Nike Plus runs this week

Email blogging

I thought I ought to test this out so I can log more often as its so easy to email a blog entry rather than sign in.

 

Let's see if I can manage to do it regularly though.

And if I do will it just add to the triviality of the drivel I talk about!

 

Won't know til we try will we?!

Canadian visitors

The only reason you would get up early on a Sunday and choose to ride when the weather forecast is for rain and sleet and 2degrees, is when you have visitors from Canada.

Dennis arrived at Ken's on Friday and so today we rode Bracknell.

There was some bike rape and pillage done in order for Ken to turn out 2 retro bikes for this ride. Poor old Dennis on the Slingshot and the "I've been hanging on the wall for 3 years" Bontrager was ready for Ken. Both bikes were gleaming against my extremely muddy Cove Hustler!

Of course we had not even ridden round the car park when Ken had the first mechanical. Loose headset and no damn allen key long enough. Some begging of every mountain biker by their car resulted in getting the right tool and salvaging our ride.

Anyway it was a good ride- not at all muddy considering its Novemebr and CooooOLD! But the slingshot took its toll on Dennis's back and that promised rain started so we headed for a cuppa tea.

Boy you cool down fast when you stop. I shivered all the way home and had a hot shower then did loads of house work just to warm up again. (Bike still muddy in car though!)

Welsh Weekend - Nov 10-11

It's rememberance Sunday and actually falls on the 11th Nov this year. We saw the service in Aberdovey. I tried to spend some time remembering the efforts of my grandfather and father in the 2 world wars. It was weird to contrast their lives with the fun I'm having this weekend amongst friends and with all my toys. How lucky our lives are nowadays.

Another trip to Wales, but this time to stay in mid-wales. Drove up to Aberdovey on Friday night, trying to listen into conference calls with traffic noise (not recommended). Took me about 6hrs. Stayed at 8, Trefyddian-red door! Tom had organised the weekend and although a few dropped out last minute there were 9 of us - Tom,Paul, Alex, Dan, Pete, Liz, Mark and James.

Talk about 3 degrees of separation. Mountain biking is a small world - James and I met in Fernie, Canada in 2004. Tom and James met in Whistler, Canada in 2005. I met Tom in Whistler in July 2007. And here we all were together for the first time all 3 of us unknowing in Wales in Nov 2007.

We rode CYB on Saturday - the Tarw trail (the old red bull) 20km, then Tom and James and I also whizzed around the Temtiwr trail just 9km before it started to rain. Took a shower at the new visitor centre which was great to be able to do but disappointing that 3 of the 4 ladies showers were out of order. The water pressure was somewhat limp but as the water is collected in a local borehole I can forgive that. £1 for 3min shower.
The cafe was great though- table service, great food, reasonable prices. Just what you need.

We dined in Aberdovey- Bay of Bengal rather late after watching strictly come dancing- yes with 7 blokes! Can you believe it- it had me giggling anyway!

Sunday we rode the Climachx trail in Machynlleth. A bit of a slog fire road climb then some fun rolling singletrack and more single track climbs. Good all weather rocky/slate terrain. Paul bust his saddle clamp and some teamwork and cable ties in particular ingenious work by James made sure he could carry on albeit climbing unseated- (painful!).

Tom took a nasty OTB crash into a huge drainage ditch and completely cracked his helmet in several places. The rest of his day his neck got stiffer and stiffer- but he did not abate on the pace he rode round.

We hit the DH section and James, Tom and I climbed up to ride the small North shore section and the wooden wall berm which I took with fear all over my face (and the sound effects to match) as everyone watched on from below it! The rest of the DH was great swoopy fun with some great high bermed switchbacks. I hope the helmet cam footage comes out!

Driving back I bumped into the boys again at the M54 services for a burger king and then home - 5 hrs drive- pretty impressive. These weekends are dose of medicine to balance the working week. Bright sunshine at times was the icing on the cake (again pretty amazing in November in Wales).

Bonfire Night

Fireworks time again, my favorite festival of the year.

Tonight really pointed out how much warmer it is this year. Usually we are dressed in thermals, coats, scarves, hats and gloves and moving closer and closer to the fire as the night goes on. I recall Thorpe park displays as a kid being so so cold and trying not to complain too much as I wanted to see the fireworks and eat candy floss!

This year it was a beautiful warm sunny autumn day, cycling in shorts and shirt sleeves during the day.
The fire was too warm and hat and gloves not needed. The booms and bangs were great but it just did not seem right not to be shivering!


Then Sunday we celebrated Mike's 60th birthday (3 months late). It was great to catch up with him and Joyce. Dad seemed so happy and jolly to have all his children around him again.