx5Ku6SMvxviX1/s400/229158_10150167060459286_715769285_6458996_6532495_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605921095757633762" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Though I was to race the following day and find myself in another race long break, eventually ending up 5th with my share of primies, the wound to my hip (and rear!) following this crash in Kruishoutem proved worse than first thought and became infected, resulting in some more days off the bike to ensure that it healed quickly. A pain that seemed to be getting worse and more irritated day by day and training session after training session. So more rest was prescribed, which meant another comeback would be on the cards. A comeback that saw me finish up 11th in Brugge-Dudzele. So given another 'topsy turby' month a 5th, 11th, 14th plus a 'what might have been' in Kruishoutem along with half a dozen primies, wasnt a too bad showing. Certainly if I get the run of the green, I will be expecting to turn some of these strong performances into race wins very soon. With many big races coming up this month, it will certainly be the right time for that to happen. And ofcourse along the way Wouter Weylandt will be firmly in my thoughts! Until next time....</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1NG0UOaKZqo8-DKX_2ssGlNixdQ5HrvvpLR-eibJS67_hvoY05mXOqC0ih7OdsjngNkVGIwKPdQB7Ea3wj5ZUMVv6VpAYvyf-EYRYHASzqyLiBWGoQm9cF3zkDJk5nURGUkJWog7_9opw/s400/221828_1957802099758_1083928044_32228340_2729236_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605921075791390882" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTxF-5UD7G6Q7KZ6SYrZRGouHEV_1txNO3AiB92cHfgG2FYMNzlcXmuZJEWAD5Hd13DzIknDXG900U_B-dkcj80Ox77pWb8aK27mK0A23cp9NRhnWDMq89ZU3-HR9uqSgwI0dCHtKNZfUo/s400/222083_1957821460242_1083928044_32228395_2221247_n.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605923007131295506" /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div></div></div>Daniel Pattenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06460798063543202081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5117804741321929229.post-37819584030179573452011-05-01T11:11:00.011+02:002011-05-01T19:16:38.985+02:00Onix Aurious....so far!<img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsFWjmEvRXXZyIi9jjLoJD13rzNoV7XfB6mn8ILaBzUElcpFYLuTnymKCLREHVrr0al3xZPRxlX1VgT44EF5SLLqvvXNTQ0wUR2sA4xU9emdfAxkh3rIvkTW_BHqzGFtR5tWebDW2McO_r/s400/IMG00135-20110401-1736-1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601704643441728162" /><div style="text-align: left;">I have had the added bonus this year of having two bikes. But instead of going for two Azzuro's the plan was to have one of them as the maybe less known Aurious frameset. This makes perfect sense, as now I am able to test and give feedback on the two main models in the Onix Bikes range.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Targeted more towards the 'sportive rider' the Aurious is slightly more relaxed with a geometry designed slightly more for comfort rather than the out and out racer....well this is how it is billed anyway. Again I looked to the geometries and the important thing was getting it matched to that of the Azzuro as closely as possible. For me this meant simply dropping down a size to a 52 in order to replicate the position of the Azzuro. The main reason for this drop down was to achieve the lower front end, because as you would expect with a frameset aimed at the sportive market, the headtubes come up slightly longer. However going down to a 52 really wasnt a problem. It has allowed me to achieve the same aggressive low front end position and with a 10mm longer stem (140mm deda stem) the length of the 54 Azzuro has been transfered to the 52 Aurious.</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI6lVXg-39tUOaG1r-jjKdmdmiVWSukrWlTS2TSbSRweVKWOy9p10Xzkq3hvzYY55JUlCxzHtdNEAe2P5YuuLYIEXfTkJm4KqzClqSvTDTQaZwyfNHTKotxWxEOTC8E-KAjlwLK_q5yeFa/s400/IMG00145-20110401-1739.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601704652363141378" /><div style="text-align: left;">So once the same position was achieved it was time to test out this Aurious. Now when I first ride a new bike normally I end up having to make little alterations over the first few rides until its where it needs to be...not with the Aurious! From the moment I jumped on the bike it just felt pretty much right. The Aurious has everything you need from a bike whatever your main purpose for it is. Obviously some racers get put off by a bike that is aimed at the 'sportive' market, thinking the performance will not be as good. Well this is not the case with the Aurious. I chose the option of going with the smaller frameset which gave me the same aggressive racing position that I was looking for, taking away its 'sportive' set up in my case.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1TQQ0oaeJBf8WBdiwlT4ylM3XdinUNAtH3F74MM4owB7YbsnSqa4oQB6MxoAKHThqzKskDw8kYnOz0Pm3L0t36ihN5dplvyBxZ9a9Rli008pChbxLxMIzpidNC4rfL86jO3IYYdJQqGBI/s400/IMG00138-20110401-1737.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601704645463245458" /></div><div>So what are you getting from the Aurious!? Well my initial thoughts are a well balanced bike of performance, comfort, stiffness and responsiveness. I have been very impressed with how the bike handles....and with all the cornering involved in Belgium, I am very happy about this. Another characteristic that may go unnoticed is the fact that the Aurious is actually the lightest of the Onix range....im sure this is certainly something that a lot of people look to when purchasing a bike. I have already put this bike over some of the most famous bergs and pave sections seen in the Ronde van Vlaanderen and have found it more than adequate for these demands. </div><div><br /></div><div>The components yet again deliver the expected performance. From the light and classy looking Onix UL1 seat post and BC1 bottle cages through to my trusty Mavic Cosmic Carbone Wheelset equiped with a Cycleops Powertap SL 2.4+ hub, which provides me with all the key data I will need from my riding. The contact points are made up of the ever reliable Fizik Arione, Speedplay Zeros and Deda components at the front end. The groupset again is Campagnolo Centaur, which has been working smoothly from the off. A final addition you will notice are the Rotor Aero Q rings. Something I was eager to try out this year...again living up to there reputation as expected, especially at the higher cadences I am now pedaling at.</div><div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1oHFZgWcVGNc_BiZ8LwQGCb5CenNnlpii4N6bLvz8hHETBlw_iwkA8HyYR4vLtX8KoVvo2nqOON96evn1Oy1HSiMdxvZKJPUkMNOvORDmMRZbvXsRmuC48fgOqDyOMyBmC5MOV1e5vGIv/s400/IMG00150-20110401-1741.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601704658059259938" /><div style="text-align: left;">What else can I say about the Aurious!? Perhaps this is the dark horse of the Onix range. If you get the sizing right for you and your position then I am sure you will be equally pleased with the performance of the Onix Aurious....and again at a great price! Like all of the Onix range you can customize your own bike build on www.onixbikes.co.uk. Below is the spec of my Onix Aurious. More updates to come as the season progresses!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4BUFusRnWccQqYqlxw0VuBEyYA0YpAt1XbS92C5cNwd47rXae9iIVwv_WeZRBVvlQL199xVnIgWRoNFAX-sH_O3bxRVO4QzOk3Q9LH9Bb0bt_gVB_BuJZCgf1A8NPv92NJH1-5Fk1RaP8/s400/IMG00149-20110401-1741.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601704656494537570" /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Frameset: Onix Aurious (52)</span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); font-family:Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Groupset: Campagnolo Centaur 10</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Shimano Ult Cranks equipped with Rotor Aero Q Rings (53/39)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Pedals: Speedplay Zero</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Saddle: Fizik Arione</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Seat Post: Onix UL1 Ultralight Carbon</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Bottle Cages: Onix BC1 Carbon</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Bars: Deda Newton Shallow</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Stem: Deda Zero 100 (140mm)</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Computer: Cycleops Cervo 2.4</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#FFFFFF;">Wheelset: Mavic Cosmic Carbones equipped with Cycleops Powertap SL 2.4+ Hub</span></span></div></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Daniel Pattenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06460798063543202081noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5117804741321929229.post-33812985648791230172011-04-30T21:48:00.010+02:002011-05-01T19:02:47.489+02:00Onix Azzuro....so far!<div style="text-align: left;">It was back in January during a training camp in Majorca that I first heard about Onix Bikes and the possibility of being a sponsored rider testing the bikes out for this year in Belgium. A new bike company which was looking to get some exposure and some feedback about the bikes and a rider in myself who was looking for equipment for the 2011 season. Throw in the fact that I would be spending my season in the heartland that is Belgium and it seemed the perfect scenario for everyone. In these next two blog posts I will be giving my initial thoughts on both my Onix Azzuro and Onix Aurious bikes that I will be testing out fully in 2011.</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggGN6FOdGSkXwBZPHem5_7ZyszLIDT9WYXS22IOaClkyg-DjID3Riiolwtp3PhyphenhyphenSJ8crJgknYzQyadSo-0s-Ib91CTzxWLvM6JpGWW_2XoAJEVP5V27YlHY7pljJybcmF27hOck3Ar84QI/s400/IMG00134-20110401-1736-1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601487516960299202" />The Onix Azzuro is billed as the top of the range Onix Frameset, designed for out and out performance. My first reaction was to check out the geometries and it really did not take long to decide what I would be going for with the Azzuro...a 54cm was what was required. Getting the right geometry comes above all else and without a customized frame it means a bit of compromise. But with the Azzuro there wasnt too much compromise required and I knew with the right set up I would be sitting pretty rosy on this bike.<div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGX3N9h46tdkPlswVPVRXM2ckvasxo70wUknppE4xoOvjQGXmr0nw343bNMuU7Lv0RLSOsSKR0pvVQo-55V3AfIt7i97zYsnVKWUh2tAfH3gdG8oHhatPFFgdY4_F1rBYjffjqFDD5eijD/s400/IMG00142-20110401-1739.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601487535316137666" /></div><div>So my Azzuro arrived and I went out for a test ride. First reaction....this is one stiff bike! A bike designed for the racing cyclist indeed. Without being an expert in carbon, I am informed it is a particular form of carbon (Toray T1000) that is used in the Azzuro that creates such stiffness. A stiffness you would expect to pay a higher price for, but yet with the Onix Azzuro you dont need to pay that higher price. Other key features of the Azzuro adding to this stiffness are the distinctive unsymmetrical chainstay and a thicker bottom bracket area, all adding to a very responsive bike.</div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91HpBq0vtCyk7kKpBUmaJxbYRJoIye3thPA5pVneiOCtTc2wNEvY9lI_hi6QD9SWqhliTrna0RPAY0BQsqG_v4S92m0dyEeegPoX4uxl-dElbMUSuNCHUzLYqg2cJzgACu0F0ZyKLvUiZ/s400/IMG00136-20110401-1736.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601487520788203922" /><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisJIvYVz7ZdmVJ9-qojoAC0QcNRtvgtFORz-cTlv9yAjJK66eYqWGvOJQUG6odz0EKqOdZ2HP2VSwBm7ZRC17ZrZaU0FyDx0ktSSjCKcVcf2s-6zXac-FFRJOZX-PdBrV9aOHMnmq943wl/s400/IMG00143-20110401-1739.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601487534094876978" /><div style="text-align: left;">Having said all of this you may think handling and cornering may be compromised....but its not the case. You can feel right at home and in control with the Azzuro, which is extremely important and even more so here in Belgium. With the Azzzuro as my 'race bike' I am yet to have given it a real test over the pave, however the time will come soon enough for this. However if the Onix Aurious is anything to go by (aka my second bike which has seen its fair share of cobbles already) then there will be no problems there either. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 16.0px Georgia"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">The components deliver the expected performance. From the light and classy looking Onix UL1 seat post and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">BC1 bottle cages to the </span></span><span style="font: 16.0px Arial; letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Superleggera XL50 wheelset with Vittoria Corsa Evo CX Tubs.</span> </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px">The contact points are made up of the ever reliable Fizik Arione, Speedplay Zeros and Deda components at the front end. Saris and Cycleops take care of my data recording, something I wouldnt be without. The groupset is Campagnolo Centaur, which has been working smoothly from the off and a final addition you will notice are the Rotor Aero Q rings. Something I was eager to try out this year and they are not disappointing in there performance....something I have noticed especially at the higher cadences I am now pedaling at.</span></p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHAUnd7QSWQ42s00_dDB__vDwnhxX0UYQgfj4q62R7XiA3fDM7SE1X1NaDQabgGvP0BMs_pv3s5HvJjj3yENdI8xBljHVd1kkU9Wvvzc9MZSITWoVoOVAr-AMM1OO8mtwh8BOf9SWawn8F/s400/IMG00141-20110401-1738.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601656080370339970" /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Below is the full spec of my Onix Azzuro Race Bike. Check out www.onixbikes.co.uk to create your own! Watch out for more updates as the season progresses!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;font-size:small;">Frameset: Onix Azzuro (54)</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:Arial, Verdana, sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:small;">Groupset: Campagnolo Centaur 10 </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><div style="text-align: center;">Shimano Ult Cranks equipped with Rotor Aero Q Rings (53/39)</div><div style="text-align: center;">Pedals: Speedplay Zero</div><div style="text-align: center;">Saddle: Fizik Arione </div><div style="text-align: center;">Seat Post: Onix UL1 Ultralight Carbon</div><div style="text-align: center;">Bottle Cages: Onix BC1 Carbon</div><div style="text-align: center;">Bars: Deda Newton Shallow</div><div style="text-align: center;">Stem: Deda Zero 100 (130mm)</div><div style="text-align: center;">Computer: Cycleops Cervo 2.4</div><div style="text-align: center;">Wheelset: Superleggera XL50 with Vittoria Corsa Evo CX Tubs</div></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Daniel Pattenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06460798063543202081noreply@blogger.com0