Here's how my ride went:
Monday, 21 May 2012
Pennine Bridleway Double - Ouch!
A few days after I finished the ride and am still grinning to myself about finishing it. Why? I didn't break the record, far from it, I was several hours slower. I didn't have great weather, in fact I had many hours of rain. I didn't have the perfect ride, I suffered punctures, a mechanical problem and had a couple of kit issues. I am smiling because I kept on going, pushing myself towards the finish, taking the opportunities where they presented themselves (and there were plenty) to enjoy the varied and stunning terrain and views of the Pennines and the Peak District, and I kept going all the way to the finish of the challenge that I set myself, not stopping once until I had reached my goal. I had done it, I had completed the Pennine Bridleway Double, a continuous ride north up the southern section of the Pennine Bridleway, around the Mary Townley Loop, and then back down the Pennine Bridleway to Middleton Top......
Monday, 7 May 2012
The North Face Kalymnos Climbing Festival
Friday, 13 April 2012
24hrs Of Exposure 2012 - Not The Start To The Season I "Knee"-ded
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| 24hrs Of Exposure 2012 - I had a lot of fun while it lasted Pic: Joolze Dymond |
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| Having fun in Newcastleton on the new bike Pic: Joolze Dymond |
Tuesday, 3 April 2012
2012 Race Bike #1 - Santa Cruz Tallboy "The General Levi"
Monday, 2 April 2012
2012 Race Bike #2 - Santa Cruz Highball
I've been riding my Santa Cruz Highball for a while now and I'm consistently delighted with how a bike that's so out and out fast is also so capable on the technical too. For 2012 I've spruced the bike up a little to save a teeny bit of weight, but mainly to try and wring the last little ounce of speed out if the bike.
All the changes happen up front; namely controls & forks:
All the changes happen up front; namely controls & forks:
Saturday, 24 March 2012
Reynolds Wheels - Welcome Aboard
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| Shiny new Reynolds 29er Wheels |
The wheels have just arrived and came supplied with a full array of adaptors for front and rear hub standards, as well as some snazzy looking quick release skewers for "normal" frames & forks. Even betrer than this, they have a tubeless style rim form and in the same bag was a roll of tubeless rim tape and two, extra long (for the deep rims) tubeless valves. Top marks for attention to detail. Thank you Reynolds :-)
Saturday, 17 March 2012
Winter Reminded Me: It's Not Spring Yet
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| A bit nasty out |
It was a great day to be out. I had the trails all to myself and the thick mist made for a very peaceful, isolated feeling; much needed after a hectic week. Still, there's only so much fun to be had riding 100km through muddy trails in the wind and rain. Scrub that, who am I kidding, I had a great day! In fact I've pencilled in the same tomorrow, but heading out in another direction.
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| Fantastic swoopy trails dropping through the trees, extra exciting when covered in a layer of greasy mud and with every corner or drop scattered with wet roots. It's not all SDW around here! |
Friday, 16 March 2012
Prototype Switchable Dynamo Hub From Shutter Precision
A shiny new hub turned up this week, a prototype, 32H, disc, dynamo hub from the guys at Shutter Precision. This is no ordinary hub, it's a switchable dynamo. The hub has a large flange on the connector side that clutches the dynamo in or out. When disengaged, the hub acts just like a normal hub, only providing any resistance when the clutch is re-engaged. The hub is based on the 7 Series range PD-7 model, but has been sent to me with a special, not yet available, 32H drilling so I can use my preferred rims, rather than the currently available 36H version. Aren't I a lucky boy? :-)
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| Prototype SP PD-7 switchable dynamo hub, with clutching dynamo mechanism. Nice tyre name too! ;-) |
Tuesday, 13 March 2012
Misty March Morning
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| Where did the Downs go?! |
I was treated to one of the best misty mornings in the dips I'd ever seen, rolling from perfect sun filled blue skis to dense moisture filled air that left my kit wet and gave visibility of only a few metres every time I rolled into and out of any significant dip along the Downs ridge. Simply stunning, even if I did get more than a little damp and chilly in the thick of the mist! I was too busy having a nice time to take too many shots, but I did manage to grab a couple to look back on to remind myself just how spectacular the effect was.
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| What an amazing sight as a reward for getting up and out on the bike early. It was a bit cold in the bottom of that though! |
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| It was a fantastic morning, but riding the last couple of miles at the bottom of that saw me get quite cold & wet by the time I got to work, brrrr! |
Saturday, 10 March 2012
Spring Is In The Air
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| Smiles & sunshine all round, all day |
Here are a few moments from the day I managed capture for posterity:
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