Went to check out the course for the 'big' day. It's flat, really good surface all the way around, I think it should be fast which I think is going to suit me as well as any course could, The BIG drawback is the amount of 'street furniture' around the course, potted trees, traffic calmer's, directional arrows, centre refuges, guard posts, you name it has it. I think some of it may be removable and I suspect that will be the case on the day, other stuff maybe covered by the ubiquitous hay bales but vigilance will definitely be the name of the game, stay up front I think which was my plan for the day anyway.
Of course its not really possible to ride on most of it because I had to stick to the bike paths and most of it is very urban so pretty busy, it will all be closed down on the day. Still I do know where the parking and changing rooms are (yes changing rooms in Belgium) and of course the all important 'Permanence' where need to sign on, I expect to get number 2, reigning champ gets 1, since I think Mel Davies will have signed me on very early.
Went to the big bike shop, Van Eycks, in Aalst just to get some more energy drink. It was mobbed a real zoo, it's their annual 20% of everything sale, just as well they don't take credit cards or I could have been in trouble. They, (like many shops) only take cash cards and pin numbers, drawn on Belgian banks , or cash which I didn't have a lot of today. I was going to go the bank in the village but they were closed for lunch? There's lots of stuff that catches you out, even in Maffra the bank's don't close for lunch, but I guess when you get used to it it's not a problem.
Going to race in Wulvergem tomorrow, which is south of me and deep in the WWI battlefield sites, some spots in the area can be quite hilly but I'll be surprised if we get anything too serious and it will be my first race race having been promoted to race with the 'younger' blokes!
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