Dan Patten talks about bikes, bergs and well . . . Belgium!

As part of my ambassador role with Viva Velo, each month I’ll be writing a blog on a variety of different topics. With my past and present experience of cycling in Belgium, with the classics upon us and with Viva Velo’s first Belgium trip having just gone live, then a blog about Belgium seems somewhat appropriate to kick things off. . . like an excuse is ever needed when it comes to Belgium!

Having come into cycling quite late, it was fortunate that my first ever cycling team (Pacific Flanders) had such an appropriate sponsor that soon introduced me to cycling in Belgium. The racing is arguably the hardest in the world and with races almost every day of the week during the season, it really is a racers paradise. No surprise it is a country has produced and continues to produce so many great champions.

The racing itself however is not simply about the racers, its about the whole town or towns that it passes through. For any race in Belgium the crowds will be out and playing their part, race after race and year after year in this show played out on two wheels. It all makes for a very special place to race a bike and for all these reasons and more I’ve kept coming back year after.

But Belgium isn’t just about racing, I learned that it was simply a great place to ride a bike. From cobbles to canal paths, country lanes to bike lanes, short and steep cobbled bergs to longer and smoother climbs, Flanders to the Ardennes, Belgium has it all. With so much history on and off the bike, it really does provide a special setting to ride a bike. And with cycling being so popular in this country, it truly is a pleasure, in all its forms.

When it comes to describing Belgium I really could go on and on, but why not come and see for yourself with Viva Velo’s Belgium trip in July?  Based in Oudenaarde you will be in the heart of Flanders and the centre of this cycling paradise. A beautiful town in itself, with historic architecture, bars/cafes/restaurants, the Centrum Ronde Van Vlaanderen (Tour of Flanders musesum) and more all based around Oudenaarde’s market square. Now the finishing town of the Ronde Van Vlaanderen and with all the main attractions of this historic race (and others) all a close ride away, it truly is, in my opinion, the place to come and visit . . . and ride your bike!

In the meantime feel free to follow my Belgian adventures on Instagram/Twitter @dfpatten and likewise to contact with any questions. Until next time!

Dan

Dan Patten joins Viva Velo

As Viva Velo’s reputation for providing first class cycling tours and events continues to grow once again we are pleased to welcome a member of the professional cycling community to the fold as a brand ambassador.  Many of you will know Dan Patten from his recent exploits for Team Wiggins over the last two years where you may recall he was involved in a first stage breakaway in the 2016 Amgen Tour of California as well as winning the King of the Mountains in the GP Wales.  You can see an interview with Frankie Andreu after that first day in the ATOC the video below.

Born in Essex, Dan studied at Loughborough University before becoming a professional cyclist and for thos that like a number or two Dan’s certainly are impressive.  With a VO2 max of 83.8 and a power to weight ratio of 7.2w/Kg Dan demonstrates the enormous chasm in performance between someone able to compete at the highest level and the average club cyclist – let alone the rest of us weekend warriors!  And yet it is generally acknowledged that Dan remains one of the most approachable and down to earth pros in the peleton – a perfect qualification for a Viva Velo brand ambassador.  But this should come as no surprise, for Dan began his cycling racing in the Surrey League as well as competing at Lea Valley and Hogshill, familiar venues to many a club rider.  He then moved to Belgium to race for several years before finally getting a break with UCI Continental team Team SmartStop Mountain Khakis in 2013 – having previously raced for UCI Pro-continental team Magnus Maximus Coffee.com (2009).  He then progressed to another UCI pro-continental team, 7 Eleven by Roadbike Philippines (2014) before landing his contract with Team Wiggins.

Without a contract for 2017, Dan is looking to broaden his cycling CV by working with Viva Velo (and other cycle tour companies) as a ride leader as well as expanding his coaching interests.  For Viva Velo specifically as well as joining us on some of our rides and tours we hope, he will be writing a regular monthly blog on a range of topics which we are sure you will find interesting and engaging.

His first blog will be about racing in Belgium – a place he knows intimately – and his joint venture with Viva Velo to offer tours to some of the most famous cycling destinations in that country so watch this space.  What could be better than retracing the wheel tracks of so many cycling heroes in the presence of someone with the knowledge and experience to bring that history alive on the bike?!

The Cambrils Experience

As announced before Christmas we are delighted to have recruited Jessie Walker, ex GB team cyclist to the Viva Velo cause and we didn’t take long to get her working hard for us.  Jessie was breifed to take a client to Cambrils in Spain in the first week of 2017 to provide a one-to-one training camp.  Below Jessie tells us how she got on. . .

“As clichéed as a ‘New Year, new start’ may be, it is definitely the case for me.  Only days into 2017 I have started my new experience as a cycle guide for Viva Velo.  What brought me to Viva Velo in particular was the bespoke side of their business – providing one off cycling holidays and training camps.  That is very much what I love: unique, unforgettable experiences.

These trips can be made to suit you in every way.  Whether you already have your own very complicated plan of what you want to do and achieve in the week but simply need a guide for the area or whether you want everything organised for you and you just arrive at the airport, Viva Velo can help.

In this week’s case we were tasked with providing a one-to-one training camp for the client.  The individual’s coach had set certain training goals and it was up to me to plan routes to bring that all together.

Day one was of course a travel day.  I’ve very much become used to travelling from place to place finding my own way from racing and training abroad but I’m always learning on the go.  First it was time to meet and greet then make our way to the hotel.

Then the daily routine took shape: breakfast at 8am, then the ride starting at 10am when the warmer weather started kicking in, and most days this meant 4 hours of mixed terrain riding.  This was followed by lunch, of course, and then rest which included me giving the client a sports massage as I’m recently qualified in this area.  Later we headed to the gym for stretching and core stability followed by dinner.  The days have been jam packed and very productive.

We stayed for the week at Cambrils Park Resort.  It was my first time here but I was soon settled in nicely.  The resort is accustomed to cyclists and sports in general with several football teams staying here the same week as us as well as Cylance Pro Cycling Women’s Team.  Secure bike storage is provided as well as washing facilities.  It’s very popular for cycling teams with a list of those that have stayed here including: (past and present)

Giant Alpecin, Fortuneo Vital Concept, Team Wiggins, Poitou Charentes Futuroscope – who are now FDJ Aquitaine, Team 3M, Verandas Willems, Ringeriks Kraft, Uno X Hydrogen, Cylance Pro Cycling, Starley Racing

It’s a great place to come and train/cycle and so it proved for myself and our client.  A lot was accomplished throughout the week exceeding expectations.  Lots of mountains climbed, amazing views and an occasional strong wind along the way, all making for a tough and successful week’s training.  My first week as a guide is complete and I’m already excited for more.”

And it seems we have happy clients too:

“I cannot tell you how pleased I have been with the time that you and Jessie have put into helping [my daughter]. It has been a brilliant experience for her which she has thoroughly enjoyed. [My daughter] loved riding with Jessie, and gaining knowledge from her, and she has come home tired but very happy. A welcome day off today, and hopefully back in the saddle tomorrow, re-energised and re-focussed! Far, far better than the one other trip I have organised before for my daughter. Absolutely no complaints, except that I wish I could have afforded to make the trip ten times longer!!! Jessie is fantastic. Dyll was brilliant and I really hope that the company goes from strength to strength. Value for money 9/10 ”  Mother of our client