It's the off season so time to start preparing for next season

Last year I looked at my bikes after a hard season and realised that running two different, but kinda similar bikes made little sense so bit the bullet and ordered two beautiful Shand cycles bikes

Well this year I have gone for the slightly cheaper option of looking at nutrition to help with not only my day to day living but also for racing. Cue internet searches and the purchase of this beauty

To go with the hand grinder I also got some Cuban coffee beans from here

I use an aeropress to make my brew so had to resort to more internet searches to get instructions for the Porlex grinder as my Japanese is slightly rusty.... So three clicks from home and off we go, first cup was with the recommended 12g of coffee, about a palm full, was no where near enough so second go was fill the fecker to the brim

to the neck

I also slightly dropped the amount of water in the inverted aeropress and that was pretty much spot on for how I enjoy my coffee. I always let the water cool from the boil before adding it to the 'press and allow it to mix with the grounds for well over a minute before pressing

ground

I got the mini grinder as it fits snugly into the aeropress and will be travelling with me to all the races now as part of my pre match routine as well as my pre out the door routine every day

snug as a bug

The grinder is beautifully made with the only downside being the handle isn't held on by anything but   gravity, so far this hasn't proven to be any problem. I can thoroughly recommend the aeropress for making good consistent coffee and the hand grinder just adds to my new beardyness, skinny jeans wearing fixie riding persona.

Keep on knockin

SCX Round 3

Round three of the SCX already, how time flies when you are having fun.  Knockburn Loch near Banchory is the furthest north that SCX takes its jolly little cavalcade and what a setting as glorious as it is daunting. After a smooth signing on (gotta love the pre-entry) it was straight into a team walk around the course which revealed a pretty tough little loop with a chunky slice of everything and mostly on that gritty, granite, sandy, soft but grippy soil unique to eastern highlands. It was going to be a tough day, a biting wind blasting in from the North Sea wasn’t going to help.

Very quickly it was time for action and the women, juniors and V50+ men set about it, great to report no real surprises here, Maddy is showing great form this season and looked pretty comfortable leading the womens race from start to finish, keep up the good work sister. Behind her Kerry MacPhee (Rock and Road) was having a real good race and looks like one to watch for the future. I must give a special mention for Brendan Roe, who is totally bossing the V50+ and again was looking smooth and in control. 

two wheels on my wagon. . temprorarily 

Another good turnout for the V40, with 76 finishers, these starts are pretty daunting as the cavalry charge for the holeshot takes place.  Fortunately I got through the start unscathed and popped out the singletrack in a relatively good place. Trying not to get too excited by this I did my best to settle into the race despite the frenzy of riders that the first laps bring. This was a pretty challenging course with very little let up or time to let your mind wander, you had to be ‘on it’ 100% as there was plenty of room to lose big time, and so it was I set into battle. In a small group containing Russell (VCM),Frazer (VCM), Neil Raitt and Graeme Short (I think) we ploughed on exchanging places for most of the race. Russ seemed to be slowly creeping away but then near to the end he was real close again, Frazer nipped past me on the 7th lap and I was hell bent on reclaiming that spot so on a rash line up the gritty riser into the wooded singletrack I made a pass, awesome I thought and shite I then thought as my tub popped off the rim. I floundered around trying to get it back on to not much avail, eventually running it home after the leaders had lapped me. Arse. Good riding from Russell(31^st), Frazer(32^nd), and Martin Steele who was gaining every lap and finished a very respectable 35^th. Despite the tub roll, I managed to run it in ahead of McComisky, which at least readdressed the balance after Callander Park. Ahead of us the usual suspect took the lead and for VCM, Simon Muir came in a good 13^th with Gavin May 14^th, respectable all round.

newcomer, Ian Dunlop, how high can he go?

Seniors next and by now the course was definitely a different beast, lines were slower and the loose gritty stuff had became much looser, the faces at the end of this race told the story. We had another good turnout with Stevo, Gordy, Ian, Simon F, Addy and first appearance of the year for Chris Marquis. From the gun this was fast, Stevo quickly finding himself at the sharp end in with his arch nemesis Colin May (Velo Club Edinburgh), these two have been bursting each other at every race so far this year, ahead of them a welcome return for Davie Lines(MG-Maxifuel) who powered ahead and stayed there for the rest of the race. Further down the ranks the VCM collective were knocking seven shades of shit out of each other and all who were around them, new boy Ian Dunlop in only his 3^rd proper cross race had taken up the mantle and was powering to what looked like a possible top ten finish, behind Addy Pope seemed to struggle to find his pace but quickly did and was with Ian for most of the race afterwards. Simon failing to make the jump always seemed to be a couple of places behind. Meanwhile up front Stevo and Colin May had finally shaken Sean Clark and Dan Whitehead to battle out the remaining podium spots. But the hard finishing May once more stepped up to the mark and took second in front of Steve, still our second podium of the day, so we really mustn’t grumble.

Simon F, charging

Addy, also charging

Organising club Deeside Thistle, you deserve an almighty pat on the back, great support and marshaling and everything running like clockwork, I love this venue, hopefully it will become a regular fixture. Next stop the notorious Strathclyde Park, traditionally a pretty savage encounter and usually similar conditions, bring it on and also first showings this year for sly old fox Davie Graham and new signing Teri Wishart. Boom

How we doin

Women

Maddy Robinson 1^st

Seniors

Steve Halsall 3^rd

Iain Dunlop 13^th

Addy Pope 15^th

Simon Fairfull 17^th

Gordy Mackenzie 26^th

Chris Marquis 38^th

Veteran 40+

Simon Muir 13th

Gavin May 14th

Russell Stout 31st

Frazer Waters 32nd

Martin Steele 35th

Chris Duncan 45th

let the monuments begin

Dig In Around the Dock- Bo'ness

Scotlands crossers converged in Bo'ness on the Firth of Forth recently for the Dig In Around the Docks cross race which was organised by International cyclo cross legends Jon Mcomisky and David Hamill the team behind the successful Dig In series that documented this years Scottish cross series.

The course had been set out in parkland in and around the now empty docks, It was a relatively flat course with the addition of a bitingly cold East wind blowing in off the Forth. The course was quite traditional in feel with a set of hurdles, steps and a bonus cobbled section on the home stretch.

One hundred riders lined up for the start with six Moulineers making the start, Addy Pope, Chris Duncan, Davie Graham, Gordy Mackenzie, Maddy Robinson and Simon Muir. With the whole field starting at the same time it made for some exciting early moments until everyone sorted themselves into a rythm. I had decent start and first reeled in Addy, then Simon came past on a charge which he kept on right to the finish coming in first Moulineer, I eventually made up part of a trio which was a big help on the headwind sections of the course. Spectators were treated to some close racing and with almost three quarters of the course visible from the dock area they were kept well entertained. The crowd were fantastic cheering on every rider and with nearly everyone having a cowbell (thanks to VCM) to ring it was all the encouragement needed spur you on.


The first bike race in Bo'ness for fourty four years was a great sucsess with everyone having a tale to tell from the day and loads of muddy smiling faces at the finish, I'm still buzzing from it even now.

So how did the Moulineers do? Well we all finished all pretty muddy but in one piece. Maddy was the standout of the day taking second place in the ladyeez race. Simon showed the way to the boys on his new Ridley painted in VCM team colours no less. Me and the rest of the boys followed in closely bringing a great race and Scottish cross season to and end.

Now if every race could be like this...................................................................................................

Hup Hup

Cowbells at the ready? Come and make some noise for the VCM massive.

Starring VCM's Addy Pope, Chris Duncan, Davie Graham, Gordy Mackenzie, Maddy Robinson, and Simon Muir.

holeshot

Watching Stevo bolt off the start line then open a sizeable gap on the field on lap 1 of Crosslove was electric.

That moment made all the stresses and strains that come with organising a race more than worth it.

Basque In The Sun

I recently spent a week in the Basque County with long time friend Doug McDonald who is originally from Fearn and now runs BasqueMTB. Doug knows us well and he had a tough week lined up for us.



Our week started damp but it soon picked up to reward us with warm temperatures and dry dusty trails. We cycled in the mountains...............





Along the coast on cliff hugging singletrack................

And finished on stunning golden beaches for end of ride swims in the surf.

San Sebastian.

The Basque Country is a beautiful place with stunning scenery as far as the eye can see, The trails are simply awesome, Ranging from rooty, rocky, techy, big climbs and even longer descents there is enough to keep everyone amused for more than a week.

We didn't manage to ride everything that the Basque country has to offer so that can only mean one thing! To be continued.............

Bang :o(

Sxc 3 Strathclyde country park.

I was sitting in 11th place with Simon pushing me hard, Starting lap 5 and out of nowhere i skidded to an abrupt halt, A quick check and it was clear it was terminal. Bitterly disappointed but i will return.

Pic: Lyndsey Carson

Well done to Andy 5th fantastic and Simon 13th. Maddy and Lyndsey dueled it out for 3rd and 4th respectively, Visiting Don Leet pulled off 20th vet with Iain following in 31st.

Great support on the course for VCM along with Marty popping out from behind trees every lap.

racin in 4 days!

indeed, the saturday schedule has got me excited, it should be a good one, Sandy has been around long enough to know what constitutes a good cross course, so we are expecting a cracker!

but what of last weekend?

WELL

The big hitters were hitting hard once more, Anja scored another victory, despite some early race moments, proving she really is the one to beat in the womens race, but watch out, awesome to see Jac (jackie!) back and turning the pedals hard, a sweet 3rd place was her reward, best ride of the cross season  so far, respect, must be the pink bar tape?

Over in the blokes scene, young gun Andy shot off the start line like he had a two bob banger up his arse, awesome stuff, he had to settle for an eventual 4th spot, nice work. It keeps the league very much alive with Andy, Nimmo, McInally and Fraser-Moodie all in the running.

And the rest of us? Johnny admitted to a bad race, in my terms  I would be happy with Johnny's bad results but as is I limped in out of the points in the vets and Marty continued to gain on the rest of the field, his day will come!

Elsewhere, Kenta Gallagher, shaked the whole scene, rocking out some white lycra like he owned it, good man, though negative style points for the blue in the helmet and baggy shirt sleeves! Awesome riding though.

And the Doctor was as mental as ever, damn he is fast! Damn.

Cowdenbeath this SATURDAY!