Lovely vid and appropriate 1969 commentary / reportage. Great barriers, just a joy to watch
Big chainrings, slippy descents and the steps over a fence here are just fantastic!!
Tune… The Difference between an object and a non-object
Short bit of music – the first for a while – inspired in part by the dark weather we’re living under this August and in part by the sporadic and fickle nature of the people I follow on Twitter. Also was playing a lot of guitar this week and wanted to have a break from that.
[audio:http://www.minnellium.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/between-an-object-and-a-non-object.mp3]The Three Peaks Cyclocross Course in one minute flat
Just made this from my GPS file from the 2008 race….
Stile Gurus
To the team of people who went up Simon Fell on Saturday to erect the improved stile at ‘that’ nasty bottleneck, we salute you.
We’ll even forgive you for having a cyclocross bike on the illegal training ground, seeing as JR was looking on.
Summer Holiday in Wales – Ogwen Bank
A third family holiday this year for us Haygarths in the UK – the ‘Staycation’ (or ‘Holistay’ – a more ‘English’ version of the new term I prefer) has really come of age. We booked a ‘log cabin’ (or really more a pine lodge – not as romantic sounding) in Ogwen Bank – just on the Snowdonia National Park boundary a few weeks ago, and had a great stay there last week.
Continue reading “Summer Holiday in Wales – Ogwen Bank”
Great article on ’79 ‘international’ Three Peaks Cyclocross
A good thorough article (found through the 3 peaks forum) here – click on the image then the magnifying glass to the top right to view to a readable level.
Particularly like the notion that anyone organising a race like the Three Peaks in Belgium would have been ‘put in prison’.
Gisburn Forest Mountinbike Trails… now with added fun.
I managed to finally get to ride most of the best bits (I think) of the new MTB trails at Gisburn Forest last night. I must say I was impressed. I’d be primed / appetite whetted by a combination of Matthew, some photos by Andy Rushforth, and a blog post by Dave Powell.
I headed up last night because I decided to take a mental break from racing for a couple of weeks. Thursday night’s Preston crit night so I wanted to ‘do something’ other than racing. On a nice clear, calm evening, Gisburn made sense. Continue reading “Gisburn Forest Mountinbike Trails… now with added fun.”
The Book of Elvis – by Lily
Lily goes off from time to time and sites down quietly with her pens – like lots of six year olds do – to create something. Usually it’s a card or a picture, but sometimes it’s something a bit more of a ‘project’.
Last week Lily asked me to print some photos of our dog Elvis and disappeared with some paper to a quiet corner on a wet afternoon. The book she made is just lovely – from the DIY spelling to the use of language – it warms our hearts so much to read. Continue reading “The Book of Elvis – by Lily”
Billie Jeanellium
In memory of Micheal Jackson, I started to mess about with music again the other night, and came up with this fairly stripped down version of Billie Jean… basically nicked the drums and vocals, the rest was re-done from other instruments… it’s a top tune, and there’s not much to be gained by remixing it or messing around too much, unless you’re as god-like as Bushwacka or indeed Ian Brown.
Anyways… have a listen…
[audio:http://www.minnellium.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/04-Billie-Jean.mp3]PS – my parents in law are called Bill & Jean. Amazing. It could have been about them.
Blackburn Grand Prix – Back in Black(burn)
I spent a strange but ace year of my education at Blackburn College in 1990/91 and it’ll always hold some great memories for me. This evening I rode in the town centre race there and had a good ride. I’m glad I did – I was starting to get concerned.
When you have bad days and little dips in form now and then, you generally deal with it and wait for it to pass.
When you have a bad day then another then another and you’re 39 (and a half), you start to think that maybe the bubble’s burst… your time’s come, and you’re not going to regain any semblance of form. Ever. Continue reading “Blackburn Grand Prix – Back in Black(burn)”
Roundhay Park 1992 World Championships, Leeds – video of finale
Finally someone’s digging out their old VHS cyclocross videos and sticking them on youtube.
… or if it’s that Martin Eadon effect you’re after, check out this wonderful pop video…
Loads more good stuff here http://www.youtube.com/user/cChunkstardeluxe
No juniors (yet!) for 2009 race
UPDATE !! COMMENT FROM JOHN 18 07 2009 – TWO JUNIORS NOW ENTERED – the future is safe!
From my own sketchy memory – this is the first year that the event will have no juniors ever – if the current ‘latest’ list of accepted riders is anything to go by. This is obviously a major shame for a race that seems to boast such enthusiasm.
Fell races seem to be going the same way of late – with the increase in enthusiasm in the more senior end of the population not being matched by enthusiasm in the younger riders.
It’s obviously a great shame – maybe the race is shrouded a bit too much in this legend of harshness, danger and difficulty – it puts off today’s couch potatoes. Maybe we should bring out a Nintendo Wii version of the Three Peaks Cyclocross that youngsters could safely take part in without going too far outside of their comfort zone.
Let’s hope later versions of the entry sheet show a couple of ‘ard kids.
