While my friends in the US are already relearning dismounts and counting days not weeks until the season's first race those of us 'cross the pond are just starting to think about the season. Not that we're all on holiday here, cross season doesn't start until October and real racing a month after that. Of course a less than summer like August helps get the spirit, if not the legs rolling. Before racing a few long days on the road are to come but time to start getting dirty again.

A family event in the afternoon is a great excuse to pedal around the Strijbeek woods. A voice greets us while unloading, the Dutch 50-60 mater's champion is just back from a morning ride. He notes our fenders, a must for the wet sand. The area is great for riding; paved paths, some forest singletrack and leg busting climbs. Climbs? In western Holland? The climbs here go on for hundreds of meters in all directions, you just don't go uphill. No the climbs here are the endless millimeters climbing the depth your tires sink into the sand. When legs no longer can push forward a quick hop to the path gets a few meters of recovery to catch your group.

Knobs covered in fresh sandy mud for the first time this season. Soon every weekend will have a split personality, clean days for the mind and muddy days for the soul.