Well it only took a bout of unemplyment to finally get round to cutting this (a whole year after we shot the footage). But better late than never as they always say.
TE09 Morzine from Rich on Vimeo.
I can’t wait for next year and Mega Avalanche!
Showing a clear two fingers to the thugs who stole my Kona, I’ve picked my life up and before you know it there’s a new bike on the scene. Yeah yeah i know, its soon. Very soon. But a man’s got to move on.
Unforutnately I’m too lazy to get the SLR out so you’re going to have to make do with a camera phone photo for the moment.
So today was a slow day in the office, a really really slow day. There was kit to put away, and as much as a looked at it, it wasn’t going to move itself. I was out of options. Kit was being prepped for a job that was heading out next week, but as i wasn’t going with it. I left them to it. By 3pm we’d had enough and decided to call it a good days work (who was anyone to know?)
With the over excitement about the new bike i’d cycled in this morning, which had left Glenn high and dry as he normally catches a lift. However with him living so close to me a plan was hatched….
A full on Topgear style race, bike vs. public transport Barking thamesview estate all the way back to Hither Green.
As 3:15 turned a corner we were all winding up for home time, i’d put my shorts back on ready for the ride and computers were being turned off. CHEATING of the highest order out the blocks. Glenn had been offered a lift to the station. This was going make it really close. I knew from the ride in that my previous time (on the Kona) of 50 mins was a distant dream to the 1hr 15 it had taken me to get there in the morning. Maybe the new bike was slower ? The rear suspension could be sapping some of the power, plus it was heavier. More than likely though it was the extra mince pie i’d had at Xmas and the month away from riding that had really taken its toll. I knew that this was going to be close 1h15 Barking station to Hither Green was an achievable target on public transport.
As the guys bundled into the car i shook hands (like the good sportsman i am) and got straight on the pedals. Thames road was flat and i was surprised how long i held onto my lead. Inevitably the car did what it knew best but by the junction onto River road the cars queued up and i shot round the corner and up towards the A13. Back in front! By the time we joined the A13 traffic flow had evened out and we were neck and neck. This was where our routes separated and i was glad to be on an even field at this point. There had always been the chance that i’d be behind already even after so little ground had been trodden.
Despite battling the wind on the way in, directions had changed and i was going to have to battle it as i headed west on the A13 cycle path once again. This really wasn’t going to help. Mostly the route was flat and i settled into a steady cadence. 15mph was the goal, but as the track wandered up and down a steady 12 was the best average i could muster. The bike was performing well, but even with the fork on its stiffest setting i’d still got 115mm of travel, far too much to take racing on road seriously. But we all know thats not what the bike was bought for!
I burned up past the blackwall tunnel turn off and across over towards the greenwhich foot tunnel. This would be my route under the thames and back into SE London. Pace was steady, and although i was having fun, the falloff in my fitness since Nov 08 was blindingly obvious. I’d lost a lot. As i pulled into the lift at the North side of the tunnel all was going well. Valuable time was lost having to walk (read the signs!) through the tunnel and the climb with my bike on my back up what seemed like 10,000 steps at the south side really hurt. Damn broken lifts!
Still, pooped, heartrate was a steady 180 by now and the last leg to conquer i moved on up to the centre of Greenwhich. Dammit, i’d forgotten the one way system that would take me completely the wrong way. I knew that time was tight and i opted for a short, but naughty, pavement stretch up through Greenwhich to rejoin the route at the other side. Now i’m normally a fairly courtious cyclist, walk on paths etc…but this was a race!, so carefully i weved my way up through the streets and parked at pedestrian crossing ready to bounce at the light and head on my way.
As i wobbled a trackstand out trying to keep the balance at the kerb a tug on my jacket all but pulled me off the back of my bike. It was an oldish man, who politely informed me that the nearest bookshop was just round the corned, and reccomened the highway code as delightful read. Specifically rule 74 (i’ve not taken him up on the offer) Something to do with cycling on the pavement ? Well that was it. I’d put my foot down so might as well stay and join in. “You see sir” i said “there’s still hope that i may one day learn the highway code, but YOU will forever be a monumental twat” and with a good long flick of the V’s i was dust and heading up into Lewisham. Yes i was in the wrong, but a stationary man on a bike at a crossing was hardly knocking small children over.
Hither Green lane was the last stretch, and the hill was about as much as i could cope with by now. Superlow gears were in order and lost valuable time spinning up the hill. As i rounded the corned to my flat i threw the backpack from my back and fumbled for the phone. The first back had to ring. That was the rule. As i pulled it out my bag and struggled to get it out its case with my gloves on a text message came through. It was Glenn. Pipped to the post by mere seconds. Gutted!
Beloved Bike stolen from the (so called) secure parking in my block of flats. Car window smashed and bike (along with other expensive items) removed A large number of other cars were broken into in the carpark on the same day.
£100 reward for any information leading to its recovery
In more serious news: I hope the perpetrators kids get aids.
Footage from Sundays 32 mile epic!
I spent last weekend hurling myself down mountains, and complaining because i’m not fit enough to ride back up them. It was awesome.
As I wander through life’s experiences, a little (quite sad) part of my brain clocks the ones that are of remote interest and ill make sure i get as many photos etc to write a post. I thought this was perfect, i could post a picture of me, arms in the air at the top of a mountin….beautiful scenery, ranges of other mountains in the background Headline: The Lakes – Conquered! Unfortunately my (complete lack of) fitness chopped this idea quite short.
Friday: After a long drive up there was only a limited amount of light left in the day for riding. We dumped our kit and headed out to the Altura Trail over in the Whinlatter forest. This was, quite possibly, the best and most technical singletrack i’ve ever ridden. It was only a 6 mile loop but the interesting terrain easily made up for the short distance.
View from half way up the hill, Whinlatter
The trail starts technical with a short burst of flowing singletrack but quickly levels out into a climb that snakes back and forth towards the summit. Once at the top it changes back into more flowy technical terrain. By this point the wind and snow had go up and sticking to the narrow paths that had been cut into the hill proved to be an interesting if perrilous challenge. The ups and downs grow as you fly the the forest helping you to pick up speed. Snaking down the hill the track turns into more of a slalom with huge berms and less obsticals allowing for some propper speed. This was easily my favorite part of the course, especially whilst still in the forest. As you come out the woods, the distance between berms grows allowing room for a selection of singles, doubles and even some tripples. Unfortunately, all the fun does come with a certain risk involved and on the last switchback of the course….
Idiot
….Yep you guessed it, more injuries. Idiot.
Saturday’s plan was to hike (definitely hike i my case, i can’t climb hills on a bike for toffee) up to the top of Helvelen and enjoy the downhill on offer from Britains highest legal access point. As it was there was too much snow still on the top and common sense told us to leave that one for another day. Instead a 30 mile epic was planned and we set off to enjoy a collection of the ups and downs that were on offer surrounding Ambleside.
I’d love to discuss the route, but unfortunately i was far too busy catching my breath and pushing my bike up hills to really take in where we were! Safe to say it was an awesome ride, intersecting some of the North Face trail which was awesome. Lots of ladder sections, and well made man-crafted trail. Genius, not as extreme as the Altura, but genius no-the-less.
Cue photos:
On my shiny new Kona came a set of Shimano SPD pedals (the ones you clip into for the uninitiated) and i have to say i wasn’t convinced. I very quickly went out and bought a pair of DMR V8′s (flat BMX like pedals) which are much more like the ones i’m used to. A couple of the guys i’ve been riding with use SPD style pedals which made think i should at least give them a try. A loan of a spare set of shoes and i’ve put the SPD’s back on the bike.
Whilst out riding to the pub today i came to stop at a set of traffic lights and my left foot refused to disengage and i subsequently hit the tarmac pretty hard. So for all the drop offs and hops i did this morning on my trials bike turned out that riding in a straight line was going to be most difficult.
Idiot
This guy is genius, he does stuff i’d think twice about doing on two wheels….and i’ll give most things a try!
Being a student is awesome right ? Meeting new people all the time, studying the one thing that interests you most, all the parties, the drinking and the chaos. The flipside for the most of us is a diet of beans on toast (with cheese on Sunday for “Sunday Dinner”) and never having any money (or at least not having any money that isnt earmarked for socialising right ?).
And when it all got a bit much our tutors and parents would retell you the one about how if you get a degree you can get a decent job. Decent jobs tend to pay well, money gives you the choice to live your life the way you want to….yeah ? Stick at it, it’ll pay off.
I used to call this the educational punchline. The irony being that it really isnt funny, when you get to the end where the hell is this higher state of jobs and wealth ? Turns out i was a big cycnic! Just beyond a year past my university days i can’t think of many of my peers who arent in decent well paid jobs. We rock!
So one of the things i pretty much gave up to come to university was my biking, i was fairly big into it in my college days (A-level time for those of you who did it properly) but with little time or money and a flat in London with no storage space for a bike i ended up knocking it on the head for a while. Thankfully my seniors were correct and with a little more time, space and money i’ve managed to pick up the old past-time once more! Let me introduce you to my new toy:
Isn’t it a beauty ? I’ve already had chance to take out for a good burn around. Below you can see the backpack i bought at the same time is already starting to look quite trail hardened! Along with my photography and technology rants you’ll start to see a few more posts and photos from rides out appearing on these them blog pages too.
