Turning Twenty3 – Dan Kogan’s Latest Blog

It may be 2012, but a more poignant number for me, is definitely, twenty three. Both my new age, and my new team. Coincidence I think not!

A new start, a fresh outlook on what I want to aim for and achieve. The year began well, with unusually mild and dry weather (not complaining). I brought in the New Year with a good group of mates, having a BBQ. Normally unheard of in January!

Ready to get the year off to a strong start, I set about a good weeks training. With many of my friends jetting off warmer climates, it was a week training alone. No problem though, as it meant I could ride where I wanted, try some new lanes and had a bit of time to myself to enjoy the winter sunshine.

Discovering new roads, hills and with a good smattering of getting lost, around the testing Hertfordshire roads, meant the miles and the hours flew by. First week into January, 20 hours on the bike clocked up.

The week that followed, I began a 2 week work experience placement. With such a good block done, the week before, I took this week as an easy week. Looking back on it now…I’m glad I did!

It was full on, what with a long commute and packed day at work. Getting up at 6 to jump on the turbo for an hour, was literally all I could fit in. Enjoyable, if not slightly mad.

A few turbo sessions that week later and I was definitely ready to get out of the garage and back on the roads for a weekend of group riding. Saturday and my first group ride of the year. A nice 140km round the lanes of Essex and Hertfordshire, a good group out, with team mate Rhys and “human GPS” Andy, providing the route.

Sunday, more of the same, yet also signalled my first puncture in over a year. Best to get it out the way in January I suppose. Let’s hope the next puncture is just as rare!

So a good couple of rides and back straight back to the commuting, fitting in turbo sessions and a final weeks work experience. A full on two weeks came to an end and although I really enjoyed the work, I had a new found respect for people who have such a long commute, a full day’s work and are still able to train and compete at a high level!

Weekend, another solid one. Two wind swept, group rides, both over 4hrs. It may have been kite flying conditions, but with a top group of guys to train with, plenty of banter and Andy’s ever amazing “local knowledge of lanes” it was another good block, ready to prepare us for the 2012 season.

So what’s next? Well first and foremost continue to get the miles in and with such a pleasant winter, lots of people to ride with, this is not hard to do. Before long it will be time to jet off for the team’s training camp in Majorca. Twenty3c’s first big get together and a sign the season is nearly upon us. I for one can’t wait!

Dan K – Twenty3c-Orbea

Dan Kogan Blog – Back into the swing of things!

Now seems a pretty good time of the year to write my first blog entry, so here goes.

After a long season racing in South Brittany in France, I was experiencing two things: One, relief, I was now able to speak English whenever I wanted and secondly, an incredible tiredness.

What most riders find as the last few races roll to an end is the body and mind start to lag. This was definitely the case for me. After being away from home for 9 months I was looking forward to seeing friends and family again and having a good rest.

Back in UK and I won’t lie, even feeling tired,  I did a couple of rides, one on the mountain bike over Epping Forest and the other out to Writtle on the road bike. This was completely for social reasons as I was able to ride with friends, have a nice cake and sit in the barmy, hot October sunshine!

So, content and now ready for a break I slipped effortlessly into a month of “normal” person activities. This included the grandparent visits, lots of socialising and a bit of clubbing. The main aim of this time away from the bike was to let the body and mind have a well needed rest. So of course that meant I also spent a lot of time lounging about!

After a couple of weeks, where I was literally a tired, energyless, shell of a rider I started to feel more human. By the last week of my break the inevitable happened. I started getting itchy feet (not literally) I was climbing the walls and ready to get back to exercise. This was a good sign as it showed I was ready to roll again!

The thing with coming off a long break is that fitness drops considerably. I knew that the first few rides back were going to be painful and at crawling pace but I was just so happy to get back doing what I liked…riding my bike. The main area I needed to keep an eye on is not jumping back into it too hard. This meant I started light and over the weeks built up slowly.

A weekend mountain biking with friends, a few café rides and a couple of sessions in the gym meant I was getting fit again, without having to think of it as training. Easy and relaxed and with unseasonably good weather this was a great few weeks.

Coming into December and rides began getting a little longer, but still no mammoth expeditions quite yet! The pace is still steady and the cafes are still present on the ride, but with good weather and a great group of guys to train with the miles and weeks seem to fly by.

Returning back from France, I’d lost a lot of weight (nearly 6kg) and although have put a bit on (3kg) I am still not carrying enough reserves for a cold winter. This is why I need to be especially careful in the coming weeks and through winter to make sure I continue to put on weight and muscle, which I had lost.

So that is a whirlwind run through of what I have been up to since returning from France. What’s in store next you may ask!? Well over the next few weeks, up to the New Year, I will continue to gradually increase time spent on the bike and coming into the New Year will start adding a bit more intensity, ready to get me prepared for my 2012 of racing. Season may still be a few months away but I can’t wait!

Dan.

Twenty3c-Orbea – 3 more signings completes 2012 roster!

To complete the line up for the 2012 season the team are keeping with the philosophy of helping develop the young and promising riders predominantly from the Eastern Region. The team are pleased to announce the signings of James Jackson, Clem Berrill and Rhys Howells. All three riders have impressed this season and reached a point where their abilities and ambitions have seen them start to tackle the Premier Calendar events. Next year will allow them to continue this development and start to gain success at this next level.

James Jackson came back to the sport in 2011 after having two years out and showed the potential he has by picking up 5 wins in his comeback season including the Eastern Region Crit Champs. A rider with a recognised fast finish and true potential. It is hoped that James will continue his impressive return to the sport and use this ability to win some bigger races, which we know he is capable of.    

Both Clem Berrill and Rhys Howells join the team from the successful Hackney CC, a club that has a depth of young talent and has quickly become a hotbed for developing and encouraging young riders from this part of the region. Both Clem and Rhys have only been racing for two years and in this time they have both become accomplished riders with ambitions to develop further within the sport. Rhys picked up two wins during the 2011 season and his strong riding on the flat will be an asset to the team. Clem has proved to be one of the best young riders in the Eastern Region throughout the 2011 season and his attacking style brought him to the attention of the team. We believe they both have a lot to offer the team and Twenty3c-Orbea would like to give them the opportunity to fulfil their ambitions.

Full Line-Up

Lewis Atkins

Clem Berrill

Rhys Howells

James Jackson

Dan Kogan

Andy Lyons

Dean Shannon

Wojciech Szlachta

Twenty3c-Orbea Plans for 2012…

Twenty3c-Orbea are pleased to announce Dan Kogan will be joining the team for 2012.

The teams’ race programme will be targeting the Premier Calendar Series, Elite Circuit Series and trips to Belgium to give our younger riders experience of racing on the continent.

Dan says of the 2012 season "I am aiming for good results in the Premier Calendar series and to build on my 2011 season where I raced in Brittany, France. As well as achieving individual success, I am committed to helping the sprinters on the team and to make 2012 a successful season for Twenty3c Orbea”

Dan’s key results over the past couple of years include –

2nd Eastern Divisional Championships 2010

2nd SERRL 3 day stage race 2010

2nd East Yorkshire Premier Calendar KOM 2010

3rd GP Sarzeau criterium (France) 2011

1st GP Hennebont regional rider 2011

Peter Bragg from sponsor Shutt Velo Rapide say’s “we are really pleased Dan has signed with Twenty3c-Orbea for next season.  We worked with him a couple of years ago before he made the move to France and he is a great rider and has so much potential.  He also gave us invaluable feedback on the kit which has helped us to develop our ranges and will be great to have him back”

Twenty3c-Orbea line-up announced so far -

Dan Kogan

Lewis Atkins

Dean Shannon

Andy Lyons

www.twenty3c.co.uk

Twenty3c-Orbea Cycling Team

Twenty3c-Orbea are an Elite Team who race at a National level in Premier Calendar Series and Tour Series that is televised on ITV4.

This year has been great for the team, which has a strong U23 line-up yet has achieved a number of medals at National Senior Level.  Joe Perrett’s Bronze medal in the National 10TT Championship behind Bradley Wiggins and Michael Hutchinson as well as Andrew Griffith’s Overall win at the Tour of Malta and Bronze in National 25TT Championship!  Not to mention all the top 10 results in the Premier Calendar races by Mike Cuming & Rob Sharman!

Sponsors, without the support of our sponsors running the team would be so much harder – Orbea, Oriel Securities, Shutt Velo Rapide, Mercedes Vito Sport, Ritchey, FFWD Wheels, CycleOps Trainers, Prendas and not forgetting Green Jersey Web Design for the Twenty3c-Orbea Website. 

2011 Rider Line-Up

Lewis Atkins

Mike Cuming

Kristian Downs

Andrew Griffiths

Joe Perrett

Andy Lyons

Rob Sharma

Dean Shannon

James Whatling

What this space for details of 2012

Plans are coming together nicely for another great season!