STW Weekender - Lee Quarry Rocks!!

Apologies. Yep, an entirely predictable pun. Having missed the first two, I decided that the third was a definite. Only ... I didn't have a bike with me. My kids and me and some Ernest Press/Bike Maps books were motoring up to join in the festival of riding; three disciplines on one bike. Excellent. STW truly embraces the spirit of why we ride; to get away from it all and push the boundaries ... that and drink beer and make huge bonfires and ...

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Ben and Aimee soon became urbanely feral, in the safe and adventurous surroundings, randomly winning an xtr tshirt!

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Nick Craig and his extraordinarily talented son Thomas out in an off road conga.

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With time penalties from the up and down disciplines of the day before, The traditional cross country race wasn't dogged by a harpsichord at the first hurdle. Riders leaving in order of time penalties meant that racers either set a pace they enjoyed or set out for three laps of a sub-hour lactic fury. Your choice. 

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Steve chose this line.

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So did Nick ...

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Craig and Kirsty Forester have been friends-of-afar for a long time, but the weekender afforded us time to get to know each other properly. Nice. 

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Dave MacDonald (in green, left of screen) of Madison standing 2nd next to Nick Craig. Me: 'The last time I rode with you, you were flying!'. Dave: 'Mumble, well, that was a long time ago and i'm sitting third and my thumb hurts and my sideburns are too long and ...'

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And Steve Webb of Singular. Although Nick Craig could have claimed the overall win, he didn't. He accepted his category win and acknowledged the stunning ride put in by Steve. This is the measure of a professional athlete who is still here for the passion. The fact that winning equaled a full XT groupset didn't sway his decision. Times like this remind me why I love riding mountain bikes and the people who do it with me or, in this instance, way, way ahead of me.

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And then we burnt lots of stuff until it was too hot to stand beside the fire and ... 

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Next year Ben & Aimee fancy their chances on the pump track.

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I almost forgot! 

Steve 'the ringer' Webb of Singular was the only rider to clean the full climb challenge. Driving him back to Sam's, we chatted and reminisced, we put the world to rights and eventually, Steve admitted to having a poster of Nick on his wall as a teenager; the enormity of what just happened seeping into a mid-30's man. 'I had his poster on my wall and he gave me the win ...'.

And finally there are the crew. If Benji and everyone else hadn't worked tooth&nail to put it on ... well. We don't have to worry about that because they have and did and it.was.good. Please do it again next year?

 

Re-Mo! Tivation

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The Inaugural Shaftesbury Cycle Revival took place on Sunday 12th June and, boy, what an event. This has been Colin's dream since moving to the bottom of Gold Hill last year and with time (a lot of it) and support from Hovis, the local Tourist Information Centre & Town Council, Stonehenge Cycles, Off Camber and Gillingham Wheelers (among many other willing helpers) a true celebration of cycling took place. Saltward timekeepers Mary and Dennis saved the day on the Shooter with pencil, not ink and a wealth of experience on how to record times in adverse weather conditions; only for modern IT (looks over shoulder ...) to make a pigs ear of it ... apologies, I.must.practice.on.attention-to-detail! (x100).

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Colin was first off up Gold Hill, riding the local bakery, Indulge, bike - a Schwinn Cruiser! 

The Shaftesbury Cycle Revival is a celebration of cycling in ... well, Shaftesbury. Perched as it is on a very high escarpment, the Urban Downhill event drops as steeply as the infamous cobbles of the Gold Hill climb. When it was my turn to pit guts and tyres against the hillclimb (I, eh, forgot my full face helmet. And dirt bike - anyway, you don't have to do both) my nerves where well and truly gangling.

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A large group of spectators, honking and cheering and Joolze snapping pictures gave me that extra surge, just as oxygene debt was starting to expect payback. I tried to chat after crossing the line but had to give up and simply gulp in air until everything stopped being woozy.

Colin has started casting his mind towards 2012, the Olympic year Shaftesbury Cycle Revival with plans for mountain bike orienteering, guided rides via his Enroute guiding business and with the same festival feel. I'll be there, for sure and will have the following day off, if an after-event party is going to be in The Salt Cellar Cafe again. 

The motivation I take from this is that Colin had a vision, let it grow into an event and then found help and, through that difficult process, created something wonderful. 

www.enroutecycling.com

Air!

Lately, I've re-found my passion. Whether I found it or it found me - I really don't care. That is not important.

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Pic: Adam @ Photo-id

Bristol Bike Festival was as I remember. A gathering of like minded souls, whose company I cherish.

Then too much beer and some racing. I loved that my last lap was a struggle to convince wrecked arms how they should work (typical rodie symptom). But they did and loved every minute of that crazy technical, challenging race route.

24 hours of Exposure

My first experience of 24 hours of Exposure was a good one. Oh yes, there was that weather, but ... you know? I packed waterproof stuff and, if I'd been organised, would have booked into one of the excellent cabins at Rock UK.

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The village centre sign in ceremony and ride out was a great spectacle and in the true spirit of our sport, inclusive and fun for all. Pole positions given and a proper tour stage feel. After all the entourage had left, I overheard a mother talking into her phone, 'yeah, it's like the European ... no World championship mountain bike race ... yeah, people have come from all over the place!'. And she was right, not just over water or in a plane, but, for me, 400 miles.

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I was here to work though. Rob Lee, the man behind Extreme Endurance and Seven Deadly Spins (amoung other epic adventures) has written a book and I was here in Ernest Press mode. That and to do a bit of pitting and chatting. As it happened there was more pitting and chatting than working but hey!

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As Rory was heading out on a lap, I turned and 'woaw, Rory, stand under the Rainbow!'. The obvious reply was that he rode through it. Ever the pro!

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Lee, Oli, Phil and Fraser had entered the 12 hour event and it was Lee who would shine - tapping round and staying constant. Half way through, cramp set in but he drank more and rode through. It was Fraser's turn for bad luck, three snapped chains and a ripped tyre. Oli and Phil had an 11 hour catch up on Uni days:o)

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 Rob started the 24 singlespeed race well. Sitting a solid third, he soon moved to second place and was maintaining a steady pace, either on or near his 1:09 lap timing.

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After around 10 hours of consistant laps, Rob came back shaking and looking 'wrong'. He had taken a two metre, head first tumble off a bridge and was clearly in shock and pain. Two slipped vertebrate and it was race over. I first saw Dan Treby in action at Mountain Mayhem last year and he was on fire then, as he was this weekend, taking a convincing Singlespeed victory and 5th overall. Watch out geared boys at Mayhem, indeed!

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Possibly the most unlucky man of the event (year?), Vet Male Winner Mark missed his 19th lap counting by 30 seconds ... that has got to hurt!

A big up to Sara and Paul of SIP and Rock UK - next year I plan to be fit enough to race the event. 

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And, you know? A Road trip of around 800 miles can be a real ballache, but in good company and nature lending a helping hand, it can be a pretty good time.

 

 

 

Failte!

Back on an Island for the first time in ... oh, 18 years? Millport is like a timewarp. Unlike the island that I Lived on, Raasay, but many good memories. 

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And catching up with Ewen was amazing. Same, same but different. I'm grey, he's got less hair. We've both got kids. Otherwise ... hrm. Nothing's changed but the wealth of experiences. 
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Happy days.

 

Never judge a book by it's cover

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Gary Tompsett, now of Rat Race adventure fame (and British Cycling, Polaris success among many other adventures) published his Kent Mountain Bike Guide in 1995.

More recently in 2007, Gary and I put on an event, Raasay Rumble and I was introduced to Gary's ability to turn Ordnance Survey coordinates into a cricle of joy. He saw ideas for fun on trails that I'd not noticed on an island that I used to live on! I've just spent the last three days riding around half of the routes for upcoming revisions to his Kent guide and ... well, yes. Of course I would say it is great, it is an Ernest Press guide after all.

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Orchards out of Plaxtol

But if you like gnarly technical descents, stiff climbing, stunning scenery and wide open spaces ... among other things; and are going to Kent with a bike, then look no further than The Ernest Press website and grab a copy.

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Trails near Ivy Hatch
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 Triffids!!!!

Some things will change, I'm sure, but in 15 years, Gary's sense of fun and knowledge of what makes a good day out on a bike was as valid then as it is now.

 

Ain't nothing as good as messing about on a bike.

It's been quite a long time since I've ridden my bike on consecutive days. With a justifiable excuse that I'm working, I've been out route proving for an upcoming Ernest Press revision. Today, I was just. riding. along and realised that  the simple  act of cadence in a beautiful location is enough. What more do you need?

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 Bluebells!
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Given the location, it's a safe bet that it is an ex-turtle.

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 Glee!

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Sun ... more sun!

Mo! tivation

Last weekend, I went down to Dorset to stop over with good friend and Ernest Press author Colin Dennis. Colin's Dorset Mountain Bike Guide was a pleasure to work on and and I'm not suprised that it sells like hot cakes www.ernest-press.co.uk.

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So Colin has added many feathers to his bow since our first meeting; both publisihing projects that he has devoted an amazing amount of energy and time to and The Shaftesbury Cycle Revival www.shaftesburycyclerevival.co.uk. Why not come along. The cobbles are incredible and the short, sharp ups and downs will be a challenge that scares the bejeezuz out of me. There will be beer and partying afterwards. Make it a date. 12th June. For me, every visit to stay with Colin is a pleasure. His enthusiasm and determination is always a motivation. Thanks Colin!

When I left Colin's, I went onto stay with fellow KMP fan, Rob Lee and his girlfriend Jen Harrison. Ernest Press are delighted to be the publisher for Rob's excellent and unique biographical work. You'll hear more about that soon.

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And then today. Well. Today, I faced a dementor. Riding my bike makes me happy, yet brings painful things to the fore. I have a very visual mind and as much as I love the old bugger, seeing his face is pretty upsetting. So today, I rode hard, winked, then rode harder and felt a bit ill so rode harder again. Recieving an absolute battering from Colin has done a lot of good. Thanks mate!

 

Training Schedule Part 1

I've never really stuck to a training regieme and that may explain a lot! So here goes. The weekend of May 14/15th is either going to be a Coast to Coast ride or some other endurance quick ride.

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Piddinghoe - you would stop for a gander, wouldn't you?

I've not been riding much of late, watching and feeling muscle & grey matter turn to sludge. But this weekend, I got enthused again. A shake down of the garage and bikes are back on the radar, firmly. Just sizes are wrong. Simple and pleasurable processes are planned to correct this oversight, with a new cyclo cross bike coming in 54cm, not the 58cm I have now ... how many times, cheap doesn't make it the right size ... and a hand wringingly exciting prospect of upgrading myself to a KM810.  Anyway, more on that later.

So training. Hrm. I think that I rode around 50 road miles at level 2 intensity.

 

Weight: 12 stone (urg)

Flexibility: Not bad. Back aches a bit

Heid: Fuzzy.

Sussex is the most undulating county in the South of England, did you know that? So today, I took my road bike out, straight up and over the hill to drop down and climb the lung bursting Peakock Lane. Nice wakener, heart thumpingly appreciated. Left at the top and along to treat myself to the Ditchling Beacon cheats way; daring myself to lay off the brakes and trust in hope that the loose shale isn't so bad on the riding line.

A tempo formed and clicking along, left before Plumpton and then just weaved right and left, this way and that, North Chailey and then south. I've never stopped in Piddinghoe, but always guffawed at the name. Giggleswick. Now that is a place I'd like to live. Continuing down, Newhaven was sleepy and actually quite attractive. Battering along the coast, then weaving throught the masses and back home.

Weight: Same, I guess.

Flexibility: Left knee is louping, but that is a good sign

Heid: Clear and planning.

 

 

Simple Pleasures

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It's been an age since I went for a ride with some friends and came back with a metaphorical new bike. The weekend was 3peaks and friend Colin Dennis, author of the excellent Ernest Press Dorset Mountain Bike Guide. I was riding a friend's Santa Cruz Stigmata - a loaner so riding extra carefully and, well, just not quite at home. Bemoaning the gap in my cycling fleet.

Driving back after the race (Pleasure in lots of pain) Colin mentioned that he was selling his Kinesis Crosslight ... a while later while chatting about upcoming work, the Crosslight came up again and then I committed to buying the frame, fork and wheels. No details, no particular date for the transaction in mind.

A friend Jo has always impressed me with his ability to draw up lists for events and get excited about the preparation. My list:

* need STI's (units, not uncomfortable disorder), rear mech, chain/casette, cables ... bar tape ... ehm, Froglegs!

Initially, I was keen on the Microshift gearing system and would have gone for that, if ebay hadn't dangled some cheap Ultrega STI's at me and someone on Singletrackworld hadn't been selling an XT mech for, well, nothing really. Well, not nothing, ultimately, I WILL be fitting a mountain bike cassette for next year's 3peaks.

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A few days of fun web browsing fulfilled my compliment of parts, then a steady trickle of parcels started arriving to my wife's dismay/kids joy - 'dad, it's still your birthday!!!'

Unusually, the BIG (kids in ecstasy- Dad!!! look what's in the hall!!!!) 48 hour parcel arrived in 34, so last night I started a two-day build, initially planning to build in a frenzy tonight for a shake down ride tomorrow. It is always a pleasure to have the time to lay composite parts out and plan. STI units and gear/brake cabling first (like eating your brussell sprouts before cheese mash). A mug of tea and time, plenty of time. Bed.

Today, I worked from home and spent a happy lunchtime hour wrapping bar tape and setting up Froglegs (easier than I'd been lead to believe). Riding the long way to get fish for dinner, the inevitables where ironed out, gears settled in, brake judder sorted. Like a pair of Levis, it never feels right until you put down some power tests and tweak accordingly.

So now, I have an excellent cx bike in my fleet and am about to fillet Sea Bass (today's catch) and get clothes ready for tomorrow morning's cx ride.

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 Simple pleasure.