Team Cyclingnews.com - 2005

Team Journal Entry - July 30, 2005, by Kane Oakley (posted August 1)

A 'typical' Team Cyclingnews day

Howdy

Well, it has been a long couple of weeks for me! It's been six weeks now since I tore a muscle and tendon. Rehabilitation is going well - I've been back on the bike for a few weeks, slow and steady! This is the hard part; just taking it easy when all you want to do is rip into it! A few tests during training and it feels good enough to start racing again. It will be good to start racing again!

I was back racing today, things went well! I just wanted to finish and did this with some good work and tests on the leg. The "Hurricane", Hamish, has been going very well with a couple of wins and high placings. He is looking for another good result on Sunday. Very strong!

The house is quiet at the moment due to some of the boys racing in the Tour of Qinghai Lake in China. Team- Sven, Cam, Chady, Leigh, Jeremy and Tom. Good luck, all the best! Another hard part was just sitting round the house stewing, not doing anything! Thank god for the Tour de France, it fills up the last couple of hours of the day.

During this time I was able to study the daily routine of the Team boys,

A typical day in the Cyclingnews team house...

7-8:30am: During this time most of the boys will rise, if the weather is bad add another 2hrs.

8:30-9am: Breakfast, everyone has their own special mix. Me, I just have Oats (porridge). I don't want to give away the other boy's secret meals!! But most of us will have a coffee to start the day.

During this time everyone will take a turn on the computer to see if anyone loves them - emails! Also catch up on news in Oz and cycling stuff.

10am: Training time! Most days everyone is out on the bike by this time, or around the hour!!! Some go a little earlier to ride alone, a bit of QT (quiet time). This may sound wierd, but we don't train together everyday! On easy days it is great to ride by yourself, clear the head. When you want a harder day ride with the other boys and just attack them all day - nice! Most of the time we will meet in Aarschot for a coffee.

2-3pm: Most of us will be home at this time for lunch and an afternoon of relaxation. Watch a bike race on TV, Play Station, music or read a book; each to their own.

One thing that is a bit of a hit with a few of us is making our own bread. Tank (Leigh) is the Bread Sensai - I went to him for some secret tips on preparing the dough and putting the bread/bun in the oven! To be truthful there is nothing better then a fresh home-baked loaf straight out of the oven, tastes great. Enjoyable and takes time up during the day.

6:30-7:30: DINNER TIME - very busy in the kitchen, but we all manage. I usually wait for the late shift when the kitchen is empty. There are some five star meals that come out of this kitchen and sometimes there are some €1.80 meals!

8-10:30: TV/MOVIE time. We all take a seat and get comfortable for the night's viewing. The shows on TV are pretty good; the house hit at the moment would be "The OC". We Love it!

9pm: First-Class Nutrition. Protein shake time. Very good!

10:30pm: The team starts to go to bed after a hard day at the office! Some stay up later. I like to stay up a bit later and use the computer; no pressure from others - "have you finished yet?" Also like to listen to Triple J live, morning radio.

Well that is pretty much what happens in the house on a daily basis! Some days to spice it up, we might wash bikes, clean house or go for a coffee/shopping.

Till next time keep your fingers out of the dough!

Kane