Felt Enduro Blog EXCLUSIVE!!!!
The Felt Enduro Team blog had an opportunity to sit down at a computer and fire some questions at Paul van der Ploeg and patiently wait.... and wait and wait for the big guy to respond. Here is what transpired.....
Felt Blog: Paul, you're training rides seem massive and cover multiple countries. Whats the coolest thing you have seen on your rides?
Pauly: Well there was this one random ride that Lachie and I did that took over five hours and we rode from the Ais base in Castronno (near Varese) and ventured into over the Swiss border and into an area we named ‘the wonderland’. For the first time on a training ride out of the base we found a quiet network of road’s through some amazing mountains covered in full bright green trees. On that ride Lachie was also hit by a car, a bird flew into his front wheel (completely separate events) and I rode the last 60k with a torq gel wrapper covering a massive hole that was created from a small stone.
Felt Blog: Hmmm, interesting. How do you get up in the morning knowing that you have 200km and 4000m of vertical climbing ahead of you? Don't you just want to stay in bed?
Pauly: You open your eyes and lift your leg out of the warm blankets knowing that this ride will make you a stronger rider in years to come. It was just something you did and tried not to think of the pain ahead. It made it a lot easier that there were two other idiots with me that are just as crazy. Now one of them is going to the Olympics so I guess it paid off.
Felt Blog: Yes, yes. I agree totally. What tunes do you have pumping through the Pod at the moment?
Pauly: Overseas we were mixing up the beats a little and Lachie enforced album of the week during a period to try and expand the range we got into. We got onto David grey, the new Kings of Leon album, Block Party, Motion city soundtrack and Dan mixed up the album of the week during altitude with a mix of pop songs by artists like timberland and JT. So I have been playing those beats lately.
Felt Blog: Have you had any luck on the lady front? Seeing you guys riding around in Lycra must send the local girls into a fever?
Pauly: Well unfortunately there is no good news on that battle front and I’m very disappointed in that area. Life was crazy over there and we didn’t have much time to relax and hang out at any other place, other then the base because there was no other form of transport, besides feet and bikes to go places.
The local ladies were keen until they saw the brand of bike Paul was on...
Felt Blog: Yeah I find that helps me pick up the chicks too. Moving on. Your racing so far this season. How would you grade it so far?
Pauly: I had some highs and some lows while overseas. Each race was full of learning because of the different tracks and lengths of races etc. I have to say that it was harder to keep consistent over there because of all of the other guys racing at the same time, unlike at Aus where you are able to race your own race without to many variables.
Felt Blog: What, besides your awesome Enduro Team Manager do you miss the most about Australia?
Pauly: The obvious one is Family. Then there are the Mt. Beauty trails and people who speak English. It’s a bit harder living in a place that no one really speaks the same language as you.
Felt Blog: Do you have any arch enemies yet who always seem to hold you up or cut you off?
Pauly: There was one guy who kept catching in the world cups and I always seemed to chop his wheel or cut him off. This happened on a few weekends in a row and it was pretty funny. He would be the closest thing I have to an arch rival. He was pretty mad at me at a few passing situations.
Pauly (in red) smashing the Euro "Arch Nemesis"....
Felt Blog: The bastard! I would spike his drinks or something. You on the other hand are much fairer and more capable of defeating him on your merits. Have you found that most Euro's struggle to pin the 'D's', unlike your good self who smashes them?
Pauly: Haha… the Euros are probably a bit more cautious on the D’s and they see them as an obstacle, where I try to see them as a opportunity to make back some time (that I may lose on the climbs). That said the front guys are amazing on the downs with silky smooth skills. I really enjoy trying to push myself to the limits on the D’s, it gives the race that bit extra of adrenalin rush, not knowing if the speed your going will keep you rubber side down at the bottom of the section. Good fun.
Felt Blog: Totally buddy. Weak Euro's. OK word association, 1 word responses required here. 1st thing that pops into your head.... 1st word is, Lamshed.
Pauly: Green
Felt Blog: Ouch. He is a bit annoying. Next word, Felt.
Pauly: Sick
Felt Blog: Mars Bars
Pauly: Gold
Felt Blog: Coke
Pauly: liquid gold (I know two words, but its all I could think of)
Felt Blog: Windmills
Pauly: Random
Felt Blog: McConnell
Pauly: Legend
Felt Blog: Absolon
Pauly: Freak
Felt Blog: Finally, last word: World Championships
Pauly: nightmare
Felt Blog: Paul, you're training rides seem massive and cover multiple countries. Whats the coolest thing you have seen on your rides?
Pauly: Well there was this one random ride that Lachie and I did that took over five hours and we rode from the Ais base in Castronno (near Varese) and ventured into over the Swiss border and into an area we named ‘the wonderland’. For the first time on a training ride out of the base we found a quiet network of road’s through some amazing mountains covered in full bright green trees. On that ride Lachie was also hit by a car, a bird flew into his front wheel (completely separate events) and I rode the last 60k with a torq gel wrapper covering a massive hole that was created from a small stone.
Felt Blog: Hmmm, interesting. How do you get up in the morning knowing that you have 200km and 4000m of vertical climbing ahead of you? Don't you just want to stay in bed?
Pauly: You open your eyes and lift your leg out of the warm blankets knowing that this ride will make you a stronger rider in years to come. It was just something you did and tried not to think of the pain ahead. It made it a lot easier that there were two other idiots with me that are just as crazy. Now one of them is going to the Olympics so I guess it paid off.
Felt Blog: Yes, yes. I agree totally. What tunes do you have pumping through the Pod at the moment?
Pauly: Overseas we were mixing up the beats a little and Lachie enforced album of the week during a period to try and expand the range we got into. We got onto David grey, the new Kings of Leon album, Block Party, Motion city soundtrack and Dan mixed up the album of the week during altitude with a mix of pop songs by artists like timberland and JT. So I have been playing those beats lately.
Felt Blog: Have you had any luck on the lady front? Seeing you guys riding around in Lycra must send the local girls into a fever?
Pauly: Well unfortunately there is no good news on that battle front and I’m very disappointed in that area. Life was crazy over there and we didn’t have much time to relax and hang out at any other place, other then the base because there was no other form of transport, besides feet and bikes to go places.
The local ladies were keen until they saw the brand of bike Paul was on...Felt Blog: Yeah I find that helps me pick up the chicks too. Moving on. Your racing so far this season. How would you grade it so far?
Pauly: I had some highs and some lows while overseas. Each race was full of learning because of the different tracks and lengths of races etc. I have to say that it was harder to keep consistent over there because of all of the other guys racing at the same time, unlike at Aus where you are able to race your own race without to many variables.
Felt Blog: What, besides your awesome Enduro Team Manager do you miss the most about Australia?
Pauly: The obvious one is Family. Then there are the Mt. Beauty trails and people who speak English. It’s a bit harder living in a place that no one really speaks the same language as you.
Felt Blog: Do you have any arch enemies yet who always seem to hold you up or cut you off?
Pauly: There was one guy who kept catching in the world cups and I always seemed to chop his wheel or cut him off. This happened on a few weekends in a row and it was pretty funny. He would be the closest thing I have to an arch rival. He was pretty mad at me at a few passing situations.
Pauly (in red) smashing the Euro "Arch Nemesis"....Felt Blog: The bastard! I would spike his drinks or something. You on the other hand are much fairer and more capable of defeating him on your merits. Have you found that most Euro's struggle to pin the 'D's', unlike your good self who smashes them?
Pauly: Haha… the Euros are probably a bit more cautious on the D’s and they see them as an obstacle, where I try to see them as a opportunity to make back some time (that I may lose on the climbs). That said the front guys are amazing on the downs with silky smooth skills. I really enjoy trying to push myself to the limits on the D’s, it gives the race that bit extra of adrenalin rush, not knowing if the speed your going will keep you rubber side down at the bottom of the section. Good fun.
Felt Blog: Totally buddy. Weak Euro's. OK word association, 1 word responses required here. 1st thing that pops into your head.... 1st word is, Lamshed.
Pauly: Green
Felt Blog: Ouch. He is a bit annoying. Next word, Felt.
Pauly: Sick
Felt Blog: Mars Bars
Pauly: Gold
Felt Blog: Coke
Pauly: liquid gold (I know two words, but its all I could think of)
Felt Blog: Windmills
Pauly: Random
Felt Blog: McConnell
Pauly: Legend
Felt Blog: Absolon
Pauly: Freak
Felt Blog: Finally, last word: World Championships
Pauly: nightmare
posted by Jarrod Acfield at 11:58 am
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