I love riding my bike. If it was up to me I’d go for long, hard, steady rides each and every day… I like riding alone. I like riding with a good group of people. I like lining up and racing. But right now I can’t do any of this.

I’ve been thinking a lot about racing and what my feelings are on it. A crash like the one I had really does put things in perspective. But I’ve realized after this past weekend that I’m still a racer. When I was out at Averbode, I walked the course and discussed it with Ignace. He pointed out how to ride certain sections and we talked about some good drills that could be done at the Averbode course.

This weekend is a big double race weekend here with Scheldecross and Overijse – two very awesome races. Overijse was the first elite women’s race I ever did and I’ve raced Scheldecross four times. These two races are classic courses and really are something else.

Initially I thought I’d be okay not racing these races… But, I want to race them. I wish I could race them. I love racing my bike. It is fun and it is a challenge. Next year, I’ll be back racing again.

Until then, I’ll live vicariously through Marc, Nikoline, and the rest of my cyclocross racing pals who are doing it here in Belgium.