KKRRRRREEEEEEEOOOOOOOIIIIIIINNNNNNKKKKK 2...

Racing Bolton II tomorrow although trying to get rid of a bit of a cough.

Fitting then that Berden II arrives as the previous edit fueled me through a decent ride at Bolton I.

Stomp on.

Evolution...

Pretty much a month's passed without a post.

I've had a birthday, been on holiday to the sun for a couple of weeks then returned to sit back, relax and reflect on the whole blog thing. It's been nice giving myself some space to understand what I'm producing, what I'm not and what I could and perhaps should produce. Sorry if it all seems a little abstract, it's just that I feel that it's time for this blog to evolve into something a lot broader based, in line with my own interests. Maybe in this format or a new version.

There is after all, more to life than cross and cobbles. Take for example the latest Poc Prod film. Seriously makes you want to pin it.

Sun, Sand and Sea...

I haven't seen today's race from Zonhoven but the sand and gradient looks seriously harsh. Some of the crashes looked hardcore too especially Bart Aernout's, hope he didn't knack himself too badly.

It's been a relatively mild season so far and it'll get warmer for me as I'm off on holiday shortly, and no, there isn't a Majorcan winter training camp in sight. This seasons been a strange one for sure. I've had overheating in Manchester, good legs in Bolton and a flat tyre putting and end to the proceedings in Boggart Hole.

I've missed a couple of races now with other commitments and aim to race again at the end of November inorder to find some form around the Christmas period.

By then I think the weather will suck.

The darkness cometh...

I posted this race last year. Racing at night, combined with a party atmosphere. Yes please, I'd love some of that.

Seems like we're rushing toward the time of year when we spend most of our lives in darkness. It's made me think about the possibility of getting some lights to go out training on a cross loop after work.

Just think about it that is. I'll probably be on the turbo when the mercury drops (even though your breath freezes on the garage roof as you're sweating like a dog).

StybAIR no.2...

...and here's the footage.

Ladies and Gentlemen. Roll up! roll up! Come see the amazing flying man.

StybAIR no.1...

Found this on tumblr, don't know who took it or if it's a still from the tv footage.

Stybar is rad (haven't said that for a good few years, but dayglo's back in so it's open season on the 80's), he nailed the table on pretty much every lap.

This is cross.

Kreeeeeeeeeeooooooooooiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnkkkkkkk...

Just had to repost this before it's all over like a rash. Spotted on Paper Thin Ben's blog.

Friday stoke for a muddy Sunday. Tat's, Metal, Cross and Godzilla a match made in heaven.

I'm so inspired I'll have to dig out my Yuppicide Vinyl.

Hot Sauce...

So Saturday was my first cross race of the season (Clayton Vale, Manchester) and provided a shock to the system from a physical intensity viewpoint and also a temperature perspective, it was stinking hot!

My race began with the regular first corner bunfight as 100 or something riders aim for a gap made for 4. It just doesn't go. As we compress, someone gets into my left lever and the next second I'm standing next to my bike...and I don't know how I got there. I remount amidst the dust and shouting and begin with what will be a nondescript race which will be a good workout but little else.

A few things I note:

• File treads go sideways more than forward at even the whiff of moisture, never mind mud. It's fun, but that's not what we're here for (or are we).
• I enjoyed switching to a 44/39 (from a 46) as I used more of the cassette with fewer shifts to the little ring. 45 might be the next step.
• Tho shalt not coast ever again.
• Racing cross in 20° heat is kinda wrong, I couldn't think about anything else but BBQ's and Mojito's all race.
• Hi -fiving the kids lining the tape doesn't make you any faster (but is piss funny seeing the looks on their faces).
• It'll be good to see some mud and grey sky this weekend (Bolton, Sunday). Never thought I'd say that.

Anyway managed to find some footage of the Pro's in Belgium also suffering in the heat... although my race wasn't anything like this.

Oh Yeah...

...and while were on it. We're gonna race through the trees like this tomorrow...

...just a bit slower.

edit by Rob Mitchell and previously posted by Paper Thin Ben

Normal Service Resumed...

Sven hands it to the early season young uns although I reckon Tom Meussen will be in the mix more often this year. We're scheduled to race tomorrow. Wth the temperature predicted to reach 27°C (depending who you believe) looks like the long sleeve skinsuit will stay at home and the bottle cage will go back on.

Next up...

CrossClub, a new team coming to the North East. Kit design finished in the last couple of weeks and off to be made next week (I think). Can't wait to see it in the flesh as I've lived with the design for a while and just want get a jersey on.

Caps should look super sweet.

Catch up...

Lack of blog posts pretty much mean I've been up to stuff, so here's the first thing, a quick poster for Cycle Sport Pendle's cross race in October.

Tired (sic)...

Mid summer I had all the intention to get myself on the cross tubular tyre merry go round. Well, being short of funds it was going to take an ebay trawl to find some donor parts, have them put together then find some cheap tyres to put on.

My enthusiasm pretty much diminished in the process. The donor parts vanished from the bay, cheap tubs don't exist...and if they do they're no better than clinchers anyway, and my funds began to be refocused towards the motorbike.

All's not lost though. All the funds will probably go to the moto as it needs a full set of tyres and a service... and a set of tubs won't probably increase my racing pleasure until I've fully exploited the engine that's moving em... more leg work needed chief.

Anyway Thibaud "TribalT" POULAIN rocks another French supermoto edit. Back wheel in the air anyone.

Ride...

If you can race cyclocross and feel the body english, bike movement and vibe encapsulated in this edit, then you must be doing something right. Love some of the shots in this piece.

New Grooves...

Could this be the next thing... the contender for the Belgian throne... my new project...

The answers are maybe, maybe and no... not yet*

Find out more here, with kit hints here

*although I suppose you could call me graphic scientist/brand guardian.

Go to the woods...

I've been going to the woods now for some time, it's a dirty secret... and I like it. It's a definite and really enjoyable transition from road mileage to carving through the trees. If you see a flash of red and black in the undergrowth, don't be scared, it's just a cyclocross wierdo.

Bikewise I need to make some changes to my drive chain as it's a little talkative. I've worn sprockets which will swapout and will replace the chain prior to the cross season, but it's fine for training. New graphics too - there said it, better get em sorted out to make it reality.

Bah, what am I talking about, forget leg power I'm trading em for horses, do you think they'll let me race cross on a KTM EXC?

perfect union is made...

I'm unapologetic if it seems like the blog takes a turn toward moto's during the summer months. I think it boils down to anything with a 'cross' in the title gets me stoked and riding the supermoto is a perfect mixture of tarmac and dirt capability - and noise and irritation to girlfriend Jo :)

So here's the clip that justifies it all. Belgium, Everts, motocrosser's cyclocrossing, cyclocrossers motocrossing.

Skip to 3.50 to catch the action. Stoked.

Madness...

Two weeks ago was the first race in the Manchester Midweek MTB Madness series. A 6 race series which I thought would be ideal summer racing as they use relative similar courses to the ones we use for cross. I was taking a punt using the cross bike as they're billed as MTB races, get too tech on rocky descents and it could be a case of breaking me and the bike in half.

So, on a beautiful evening I put my money where my mouth was, signed on and put a practice half lap in.

Turns out any fear I had of having to emulate Peaty was unfounded and apart from a small section that had to be run due to the gradient and running out of gears, the course was a pleasure - I'd go as far to say I enjoyed it more than the course used for cross, even the short section of steps you had to drop at the end of the lap.

Race wise I achieved everything I set out. 1 hour of consistent heart rate at the top end of my range and pushing my descending speed.

Finish position was 26/43. I wasn't too concerned about this really as I'm aiming for good hour long efforts...

...and it doesn't help when you start 10 from back.

Crossover...

There's just something about supermoto (or supermotard if you're French) that really works for me. The mixture of big capacity offroad machine with semi slick road tyres, giving it berries on both surfaces, magic. Thibaud Poulain's edit's are perfect examples of this an make me pretty envious of the kit and skill on show.

Mix of offroad/road machinery on a bit of both surfaces... sounds a bit like cyclocross. Maybe, maybe not.

On a bicycle front I'm pysched the focus (even if a while away) is turning to cyclocross. The tour of Belgium was a case in point as I managed to catch a few minutes of internet viewing on Saturday. The breakaway was a who's who of Belgian cross, inspirational stuff. CX mag has a better write up than I can manage but good to see the young guns firing as they'll be the ones to watch in the coming years. Good to see Stybar making the transition to road racing too - something more about Stybar in a future post and picture.

Oh yeah, Roland Desmet's photos have gone up another level with images from both the tour of Belgium and Espoirs Paris-Roubaix. Definitely a feast for the greedy Belgian cycling consumer.

Summer Fun...

Spotted this which may be of interest to North Westerners as it frequents a couple of spots used for cross through the winter.

Finish work, sling a bike in the car, race for an hour (40 mins + 1 ish), smile, go home.

Might be a chance to spin the legs on familiar territory or get familiar with the territory you won't be spinning your legs on in Winter.

Click the image to view the detail.