Happy Birthday Carla! Yep, it’s Carla’s birthday. Weather is traditionally good. We have a dog to walk, then she’ll be out on her new bike!!!! Yeah!!! A Specialized Epic Marathon. It’s been over 10 years since she changed her bike. She’s been really looking forward to this one, and she’ll be faster than ever on it. Watch out!!!
The Marshall MG15 practice amp wasn’t seeing much action since I got my Marshall Class 5, so I put it up for sale. Had a phone call about it, and told the gent to bring a guitar with him if he wanted to come and try it. So he did. This one…
As soon as he took it out of the case I recognised it as a 70s Strat. The large headstock, bullet trus rod, string trees, and three bolt neck. It was just like the one I bought from Rock Bottom in Croyden in the late 70s. I asked about it..
A 1974 Strat. Three way pickup selector switch. In fabulous condition for it’s age. Still had the original bridge cover in place. The owners friend had bought it new, then sold it to him one year later. He’d had it ever since. Sad part is that although he’d played it in lots of bands he doesn’t play anymore. Good part is that his rather lovely teenage daughter is taking up guitar and she gets to play it. She’s the one he’s buying the amp for, so she can practice at home. I hope she realises how lucky she is. With such a Strat and a Marshall you could go a long way.
I hope all is going well for you. Fully Christmassed up, stuffed and looking forward to the Queen’s message….as is tradition….and, as is tradition I went for my usual Christmas Day ride. Just a couple of hours to build up an appetite. Carla came with me for the first hour. I did the second hour on my own. Cold, but sunny, with a biting North wind. I stayed on the trails close to home chosing the hardest going to keep warm. The ground was frozen, but not solid, more crusty, which was interesting/sketchy/fun. I rode Big Bird. She was great. So comfy.
It was a really nice ride. Just what I wanted. Hardly saw a soul about…..and all those geese at the farm by Troupen… all gone!!! Bon apetite! Bon Noël! Merry Christmas! 😉
The first two….
Madame Blanc – Vocals
Supawal – Drums
Me – Guitars
Serge Baudot AKA The Kawasaki Kid guesting on bass! 😉
Please cock a deaf un.
SB 🙂
It’s my favourite race. Made the podium for the last three years. But not this year.
Training had gone well. I had a new bike. I was well up for it. I’d pre-ridden the circuit twice in the previous weeks. But it was just not to be.
I warmed up well, got a good start and established myself near the sharp end. The leading vet B was just a few places in front of me. I was in no rush. He punctured after about 5 kms leaving me in front. I just continued to ride purposefully. My old mate Jean Claude caught me at around 15 kms. He passed me and opened a gap on a long climb. No panic, I worked hard to keep him in sight, and pulled him back a little on the flat.
On the long climb up from Arnac I can see JC, he’s about a minute ahead. There’s 15 kms of tough trails left to go. I’m planning on making the most of it on my Specialized Epic. Like I said, I’ve pre-ridden the circuit, I know what’s coming and I’m up for it.
But then, I start noticing that something is not right. The back end of the bike feels soft. Yeah well that’s because the rear shock has lost pressure! I pull over and try to get some air into it with my pump. It works a little, and I remount. Within a few minutes it’s soft again, and I’m bottoming out.
I have no option but to pull out. If I don’t the last 15 kms will trash my bike. I’m gutted. At the next road crossing I leave the race and head home. Just to cap it all, I get a punture!
Back at the race village I watch the riders coming in, and imagine what might have been. You know, that bike has been great all summer. Only ridden for best. Not a single problem until today. It turns out to be just the shock sleeve that’s come loose. Fixed in a jiffy by a mechanic who knows what he’s looking at.
Meanwhile my friend James had a great ride. Him being a good rider, visiting me just to do this race, and very keen to beat me…. oh and he’s the machanic too. See what I’m saying? 😉
Following a superb gigging summer season in 2010 I played my last gig with Downright Liberty at Chez Adie’s bar. Thanks to everyone who has encouraged and supported me. Especially my friends The Indelibles. You are just great. I hope to see you all soon.
In the meantime, i’ve set up a page of my own on reverbnation.com where I’ll post any new stuff.
During November ex pro drummer Supawal will be paying a visit, and we’ll be getting some top local musos to join us in a sort of “Cross Channel Session” type recording affair. Whhhoooo! watch out! 😉
No gig this weekend so we got up early and went to the VTT Rando at Nieul. I opted for the 40 kms loop. Carla did the 30 kms. We were away at 08:45, a beautiful morning though a bit windy. Anyways, now the cyclo-cross season has started a lot of the young racers were missing. I found myself right up near the front with a gang on veterans including the current departmental champions for road and VTT!
After about 5 kms a group of three began to pull away. I went after them. Don’t forget, I’m riding my Spesh Epic, what an awesome bike. I’m gaining on the three, probably about 30 metres behind them. There’s a sharp right over a small footbridge, into a chemin. The three have disappeared! Just as I’m thinking they can’t have suddenly gone much quicker I hear them off to the left. They’ve missed the turn. I give it all I’ve got in an attempt to get out of sight. 😉
I’m absolutely flying along, feeling the good pain. I’m making the most of my bike, railing over the rough ground, carving the turns like a man possesed. At the end of a long straight I take a quick look back. No one there! I push on, hard.
The trails are bone dry, and very fast. I’m sliding in some of the corners and using the edge of the trail as a berm to get me around. At the last moment I spot a mud hole. I’m going too fast to miss it. I look straight over it, and pedal as hard as I can. It’s deeper than I thought it might be, and slippy to. It shoots me to one side. I bang my knee hard on the handlebars. I come through in one piece, still upright, still on the bike. I have to ease up while I wait for the pain in my knee to subside. I change down and spin an easy grear.
A few minutes pass, and I’m picking up speed again. A rider arrives, he comes past, he’s riding hard, I chase after him. It feels like he’s trying to drop me. Some few kms later he pulls over and stops. I dunno why. He seemed to be going OK.
Back on my own again, and pushing hard. A marshall tells me there’s 10k left. Those last 10 kms were real roller-coaster stuff. Awesome trails, a real blast. 40 kms banged out in 1hr 49mins. Thanks to all at Cyclo Club Nieul for a great morning’s riding.
When I go on training rides with my friend Cyril he insists that we sprint for village signs (panneau). He always beats me, he always rubs it in, calls me his “Papi” (grandad!). But yesterday was different! Oh yes. Yesterday was very different. Ha ha ha!!!!
Hey, did I tell ya ’bout when I go on training rides with Cyril??!!! 😉
I can hardly believe it. I’m fifty five years old. Fifty bleedin five! How did that happen? Bear with me while I go off on one for a second will ya? I remember sitting at my desk at school, I’d just become a teenager. I was working out what year I would be twenty one, and how old I would be in the year two thousand. I remember thinking how “old” twenty one would be, and couldn’t begin to imagine how elderley a Y2K forty five year old would be……and now I’m fifty bleedin’ five!
To make up for it, I had one helluva weekend. I played three gigs with Downright Liberty. Great fun, though just to harp on a bit more about my age, I find it quite bizarre to play punk on my pink paisley strat and see all these pogoing old blokes mouthing the words back at me. 😉
So on my birthday? Had a leisurely breakfast then loaded the bikes in the van and went to the wonderous, mythical, Monts de Blond. Spent the afternoon riding my favourite trails with my wonderful wife. The weather was fabulous, and as usual, the Monts de Blond were just beautiful.
On the way home we stopped off at the Supermarche and got something nice for dinner. Dinner was served on the patio, and we shared a drink or two until long after the sun had set. A peaceful end to a lovely day. Thanks Carla, my lover. xxx
Remember a little while back I was telling you about my buddy James, and his Land’s End to John O Groats ride? Well. he mentioned that the euphoria and sense of achievement was somewhat marred by the fact that when you arrive at John O Groats there’s only you and your team there. All your supporters and friends are back home, and to get back home you have to climb in a vehicle for the 8 hour drive.
Now, Dave Price (James’ cousin – also a compulsive cyclist), and Dave Lewis (yet another Pearce Cycles Dave aka Sparky Dave), fancied having a go at the LeJog, unsupported…….. and were discussing James’ comment when they had this lateral thinking brainwave. They both live close to the LeJog route, so why not ride to Lands End, then ride to John O Groats, then ride home! Effectively doing the length of the country twice, unsupported, and ending their ride as homecoming heroes on their own doorstep. What a genius idea! Plus try as they might, they couldn’t think of a single reason why they shouldn’t do it!!! So they are….
Starting Sept 11th 2010, Team Dave will cycle the length of the UK twice unsupported in 20 days, covering approximately 2000 miles, raising money for Air Ambulance.
You can follow their progress on the Team Dave website. I urge you to support them by sponsoring them here, or here. It’ll raise their spirits, and drive them on. I mean like, c’mon, 2000 in 20 days, that’s 100 miles a day for 20 days!!! That’s awesome! What a schedule.
Bon Courage Team Dave. Good Luck for tomorrow, and the next 19 days. We’ll all be willing you on.
