fancy a new (push) bike

[Bush Tucker Man]

Plus
It's back to Greetland on Wednesday evening :D

I think SWMBO is coming too, along with 'Small-Child', so there might be a few pictures  :shock: :-k
She's driving me there as well!

What!, put the cross-bike in the XKR? :doh:

Nope!, we're borrowing her dads Mondeo estate; a rather nice '08' plated (140BHP) TDCi/6-speed 'Zetec'

It'll be the bike, & kit, in the back & I can relax, as she knows most of the way there (bar the last 2 miles up in the hills above Sowerby Bridge)

It was a different type of journey there, with being 'chauffeured'. I could relax in the back, with a bottle of Lucozade Sport & a couple of Bananas

Quite surprisingly it was a fairly short journey - the last time I was there, it took me about 25minutes longer to get there (slower cruising speed, & more traffic)

On arrival, it was to a very chilly sports-field, as it's right on top of a hill.

Entry-fee paid & number picked up, it was time to check out the course (leaving Joanne* & Amelia** sat in the Mondeo)

It was the same as our last visit, bar an extra climb of a banking.


I made my usual mid-field start, keeping station at that position for the first 3 laps or so.
Faded slightly, losing 3 places mid-race

Then, made a bit of a 'come-back', regaining a place or two, and lapping some back-markers - always good for morale :clap:



Joanne & Amelia both had cameras, so here's a selection of what they took............
Click on pic to open album

It does mean, however, that I might have to share my poat-race Pizza! :doh:

I ended up buying them their own


* SWMBO
** 'Small-Child'

[Bush Tucker Man]

The 'unofficial' time was 35minutes (no results around yet) :dance:

I'm reasonably happy with that, given that the course record is apparantly 26:35, & the holder is a multiple marathon winner


Click on pic to enlarge (5 images)


The wife asked me if I'll do another race, or (alleged!!) 'Fun-Run'

I'm not sure yet...................  :-k

This event has been suggested to me as a 'follow-up' for the Darrington 5-Miler

Sandal Castle 10K


The problem is, it's the same day as the Drighlington BC Cyclo-Cross at Oakwell Hall

So.......
1. Do I run the 10K in the morning, as it starts at 10:00
2. Drive (or be driven?) to Birstall?
3. Ride the Cross in the afternoon, as the Seniors start @ 13:00??


Suggestions please!
(not rude ones!!!)

[Bush Tucker Man]

I received a phone call at tea-time.
It was Phil Thackray*, the lap-keeper (along with his wife Nora) at Greetland last night.
After the pleasantries were exchanged, he told me that he'd jumbled up my placings with another competitor, a& did I know what number rider finished in front of me?

Thankfully, between Joanne & myself (plus referring to the photos) we figured it out.
According to Phil, it appears that I (preliminarily) finished about 25th.
As far as I know, 55 started the race.



Plus, I went for a run earlier (about 20:25)

I only went about 4 miles (or just under) & came back feeling very warm (ought not to have worn that shower-proof top)

Now my back is a bit stiff & aching, on the right, just above my hip.
Must be old age?!


*No relation, but a good friend and the father of Richard & Robert; ex international Cyclo-Cross riders in the Great Britain team
(I know the boys quite well too)

[Bush Tucker Man]

.
It was Phil Thackray*, the lap-keeper (along with his wife Nora) at Greetland last night.
After the pleasantries were exchanged, he told me that he'd jumbled up my placings with another competitor, a& did I know what number rider finished in front of me?

Thankfully, between Joanne & myself (plus referring to the photos) we figured it out.
According to Phil, it appears that I (preliminarily) finished about 25th.
As far as I know, 55 started the race.

The results have appeared since I last checked at about 20:00

http://www.yorkshirecyclocross.org.uk/

26th/54 finishers
7th/15 Age-Group

Phil was only one number out

[Bush Tucker Man]

I rode to work yesterday morning.
Rode back home.
Got changed,and went out on the Dyna-Tech for a couple of hours. Damned windy though on the return leg


This morning saw a return to running.
It was a bit slippery going through the woods, and I had to walk about 500yards of it, as it was just too greasy.
It took me 33 minutes

Come 14:00 & the run home was treated a different way, I ran around the road (the way I'd drive to work, or do the 'school-run')
It's probably (roughly) a mile longer to go that way, as well as a long hill (1-in-15?)

Anyway the approximate time for that was 35 minutes

So, it's either;
1. My ability to keep a constant pace, without slowing down in the woods -even when they're dry?

2. I'm getting faster, & have more stamina for a longer run?

3. The third option is always a likely candidate; I'm going home, so want to get there faster anyway :lol:

[Bush Tucker Man]

It's back to Greetland on Wednesday evening :D

I think SWMBO is coming too
She's driving me there as well!

It's the last event of the series next Wednesday (at New College, Salendine Nook. Huddersfield)
She's already said that she'll attend that one too (so it looks like another Mondeo trip again)

[Bush Tucker Man]

I went out for a run at about 09:50 on Monday morning.

I wasn't over-dressed in any sense of the word, (proper) running shorts & a t-shirt, but I probably only did about 3 & 1/2 miles.

I got back absolutely soaked, t-shirt sticking to me - worthy of wringing it out, sweat drippping off my brow,nose & chin.
Not a pleasant sight!, if I'd known it was so humid, I'd not have gone :doh:

I considered going again at about 20:30 that evening, but thought "sodit", & turned the radio on to listen to the  ramblings of Radcliffe & Maconie

Yesterday afternoons run wasn't much different :twisted:


I'm hoping that the overcast weather keeps the temperature down for the Cyclo-Cross this evening, but more importantly that the humidity is at a reasonable level [-o<

[Bush Tucker Man]

I'm hoping that the overcast weather keeps the temperature down for the Cyclo-Cross this evening, but more importantly that the humidity is at a reasonable level [-o<

Well it was an 'interesting event.
By the end of the third lap, I was still placed in the mid 20's (60 starters), but come (I think?) lap 5, I got an agonising Cramp in my left calf at the top of a short run-up.
I just fell sideways & lay there swearing at my leg :oops:

The worst part was that I lost about 7 places

Once the worst of it subsided, I had to go even harder to try & make places up.

I think I made about 4 of them back, & lapped quite a few back-markers (a couple of them twice)

Not too sure of a position (for the race, or the 'overall' in the series), as they're not on-line yet.

So here's a few photos to be going on with..

Click on pic to enlarge (12 images)

[Bush Tucker Man]

Oh, & for the ones out there with an interest in bikes, I saw a nice one in the afternoon (& one at the Cross*)

I had dropped the wife off at Dewsbury District Hospital (ot give a friend moral support during an appointment) & went to look at Hargreaves Cycles, ostensibly to look at their Treks,but ended up drooling over certain models of the Ridley range

Nice!!!!!!!!!, and what 'chunky' frame profiles!!!!



*Some lucky soul had a Yeti ARC-X & very nice it was too :drool: :drool:

After all the years since it was first announced, I still fancy their ARC

[Bush Tucker Man]

Rode to work this afternoon, between the downpours.

Walked onto the Consultants corridor where I leave the bike.... "Bu**er!, a puncture!"

Fixed it after some difficulty getting the rear wheel out (quick-release siezed, so shows how long since I had a puncture)

Changed inner-tube

Tried to put wheel back in. Broke Q/R skewer

"Damn!"

This would have meant carrying it home, as it wouldn't have pushed properly (& riding would certainly be out of the question)

Made rapid arrangements for a lift home during my dinner-break to collect the 110 (Joanne & Amelia, over at the 'Posh Porta-Cabin')

One of our Security guards gave me a lift home & dropped me off

Back in 110, bike thrown in back

Once home after shift finish, bike thrown in garage.

Had a 12" 'Asian-Style Meat-Feast' pizza for a late tea/supper :dance:

Up early in morning to either...
1. Try & get the old skewer out & put a replacement in
2. Swap the tyre, tube & rim-tape onto a spare 8-speed wheel that's hanging up in the garage.

Although I did tell Joanne about it when I phoned her whilst picking the 110 up, & she said to me that I knew that bike was 'on the way out'.


So..............does that mean, she's going to let me replace it?, or downgrade the Dyna-Tech into its position :-k
And get a new 'best bike'?

I can hope so

Not too sure of a position (for the race, or the 'overall' in the series), as they're not on-line yet

Just checked & the results are up

That bl**dy Cramp did me no good at all  :x

http://www.yorkshirecyclocross.org.uk/ (see Round 7) 

I ended up 33rd/55 finishers & 7th/14 in age-group



I was set on a top-20 place if I'd not got that Cramp & lost ground (& went slower to prevent it happening again0
But, I can't change what happened

[Bush Tucker Man]

I ran to work on Wednesday morning.
On arrival I felt surprisingly good, despite the fact that it's the first time I've ran since Tuesday July 29th.

I think it was an intermediate time, as I had no watch on, but I believe it was about 32 minutes

Running home at 13:00 seemed harder though (but I'd had nothing to eat since 18:00 the previous evening, bar a couple of yoghurts), so seemed a bit down on energy :|

I think that it was still a 33 minute time though.
It just seemed harder, maybe because of the humidity?




Plus...
I found a card that I was given at the Cyclo-Cross at Huddersfield after the last race (30th July)

It's from a guy who does athletics/cycling/swimming event photograpy, and having searched the site, there's a few good ones of me :-k
(I might even let Joanne order one :D)

http://www.flamingphotography.co.uk/


I'm on;
Page 1, trying to get a decent position from the start
Page 2, banking into a corner by the f**tballers cage
Page 4, Wondering when it'll all end, or still suffering the after-effects of Cramp?
Page 4, Come on!, ring that bell for the last lap!"



Out of the lot, the one on page 5 is best, there's a 'certain' look of concentration on my face

[Bush Tucker Man]

Not too sure of a position (for the race, or the 'overall' in the series), as they're not on-line yet

The 'overall results' are up now

I was 26th/105 & 9th/25 (age-group) :dance:



Roll on Sunday 31st August, & the first Cyclo-Cross of the 2008/2009 season

Oakwell Hall, Birstall (just down the road from jct 27/M62)

[Bush Tucker Man]

This morning saw a return to running.
It was a bit slippery going through the woods, and I had to walk about 500yards of it, as it was just too greasy.
It took me 33 minutes

Come 14:00 & the run home was treated a different way, I ran around the road (the way I'd drive to work, or do the 'school-run')
It's probably (roughly) a mile longer to go that way, as well as a long hill (1-in-15?)

Anyway the approximate time for that was 35 minutes

I decided to run to work today, as it was a decent day (& it more or less guarantees me a slightly earlier finish)
It was the first time I'd run since the morning of Thursday 14th August (when I did a '33' there & '34' home)
It was hard getting there this afternoon, probably due to that fact, but I managed a 32:45*
This was a 'round the roads' run, not through the woods (about 3/4 mile longer)


I was talking to one of my collegues and she was telling me I ought to be sectioned for running here & then back home after 8 lovely hours & I stated; "Roll on the day I can get to the 30minute mark for the same route, I'm be happy when it happens"

Well, that day rolled around on the way home  :dance: :dance:

I pushed myself a bit harder coming home tonight, & managed a 30:12 * (round the roads too!)

I'm happy with that  :thumbup: :thumbup:


*Both timed to the second, as I bought a new Chronograph type watch for the running/riding

[Bush Tucker Man]

Sorry to drag an old thread 'kicking & screaming' out of the archives, but since I made the last addition, I've done a few more events & 'PBs' :-k

Part 1


1. my run home from work has now been reduced to a 'PB' of 28:54 for the 'road-route', which I'm fairly happy with :dance:
However, I'll still be trying to beat it whenever I feel good!, & my average time is probably 30:30



2. I typed 'Roll on Sunday 31st August, & the first Cyclo-Cross of the 2008/2009 season
Oakwell Hall, Birstall (just down the road from jct 27/M62)'

Well, obviously that's been & gone now.
Joanne (SWMBO) & Amelia ('small-child') were both on holiday when that took place, so I had a lively support crew of the Travers family (Helen;aka 'Sleepless Paradise', Johnty, their daughter Chrissie, & Wilson - the Springer Spaniel)
I think they were a bit surprised at the speed and toughness of the event

The final results was a 30th/62 finishers

I know that's the placing I got, but the start was terrible. It was only about 9 riders wide & we were 7 rows deep!
That's a bit unfair!, as I've previously beaten riders who got high teen/low twenties, but they were better placed than me at the start (further forward, so avoided the snarl-up on the first narrow sections)
Here are Johnty's pics from the event (22 images)
Click on pic to open





3. September 12th
Extended the run to work, by carrying on through the grounds into Wakefield

I'd ordered a book from Waterstones, so thought I'd go & collect it, as I had time.

My collegues were at the front of the department performing a 'NBCD'*
 exercise

It took an extra ten minutes to get into the city-centre, due to the recent road-works & closing of pedestrian subways.
Then an extra 10 minutes back - up one of the steepest footpaths in the city


On arrival back, I had the 'offer of a lifetime'.
Two of our (lucious blonde haired) Sisters offered to take my sweaty (but well sculpted) form into the decontamination shower & wash/hose me down
I was tempted to remove my t-shirt & shoes, but 'Sods Law' states that had I done so, a manager (or a Matron) would have walked up at that moment in time, and we all would have received a 'rollicking'
Oh well.................. I'll have to find out who's doing the next exercise & run there again

Oh?, the book in question?
It was the eagerly awaited release from Inspector Gadget; 'Perverting The Course Of Justice'
A very good book indeed :clap: :clap: :clap:

*'Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Decontamination



4. Then there was a gap between my planned events, one due for Sunday 14th September was cancelled, due to a waterlogged course, so I needed something else to keep the 'competative edge' up.

I found a local 10K :shock:
This a fundraising event for the 'Prince Of Wales Hospice' in Pontefract.
I figured out the course from the (on-line) newspaper reports concerning road-closures, as the route wasn't 'officially' published in advance.
I'd suggested to people that given I've done a 5-miler in 36:53, I could now do a 10K in 40minutes :shock:
But, having mentally run the course in my mind, I revised that back to 45 minutes

2007 was the first time they'd run the race, & the winning times were
Last year was the inaurgural event, with 150 competitors) & the winning times were;
Male
1st; 35:39
2nd; 35:51

Female
1st; 39:16
2nd; 42:10


The route?

Start at Pontefract Park
Leave in (extreme) south-east corner
Up Park Lane (long-drag past College & Club-House)
Straight over cross-roads at North Featherstone
Down Castleford Lane (yellow road) just east of Ackton
At junction (by M62 bridge) turn right up B6241 into Featherstone (sharp climb just before cemetary)
Once back at North Featherstone cross-roads left (back onto) Park Lane

Finish inside Park, by racecourse :shock: :shock: :shock:

I'll admit I suffered on parts of it - mainly between the 4k & 7k marks

Still I finished it, not in as good a time as I would have liked but it was still a reasonably respectable one.

Ian, the dad of one of Amelias class-mates did it, but finished a couple of minutes ahead of me (but he is a regular on training runs with a local running club)
People were still finishing as we left.

Oh!, & I saw numbers as high as 286 when we were gathering at the start, assuming that they started issuing from 1 (saw number 6)
The point being, I wouldn't even like to guess my finishing position

There were quite a few nice female bums to follow too :clap:

My time? 45:17, which gained me a final placing of 80th/268   

The winner was 33:25
Ian, who I mentioned above, finished in 59th @ 43:33


Full results



5. I saw this a while ago and now I'm going to have a recurring nightmare.
I'm standing expectantly on the startline of a Cyclo-Cross race, when I idly turn to look at who's next to me, & judge whether I'll get to the first corner before him.

Then I think to myself....... "I know that face. It's......... NOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
The start whistle blows & I wake up in a cold sweat

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ZG4WEpy0dnU

[Bush Tucker Man]

Part 2 :oops:

6. Running the 10K was really strange though, but for the following reasons;

1. No passing traffic, as the route had an official road-closure for 2 hours.
It was weird being able to choose your own route when running down the road, & changing from side to side without looking over your shoulder

2. People standing in their gardens/drives and clapping/cheering as you ran past. Most uplifting :clap:

3. The crowd also sheering/clapping/encouraging at the finish in the park.
I'm used to having a few people standing at the finish-line of a cyclo-cross, but I know a lot of them (wifes/girlfriends/parents/children/etc..)



7. Sunday 12th October saw the return to Cyclo-Cross, with the Seacroft Wheelers organised event at Temple Newsam (Leeds)

Ian (school-run dad, who beat me in the 10K) turned up & raced, as I'd planted the seed with his wife at school a few mornings before ;)

I think he was a bit stunned by how hard it all is :-k

If he'd asked Helen & Johnty, they'd have been able to tell him, as they came to the one at Oakwell Hall (31st August)

Still, a fat tyred mountain-bike isn't the best bike for it (I know from past experience)

There were supposedly 82 starters! (according to the race referee)
I had a storming start ('blows own trumpet'), passing at least 15 riders in the first 500yards of riding.

Once the race was underway, only 1 person caught me up & passed me.


Ian finished before me.
Not because he beat me. but he was lapped by the winner just short of the line, so didn't have to do another lap


Click on me below, for the full site ('Events & Results', 2008/2009)
I finished in 23rd/75 overall, which equals 19th/47 (in age-group; Vet 40-49)

I think I'm quite happy with that :clap:

Ian, got 52nd/75 overall, & got 36th/47 (in age-group)
He did very well for a first timer :clap:


Roll on Saturday 22nd November & the 'Cyclists verses Harriers' at Bingley for the decider

The gauntlet has been dropped & picked up!

'official' race report site, plus some pictures (I'm in Gallery 1)



8.   Yesterday saw me competing in a Cyclo-Cross at Salendine Nook, Huddersfield

Prior to the event I was wondering if I'd beat my 23rd/75 of last week?? (it'd be a 'pro-rata' result, of course, dependant on race-finishing numbers)

It was an extremely windswept course, with it sweeping down off Saddleworth Moor

I had a reasonable start, passing a few on the way to the first 'tight-spot' :dance:

The wind was a real problem;
1. Strong enough to cause problems when battering straight into it.
Still...... it caused everyone else the same problem, not just me.

2. Riding through the sections that had marker tapes was fraught, as taking a decent line (to maintain speed, or pass other riders) offered the risk of entangling yourself in yards of plastic.
It happened to a couple of riders.... or cracking your leg on one of the stakes holding the tape, as I did on one lap & snapping it with my shin, level to the ground "Ouch!!"

3. Not being able to hear other riders coming up from behind at points, even if they were calling "On your left/right!"


I'm not sure how many riders actually were on the start-sheet, but the end result was;
I didn't beat last weeks placing :doh: :doh:
I guess last weeks course suited me better, this was too windy, & I hadn't got the same incentive this week, "blah - blah!"
Yes!, I know!, excuses :oops:

'YPs' Round 5

I placed at 29th/76 overall, & 24th/50 in my age-group.

I lost one of the places by being 'pipped to the post' by feet :x



9. There's the official race report on the 'British Cycling' www now

The report agrees with me about the weather ;);
Quote;
The Veteran's and Women's race saw conditions beginning to worsen: although the threatened rain never materialised, a strong wind blew up and made many of the exposed grassland sections, already soft and damp, even more draggy and energy sapping.
Unquote


Sorry if this has been a bit boring for most of you, but members like 'Greenie' (who ride/race) will undoubtedly relate to it.
Also, any runners might relate to my 10K times

Thankyou for taking the time to read my soporific meanderings :lol:

[Bush Tucker Man]

Once more, my 'Gast is Flabbered'

When Joanne & Amelia got back from the 'Posh Porta-Cabin' yesterday, she asked me if I wanted to go look for a new bike :shock:

So, I took her at her word and jiggered off in the XKR to Evans over at 'Xscape' to look at some carbon fibre exotica :drool: :drool:

They had the following.......

1. 2008 model Specialized S-Works Tarmac SL dr0ol1 This was in the sale, with a whole £1,000 knocked off the price :shock:

2. 2008 Specialized Roubaix Expert (not quite as nice)

3. 2009 model Trek Madone 6.9 Pro  :drool: :drool:

4. 2008 model Trek Madone 4.5
This is the one I think I'd be sensible to try & push for. I can't be exhorbitant, or she might say no (again!)



But, given a free rein, I'd still be choosing the 2008 Madone 5.5 Pro



Drove to work this afternoon, as I needed to take clean uniforms (& food) after 4 days off, then ran home at 22:00
It was a nice reasonable 30:07, which seemed fairly easy, if dertainly not too easy

[Bush Tucker Man]

I got a new bike today :D :D

I've spent longer buying new shorts before now :lol:


Okay, to be totally honest, it isn't actually in my physical possession yet.
It's at the shop awaiting its 'PDI' & tweaking - it is paid for though.

I was very surprised to get it, as Joanne had previously set a limit of circa £700 - £750, and this particular velocipede certainly exceeds that mark :shock:


I went into the shop (Gary, the owner, sponsors our Club, as well as being involved in running the Club)

I explained my choices of what I wanted to do;
1. Buy a new 'best-bike', & downgrade my present best-bike (the Dyna-Tech) to a replacement for the 'yellow bike'

2. Buy a (circa £500) replacement for the 'yellow-bike' & keep the Dyna-Tech as 'best-bike'

With this in mind, I looked at a 2008 Bianchi 1885, which is part Aluminium/part carbon-fibre.

Then Joanne asked about the bike next to it...................................
Gary told her the list price....................................
She still asked him to get it off the rack...........................


I looked at her, looked at it, looked back at her (I'd looked at this model in another dealer)
A 2008 Ridley Orion, which comes in this colour;



The frame, forks, stem, handlebars & seat-pin are all carbon-fibre, so it's rather lightweight s_clap

We talked briefly, or my 'Accountant' did  :-k

The list price is £1599, we struck a deal with Gary and shook his hand at £1350.

Yes, I know (having browsed since getting home) I could get it off the internet cheaper, but I'd sooner give Gary the business.

Plus, there's the comfort of knowing he's only a few miles away if I have a problem, not the other end of the country with a warehouse full of bikes in boxes

Wait till you see my photos of the rather unusual tubing profiles

[Bush Tucker Man]

Wait till you see my photos of the rather unusual tubing profiles

Having looked around for photos, I found some on a site that I post on a fair bit, plus there's a test of it

Orion 2008 test

Look at the 5th image, it shows an almost square Down-Tube and rectangular Chain-Stays

The 6th image shows the underside of the 'tri-lobed' Top-Tube, the top surface is almost flat (image 4 shows it to a certain degree too)

See the accompanying image for the positions of these frame 'tubes'

[baron von ledwidge]

I have a few bikes too, what type of bike are you after
i havea  rocky mountain RM7
a Pashley 24MHZ
and a GT jamie bestwick BMX

[Bush Tucker Man]

I have a few bikes too, what type of bike are you after
i havea  rocky mountain RM7
a Pashley 24MHZ
and a GT jamie bestwick BMX

No, I bought it (as seen in the posting with the attachment of the Ridley)

Although............... I have seen cyclo-cross frames by LiteSpeed & Yeti. They're both worth drooling over

[Bush Tucker Man]

The frame, forks, stem, handlebars & seat-pin are all carbon-fibre, so it's rather lightweight

Sorry, that was 'crossed wires' on my part :oops:

The new bike has the afore-mentioned items supplied by Ritchey.


The Carbon-Fibre items were on the Bianchi 1885 I looked at.

The Ridley is still very light though :dance:

[Bush Tucker Man]

Got the phone-call at about 15:55 to tell me it was ready, I was changed, drove over to Castleford & was walking in the shop before 16:15 :lol:


I haven't ridden it properly, just up & down the street to set the saddle height and set-back, & the stem height.
Dressed properly, of course, in my bib-tights & Sidi's

By golly!, it's stiff & accelerates quickly!

Although, I'm still not sure about that red saddle :-k, and might put my comfy (& well worn in) 'Flite' saddle on it off the Dyna-Tech

[Bush Tucker Man]

I rode round 6 of the 'Yorkshire Points' series this afternoon.

It was the 'Condor Cross' (@ Bradley Woods Scout Camp. Brighouse, near jct 25/M62)

I think the going was probably best described as 'soft', as it was godawful conditions

In fact, it was positively glutinous, most of us ended up looking like George Hincapie (United States Postal Service. Lance Armstrongs team) did at the 2002 Paris-Roubaix  :lol: :lol:



Pinched from Graham Watson.com (cyclings premier photographer)

We did a good approximation of George, but the speeds weren't high enough to get a facial of that quality, just a light spattering :lol:





Seemingly over half of the course was a quamire, & seemingly neccesitated more running than riding
It started to 'precipitate it down' again during the race, as it did for the practice/'warm-up' laps

I had a decent start, but lost some ground on 2 occasions when riders fell off in front of me [-X

I'd been following Ian, one of the Wakefield Triathlon Club riders, who I know (his daughters went to the same school as Amelia, before they moved up to another school)

It's not the same Ian who ran the 'Prince Of Wales Hospice' 10K with me, & then rode the cross at Temple Newsam (his daughter is still at school with mine, but both the Ians know each other - through the 'Tri club')

Out of the past 3 races I've done with (this) Ian, I've beat him at all 3, but he's originally a runner & this course suited him far better, so he bet me convincingly!

Anyway the results are on the 'YCCA' website (click on the pic of me below, and go to 2008/2009 results), but I finished at 31st/61 overall, & 26th/45 in my age-group.
Ian came in at 13th/61






After finishing, I just took off my grotty jersey, put a towel on the seat & drove home.

I did get the "You're not coming in this house in THAT state!!!!" upon arrival home :roll: :roll:
So, it was a bucket of hot water outside to get rid of most of it.

Kit thrown in washer, shoes (and gloves) in a bucket, me in the shower, 2 pints of tea taken on-board

Then the bike was washed. Thankfully, it was still very wet mud (& leaf-mould) so it just came off with the hosepipe

The official 'British Cycling' report will be added as soon as I see it on-line

[Bush Tucker Man]

The official 'British Cycling' report will be added as soon as I see it on-line

it's online now
There's 3 pics of me

They're not linkable, nor available to 'save picture as' though. Unless someone can tell me how :-k

See;
Gallery 4; 63rd/64 images
Gallery 5; 41st/73 & 70th/73 images

[Bush Tucker Man]

The official 'British Cycling' report will be added as soon as I see it on-line

it's online now
There's 3 pics of me

They're not linkable, nor available to 'save picture as' though. Unless someone can tell me how :-k

They did :-$


Click on pic to open (3 images)



I was still reasonably clean at that point

[Skibum346]

I was browsing a photography forum I'm a member of and someone posted an image in a "Patterns" challenge... the link to the site where the product they photographed was made produced... made me think of you lot... even to my eyes these seem like "sexy" bikes!

Gota Bikes

[Bush Tucker Man]

I was browsing a photography forum I'm a member of and someone posted an image in a "Patterns" challenge... the link to the site where the product they photographed was made produced... made me think of you lot... even to my eyes these seem like "sexy" bikes!

Gota Bikes

Interesting...........there used to be a carbon-fibre MTB frame 'laid up' like that (think it was the 'Trimble'), plus it's also reminscent of Chris Boardmans 1992 (Barcelona) Olympics 4,000 inividual Pursuit bike (the Mike Burrows designed Lotus frame)

[MAD WOLFIE]

cool pic mate  :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

[Bush Tucker Man]

=

cool pic mate  :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

What my muddy afternoon?



Boardmans Lotus bike

Trimble X-Bike

[Rourkie]

Gota Bikes


Blimey :shock: I thought we were stuck in our ways with steel :lol: www.rourke.cc