WEEK 51

WEEK 51 (Tuesday December 19, 2006)

MERRY CHRISTMAS – WE’RE CELEBRATING AT HOME

We’re still missing a Christmas tree in our living room, but apart from that we’re all set up for a great holiday and a good old traditional celebration together with family and relatives. Isak and Petruss are particularly pleased with the Christmas decorations, wrapping paper, and especially ribbons which are to be tied around the presents, but also a bit of extra good Christmas food. To be completely honest we’re still missing another important Christmas ingredient, and that’s the scent of homemade gingerbread cookies. We’ll just have to visit one of our neighbours to experience that!

There are only 5 days left until Christmas, and I have the Christmas present pressures under control (I think), and most of the bought Christmas cakes have already been consumed. In other words, the situation is stable here in our living room at Tjensvoll. We’re looking forward like little children to a happy celebration, and are quite pleased to have been let off as easily as we have been regarding Christmas dinners, special brunches, and evening parties etc.

It’s a long time since you’ve heard from us, but not all that much of excitement happens when the cycling season is bang in between its end and its beginning. For us, this is actually the most busy time of the year, but only with all manner of weird things that take place exclusively on Norwegian soil. We’ve travelled all over the place, both at sea and in the air, since our last report, and we could just about write a book about all that’s happened.

FIT SHELL-EMPLOYEES

We’ve both had the pleasure of meeting up with a huge group of employees from Shell, who are now training and exercising for all they’re worth in preparation for the Birkebeiner race this coming summer. For some, this will be their first time.

Our first meeting was with a sizable gang from the offices at Risavika here in Stavanger, where cycling and security were major issues. Interesting and important facts were taken up and discussed during the day. Hopefully it was inspiring for those who already take their bike to and from work, but maybe it also was a small shove in the right direction for those considering leaving their car at home, at least for a few work-days a week.

Next stop was a lecture and spinning-classes with an enthusiastic group from Shell’s offices in Oslo. They have many first-timers who will be taking part in the Birkebeiner race for the first time this coming summer, and they should really look forward to it! There’s no doubt that it’ll be a fantastic experience for them in every way, one which they will never forget. The good thing about having taken the decision to start this race, from Rena to Lillehammer, is that the preparations involve so many fun and exciting things to do. If one sets up a good exercise plan, every single exercise stint can be a wonderful experience, providing well-being, enjoyment and energy.

Our third stop this time round was in Kristiansund and Råket where we met up with some very seasoned cyclists, as well as beginners in the bike-saddle, also wanting to take part in this “bike-craze.” This was a particularly active group. First we started up with a very intense spinning class together as a sort of warming up session, before an interesting talk about preparations, training plans, nutrition and equipment over a few pieces of pizza in the cafeteria at Shell’s offices in Kristiansund. I’m happy to see how many Merida bikes that will be starting at the Birkebeiner race next summer, with Shell on the chests of the riders steering these fantastic means of transport.

The final challenge for Kenneth and me in this séance was a visit out to the Draugen oil field in the North Sea, involving a trip by helicopter and staying over night on the oil platform. We received a fantastic welcome from wonderful people, an experience which won’t be forgotten. We had many spinning classes on Draugen, plus enjoyable gatherings with the workers, and not least a newcomer who also will be taking part in the Birkebeiner race this summer. The Platform Director, Øyvind Espeland, accepted the challenge to cycle from Rena to Lillehammer on Saturday the 25th of August, 2007. He will doubtlessly be closely monitored so his training plan and pulse zones are followed exactly as they should be.

30 YEARS OF STIANS SPORT

Stians Sport, which is celebrating its 30 years’ anniversary this year, was celebrated in grand style with both employees and guests. Stians Sport and Merida Norway have become a leading organisation in the biking business in Norway today, and many are grateful towards them. Stians Sport contributes to all cycling disciplines, and we really appreciate them.

Apart from that, I’ve had a few trips to Oslo for some meetings and suchlike. As always, there’s a whole lot that needs to be prepared and organised before the season starts again, and it’s not long before it does. Apart from all the exercise – a good 20 hours last week – our days have been used for various obligations and requests. I’ve had a few evenings with family and friends which mean a lot to me, and which I’ll remember when I start travelling again after New Year.

Yesterday evening our neighbour came across with some newly baked traditional Norwegian Christmas cakes, and they tasted fantastic. There were a few left over, and they’ll doubtlessly disappear this evening. I’ve been given two or three bottles of red wine from various friends and others congratulating us on a fantastic season, and that really makes us happy. I also think it’s very nice to have been nominated for many different prizes at the Norwegian sports gala which will take place just past New Year. I’m especially proud that Kenneth has been nominated for the prize as trainer of the year.

These next days will be used for this and that, like delivering presents, a few last minute “Merry Christmas” visits, decorating Gunn-Rita, and lots of exercise. We’ll have long-distance trips on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but that’s no problem for us. We’ll just start early, so we get most out of the day J

You’ll all hear from me again between Christmas and New Year, by which time I expect all the dues will have been paid for this year’s Christmas gifts. I expect I’ll be one up, as Kenneth doesn’t have a clue about what I’m giving him for Christmas, and I’m really digging it J

I would like to use this opportunity to thank all our supporters and sponsors for a fantastic year together, and we’re looking very much forward to new and exciting challenges on the same team in 2007.

MERRY CHRISTMAS to you all.

Christmas hugs from Gunn-Rita and Kenneth.

Multivan Merida Biking Team