Monday 31 December 2012

ATTITUDE


Happy Old Year

It has been another fantastic year, I have learned so much this year and it brings me into a new year fresh and ready for new challenges. I have changed to riding a Tallboy 29er and feel comfortable with the move, I am looking towards being a mountain bike leader and using skills attained in biking over the years to help others achieve their goals. I've had a shoulder injury and hooping cough (seemed like Forever) which has stopped me from doing some of the big rides I had planned but all that has made me re-focus on this coming year. 2012 has been a great year for British Cycling with the Tour de France, Olympics etc, some of my friends have had a great year too. Steve Peat continues to dominate the downhill scene with consistent performances, Josh Bryceland is realizing his potential as world champion material again, just a matter of time really, and Greg Minnaar became World Champion for the second time. All the Santacruz team having a great year on the whole, it's so good to be part of the Santacruz network, but riding a Santacruz is good on Any day. I helped one guy train do a coast to coast ride he had wanted to do for years, 130 tough miles in 13hrs, for me it's sometimes about helping others believe in themselves and achieve things, nice to see him do it on my old Blur. I have to thank many people for their support in 2012, Steve Peat, Santacruz, Stif, Royal, Craig at Evenort, Exposure, Nomad and Hedcamz, I look forward to working with them in 2013. All topped off at Christmas with Will and Maria becoming parents, congratulations. So here's to the new year, only we can make it what it is, remember in your life 10% of it is what happens to you, but 90% is how you react to it, Attitude is what makes the difference, lets give it 100% in 2013.

Happy New Year.

Thursday 27 December 2012

PEATY'S WHARNCLIFFE CHRISTMAS RIDE

It's always nice to go on a mountain bike ride around Wharncliffe Woods, especially with friends like Steve Peat. He knows the place like the back of his hand and took us around a challenging ride which included some nice muddy and rooty single track. It started off with a shot of rum to warm us up and once the large group of riders had congregated off we went. It gave me a chance to try out my new bike, a big yellow Santacuz Tallboy LTc, 29er wheels long travel, mud and a bit of downhill, just what I needed to get into it.  As you can imagine, there were lots of Santacruz bikes about and my big 29er got a bit of interest, I hadn't tried it in as testing an environment until now and the more I rode it the more I realized how good it was and there were only a few things I wanted the tweek. The rims were hard to get going due to their weight and the suspension wants setting up for my liking but worse than that the tot of rum from before we set off was showing signs of rearing it's ugly head again. After a while I got into it and we all stopped at the bomb hole to have a group photo, about 70 of us in total someone said. It was also nice to ride with some mates I hadn't seen for a while, Berg, ebay Dave, Paddy and Farmer Jack among'st others, but also good to ride with James Dabill (well renowned trials rider) who had a Tallboy too, comparing notes and generally shooting the breeze. I found wheelie mode once or twice on the ride and to say it has a lot more travel than a standard Tallboy it was easily as good at it, once we all got back I shook hands with them all and left them opening beers and swapping tales about a very memorable ride, a ride with a very nice group of people with a lot in common, who I feel lucky to know. Look forward to the next time out, Wharncliffe and Tallboy LTc.

Saturday 22 December 2012

SANTA'S HELPER, GOOD ELF!

All the chocolate that was kindly donated by all the guys who came to ride at the Santa Cruise this year has..

Tuesday 4 December 2012