Sunday 22 May 2011

A very brief history of bikes....







As I eagerly await the arrival of my new on-one carbon whippet I looked back on a what could only be described as varied collection of bikes I have owned in the last two and a bit years.
Ok I did own a spez hardrock back in the day and a somewhat lovely custom Greq Fuquay columbus, but im just referring to recent xc bikes.
Starting off in early 2008 with a Claud butler stone river bought off ebay for a £100! which actually saw me through a D2D event 2008! (which for those who remember was quite wet).
Then that winter progressing onto a real race bike a Specialized 2008 Stumpjumper comp, what a leap from the claud butler. This saw me well until the winter 2009 I purchased a Iron Horse MkIII comp which was a lovely bike but ultimately a bad choice as unclear of my riding style and what events I was entering that year I soon got rid as realised a hardtail was more suited.
So in April picked up a bargain of a Diamondback DB2 which for £849 had full XT and a scandium frame, as a budget race bike couldn't have asked for more. This saw me well through various enduros of 2010 until D2D which again was treacherous conditions and in a race for me which was plagued with mechanicals and the most horrendous amount of chainsuck which over the event wore its way through the chainstay and it snapped!
So having to get another frame in time for the following months winter series a Kona Kula Gold was picked up in the sales and stripped down for its frame. Another great bike and saw me comfortably through the UK 24hrs champs surprising for what is a very stiff frame.
Looking back I should have just kept the Stumpjumper but then I wouldn't have had the opportunity to ride so many different bikes. So with the Kona about to be regulated to singlespeed duties I looked forward to many miles with the whippet!

Race Schedule 2011


Team Cycle Aid 2011 events


24 solo champs 7/8 may 2011 -newcastleton scotland - http://www.sip-events.co.uk/solo-home.html

16th place - solo male


Mountain Mayhem 24 hour 17-20 June 2011 - newbury,gloucester - 24hr solo

http://www.osmountainmayhem.co.uk/


Mud sweat gears - 10hr solo - enduro - thetford - 09/07/2010

http://mudsweatgears.blogspot.com/


bontrager 24/12 23-24 July 2011 - newham park - solo 12hr

http://www.twentyfour12.com/ - 12hr solo


Brighton big dog - 20/08/2011 - solo 6hr

http://www.brightonbigdog.com/


Kielder 100 - 03.09.2011

http://www.sip-events.co.uk/kielder-home.html

Cycle Show - Birmingham NEC - 30/9 -02/10


Dusk till dawn 2011 - solo 12hr - 8-9.10.2011

http://www.thetfordmtbracing.com/d2d.htm


MUc off 8 05/11 2011 - solo 8hr -east sussex

http://www.mucoff8.com/blogs/blog1.php

Thetford MTB winter series - 04/12/2011


Strathpuffer 24hr - pair - 7/8th January 2012 -

Saturday 21 May 2011

Introduction


Right here goes, this blogging stuff is new to me but this has been set up in relation to me and my cycling.
Proper cycling first started for me as a child in the late 80's when my parents bought me my first mountain bike some kind emmelle or such like touring beast, after long bike rides with friends the bug caught.
At age of 13 joined the local cycling club and rode multi-discipline including TT,Crits, track and of course MTB racing in its boom years of the early 90's.
Studies were taking a sideline as I became obsessed with the sport, then disaster stuck one night in June 1992 whilst riding home from a local 10 TT a drunk driver failed to stop at a junction and hit me breaking my leg/wrist severely in multiple places after 6 months in plaster on didnt get back on the bike for another 16years.
That was until 2008 when I started commuting to work per chance and again the bug caught and the winter of that year I entered the Thetford dusk til dawn and then the winter series, placed a respectable 33rd in my first 2hr I thought I like this!!!! so some reasonable amount of training pursued. The following year I placed 44th in the D2D and 12th overall in the 4hr mens winter series. things were improving.
Then 2010 came and with the assistance of sponsorship from Cycleaid things were looking interesting and more riding opportunities were on the horizon. After riding various different events over over the year road and xc I realism what I really love is endurance events.
And with some reasonable places throughout last year at some large National events I go into 2011 very optimistic of what I can achieve.
Ok im a 33years old and a father of two who also works full time so this is only ever going to be a pastime for me but with the support of my family,( who I can only deeply thank for their patience and support)friends and sponsors I endeavor to do my very best in 2011.

Tuesday 17 May 2011

An Awesome 16th Place in the Exposure UK & European 24 Hours Champs


An extreme 24hrs of racing @ uk/euro solo champs. Well chuffed with my 16th position. not bad for a rookie!

Cycle Accident SolicitorsOur primary sponsors are CycleAid - cycle accident solicitors.

Hope Technology

On One

The Gorilla Firm

Juice Lubes

Scimitar Sports