Says it all.

Second race. First finish.
Got lapped. Lapped some riders.
Tasted blood.
Great day.

Here comes...another.

Again.

I'm restarting carrying a camera round with me everyday. As long as I remember I'll post the results on Flickr pretty much everyday.

Too much crap.

I'm a hoarder. I'm not only talking about material possessions but also random boxes, unopened envelopes and general clutter. I'm also struggling to focus on the things in life that actually matter due to recent events, all of which can lead to me mindlessly questioning what's going on.

Things that need done:
1. Start a charity bag.
2. Stop buying just in case things on ebay.
3. Infact only using ebay to sell!
4. Sort out a load of rubbish for bonfire night.
5. Tidy the house.

Contact me if you fancy making an offer for various items such as old cameras, tubular tyres and many more probably coming to ebay soon.

F**king cyclocross.

It feels like I've waited all year for my first cx race and I go and pick the wettest and muddiest day I've ever seen, but then again it's probably right it happened that way.
On a course that wasn't particularly suited to my lack of technical skills, I was having my own little battle of 25th place before two crashes in quick succession meant I DNF'd. It would have been great to finish but looking back I have no regrets, the likely hood of doing myself some lasting damage on another lap was quite high, as it was I get to walk away (quite badly bruised) but still keen to come back and race again.
It was great to meet a couple of the 'Belgians' and have support at the side of the race. I also couldn't have managed without my mate Rob supporting in way of Chief Mechanic (and bike washer)
Looks like I might be taking advantage of another kit reorder as my jersey is still stained with mud after two washes!


On the other side of life I'm making the trip to the other side of the Pennines on the 6.30am train to Manchester everyday this week for my Cytech bike mechanics course. Didn't appreciate the early morning but the day went well.
One thing I have to comment on is the abundance of electronic devices ordinary people have today, on the way home I watched one guy mess on his iPhone, then use a mobile organiser device, then start listening to his iPod Nano at the same time as reading from one of those Amazon electronic readers! I'm only 26 and already I'm asking the question what happened to cassettes and real books?

Shortround.

It's like he says, "jump" and the other asks, "where do you want me to land?"

In the last couple of days I have been put into situations where I've been able to take a step back and look at what is actually happening rather than being fully part of the scenario. It is like my days as a photographer observing without commenting.
Most of the time if you are the one creating silence other people can't help themselves but talk, to try and say something, anything to take away the nothingness that has been happening.

Another one of my Grandma's sayings I'll dearly miss;
'If you don't have ought good to say, don't say anything at all.'

Progress.

Today reminded me of my old flatland BMX days, trying something on a bike over and over until it suddenly clicks, and then you're doing something almost naturally that fifteen minutes ago was making you scream with frustration. Today it was remounts on my cyclocross bike.

Bikes I have (and had).

The comment you have a lot (or too many bikes) is something I hear regularly, so I thought it's about time to lay everything on the table.
Here's what I currently own:

Bob Jackson custom made road bike.


The bike I waited 8 months to be built and have been riding all summer, including a few road races. Strictly my best bike, only summer mileage and maybe going into hibernation soon.


Scott CX Team cyclocross bike.


My first staff purchase bike through work, will be racing cyclocross in the coming weeks on this bike.


On-One Pompino singlespeed/fixed gear bike.
It's unusual I don't have a photo of this bike but it really isn't the best looking thing but does a lot of jobs and serves as my everyday bike. Usually equipped with mudguards it's coming into it's second winter and hasn't failed on any score so far.


Colnago Art Deco.


The photo shows it as a complete bike but this is now just a frame and forks that lives next to my bed. Bought it as an absolute bargain and will never sell it, if I did I'd have bad cycling karma forever.


Fit BMX bike.


Doesn't get ridden much anymore, lives at my parents house, again loathed to sell it mainly for sentimental reasons.



Here's what I have owned:

Kinesis RacelightT road bike.


The latest bike to leave me, was simply a stop gap till the Bob Jackson frame was ready but did me well to get some winter training miles on.


Pete Dunn Lo-pro track bike.


Probably the best bike I no longer own. Bought this off a local shop with a horrible purple and yellow paint job, then got Bob Jacksons to convert it to track ends and paint it green. I used to fly around York on this, doing laps of town without ever putting a foot down, really fun bike to ride and you have to focus all the time, being one step ahead in traffic. Ultimately it was what made it so much fun which was the problem, being brakeless in city roads causes issues, skidding through gaps is fun but skidding for the tenth time that ride so a taxi/bus/HGV doesn't kill you isn't.
It always got a lot of attention, especially on eBay where it sold for a bomb.


Carlton track bike.


Really nice old track frame that I built and rode on the street for a while before turning it into a velodrome only machine, unfortunately it became too expensive to just have sitting around not in use, maybe a lesson about punching above your weight too - never felt comfortable on it.


No name fixed gear conversion road bike.


My first fixed gear bike. This saw a lot of mileage when we lived in Leeds, later in York it had mudguards and swept back granny bars. Again went on Ebay.


Peugeot road bike.


My first geared bike, ebay special - bought cheap, done up and sold on.


WeThePeople Div BMX.


Probably my favourite BMX and certainly the one I rode the longest, thinking back I can't think why I stopped riding it, the frame is back at my parents but was damaged beyond repair when swapping the parts.



That's about it, not counting a few early BMX's including one that was stolen and a Specialized Langster, which I owned for less than 24 hours before selling. Another thing about cycling it you need more gear than just the bike, if you consider the parts that the average rider has in his pocession it'd probably make up a decent shop stock list.

Bad News Day.

I lost someone in my family today, very unexpected and out of the blue, can't really say what I want. Living life doesn't get any easier.

Euro Cool.

This mornings ride was a lovely two hour loop to the North, straight into the chilly north wind. Missed all the major climbs in favour of just getting some miles in.
Dress code mainly matched outlined guide from here: http://www.cyclingtipsblog.com/2008/11/how-to-look-pro/
White armwarmers matching white oversocks, team kit, old cycling cap, embrocation on the knees, ipod and riding my white bike (with white bar tape and saddle of course)
Had to laugh at the fact I was almost turning into the characteur of euro cool, but still a great way to pass a bank holiday Monday morning.

Today is also the first day of two weeks holiday from work, very much looking forward to getting away for a few days and catching up with people who we don't often see. Then it's straight back into Cytech training at work and cyclo-cross racing.

Just a Minor Threat.

Think about what you're saying. Do you believe every word that leaves your mouth? You could well be the only person who cares what you say.

I wrenched on a lovely Ellis Briggs steel audax bike at work today, reminded why I like the colour black for bikes, truly timeless. I predict the touring/audax bike to be the next big thing, cyclocross bikes that can be used for commuting etc are already ten a penny and fixed gears are so 2006! Its a rare treat when a great bike passes through the workshop, it really improves the day whether it be a fancy race machine or just a bike the owner loves and takes care of.
On a related note, I'm loving learning all the 'tricks of the trade'. It's almost something new everyday, not many people can say that.

Reminds me of a saying of my Grandma's;
"We don't have much money but we do see life."

Give me strength.

Recently I have found my strength leaving me, the classic 'Yorkshire' attributes of grit and determination lacking as different challenges and situations throw me off balance.
When the people and things that usually give me encouragement and help form part of the problem itself I don't know where to turn. It's easy to be hard on myself and to adopt a negative attitude but that just digs the hole deeper.
Things need done.



Some good advice from a Wu Tang Clan song:

Lord, don't move my mountains just give me the strength to climb.

Buy. Sell.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330459116673&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

Oh dear.

I managed two laps of today's race before having a 'mechanical'. I stopped in the pits for my lap out and to fix my bike but wasn't allowed to rejoin as it was deemed a fault not a race caused mechanical. I was, and still am, absolutely gutted.
However many times you say life goes on it still hurts but I do have much bigger things happening in my life right now, so I won't brood too long.

Double palm face.

Up to our ears in mortgage quotes, house prices and deposit calculations, beginning to wish money hadn't been invented.

Keeping track.

+1

Watching BBC4 documentaries about the American South.
Home cooking.
Signing up to start my Cytech training.
Working on old bikes for good people.
Getting help.

-1

Katherine going down south for a week without me.
Not being around family when all is not well.
Missing the Yorkshire Show.
Money.
Not feeling you belong where you were once comfortable.

A 'cross weekend.

This is the first weekend I have managed back to back rides in ages but my mileage probably tops out at only 40 miles. Yesterday I went for a short spin on my cross bike to get used to the position and check it was in full working order, then after a couple of minor adjustments today I did some dismount/remount practice on the Knavesmire.
I've started thinking cyclo cross early because as it's my first season racing I want all the experience I can get, although with two weeks remaining to my last road race of the season I have to keep the mileage and leg speed going too.

Sneak Peak.

Funnys.

Calm after the storm

Weekends of driving around, going out for leaving do, racing another circuit race and nine hours days on my feet could all be classed as the 'storm', whereas a night watching Midsomer Murders on the telly and a curry for tea is definitely calming.