Category: Words

Been away for the weekend. It didn’t go according to plan, somethings just don’t work out and you have to take the rough with the smooth every now and then. So with all the goings on, I didn’t make this years Thetford Enduro, which from a financial point of view might be a good thing after last seasons destruction-of-kit-fest. Jed rode in style:

From: Jed
Subject: Totally Wasted

Did the enduro race at Thetford today. 4 hard 8 mile laps in 2:22 and came in approx 21st. Managed to catch then pass a friend (Phil – who I meet on the way to work) when he fell. He promptly passed me when my calf cramped up as I ran over a log and fell over. I certainly gave it everything I had and am now paying the price but at least I know that I didn’t give it 100% so feel good in myself.

Italy has lost a cycling hero at a young age. Corty eloquently somes up his view of the pirate below, but there’s more over at cyclingnews.

From: Corty
Subject: RIP

Marco Pantani.

Yes he was a junkie. Sure, he may have had big ears (don’t mention elephants
though, he wouldn’t have liked that). But that little Pirate could climb like a
ferret and will be missed in both the tour and rehab clinics in equal measure.
Arrivederci.

The BUSA Mountain Bike XC races are coming up. Now I’m not a team member of the Uni team so if I understand things correctly, it’s not open to me. Maybe I should organise myself as it’ll be my last chance to ride for MURT. Laura has the info:

From: Laura
Subject: Student Champs

Are you going? Bringewood, Ludlow, Shropshire. March 27-29th.

Campsite – Limited space – toilets – and tanked water. Also floodlights for the evening’s entertainment – Sheff’s Ramp and whatever else appears!

Enter NOW – closing date for entries is 20th March after that it will cost u a few beers!

There’s more on the official BUSA website.

Finally, this is the latest on the Revolution series, up at the Velodrome here in Manchester. The Sprinters Race looks likely to be the most popular event of the series. This is from British Cycling:

3 OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS TO RACE AT REVOLUTION 3

The foreign challengers are now confirmed for Revolution 3 (on Saturday Feb 28th Manchester Velodrome at 7pm) with a trio of French stars taking the trip across the water to take on our British boys. Reigning Olympic Team Sprint Champions Arnaud Tournant and Florian Rousseau will be joining forces with French prodigy Gregory Bauge making for a clash of the titans in the team sprint competition.

Tournant’s track record speaks for itself with multiple World titles in the Kilo and Sprint and the world record in the Kilo (an amazing sub one-minute ride at altitude). Rousseau’s credentials are equally as impressive with the Olympic Keirin Champion title to his name on top of the Team Sprint title. The final member of the French squad, Gregory Bauge is more of an unknown quantity but certainly won’t be their Achilles Heel. At 19 Bauge already has two Junior World Track titles to his name and is strongly tipped by the French Cycling Federation to be the next Tournant.

So the scene is set for a showdown between the French and British Sprint squads with the British eager to test the water ahead of the Olympics, “We need to try and take a look at as many different options throughout this season as possible in racing opportunities so I think we’ll be using ‘Revolution 3’ as an opportunity to test the team sprint against the French” commented British Sprint Coach Iain Dyer.

And now off to work…

Last night I made my first pilgrimage to the mecca known as Sideways out on the Cheshire Plain. Lots of exotica and a chance to look at some pimpiness and porn. Most impressed and worth the circuitous journey there and back. Tim has a very nice shop, but I hate driving in the rush hour.

One Speed Bikes. Beer. Music. All of that and more in the Singlespeed Outlaw eZine which has just posted issue five. Lots of one geared stuff and a lot on titanium bike bits manufacturer Jeff Jones…

Dave Barter from phased has asked me to post up the following:

Thanks to Anne Brown and Matt Hart the RUSS Appeal has two fantastic items to auction in order to raise money for the Air Ambulance.

The first is a brand new Specialized Fuse I BMX bike kindly donated by BM regular Anne Brown. The bike is suitable for adults or larger children and would make an ideal steed for anyone deciding to take a foray into the world of 20in frolics. The item is ready and waiting for bids now so hop on over to eBay at the link below:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3660296690

The second item is a fitness consultation and detailed personalised six month training plan development carried out by Mart Hart of TORQ Fitness. As winter starts to recede you’ll all be needing some extra help to shift the flab in preparation for spring and summer. So, hurry over to eBay and stick a bid on the item via the link below:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3660297530

Remember that EVERY SINGLE penny from these auctions goes to the Air Ambulance – please be generous, and please tell your friends

Finally this bike website is the home of a biweekly mini eZine, called pushbikes. You’ll need to have flash for it to work.

I’m feeling more recovered now from Sunday’s hammering by the elements in the Peak District. That was one big ride. I’m going to do it again in the summer, hopefully things will be a bit drier by then.

Ag2R and Cofidis as well as the US based Navigators teams have been riding Stella Azzurra kit for some time. In fact the Italian family-run firm has been in business over 25 years and started off making bar tape and over time have supplied a huge range of companies from De Rosa to Merckx. Here’s the website link.

MTB Wales have been updating their site a fair bit with lots of digital routes appearing for the various different mapping packages. They’re also getting some exclusive cycle clothing, find out more over at their site. Talking of clothing, Corty sent in this via e-mail:

From: Corty
Subject: Ref pulled red lacy knickers from his pocket

A Brazilian football referee is facing divorce proceedings after he pulled a pair of knickers out of his pocket instead of a red card during a match.

Carlos Jose Figueira Ferro was trying to send footballer Paulo Coise off during an amateur match in the city of Anama, reports Terra.

The referee was so embarrassed that he ended the match with 20 minutes still to go. He said he had no idea how the red lacy knickers ended up in his pocket.

Mr Ferro’s wife, who was watching the match, reportedly started divorce proceedings after the match.

This is a rather nice Dutch Singlespeed website which includes details of Giant’s new XTC SS specific frameset. That’ll build into one seriously light bike. Probably a bit like this one…

How unique is your name? Find out here…

Finally, this trebuchet game might help waste some time at work and certainly makes a change from Penguin baseball.

_ _

Yesterday I did a planned ride from Edale to Macclesfield. There were a few complications like the train didn’t go to Edale, so I had to Start in New Mills ride to Hayfield and then climb up over Edale Cross and down Jacob’s Ladder which was a snow covered little adventure. Took a big spill on the descent down the Ladder, but fortunately was able to get up after it.

A big ride in some very windy conditions which made it quick going with a tailwind and murder without. It was a headwind down the Cat and Fiddle and was absolutely murderous. I ate all the food I was carrying and by the end I was just glad to be finished.

Conradski is back in Manchester after half a season in France. Apparently too much shop work in a resort and not enough skiing is just not good enough. I know what he’s saying.

The National Points Series Cross Country and Trek 642 Enduro series dates are almost finalised (the 3rd venue is confirmed yet), but apparently there will be some special guests attending the NPS races this year, all to be revealed very soon. Here are the dates:

April 11 (Easter) Newnham Park, Plymouth Round 1 NPS XC
April 12 Round 1 Trek 6,4,2 Enduro

May 8 Drumlanrig, Scotland Round 2 NPS XC
May 9 Round 2 Trek 6,4,2 Enduro

June 12 Midlands (TBC) Round 3 NPS XC
June 13 Round 3 Trek 6,4,2 Enduro

August 7 Margam Park, Port Talbot Round 4 NPS XC
August 8 Round 4 Trek 6,4,2 Enduro

And after last years top event, the World Cup organisers have enlisted the Glasgow MTB Club to stage the Alpine Bikes sponsored World Cup Chaser race, to be held on Sunday 6th June at Fort William. Last year it was a popular event, which current World Champ Filip Meirhaeghe joined at the last minute. Numbers are limited and entry forms can be had from here. Updates and further information can be found on the official event website.

There isn’t much of a logical pattern to the way I’ve been updating recently. The following story for example is now a few days old:

Jail threat over pedal cycling

Four men face five years in jail if they carry weapons, wear body armour – or even ride a pedal cycle.

The men received anti-social behaviour orders (Asbo) on Wednesday after a police operation against gun and drug crime in Manchester.

That’ll be just down the road from here then. Full story here.

This is a new website that is claiming to be “your online bike guide”, well it’s not mine. Well not yet anyway.

There seem to be loads of people setting up mountain bike websites these days. You have to wonder at what point there can be too many. I have often thought the same about cars, but people still keep on buying them, the numbers grow and the traffic gets worse.

Anyway all these sites have been popping up, people giving their opinions on things and writing in a style that implies an air of knowledge and credibility. Except most of them don’t offer anything on their site that provides any kind of background on which to judge their position with respect to what they’re saying. I reckon you need to know who you’re dealing with, which is why I’ve always had this.

The Thetford Enduro is back on. Sunday 15th February, Mayday Meadow, Thetford Forest. More details over at Flowracing.

This is Chris Garwood’s website, which has a domain name that I’m sure a few others would probably be keen to have. Seems to be based in the East, which is where I’m from, it’s a great place to be but give me Manchester and it’s proximity to great riding areas any day. Sorry, but there’s only so much Thetford can offer.

Easy Rider is a film that caught the essence of the 1960s road trip and inspired many to follow suit. It’s also become a bit of a classic with a cult following. Strange how things like that happen, because there are people who have taken to converting bikes to look like motorbike cruisers.

Some are just monstrous, and completely over-the-top unless you’re into chrome and others have been done with a touch of class, like these from Cooper Custom, I mean check out this bad boy…

If you’ve ever bought an album, be it on cd or vinyl then have a look at this album cover challenge over at the rather nice Meish.

Jo sent me in this video. Those Australians really know how to make an advert. This one’s for beer, check it out.

Mountain Biking Legend and now purveyor of fine frames, John Tomac is clearing out his garage to make way for a private jet and is selling of a lot of mountain bike exotica*. Chipps at Singletrack had the scoop on it and there’s more here. (*this statement is only partially true).

Now then, this is a little report from Cyclingnews about a rider I have a lot of respect for, but one who seems to have some of the worst luck and never has really had the opportunity to fulfil his true potential:

Zülle wants another home tour

Swiss veteran Alex Zülle, who after contemplating retirement in 2003 will continue this season with Phonak Hearing Systems, has declared his ambitions for another victory in his home tour, the Tour de Suisse. Zülle won the event in 2002, but struggled in 2003 amidst a largely lackluster season.

This year, which will most likely be his last as a professional, Zülle wants to perform in the Swiss stage races, while envisioning a support role for new team leader Tyler Hamilton in the Tour de France.

“My main objectives are the Tour de Romandie and the Tour de Suisse,” Zülle said. “Another victory in Switzerland would naturally be fantastic.”

With his best years in the Tour de France behind him, Zülle, 35, has indicated he would be content to work for Hamilton and Phonak’s other star arrival, Oscar Sevilla, should his form be good enough to warrant a ride in the Tour.

“Tyler is a classy rider, and has a unique character,” Zülle added. “I see myself as a source of guidance, and also as a helper for the team.”

Hamilton and Zülle that could be an interesting combination. I’m looking forward to following these two this year.

Finally, Britain’s biggest track cycling event of 2004, the UCI World Cup, is coming to the Manchester Velodrome at Easter (9th – 11th April). The meeting is presented by Kellogg’s and features teams from 40 countries with all the principal track stars competing for their places at the World Championships and Olympic Games. For Great Britain, Australia, France, Germany and the others this is the crunch.

Even Mario Cipollini is rumoured to be riding the Individual Pursuit! Seats can be booked by phoning 0871 230 2621 or following this link.

Another month has gone by and I’m spending another sunday in front of a computer. No riding for me. I’m rationalising my kit, getting shot of stuff I’m not using any more and putting it into a special purchase fund and planning some big rides this year.

I checked out Temple of Thee Lemur today for the first time in a while. Not much been happening over there for a while. Except for Urban Sports, which basically serves as evidence of some very bad haircuts.

Lots of people were out last week enjoying the snow, which for some parts of the country will probably be it for the winter. In more Alpine areas, more snow means more fun, like mass start downhill races on bikes…

The Trail Hound is a new website with as the name suggests, details of British bike Trails. There seem to be a few of these sort of sites at the moment, but I don’t know if there’s a huge demand. Any way it’s a good looking site and best of luck. The Cleveland Mud Munchers are a group of riders who can often be found up north on the hills and this is their website.

Cipo reckons the organisers of this years Tour de France should let him and his Domina Vacanze team ride as a kind of lifetime achievement award. Some how I doubt that the argument being made will carry much weight with the French, but for more news on that and other matters road bike related, check out Velo News.

Last night it snowed. This caused everyone to be really excited for about half and hour. Then they started complaining about how cold and wet it was.

Today the majority of the city’s pavements have been turned into ice rinks and everyone is complaining about how dangerous it is. God help us if we ever get a real winter in this country. Everything will probably grind to a halt, but even if that resulted in the a huge tragedy, I’m sure Teflon Tony would talk his way out of it. I mean he seems to get out of every other important situation by the skin of his teeth doesn’t he.

The very nice Mr. Andy Armstrong has relaunched the Singletrack Rogue’s Gallery. You can now put faces and real names to the pseudonyms here.

Finally Dirt Rag are asking for readers to comment on the editorial style and content of the esteemed US mountain bike magazine. Have your say over on their forum.