Hi. I am Emma Silversides, my occupation is full time cyclist and part time artist.

It’s not about the racing, well not all of it anyway! I have had a busy few months both on and off the bike.

I had the pleasure of my first ever (and I hope not my last) Drenthe experience; 3 UCI races in four days with the famous Drenthe cobbles and the Vamburg. I was very pleased with the races here- 2 out of 3 ain’t bad as they say. I was mixing it with the top girls and holding my own; certainly a step up from last year for me. The cobbles have to be ridden there to be appreciated; they are not like Flanders cobbles at all; very unique. It’s not just your legs that hurt after three days of racing there (thanks to Quoleum anti-friction cream things were MUCH better than they could have been without it!). Things halted for me somewhat after this since I suffer with a muscle strain and was forced to miss a weekends racing, and also to adjust my training load. I have since then had a three very encouraging races; a crit in which I had the misfortune to puncture, a local race with a 6th place and a kermis race in which I enjoyed a long (though ultimately unsuccessful) solo break. After this positive run I came down with a light cold and followed this up with a crash! I hope my luck changes in the coming weeks!

As for off the bike I’ve been painting lots and traveling around a little also. My painting is beginning to get quite a reputation out here with features in magazines and ‘big names’ agreeing to sign things. Characters such as Sijn Devolder, Eric Vanderaaden and Sven Nys are big hits.

In between all this racing and painting I have found time to travel a little for some more varied and challenging training terrain. The first area that I explored was around Esneux, the second Monschau and more recently Hamoir. I would highly recommend all these places though you need to pick your time carefully.

Monschau was a tourist trap if there ever was one. At the time we visited it was relatively quiet; the terraces were accessible and the narrow cobbled streets just about rideable with a few ‘Entschuldigung Sie bitte’s! From Monschau I rode a short loop to take in Gemund, Heimbach, Schmidt, Woffelsbach and Dedenborn.
The views coming down into Woffelsbach were AMAZING;
a must see if you go to the area.

Around Esneux and Hamoir the roads were all very quiet and smoothly asphalted. For anyone who knows Belgium, they will be fully aware that a smooth asphalt road is not so common. However further south into the Ardennes the roads are rarely concrete slabs which present a ‘step’ effect both in a car and on a bike. It’s worth a 40 minute drive further south for training rides when such inspiring roads and scenery are on offer.

A busy start to the season.
The first Dames Elite race of the year is now a distant memory for most, not a bad thing really given the conditions that we all endured! With 186 starters it was bound to be a fight to stay out of trouble. I was very happy to be one of the 80 finishers and it was a great start for the team with Vera getting a third place. The following weekend I traveled to Oost Duinkerke to enjoy some dryer racing conditions and a rather encouraging 7th place.

Rather than rely on the weather in Belgium, the team then traveled to Italy for 10 days of training and racing. We kicked off with the World Cup and a top twenty for the team there. I was amazed by the enormity of the event and felt very privileged to be riding there, I managed about 60 km in the bunch and a further 15km in a group of about 30 riders before my race was over, however, I was determined to see a little more of the area before our departure the following morning. I followed the hairpins to the top of a beautiful climb behind the hotel which provided sunning views of the valley before returning to the hotel to be informed of Emma Pooleys magnificent ride. Well done Em.

The following day we rode to Varese to tackle the crazy Italian drivers around the worlds course before heading to Tuscany. Our accommodation for the week was with Carlo (www.hotelcarlos.it), I can HIGHLY recommend this hotel situated a few kilometers from Castagneto Carducci; it is perfect for cycling in the area. The team spent 3 days training there before racing again in the two Costa Etrusca-Giro events. I raced on the Saturday and was happy to finish in the diminished peloton of 65 (144 starters) along with Sofie and Lieslot. It was a tough course featuring 4 substantial climbs, certainly a positive result for me so early in
the season.

I am now back in Meensel with Hamish who is making a slow but sure recovery from his early season injury. We hope to catch a glimpse of the (poor) riders tackling Flanders’ cobbles tomorrow in the (forecasted!) snow.

Until next time, keep cycling.

Emma

A little history, that you didn’t know!!!
As the season approaches I am very excited about what lies ahead. I worked hard last year to be rewarded with the Lotto-Belisol contract for this year. As most British cyclists are aware, there are two routes into the sport for British riders; with the federation via the plan or by yourself via racing on the continent as (initially) an individual or with a team (thanks to teams such as Plowmans, Rapha and Swift this possible for both men and women now).

A number of years ago, I was fortunate enough to be approached by British Cycling and asked to join the plan on the track as a pilot rider. I felt honored by this but chose to continue with teaching and riding on the road as an amateur. I still had ambitions to race in Europe at that time and although this was a VERY attractive offer for me I made my decision and had to stick with it.

Shortly after this decision had been made I planned a trip to Belgium to ‘taste the racing’ on the continent. It was summer 2004. However, life never goes according to plan and this plan certainly didn’t materialize. While mowing the lawn at my parents I experienced an unfortunate incident. The following seven days were spent in a hospital bed coming to terms with the severity of my accident. I had severed the popliteal vein in my left leg; despite the best efforts of the surgeon the vein could not be saved. The side effects were quite drastic as you would expect. The vein is pictured below (the main blue vein). I was severed right behind the knee.

Rehab and physio were prolonged and painful. However, I was turning pedals again by December (the accident had occurred in July) and managing to balance work and training as before, progress was slow but steady. Throughout my recovery and indeed until date I wore a compression sock and used magnets religiously. Symptoms while racing and training included frequent cramps, ‘twitching’ in the calve muscle, and ‘stabbing pains’ at the site of the ‘incision’. The leg was basically not able to circulate and hence ‘flush’ out build up of toxins and waste from training, there was also a lot of healing to be done internally. The magnets were worn during and after training to encourage blood flow, the symptoms were lessened drastically as a result.

My recovery was convincing when I won my first race in England- www.britishcycling.org.
Look closely and you’ll see the compression sock!

I am very, very happy to announce that the company from whom I purchased my magnets is now supporting me as an athlete. Cyclists not on the plan rely on material sponsors and self funding to get by. For me, I cannot train or indeed race without these magnets so support from Norstar and Vitalia-Health means A LOT to me. I genuinely and wholeheartedly endorse their products not only for recovery from accident and injury but for general well-being. I would encourage anyone to check them out. www.innertalk.co.uk

Feb BLOG
I landed in England last week to be welcomed by glorious sunshine and 2 degrees. It looked great from the window on the National Express coach that I was travelling in but didn’t feel so good after 9 weeks of Spanish sun!

However, I soon remembered why I loved riding in this country as the Yorkshire countryside greeted me that same afternoon. The cold snap continued for 3 more days and I was thankful to be on 4 (perfectly timed) recovery days, an hour and a half was long enough to turn my feet into ice blocks. I dread to think how I’d have been if I’d have had a 5 or 6 hour session to do!

I spent 4 days with my parents then moved on to Cheltenham for 3 days. The training is equally as enjoyable there with the Cotswolds, the Malverns and the Forest of Dean all within comfortable riding distance. I thoroughly enjoyed riding with my old club and catching up
with people.

I am now in Belgium after a long day of travelling which involved missing the 8am ferry by about 10 minutes. This frustratingly meant that I had to face Brussels ring road at 4.30pm. Argh! However, I did manage to fit in collecting my beautiful new team bike. Watch this space for a pic next time!!!

11 February 2008
Well I’m still here in Spain and making the most of our last week here in the milder weather. I have just finished a block of long steady rides of 6-6 1/2 hours in duration each with a day or two of recovery in between depending upon the sensation. These rides have allowed me to explore some new roads and see more of this area. More recently the almond blossom has flourished giving a snow carpet of delicate pinks and white to the valleys, truly beautiful. With such views to admire riding up the long cols is a doddle!

The area that we are staying in is very popular with cyclists, both professional and amateur. This is for many reasons, a few of which I will explain. The most obvious that springs to mind is the weather. Touch wood we have had excellent weather with average daily temperatures of 17 degrees and invariably maximums of 20. This makes for consistent training and more importantly a training environment that doesn’t test your body any more than necessary.

Cold temperatures and wet conditions are not good for your body when you are pushing it day in day out for 4 to 5 hours a day, it’s an extra unnecessary ingredient that will lower your immune system. The other primary reason for this area’s popularity is the terrain. The roads surfaces are excellent and the terrain testing with long climbs and sweeping descents which lend themselves to maintaining a respectable heart rate while going down.

I was fortunate enough to be able to ride with four of my new team mates last week since they were stopping in Calpe, a particularly popular spot with cyclists. As I have previously mentioned, we are staying in Benidoleig with Citrus Cycling (www.citruscycling.co.uk) and this puts us in an ideal position to get straight into the mountain without contesting any of the busy coastal routes which are so often a hurdle for many of the cyclists opting to stay in Calpe or Benidorm.

I fly to England in a week’s time and am looking forward to a brief stay with family and friends. After that it’s a return to Belgium to prepare for the first race of the season

21 January 2008
I write again from my current base in Spain, which I am happy to say, continues to present mild and sunny conditions. It is certainly a huge advantage to be here as I see the forecast for Belgium and England; ‘rain and wintery showers’. Indeed my preferred place for training in England, the Cotswolds, seems to be underwater in many places. Some of my favourite picturesque villages and towns such as Tewksbury and Upton upon Severn are regularly featuring in the news. I am not sure how badly Belgium is being hit but however that might be I am convinced that being here is the best for my training.

I have just finished a block of 5 days on (approx 21 hours), 2 off, 3 days on. I now await further instructions from my coach in Belgium!! The most enjoyable ride in this block is the long distance training ride; an opportunity to forget about intervals, sprints and resistance work and instead soak up the stunning scenery while holding a comfortable heart rate. The latest route for this ride took in the villages of Callosa, Guadalest, Confrides, Gorga, Planes and Pego (check it out on a map). Basically this ride climbs to its highest point at the pass of Confrides before a rolling ride to Planes. The road up to Confrides offers stunning views up the valley, riding back down from Planes is an absolute joy as you comfortably pedal down the sweeping valley road holding a high average speed and with the occasional treat of over taking a stone wagon!

The following weeks will not only be occupied with training but also exam marking for me!!! This is tedious and dull but a means of earning the money that I need in order to be able to train out here. It equates to approximately 70 hours of marking over a 4 week period. Wish me luck. I’ll be back once it is finished!

2 January 2008
I feel very lucky to be able to train abroad for such an extended period in the winter, and when I say abroad, I don’t mean Belgium. We have temporarily left our lovely home in Meensel Kiezegem and are living in an apartment in Benidoleig. Where? Find Valencia and Alicante on the Costa Blanca, on the easterly tip of the coast line is Xabia, or Javea, then about 16k due west is Benidolieg.

The terrain here is ideal with a large range of routes from flat, to rolling, to mountainous. We couldn’t ask for anything more. So far the weather has been kind. There has been very little sun, mainly cloud, but most importantly temperatures between 14° and 16°. We were unfortunate to have heavy showers while riding the other day but it’s still very bearable since you are not faced with the simultaneous cold temperatures as in England or Belgium. I was convinced that we’d picked a good spot when I spied Astana boys training!!!

The accommodation here is first class (www.citruscycling.co.uk) and the couple who run the place could not be more hospitable. We have traveled with a lot of unnecessary items since EVERYTHING is here; tools, rollers, turbo, pump, cleaning products, lube, nutritional supplements…. Adam and Alex run a business in the season accommodating groups of up to 8 for cycling tours and holidays. To be able to go away with a group of mates for a cycling holiday or training camp and literally only take your bike is ideal.

The accommodation is perched on a hillside and offers FANTASTIC views. Obviously this comes at a cost; a long and testing climb home at the end of each ride. However, on day four I really felt quite comfortable on the climb. With ten minutes on the rollers after each training session your legs feel like you could do the climb again!!!!

For both Hamish and I training is virtually identical at the moment. This doesn’t always mean that we ride together since we train according to our individual heart rate zones. We are just coming to the end of a block of 3 weeks consisting of a repetition of 4 days on, 2 recovery, 3 days on, 1 recovery. Each day we are riding for 3 hours 45 to 5 hours. Albeit one (the longest), there is a lot of structure within each of these rides.

Off the bike we tend to just put our feet up and rest. However, there is plenty for us to do on our recovery days; shopping for food, establishing contacts for massage and osteopathy, and, if I’m lucky, a coffee in a quiet Spanish bar!!!

Blog store
Hi as this is my first blog let me introduce myself. I am Emma Silversides, my occupation is full time cyclist and part time artist. For next year I have been lucky enough to become the first British woman to be sign for Belgium’s top women’s pro cycle team Lotto – Belisol. 2008 will be my third season living and racing in Belgium.

I am 29 and come from a village near Selby in North Yorkshire. After university, I spent four years working as a maths teacher at Dean Close Girl’s Boarding School in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. During my years of teaching I was an international triathlete and represented my country at the world championship in Hamilton, Canada in 2001.

But I found the running a problem so turned to cycling and rode with Cheltenham and District CC and then Leisure Lakes RT with whom I got sixth place in the British National Road Race Championship in South Wales which was my racing breakthrough. Ten days after that I severed a vein in my leg in an accident at my parent’s home. I really thought my cycling career was over before it began.

I worked hard and after literally having to learn to walk again, I scored a win in a hilly round of the women’s racing series in Somerset’s Mendip Hills and two weeks later got a second to Helen Wyman. This led to her team Fat Birds asking me to join them. That winter I left my teaching job and decided to race full time and had to rely on my hobby of painting, I paint cyclists and sell the prints see my website www.emmasilversides.com .

I spent the season racing domestically and having my first taste of racing in Belgium, soon realising that was what I wanted. I found it hard to adjust to the speed and style of racing in Belgium and realised that to do it properly I would have to live there. So in 2006 that was what I did with FBUK again Helen Wyman’s team. I found it hard to even finish races.

During the season I met my boyfriend Hamish Haynes who was already racing and winning in Belgium with Jartazi, the season he won the National Championship. In 2007 I was with Global Racing, again Helen Wyman’s team and went to Belgium with Hamish.

I am sure that I owe the form and attitude which got me noticed by Lotto to Hamish I tend to be rather negative Hamish is very positive and has taught me to learn from each race experience, good or bad. We really support each other. I am so proud to be the first British rider to be signed for Lotto where I will be riding with the Olympic road champion Sara Carrigan. They approached me, that is the ultimate respect. They understand that I have gone to Belgium to try to make the grade in their country and try to adapt to their way of life.

I met their sponsor and obviously made an impression during our talk as he told me he would like me on the team although it was down to Dany Schoonbaert, the director sportif. They had been riding the stage races I did with Global, including when I got fifth place in a stage in Brittany in a break.

That was a real breakthrough for me. The trouble was I was not always getting picked for the stage races and was riding a lot of kermesses, I was getting regular top tens, including two seconds and three thirds.These rides got me noticed as at times I was getting into the action and getting places back to back. So they offered me a contract. Lotto ride all the big events. I know that not being Belgian I will have to fight hard to get into the top races there, I already know I am not riding Het Volk. I will fight for my place.

At the moment I am in Belgian with Hamish sorting things out for 2008. In the next few days we will be driving down to train in the sun in the Marina Alta area around Denia. It is an area we have both trained in before. We will be out there until sometime in February when Hamish will begin his season in Belgium.I will let you know how the training is going in the next few weeks.

Till the next time, Emma