Kasabian MEN 20 Nov 09

Its Been a tough month November, Two job interviews, coupled with late nights at Royal Preston hospital with my Nan who is giving death a run for his money (god bless her) so me and the wife treated our selves to a night with Kasabian and Special Guest. The special guest where Reverend and the makers, who where ok, the female keyboard player was enough to keep us all happy with her side splitting dance moves.

Then the real deal came on stage, they where electrik, this is how it's done Oasis if your reading. The band went through a massive set list playing every song that counts club foot, fire, underdog, fastfuse, empire, shoot the runner, I don't think they missed any of their hits out, even an extended Swafiga which had this old fool dancing like an idiot!!! (See wedding pics to explain). Me and Jen had an excellent night and so did everyone else, Victoria station rang out to hundreds of fans singing L.S.F for over an hour whilst waiting for our trains to arrive. So glad we decided on standing tickets, the pogo is back and it rocks.

After such a good night I'm hopeful that things can return to normal for the remainder of the year, and I should post a biking related blog tomorrow. Stop, I said it's happening again!!!

Bollocks

It all started last weekend, things where going so well, it was sunny, the trails had all dried out, so I decided to extend my normal 30 miller and do some exploring, from Rivington I headed over to Darwen Moor, and headed south. I found some nice routes to ride, but after a short bumpy decent I noticed a spoke had snapped and this had caused a big wobble in my rear wheel. so it was time to head home, I headed north towards Tockholes, whilst climbing into Tockholes a pain was developing in my right leg, I thought nothing of it and made my way home through Abbey Village. I do love Abbey village when there are no walkers, it just seems to flow beautifully, when I got home the pain was still there so I chilled for the rest of the day drinking milkshake.

The Next day I could hardly walk, so it was time to take the train to work, now that is shit smelly train full of smelly people, I know that sounds a bit unfair, but you never get a seat and somebody always stinks and they always stand near m.

Tuesday wheel to bike shop to be fixed and a spoke protector added, kept off the leg for a full seven days and only had to pay for the train once as it was so busy.

I spent Saturday swapping parts from one bike to the other so I had a steed to thrash for the next days bike fest.

Sunday came, I walked the dog then I got into character, everything felt ok as I set off southwards towards Cuerden Vally for the start of what I planned to be a 40+ ride, as I attacked the first hill my leg decided to let me know it didn't want to play out, so yet again my day was cut short only 6 miles around Cuerden it was fun but shit at the same time.

When I got home I felt pretty down, I cheered myself up by watching Earthed 4 death or glory. My bike looks the mutts nuts at the moment, I cant do another week of the train so I am gonna ride to work and hope the leg recovers and the trails stay dusty by next week.

Fingers crossed!!!

1985 was the year, I was in my last year of school, riding a Raleigh Burner Aero pro pretty much all the time, paper round, to school, after school, Preston Pirates BMX track Saturday and Sunday. But I had a dream, I wanted a Haro freestyler, as did everyone. unfortunately I had the foolish notion that I had to grow up, pass exams, get a job and all that other grown up shit we have to do. I also had grown about two feet that year so bmx's looked a bit small for me, so inevitably i knocked it on the head.

Now 24 years and a few grey hairs later, I came across a Haro FST that was not completely trashed and set about restoring it, sourcing parts was hard and expensive, it's also taken 6 months to complete, its not a show bike, it's a rider so watch out kids an old man on a old bike is gonna show you how it's done down the new Preston Pirates BMX track very soon.

I may have grown up externaly, but inside I'm still the same little boy. (that sounds a bit wrong, but so what)

1985 Haro (custom) FST in day glow Green, enjoy

Oldschool run

Not gone for a bigish ride for ages so i decided to do a Rivington route that was one of my first true off road routes. Despite not being in the saddle much this summer, my power is better than it ever was, hills that used to make me wanna cry seemed to be over quickly. When I arrived at Rivington I was surprised by how little it's changed over the summer. No vegetation, most routes deteriorating at a very speedy rate, never mind GO APE, spend some money and get it back to its former overgrown beauty. Any way I did the old school route, which to be honest shook me to death, could not find one decent smooth line, this was not down to the my lack of skill, but due to walkers who all seem to be looking at everything bar the noisy MTB hurtling towards them. I managed a good 29 miles in about 2.45 hours, another complaint is the A6, used to get home from Rivington in about 1/2 hour, now with the traffic lights at every new housing estate on the route it takes a further 10mins. i wouldn't mind so much but the lights change and nobody ever comes out of the junction GRRRR.

I did take some new products on the trip with me, Mavic Razor mtb shoes, and they was good, the grippy out sole worked well and they felt stiff enough when climbing, towards end of ride I did get very bad foot burn, any ideas any one? It was miles worse than my Specialized comps!! 8/10 me thinks, and thanks to the service at www.ribblecycles.co.uk simply brilliant cheaper than chainreaction and its just round the corner, happy days.

Also had a change of shifters and rear derailleur, Deore 2 way shifters how good are they, got used to them immediately and when paired with the budget Shimano SLX shadow derailleur, the shifting was clean and crisp for the whole ride, not a single slip even after hammering through sandy gritty puddles in Rivington, buy one they are only 30 sheets, that's less than a night out these days. 9/10

Cant wait to get out there again, also a night ride up that way is in order, new lights are charging as we speak, off to Leeds now, Poo.

Lee quary revisited

Early start today, dog walk, breakfast, wait for Dave, stick bikes and kit in back of the berlingo, attempt to stay within the speed limit without the use of a dash board!!! We parked up and got into character a few moments later Jason turned up with his lad Mike. We all popped off to do a lap of what I must say is a fantastic loop, Jason and Dave were on their spangly new Ragly Ti 29'rs, Mike was on a DMR HT (i think !!! my short term memory is shocking these days!!) My weapon of choice was my Specialized Enduro, not a bad choice but for this ageing smokers lungs it did not seem the right choice on the first climb!!! however it was a good ride and my bike performed well, as I approached the rock garden on the first part of the descent I noticed I had an audience, Dave taking pics, Simon and Mike watching from the side line, no pressure then!!! I had not lowered my seat before the descent, not my wisest moment, hit the rocky corner slight two wheel drift as the high roller tyres struggled for traction, slowed down to compensate, got too far over the bars, front wheel hit a rut, forks compressed, got up close and uncomfortable with the floor, check to see who was looking, everyone, used my catchphrase "did anyone get a picture of that" no, good, and we continued on our way.

Dave and Simon decided to do another lap, in my head I had decided to take the short route back to the rock garden and kill it, had a pork and pickle pie then set off again. Saddle down short run and drop into the corner, no drift this time, good start, chose a good line final countdown playing in my head for some strange reason, da da daa da ping!! WTF was that, my front wheel had developed a wobble to say the least, slammed on the rear brake to check it out!!!

The thread on my front wheel skewer had shredded and pinged off, in all my years of riding a bike this has never happened, who was the guilty party who places the lives of there customers at peril, superstar components, super shit components more like, the next time I see the bloke at one of the 24hr races I attend I'm gonna stick said skewer up his kebab hole!!! Don't buy his product they are shite!! you can check out the shite here http://superstar.tibolts.co.uk/ Thanks to Jason my day was not ruined as he was off to do non bike related stuff, he kindly gifted me with a skewer from his bike so I could continue having fun, thank you kind sir.

Me and Dave set off to do another lap, and I nailed every part of the trail, even some black stuff (some of the black stuff is well scary, fall to the right fine, fall to the left good chance of death) I even started to get some air, cant wait to go back it's ace and I think a night ride is in order soon.

Get yourself there its a nice little run that's plenty of fun.

Burn baby burn

It's been a while since I have done any restoration work, pic above is how it looked when i received said project. After three months of scrubbing, rubbing, polishing, sourcing and throwing hard earned cash at the project I have completed my 1985 Aero Pro Burner restoration. Pic below hopes you likes it, this will be on my wall of my new home when I move. Now I can throw all my spare time into my rider restoration, 1985 Haro it will be a thing of beauty.

Run Rabbit Run

Today is a year on from Earls critical gastroenteritis (he ate a cow pat and became poorly ill) so as a treat I took him for a big walk in the woods। all was going well, throw ball, dog bring back ball receive a treat and repeat, then he bolted off towards a very old oak tree, Earl was digging away tail wagging. To my surprise a furry fat rabbit appeared off to Earls left, off he went at full pelt and landed right on top of said bunny. All I could think about was A) has he killed it B) What the hell do i do with it, if he has? No need to worry though , Earl was trying his best to hump said bunny!! and all this after I quote the vets exact words " he will be no trouble when you have him neutered, his urges will just disappear over night" well that was money well spent!! The rabbit did escape and back down to his/her warren. Earl took some convincing to leave the scene. and off we plodded home for tea and ice gems. I also got the chance to use my new fish eye lens on route.