tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77021824463109438922024-03-04T23:31:29.162-08:00Barrow&BikesCharlie Barrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09927575117499888975noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7702182446310943892.post-77729176070200663152015-03-25T13:37:00.002-07:002015-03-25T13:37:27.373-07:00Grampian Tigers Restarts For A Second YearLast year was a whirlwind of productivity as we started the Stonehaven chapter of the Grampian Tigers youth cycling club. A group of about half a dozen coaches spent the year working with children to develop skills across MTB, Road and Cyclocross disciplines.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJmozDBymKiJb5SChvPPDlbscEtX6w7-mZT12Ub8uw0qG7PNy-LQr-mRh-QnTSozewYIkibo-BlTQBn6yQuDXQBnptvvaqBLy9ky7lPjrNT9uKJqJPUJ8lS-dPLThiWK0bbDnUyIz4BUA/s1600/photo+for+mearns+leader.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJmozDBymKiJb5SChvPPDlbscEtX6w7-mZT12Ub8uw0qG7PNy-LQr-mRh-QnTSozewYIkibo-BlTQBn6yQuDXQBnptvvaqBLy9ky7lPjrNT9uKJqJPUJ8lS-dPLThiWK0bbDnUyIz4BUA/s1600/photo+for+mearns+leader.JPG" height="133" width="200" /></a>This year we have kicked off at Dunnottar Woods and are leading children around the area, stopping to coach off-road skills. The year will also see children develop skills in CX and Road cycling with the added extra of grass-track racing which has only been possible through a successful funding bid and the support of Mackie Academy.<br />
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<br />Charlie Barrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09927575117499888975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7702182446310943892.post-82002756471472625342014-10-20T11:11:00.001-07:002014-10-20T11:11:18.786-07:00Back Into BloggingI admit it, I've just been lazy when it comes to updating this blog. It doesn't mean that nothing has happened, quite the opposite. In fact my only excuse is that perhaps the reason I've not blogged is because there's been so much going on that takes up my time.<br />
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To fill in the gaps and report on what has been an action-packed 10 months all in one blog post would be a real headache so here's what I'll do, I'll gather some photos of the year and blog spread the next few blog entries over a few weeks.<br />
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In the meantime, here's some tasters of this year's action...<br />
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some injuries</div>
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car camping</div>
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diy</div>
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racing</div>
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youth racing</div>
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pump track</div>
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Norwegian wilderness</div>
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silly ramps</div>
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speedway</div>
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Funduro</div>
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Tigers</div>
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stretching</div>
Charlie Barrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09927575117499888975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7702182446310943892.post-83393833430416721532014-01-21T12:53:00.001-08:002014-01-21T12:53:11.038-08:00Looking ForwardIsn't it lovely, that sound of crunching, fresh, undisturbed snow underfoot? Better still, the sound of tyres pushing their way through the piles of white and the heavy breathing as you try to keep the bike upright and limit the two-wheel slides? Yeah, it would have been nice but instead the winter so far has consisted of wet, windy, dark and cold days with little joy for the cyclist.<br />
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I did go through a brief phase of cycling to work but after a puncture on the way home, a pack of wet patches and no inner tube, I decided during my rescue drive home that it wasn't such a good start to the year. Instead of riding, I spent the rainy days filing my tax return online and trying to overcome my urge to give up riding and do something exciting with my life like being an accountant!<br />
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So what's better than riding bikes? Thinking about riding bikes, of course. Here are some of the projects and adventures that I plan to embark on this year. It's a kind of New Year's Resolution if you like but I prefer to think of it as some exciting things to look forward to!<br />
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Stonehaven Cycle Club<br />
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Plans are hotting up for a cycle club in Stonehaven. Likely to be a branch of Grampian Tigers, Aberdeen, there are some seasoned veterans of the sport involved and a wealth of knowledge and experience of managing clubs. It is expected that the club will cater for 7-12 yr olds initially but I hope we can cater for teenage cyclists in the future. I'm really passionate about harnessing the interest in this area and funnelling the energy into a real Stonehaven scene. Wouldn't it be lovely to have a Stonehaven Cycle Festival? Watch this space as that is definitely a future project I'd like to get underway.<br />
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Upgrading Qualifications<br />
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As part of the cycle club, I'll be completing my UKCCC Level 2 coaching qualification. This will be a new one for me. I love promoting cycling and as a commuter through London for several years I know a bit about urban cycle safety. As a teacher and Cycle Leader I can lead children safely but the one thing I have never been tested on is my technical riding skills. My guess is that if I can make it down black-graded runs and wild downhill sections on a hardtail and live to tell the tale then I must be doing something right. However, set me off at the bottom of a wet, rooty and steep incline and you'll soon hear some interesting sounds!<br />
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I'm also going to be doing the Cycle Trainer Plus course this Spring which will enable me to train the volunteers that deliver the Bikeability courses. I must admit that I do feel somewhat frustrated that I have to delegate the delivery of the Bikeability training to others' since I cannot be released from class time, maybe this will give me more time out on the bike with others and keeping my practical, urban cycle training hours up.<br />
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Racing<br />
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I haven't forgotten about the racing this year. I have chosen several races that I'm going to go in for. This year's Eliminator in June will be high on the fun-scale and is promised to be even better than last year. A dual track down the side of a hill, through a wood and into a barley field at the bottom was a recipe for big grins last year. I can anticipate a much bigger turnout this year so the pressure for a decent place will be on.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/82009974" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> </div>
<a href="http://vimeo.com/82009974">Muckmedden's Eliminator 2013</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/morroccomedia">Morrocco Media</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
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As well as the fantastic 10 Under The Ben race which I'll be doing again this year (though in a pair rather than solo this time) I'll be attacking the general vicinity of Ben Nevis as part of the epic wilderness enduro, Tour De Ben Nevis. I'll join hundreds of other riders spending a day riding up, down, through, carrying up and throwing myself off a number of features miles from civilisation and with no support team. Sound like fun!<br />
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Last year, I think my favourite race was the Highland Perthshire Enduro as part of the Highland Perthshire Cycling Festival. This year it seems to be billed as the Dunkeld Enduro but whatever it's called, I hope it's as steep, as fast, as muddy and as much fun as last year's. I'll be going for it to beat last year's time.<br />
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And finally, let's not forget the excellent ABZ Mates Races set up by the ABZ Mates Team as a friendly, free but highly competitive series of downhill races around Aberdeenshire. Having done 1 and a bit seasons, I think this year I should offer to host one around Stonehaven. I'm thinking an Enduro style race with sections through Fetteresso and down Cairn Mon Earn.<br />
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The Hill<br />
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I'm pretty excited about the hill. This year I am in the process of carving a second, parallel line to enable us to race one-on-one down our custom-built track. I've already spent a fair amount of hours properly laying sturdy trail surfaces, rock gardens, jumps and drainage so I'm hoping people enjoy it. I can't wait to organise a few more races on it.<br />
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A Forgotten Project<br />
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After a great visit to Glasgow's Riverside Transport Museum last weekend, I found what was last year's Holy Grail for me. I know that Rudge-Whitworth produced three colours of roadster bikes. I can't remember the first but one colour was black and one was a beautiful red/coffee colour. I rescued a bike a year or so ago and when I picked it up it had been hand painted black, and a pretty rough job too! Low and behold, under the black was this coffee colour. Unfortunately I wasn't able to restore the coat underneath and since the frame was very tatty anyway, I put it aside to await a respray. Well, having seen a coffee coloured, beautifully restored one in the museum, I have vowed to try to recreate the bike's former splendour. Here's what it used to look like.<br />
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Here's what I hope it will look like soon.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1_z5mur8LsQwlri6T0CPc1Ir1eH55K5zNn41QA2qvgt-jL4b4oZrLGSgEGw8PjKLe-CupVzNC7JQRR7xKc3tTgiO-AufXIkiWlm9nuCA1dTPpbXcGPl3F0IMCiCBvUXGqWU5_MoWaIcw/s1600/2796656404_a6565c3a88_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1_z5mur8LsQwlri6T0CPc1Ir1eH55K5zNn41QA2qvgt-jL4b4oZrLGSgEGw8PjKLe-CupVzNC7JQRR7xKc3tTgiO-AufXIkiWlm9nuCA1dTPpbXcGPl3F0IMCiCBvUXGqWU5_MoWaIcw/s1600/2796656404_a6565c3a88_b.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/niniferrose/2796656404/" target="_blank">photo courtesy of Paul 'niniferrose' on Flickr</a></td></tr>
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So all in all, I'm hoping that this year will be busy. I really hope that it leaves me time to ride the roads of Orkney with my Uncle when he visits and hit the high passes of the Norwegian mountains with Sven. You only live once and no-one knows when it will be time to check out. I recon I'll cram it in while I can :-)Charlie Barrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09927575117499888975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7702182446310943892.post-22446566036079866722013-09-22T12:33:00.001-07:002013-09-22T12:33:54.474-07:00Some Tayside Inspiration<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7dowo7N-lzsSnXTUSy_U02Tra2gfIXU6juSCE-9fPSlwzbfyTWjwQ2zEulqsfZ51yM47XXQ4E3rLBzi3ch60g-EjpvZNYRAkjEss4NWCLmLRfLNge-VQ5Uz7mFI2ZKFviorgQTmHcBcE/s1600/kids-mtb-series.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7dowo7N-lzsSnXTUSy_U02Tra2gfIXU6juSCE-9fPSlwzbfyTWjwQ2zEulqsfZ51yM47XXQ4E3rLBzi3ch60g-EjpvZNYRAkjEss4NWCLmLRfLNge-VQ5Uz7mFI2ZKFviorgQTmHcBcE/s640/kids-mtb-series.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Today I did my first marshalling duty as a 1st Aider for the Tayside & Fife Regional Youth MTB Series. This was the first round and took place in Kirkcaldy. As a venue, it was perfect. Middleden Woods is directly opposite Kirkcaldy High School and contains a labyrinth of red and blue graded trails. The course was clearly marked and suited the 8 - 16 age range perfectly.<br />
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There were many MTB teams taking part and in all there were about 70 riders of different ages and abilities. Aaron Muckmedden and family were there, as was some familiar faces from his races. Series sponsors, Big Tree Campervans took down a lovely, shiny van from which the registrations took place. The series is run through Scottish Cycling and so it was great to meet Morven and Graham from SC and chat to them about the future of Aberdeenshire.<br />
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So, as the cogs were spinning on competitor's bikes, so were the ones in my head. After chatting to various people, it seems like the idea of a Stonehaven MTB Club is not so far fetched after all and could be a really viable idea.<br />
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In short, the following wee steps of progress have been taken to make Aberdeenshire a far more cycle-promoting part of the world:<br />
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1. The Fishermoss Primary School Off-road Cycling Club has begun.<br />
2. There may be scope for a Stoney MTB Club.<br />
3. The major Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR) is to be completed in 2018 and, as long as the right pressure is asserted, should see the development of a cycle infrastructure south of Aberdeen. (No more cycling on the Stonehaven verge!!)<br />
4. Scottish Cycling and Developing Mountain Biking in Scotland (DMBinS) will hopefully turn their attention on Aberdeenshire in the next couple of years.<br />
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So, it's all looking rosy for cycling in the N.E.<br />
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If you would like to be involved in the development of a Stonehaven club or have any experience and advice to offer, please leave a comment.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">The dates for the Tayside & Fife Regional Youth MTB Series are:</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #9fc5e8;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;">22nd September – Dirt Crit at Middleden, Kirkcaldy</span></span></div>
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29th September – Dirt Crit at Dundee, Templeton Woods</div>
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19th October – Endurance Round at Hairy Coo, Comrie Croft (Enter this round at www.droverstryst.com)</div>
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10th November – Mini-DH at Highland Perthshire</div>
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17th November – Dirt Crit at Outdoor Education Fife</div>
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Event registration will be at 10am and the event will finish at 1pm.</div>
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Final details of event timings and course will be emailed in advance of the event.</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">You can enter online <a href="https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/99184/Big-Tree-Campervan-Tayside-&-Fife-Regional-Youth-MTB-Series-2013---Round-5-Lochore-Meadows-Country-Park,-Fife#summary" target="_blank">here</a></span></span></div>
Charlie Barrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09927575117499888975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7702182446310943892.post-82183336419128416072013-08-09T05:10:00.000-07:002013-08-09T06:16:53.164-07:00The Eliminator<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.gizoogle.net/index.php?search=http%3A%2F%2Fbarrowandbikes.blogspot.co.uk%2F2013%2F08%2Fthe-eliminator.html%3Fspref%3Dfb&se=Gizoogle+Dis+Shiznit" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="61" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLmuEEJ8E2oiMUR9C6XYucT5NJfe-zd1lPJsHe_xUgoHHzZukTbnqPObCdKrHJLg2hsdcttjGdRifGhwkBMBS2M_phbmtDCUmMxh4jrTa5Ky8hYNmolzRAfHUUGgmnJuzqOZ_difidOPs/s200/Screen+Shot+2013-08-09+at+14.13.15.png" width="200" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.gizoogle.net/index.php?search=http%3A%2F%2Fbarrowandbikes.blogspot.co.uk%2F2013%2F08%2Fthe-eliminator.html%3Fspref%3Dfb&se=Gizoogle+Dis+Shiznit" target="_blank">Read this post in Gangsta, home boy!</a><br />
<span style="color: #990000;">**Warning: contains bad language**</span></td></tr>
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I had been excited about this race ever since the seed of the idea had been mentioned on the Muckmedden website. The prospect of not only riding head to head with another rider on parallel trails but doing it through a barley field really floated my boat.<br />
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As the race date got closer, I began to scrutinise the photographs and videos on Facebook and wonder, was this really for me? It looks fine enough but what is the chance of me getting there and making a proper fool of myself? So, I hiked up the hill a couple of weeks before the race and sessioned the track. It was great; fast and flowy with enough in the woods to keep me on my toes. With the sun beating down on me, I set the second fastest time on Strava. Oh dear, I'd shown my cards too early!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riding head-to-head with Rob over the top jump</td></tr>
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Evidently the weather had remained kind and after pitching the tent on the Friday evening, we took a walk up the hill. A few changes had been made. A lovely jump had appeared giving a very smooth and fast route over the farmer's road and into the barley. The sketchy corner in the woods had been tidied up and ensured the fastest line over the kicker could be taken. It was, however, still a sketchy corner!<br />
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Reaching the top, my heart beat faster as I saw, what to me looked like a huge structure rearing over the hill, magnified by the hill's drop to the Tay. This was new. I wasn't sure if I was up for embarrassing myself in front of serious riders. After some practise runs off to the side I took the jump faster and faster and realised that it could be taken at full speed. I don't think I've spent that long in the air before!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBYtlJzC-B154g1GMgiuDmlweda1jNDshJS1ED9QvITwmEnLYMGFK3KRPVHouCM1zw1XcBOo3-Qt-veuXWUgRHqy2lqWYf6QOGCNCKSz07CrpGlbDibFvbxFaR1ySOJDxKhhjpFaRt7Uw/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-08-04+at+21.15.45.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBYtlJzC-B154g1GMgiuDmlweda1jNDshJS1ED9QvITwmEnLYMGFK3KRPVHouCM1zw1XcBOo3-Qt-veuXWUgRHqy2lqWYf6QOGCNCKSz07CrpGlbDibFvbxFaR1ySOJDxKhhjpFaRt7Uw/s640/Screen+Shot+2013-08-04+at+21.15.45.png" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hitting the sketchy corner at speed</td></tr>
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Racing head to head with Rob for qualifying times was fantastic. We seemed to be very similar and on the runs I completed, we were almost neck and neck. The problem was, there were far more runs that I didn't complete. My chain was bouncing off at every opportunity and with a worn middle chainring, it wasn't keen to go back on. This was really frustrating so I spent the following couple of hours bodging a quick fix. My chain wasn't going anywhere by the time I'd finished with it!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVXs6oU1FDu_LxCz1A4msM4U_OK_aZDkSfjdxTE-qd6XsT3zf4IRi5KK7KccTzHSXI2GchpS3BbJxtuwlSBSoCIfJmJDf-NE2h8thyphenhyphenYs4WpYmtuZKn7VHB9BYXy4XjkBskA8E0tNcFHU/s1600/IMG-20130728-WA0002%25231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVXs6oU1FDu_LxCz1A4msM4U_OK_aZDkSfjdxTE-qd6XsT3zf4IRi5KK7KccTzHSXI2GchpS3BbJxtuwlSBSoCIfJmJDf-NE2h8thyphenhyphenYs4WpYmtuZKn7VHB9BYXy4XjkBskA8E0tNcFHU/s320/IMG-20130728-WA0002%25231.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Family support</td></tr>
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On Sunday it rained. It rained and rained and rained. The track was indistinguishable from the previous day's practise. What was worse was we were not going to get any further practise runs before eliminations began. This played on my mind as I was at the start line with my competitor who I had clocked as pretty confident. His confidence was not lacking at the start line - he was dressed as a rabbit, complete with ears! I had to push hard to chase the rabbit and once I slid out on the top stage I thought it was over. It was only once coming into the trees that I realised I could still catch him. So I pushed harder... into a tree. The first race was lost. If I lost the second, I was out.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv0gDaAjXzkuun8fpPz4wTP9WeGvbLzRILQBGIem9h8D-5ldh5vUe7Ss0Vcb_gCmRYJNfd99V-tp_QXaX2dSSk1M59YPaWqYUvnEhuJmPzrI-ug7F9iTITfIlqPGqk7aytTCiGjKC_r08/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-08-04+at+21.18.17.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv0gDaAjXzkuun8fpPz4wTP9WeGvbLzRILQBGIem9h8D-5ldh5vUe7Ss0Vcb_gCmRYJNfd99V-tp_QXaX2dSSk1M59YPaWqYUvnEhuJmPzrI-ug7F9iTITfIlqPGqk7aytTCiGjKC_r08/s200/Screen+Shot+2013-08-04+at+21.18.17.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slippery conditions</td></tr>
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Now, with a sense of the new conditions, I knew how hard to push it. I won all of my next races to the excitement of my family who new that I had promised to wear the Where's Wally onesie if I remained in the contest after lunch. Hearing the children shouting for Wally made this feel like real racing. Was I in Ft William? It felt like it!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.photogig.co.uk/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwsLvqygt3gtZFBzGEkxhwwnxdsr7ItckDpcntFeQyIOJ3s_sw0BMWPbPh0VXG98vIHe-o6mlLAls9e7dlhxi7tdb0G8mdtGTPFHmlrl4G-GYHL5DjeGw7oM9y5PaBQjKoSRxzOmpiUos/s640/Screen+Shot+2013-08-02+at+11.17.56.png" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.photogig.co.uk/" target="_blank">The Where's Wally onesy comes out! Photo: Marek Styczen</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Liv completed balance bike skills course while Beth won 1st<br />
place in both skills course and xc children race (girls).</td></tr>
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Before I knew it, I was in the uplift vehicle with 5 other riders. This was the final. 2 riders from each grouping. I was in group 2. I was in the final for group 2! All of a sudden it had got serious. I was tired and I knew I didn't have the power off the start. But for some reason I had been catching people before the first turn all day so as long as I took the inside line, I tended to get round folk. So this time I had a strategy. I stayed on his back wheel all down the first section, saving the legs. We shared the same line into the wooded section and I eased off slightly for fear of either of us sliding out. By the time I pumped down the last steep drop out of the woods I had given too much away. He was three or four bike lengths ahead. As he waved to spectators I put the power on. There was no way he was going to get away with that! I hit the road jump faster than I had at any other point that day, easily clearing the road diagonally and shooting me into the barley field and onto his tail. I was on his back wheel the whole way through except for the last turn when I hung wide and pedalled like mad. I was catching him. I could see that at this rate there was a very good chance I was going to pass him before the finish line. It was going to be so close... until disaster struck. With a slip of concentration I had drifter several inches to the left; enough for my handlebars to hit the barley. My speed was scrubbed instantly and any chance of taking the win was over. I would have been gutted but with not expectations and with that last race as the best and most exciting of the day, I couldn't stop grinning.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="http://www.photogig.co.uk/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht9oT6lZE8nkry9iFBPriz7Cmb8HKyibVVumEWE87-wwhdbtWUeLpTxOPGlhb7ZP7ALt9r5SA72UlZqjZ_nYTJOwdzWBdhCNYCdtpNozdfsg_4OOtQlpFBk3REqAtLDBogX0C8pkZMIZk/s640/Screen+Shot+2013-08-04+at+21.13.56.png" width="640" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.photogig.co.uk/" target="_blank">No grip but a soft landing. Barley field was one of the many highlights. Photo: Marek Styczen</a></td></tr>
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The Muckmedden team really couldn't have got the event more right. Ok, there were teething problems with the format of the race and the weather could have been better but all of that paled into insignificance with the realisation that I was riding my bike all weekend, being supported by my family, my girls also being able to ride their bikes and compete and win prizes (which they did. Beth came 1st out of girls in xc race) and not only that but there were craft stalls, food stalls, movie screenings and local brew. I was in heaven! This must be an annual event from now on as it is worth every penny of the entrance fee. Well done and a huge thanks to the organisers and the other competitors who made it such a fun and friendly day.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1F6KV8TQChwvW04egvhUJDIpyGah88xAIOmJ4rvhOw-fL38l9ir3Q0i5pzM14WtXkkBunzW2i66tKPom_lY_zHvPNRxdX-qmfvD9czzGtC2iQA5GuI8wMpX8QDioL30p8mvon9qVj7eE/s1600/IMG-20130728-WA0000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1F6KV8TQChwvW04egvhUJDIpyGah88xAIOmJ4rvhOw-fL38l9ir3Q0i5pzM14WtXkkBunzW2i66tKPom_lY_zHvPNRxdX-qmfvD9czzGtC2iQA5GuI8wMpX8QDioL30p8mvon9qVj7eE/s640/IMG-20130728-WA0000.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first ever podium place.</td></tr>
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<br />Charlie Barrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09927575117499888975noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7702182446310943892.post-34262618279430146272013-06-29T07:33:00.000-07:002013-07-23T08:21:24.105-07:0010 Under The BenI've left this post a bit late to write so instead of a long, waffling rundown of the race I'll post up some photographs to give a little taster of the even.<br />
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<iframe allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="405" scrolling="no" src="http://app.strava.com/activities/66691647/embed/9ad5d7f3c5233d3efdf3893a3085d1f54f0a955f" width="590"></iframe>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">(Nb: Disregard the Strava 'achievements' as they are not true. I had to add laps 2,3&4 by hand as phone battery ran out so performance data isn't up to date. Also, the time is inaccurate too. It took me much much longer!)</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqX1TtE47mxVo59Y485Iwc2CIXkd5ck1wB5QgnimYyl2d4WZlsVrBY3tNEECnHeM58k8dWJ8HxLvjTY6xNQUn5O1p3msPRjbLJ-2BUiUcjVEKdqjOwUXKFdL83Rfc-kvGBia2Re9LSySk/s1600/sportograf-40224861_lowres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqX1TtE47mxVo59Y485Iwc2CIXkd5ck1wB5QgnimYyl2d4WZlsVrBY3tNEECnHeM58k8dWJ8HxLvjTY6xNQUn5O1p3msPRjbLJ-2BUiUcjVEKdqjOwUXKFdL83Rfc-kvGBia2Re9LSySk/s400/sportograf-40224861_lowres.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The calm before the storm. Nevis Range before the races.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtZaYKMk0gCRhvyCB0Y0XnSN5eWFMul05oCc-dA-_wc1mQe_MPfjOAkG76PDD_czX53BqN442OAPcLAlEVO0cwimEMTSSmurzngcxhFvRAWskPgOFRJSiDYUXVWaquxE4vIFnNrSTUdLo/s1600/sportograf-40221083_lowres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtZaYKMk0gCRhvyCB0Y0XnSN5eWFMul05oCc-dA-_wc1mQe_MPfjOAkG76PDD_czX53BqN442OAPcLAlEVO0cwimEMTSSmurzngcxhFvRAWskPgOFRJSiDYUXVWaquxE4vIFnNrSTUdLo/s400/sportograf-40221083_lowres.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As always, the event attracted a large number of riders.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHvl5n2ObTYL5JlITGuo7BlA1PHNBLAdI-N6BzNCrJcRycxtYpt8hQE_rqjHBJTTGceoWGTCMzF8BfPQB2dFalg0V2mxhMFzqD7orWxNmIlYye1c8X-Lt8_t43Rec1HXaAdMx-uOvW6HY/s1600/sportograf-40217397_lowres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHvl5n2ObTYL5JlITGuo7BlA1PHNBLAdI-N6BzNCrJcRycxtYpt8hQE_rqjHBJTTGceoWGTCMzF8BfPQB2dFalg0V2mxhMFzqD7orWxNmIlYye1c8X-Lt8_t43Rec1HXaAdMx-uOvW6HY/s400/sportograf-40217397_lowres.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A nice, fast, dusty section giving the legs a bit of a rest and releasing the adrenaline.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0c8AVmseit59XDY75BuyyqUJWNXqKxl4pM0ocJj6B5pqifh_yKG0U5-eCcdL5iR_Nu5CnBYjoow8ghs_SXGwj8Uq929N3HYmHNomwVJ2mNdJtdw9WXIfotfZrXt1Mjc9kr-09wjNzcus/s1600/sportograf-40217575_lowres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0c8AVmseit59XDY75BuyyqUJWNXqKxl4pM0ocJj6B5pqifh_yKG0U5-eCcdL5iR_Nu5CnBYjoow8ghs_SXGwj8Uq929N3HYmHNomwVJ2mNdJtdw9WXIfotfZrXt1Mjc9kr-09wjNzcus/s400/sportograf-40217575_lowres.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My facial expression remained much the same throughout the race. Concentration and pain.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOsC4ZvXXkyBkY8udJ-i_Rt4GIfyBu0KBtgbYRztOkX4mAXX5GJcCOqEWokuFr2NzPXUIgPDe7i7C2yspxrAmVew1jC5QKi2Eh4lrjpeYTzyqufCy_113V5T4taBGbl4XskbyzB4y5LsE/s1600/sportograf-40218218_lowres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOsC4ZvXXkyBkY8udJ-i_Rt4GIfyBu0KBtgbYRztOkX4mAXX5GJcCOqEWokuFr2NzPXUIgPDe7i7C2yspxrAmVew1jC5QKi2Eh4lrjpeYTzyqufCy_113V5T4taBGbl4XskbyzB4y5LsE/s400/sportograf-40218218_lowres.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots of opportunity to swing round into rooty descents.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh29JyJ5jXcKOAPTJgWE2b7XcWbyUZ2zqaE-PZnbu8HmpFJnb6QSJ1nBKMnTFR65R4viwjSmnmzm9ThuSWTnHwneSvCO5zMBS3oKUVXaWWyQw4UAVjymyzpUggGEZ6H28AWYxRHIYBlTMA/s1600/sportograf-40219275_lowres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh29JyJ5jXcKOAPTJgWE2b7XcWbyUZ2zqaE-PZnbu8HmpFJnb6QSJ1nBKMnTFR65R4viwjSmnmzm9ThuSWTnHwneSvCO5zMBS3oKUVXaWWyQw4UAVjymyzpUggGEZ6H28AWYxRHIYBlTMA/s400/sportograf-40219275_lowres.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And a little fast roll before a tight bridge that left less than an inch either side of my bars!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgchpfF3A3fV_nAknJ-ZlCp0sVJOQOgsOzIAUXhj2p6eNKFCbgeAkEobaTHxKM205NhAhfYrxQ1q2ntdTPoznkYuiEKZBkJptcCcLYnH0E4mjxnGUpzgsf5rMsbAU3rjwVshdrgx9tiJRc/s1600/sportograf-40219561_lowres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgchpfF3A3fV_nAknJ-ZlCp0sVJOQOgsOzIAUXhj2p6eNKFCbgeAkEobaTHxKM205NhAhfYrxQ1q2ntdTPoznkYuiEKZBkJptcCcLYnH0E4mjxnGUpzgsf5rMsbAU3rjwVshdrgx9tiJRc/s400/sportograf-40219561_lowres.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Probably about to be overtaken... again!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEJMhuw4umiU83WWU577wcPGx2MDZ9RHO1hcxxB0g-kqBtg1jgZ90KSsKxZRZtr3dfclbf8fYZKoHIDIbPt30r-vSb2I4ky3agzpvSw47izfRv6yNkI4MWW-LX7eKPp2sHwMNtGVE6EXU/s1600/sportograf-40221364_lowres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEJMhuw4umiU83WWU577wcPGx2MDZ9RHO1hcxxB0g-kqBtg1jgZ90KSsKxZRZtr3dfclbf8fYZKoHIDIbPt30r-vSb2I4ky3agzpvSw47izfRv6yNkI4MWW-LX7eKPp2sHwMNtGVE6EXU/s400/sportograf-40221364_lowres.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Probably my favourite photograph and one of my favourite sections. Keep the speed and be ready for the quick climb over the bank and back to dry land.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiqKLZCFvnGyAcVQVMA8h8ZCsiWTovk9CXehcpDvrDEfp403PPz90soL0s84MFffOP7MVrgiNv1cJ7O1EI2cYjSmJW1bLlhkfJV4srk53Q4__gF9mZQB0_z1XqORtd8zEbKC954hXptfg/s1600/sportograf-40221835_lowres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiqKLZCFvnGyAcVQVMA8h8ZCsiWTovk9CXehcpDvrDEfp403PPz90soL0s84MFffOP7MVrgiNv1cJ7O1EI2cYjSmJW1bLlhkfJV4srk53Q4__gF9mZQB0_z1XqORtd8zEbKC954hXptfg/s400/sportograf-40221835_lowres.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The speed is reflected in the grin!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ0u3lYsKG4jeEIMHdTTIfjD-FHeYtfB3bITdeChdh88mqxts6Insdsiopp_Mqr8s2uxEEb-HX_9rnO50OhczmaXvA5hDdH-gDcZTmikPWtgNC3w_BKCL4o4wB1qAOFNtvpGht6Hobplk/s1600/sportograf-40223768_lowres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ0u3lYsKG4jeEIMHdTTIfjD-FHeYtfB3bITdeChdh88mqxts6Insdsiopp_Mqr8s2uxEEb-HX_9rnO50OhczmaXvA5hDdH-gDcZTmikPWtgNC3w_BKCL4o4wB1qAOFNtvpGht6Hobplk/s400/sportograf-40223768_lowres.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boardwalk sections kept my concentration. A few moments saw me almost come off the edge due to daydreaming and fatigue towards the end!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidV9OqCNtCpGmxFIJpFWsMg_Hr2iv59GrOZW4zFoNW9-GijN9blnoTXd0BrCHKYFD7CmS1mxGQxta9q0omYQV37XhS7_20SHdL-7lqzOnJ0y7tRTD6Pbb7LhRuNoOTBwAJZ4RRNCkkApo/s1600/sportograf-40216611_lowres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidV9OqCNtCpGmxFIJpFWsMg_Hr2iv59GrOZW4zFoNW9-GijN9blnoTXd0BrCHKYFD7CmS1mxGQxta9q0omYQV37XhS7_20SHdL-7lqzOnJ0y7tRTD6Pbb7LhRuNoOTBwAJZ4RRNCkkApo/s400/sportograf-40216611_lowres.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jon said to style it out whenever I saw a photographer. This was all my body would allow me to do!<br />
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I placed 62nd out of 93 which I felt was acceptable for a solo rider!<br />
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<a href="http://lappedenduro.sportident.co.uk/home/event/publicresults/overall.html?eventid=0a8f7572-6d09-4663-99a3-186ab8b48db6&links=" target="_blank">See the results here</a><br />
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<br />Charlie Barrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09927575117499888975noreply@blogger.com0Ben Nevis, Fort William, Highland PH33, UK56.7967978 -5.006008999999949131.2747633 -46.314602999999948 82.3188323 36.30258500000005tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7702182446310943892.post-18161831861767293772013-06-26T13:06:00.000-07:002013-06-26T13:06:33.183-07:00Bike Week 2013After a week in Nethybridge with Primary 7 children, the prospect of bike week the following week felt a little exhausting when all I really wanted was a rest. Well, nothing keeps the body going like fresh air and two wheels.<br />
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<b>Dunnottar Woods skills course and woodland ride.</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH7kGvQrLDKnnCUF8arvRrF6ksGfwgWL6_iCUAh_RJptcYvtghcBcA7DQmvYcDIL-zMOzwAeT0e6KJUFgLb3cr_cFfvTEGAjtCtGx4iXbYZc5nDDf3KtXt_j2hi9fVQ_QCDFHc3FzxVYk/s1600/IMAG0067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH7kGvQrLDKnnCUF8arvRrF6ksGfwgWL6_iCUAh_RJptcYvtghcBcA7DQmvYcDIL-zMOzwAeT0e6KJUFgLb3cr_cFfvTEGAjtCtGx4iXbYZc5nDDf3KtXt_j2hi9fVQ_QCDFHc3FzxVYk/s200/IMAG0067.jpg" width="119" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhlYaJrxH2RNLSvi-Le853GplH1-2b6uX0_LEZJHGHPyFYZu2_WYxD-TJKZUb4OQEZI-EcI-Eq2i1GypVFRWCXJ-vsLlwxQcPRKmpLSs8f8Ba2hAxkOWjkqGBzxYDIvakGWj8b7OPDfb0/s1600/IMAG0068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhlYaJrxH2RNLSvi-Le853GplH1-2b6uX0_LEZJHGHPyFYZu2_WYxD-TJKZUb4OQEZI-EcI-Eq2i1GypVFRWCXJ-vsLlwxQcPRKmpLSs8f8Ba2hAxkOWjkqGBzxYDIvakGWj8b7OPDfb0/s200/IMAG0068.jpg" width="148" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq0r12BjBg8o9Bwc8zWN8uGXRRxpgktwTuPkSjbIRzjfrwWZUTiE12wcwxaBUKkeq0It60inVJd7wyEVwt7S5KugznmSbDWls1aYTWRD1l7UrBsk-vuriCcSM-kd8H3lWRDMTvEkzf2LQ/s1600/IMAG0073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq0r12BjBg8o9Bwc8zWN8uGXRRxpgktwTuPkSjbIRzjfrwWZUTiE12wcwxaBUKkeq0It60inVJd7wyEVwt7S5KugznmSbDWls1aYTWRD1l7UrBsk-vuriCcSM-kd8H3lWRDMTvEkzf2LQ/s200/IMAG0073.jpg" width="151" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0J1iJCo-_9fpDxJjvL2uc021Xyrc9uyuMcAIb620C_XWRVT0lP8RMEtYWiv1FmRq5os33-3mSRq2urxs4_geTqLzbYIfUmFJEsCS3qwumASM65KnVS6Sz_l-mAAROIgo8uyD07sjQ2Ik/s1600/IMAG0074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0J1iJCo-_9fpDxJjvL2uc021Xyrc9uyuMcAIb620C_XWRVT0lP8RMEtYWiv1FmRq5os33-3mSRq2urxs4_geTqLzbYIfUmFJEsCS3qwumASM65KnVS6Sz_l-mAAROIgo8uyD07sjQ2Ik/s200/IMAG0074.jpg" width="200" /></a>The week began straight away with a skills course and woodland ride around Dunnottar woods. Both days were tragically under subscribed and with the weather being so beautiful during both days, I was a little disappointed. However, my youngest daughter loved it and did really well on the Sunday. It should definitely be done again and I will organise others for the summer holidays with better publicity this time.<br />
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<b>Balanceability Sessions at Fishermoss Primary School.</b><br />
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Having secured 10 balancebikes and a great kit of lesson plans and resources with the help of our Travel Plan Officer, we decided to try it out on our Nursery 'guinea pigs'. It went down a storm with children of varying abilities achieving success in our balance bike activities. I haven't permission to publish images of the children doing the activities but you can see the set up below. Great fun!<br />
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<b>After-school Off Road Ride</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJOoDvA9NepCZYXZczh5GwZSh22z0Wl3tdm75TwjFm6OmaoeNJlsQZcE1oKXEtrkkI00QIpGn0LVU9Kr6t7Rx6Ckzj8_yYnyAe0nvEOXpcuBYTMos8wvffd5nDI8j5Gbp9NMJrjN3hIzM/s1600/IMAG0104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJOoDvA9NepCZYXZczh5GwZSh22z0Wl3tdm75TwjFm6OmaoeNJlsQZcE1oKXEtrkkI00QIpGn0LVU9Kr6t7Rx6Ckzj8_yYnyAe0nvEOXpcuBYTMos8wvffd5nDI8j5Gbp9NMJrjN3hIzM/s200/IMAG0104.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIIss3VkqHQvQwL0ir8X9HGMJ2hms5P0vPB_0JkQ7n3gSMYwIqdL_bPsNNtEpFMrnVEIPrLXNWGieeg_uXE-mJRs-w6IURHdNkEkYiL2NjCLCTsC35xDXUWO6O_W6HmQKV9I1osEQbF-o/s1600/IMAG0100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIIss3VkqHQvQwL0ir8X9HGMJ2hms5P0vPB_0JkQ7n3gSMYwIqdL_bPsNNtEpFMrnVEIPrLXNWGieeg_uXE-mJRs-w6IURHdNkEkYiL2NjCLCTsC35xDXUWO6O_W6HmQKV9I1osEQbF-o/s200/IMAG0100.jpg" width="200" /></a> This was the big one. A ride that has cost me hours of planning, risk assessing, writing and rewriting permission letters and paragraphs of legal jargon but in the end I had half a dozen children signed up and eager to hone their skills on the skills course before heading off on a fun-filled ride along the old coastal route. The Nave route section we rode runs between Portlethen and Newtonhill with a range of different terrain. It was an amazing trip with children finding new confidence, overcoming fears and obstacles. The ride finished with huge smiles from children, parents and helpers and of course ME!<br />
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Why just do these things during bike week? No, I don't know either so I plan to run them again soon. Watch this space.<br />
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<br />Charlie Barrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09927575117499888975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7702182446310943892.post-36636422316991058882013-06-06T22:30:00.000-07:002013-06-26T12:12:55.574-07:00ABZ Mates Race Round 2: 6th June<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVI9yUix0QzZPTMSqZ_RV5PQmeGS1RIaV7EAmtTiEAAqNV1AOSFcplzzx-pSxPgm6487ab0HLGB09XBBI_FQhTikLJBicZrS4IE0jO0C5WRpz6ZgWDONmxNV0Jge9U77Jy3TlFVRSvkoM/s1600/8977198843_082aba0eac_h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVI9yUix0QzZPTMSqZ_RV5PQmeGS1RIaV7EAmtTiEAAqNV1AOSFcplzzx-pSxPgm6487ab0HLGB09XBBI_FQhTikLJBicZrS4IE0jO0C5WRpz6ZgWDONmxNV0Jge9U77Jy3TlFVRSvkoM/s320/8977198843_082aba0eac_h.jpg" width="320" /></a>Scolty A very brief lowdown of the Scolty race: The weather was great and everyone was eager on this one. Scolty is a common venue for most local mountain bikers and I felt confident as I'd ridden this race last year. However, my body didn't quite feel up for it. This was reflected in quite a poor time. I won't go into the riders who did not understand the etiquette of letting faster riders pass. And I won't go into the details of how I couldn't follow simple route markers and had to ride a section twice!</div>
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It was a great route but very pedally and took a fair amount of effort. As usual, the folks organising the race did a blinding job and everything was safe and good fun. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chasing a tail. "Excuse me please sir" just didn't seem to work!</td></tr>
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My times felt good but a twisted chain on stage 3 really slowed me down and affected my overall time. Therefore, the wine wasn't mine. Neither was the beer or the cheese and biscuits. However, as a stroke of luck, there was a spare chain. It was used, made up of different chains and may not have even been 9 speed. I still have it in my shed!<br />
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<a href="https://docs.google.com/file/d/1gRdGTw21cZQ3g8kT8RgTJZXOVPSOAsTWIUv4XCOOK7nvnY4UVNXiRTYUo-AY/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Click here for race results</a></div>
<br />Charlie Barrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09927575117499888975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7702182446310943892.post-44004920823388952102013-05-05T21:00:00.000-07:002013-05-14T12:41:39.231-07:00Highland Perthshire Enduro - May 2013It's not often that I go in for competitive riding. However, this year I have seen a few that I fancy, a test of fitness perhaps or a chance to try to beat my friends. Whatever the reason I couldn't resist the idea of a whole day of riding riding the hills around the Dunkeld area. So, I signed up alongside 159 other riders of all ages and abilities (some scarily high abilities too!) and proceeded to train.<br />
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On the day, the idea of 49k wasn't as daunting. The weather was good. I was not interested in breaking body and bike trying to get a podium place. Instead I was to enjoy a great day with my pals, riding just inside my abilities and sometimes outside of my comfort zone.
Stage 1 included a beautiful ride along landrover tracks with views of Schiehallion and surrounding hills. With sun on my back and surrounded by riders keeping a comfortable pace we enjoyed passing blue waters and lush forest. Everyone was upbeat at the beginning of the timed stage and were keen to 'beep' their timing tag and set off.<br />
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Stage 1 was a muddy and slippery beginning to what became a fast and rocky straight-line descent to the finish timing gate. Laughing in the face of those without a big-ring I felt the thrill of the warm wind against my face and the tyres bouncing over the rocks at breakneck speed. An invigorating warm up to get the blood and endorphins pumping.<br />
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When we reached the top of the long (but not the longest) climb to the phone mast, nobody had any idea of the newly built trail that lay ahead of us. As this was a 'blind' course, nobody had ridden the route before and the second timed section had only been finished days before... before the rain. As we launched from the start gate the trail suddenly dropped into a very steep and muddy downhill. The rain had turned this descent into what only could be described as a flume with thick, gloopy mud. There was little control as riders attempted to stay upright and on the pedals in order to handle the roots and drops that we encountered. As I breathed a sigh of relief that I had reached the end of the mud in one piece I encountered off-camber corner after corner made up of loose, wet slate that seemed unpleased to be disturbed and through many a rider, including me, into the gutters of the trail. At this point riders all around were flying left, right and centre using speed and momentum to stay upright with some managing more than others. With the final flags in sight, I rounded the last corner to be presented with a very rooty and step-strewn route to negotiate, trying not to notice the catch net that had been set up to stop riders plummeting off to the right and down a drop that would take them at least 10ft to the road below.<br />
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It was this part of the course that tested my nerve and my skills. I was definitely riding outside my comfort zone but pleased to have pushed my limits and proved my ability.<br />
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Stage 3 was found at the top of a very, very long climb and I admit that after a valiant effort, I had to push up some of this. Upon passing a couple of walkers they helpfully informed me of the considerable length I still had to travel. To my delight, the route I was following was found sooner and after a cross country pedal across grassy moors I found the beginning of the timed stage. This stage began with a fast and straight descent along a whispy and sometimes elusive grassy path. Dry enough to keep speed, it was great fun trying to read the trail, trying to assess just what obstacle was to come and how to pop over it without too much loss of speed. Perhaps the beginning set me up with a false sense of security as it wasn't long before the trail entered the trees and I found myself on a more technical, woody, muddy and root section. With a moments hesitation before a small drop between two trees I found myself off the bike looking back in wonder. How did I end up in this position? The bike was wedged between two trees, sideways with my left foot stuck in the frame at 90 degrees. Luckily at this angle, my foot and ankle remained intact although I wonder if I would have been so lucky had I come off at a different angle. After some contorting and acrobatics I managed to untangle myself and with only superficial grazes, I carried on. Oh, and minus my cycle computer and sensor which had flown off into the wooded undergrowth. I doubt I'll ever see them again!<br />
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By this point the body and legs were feeling un peu fatigué and we were looking forward to the beginning of the final stage, the lower section of Dunkeld's local SDA downhill track. It was perhaps the section that the full-face-helmet-wearing folks with big, bouncy bikes had endured all the climbing just to race on. For us on hardtails, it was purely getting to the bottom alive that was our particular goal. If I could have pulled Joe, my trusty riding buddy, up the hill I would have. Not purely for the comradery but also because I was the reason he was flagging so much. You see, what I learnt that day was that the new BTR frame that he had just built up sits on my car rack at a different angle to my own bike. An angle that means that the front wheel is much closer to the car's exhaust pipe than I had considered. So, Joe's options were to ride with a fifty-pence-sized hole in his non-heatresistant tyre, take my tyre or borrow from a fellow competitor. In the true spirit of the event, he managed to source a tyre... of the significantly heavier, tacky, downhill variety! Sorry Joe :-/<br />
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Anyway, we made it to the bottom and back to the car park to receive our free bottle of water, race times (so far) and our well deserved rest.<br />
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My times are published here: http://www.sportident.co.uk/results/2013/HighlandPerthshireEnduro/
I'm looking forward to the next races that I'll sign up for. Watch this space for those.
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Photos to follow as soon as I pay for the rights to use them!<br />
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<br />Charlie Barrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09927575117499888975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7702182446310943892.post-9856374344817224892013-05-03T12:56:00.000-07:002013-05-14T12:57:56.127-07:00ABZ Mates Race - Round One<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riding buddies/fierce competitors</td></tr>
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Following the success of last year, ABZ Mates Race launched a series of friendly races for those in the know. Word spreads fast when something is as good fun as this.<br />
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Round One was a blast down Kirkhill with gentle climbs and fast and furious downhill sections with everyone pushing for a good position. First to the bottom wins. It's as simple as that.<br />
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I didn't win but I didn't come last so I'm very happy.<br />
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Photos to come, hopefully. I look forward to Round 2 in June.<br />
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<br />Charlie Barrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09927575117499888975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7702182446310943892.post-80951497514697441032012-10-25T02:51:00.000-07:002012-10-25T02:51:09.113-07:00Family Cycle Session at Meldrum AcademyChildren, mountain bikes, girl's roadsters, wooden balance bikes, bikes with bells, bikes with stablisers and a sprinkling of parents filled the playground at Meldrum Academy on Wednesday 24th October, all eager to take part in the Family Cycle Session.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arrange the bike bits. </td></tr>
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<br />Leading the session gave me a great opportunity to practise what I have learnt over the past couple of years and bring it all together in one session. The age range was wide, from 4yrs - 8yrs and so I used elements of the Ready Steady Bike scheme as well as an adaptation of the off-road obstacle course that I learned during the Trail Cycle Leader training.<br />
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Children began by looking at the different parts of a bike and the younger children worked together to complete the bike puzzle while the older ones had a look at the technical names of the bike parts. Then it was the older children's job to label the parts on the jigsaw using chalk. This led nicely to the bike check.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5CMTYSFk_2KxcH_4eJ7qIlntuGPWfLt4HCoJz3eEUF7rFP_oe4C1gR0PF8bLOkV88QEA1IGHIb9CLX06mWmGF7rTGjSnY2LvQ6tKtHxkvSxuAPiEdayahtkmP0kh5QiuRHoD17Mk7G4g/s1600/IMAG1639.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5CMTYSFk_2KxcH_4eJ7qIlntuGPWfLt4HCoJz3eEUF7rFP_oe4C1gR0PF8bLOkV88QEA1IGHIb9CLX06mWmGF7rTGjSnY2LvQ6tKtHxkvSxuAPiEdayahtkmP0kh5QiuRHoD17Mk7G4g/s320/IMAG1639.jpg" width="191" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The limbo bar didn't survive.</td></tr>
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With the younger children, a bike check is not an easy thing to do. In fact, getting them to stand in one place for 5 minutes is near impossible. This was the part where the parents had the opportunity to work with the children to check that the bike was safe. We did this together and after a little hestation, the parents became more involved.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXHhQ13uCpf-nYDeoe4kia6qxCKVrVLegIUCgwc04Mss4s-fbfglnrcTpzBvjdU2Yu8iLeq0RtZLAIyBAHRvJOrTKAqw2eYNNV1C9vemtXYE0uA0K6pxeQJMJeEP43Z8t_1XPuJsT0ESA/s1600/Screenshot+-+25_10_2012+,+10_41_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="101" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXHhQ13uCpf-nYDeoe4kia6qxCKVrVLegIUCgwc04Mss4s-fbfglnrcTpzBvjdU2Yu8iLeq0RtZLAIyBAHRvJOrTKAqw2eYNNV1C9vemtXYE0uA0K6pxeQJMJeEP43Z8t_1XPuJsT0ESA/s200/Screenshot+-+25_10_2012+,+10_41_01.jpg" width="200" /></a>Once the clothing and the bikes had been deemed safe, we began with our activities, including the braking zone, freewheeling, turning and finally the culmination of the basic skills in the off-road course. I was pleasantly surprised that not only did some children choose to continue practising the basic skills but that also children on balance bikes and even with bikes with stablisers gave the off road course a go and achieved success on particular parts of it.<br />
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The session ended with lots of thank-yous and happy children who assured me that they had all learned new skills and felt more confident on their bikes. The feedback from the parents was also good and they even helped me tidy things away. I look forward to doing this again, with more defined age groups and perhaps some longer sessions.Charlie Barrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09927575117499888975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7702182446310943892.post-8850715382543449962012-10-08T14:43:00.003-07:002012-10-08T15:49:54.234-07:00I Passed My Trail Cycle Leader Qualification!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-lwJsWflGhqJS8GDfWh5VXWMH8qIVBiiP0bC1nXJGbt2oCQiI6qqwqP8tf9LmOQpy3GaNNtTOj8Md34e4ke4QlpC6jnTLW5LONzlHy8WFNvjX5Ca7Bs3xNqJgzgGbK4z2nsEm_4I8H-Y/s1600/%255BUNSET%255D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-lwJsWflGhqJS8GDfWh5VXWMH8qIVBiiP0bC1nXJGbt2oCQiI6qqwqP8tf9LmOQpy3GaNNtTOj8Md34e4ke4QlpC6jnTLW5LONzlHy8WFNvjX5Ca7Bs3xNqJgzgGbK4z2nsEm_4I8H-Y/s640/%255BUNSET%255D" width="640" /></a></div>
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I'd done the two-day training course back in May so as I rolled up to Gartmorn Country Park near Tillicoultry I felt quite apprehensive. It was a cold morning; 8am; -1C. Could I remember everything I'd learnt before? I should have practised leading groups over the Summer but in my defence, I had precious little child-free days with which to dedicate to bike riding. Anyway, the beautiful sight of the mist over Gartmorn Dam suggested that the day was going to be a good one.<br />
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The TCL assessment outcomes include having logged 30 mountain bike rides of 1.5hrs or longer, with at least one of 6hrs or more. After that it is down to three main questions; can you ride a bike, can you take the right stuff with you and can you lead a group.<br />
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The day began with a star orienteering task which involved estimating the route to the various points around the area and then checking how close you were using your computer. It was supposed to be a confidence-building, low pressure task but I was already a bit nervous and so after a few school boy errors I completed the task. In fairness, I had been asked to speed up after the first one and so I felt that pressure too. I upped my speed from an unrealistically slow 17km/h to a more respectable 22km/h and found the other 3 checkpoints and completed tasks like breaking and re-linking a chain and placing a post-it note on the inside of my rear tyre, wrapped snugly around my inner-tube. I ended up being back much sooner than the others and after realising that some of my estimates were quite far off (>100m) I took myself off to the skills course.<br />
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The skills course consists of in/out of bottles, a chicane, an up/down ramp amongst others. That was all easy peasy but my nemesis came in the form of the 3 limbo bars. The first two are fine but the third was about an inch lower than my stem and therefore close to impossible to clear. Strategies like leaning the bike one way with my whole body and legs the other didn't work. Neither did letting the air out of my front tyre! I'm ashamed to say that I left the skills course defeated and broken. However, contrary to what I'd been told during my training, it wasn't necessary to clear that obstacle to pass so I needn't have worried. And neither should the other 6 people who also didn't fit. It will be my mission to clear it in the future. I think it is the height of a wheelie bin. I'll let you know.<br />
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After some peer assessment and feedback of the morning's orienteering debarcle, I was a bit deflated. We were told to judge whether or not we'd pass each other. I wouldn't have passed me, even though I had no problem navigating to my destinations, my distances were just too far out. I was therefore relieved to hear that my navigation skills would also be assessed during the afternoon's assessed ride. A second chance for me!<br />
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The afternoon's ride was in groups of four with a given loop of about 20k. We had to divide the route into four and each choose a section to lead the group on. That involved writing up a route card with distances, key decision points and durations. I chose a particularly wiggly and varied looking bit with the intention of proving my navigation ability and redeeming myself. It was a good choice as I had many opportunities to show confident and competent leadership skills and clear decision making.<br />
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We got through our respective sections with relative ease and all felt confident in each others abilities, only occasionally having to raise eyebrows or remove the tickle in our throat when a moment of hesitation took the leader.<br />
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Safely back in the car park we debriefed and readied ourselves for our feedback. I went first as I had a two hour drive home as well as a sense of impending doom after the morning but, and rightly so in my opinion, I passed. I'm now really excited about adding the Go Mountainbike accreditation to deliver it in schools as well as starting a fortnightly/once a month day taking families around Stonehaven and encouraging off-road riding. My only obstacle is that before I can receive my certificate and begin leading I must have my outdoor first-aid certificate. I'll have that in the bag before the weather gets better and then I'll be off!<br />
<br />Charlie Barrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09927575117499888975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7702182446310943892.post-74958380949635537172012-10-02T11:32:00.001-07:002012-10-02T11:32:54.065-07:00Mates Race For Life<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijI0diEqY6DePtcSszNl42QWjCM6-Zgy49lxj-zco8MT6843PMZd6KhQlhP5DlQjrwRMrft-lvLfoUPb015Vx-9nMTs3Ril8cRGsjEd7ZqlypzbWuopdweYKv7C6rgtxbMTKnuYdre13o/s1600/laggan2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijI0diEqY6DePtcSszNl42QWjCM6-Zgy49lxj-zco8MT6843PMZd6KhQlhP5DlQjrwRMrft-lvLfoUPb015Vx-9nMTs3Ril8cRGsjEd7ZqlypzbWuopdweYKv7C6rgtxbMTKnuYdre13o/s640/laggan2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the top of the Old Fort across the road from Wolftrax Trails (photo: Chris Feltham)</td></tr>
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Recently I've not been particularly good at updating blogs but after having a couple of lazy days to recover, I'm eager to share what was perhaps my best weekend of riding, ever!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie2tQhMt3Mt1jUuPgBkxR4snVmJWjibDZe6_s-PPm9gxs3qgHnLqg9mvWg-SYDwNWPf1e5zV7HBV_tXd-X8tJQvxOA3Wvke6vAmq62G2uldes_Mvu-onPZeo-BEINfla1WnfUXF2_Wyxw/s1600/laggan3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie2tQhMt3Mt1jUuPgBkxR4snVmJWjibDZe6_s-PPm9gxs3qgHnLqg9mvWg-SYDwNWPf1e5zV7HBV_tXd-X8tJQvxOA3Wvke6vAmq62G2uldes_Mvu-onPZeo-BEINfla1WnfUXF2_Wyxw/s320/laggan3.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fetching pink plates (photo: Douglas Glen)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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What made it so good was not only the amount of riding that was squeezed in but mainly the brilliant people who set the challenges and motivated me into really pushing myself to the limit of my own ability. I came away from the weekend with a sense of achievement as far as my riding was concerned and also a sense of pride having been part of an event that brought the fundraising effort for Cancer Research to over £4000! The whole event was organised by friends Craig and Janine in honour of the groups' biking friend Julia who passed away a year ago.<br />
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<u>The Upper Red</u><br />
Having never ridden any of Laggan Wolftrax, I was somewhat apprehensive about the race element of this. We were starting right from the top, at the start of the upper red and the black trail. I'm quite confident in my own riding ability and I know my limits but I'm also aware that I tend to chicken out of things until I am familiar with them. I think that's an important part of my own self-preservation!<br />
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The timing system was simple enough. Someone at the bottom with a stopwatch and someone at the top keeping an exact gap between riders setting off. That way, when the split times were gathered, the results could be calculated by subtracting the time taken to start at the top. Simple... mostly!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPj09LbB-NPR15D_LOd5xMyKabA5AnMH88bDwoQUARwcaeAr8y_bFmQxV-Z38rB128-F3ObJb5VtMbvS-h5mCHIVW78wid8SQlCTsaEIwV7SoKu2DU60h4paSjbZKPIIn4CORhjfxLWvM/s1600/IMAG1609" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPj09LbB-NPR15D_LOd5xMyKabA5AnMH88bDwoQUARwcaeAr8y_bFmQxV-Z38rB128-F3ObJb5VtMbvS-h5mCHIVW78wid8SQlCTsaEIwV7SoKu2DU60h4paSjbZKPIIn4CORhjfxLWvM/s320/IMAG1609" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the top of upper red</td></tr>
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The start line had been roughly scratched into the trail at the top and we all lined up, one at a time, ready to be told to go. My nerves had turned into eager excitement and, in a large part, silliness. That could maybe explain why I set off erratically and at full speed, hitting the first few corners with little control before coming up to a drop far to fast, braking hard and coming to an abrupt halt with my front tyre resting against a rock. Time to relax a little. The following few minutes saw more of a flow though I chose the 'chicken run' past most obstacles and took it easy on anything steep or sketchy.<br />
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The air was further taken from my sails when I then picked up a pinch flat in the front tyre. The adrenaline was pumping so I changed the tube in record time and carried on to a finishing time of 14+ minutes on a track that should take 7 minutes.<br />
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Somebody then had the bright idea of a race back up the fire-road and down the fun park to the cafe. I thought that this could be my chance for a winning time since I have been feeling quite fit recently. So with saddle up and eyes on the top of the climb, I began to pace myself. It didn't help. While I was in the competition to a certain extent, I still suffered as I got to the top and still had to lower my seat for the fun park. No podium place but I'd like to think I made a fair effort!<br />
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<u>The Lower Red</u><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglu5Vqpqj85AstbFZQEaI6K-sUoqHJkcVRledNZU-DmubGhW0ZzWXb0J4nVRfhyQHOSMt5PQYqkYF4SGvdgxDAgKmKn_NEHqCS-jdAOFZWtRc-7ltOPAOl2nL-UPAZF5QYDkEwvtyA-MA/s1600/2012-09-29+04-49-07-531" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglu5Vqpqj85AstbFZQEaI6K-sUoqHJkcVRledNZU-DmubGhW0ZzWXb0J4nVRfhyQHOSMt5PQYqkYF4SGvdgxDAgKmKn_NEHqCS-jdAOFZWtRc-7ltOPAOl2nL-UPAZF5QYDkEwvtyA-MA/s200/2012-09-29+04-49-07-531" width="119" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Janine on lower red</td></tr>
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Tea and cakes later, we completed the climb to the lower red. We stopped a little way down to cut out a slower section and ensure that the descent was as fast and competitive as possible. It was and I really found the flow. Taking it much easier, I bounced my way down the first part, over the rock gardens as fast as I could pedal before the track became much more fast and flowy and I found myself leaning this way and that, zipping between trees. I finished that trail with both tyres and tubes intact and with a much more respectable time!<br />
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<u>The Fun Park</u><br />
With my spirits high and confidence boosted we hit the fun park again for the timed event. Having already ridden this I knew how fast I could hit the jumps and how I could keep my height down. It was pretty windy and the last thing I wanted was to be caught by a gust of wind in mid air. My air-born skills can't cope with any unexpected interference when gritting my teeth and hoping to hit the ground the right way up!<br />
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By this time I think most of us were ready for another cup of tea and the security of knowing where we were to be sleeping the night.<br />
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<u>Sleeping Arrangements</u><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsa6N0vskKNa-gN5ZqM968QxrFIOHxQPenzzkGW668ckMc3mswg8JDxTKhwJgL6KuCGGIRKt_061TFsmHJ7e5jArlPdNtiU8Soqxek_r1NmifnFXuacn88X2lgmsMJK_vBHxcW-vLzvBA/s1600/IMAG1612" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsa6N0vskKNa-gN5ZqM968QxrFIOHxQPenzzkGW668ckMc3mswg8JDxTKhwJgL6KuCGGIRKt_061TFsmHJ7e5jArlPdNtiU8Soqxek_r1NmifnFXuacn88X2lgmsMJK_vBHxcW-vLzvBA/s320/IMAG1612" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cosy accomodation</td></tr>
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Laggan Village Hall wasn't the easiest to find as it doesn't really look like a hall, more a small block of flats. However, it wasn't that difficult to find amongst the half a dozen buildings in the village so we had soon terrorised the local farmer's field with our convoy of white vans before being asked to park on the road! Then, after being let into the hall, we surveyed our accommodation. <br />
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At £6 per person, our digs were fit for kings. Albeit very muddy ones! We had heat, space, showers, toilets a games room and lots of space to run around in. Fantastic, now all we needed was food. Unfortunately the local hotel wasn't serving food and so we drove into Newtonmore and were invited into the Braeriach Hotel with open arms, five minutes after the kitchen was due to close. The arms were slightly less open once the other 13 or so people turned up. But they fed us just the same and the service was as warm as the lovely fire that greeted us. A steak pie and chips later and I was drinking beer, sulking at my lack of raffle-luck and getting ready for a kip. I hit the sack early as I planned to get up and ride even if the others were still in bed nursing hangovers. To my surprise and delight, everyone started rising at about 8.30am and we were in the Laggan Wolftrax cafe at the back of 10, eating bacon butties.<br />
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<u>All Over Again</u><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ-kLV2mwUfpd2K_WH83ML4yeBafz_Z33-HtBW9zjyn_1J8lqaI5qDWTc2z-r-ifUzI1HBCYYHmheVX_djgJPP8QQdUYOrKBp7CAbeTgiNZtUx41xPpmJI8LRtzWYILlVupSsZjxAFhsQ/s1600/laggan6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ-kLV2mwUfpd2K_WH83ML4yeBafz_Z33-HtBW9zjyn_1J8lqaI5qDWTc2z-r-ifUzI1HBCYYHmheVX_djgJPP8QQdUYOrKBp7CAbeTgiNZtUx41xPpmJI8LRtzWYILlVupSsZjxAFhsQ/s320/laggan6.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">heading down from Old Fort (photo: Douglas Glen)</td></tr>
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Sunday's riding was varied and much more relaxed. We had a little explore over the other side of the road from Wolftrax and found some good, natural riding including the infamous Brown Run. The brown run led down from the old fort and wound it's way to the bottom via slippy, off-camber natural features picking off it's unsuspecting victims as it went. We all got to the bottom eventually and made our way back to the cafe.<br />
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With the 3 hour drive home hanging over us, we decided to do one last run... of EVERYTHING! In an hour and a half we had sprinted up the climbs to the top of the upper red and I cleared a downward time of 7.24 with no punctures. This would have put me 7th or 8th the day before. Then came the whole lower red including the formidable drop, Ayres Rock and then back down the lovely, fast and woody trail to the bottom half of the fun park. After some pumping, jumping and my repeatedly forgetting that some of the landings lead off to the left/right unexpectedly, we arrived back at the car park, truly ready for home, a beer and a hot bath.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeLNSl0GN-_Ep7i42mK1nKPOYvvFH50Zmol1kPkHqzlDzTaFY0zeJouUHp6YXG9sJy7pvfdsVx5mTskM1EchUQvOuRD4u8AoDKBhl2VDb3pAitaaErktgvWeln_NO8TyCoJ9fZRWD8WrY/s1600/IMAG1614" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeLNSl0GN-_Ep7i42mK1nKPOYvvFH50Zmol1kPkHqzlDzTaFY0zeJouUHp6YXG9sJy7pvfdsVx5mTskM1EchUQvOuRD4u8AoDKBhl2VDb3pAitaaErktgvWeln_NO8TyCoJ9fZRWD8WrY/s400/IMAG1614" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the exploded tyre</td></tr>
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I was really impressed with the hardtail Cotic Bfe. Other than the puncture, it had survived a real beating and held it's own against the bouncier, full sus bikes. I was just considering how well it had held up when there was a loud bang and the unmistakable smell of fish from the back of the van. Buckley the dog acted accordingly and we pulled over to find that my rear tyre had given in. A large tear was now where a small hole had been in the wall of the tyre and the pressure of the tube had finally been too much. I imagine this really is the bike equivalent of the clown car that gets put through its paces before all the doors fall off amongst a cloud of radiator steam. We all let out a sigh of relief and headed home, already planning the next adventure.<br />
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The Results</div>
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<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="userContent"><u>Race 1 Upper Red<br /> </u><br /> <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">10th Charl</span>ie<b> </b>14.51.21<b> </b>puncture<b> </b>:-(<b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /> 9th Lyndsay 11.22.34</span></b></span><div class="text_exposed_show">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"> 8th Janine 08.19.93 <br /> 7th Summers 07.24.09<br /> 6th Dougie 07.22.09<br /> 5th Ewan 07.06.27<br /> 4th Jon 07.01.43<br /> 3rd Craig 06.57.65<br /> 2nd Beansie 06.46.77<br /> 1st Anton 06.33.65</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="userContent"><u><span style="font-size: x-small;">Impromptu Race from bottom of upper red thru fun park to cafe :-</span></u><br /> <br /> <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">1st Ewan<br /> 2nd Anton <br /> 3rd Dougie</span></span></span></span></h5>
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<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="userContent"><u><span style="font-size: small;">Race 2 Upper Red</span></u><br /> <span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /> 11th Lyndsay 06.43.40<br /> 10th Janine 04.22.85<br /> 9th Dave 04.13.36</span><div class="text_exposed_show">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"> 8th Dougie 03.46.77<br /> 7th Ewan 03.34.14<br /> 6th Charlie 03.31.00<br /> 5th Craig 03.23.<br /> 4th Jon 03.18.63<br /> 3rd Summers 03.16.03<br /> 2nd Beansie 03.08.09<br /> 1st Anton 03.01.10</span></div>
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<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="userContent"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Race 3 Fun Park</u></span><br /> <span style="font-weight: normal;">11th</span> <span style="font-weight: normal;">Lyndsay</span> <span style="font-weight: normal;">05.</span>1<span style="font-weight: normal;">3.8</span>0<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /> 10th Janine 04.00.90</span><div class="text_exposed_show">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"> 9th Dave 03.41.80<br /> 8th Dougie 03.24.40<br /> 7th Jon 03.21.30<br /> 6th Charlie 03.16.30<br /> 5th Summers 03.16.08<br /> 4th Ewan 03.15.00<br /> 3rd Craig 03.08.60<br /> 2nd Beansie 03.06.20<br /> 1st Anton 03.02.00</span></div>
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Charlie Barrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09927575117499888975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7702182446310943892.post-54276284835259127122012-09-17T15:00:00.004-07:002012-09-17T15:11:40.513-07:00ABZ Mates Race - The Last Of The Year<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7oIS_D-eb8k90WbMJ2rZKJZCxcDEU-gwJPnik8ccGooLeskWHz1u7fS5k46BOxtfaRFO5JiDS4AKkKUUjJkYKpwoHa7QSUC20tefbyG6-um-1N6iF-MQx-GbWlqkxXPN3VMtL5iippgM/s1600/mates+race3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS6yvBWAb-2FgsSSLqjDhswoALGkeQrEwylkV_5qOXazLF9TpgmIAVQyOX7xUOpCr0UeVCKZ0IInFqQhbyESf2oX0X8ma62ZDQcf3qsLsyvbrvWYTUe77K7sOGqjFvGUYqlVABjA9iN6M/s1600/mates+race4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuzVpO5JHVlRVpVFXaiPFMtcy-7F4Tz7lE8Iay1vYmF5xCvmnYDM2C9OO5EE3UA9T98PDguIblZrj1R7gtaxNcE0Wetu9xoDMwdJFsDRWIAQ_R_zXWE8z3rU5HmwQc7CByxfhNc9GMKrY/s1600/mates+race1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuzVpO5JHVlRVpVFXaiPFMtcy-7F4Tz7lE8Iay1vYmF5xCvmnYDM2C9OO5EE3UA9T98PDguIblZrj1R7gtaxNcE0Wetu9xoDMwdJFsDRWIAQ_R_zXWE8z3rU5HmwQc7CByxfhNc9GMKrY/s640/mates+race1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sporting number 19 on a fetching polka dot paper plate. </td></tr>
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When the details of the final ABZ Mates Race landed in my in-box I had the same feeling of eager excitement before the usual feeling of disappointment as I realised I wouldn't be able to make it. But no! Unlike the previous four races, I could make this one and I certainly wouldn't let anything spoil it this time! (Up until now, the closest I had come was event three but cross-threading the bottom bracket into the frame the day before ended the race before it had begun.)<br />
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So, after a week commuting to work, I finished teaching on the Friday afternoon and skipped joyfully out of the building with the bike already in the car and a pile of kit waiting in the kitchen, alongside my hearty carb and protein rich dinner. There was little time to check the bike over, let alone wash it and so I finally arrived at the forest car park at Scotly, Banchory, with some bike, some tools, some clothing and some beer all loaded into the boot.<br />
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I had no idea what to expect. The race was described as somewhere between XC and DH and this was to be the enduro one. I had made the decision that what I lacked in speed going down, I'd make up for on the climbs. (I'm feeling pretty fit at the moment.) I quickly lubed and checked the bike and changed to the SPD pedals. Sorted my seat height and made sure my computer was working. The race was to be self-timed.<br />
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Bad choice!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9aXMzDL9tbNd9_zdq0y4Mjvo4fkfSg5XEFO5F0j9igfyXh40sPEp-oG_N57d5IlPuVdlz7z3yIhAdubYZuJBF-jnheGkEJXpSO39o7WWxCLDIO0YbMxp3ymRm8WmLiGEz_ajU4-HGE80/s1600/mates+race2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9aXMzDL9tbNd9_zdq0y4Mjvo4fkfSg5XEFO5F0j9igfyXh40sPEp-oG_N57d5IlPuVdlz7z3yIhAdubYZuJBF-jnheGkEJXpSO39o7WWxCLDIO0YbMxp3ymRm8WmLiGEz_ajU4-HGE80/s320/mates+race2.jpg" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am here, at the back somewhere! Start of night stage 1</td></tr>
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The event was really well organised and began fiercely sharp at 18:30 hours prompt. It was here I learnt that the pedal up to the top was not timed and so we could take it easy. Not really what I wanted to hear as I was all set to race up like a greyhound out of the cage... well, a slightly bigger and heavier greyhound! There was little point in wasting all that pent up energy and so I took the opportunity to chat to the other riders, most of whom had been attending the races from the start and some had even been trail building for it.<br />
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I arrived at the start of stage one and as I waited in line to go, I felt a little like a child at the top of the steepest flume at the swimming pool; trying to act like I'm not over excited or bricking it with nerves. After all, it's just a mates race. I was both excited and bricking it. I was also now regretting my decision to clip in to the pedals!<br />
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So, saddle down, timer started and I was off. The trail was a combination of steep, grassy, pine forest singletrack with sections that had obviously been dug down, steepened with boulders and rocks added for fun. Every drop or jump was complete with a technical, rooty landing with a sprinkling of boulders just to finish a rider off if maiming by tree stump wasn't enough. It certainly had me focusing very hard on what I wanted to hit and what I wanted to avoid!<br />
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Stage 2 was worse with a couple of bails and a saddle that turned and twisted as a stick got caught in the chainrings causing the chain to slip badly. To make matters worse there was the ever familiar metallic 'ting' from the back wheel. With no branch poking out of the back wheel, I could only assume a broken spoke.<br />
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Luckily I made it to the bottom and furthermore my bike was not broken as I had feared. I sorted the seat, removed the 'bike salad' from the rear mech and checked the spokes. All intact. It was time for burger, beer and interaction with fellow bikers. We also had to wait for darkness so that we could do the whole thing again, in the dark!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7oIS_D-eb8k90WbMJ2rZKJZCxcDEU-gwJPnik8ccGooLeskWHz1u7fS5k46BOxtfaRFO5JiDS4AKkKUUjJkYKpwoHa7QSUC20tefbyG6-um-1N6iF-MQx-GbWlqkxXPN3VMtL5iippgM/s1600/mates+race3.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7oIS_D-eb8k90WbMJ2rZKJZCxcDEU-gwJPnik8ccGooLeskWHz1u7fS5k46BOxtfaRFO5JiDS4AKkKUUjJkYKpwoHa7QSUC20tefbyG6-um-1N6iF-MQx-GbWlqkxXPN3VMtL5iippgM/s320/mates+race3.jpg" width="320" /></a>I found that although eversoslightly slower, my runs in the dark were much smoother. Perhaps because I was not distracted by every scary obstacle coming my way but also because I had resigned myself to taking it easy for self preservation rather than bloody-minded competitiveness. I found the flow, chilled out and had a pretty good ride.<br />
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All in all it was a fantastic night with a good bunch of people who were just up for riding and having fun. There was no geeky bike comparisons, no showy bike fashions. Just a mix of people all having a laugh. After everyone had contributed to the prize pile, the winners were announced. I wasn't first! I did still get a prize. I think I was third last and got a handy map measurer as a souvenir of the evening.<br />
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I really hope that the folks organising it with polka-dot number boards from the back of their van do it again next year. I loved it. The racing. The feeling of being slightly out of my depth. And the fact that I could just bowl up by myself and be accepted and encouraged like everyone else. Happy days.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS6yvBWAb-2FgsSSLqjDhswoALGkeQrEwylkV_5qOXazLF9TpgmIAVQyOX7xUOpCr0UeVCKZ0IInFqQhbyESf2oX0X8ma62ZDQcf3qsLsyvbrvWYTUe77K7sOGqjFvGUYqlVABjA9iN6M/s1600/mates+race4.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS6yvBWAb-2FgsSSLqjDhswoALGkeQrEwylkV_5qOXazLF9TpgmIAVQyOX7xUOpCr0UeVCKZ0IInFqQhbyESf2oX0X8ma62ZDQcf3qsLsyvbrvWYTUe77K7sOGqjFvGUYqlVABjA9iN6M/s320/mates+race4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Series winner with trophy</td></tr>
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Charlie Barrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09927575117499888975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7702182446310943892.post-8395043388446241122012-08-02T14:38:00.000-07:002012-08-02T14:38:39.634-07:00New Frame<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdofYI_CAtgvUgKhQVfmwg86PGUww9F8kaeLigg5MBPpWowBfjxwr3SMWBmmohSMzRimsyGv6KEShyphenhyphenFrB1GLbOYh07nWDM0Shf1nQnQ0Qdfko0F1Zjgh2xmWk9hityoyy4TGg_mMSRKRc/s1600/1342175257842.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdofYI_CAtgvUgKhQVfmwg86PGUww9F8kaeLigg5MBPpWowBfjxwr3SMWBmmohSMzRimsyGv6KEShyphenhyphenFrB1GLbOYh07nWDM0Shf1nQnQ0Qdfko0F1Zjgh2xmWk9hityoyy4TGg_mMSRKRc/s640/1342175257842.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-DGsW30IVHM6Tu7xY-Cl9NwHYhkct8RNJ7cXLymH4ZC1zXRmEJ7frtkn7kCjXVI8GEx0u0Il-fJP-oZjC79nGxRQx5QNZAIOd-hmBjJp-Vs5D0QKwe644jw8AI5o_l4xXEgAqj2vorSQ/s512/IMAG0359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-DGsW30IVHM6Tu7xY-Cl9NwHYhkct8RNJ7cXLymH4ZC1zXRmEJ7frtkn7kCjXVI8GEx0u0Il-fJP-oZjC79nGxRQx5QNZAIOd-hmBjJp-Vs5D0QKwe644jw8AI5o_l4xXEgAqj2vorSQ/s320/IMAG0359.jpg" width="191" /></a>After an eventful and pretty unsuccessful race at<a href="http://www.muckmedden.co.uk/" target="_blank"> Muckmedden </a>this year I decided to do away with the full suspension frame and go for something requiring less maintenance. So, after selling the frame and RP23 shock, I invested in a steel Cotic Bfe. I haven't had so much fun since they set the ferrets loose in the clown trouser shop's changing room!<br />
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It's light enough to get up the climbs, nimble enough to get over any technical, rocky and rooty bits but it really comes into it's own on the descents. Having not really ridden a hardtail much before, I was blown away by the change in riding style and how much I needed to be focused on line choice and riding position. It is more unforgiving than the full suss and therefore puts the adrenaline back into the ride that have become a little tired over the years.<br />
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So, unless I break it, this is going to be my off-road steed for the next little while. I just feel that I have to relearn how to ride and get out of some bad habits.Charlie Barrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09927575117499888975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7702182446310943892.post-58265370226728793162012-04-28T11:51:00.000-07:002012-04-28T11:51:09.272-07:00Banchory Scouts Jumble Sale<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWw7jBPHTIJ-eDjx0aq3wc4mFRN3rWOxCPoQ5NzIE1MD0_4nY86XaZH0b7qsO72_fzQOiCTNF7JnELY8WF97YDM0c2i9fVaR99TRhNdsfLxa142U4-7_sY7SA86ONoDJOmgloKFuBaYiA/s1600/IMAG1360.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWw7jBPHTIJ-eDjx0aq3wc4mFRN3rWOxCPoQ5NzIE1MD0_4nY86XaZH0b7qsO72_fzQOiCTNF7JnELY8WF97YDM0c2i9fVaR99TRhNdsfLxa142U4-7_sY7SA86ONoDJOmgloKFuBaYiA/s400/IMAG1360.jpg" width="400" /></a>Today was the long-awaited Scouts' Jumble Sale in Banchory. This is the 40th year it has run and the second I have been. Last year we picked up the 'family bike' for £20. After spending almost a hundred pounds on new tyres, tubes, cables, lock and basket, the bike has been a workhorse.
So, this year we had waited eagerly for the sale to come as there are always loads of bikes. Having got there early, I hovered around a lovely old gents racer with faded, original painted decals; loads of character. Unfortunately I hesitated for too long and it was snapped up quickly.
Having another look around I found this lovely looking Carlton with an unusual frame shape. It was offered for £30, I tried to haggle to £25 to no avail. I asked someone else later who offered it for £50 so I decided to go back to the original sales-scout for the original offer of £30. Upon research the ladies frame style is known as a Mixte. So, this is the latest in a line of unfinished projects. According to the frame number and the initial Internet research, it seems that the prefix T stamped on the rear drop-out suggests it is 1966 though if it is then it's in great condition. The pedals and chrome forks are still gleaming. I don't thing this will take much work to look lovely. I'm also looking forward to investigating the rear wheel which seems to have space for free-wheel cogs on both sides.Charlie Barrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09927575117499888975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7702182446310943892.post-5061757995146070852012-03-13T13:56:00.000-07:002012-03-13T13:56:03.415-07:00The New Bike<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAAktdEyw662IzJu9BVpneChgDddDpb8Yn6byt2KC99q7pTaQx5w_ii67RHJiucHu8dPwaSjMuxNmgvmBNC78F_WvqGgVoSjfp202ZlI44MEKKiNUG8KVjJPaEAYZ9lF0p4uzwu18We-c/s1600/IMAG1256.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAAktdEyw662IzJu9BVpneChgDddDpb8Yn6byt2KC99q7pTaQx5w_ii67RHJiucHu8dPwaSjMuxNmgvmBNC78F_WvqGgVoSjfp202ZlI44MEKKiNUG8KVjJPaEAYZ9lF0p4uzwu18We-c/s400/IMAG1256.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Here is the new Raleigh. With some initial research I think it may be 60s or 70s but haven't had much joy with the frame number. The condition of the pantwork is poor but I was pleased to see that it too has been repainted at some point as the head tube doesn't match and the paintwork is poor around that area. That means I can repaint it without feeling like I've ruined a classic!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRqLITo47ukijuIFtigjOvmEk4_3ioRb-IizdiVFckjwmL4eqlWrNcsARkrMgHdgdRmE1pUWCwN1tyi_IaMh8SIOTgnWxAVQ33oBIRHg4BP1C3IBmxdjxT6dU55pLnLqpNBLIpTQ0qR0M/s1600/IMAG1257.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRqLITo47ukijuIFtigjOvmEk4_3ioRb-IizdiVFckjwmL4eqlWrNcsARkrMgHdgdRmE1pUWCwN1tyi_IaMh8SIOTgnWxAVQ33oBIRHg4BP1C3IBmxdjxT6dU55pLnLqpNBLIpTQ0qR0M/s200/IMAG1257.jpg" width="119" /></a><br />
On the face of it, this bike is almost ready to go. With a new set of tyres (I've ordered some old raleigh sport tyres with amber walls) and inner tubes, and with some care given to the chainset I will be taking this bike out on it's maiden voyage to work and back. The headset is a little rough so I will see about replacing the bearings.<br />
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Eventually, I think this bike will be a lovely racing green with a bit of tan here and there. Lets see how it pans out. <br />
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<embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" width="600" height="400" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2F105580416417378071596%2Falbumid%2F5718317388489023745%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26hl%3Den_US" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer"></embed>Charlie Barrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09927575117499888975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7702182446310943892.post-65859158413074417602012-03-09T15:05:00.000-08:002012-03-09T15:05:16.536-08:00A Rudge UpdateI was out with the sandpaper tonight. It's slow going but satisfying nonetheless. I'm almost there but I just need to get the cranks off and get the bottom bracket out. Having said that, the bottom bracket spins very smoothly with no give at all. I could spin the pedals, go and have a cup of tea and they'd still be going when I got back. I still need to get them off though.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga5ghUx9pOVQiPqT8kbuXHPkeJplQjVrzrV64zDdDvT1jZnMmKmK9hnZCktdLd_p5vIt5CNLOsP2GIU-umSQx6E7N9SUWPdJ9rBOTaUSNsmyCPhGj-992IuEE4Cde4VOFbeCnTWddsC5g/s1600/DSC01982.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga5ghUx9pOVQiPqT8kbuXHPkeJplQjVrzrV64zDdDvT1jZnMmKmK9hnZCktdLd_p5vIt5CNLOsP2GIU-umSQx6E7N9SUWPdJ9rBOTaUSNsmyCPhGj-992IuEE4Cde4VOFbeCnTWddsC5g/s640/DSC01982.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Charlie Barrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09927575117499888975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7702182446310943892.post-72048725850242649902012-03-04T14:57:00.000-08:002012-03-04T14:57:55.533-08:00What I like about 'The Bike'I've always loved bikes. When I was 18 I seemed to forget this but luckily I remembered in my mid 20s. In that time it seems that bikes have changed immensely.<br />
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</div>But bikes are bikes and they really haven't changed that much at all. What fascinates me is that they represent a massively diverse segment of our lives and histories. To children they are toys, to Victorians they were interesting new modes of transport, to Edwardians they were industry, to Elizabethans they were tools of the police, the midwife, the butcher and the working class man.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaVj-KGy5Firh4pDeP9v9qr31aQs0C04dsJPYZY1Q2D5fqfjv0crDgqifGWEa2q7-xLmcNy4PHwKVlyd6K_vQ6iUsYeReAnh68bFUZhpbFaRecsBCiiJLiC_HPFyL2NJ4ykhzv7EaX55c/s640/02_bianchi_folding_bicycle.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="555" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bianchi folding bike from early 1900s</td></tr>
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This picture made me smile. Nowadays we have bikes that have automatic gear systems, internal hub gears and bikes that fold in half. But STOP! Look at this, people have had these ideas for a hundred years and the basic structure of the bike hasn't changed. The bike was just a good, solid invention that has been tinkered with and improved through the development of new materials. What a fantastic thing it is, The Bike.Charlie Barrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09927575117499888975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7702182446310943892.post-43212995037711182672012-03-04T14:35:00.000-08:002012-03-04T14:35:55.481-08:00My hobby branches out!I haven't posted on my blog for a while partly because I just haven't had time and partly because I just haven't felt particularly inspired lately. Don't get me wrong, I still love my bike and have had some good rides with some good people recently including my first ride of Glentress, one of the 7 Stanes.<br />
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However, this post is really about how I have found a new aspect of bikes which has engulfed my free time. This new obsession has arisen from my lack of cash and my need to finance my cycling hobby. So, recently I bid on several bikes on Ebay with the intention of cleaning them up and selling them on in order to build a decent Paypal balance.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4xb-1XmcCDXFW45BwS0mvArPOFPtdxvRHDQ-y7ke1WEnGY6jqr0tZnN2grfysu9O6KsFhBNkMzQ2NImhqW6IKpx1Ve0pvAqPDCIJc4sicUQmPuOt9BYrPRo2fjfXpohyphenhyphenZG0crsL62Xqs/s1600/IMAG1232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4xb-1XmcCDXFW45BwS0mvArPOFPtdxvRHDQ-y7ke1WEnGY6jqr0tZnN2grfysu9O6KsFhBNkMzQ2NImhqW6IKpx1Ve0pvAqPDCIJc4sicUQmPuOt9BYrPRo2fjfXpohyphenhyphenZG0crsL62Xqs/s640/IMAG1232.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj05w2_PZSmiMn5QBnTU-ETlEXozfGQ-UKbz77vMOIJqi3Cp4S75w6vnqKl0AWDnsnshypFhyPwmC7-qppExYMNjZG917R6D8Wxhlcqjp7CEOYl2VMOXzun4kqaypj3sqcgI8dbEU3gF0E/s1600/IMAG1236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj05w2_PZSmiMn5QBnTU-ETlEXozfGQ-UKbz77vMOIJqi3Cp4S75w6vnqKl0AWDnsnshypFhyPwmC7-qppExYMNjZG917R6D8Wxhlcqjp7CEOYl2VMOXzun4kqaypj3sqcgI8dbEU3gF0E/s200/IMAG1236.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Above is the Rudge Roadster. Judging from the frame number, this bike was built around the late 1950s or early 1960s. Even though Rudge was one of the many British bike builders bought by Raleigh after WWII, this bike may still carry some of the features seen in the 1940s like the white bottom part of the rear mudguard and the rod brakes.<br />
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As you can see from the photos, there's a lot of work to be done but even before the it has really begun, I have the feeling of attachment that is going to make selling them on the hardest part of the process.<br />
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This bike has been painted black but upon scraping the top coat off it appears that the original paintwork can be seen underneath. Raleigh made bikes of this era in 3 colours; black, dark metallic green and 'coffee', a metallic brown which it looks like this bike was.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Fj7svV5Q3TeetZo7kdhHvNbYxt_DJx82l_qBMn22lnrQaiF-wTunvW218fFp4A48PJCMSuYO75ncBZjBzIHzcqoOS7-L0_XTo18fjPOjth9mSZ0Y3-MZtUDb-RIzWxlwVxp37YCkQYs/s1600/elswick_hopper.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="129" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Fj7svV5Q3TeetZo7kdhHvNbYxt_DJx82l_qBMn22lnrQaiF-wTunvW218fFp4A48PJCMSuYO75ncBZjBzIHzcqoOS7-L0_XTo18fjPOjth9mSZ0Y3-MZtUDb-RIzWxlwVxp37YCkQYs/s200/elswick_hopper.png" width="200" /></a> I also now own a Elswick-Hopper child's bike and a 1960s Tr-Raleigh racing bike. These bikes will take much less work to restore and I already think that the Raleigh might be my commuter to work and back over the Summer. I have no qualms in the changing of it's colour and modernisation of some components so it may end up as British Racing Green with brown grip tape to match the fetching Brooks saddle.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim7MlrSNhIWxI24LvY7SYfkJZAx342FQQX1uFJPknbqXUJDfPVJFML0fOPYSY-8Dv8aG_oDxT6MWhJPZL-m5TJsBbjIDfKBkmDUtCYAWbminaCT-AnwO9IkURhKvR1brdW3ANkyi8GIbM/s1600/tri_raleigh.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="121" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim7MlrSNhIWxI24LvY7SYfkJZAx342FQQX1uFJPknbqXUJDfPVJFML0fOPYSY-8Dv8aG_oDxT6MWhJPZL-m5TJsBbjIDfKBkmDUtCYAWbminaCT-AnwO9IkURhKvR1brdW3ANkyi8GIbM/s200/tri_raleigh.png" width="200" /></a><br />
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So watch this space. If I don't update for a while it may be because I have made absolutely no money, kept all the bikes, spent my savings on them and have now had my internet connection cut off due to non payment!Charlie Barrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09927575117499888975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7702182446310943892.post-60973510909886457512011-12-01T12:01:00.000-08:002012-01-14T08:39:47.350-08:00Sterling Lorence PhotographyI thought I'd post this little video I found while looking at Stirling Lorence's blog. Stirling is a professional photographer whose name I had often seen against photographs in Dirt magazine and bike advertising. I read Dirt because it combines amazing imagery with nice bikes; two of my favourite things to look at.<br />
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I guess it was about time I looked at his portfolio website and I'm really glad I did. The photographs are amazing and this little video is a great insight into how biking and photography go together and the process of scouting for locations. Now, where can I get £100 to buy a Stirling Lorence print? Santa?<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/etIsqBxNgTQ?rel=0&hd=1" width="640"></iframe>Charlie Barrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09927575117499888975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7702182446310943892.post-52654345943626204262011-11-19T14:09:00.000-08:002011-11-19T14:09:32.883-08:00Welcome to Barrow & BikesThis is a blend of biking bits and bobs that I am sticking together in one place. I've been riding bikes all my life except when I forgot about them and focused more on rock n roll. Since those days I've got back into the saddle and haven't looked back. This blog contains a mash of stuff from about 2005ish. It's also a log of my riding so I can go for my MTB Leaders qualification eventually. (when I stop falling off!)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh965y1L0MNIgXNMXY1Gdn0aDAS0gjQHFbebzNqseFDSDKxU4eu-Yzg-60Zt9gyElXsSV1Dx3vwz7IHpCl00hy9ia3knaZhqEL4XXFRWFhLMvlKLKnvKJtR9tuD4SroOHGeFprypc2Wwn4/s1600/c2c+034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh965y1L0MNIgXNMXY1Gdn0aDAS0gjQHFbebzNqseFDSDKxU4eu-Yzg-60Zt9gyElXsSV1Dx3vwz7IHpCl00hy9ia3knaZhqEL4XXFRWFhLMvlKLKnvKJtR9tuD4SroOHGeFprypc2Wwn4/s640/c2c+034.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>Charlie Barrowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09927575117499888975noreply@blogger.com0