Author: Cris Bloomfield

Mystery Kit. Bonus points of guessing what this is without clicking the thumbnails to see the larger pictures. It’s taken a while to get here and now I’m not sure I want to fit it.

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So it’s been decision time recently. Freeparking.co.uk quite possibly has the worst IT customer support I have ever come across. Thanks to them being generally crap I wasn’t able to renew two of my domains and Northwave-design has now been retired.

I think I always had the inkling that I might want to do some paid web-design work after my research and the new job has met that ambition in spades without the need to go freelance. With that site gone and ifrider now with over three hundred bikes registered I’m thinking about where I want to go with rothar.com over the next few months.

As my current hosting runs out at the end of this month I’ve decided to move on over to Shaun Murray’s hosting over at aegisdesign. That’s where ifrider’s been since its humble beginning and the service has been great. That’s not to say I’m disappointed with 34SP, I just think it’s in keeping to have a mountain biking website hosted by another mountain biker. Mmm. In keeping = clique?

This is Kelvin’s website. It’s nice.

I am very impressed with the follwoing website and also like the way Andy Foulds has used his name as an influencing factor in the design. A throughly nice bit of design.

Specialized seem determined to keep at the top and have added another strong rider to their MTB XC team.

This link is for Jed. This is for people who like (bike) porn.

I’m thinking of snow and Switzerland.

Got a bike? Occasionally lock it up somewhere and think it’ll be safe? Watch this and think again. I think the angle grinder moment is particularly cool. Did Kryptonite test the New York Lock against that?

So starting as I mean to go on this year, the mountain bike season followed on from last weekend’s trip to the Peak District with a trip home to the east and the silky Singletrack of Thetford Forest. With a car full of bikes and gear and the Sexmidget in-tow, following a stop off at Chelmer Cycles for a pint with Matt and to unload Jon before heading up to Norfolk, all was set for meeting up on race day.

Sunday was a fantastic high pressure bluebird winter day (wallpaper here). Only problems was this resulted in about double the number of usual competitors turning up to compete. So after standing around in the cue to sign on for about an hour we didn’t have much time before the gun went and everyone set off.

Mental note: do not attempt to alter gearing just before the start of an event. Sure enough I managed to loose a chain ring bolt in the back of the car despite taking great care (eventually found in the lip seal of the boot) and in combination with (in my opinion) not giving people enough time to get ready after they’d finished signing on, as the gun went off I and several others were not at the start line.

So I reckon by the time I finished reassembling the bike, changed from alpine insulation into racing kit and basically managed to haul my arse into a ready to go state, I had a deficit of around 10 minutes on everyone else. Well that’s my excuse for the results.

The event was definitely improved by the presence of the semi mobile land anchor known as the Cheeky Sound System. A fairly impressive piece of kit being towed by some nutters from Chelmsford.

Anyway I rode consistently and despite feeling like I needed to retch in the last singletrack section and loosing two places, overall I managed to claw back enough places to at least feel respectable and look suitably slack from a singlespeed perspective. Roll up the next race. The new IF is without doubt the best bike I have ever ridden in the forest.

Now then I seem to be getting an ever increasing amount of crap e-mails these days whhich is mildy annoying and if it’s a sting that’s a banking or financial scam, I report them, but tell me please, what the fuck is the point of sending replies like the one below? I know it’s a con you muppets, that’s why I’ve e-mailed you.

Never under estimate the intelligence of animals and never over estimate the intelligence of people.

After working in the bike shop on Saturday to keep my hand in on the wonderful world of bikes I made it out for my first ride of the year today. I did manage to set eyes on one of the new Enduro’s, an SX Trail and I have to say that I am impressed with the design and build. The bikes look a lot better in reality than they do in the photos I’ve seen. I think that’s raised my interest in a new full susser for this year and this looks like the favourite.

I also managed to pick up a few bits and pieces that I’ve been waiting for, like th missing top cap off my Z1 Freeride SLs that seemed to take forever to arrive as a spare part. I do have to say that all in all I have yet to be impressed by Windwave’s Marzocchi support, which is disappointing because the forks are all great.

So back to today – Holy Mary Mother of God! Not only have I managed to give myself a monster dead leg in a classic over the handlebars into a big peatbog puddle on todays ride in the Dark Peak, I’ve just stubbed my foot whilst doing the vacuuming and managed to rip off the big toenail on my left foot! It hurts like a bastard and there’s blood everywhere. Where’s the medicinal alchohol? I hope these things don’t occur in three’s because the pain level is escalating.

This is the new Trek Discovery Channel (former US Postal) team bike – looks good from here.

This is the radical new full suspension design that looks set to be developed for Yeti’s downhill rigs next year.

And next Sunday (23rd Jan 2005) will see XC racing returning to Thetford in the form of the second round of this year Marin Thetford Winter Series, the course this time has been extended to 16 Miles and rather than be in the form of last races 2 or 4 hour event, will be a 1 or 2 lap event. I’ll be there.

So it’s 2005. What does this year have in store? Last year started well with lots of riding and gradually tailed off, effectively ending in August. Bit of a bugger that, but then this year might well be the inverse unless I get my act together. So wit that in mind I’ve already started looking at what I want to be doing in terms of riding and racing and events.

This year I’m going to get some riding in stateside and make why over to Pennsylvania for the SSWC in State College. It might be an extended weekend trip, but I’m going make that race. Over here in the UK there are a few rides I’ve still got in mind and at least one of them is going to involve some overnighting and carrying of kit.

So what about bikes? Well there’s a shiny road bike to get built up and some miles to cover on the tarmac, but as to whether there’ll be any new additions to the bike collection I really don’t know. I suppose it’s something that can never be ruled out, because there’s a lot of riding ahead.

Lots of new kit starting to filetr through and Cyclingnews are keeping up well with the task of highlighting it here, here and here. This combination of expensive metals has produced quite possibly the lightest mountain bike suspension forks in the world – check out the Spinner Aeris. Seems to be a definite lack of technical info about them which is a bit worrying.

Petrolhead Jed found this on the t’internet: Fat ass motorbiking. I’m thinking about the fact the days are getting longer and the fact that Apple have just brought out a new iPod and a new Mac.

: H A P P Y : C H R I S T M A S :

News, post-christmas update and a summary of the year with the first update of 2005. In the mean time drink and carnage beckon.

You may have noticed that there hasn’t been much in the way of cycling news or info recently. Basically that’s because there hasn’t been a huge amount that I think is worth talking about. The UCI and the organisers of the three grand tours are currently embroiled in an argument over the implementation of a ProTour – effectively a cycling premiership of the top teams that is supposed (although not currently looking very likely) to be effective from the beginning of next year. Anyway you can catch up on events over at Cyclingnews.

IMBA have also released their annual report card which rates trails on a global basis based on the feedback from trail users. Scotland and Wales both achieved top marks with Scotland being ranked 5th in the world for good trails behind Utah, Idaho, British Columbia and Colorado. There is a summary article here and a more comprehensive report over on the IMBA site.

This week went quickly, but provided an opportunity to catch up with some friends. Thursday night was a trip up to Todmorden for a farewell nightride for Chris and was a further test for the new singlespeed. The forks definitely need a firmer spring in them, because at the moment getting full travel too easily and consequentially are a bit boingtastic.

I’m also beginning to wonder if the Stadium batteries are getting a bit long in the tooth. Don’t seem to be getting the burn time they should according to the battery life indicator. the question is what to replace them with. At the moment these are looking favourite: bikelights.com

Discussion about next years events has already started, but for some next year is dependent on this year being successfully completed first, probably to the accompaniment of barking. Macpupmeister is on a mission.

The movies on this website are all generated using a copy of Halo and a lot of patience. Take a look at Red vs Blue. The real life vs t’internet is how I came across the site, but that was from over at gprime.net. On which you can find some excellent games including this Boston-based snowplow one.

I think it’s safe to say winter is here. Things are looking quite grey out the window from where I’m sitting, but plans are already forming for next year in terms of big rides, trips abroad and races. It’s not even the New Year and entry forms are being made available for some the seasons biggest events. Planned events are now marked up on the racing schedule.

The big thrash seemed to generate a very respectable amount of sponsorship. It was a while ago now, but I thought it was worth a link back. Newcastle-Upon-Tyne to Todmorden was an ambitious route.

Thanks to the Cyclesurgery for a gratuitous rothar.com link. Here is the trailer for New World Disorder 5 (NWD5). What is this about? This is one large mofo you wouldn’t have wanted to bump into when you’re out snorkelling on the reef – well you won’t be anymore.

Whilst wearers of Big Jonny’s LiveWrong bracelets will be fine, this is not good news for the wwearers of the original yellow bands:

From: Associated Press
Date: 10 December 2004

A hospital chain is taping over patients’ LiveStrong wristbands because they are yellow — the same color as the “do not resuscitate” bands it puts on patients who do not want to be saved if their heart stops.

No mix-ups have been reported, but BayCare Health Systems officials do not want to take any chances.

The popular LiveStrong rubber bracelets are sold through the Lance Armstrong Foundation as part of the champion bicycle racer’s efforts to raise money for cancer research.

“It could be confusing, particularly in the situation of a code or a cardiac arrest where people have to think very quickly,” said Lisa Johnson, vice president of patient services at Morton Plant Mease Health Care, which is part of the chain. “We wouldn’t want to mistake a Lance Armstrong bracelet and not resuscitate someone we’re supposed to.”

Hospitals use colored bracelets to quickly tell doctors, nurses and other staff special instructions for certain patients. For example, at BayCare Health hospitals purple bands mean the patient is at risk of falling; red means the patient has allergies. Not all hospitals use the same coloring system.

Yesterday I managed to get out and ride. It really is the first time I’ve ridden since this years SITS, because there was the usual collection of energy bar debris and spares kicking about in the bottom of the camelbak. Anyway it was a bit of a shakedown ride for the new singlespeed and there were lots of things that needed a bit of tweaking and adjustment. End result is I’m very pleased with the new bike, but I need to get out and ride more. A lot more.

Macpuppy is now only one bivvi away from his aim of sleeping out in the big outdoors every month for a year. Now he’s expected certain people who can’t join him on his final Scottish adventure to join him on a series of satellite bivvi’s. Conference calls are to be expected on the 22nd December. Where to stay, that’s the question.

I read the Da Vinci Code when I was on holiday. These days it seems that some people have difficulty differentiating fiction from fact. Which is a bit worrying really. I mean if someone wrote a book about raindows and buried pots of gold…

There was a tribute to Fred Dibnah on the TV last night. The man with the big character from Bolton has finally lost his recent battle with the big C. He will be missed by many.

Let’s start with a bit of a come back to yesterday’s post. Top marks for content and speed of submission.

I think Katie is in need of a good night out…

Usefully the Alaskan Pup has also sent these two vital documents which may be familiar in nature:

::: Permission form for women ::: Permission form for men :::

Jed needs to check out this site if he is still riding the self-sustaining power of one bike. Other fixies or wannabes better take a look too. Other singlespeeders / antisinglespeeders and the everyone else might be interested in this. It’s old but I missed it.

Well Hamilton’s scandal has finally caught up with him. I think this might have been on the cards, but it’s sad to read that it has happened. The UCIs behaviour seems a little odd. Are they trying to keep the lid on something. Worms in side you say? See if you’re top of the game you don’t have to worry about nasty surprises, only the good ones.

World Singlespeed Championships 2005 Announcement: Check the website here

SINGLE SPEED WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS 2005
Fall update Nov. 18, 2004

The leaves have fallen here in Central PA, cyclocross is coming to a head and the excitement for the Worlds is growing. With over 900 of you on the mailing list, it looks like this year¹s event just may be the largest yet.

InterBike was a blast and the industry is behind us so it’s gonna be a good one! The course is just about set and should offer challenges for every rider. From the challenging climbs, twisting ridge top trails, and fast fire roads vistas, sustained climbs, and a ‘bail out’ for the less fit. ‘Aid Stations’ will be located at key spots to re hydrate and regroup with the boys.

The date (Aug. 20/21) brings riders to town on the quietest weekend yielding empty restaurants, no crowds, and plenty of lodging. In a town used to dealing with 100,000 beer swillin¹’ rowdy football fans, we shouldn¹t even set off the radar

Registration has yet to be figured out. With so many people interested it¹s going to be tricky…be patient, please. Just to clarify, there will be spots set aside for riders from other countries, past winners, and local riders. You will be notified before registration opens!

Unlike some cycling events, this will not be about prizes. One winner per gender and everyone else is second. Whining about placing will not be tolerated. NORBA / USA Cycling will be more than happy to take your money and let you know how many seconds you got beat by…this is about gathering together for the sake of camaraderie.

As of now, look for entry fees to be $30.00. You will get your money¹s worth. T shirt, stein, belt buckle, something-food-drink-epic rides, relax.

As of now, Dirt Rag kids are looking to host a group ride for those of you flying into Pitt. As always, more to come. Derby? Surly kids are talkin¹ trash, so be set to throw down…these kids mean it. Group rides will also be heading out of town here in State College, many of us ride to the forest from town – after the main event.

OK, off to ride my bike……..(take a hint)…….go ride yours!

–Eric Roman