Packing

The Trans Wales trip starts on Saturday morning first thing. We have the maps, we have everything in place. Originally this is the kit I had outline to take. Riding gear for three days namely:

3/4 length pants or baggies (depending on weather on 1st day)
Merino t-shirt.
Merino mid layer.
Waterproof shell.
Merino socks.
Winter boots.

Carrying in rucksack:

Beanie
Pertex Gillet
Microfiber trousers
Merino t-shirt
1 pair of socks
1 pair of pants
First aid kit + survival blanket
Standard trail tools (pump, PR kit, multitool, xc lube) + spare chain and 3 tubes total.
Maps & compass
Wash kit (toothbrush, toothpaste & showergel)
Notebook & pen for trip notes
Digi Pocket Camera.
Camelbak bladder
Food

Now the weather has turned and it’s properly warm and like summer I’m not so sure. I think it’s better to be safe than sorry, but you never can tell what the weather is going to do.

I am thinking that I need some more stuff to put up on the walls and I like some of these. Just trying to work out which ones look best. Talking of arty things. If I was any good at photography (like Dan), I’d be seriously interested in the Red Bull Illume competition. It has a seriously amazing prize up for grabs…

On a computing front it is interesting to see some of the Apple Mac Kit that Micrsosft are running in their R&D labs. Check it out. 150 Mac Minis… that’a ace.

Tyrrell is still trying to convince me to do the Cape Epic. We’ll see if he’s so keen after Wales has beaten him this weekend.

Had a couple of email too. Chris sends word from Norway:

From: Chris
Subject: Greetings from Norway

I am still here
nearly a year and a half later living the laid back Norwegian
lifestyle and getting in plenty of time on the slopes during the
winter and hopefully plenty of time on the singletrack this summer.

I have been keeping up with your antics though the regular updates on
rothar and see that you are riding more and more with the guys from
singletrack. The mtb’ing out here had been limited so far what with
finishing off the PhD when I first arrived and being carless it meant
limited riding around Bergen which is like the highlands of Scotland
on steroids its either fireroad or full on DH, I have scoped out the
norwegian cup DH course near the city centre after watching some
footage of racers walking section and thinking ‘lightweights’ I was
shocked to see that the course looks un-walkable in places so they
were doing well to walk it!

As a result (of having no car and the lack of riding buddies for mtb
action) most of my riding has been on the road both commuting and
recreational. However the fixie (did you ever see the low profile
late 80’s track fame I had set up for the road with the top tube that
sloped significantly down to the front?) albeit nice to ride is a bit
of a handful on some of the local climbs (12% ers) so I am in the
market for a decent road bike.

Ben is back on line up in Scotland too. Sounds like he is riding true to his word and getting in some great trails both on the burly beast and the DMR. Now all I need is a long weekend in Scotland to catchup. When are the mozzies on holiday?

From: Ben
Subject: HowdyBoyo

Ey up mate.

Wanted to send you a mail as I was a little tipsy when I saw you. Was good catching up though. Was a bit of a hectic visit to manchester so sorry for not getting in touch, wasn’t personal, I just tried to spendtime with my wee brother, don’t get to see him much.

Anyhoo, Not a huge amount to report, just that I’ve been doing as much riding as I can. Getting right into xc stuff (well thats what i call it – I do ride a trailstar….), the red run at glentress is dope if a bit worn. Gonna head back and teach the black route a lesson,
hopefully there’ll be no snow this time – It happened again, its a personal curse obviously. Just ordered some Flat crowns for my triple 8’s, finally It’ll ride a bit less like a harley.

Rode the newer dh at innerleithen when we were in the area. It rocks (even in snow), the
jumps are sooooo sweet, the nice wee drop into the chute down across the fire road into a big jump then doubles. I could stay there all year.

Finally got myself a descent digital camera, so I’ve been playing with that. No real riding shots yet, when it doesn’t rain I’ll get it sorted. But I did update my blog – been meaning to do that for a while! Kinda mainly landscape shots, but check it out if your bored.
Anyway, just wanted to say hullo. We should meet up at glentress sometime (unless you wanna get a dh bike!), would be a good laugh. Right I’ll shut up now.

Enjoy youself mate and see you soon.

Ben.