Ramblings of a former bike shops staff

Ragley Blue Pig anyone??

2009-09-11T18:34:00.002+01:00

My new ride, been missing a bike for just razzing round on.

These frames are awesome and i'm loving mine. It's built from steel (Ti & Alloy are also available) and features a slack head angle to get the most out of the 140mm forks ability and to keep the steering right for natural type riding, slow and technical.

Now the main issue with slack head angle is normally bikes climb like crap BUT they've thought of that bike sticking in a steep seat tube angle to put your weight and body in the right place, you end up riding alot more weight on the fork but without that "over the bars feeling" similar to my 69er really keep your weight forward and smash through stuff!

I'm still learning how to ride it (big fork and gears...very strange) but am quickly starting to love it and i'm looking for steeper nasty stuff to chuck it down.

More details here: http://www.ragleybikes.com/

Gardening leave.....well Riding time really!

2009-09-11T18:28:00.002+01:00

So i've resigned at work...been coming for a long time really for various reasons. Gave my notice in on Monday and i've been given a months Gardening leave!
Basically i still work for the shop, but don't go to work like a month's holiday although they can still ask me to work in that time.

So i've not got a new job to go to at the moment so i've got a month to find something!, i've got a few ideas of my own bike stuff so we'll see how that pans out and we'll go from there.
Maybe i'll end up part time somewhere and getting my own business up and running.

One things for sure (other than the week we're in Spain) there's a whole load of riding to be done!

Transwales...done

2009-09-11T18:02:00.004+01:00

What an insane event! Some of the most fun riding and funniest most random moments of my life!

Also some of the lowest points in my riding life, double punturering on a bleak moor looking round and their's no one, your tires won't unseat and your becoming very cold and feeling crap.

Then you get it fixed and crack on to the next bit of Singletrack or outstanding view...

The best event i've ever done, days involved massive grinding fireroad climbs, boggy moorland that left you pushing for what seemed like hours, climbs that "kick up around the corner" and some of the best descents and singletrack riding i've ever done. Every day you'd nearly cry and then nearly wet yourself laughing.

Day 5 was the longest and toughest with around 91km and 3000 meters of climbing is scared a few people. The day included the Red and the Black at Brechfa, imagine riding 50km (after riding 80km for 4 days before) and then chucking yourself down the steepest berms and drops you can think of! I could barely hold the bars at some points! That above is me at the end of the day

I'm pleased with my performance and as i was just looking to finish the rest was a bonus! I was 3rd Singlespeed and 30th overall.

Only 5 others have ridden the event Singlespeed now!

Singlespeed was fine for the event, rode a lot with Matt and Rob who were also Singlespeed, most of the week was spent hungover,buggering about,riding into each other,hitting each other with sticks and general shenanigans....but it really made the week, we helped each other through the low points and the rode the best bits together laughing and acting like school boys

A big well done to http://josh-ibbett.blogspot.com/ who got as drunk us and still managed to have a laugh and finish 2nd overall! Perhaps he could have won if he didn't dribble in his pint that time......

More of the same next year me thinks!

Transwales...

2009-08-14T21:13:00.002+01:00

Transwales starts on Sunday and i'm trying to ram a large amount of clothes into a small bag and not forget anything.
Also my legs are still a bit shot from Bonty solo.

Transwales is a 7 day stage race around Wales, covering the some of the toughest areas on mid Wales, no one really lives in the area as it's that bleak in places and boggy and there's bugger all there. It covers 344 miles and some 16500 meters of climbing so i'm taking the Singlespeed...no idea why really but think it will be the better option.
Id rather walk than granny ring, although at 4am in a field in Plymouth there was a whole load of granny ring going on....

I'll update this when i get back but you can see daily updates here:
http://www.mtbtransuk.co.uk/wales/2009_roundup.php

and ill be doing me twitter thingy here:
http://twitter.com/rustyhitopphil

Fingers crossed ill finish

Bontrager 24/12 The aftermath....

2009-08-14T21:00:00.002+01:00

Well that was a bit tough! Sorry for the slow update! Just about come round from my daze.

Yet again a cracking event, great course although tougher than last year with what seemed like endless climbing (340mtrs) each lap.
Awesome BBQ on friday from the guys at Trek uk with one of the best wines i've ever tasted provided by Keith Bontrager himself who joined us and laughed at the dogs playing up!

Race started and as much as id love to give a lap by lap account i have no idea what happened! Stand out things were:
Cramp lap 5...not good, slapped myself drank more and improved.
About 9pm felt sick needed salt and a cup of tea.
Darkness fell...course got slippery
Early hours...i fell down, bounced (hip) on stump...landed knee 1st on another stump...sat in the dark on my own for a while...nearly cried...man in Totoo picked me up and cuddled me, helped me clip in and sent me on my way. (Yes it did happen, man is on STW)
Last lap fully in the zone of being spaced out..fell down in the solo pit. Embarrassing...

Finished 14th Solo :-) with 17 laps. Felt rough and fell asleep alot afterwards, and for about 10days!
Think this pic sums it up..
http://www.joolzedymond.com/photocart/index.php?do=photocart&viewImage=49069&zoom=yes&q=55

Would i do it again??? Hell yes Top 10 next year.

Getting ready for the weekend...32 x 16

2009-07-21T19:49:00.004+01:00

Good 5 and 1/2 ride on the Procaliber on Sunday in the wind, rain and mud! Bike stood up to it well, possibly broken an XO shifter though, seems ok after a quick rebuild but think it will probably give up at around 2 am Sunday
Handles well in the mud even with the XDX tyres fitted (Dry fast tyre)...damn tubeless makes you lazy for changing stuff around!

Now the weather has been fully rubbish for about 2 weeks now so conditions ain't sounding great down south in Plymouth. On a brighter note though it means i may be able to Singlespeed :-) as originally planned. The main climbs on the course should be all good as there pretty hard pack.
The singletrack is all pretty good for 32 x 16 aswell.

Riding SS should help with mechanical's in the weather, although a dry weekend is forecast, there will be so much water around already it'll be a mud fest leading to screwed chainsets and jammed mechs...not good for the wallet or performance!

So new brake pads and a bit of lube and it's 32 x 16 for me...although the Pro will be with me just in case.

Bontrager 24 just 9 days to go.....

2009-07-16T21:44:00.002+01:00

Ohhhh crap....just 9 days to go and I'm only just back on the bike! Really looking forward to it again this year, was an awesome course last year and even more Singletrack this time.

Trying to picture the course in my head at the moment, strange the climbs don't seem so bad in my mind but I'm sure that road climb and the climb after the river crossing is a bugger!

Weather forecast seems to change by the second, but at the moment I'm going to get wet..very wet but not for long then the sun will come out...then very wet again, which should be fun!

Still not sure what bike to ride so the 69er (test ride dependant next week) will be there as well as the Procaliber although weather may help this decision! XTR chainset in the rain and mud..don't think my wallet can take it!

Back on the bike :-)

2009-07-16T21:34:00.005+01:00

Back in training...well riding anyway...managed 2 proper road rides this week. Even ridden in the rain
Started putting the miles in again just to get the legs turning. Nice mountains as well to build the old leg strength up.
Can't push much big ring (53T) on the hills at the mo though seem to be getting bit of pain in the knee joint.
Maybe all that Singlespeed was bad for me....nahhh can't be that.
Big ride planned on Sunday from the house to meet up with our shop ride (http://ride-bikes.com/) was a 5 hour ride last time so should be a good test of the calf. Maybe get a quick SS ride in next week and see how it feels.

One thing to remember...

2009-07-09T13:06:00.003+01:00

When your girlfriend decides that she would like to try SPD type pedals be careful where you take her......

Sam decided that she'd try the Candy type pedals so i took her for a lap round the Rootiest, Rockiest course i knew...Bristol Bikefest.
Fair play she did well until the crashing started then her confidence went...and it all went a bit pear shaped!
So next time its a gentle ride or maybe the Whyte's level.....

Brechfa Green/Blue Route on the Lynskey

2009-06-29T18:54:00.002+01:00

Rode the new Brechfa route on Saturday with Sam. What a cracking route! Loads of fun, nice flowing trails and even the climbs aren't to bad!

http://www.mbwales.com/en/content/cms/bases/brechfa/brechfa.aspx

Sam's just getting into riding a bit more so it was good to take her some where with way more flow than Afan. Shes done the Penhydd trail before but preferred this. Definitely worth the extra miles

Would highly recommend it, even for me the trail was cracking fun the Green route flows well with some little pulls up hill but nothing to bad then, fast flowing rolling descents with nice berms to play on. The blue loop is an extra option and although it has a sizable climb the downhill is cracking fun, table tops, bomb holes some wood stuff and huge berm to finish (although not as big as the red and black routes!)

Also the last downhill section is awesome! Super fast, flowing and great fun.

Rode the route on the Ti 29er Lynskey with a rigid Nuke prook fork. This frame is great and as it says on the tin...built to go fast.

Brechfa is fairly rocky but didn't struggle with smashed wrists or bad back once. The natural give in the frame takes the sting out of the trail.

The frame loves to fired down flowing single track and pumped through the ups and downs.

Did ghost shift a little when i stamped down on the pedals in my usual club footed Singlespeed style.

So far so good though! Expensive mistake other wise!

Training, illness, possible team ride..how much can happen in a short time...

2009-06-27T18:29:00.003+01:00

Been a busy ish week really, managed to ride the bike again...ok only light duties but it's all good.

Spent most of June last year injured after a stupid crash on the Whytes level meant that i couldn't move my neck and shoulders particually well for a month..

So to be back on the bike some shape was a good start to getting some miles in for Bonty 24 solo

http://www.twentyfour12.com/

but what i thought was bad Hay fever seems to have turned into full blown man flu! Not great!

Hopefully go for a trundle around the Forest of Dean Sunday with Sam so be good to keep the legs turning. Still no Singlespeed for me though.

June seems to be a bad month for me! 2 years in a row now broken or ill..

On a brighter note looks like i'll be Dragon XC race teams Enduro rider for next season, this will mean a training plan (actually training for once not just half arsed rides..) and maybe even a race bike http://www.pronghornracing.dk/products/bikes/PR6-XCRaceHL.php and other bits and bobs from other companies.

More pressure i guess but may give me the push that i need! Time will tell.

Just a quick one...XC laps

2009-06-27T18:21:00.002+01:00

Managed a lap of the Margam XC route on Thursday night. Rode the new Fisher which felt good for 1st impressions!
Climbs well with pro-pedal flicked on and set on 3 (stiffest). Descending and singletracks it seems to fire itself along!
G2 Geomentry annoyed me on the big brother Hifi as the bike felt to big for the steering but as the Pro Caliber is a race bike the fast handling makes sense! Can't wait to have the legs back to really get it rolling :-)
The Bontrager 24 course should be perfect for the bike and will, fingers crossed, keep me entertained for the 24 hours.

Leg seemed to hold up ok, managed all the climbs at a decent pace. Do really need to sort my technique out though and learn to pedal in circles not just smashed up and down.

World Cup Cycling

2009-06-21T17:50:00.004+01:00

Hoping to make a trip to the World Cup XC next year.
Amazing news that Dalby in Yorkshire will play host to the UK's 1st ever XC world cup!
The downhill visits yearly in Fort William but to get the XC as well is an awesome step by British Cycling! Never know maybe one year we'll get the 24 Solo world champs as well!

Randomly though with Dalby being a fair trip in an old camper van we're heading to Belgium to watch a round of the XC Worlds. Make a bit of a trip of it and stay for a few days, maybe get some riding in.
The Town of Houffalize host's it and the course runs through the heart of the town meaning massive crowds and a party atmosphere.

Check out this years race, can't wait to visit next year!

http://freecaster.tv/MTB/1007880/NISSAN-UCI-MTB-WC-09-Houffalize-XCO-Highlights

Why is it that...

2009-06-20T18:13:00.002+01:00

Although at the moment i'm injured and can only start riding lightly next week, I still can't wait to ride the bloody Singlespeed again??
Now i've torn my g.....somthing or other muscle in my calf (never really been any good at listening or remembering stuff) and been told to rest up...due to riding the Singlespeed and pushing a little to hard on tired legs.
I've also bought one of these for Racing XC and Enduro's on (Namely Bonty 24 Solo and Transwales)

Gary Fisher Procaliber 23.3lbs..Proper pics and comments soon!...

Also have a big ride planned in my head soon, kinda Epic ride practice..which this bike would be ideal for BUT....

I'm still thinking of Soloing Bonty on the Singlespeed! I admit defeat on Transwales as it broke Matt Carr last year and he's a bit stronger than me but deep down i crave to ride the 69er! I'm sure it would be a better bike! Less mechanical worries and i suppose if i'm honest the kudos of it..
Silly Boy!! i gave up Marlobo Lights easier than Singlespeed!

It is good looking and fun though...

Maybe i'll just go for a gentle ride on it one night..

Lynskey Ti Pics

2009-06-18T18:40:00.003+01:00

Now running gears but an awesome bit of kit! Full review to follow when i'm back riding (torn my calf muscle)
29er frame set made by http://http//www.lynskeyperformance.com/a/
Hand built in the USA and built to go fast :-)

So far though it's an awesome bit of kit. Full Xt groupset, Nuke prook carbon fork, Hayes Stroker Carbon brakes, Thomson stem and seat post, Salsa bars and Bonty Rhythym wheels.

Makes me want to ride it all the time! Road a set of steps the other day, haven't ridden them since i was a kid..

Brecon Ride Pics

2009-06-18T17:13:00.005+01:00

Went for a ride with Sam in Brecon from the Libanus Centre. Missed a turn but found some awesome trails instead.

Cracking day out will refine the route and take some customers one day!

Been a bit slack! but have ridden!

2009-06-18T17:07:00.002+01:00

Started the blog with the intention of daily updates.......Fail!!

Been a busy boy recently though! Race Xc and Enduro at the Margam Big Weekend, XC wasn't so good went way to quick at the start and blew up big time took a while to recover and settle into a rhytym.
2nd lap was much better and i was starting to feel good, slight problem though...only a 2 lap race :-( finished 13th out of 30 so not bad, could have been a lot worse after lap 1!

Enduro went well back on the SS cracking course with some tough climbs, ran out of water 2nd lap and had to back off a little.
50km in 2hrs 52 which i was well pleased with also 2nd Singlespeeder and 54th out of hundreds :-)

Left Calf felt a little funny though.....