Commute inspiration.

Snaked from Duncan:



Really into motorbikes these days, hopefully going to see TT3D tomorrow night too - can't wait. I really admire Guy Martin's approach to life:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/12577835

Go to around 13 minutes in,
"9 times out of 10 you get it wrong around the TT and you're dead, and that's what I like."

We have to ride, yeah.

I read about this guy in Joe Parkin's first book "..Dog in a Hat". He looks exactly as I imagined he would do;
Patrick Cocquyt


Had a great weekend so far. A solo ride round Harrogate, stopping in Knaresborough on Saturday afternoon followed by a meal out at night with my Parents. Yesterday I showed Rich the secret lanes and tried not to get eaten alive by horse flies. Got back in plenty of time to see Phillip Gilbert do the triple and end the spring classics on a massive high.

Also had enough time to organise a few things to get on ebay soon. I hang on to certain pocessions far too much and one of my pet hates is having stuff for cycling and not using it, unless the sentimental value is too much.
I'm at a level now with my bikes where I don't really need anything else. Sure parts will wear out and have to be replaced, and if a set of carbon wheels tough enough to race 'cross on landed in my lap I wouldn't mind but overall I don't want anything.
The Bob Jackson is as good as it gets, my CX bike is going great and the winter bike just keeps crunching out the miles.


"It's not just hitting it with a hammer but knowing where to hit it and how hard."
Dave Yates.

The next level

Click on the video once playing to watch on Red Bull website and full screen. Amazing riding and film making.

Too much talk.

If a job's worth doing it's worth doing right, in my book it also helps if things turn out looking exactly how I pictured them at the start. It's not necessary looking good just right in my mind.

Also on a daily basis I encounter the driving force of the bike industry - the middle age man with money. Carbon road bikes are great tools in the right hands and they are incredibly easy to sell because the person who buys one will enter the shop believing there is no other option. There are very few unique carbon race frames out there, the real progression in frames I think will come in steel, inspired by the old and pushed by functionality and adaptability, not lightness.

It's often the small details that make a bike feel right. Never underestimate the power of fresh bar tape - correctly fitted. Even wrap and NO GAPS around the levers, never use the finishing tape - it never sticks etc. I have a few trade secrets too, in fact if I went on Mastermind my specialist subject would be Bar Tape and it's application.

This site covers an area I have previously stated my views about; the key to having rules though is knowing when it's ok to break them.

http://slamthatstem.com/

Tomorrow I get to forget everything and ride solo, hopefully enjoy some quiet roads, the sun on my skin and a smooth Campagnolo drivechain.

I'll put you in Hell.

MASH-SF 2007: Garrett Chow from MASH TRANSIT PRODUCTIONS on Vimeo.

All I seem to be posting is videos recently. This one reminds of walking round SF, just trying to take it all in.
Life is going on around me while I feel all I do is work, eat and sleep. A long weekend coming up hopefully means a mix of riding and home-organisation, which means I might feel a bit more grounded.

Another dream job.

Circle.

A good day.

Morning commute. Fresh air, thumping music in headphones.

Good customers all day. Problem solving on road bikes too. Everything works, everyone's happy.

Strong coffee.

Evening Commute. Silence and secret off road way home including my own piece of 'strade bianchi', bike feels great for Sunday.

Homemade pizza for tea. Plenty of garlic.

This video.


Now to the shower and then chill with her indoors. Sweet.

A headwind is always honest.

This video makes me want to ride, and not ever get an ear ring.

I could go on about my need of coffee, hatred of headwinds on commutes and describe the abundance of cuts on my hands, but instead I'm going to bed.

Health and Happiness.

All that matters, when everything else has gone.


It's Paris-Roubaix today! Hopefully I'll get to watch it all on some hijacked Belgian feed with biased commentary I can't begin to understand. I'd love to be there in person but more for the days before when the teams do the recon rides, lie this;


Also could leave this one out,it's so euro it's almost painful:

SF.

Just a couple of finishing touches left and my cross bike is back on the road.

Fountains.

As I set off on yesterday's audax I thought I'd probably be safer in the middle of a race bunch due to some of the riding on display. It's a weird mix of old guys who can ride you into the ground, weekend warriors and newbies who have never ridden in a group.
Things settled down but I was glad that things broke up on the climb through Studly Royal and following hills, meaning I completed the distance in a small group where we all helped each other to the finish.
It was also good to talk to some familiar faces, without any drama, for a change.

Notes of a bike tart theme:
-Still not convinced about the functionality of carbon clinchers.
-Someone else's squeeking bike is like nails down a blackboard to my ears.
-Oversocks and gilets are my best friends.

Reminders.

At Home With : Cleggy Rowlands. from Channel 4Down on Vimeo.

Got to see this.

Maybe I can convince Katherine we should honeymoon in the Isle of Mann next year?
I'm guessing probably not.

Killer.

Taken over a week ago, and she's already put on 10lb.

Points.

+1

Three days in the Lake District and not getting wet.
Six years.
'The shed' is almost done.

-1

Getting mistaken for being under 18. I'm almost fucking 27.
Unpacking after a holiday.

Let's cut the crap.

No-one's impressed.

Half and Half. from FBM BMX on Vimeo.

FBM works every time.

Muckspreading.

Another ride today, still on the winter bike even though conditions would have allowed the use of no mudguards. While at work and during many previous rides the conversation often turns to aesthetics of a bike and also the rider, looks will generally be second to function but somethings should be set in stone. This is not one of those lists that frequent the internet relating to how roadies should look - rather just a few points that in my circle of friends should be followed.


- Mountain bike pedals have no place on a road bike.

- In relation to headset spacers, a maximum of 25mm under the stem is allowed. A 5mm spacer above is advised but not critical. Also the stem should be -10 degrees, zero degrees stem are fine too but not a minus angle stem flipped upside down is not.

- Hopefully bartape will be white, the same as the saddle, but if not it should be matched to the main graphic/logo colour of the frame.

- Mudguards will be accompanied by the appropriate size mudflap.

- In an ideal world the bars/stem should be free of any computer etc.


All the turbo work is paying off on the road but still need longer saddle time to get my body used to hours riding again. Unfortunately I got the call that I didn't make the cut for the Seacroft road race so I plan on riding the Fountains Audax, which is an old favourite of mine, plus it does turn into a bit of a race to be in the first group back. Also got the dates of the Summer CX series today, mostly on Wednesday nights so probably pile everyone in the van and hopefully have some fun racing.

Back to being PRO

For now that means back to having a Pro Flickr account;



But it could also stand for a variety of other aspects of my life right now.

Pissing in hedgerows.

Had a proper ride today. Rain, crosswind, keeping the knock at bay with Jelly Babies.

Also found out I've been the subject of some shit-talking. Shame people can't say stuff to your face instead of running their mouth. Not massively bothered, just simply confirmation that certain members of a certain club are arseholes.