Old Wives' Tales; Traditions; Superstitions: Most people have a few they abide by, knowing that they're not really factual, but they like the ideas or the story behind them.

Euros, and particularly those in the cycling world, have a particular affinity to odd beliefs and one of the most joked about topics by Americans racing in Europe is "Euro Logic". When a country is specified it normally becomes "Belgian Logic". Most likely the fond memories of the time that most of our generation spent in Izigem with the u23 National team have something to do with this.

While most people admit that wives tales are, well, wives' tales, in Europe they are fact and to be defended to the grave. Provide a double blind study that disproves a bit of Belgian logic and you'll be glared at like the village idiot for believing a scientist. The glarer will then go back to talking about the nutritional benefits of deep fried twinkies.

So, what are some examples of the truths that we Americans are idiots for laughing over? Nutrition is A-number-1, and let me preface this paragraph by saying that 99.9 percent of cyclists have twisted relationships with food - a sad fact of life. As a generalization thinner is better and we're constantly "joking" with each other about how fat we are/they are/that guy is and during a big meal the classic "Eat up, you're just gonna go throw it up later anyways" line seems to pop up more often than not. That said, most of us have at least a reasonable foundation of nutritional knowledge. Reduced to a base level you gain weight by eating more calories than you burn, right?

NOT SO! Chocolate makes you fat! For some reason however chocolate in cereal is okay, in fact it's great morning fuel, but after dinner it is sure death. Belgian Frites bathed in mayo however are weight watchers endorsed. Peanut butter is well known to go straight to your hips and contains no nutritional value whatsoever. Nutella on the other hand is a legitimate superfood and the breakfast of champions when spooned generously on white bread. Fromage Blanc for dessert? It melts the calories away. Ice cream? Fat, fat, fat for sure. I always loved dinner at the national team house when as you were berated for eating too much candy (1 snickers a week for example) and how it was starting to show you'd then have a plate of chicken-fried cheese steaks with gravy dropped in front of you.

The next most pressing issue and one of the biggest challenges in cycling is staying healthy. Make it through the year without getting sick and it will no doubt be your best season ever. When we crazy Americans walk into a room in mid-summer wearing shorts and flip-flops or sandals all conversation stops, eyes turn to our feet and sly whispers about impending doom ensue. Opening a window in a stiflingly hot room or sun-baked car is even worse. Turning on an air conditioner? Sure death. One must be mummified in fleece at all times and if you aren't sweating while at rest you're guaranteed to catch a cold. And die.

Until the race starts: it can be 40 and raining yet if you show up with leg warmers he stares force you to hide at the back of the field. This is sometimes twisted the other way by a Spaniard who looks like he hasn't eaten anything other than celery for a few years that is racing in thermals when most of us have our jerseys unzipped. I don't even know what to say about that.

Now for some of the classics: I remember when I was younger and heard stories of riders back in the Stone Age refraining from sex for a month in advance of a big race. People still do this...and not just those of us who are away from our wives and girlfriends for far, far too long.

Did you know that if you take a shower or, god help you, a bath, you can absorb water through osmosis and obviously get dropped in that day's race? Yep. Shave before an event? You couldn't rob your body of more energy if you decided to jog up Everest.

Sun Stuff? Deodorant? Both will make you overheat and probably get canned. Hair gel - lots of it, cologne, and baby oil-slicked legs however are all known for their cooling effects. Fortunately skin cancer is only an old wives' tale, right?

The list goes on for pages...Fortunately we're often in need of entertainment and a bit of Euro Logic can brighten up the darkest of days. Now it's time for dinner, where after adding an emulsification of mayo, nutella, fromage blanc and frying oil to my steamed veggies I'll be well on my way to a thinner second half of the season!