2 days back...

Hi everybody!

I had a quite busy 1,5 weeks. Lots of things gone around.

My new PowerTap hub and my super6's SI cranks turned up last Thursday. I built my new training rear wheel quickly and I can say "good bye" for the tub punctures now. The setup is PowerTap Elite hub, DT Swiss Revo black spokes and Mavic Open Pro Ceramic rim. The hub isn't the lightest option, but weight wasn't too important, I had to chose the budget option this time of the year.

My new Super6 was nearly done. I waited only my new SI crankset, which one (big thanks for Mr. Ian Carvel from Cannondale Europe) turned up end of last week. I quickly finished the bike and looked forward the first test ride. It happened last Sunday. I had to say I wet myself from the pleasure... I felt from the first second me and my new bike know each other ages ago. I just tried it with my "flexy" training wheels , but I have to say never ever felt this stiffness in my life. Thanks for the BB30 and tapered head tube the bike is unbelievable responsive and stiff! After my 4,5 hours training session I just felt, I don't wanna stop.....I think I found a bike and brand for a life... Cannondale forever!

This week is my rest week before the training camp. In the same time I had to do FTP test yesterday. I rode 312 watts average on the turbo, which one means my FTP is 296 watts, nearly 4.6 watts/kg.... I am more than happy with this result, it is not a bad go middle of december, after 6 weeks training. Basically my strength increased nearly 20% in the last 6 weeks.

I have 2 days more back this year. I am flying out to Lanzarote on Sunday early morning for a 12 days training camp. I will come back 24. evening and celebrating the Christmas with couple of good friends. I will hardly work between Xmass and New Years eve, it means I have time to training, rest and planing my next season.

Ok, I have a go now, I have to start to pack in....

See you soon!

What a weekend....

My last weekend was full with challenge. Saturday morning I had 3 hours training session before work. I left the house 4:40 in the morning. Weather was very cold but dry! The planed route was Southfields- Wandsworth - Croydon- Epsom - KIngston- Richmond- Soutfields. Everything went well, until I left Epsom and around half way, middle of nothing in the pitch black I heard some not to good noise from the back.... puncture... crap.... I run over something sharp and cut half my rear tub. Ok, I thought, no panic, I have a spare tub with me. I tried to do quick as possible in the freezing cold, but I had to realize the new tub's valve was too short and remove the valve extender from the punctured tub was nearly impossible without tool. I had to find my MacGyver mine and I sorted the problem and I was on the bike 10 minutes time. I had some scary moment on the way home with the feel, I havn't any money with me, I have to go in work and I havn't any more spare tub with me, but thanks God I got home without any problem and I had plenty of time for a breakfast is well before I went work.

Sunday was better on the technical side, I managed my 4 hours ride without any puncture, but the weather was unbelievable bad. It was 4 hour massive rain and wind storm with 3 times 3 minutes sunny period. But I love challenges and I really enjoyed the ride. Only one thing was a bit annoying... I didn't eat any breakfast and I didn't bring any energy bar with me... 4 hours without any food or drink... I think I lost my routine a bit over a last couple of weeks... When I got home I attacked the fridge and I just ate all day long. I finished the day in the gym and on the evening I felt the satisfying tiredness in my whole body, what I didn't fell ages ago! Good job!

After my tub-puncture series and the last week Mavic course I did my decision! I really love the feel riding with tubs and full carbon rims, but I am sick about punctures. In this bad quality London roads tubs are useless! I rode more then 1000km on Mallorca and I didn't have any problem but here I get puncture every second day.

Plan is the next. I am going to sell my FFWD wheels with the Powertap and keep for meantime my OpenPro Ceramic - PowerTap wheelset ( originally these are my winter training wheels, but I think they are good enough in my Super6 is well. I don't really plane any major road race in the next season.) And when the Metrigear's new powermeter system will be available , I am buying one of these and in the same time I put a pair of Mavic R-SYS SL in my bike.

Training camp is 2 weeks away. I have a quite hard week now, after FTP test and I will take a rest until the camp. I havn't any idea what is my coach planing for a TC, but I have a feel I have to collect lots of mileage on the island! I am looking forward!

Friday "OFF"

After I finished my training session this morning, I didn't do my usual morning routines. I was off today from work. I had a invitation for a Mavic seminar. We got some idea what's new in the 2010 range, and how we can solve problems and service new wheels sets. I have to say Mavic put a lots of work and energy in the R-SYS range. In this moment 3 different types of R-SYS available but the new Ultimate full carbon version is coming soon. ( only 25 are going for production line in the first round) This is the moment when you have to sit down... oh yes, the pair of wheel's weight is 940 grams... but the price is coming around £4500... wuffff! I love this wheels, but I think it isn't my party. Anyway, we got some idea what did happened with the first generation R-SYS wheels, why Mavic did the recall and how solved the problem. The new spokes are much much stronger... we could crack couple of old and new one with plier and felt the different. Unfortunately the guys couldn't give any information from the CrossMax Ultimate wheels, but it is definitely coming... but I am bit unsure after seeing the R-SYS Ultimate's price. We got some education from the new Mavic cleats fitting system is well, I am looking forward now, when we get the own one in the shop. End of the day we left the building with lots of new information and a bag of free (useless) goodies... ( just a usual XXXXXL T-shirt , stickers and free bottle but nice gesture from Mavic). After the course I finished off my day in the gym with some leg and ab session and on the paper form I have to off to the bed 10 minutes time, because my alarm is setted 4 o'clock tomorrow morning...

Anyway, my first training camp is 2 weeks away, I am really looking forward. My performance is day to day better, and my coach is happy, what means I am happy is well! We started to plan the next year race calendar and I have to say , one thing is fix! You can see me on the 24 hour European championship! I know the guys, who will be there, are really hard, but I will do my best! I am coming up with the whole race calendar in couple of days time. In the same time my new manager Dave "BIG-GREEN-Liquigas-Cannondale" Brown started to send out the sponsorship requirement letters for couple of companies and we hope the best. Hopefully the shops still can help next year and support me may be with couple airplane ticket and hotel room rent in the next season.

Ok guys. to much now, I have to sleep , because time is clicking and everybody know!

"TRAIN HARD BUT REST HARDER!"

Night night

After long time....

Hey all,

I am back after a long time. I had to much to go around after the season finished. The most important change in my life, I moved out my old place and I live much much closer for my "local bike shop" now. I moved in Southfields which one is 6,5km away from my work place. It means less commuting and more rest. I started my winter training end of October. I did a FTP test on the first week, which one was revolting. My FTP went back 250 watts, it isn't surprising after 4 weeks totally rest, but I think the gain was more with this chill out and relax than the loose....

In the same time I joined the local Virgin gym and started to go in weekly 5 times. I really enjoy it, I only play with small weights to my upper body, because I dosn't wanna gain any weight, but I do brutal session for my legs! We really hopeful with my coach and really we are really looking forward the next season... but until the new season start we have to do lots of hard work! But I feel myself prepared and full with motivation! (definitely after my season closing winning) Istvan is really hopeful, that we can push up my FTP around 400 beginning of the season...

We will see! I have two training camps to planed. I will off to Lanzarote 13.-24. December and 15.-28. February to Mallorca. I am really looking forward, but the meantime I have to fight with this "lovely" British weather.....

Hey boys and girls!

I didn't write anything here a month ago! I had 4 busy rest week! Too much going on now ( I am moving out from my old place this weekend.... ) but, I promise, I will back soon!

Veni Vidi Vici

Hey All!

I am back after long time. I came back in the UK last Tuesday night, but I didn't have a chance to write anything here. Anyway I try to make up everything. 

I spent 11 days in Hungary. I start on the end! :)

The reason why I went home was the 24 hour race in Budapest. It was my old dream. Couple of years ago, when our team won the race I had a think about to do the race in solo category.... on one day! :) My season wasn't great , and I got a bloody cyst and I had 2 weeks off from the bike 6 weeks before the race.... basically the starts didn't show me the best best one! But thanks for my coach, after 3 weeks really hard training I got back my strength. 

And the day has arrived! I spent the last 5 days in Budapest before the race. I made everything ready 2 days before the big day and I just had to concentrate for the rest. I popped up to the race center with couple of friends on Friday afternoon and we marked our tent's place and checked the new section on the course. We sadly noticed , the course was absolute shXXt, deep dust and lots of roots and rocks.

I went in the bed really early , but I couldn't sleep until 11 o'clock.... the race turned round and round in my head.....

Saturday morning... 6 o'clock.... alarm on! 

I woken up and I had a quick breakfast and I started to fill up Gabi's car with my stuff....Thanks God, PT Cruiser has a huge back end! We arrived to the race center 3 hours before the start. My support team arrived couple of minutes later and we prepared everything for a start....

The race started midday. I tried to push a couple of first lap, because too much cyclist were on the course and I didn't wanna catch any "traffic jam". I felt quite comfy my speed in the first two laps and I tried to keep the pace. My support watched my all wish in every lap... but I didn't have too much! :) I started to eat after the second hour, I ate gels in the first six hours. I really enjoyed the course and I felt myself bloody strong. I rode the bike on small chainring(27T) on the whole race.... (Thanks DiniMakk for a good tip! Tip was: " You should ride in the first 12 hours , like you roll across on the car park...). I had to realize the sun started to set and I stopped first time after 6,5 hours. I quickly ate some paste, little cake and drunk couple of glasses Coke. After the late lunch I toke my light and I started the night shift. This time I was 2 laps front of the second place. I started to give laps for the guys after 4 hours.

Around 7 o'clock Tibi has arrived and he helped out my support team. 

The night went really quickly, I enjoyed every second, temperature was really good, only the big dust limited the clear view. My legs just kept spin and I did the same time lap to lap. I had one more longer stop before midnight and I had some luxury dinner! :) In this time my advantage was 4 laps. 

We had some fire work around midnight but I wasn't too interested with it... I was more interested with give more laps for a guys. After 12 hours on the bike, something switched off in me and I just did my laps like a droid... and I really enjoyed this feel. 

After the night all solo rider had to stop for a medical checking, which one is a bull shit! How could you stop after 18 hours ride for nearly 25 minutes brake??? Anyway we had to do , we did it. The doc did some ECG on me and checked my blood sugar..... hahaha. It was a real joke!

After the med check I got the news, the second place was 9 laps behind me! This moment I realized if I havn't any major technical problem I  am going to win this race. I went back and I did couple of more laps, but I started to take more brake. It wasn't a point kill myself without reason, because I just had to keep my advance. 

After the stupid med check I started to feel the tiredness, which one wasn't surprising. I did couple of more laps and I stopped for a longer rest. After 21,5 hours I had more then 9 laps advance which one was unbeatable. I sat down and I had a massive breakfast. 1,5 hours before the finish my family and my friends arrived. We had a chat and I went back the course and I did other 3 laps. 

When  I rolled over on the finish line I just felt something great! I was really really happy! On of my dream came true! And I know this winning is just beginning for something good! Yes I did it! I did my first 24 hour solo race and I won it! VENI VIDI VICI! (by Gabi) Thats it! :)

We quickly loaded up the cars, I had a quick shower and I started my eating marathon, what I finished 8 days after the race! :D

After the prize giving ceremony I had a quick chat with couple of friends and we jumped in the car with Gabi and drove up the Budapest Wine festival... but it is a different story! :)

Anyway I went in the bed 19:30 and I woke up next morning 5 o'clock... and I just ate all day! :)

And here comes the most important bits

I have to say thanks for a lots of great people! I hope I don't forget anybody, if I will do, please remind me! 

First of all I have to say big thanks for CSC Team, my coach Istvan Szollossy, his wife Bea and Tibor Fulop for a lots of help!  

James and Dave... my two great big boss, thanks the patience and a lots of help what I got from the shop!

Gabesz! Thanks for everything (bed, bathroom, taxi ....) :D You are a great friend!

Probike team, Mr. Balazs, Dini, Jozsi! Cheers for every help! You are great guys! 

Thanks for my sponsors and supporters , Cannondale, Zeal Optics, Bicycle shop!

Draga Adelom!

Neked magyarul irok! :) 

Tudom nehez idoszakon mentunk at mindketten, de orulok, hogy ujra minden jo iranyba megy!

Koszonom a bizalmadat es a lelki tamogatasodat, azt, hogy biztal bennem es hogy egesz ejjel velem voltal! ;)

14 days back...

Oh yes, 14 days until my first 24 hour solo race. I am really excited now! I will 

fly back to Hungary 5th September and spend some time with my family and friends until the race. But, what's happened since I got a cold a week ago???

Thanks God, I deal with my cold really quickly, I was over it under 13 hours. Only my garlic-ginger smell was a bit bad.... After this quick recovery I had a bloody good ride on Sunday. I did a 5 hours ride in Richmond park. I started 6 o'clock on the evening and I finished 11. I had to finish the ride bit earlier what was expected, because I calculated wrong my battery's life and my light switched off middle of the trail in the pitch black. The last 5 km was quite interesting...

Sunset in Richmond park

" life gets larger after dark"

After the ride I went back in the shop and I had a sleep on downstairs, because we went for a ride with 2 of our customers to Wales Monday morning. We did two different trails around Affan ( The wall and a White trail). The weather was poring down rain, and trails were really muddy but I 100% sure everybody really enjoyed this ride. This was Gavin and Nick first off-road ride and I have to say, James didn't really select the easiest trails! But both chaps did the best and everybody still in live! :D

I really enjoyed the whole day, nice climbs and technical downhills. I was a bit tired after 5 hours sleep, but it was a good training. End of the day all the guys  got some injury and I managed loose my rear disc brake bolts. James never can finish any ride without falling of the bike.... he managed it now is well! Anyway he blames me... I was too slow front of him and he couldn't see the trail... aha! Hopefully we can organize one more ride before the winter!

Ok, it is the last 7 day's short story! I am off the bed now!