We did the Rough Ride this weekend. When I say we I mean Carla, Supawal, and me. When I say the Rough Ride I mean the tough Enduro event that takes place in Radnorshire.I opted for the 70km route, did it last year, and it was fantastic. The moorland sections are stunningly beautiful if you have the nerve to take your eyes off the trail for a second, or if you have the time to stop and look. I rode full-sus, and was wondering if I had made the right choice on the outward journey as there was a stiff headwind, and a lot of steep climbs. Things were different on the way back, with a nice tailwind blowing bowling along the trails was magic, and some of the descents were a major source of wow!

It took me 5 hours to complete the course, which is half an hour slower than last year. I put this down to the fact that the ground was not as hard this time. Carla thought the same as she had taken much longer to do the 40km route than she had anticipated bearing in mind her time from the 70km route last time.

Supawal? Well he said he was thinking of doing the short route, but he seemed to be going very well, and was in front of me at the split. When he went straight on I assumed that he was sticking to his short route plan. Turns out he missed the signs. Well that’s what he claims happened!

Rode in Wyre Forest yesterday, and it was perfect. The sun shone, the temperature was just right, the trails were in top condition, dry but not dusty, and it was so green, and the flowers, and the wildlife, and the riding, all just perfect; a perfect day.Carla and I rode deep into the heart of the forest where you hardly ever see another soul. We managed to get ourselves a bit lost. Just as we were working out the best route to take ‘man of the forest’ Mick Arms appeared, with his biking buddy Tim, and rescued us. We have not seen Mick since last summer, and as if by magic there he was, just when we needed him. Now, Mick’s knowledge of trails in the forest is almost legendary, and we were soon back on track.

Two weeks holiday in France gone in the blink of an eye. One minute I was there, and the next I was back at work. All those tomorrows turned into yesterdays. All those planned routes ridden.

So that all the days would not merge into one fuzzy memory I kept a diary. This would let me relive our trip from the deep depression of my desk. Carla took it even worse than me. We have been back almost two weeks, and she’s still not back! Continue reading →

The HONC genuinely deserves it’s “classic” status, having been inspired originally by the “Hell of the North” Paris-Roubaix bike race, which takes place on the same day in Northern France. The challenge ride starts and finishes in the picturesque town of Winchcombe and uses a combination of tarmac, “white” roads and bridleways. Now in it’s 21st year, the event has grown in popularity year on year. The first event had only 13 entrants and Mountain bikes had not then been invented. This year, for the first time in it’s history, advance entries topped 1000, and had to close a week before the day. It’s a mass start event, with riders on everything from vintage bikes to brand new full suspension MTBs, with tourers, cyclo-cross bikes and more MTBs in between.After a neutralised parade through the town with a police escort the, the ‘event proper’ starts, and although the HONC is not a race, it’s every man for himself. I done this event a few times now, and I always make a point of being as near the front as possible, and giving it all I have up the first climb to avoid bottlenecks. After the first half hour the stream of riders thins, and small groups start to form. As we headed up and over Cleeve Hill, with the early morning sun on our backs, and a brisk tailwind, I found myself in the company of a small group containing Jack from the Numplumz team, Jack was to be our saviour. Continue reading →

Had a great cycling weekend. Carla and I put in the final push in our bid for cycling fitness in preparation for the HONC next weekend. We still found time to stop and get a few pictures though, and I’d like to share them with you.First is the Path through Puxton, the overgrown field on the left has been like that since I first moved to the area some 40 years ago. A lot of the surrounding land has been built on now, but this field remains, like some mad landowner had vowed, “Build on my land? Never!!!”, and left it unkept in a show of defiance. Anyway, this time of year that field has a smell, a fieldy sort of smell that reminds me of when I first moved here, at 8 years old.

Next is the entrance to Habberley Valley, another place that brings back happy childhood memories. There used to be a fairground in it, and a tea shop where you could go and get a tea tray for a picnic. The hut that used to be the teashop is still there, but the fair is long gone. I often ride through the valley on my way to Wyre Forest.

Which brings me nicely to the disused railway line that runs right through Wyre Forest. It’s a designated cycle route now, traffic free, and great for getting to the heart of the forest. It’s also a useful handrail if you get lost. Oh, and I found some of my favourite flowers along it’s banks.

Talking of spring flowers, spring wouldn’t be spring without Daffs, and there were some really nice one in the grounds of Enville Hall.

We stopped along the towpath that runs from Kinver to Wolverley to buy some duck eggs from a local smallholder. We rang the bell to get served, and while we waited I took a picture of the fantastic Spring Blossom in the cottage garden.

You remember I did some gardening work last summer? Well, I planted some of the plants I was given out in our garden, and some of them are starting to bloom. I cannot remember what this one is called, but I think it looks lovely.

OK, that’s all for now, I hope you liked.

I still like to use a bottle and cage. I had a Camelbak once (1994), but hated it. It was one of the early ones. I hated the way it made my back sweat. I hated the way it rode up and started hitting my helmet on descents. I didn’t like the look of it, and I thought it was uncool. Not to mention all that faffing about keeping it clean.Hydration packs have come a long way since then. Carla has one, and she much prefers it to a bottle. She reckons it’s cleaner, easier to use, and you’re more likely to drink with one. She has convinced my brother, and now he has one. He’s even taken the bottle cage off his bike! Says it spoils the lines.

My brother (Wal) was asking me why I don’t use one. I was joking, but my first two reasons were… what if I needed something to throw at someone? I’d have no bottle, and what if someone was trying to get hold of me? They’d have those straps and things to hold onto making them very difficult to get rid of. While Wal was mildly amused, he thought it said quite a lot about the kind of confrontational person that I am. I disagreed.

Friday, two and a half hours, on my best bike in glorious sunshine. Saturday, three hours on my best bike, glorious sunshine. And, dry trails! Didn’t even need to wash my bike. Combine this with a super riding partner (Carla), a few apre-ride beers, and fish an’ chips, and you have a perfect weekend. Perfect for me anyway.Sunday we were up early, and drove over to Ludlow to help out at the final round of the Pearce Cycles/Specialized Downhill series. It was a great day, and some bloke called Steve Peat showed up and gave everyone a master-class in downhill racing.

Carla has washed a few bikes in her time. With several seasons cyclo-cross pits under her belt, not to mention some 24hr Mountain Mayhem sessions, the odd MTB race, and Road Stage races. She has washed bikes for professional riders, and more than a couple of national champions. So well qualified as a bike washer then, yes?Anyway, following a few questions lately from novice bikers on the best way to wash a bike, Carla has written a bike washing guide complete with pictures. You can see it here.

Over 1500 riders ferried safely to the top of the downhill course at the Pearce Cycles winter Series round 2 by the Magnificent Seven. Actually it was just over 300 riders, but each rider had 3 practise runs, and two timed runs, so that’s 1500+, it’s just that some were multiples of the same! And the Magnificent Seven? That was the team of 7 highly skilled drivers of assorted vehicles with trailers doing the uplifts. There were two Landrover Discoverys, a two wheel drive tractor, and four four wheel drive tractors. The trailers ranged from purpose built uplift trailers with racks for bikes, to cattle trailers (some of those riders are animals!).Some trailers were faster than others, and some took longer to load than others, and some had twice the carrying capacity of others. Despite this the team operated a slick service with no rider having to wait more than a couple of minutes. It was a great sight, and a great buzz to be part of a convoy snaking up the hairpins loaded down with bikes and riders. The noise of those big tractors working hard is something special!!!

Last year I rode a Specialized FSR Pro, with 4 inches of travel at both ends. It was a great bike, and just the job for the Marathon type stuff I was doing. I sold it at the end of the year because it was too nice to ride through the winter, and I planned on getting an 05 bike for this season. I spent the winter on either my Kona Unit, or my old steel Stumpjumper. When Spesh announced the new FSR 120 I thought that it would be just the bike for me, and could not wait to test one. Anyway, the test bike arrived at Pearce Cycles, and today was the day to test it.

First impression was that it was a bigger bike, pretty obvious really, with more travel it was bound to be higher off the ground. There was a good group out today, and as we climbed up to the Forestry offices all was well. I experimented with the lockout and damping controls on the forks, and shock to familiarise myself with their action. We headed out along the middle road, and the bike rolled along nicely, I commented on how comfortable it was. We joined the cross-country course, and I climbed over the tricky roots with ease due to the superb traction that only a full susser can offer. I arrived at the top of the course feeling good, and ready for some downhill singletrack action….. Continue reading →