Reinstate!

Yeah amazing service from the Downhillracer chaps - my DVD and book arrived today... and whilst watching said DVD imagine my excitement when I saw this...

Ste and Matt at NPS 4X Hamsterley early this year! Must have been the team t-shirts that caught the cameras attention... good work lads.

Shame we've not got anyone representing FO at the NPS 4X in 2007. As mentioned previously, anyone interested should email me (james at thesingingfeet.co.uk)

As for The Manual. One word. Awesome.
Go buy it.

More presents...

Just ordered my copy of 'the manual' 2006 Race DVD and book from www.downhillracer.uk.com - all for the princely sum of £10.95... bargain!

Also spent £80 at Chain Reaction so winging its way to me from Ireland are Goodridge hoses, a bleed kit and some new XT gear mech cables for the Kona.

I can't wait for the first ride of 2007 - bring it on.

Santa came!

Yeah I didn't do too bad! After frenzied present opening on Christmas day I've ended up with a pair of Fox DH Strafer shorts, a Camelbak Chaos and some 661 Chicken Wings (as well as a Fox cap and belt).

Also got some money from Mum and Dad - just got to decide on the best way to waste it now.

Looks like the Tavi lads had a good Boxing Day... I was hungover feeling shite.
Still hope to be out on the bike before Jan 1st 2007.

Boxing day photos...

A few photos to go with Mono's article... the top one is not a team rider but Ash Mullane who was out on boxing day for a ride...

Ash Mullane


Mono


Mono


Milky(me)

Boxing Day RIde - Short Travel Rules

What an awesome day! After I blew up my shock on the Giant I managed to sweet talk a mate to let me ride his Cove Hooker SL out for the day... so much fun! 3 inches of travel meant the thing went bloody quick through flowing sections and jumped like a dream, it also made everything tech that little bit more challenging! Here's a few pictures by Milky to browse through (when I can figure how to upload them)

Tavi Woodlands Christmas Eve ride

Hi guys just got back from a class days ride with Blooooooooooomers , Hatch and a load of other mates from Tavi. Here are a few pics of me (other side of the lends for once) and Bloomers and Hatch.

I am at the bottom!!!

Christmas cheers

Well, Merry Christmas one and all!

I headed north on Saturday morning, and to be honest on Friday night I was more excited about seeing the Cove out and ready to pack than the prospect of presents. Still, I'm no scrooge, especially with most of my CRC wishlist having been bought, cheers santa! I did have a "do i take the stinky instead" moment.....alas I kept the HT faith.

So, less than 24 hours back and I headed to Carron Valley this morning. Short loops and fun in the "Runway" (new name for fun park apparently). Was good chortle, and after some technical issues with my unique chain device set up (copyright awaiting!), I enjoyed the Eas Dubh section, though the rocky drop off was a lot easier with rear inches of travel on the stinky! Still, a good laugh and the HT was feeling very light (for a steel frame!) and very responsive. The difference from the beast to the devil (new name for the Sanchez) is somewhat marked!

Got to the funpark, and hey presto a puncture half way into it. The feeling of Rim on rock isn't good, so I pushed down, sorted it out and then did 3 loops of just fun park. It's great, you can do this loop in 10 minutes, with 8 of those climbing!

That also sums up Carron Valley....a bit wet really. Eas Dubh is good and Cannon ball run suffices, but lets be honest, uphill singletrack suits the halfords mob, but lets get serious about biking in central Scotland..........please!

So, after my runs on the jumps, doubles and berms of the fun park, I was loving the agility and rawness of the HT. A few mods are still awaiting. My dinged rear rim and deore hub are on their last legs, so new 24-7 wheels in january, along with new rubber, the Tioga XC tyres are shocking! Maybe new forks, but we'll see!

All in all, HT's rock. But FS's and HT's can teach you something about the other. Either way, I was buzzing off the doubles, landings felt planted, and some overcooking on some tabletops had the heart in mouth adrenalin running again, gotta love it. And fitness felt good, though middle chain ring and no 1st or 2nd gear makes climbing hard! Still, the devil is a street/4X/jump bike, and she's ace at those! Laters.

Post ride, "The Devil" looking artistic in the fog....

Alex Rankin is a genius

Just finished watching Earthed 4...

First impressions:
+ Awesome
+ Great mix of racing and singletrack and jumps
+ Good choice of music
- Only WC rounds, no local racing
- Samey camera angles by the end of 66 minutes

I'm not sure I have a real favourite, my standout sections were Glentress/Innerleithen, and the Welsh Trail Centres (where the Don is riding a Jackal!).

Its got me itching to ride, anyone fancy something between Chrimbo and New Year?

Xtra article...

Bored this afternoon so I've added another article to the Articles page... take a look or click directly HERE... 'Jack of all trades...'

Death or glory!

My copy of Earthed 4 rocked up this morning!! Just in time for Christmas, not watched it yet, don't know whether to save it for Christmas day? Reading the sections I just know its going to blow me away!

Got out on the Chameleon this morning, and proved that the hardcore hardtail spec is still rideable on forest loops. Smiles for miles, loose and sketchy throwing it about all good. Check out the photos.

Also - changed front image. Pure geniuos - I hadn't even spotted the sun burning through the mist until I downloaded it.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS and see you out soon.

Nostalgia

Check out this - the trailor for Episode 1, Limited Clearance!

The first FO DVD was out in 2003. Watching this brings back some good memories... and reminds me what it used to be all about - the hardtail.
I'm itching to go ride, I can't wait until tomorrow...

Lets make 2007 a blast from the past. Anyone fancy the Wirral in January?

Twoand8 back...

Good news - Adi has got the Twoand8 site back online in time for Christmas.

Blast from the past...

Check out this, I did a Google search on Fearingout to pass some time and found one of the old sites, from when I ran the site at uni!
This is Fearingout Version 4 (circa 2003).

Version 5+6 I think never made it online past my laptop, and straight to Version 7 which was 2003 onwards when I bought server space for the first time... and those around in Macclesfield in 2003 will remember the old Version 7 of the site that lasted until October 2005. Version 8 then lasted until October 2006, and now on Version 9 things have changed less then they did with the old revisions...

As I say change is good, but looking back on our history is important.
I've been watching old FO DVDs this evening, and I'm remembering my old techniques for editing, which make things so much fresher. I can't wait to put my ideas into practice with the re-edit of Episode 6, and then onto filming Episode 7 during 2007.

Ride on.

Brendan on Honda for 2007

BIG NEWS just read on the Dirt website... from the press release:

Brendan Fairclough, 18 years old from Hampshire, won the inaugural Junior World Cup Downhill overall in 2006, and has been impressing people since arriving on the international scene in 2005. Apart from his two World Cup podiums as a junior-aged athlete, Brendan has impressed the team with his all round approach to racing and will make a welcome addition to the team as it seeks to retain its 2006 title of Men's Downhill Team of The Year.

Martin Whiteley, Team Director. "We are very excited about the 2007 season. Firstly we have been very fortunate to be able to retain the services of both Greg and Matti who make excellent team mates and have both had great success on the Honda RN01 in recent years. We can now also announce that we have secured one of the most exciting young riders on the world scene in Brendan. He and the other two riders know each other very well and they are all good friends which is important in building team spirit as we hunt our goals for 2007. It should be a very exciting year ahead".

Not sure what I think - great exposure for Brendan but who will take his place at Orange? It seems a shame that one of the up and coming British riders has jumped from the best British bike brands... but I guess things move on and without change we'd all be a bit bored...

So good luck to Brendan in 2007.
And good luck to Orange too - I look forward to see who joins Tracey Hannah on the team for next year, maybe a sneaky email about Team FO might be required!

2007

Have to say, I read this quote today too, and it rang a few bells in my head...."They say that the journey can be more important than the destination. In mountain biking there is no destination, just a bike, a rider and a place to ride" Roam, 2006.

I'd love to be out on Friday, in Glentress on the sanchez in fact. But she will wait as a) I have no leave at work, and b) I'm going home on saturday, likely to be at GT by Wed at least!

But yeah, loving the bike prospects, I'll be there on Friday in spirit dude, just too damn much god damn work to be doin!

Friday fun?

Might have the day off now on Friday - anyone fancy a ride out some place before Christmas?

If not it'll be just me on my bill.

Thanks for all the support over 2006 lads, I hope you all agree its been a fantastic year, and when I get on top of the DVD in 2007 we can look back on some great memories and some big changes!

Lets hope 2007 holds success for all the team riders, and for FO as a t-shirt company, and for Fearingout as the community of like minded individuals that it is.

"They say that the journey can be more important than the destination. In mountain biking there is no destination, just a bike, a rider and a place to ride" - Got to love Roam!

Ashcombe

Well, yesterdays race at Ashcombe was, how can I put it? as expected, it was flat, muddy and as usual, I didn't do great. Never mind though. The course was much as previous years, as were most of the major features in it. Interesting to see how most of the fastest riders were riding xc bikes, their lighter weight and shorter travel being benificial on the peddly course. Props to Mono on his result, he was looking quick all day once a couple of sections were dialled, and Milky did great on photos once again.

So, it begins! Training regimes are being drawn up as we speak, and the xc bike is being derusted. I will regain my fitness. I'm in fair good stead, though, my past 2 results are now placing me in 14th overall!

Ashcombe and Karting

What an amazing weekend, karting and a surprisingly good race at Ashcombe. I finished up 10th in Junior and 30th overall which was my best overall finish yet.

The report will be up tonight hopefully, I've already written the report so it's all down to James and Milky.

Mono

Christmas thoughts...

Apart from too much food, far too much drinking, my current thoughts are firmly fixed on racing in 2007. With pretty much just a full face required to try my hand, Jan and Feb will all be about uplift days, and getting over to Sheffield to try 4x indoor stylee. I might be shite, in fact probably will be, but having spent most of yesterday giving both bikes a bit of TLC, I'm thinking a bit of practice and I'll be good to go.

The Stinky and Cove both look the bomb, just not sure how much longer the current wheelset on the sanchez will last, but hey, I'll get the plastic fantastic out in Jan and do some more investing!

Anyway, "2007, year of the race" I'm thinking (not sure what Chinese new year symbol said year is, but Race year sounds better!). Merry Christmas one and all.

Ashcombe team results

News in brief:

Mono - 10th in Junior
Dave - 27th in Senior

Full ride report as download PDF available tomorrow night... keep your eyes peeled.

Go Karting

Oh my god, what an awesome time!

Check out the mini mag out in the next couple of days for pictures and words from the karting and Ashcombe!

Mono

Sheffield indoor dirt - Winter series Rd 1

Read the full report by Si Paton on the British Cycling website here.

Last weekend when most of us were either out on the lash on Christmas do's or halfway up Snowdon taking on mother nature the sensible rider was over in Sheffield in the dry dusty warehouse riding their socks off :)

Big turnout and riders of all ages and wheel sizes. Check out the link for results. Unfortunately we're not currently sponsoring any 4X riders in England, but if anyone out there reads this then get in touch with me (james at thesingingfeet dot co dot uk) as I'm keen to get someone representing Fearingout at these and the NPS 4X events.

Mind you if Scott's keen then once we go watch the next round in January, he might end up racing....

Phoenix from the flames...

Plans for a new 17" iMac or a new MacBook for 2007 if I can figure out a way of financing it, and the 2006 footage will be re-edited and Pushing the Senses will be out in February before filming for 2007's video begins.

Good things come to those who wait.

Bad bad bad bad bad news...

I want to cry - my external hard drive is goosed - and with it is gone the bloody finished DVD! All set to burn, DVD writing software doing its business, then BAM, it crashes and its all gone.

None of my recovery software is working so lads, unfortunately the premiere is off... and Episode 6 may never be released as right now I don't have the time or inclanation to start from scratch with the two hours of raw footage!!!!!!

Damn.

Pen-fucking-machno

Jesus. Think I can still feel the wet clothes from yesterday! If there was a wetter, windy-er part of the planet than our chosen part of snowdonia, then it must have been in a tsunami! Anyway, wet as a muthafucka, we all headed up the hill with that "I wonder what this place will be like feeling". As well as the "how wet is it today" feeling of course!

Well, the climbs were not too severe, and the first couple of sections were a bit gentle, but a warm up perhaps. I can't remember how far round it was, but there were 3 sections closely together that were fucking awesome. Flowed perfectly, the pace just grew and the tight twists, mini jumps, roots, rocks and puddles, all gave challenge to finding the line, but despite the weather, the grip was there and i was all of a sudden buzzing and forgetting the wet!

The trail continued and we then lost Tez, got blown up then down the side of a mountain, found Tez again and then the last few sections were awesome too. An experience I'd never repeat, but once dry (or dry-er with less gale force winds) this place will be my fave place outside of Scotland. Llandegla pay attention, this is what track design is all about. Gwydwr, pay attention, your little brother down the road has got way more potential (though you'll always be our 'first'!).

So, in summary, as James says, great flow, never ending singletrack, awesome scenery, some damn scary close calls on singletrack with sheer drops either side, all good.

We shall return (in March, April or May, bbc weather report dependant!). Also a quick mention for the pub in Llanrwst, great log fire, great food, and a bit of eye candy behind the bar :)

Triscombe

I am knackered... Just got back from Triscombe in north Devon where I went riding with Kris Rogers, Ash Mullane and Haby - Blu Cann. I'd never been to this place before but I'm glad I went, an amazing first jump and hip section into a high speed rooty straight which then dived into the woods into a series of tight but fast switchbacks with a high speed bottom section with some pumps and jumps.

To be fair I wasn't really on it today for some reason so I spent most of the time sessioning the stepdown into hips and trying to go as quick as I could down the straight, was awesome fun!

When I did my first full run of the track my front wheel washed out over a berm and I got sent into some stumps face first... I've now got some nice scratches on the mouthguard!

Oh well, good fun was had by all and I'll definitely be back for more!

Mono

Deliverance

Oh my god.

Penmachno - a place I'll never forget!

Today we headed south of our usual hunting ground of Gwydwr to Penmachno, a newish trail thats half way through being built so lacks a few amenities hence not publicised anywhere... anyway... enough intro on to the good stuff.

One word - FLOW!!!

Where Llandegla certainly doesn't have it Penmachno has it by the bucket load. The singletrack seemed to last forever and the climbs weren't all that bad. Unfortunately for us we had 'severe weather warning' weather that perhaps a sensible head would have said, 'nah' we set off thinking things would ease off. Well the rain only got worse and at the top, bloody hell, I thought we'd be on 999 with Michael whats his face reporting on our near death experience. Gale force wind and open singletrack near the top of a mountain don't mix... Once through that though it was all smiles, and we made surprisingly good progress.

TBH its hard to pick out a favourite section, it was all so good, and I can't wait to go back in the dry... I reckon it'd be slower but a lot of fun on the Chameleon... hmmm... we'll have to see!

Thats it for 2006 from the FO regulars, although the team is in action next week so fingers crossed for some more good results. See you all in the New Year!

Episode 6 teaser...

I know I go on about how I hate blogs where video is posted into them but I'm making an exception here to show off the intro section to this years video, Pushing the Senses.

The finished DVD is going to be 25 minutes long and widescreen!

Sections include:

• The Wirral
• Innerleithen
• Glentress fun park
• National Champs
• Gwydwr
• Ae
• Glentress fun park
• Mabie
• Llandegla
• Gwydwr
• Penmachno

Will be available to just regular FO members for a fiver. Should be ready for the premiere mid next week and DVDs ready to take home by Friday.

Busy Weekend coming up soon...

Well we are coming up to a very busy weekend for myself and the Tavistock crew. Just one week until Ashcombe, Go Karting and random partying!

Go Karting on the Saturday for the Woodland Riders club down here in Devon, we've organised a GP which should be good fun!

Saturday night is a party for one of my mates 18th and then come Sunday morning it's up at 6 in order to get to Ashcombe for the OnaBike cup and Round 2 of the Winter Series...

I wasn't actually going to race this, being my least favourite track in the series but money has been kind to me this month and I have a spare 22 quid so I'm going to race it anyway and try and complete the whole series. I just hope it's dry for once because Ashcombe mud + Downhill bike + not much hill = very difficult to go fast!

Well anyway, hopefully I can go for a podium this race, it's my mission to get a podium in the Juniors before I move up to Seniors next year. I'll be up at Tavi Woods this Sunday as ever, showing around a new guy and trying not to kill myself for next weekend.

Are you ready Mr Bloomers? :)

Mono

Let's raise the bar...

Well, final ride of 2006 beckons, time for a bit of re-in-fucking-statement! I'll be rough as fuck (i'm going to try the stop boozing at midnight trick that never works/i forget to do once wrecked), but hey-ho, i'll be beans-ing it down the hills, not mincing it along the tight singletrack on the side of that snowdonian muthafucka.

So, everyone get their fingers out and lets get some top footage, a good moan at the climbs (i've heard its less severe than the marin, phew!) and some crashes! And some speed demon-ing!

Thats my motivational best effort, it may become a bit more depleted by Sunday a.m., but it's all good :)

Homegrown's back!!!!

CLICKY!!

And about bloody time!

Since a web problem about 2 months ago Homegrown's been down... back just in time for those long winter nights and crap days in work.

Penmachno beckons...

Looking forward to the last ride of 2006 - Penmachno beckons on Sunday... and 8 of us are down to make the trek over to the relatively unknown forest south of Betwsycoed.

Unknown for a reason. Only loop 1 of the 2 trail centre is complete, and as such the Snowdonia national park people won't let the builders advertise or host a website... trail 1 is open though, and about 12 miles in length.

The difference to other North Wales trails is the amount of singletrack and tight twisting singletrack at that... not sure how Scott's stinky will get on - especially with his stinking hangover but no doubt it'll be a laugh and a great end to 2006 for the FO regulars... as well as an atmospheric, arty and dare I say cheesy end to Episode 6 (provisionally titled - Pushing the Senses).

Until Sunday...

Tavi Woodlands

HI , just got back from a class day at tavi woodlands. there was me , mono and bloomers out keeping the fearing out team represented. was showers and sunny spells all day so keeping the tracks nice and muddy and slidey. here are a few pics from the day.

Onabike cup - CC Winter Series Round 2

Ashcombe on the 17th December (not 16th as on front cover currently!) sees Round 2 of the Cloud Cover Winter Series round 2, traditionally known as the Onabike cup - said to be the longest running DH race in the UK.

Ash Mullane has won it the last two years - will someone else take his place this year?
Read the history and more details on the NACC website by clicking here...