Yep, I’m still at it! I won the Regional VTT Championship at Cublac in the Correze 60+ Veteran category. It was a fabulous circuit, and I was really up for it. Gotta tell you though…..the strongest man didn’t win on the day, but the most determined did!

I rode hard off the line and found myself in the lead! Not part of the plan, but happy to be first into the single-track. I knew there were riders on my wheel, but there was no way they could sit close enough to draft. On to the first climb, and I had opened up a gap, but by the top of the climb I had been caught by one chaser. We pushed on. He was stronger than me on the climbs, but I could get back to him on the flat and through the technical sections.

We rode the rest of the lap together, on the last climb up to the line he’d opened up a gap of about 10 seconds. I soon closed the gap, my plan was to just stay with him for the next lap. The climbs were agony, as I tried to maintain contact. Just over halfway round and we’re onto a tough rooty climb. I’ve lost about three bike lengths. He slips on a root, he’s off and pushing his bike. The climb eases, and I’m expecting him to remount, he pulls his bike to one side and looks at me as if to say ‘go through’. Down the next tricky descent I opened up a gap. As we dropped out onto the fire road I’d got a nice gap. It was game on!

I rode like a man committed! If I could hold him off on the big climb up to start the last lap I was in with a chance. Going out to start the last lap I had about 20 seconds lead. Through the technical sections I made it count, on the climbs I rode as hard as I could. I worked hard to get out of sight. I dared to look back, he was still there, but I seemed to be getting away. Onto the last climb, he’s nowhere to be seen. I take the win! I get to wear the Regional Champions jersey for the year!

I had not raced this hard in a long time! 

Searching through some old demo files, found this…. The Sugaree Band playing Rockin in the Free World. I always get a kick out of playing this.

The ROC Cyclo club is organising it’s annual cyclocross race this weekend at Rochechouart….but it’s a new venue! For the first time ever the race will be held at the Plan d’Eau below the chateaux. I’m looking forwards to taking part, though not as a racer, as a helper/circuit builder/marshall/dog’s body. Should be great fun….

Here is the ‘hit list’ for this months session at the Soleil Couchant.

You do Something to Me – Paul Weller – Em
Steamy Widndows – E
12 bar in – E
Groovy Kind of Love – A
Too Rolling Stoned – Robin Trower – Cm
Rock Steady – Bad Company – Am
Tequilla – F
Stella by Starlight
Yeh Yeh – Georgie Fame – Eb
Time is Tight – Booker T – C
Superstition/Oh Well – E
Hey Jude – Beatles – C
Phone Booth – Robert Cray – Am
Georgia – F
30 Years of Tears – John Hiatt – G
Like A Rolling Stone – Dob Dylan – C
All Night Long – Warren Zevon – E
That’s All (Denomination Blues) – E
Whiter Shade of Pale – G
Brown Eyed Girl – G
Drift Away – G

Here it is, as promised! This morning the release of the very first Benbros album. Today also marks the birthday of my brother Supawal, and the 10th anniversary of Carla and I moving to France! You can download a selection of tracks from our album for free this morning at the link below. Wishing you all a fabulous day.

With the release of our first album “Friday’s Child”, just over a week away, we’ve been asked what sort of shizz is it? Here is a taster of type of shizz it iz! This track will give you the idea, and although it won’t appear on the album you can download it for free! Please give us a like, share it, and leave a comment.
Thanks 🙂

Me and my brother… “Benbros” have an album of original compositions coming out soon! Here is one of the early cover designs….we didn’t use it.

Not twisted, or fire, just “Starter”……from the August recording sessions with Supawal. I hope you like it. You gotta play it loud! 🙂

Last Thursday we played Devant Les Halles in Anguoleme city centre (Outside the Blues Rock Cafe. It was ‘Madame Blanc and Friends’…..a ‘put together just for the gig’ band…we had great ‘no rehearsal fly by seat of pants’ fun, and a few strong beers! 🙂

Saturday was a private party with Jazz a la Carte. A very different night, though still great fun. We played from 8pm until midnight with a 30 minute break! A real workout!

…..and still to come in September, a solar powered gig, and a gig at a nudist camp! I kid you not! 🙂

Here’s the details…
16th September, Friday 8pm, La Caverne 14 rue Montebe?lo 86500 Montmorillon.
17th September, Saturday 8pm, Auberge du Noyer, La Brousse, Londigny 16700.
20th September, Tuesday 8pm, Camping Creuse Nature, Route de Betete, Boussac 23600.
24th September, Saturday, Private party. Solar Power!