Fortune

I am lucky enough to call the organisers of the sswc 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006 friends. All, at some point, have suggested it would be good to put on in scotland.

This is true, and it will indeed be good.

In addition they have all said it will be tough work. For a race that seems to be free form and random, there has been (i suspect in all cases) an incredible amount of organisation underneath the surface. Our race is no different.

In saying that, as i sit here, tapping away, orgainising, thinking, scheming and worrying, i cant help but smile. I heard today from nick sande of surly and yesterday from jimbo of state college.

It is coming, soon, the time we get (ok, maybe not me...!) to sit, yap, ride and have a beer, somewhere new, meet new folk and just enjoy cycling culture....


phot credit Pete Laing, trail builder of the highest order.

Wolfhound...

Some interesting thoughts and pictures. (pic is frame owners, jn carpernter)

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?p=3326823

http://www.frameforum.net/forum2/index.php?showtopic=4593

http://www.ridemonkey.com/forums/showthread.php?t=181922&page=6

Update

Perseverance is something i seem to be lacking this year. Or maybe its just all the million and one things that are going on - meaning i am struggling to focus on any one thing. Dunno.

The house looks like a bomb site, literally. lots of building work, which is (yup! you guessed it!) taking much longer than initially anticipated. Lots of thought and fussing, and the imminent need of lots of action regarding the sswc...it'll be fine, as long as we do our work...and it's that stage where we need actual physical results instead of concepts and plans.

But it was sunny today so having struggled slightly at Kirroughtree (which i am going to procrastinate on typing any more about, as i want to do a longer write up---it was interesting on a number of levels) i felt i needed to get some miles into my legs. With all the rain recently, a road ride seemed like the thing so i saddled up on the Nzumbi and headed out of Glasgow. The route took me to Strathblane, then Drymen, and from there to Tarbet along Loch Lomond side and over to Arrochar, down to Faslane and Helensburgh and back to Glasgow. Pretty much 90 miles. A headwind on the way out and sunshine and a tail wind on the way back suited the 48:18 well...a good spin and constant smooth peddling with just one meaty climb past an enormous, humming navy ship sitting being refuelled in the shadow of Ben Arthur.

The Faslane 365 crew were just up, cooking and shuffling about as i rolled past...an odd juxtaposition compared to the 3 rows of razor wire, cctv and dogs on the other side of the road.

I had originally planned a bigger route, but wanted to go down the coast section and also my digestive system has been a bit, err, boisterous today so i felt the need to be heading back to civilisation rather than further towards the highlands. A beautiful day.

10 at Kirroughtree

10 hour race at kirroughtree this week end. It was good. The rain was heavy the days before but the trail seemed to shrug it off.

Full story soon, but 16th, 8 laps (errr, 122 km) 4080m climbed...pretty happy, but there are stories to tell.

More shortly, off to see a strange glowing globe that has just been sighted in th sky.

Telly rocks.

Whats it all about, eh?

blogshares.com/


Anyone care to enlighten me as to what this means?

Went for a ride - finally

A ride through the trees above Edinburgh, Pentland hills, in pictures.

Homeless

Back from Mayhem and we have been homeless now for 2 weeks. We have been living out of a bag (each) and a coffee machine in the car. We have been having the bathroom 'done', which means walls down, floor up, new joists, plaster, ceiling, window, electrical supply and lights. Its something we didnt really think about in depth, but put the toilet out of action for any length of time and you just cant live there. Because the floor has need to be replaced (rather than just lined), the toilet couldnt be plumbed in. Then we found we didnt have the pipe that links the cistern to the toilet. A special diameter (from 50-44mm) it seems. Sound familiar?

"A dura ace itso bit m 666 flange sir? otherwise the bike will never work again? (whistles)...not sure you will ever get one..."

What else? being hammering it at the gym. Which is doing my head in. The rain at the moment would put Noah off....the trails are either under water or are just damage...to them and bike. It just is miserable. Its even force me to buy a new piece of clothing. Yes. Forced.

A Pearl Izumi vagabond jacket. Nice piece of kit, water resistant, wind proof, but zip off sleeves (both together) so you have a gilet and minimal stuff to store if you need to divest yourself of part of the layer....good stuff.

Moved up a 'level' at the kettlebells. Pressing and snatching and polish get ups are now solidly in the 20kg bracket, which is good, and the recovery is excellent. Running and 1 hour long blasts on the town bike to fill in gaps between deluges. All in a last ditch attempt to regain some form for 10 around kirroughtree. Im looking forward to it. Losing the Meridas from my schedule has left a larger vacuum than i had anticipated. I need an aim, a goal. otherwise i think i can kiss my season good by. We'll see.

Harlan Price has been putting his if/lefty to good use hammering the Super d races....i have added his blog, which is a good read...just goes to show a good rider can easily make up for not having 4" rear travel...

Ok. Off to drink coffee. On a related note, i now have the solis crema up and running and bought a Reg Barber Maple tall, c flat, tamp in order to really start turning out a decent cup o' joe.

Want some?


(photo courtesy of martysavalas)