Personal progression

For anyone with Facebook the photos are now online on there - I'll be doing a full report and photo page on here this week, along with putting the final few layouts together for Wideopen Issue 4... BUT I'm on holiday with the family next week so there is a chance neither may be done before I'm back.

Scotland was amazing. I felt my riding progressed another level, my confidence in the jump park, my commitment on the DH runs and general arsing about on the hardtail - plus all round fitness - combined with good company (cheers guys, and good to see Scott and Ste again) made it a weekend to remember... roll on April!

FO Scotland

Met up with the guys on the road at Glentress on Saturday. I took the wideopen long term test bike for a spin up there to see how much it would kill me riding XC on a 4x/jump bike. We spent a few hours riding the black route, sessioning a couple of the downhill sections and riding some really nice downhill singletrack that we stumbled across. Once back in the car park we hit the freeride park for a while, where I met a couple of guys from Uni and I ended up riding for another 3 hours after everyone else left. All in all a long and exhausting day on the bike, but so much fun. Im sure James will post up the full Scotland report soon. (I didnt manage to land a 360 by the way...next time though!)

Welcome to the land of sunshine

James, Ross and Jon are up this weekend, caught up with them on Fri at GT FR park, i think James now knows I haven't photoshopped myself into photos to make me look good! Good to meet the guys, albeit quickly, tho i was hungover too. The park was windy, but we sessioned and even discovered the red/blue starter area can be fun. Ross and James even had an ad-hoc race. Nice idea, build more GT, build more!

I headed over to the drops and nearly ran out of height on the wall ride, Jon got excited and when trying 2nd time out had a bit of a high speed spill coming into the walls. Good lad bounced off the floor to discover ANOTHER holey T shirt lol. Back to Winkston (top place!) and then Neidpath for tea. Felt weird being on a roadtrip without being on a roadtrip if ye get me!

Anyways, the lads have had a good weekend of weather from what I've seen, shame I've been at work Sat and Sun, but hey. I'm sure their rave reviews of red, black, inners and more will be on here soon.

From the GT local :P

North of the border again.

Made the move back up to Edinburgh at the weekend so decided to get to know the area around my new flat by going for a little ride. On the way home I took a tubble down some stairs. It was one of those crashes that takes you by suprise when you're just rolling along not really paying attention. Damage done? Hurt pride, ripped new jeans and popped the brake lever out its housing. Oh well, I happen to live directly opposite a bike shop and they've sorted it in just a few hours. Hopefuly I'll be out riding with all those heading up to Scotland at some point over the weekend, so fingers crossed I can keep the bike in one piece between now and then!

Another FO roadtrip...

Well following the other FO roadtrip to the World Cup a few weeks ago 3 of us are off to Peebles for another long weekend of red and black route action.

Should be meeting up with FO's Scotland correspondant - Mr Warnock - I'm looking forward to witnessing his new freeride park skills! Jon's first trip north of the border so it goes something like...
Friday - Red / Park
Saturday - Black / Park
Sunday - Red / Inners / Park
Monday - Inners / Kirroughtree

Bring it on :)

FO road trip

Just back from Fort Bill. I left a day after the boys, having ridden the DH track yesterday.

What a trip, great larfs, some great riding especially at Wolftrax. See full post on Wideopen if ye fancy....

Road shot from Saturday (very) early start...

Ooops

Good fun tonight out on the hardtails - Jon had a spill though in the woods - good lad. Short on T-shirts for Scotland now though?

I hate you Milky!

For being at the World Champs when I'm stuck here in Tavi working at Co op all week!

Anyway, check out this pic of Minnar from the man himself:

Ready for my holidays!

Sooooooo excited about Fort Bill, heading up crack of dawn Saturday morning, go collect my presspass and join Milki who's been doing more networking than a showbiz wannabe! Good lad :)

Some last minute shopping arrived today...

...some new gloves as all my crashing has left a few holes in my existing pairs! The Descend ones feel mint, the mtx ones are a bit more lightweight and XC style. Also got new shorts and 2 riding tops, partly in prep for DH racing, as they are super loose to go over the body suit (yet to buy). they dont sweat up like cotton neither! also got brake pads and inner tubes, but they aint as sexy a picture lol.

Anyways, bring it on...even though my back still aches, hopefully will be more able to ride come monday cos i feel like a bag of nails right now!

Bang

Last pre Fort Bill ride today, and headed to GT as usual (I love saying that!). Took the Cove, and i'm loving the HT action so much. There were a few tricksters around, so was good to watch and learn.

Warmed up qucikly and got some props for my style, always good when someone bigs you up for your first run! I tried a few new tricks, dunno what ye call them tho! Sessioned a few areas of the the track, and was flying high on the wall ride on the Cove for the 1st time. Best move of the day was a manual I landed and held coming off one of the tables at the top. It was by accident tho! About twenty minutes later I was trying it for real and got my weight too far back and BANG, i had my worst ever crash (worse than Inners hi speed incident!)! My back aches, i'm torn to shreds from running down the track on my back, and my lower back is all bruised from the impact. I was winded and my hearing went funny at one point! Cheers to Sam and the guys for checking I was alright. Great to get respect for pushing the limits and casing it too, LOL!

Met Sam and his mates filming stuff, didn't catch the NZ bound guy, but his style was sick, shame I didn't get him in a snap.

Anyways, the HT rules, I'll be back on it soon, just dunno how fit I'll be for riding up north, doh! Really feeling The Cove and despite the forks, its all about the technique, so GET ON YOUR HARDTAIL and PIN IT!