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...