The trails are ripe again. It’s a great thing in about our famously unpredictable climate – that a spell of good weather really uplifts you. I have been physically uplifted, too, once more, by my legs, to nearby Cragg Quarry – “a fantastic spot when the trails are hot and a load of grot when the trails are not hot”. Forgive me.
Continue reading “Lancifornia 2012 – the dust is back”
Ronde Van Oost Lancashire 2012 – the trailer
Bezzy mate Alan ‘Crossjunkie‘ Dorrington’s ‘own’ ride – the Ronde Van Oost Lancashire – is in its fourth year now and growing exponentially in popularity each time round. It’s on the 31st March this year and I’m getting all little-biy-excited again for a lovely “grovel on the cobble” day out. Especially good this year is that it’s going to turn out to be a bit of a school reunion for me with – hopefully – Phil (brother), Tolly, Rich Bardgett and Rich Hannaford. That truly is a treat and I haven’t ridden with some of those people for 20 years!
Continue reading “Ronde Van Oost Lancashire 2012 – the trailer”
Mini mini break in Oxford
Time is of the essence. Everything’s a rush. That makes these trips – even the tiniest of mini breaks very valuable. All the fun of a few days was concentrated in expert fashion this weekend in around 27 hours with Dips, Jane and the girls in Oxford. Continue reading “Mini mini break in Oxford”
The First Day or Spring… and Autumn Approaches Fast
A short March 1st Video to celebrate a play on my new Planet X Ti prototype… only about 160 sleeps to go….
Pedalling: New Drugs and Learning a lesson
Never stop learning. Never stop being addicted to cycling. This weekend was something new all round, but it’s still just pedalling. Continue reading “Pedalling: New Drugs and Learning a lesson”
Hit the North 3: It’s not about the bike(s). A science experiment.
So… my grand idea for Hit the North this year was to lay to rest any speculation that it’s faster on a ‘cross bike or mountain bike. In a two hour race, I would race half on one and half on the other.
After a second place in 2011 at this tough-but-cuddly suburban event inside of the M62 circle, I felt in a good position to prove in incredibly unscientific fashion whether the bike you’re riding is key on a course like that… Continue reading “Hit the North 3: It’s not about the bike(s). A science experiment.”
Ice Breaking with Dirty Harry
I do enjoy a nice play on the bike from time to time. When you do a load of training and fitness stuff it makes a fun ride that bit more rewarding. Continue reading “Ice Breaking with Dirty Harry”
Don’t get ‘cross? Get even.
January 15th: The year has ended.
The last cyclocross race of the season and all too soon it’s time to hang up the racing wheels and have a few months of more bike fun and less training. A glass half full person like me never gets too worried about things like that. No matter how much I just love cyclocross I know it’s good because it’s a limited season. All your round just wouldn’t be right. Imaging racing your bike and not being muddy and cold. Yack. Continue reading “Don’t get ‘cross? Get even.”
Tod ‘Cross: Good old Yorkshire Chipps and Gravy
Rode the Todmorden Cyclocross yesterday – it’s the fourth running since the event’s revival, and it has earnt its place on the legendary races calendar (it’s currently an imaginary calendar but you get the picture). I’m trying to blog a bit less about every single race I do – I know it gets a bit repetitive and loses any story value if I write the same old but it’s just one of those events I get such a buzz from each year without fail.
Continue reading “Tod ‘Cross: Good old Yorkshire Chipps and Gravy”
When it (nearly) all comes good
Just had a great day out on the bike. I’ve accepted that a great day out for me these days doesn’t equate to a win… those days have moved quietly away… but greatness is so easily measured in other ways when your glass is half full. Continue reading “When it (nearly) all comes good”
Cross Roads
Alan Dorrington and I had a neat little hilly bike ride today over some ace roads on the rim of Calderdale – some of my fave roads in the area. But with a cheeky little twist… we thought we’d ride our ‘cross bikes with slick tyres to see how they felt as road bikes. Continue reading “Cross Roads”
New and Blue… I’m On One for Planet X
I rode my first National Trophy race for my new Planet X team yesterday and it felt kinda weird… Having signed (!?!!) for them three weeks ago my first race at Stadt Moers in the North West league was pretty low key, but it was very odd yesterday over at Derby in the first proper race in my new kit. Continue reading “New and Blue… I’m On One for Planet X”