RAD

If you have a spare hour and a half, watch this!

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7997346578257807085

Old love

Well, the Sanchez HT has been getting a good ride of late, so thought I'd give the stinky some TLC...




Almost looks brand new again with the DIY orange rims in "Peugeot seville orange"! New Clarks hoses too, the gears feel mint.

Bling bling.

Damn shoulder!

Balls, only a week back on the bike and I've gone and injured myself again...

Took off on my first run of the day on the Combe Syd stepdown in strong sidewinds which sent me off all sketchy, landed wrong and crashed dislocating my shoulder! The nurse at the local minor injuries unit said it looked like I'd only partially dislocated it which was why I could put it back in on my own!

I'll find out whether I'll be able to ride Combe Syd on the 11th tomorrow when I go to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth.

Saturday mornin' frolics...

If anyone is about, me and Jimbo are (after friday night 'quiet beers') heading up Macc way for some 'harder, faster, longer' action on Sat a.m. Plan is to hit Charity lane at lightspeed, then some lung busting up to Teg's nose to scare the shit out of ourselves and hit the DH action. I'm thinking multiple runs...I know that wont happen though :)

Anyone up for it?...

Cox tor and our woods

Hi just got back from Cox Tor and our woods. Here is one of FO team rider Mono at each spot.

For more pics from the day go on www.jacobgibbins.co.nr and click on the gallery link.

Random tip

Just in case you ever remove your strap off your RaceFace (or other brand) body armour (in a collison with the ground), a good way to fix it is bring it in to work and get your technician to pop rivet it. Mine now looks extra bomb proof, cheers Pete!

Pics to follow at a later date!

Another fallen...

Yeah spent 3 hours heading up to Manchester with Chuckster this evening whilst he picked up his new full suss rig... I'll let him do the introductions but its a 5" all mountain rig with its eye on the downs more than the ups! Good lad.

Riding again

Got back on the bike again Saturday with a few of the Tavi locals. It was great fun, the bike felt weird at first and after a OTB incident on Kris' course I felt good to be back. Hit the biscuit a few times and did a few DH runs and then went home, pretty good for 2 hours of riding I think!

Half term now, got to get out as much as possible!

National 4X news...

Got a press release on the old email this morning...

Round 1 Sunday 4th March
Sheffield Indoor returns as the season opening race on Sunday 4th March in Sheffield, Dave Taylor and the guys have been worked hard on this track over the winter with few changes to spice things up a bit.The last round of the Dialled Bikes Winter series on Saturday 3rd March and this year its free parking and overnight camping for vans & motor homes (sorry no tents) why make a weekend of racing and free for spectators on both days. Usual trade stands & catering on site all weekend. Entry is now online for the 1st round on Sunday 4th March

This year we have Freerange Sports Optics coming in as the title sponsors, Marzocchi are also joining in the fun with a pair of their new 4X WC fork to win at every round of the series. More sponsors to be announced soon.

New Tracks
We have new courses lined up for this year including the brand new one being built at Belmont Estate near Bristol for the National Champs and round 7 of the series.With the World Championships at Fort William this year we just had to go and try out the new track. We are up there on June 16/17th the same weekend as the SDA DH and we will get two races on the track, one on Saturday night and another Sunday morning. We are still working on this but its looking good for a return to NASS in July

New this year - 4 Motos
We have run 3 motos since 4X started in this country. Last year riders were asking if we can run four motos so we have listened to what you want and changed it to 4 motos for this year so you get more time racing and more chances to qualify.

New this year - Supercross
We are running a supercross race at 4 of the selected venues on Saturday afternoons and evenings, The ultimate winner of an event is decided through elimination rounds with the top two finishers from each heat of four riders moving on to the next round.
Using the UCI World Cup 4X format timed seeding runs and straight knockout format, only we are going one better and you will get 3 timed runs and the fastest time in each category wins a trophy/prize. (This is a bit like a short course down hill race) The top 64 riders will then go into knockout heats and winner takes all. The first Supercross race is at Chicksands on March 31st.

New this year - Free Entry
PLEASE TELL AND BRING YOUR FRIENDS! Riders of all levels are able to enter and spectators are welcome. We look forward to meeting as many riders and spectators as possible at the events.For every two new people (who have not raced in 2006 series) you bring to race you will get a free entry.

New style website is on its way and a new forum is now up and running.
Best Regards
Chris
Europes Biggest 4X Series
Freerange Sports Optics National 4X Series 2007
Telephone 07702 826260

Looks good. Can't wait to see how Matt Jenkins does this year on the team.

Cloud Cover Round 4 - Race Report!

Yeah sorry for the delay guys - its finally ready. Click on the link in the frame to the below left, or go to Articles.

Thanks to Mono and Milky for yet another stunning report.

Just remember....

Twas a bit bored tonight, so found a few vids worth watching.

This is the top one. Just remember who (or what) is boss...

CLICK HERE

And point to note....I think I'd have won too! Shows how fast short city steps can be glided over!

Faster, harder, longer as they say.

Wirral 11 Feb

I thought I'd make an effort and write something in the blog . . . . . . seeing as the Wirral was such a good ride . . . .

The trails were top, the weather was good and the banter was plentiful. We found plenty of 'interesting bits' to session and we managed a bit of 'streety stuff'. Twas a bit damp to start having a go at walls etc but bring on the Summer.

Not so sure about a full susser now. This is the stuff I grew up doing and, if I make the effort to hunt locations out, can get up to more or less anywhere . . . . . but wait and see . . . . . . Glentress beckons . . . . .

I think I should adopt Warnock's (almost sexual) motto this year - harder, faster, longer!

Well I echo Scott's comments, great day out!

We were blessed with fantastic weather, and a good variety of trails, jumps, steps and sliding down streams and riding through bracken... all good.

Results are in from the Cloud Cover Winter Series round 4 and we'll have write up online by 8pm ish tomorrow night. Read it here first!

Get on it...a hardtail

Wow. First genuine ride on the Cove for real, and it was awesome. The whole day ruled, weather, chat, riding. I was a little tired having had a bit of late night poker fest. However, having been woken by James arriving at my door, we got our shit together and headed to the sunny coast.

Trails, drops, jumps, big air, steps, I was loving the aggression of the small geometry hardtail. Only fall back was an overzealous first go off the drop at the Dales. Re-instatement all round other than that. Other lesson learned was my single chainring doesn't suit long XC cycles or any climbing. But I'm used to that with the Stinky!

Longer-harder-faster, the Sanchez delivered and the skills and confidence were there to try anything :)

Top day. And hardtails rock. Hardcore set up of course!

Glentress Photos

A couple of photos from the weekend...
1) at the top of the first big climb on the Black route


2) and from the top of Spooky Woods.

What a day yesterday was! A group of us went down to GT yesterday for a bit of XC action. The weather was amazing, blue skies and warm sun all day. It was like a cool summers day without the midges. Despite several punctures, some falling off and someone with a rear wheel minus 3 spokes all in one place, we made it round the black route and also linked up a few sections of the red route. In the end we got what must have been over 6 hours riding done and everyone was grinning at the end of the day. I was out on my 4X bike which, needless to say, isnt really suited to all day riding, and I'm certainly feeling it today. Hopefully I'll get a couple of pics from others that went but for now I'll leave you with this... (actually I'm having a few problems with the blogg so I'll post some pics up later)

Something else I should probably mention is that on the way through Peebles the police were stopping every vehicle. The reason for this was to check that bikes and bike racks had been fitted properly and were not obstructing lights or number plates. Drivers of cars which the police were not happy with were issued a £30 on the stop fine. Lesson of the day, make sure your bike racks are fitted properly or put your bike in the car whenever possible.

1st blag.. sorry blog...

This is me...

Earthed 4 - a month on...

Watched Earthed 4 again last night, from start to finish - followed by the Downhill Racer Raceguide DVD.

James C and Scott also watched them (both for the first time).

Now there are some ace sections and some awesome riding on Earthed 4 but my initial thoughts from December are still true... TOO SAMEY, AND RUBBISH EDITING.
I think Alex really dropped the ball on this one (perhaps he had another project to get done at the same time).

So enough of that and pop in the Downhill Racer Raceguide (still available by the way - and still a bargain at £10)... If you skip straight to the second half (ignoring the documentary style of the SDA rounds) you're greeted with a very arty and well edited film with some good insight into the riders behind the series and some great footage. It really shows Earthed 4 up, and although may not be as consistent, is probably my favourite DVD of 2006 (god NewWorldDisorder or whatever it was called was absolute sh*te though so the standards were low).

I'd still buy Earthed 4 - but I hope that perhaps a name change and a re-think on the values that should be behind a Dirt magazine video will mean the follow up lives up to expectations rather than leaving viewers a little dissappointed.
Props to Mark at Downhill Racer though. Top notch stuff.

Thoughts...

Well, a day later and I'm bit more philosophical. Sheffield told me that BMX geometry doesn't suit me, but lads who ride MTB on it are well skilled, well practiced and respect is due 9also to the BMX-ers). However, as a wannabe beginner 4X rider, I wont be racing it this year, but I would like to learn still. However, without a venue close enough (Sheffiled is miles away and isn't 4X) it's not likely to happen. So, when we next head north, a detour via Hamsterley would help, and when we got to Fort Bill later this year for the worlds, I'll be trying my hand there, but for now the Cove will be my throw it at anything bike!

Admittedly, the fact my cassette and chain are 4 years old may have resulted in the chain slip I was getting whilst looking decidely poor at Sheffield (it got very frustrating!), it was a good insight trying. Well impressed with the locals' skills, but as I say, not for me (yet).

However, jumping my Cove rig made me dream of Freeride parks and Glentress. I can't wait to take her there! Comedy moment of the night was my left crank arm falling off as I was beans-ing it round the berm and then stearing my bike whilst my chest was attached to my handle bars. My leg and foot now hurt, but hey-ho. I might try Delamere again soon, but as I say, 2007 is racing DH only I reckon (still tbc!).

Premiere!!

Episode 6 - Pushing The Senses - Premiere tonight at Casa del Hiltano from 5.30pm ish.

I'm looking forward to your reactions as there have been no teasers this year...