Entries open 01/07/10.
http://www.3peakscyclocross.org.uk/entryform.htm
Get them in sharp.
A touch under 3 months, plenty time to get some form together!
New training philosophy- push the pedals harder and the bike goes quicker. Keep it SIMPLE.
Wednesday, 30 June 2010
Tuesday, 29 June 2010
Nocturne Race
I've put my entry in for the 4th cat race, but unsure how the Parmigiano-Reggiano will handle on the first section of cobbles.
Maybe the best idea would be to stop first at Iain's to enjoy some Belgium beer.
Cheesy Nocturnal Nibbles
This Saturday sees the return of the Edinburgh Nocturne and to celebrate in true continental style Mellis Cheesemongers will be sharing some cheese love and a tipple on the side, pop along, introduce yourself and say hello. They are also perfectly situated on the apex of the cobbled climb, don't forget your cowbells!
is anyone riding?
Monday, 28 June 2010
Torridon Throw Down
..::Update::..
You snooze, you lose. It was ace! ; )
Bone dry trails, light cloud cover dappling the blue sky, lots of wee frogs, dragon flies dancing the dance of love. No photos [or words] can adequately describe a good day out riding, particularly one in the mountain-scape of Torridon.
There may have been a puncture, enough trackless portage to make a two rides old pair of Sidis look as tatty as their 3 year old predecessors and a disappointing mini pork pie choice but none could detract from quality technical riding both up and down on a stupidly capable* 'modern mountain bike'.
The final few kms of descent from the Coulin track to the Portal gate at Lair ... Oh yes.
Anyhoo, a quick pint and bite to eat at the Torridon Inn and I pointed the panzerwagen back in the direction of Contin to get away from the midge and see how Moulineers past and present were faring at the puffer-lite.
Quite well as it turned out - Gordy Mac and his other musketeers top-stepped the mixed trios, and Jac did the same for the female solo event.
*all bikes are capable of stupidity...
Top Step
Saturday night was Puffer Lite, A Le mans start got us off to a flyer with Donnie being a pretty handy runner, we settled in well to the race and being graced with good weather the course remained dry and dusty allowing the lap times to remain constant throughout. Cherie turned in a good penultimate lap to return inside the cut off time which allowed me to go out and do a lap of honour, We finished 1st mixed trio(2nd overall trio) with 19 laps of the 6.5 mile puffer course in a time of 12:21:40.
L-R: Winning mixed trio- Donnie Macdonald, Cherie Pumphrey, Gordymac.
Photo: Claire Wilby
L-R: Winning mixed trio- Donnie Macdonald, Cherie Pumphrey, Gordymac.
Wednesday, 23 June 2010
Time Travellers
I took part in my first ever 25 mile time trial a few weeks ago at the Ross-Shire roads Garve 2up. I was riding with work colleague Donnie Macdonald. On a windy night we headed West towards Achnasheen sticking to our pre race plan of 30mph with the wind behind us and 20mph on the way back with the wind in our faces.
Photo: Eric Sloane- Cromarty Firth CC
We posted a 1:02:36 which gave us second place in the mixed team category only narrowly missing out on top spot.
John McCallum has also been in time trial action at the Forres cycling club weekend, John posted a 25:18 in the Saturday 10tt and was going well in the Sunday 25tt when he went down on a roundabout along with quite a lot of other top contenders.
Photo: Eric Sloane- Cromarty Firth CCWe posted a 1:02:36 which gave us second place in the mixed team category only narrowly missing out on top spot.
John McCallum has also been in time trial action at the Forres cycling club weekend, John posted a 25:18 in the Saturday 10tt and was going well in the Sunday 25tt when he went down on a roundabout along with quite a lot of other top contenders.
Monday, 21 June 2010
Tuesday, 15 June 2010
Sxc Champs
Fort William was host to the 2010 Scottish Championships on Sunday. Gordymac, John Mcallum and Simon Muir took to the start line for what was to be a damp and mucky race.
Johnymac was holding a place in the top five before he was caught out on the descent on lap three, a coming together of manhood and bike saw him doubled up in pain when i passed by, Even my words of encouragement weren't enough to get him back on.
Pacing myself well i spent the next couple of laps yo-yoing with a few riders and reeling in those that had gone off too fast. 
I had a last lap charge that saw me catch a few riders and with less than half a mile to go and enough left in my legs for a sprint i took 7th place Master.
The pace was frantic as usual with riders keen to stay near the front along the fire track before the turn into the narrow and steep Lazy K climb. Once out of the singletrack climb riders were faced with more climbing on firetrack up to the highest point of the course, the descent by now was a muddy root infested drop which caught out many a rider.
Johnymac was holding a place in the top five before he was caught out on the descent on lap three, a coming together of manhood and bike saw him doubled up in pain when i passed by, Even my words of encouragement weren't enough to get him back on.
Pacing myself well i spent the next couple of laps yo-yoing with a few riders and reeling in those that had gone off too fast. 
I had a last lap charge that saw me catch a few riders and with less than half a mile to go and enough left in my legs for a sprint i took 7th place Master.Simon got round without putting a foot wrong and finished 12th in Vets.
Sunday, 13 June 2010
Bristol Bike Fest ~ 12 hour solo.
After running around and hurriedly gathering clothes, bikes, tools, food and camping gear, we made the long drive to Bristol for the excellent Bike Fest event. Last year i had entered the open class and pulled in a fifth position on my single, so i was hopeful of doing well and entered the single speed solo category. The long drive often leaves me feeling a bit crunched up but a quick beer while we put the tent up helped. By 1 am i was cocooned in my kip sack.
Saturday morning was an early start. I woke up sweating in the sleeping bag at 6 am, got some coffee on the go and reached for the hydration products immediately!. After signing on i broke out the new Endura kit - comfort is imperative when the dust is going to invade every body crease for a 12 hour ride!.
The start was a Le Mans style. I lined up with Dom from team Singular Cycles and after the gun fired, ran uphill with a degree of hurry. The course bottlenecks into the first singletrack and you can wait minutes if you are too slow. Fortunately, i made it in decent time and got going pretty easily. The legs felt good: the climbs were no issue, but the course was baked concrete hard by recent sun, and a section had been removed due to fear of racers crashing in the rain-rutted sections. The laps were 25 minutes and that would become a factor as the race wore on.
Very quickly i settled into a good spot in the singlespeed/solo race, punching out the first 9 laps in 4 hours. The downside of this was that my upper body, back and hands were taking a lot of punishment. The total climbing gain was accruing as well. There were very few recovery/smooth sections and at the rate we were riding another 14 or 15 laps would be a real killer.
As ever the rocks and hard ground took their toll on all the riders. After 5 hours it was everything i could do to not throw in the towel as my back became one giant muscle spasm and blisters appeared at an alarming rate on my hands. The top 3 were lapping in very similar times: it would take a herculean effort for me to catch Dan Treby (of Buff - Feel the Ride) in first place. Meanwhile, Matt Carr of Trek bikes was around half a lap down but riding strong.
The hours ticked by slowly. Our lap times stayed stable but the number and length of stops increased. In the open race, the geared riders were flying and began to lap us rapidly. Suspension forks and gears must do something, but those guys were pumping the big meat.
With my last lap finishing at 20 minutes before the 12 hour deadline, and any laps finishing after the cut off not counting, our placings were set.
I was happy to finish in second: I reckon my legs had a first place in them, but my back and hands werent cooperating.
Despite Matt and a few others getting bikes stolen overnight saturday, the event was excellent: great organisation, course and the food and coffee avaialble was second to none. Well worth an entry.
Saturday morning was an early start. I woke up sweating in the sleeping bag at 6 am, got some coffee on the go and reached for the hydration products immediately!. After signing on i broke out the new Endura kit - comfort is imperative when the dust is going to invade every body crease for a 12 hour ride!.
The start was a Le Mans style. I lined up with Dom from team Singular Cycles and after the gun fired, ran uphill with a degree of hurry. The course bottlenecks into the first singletrack and you can wait minutes if you are too slow. Fortunately, i made it in decent time and got going pretty easily. The legs felt good: the climbs were no issue, but the course was baked concrete hard by recent sun, and a section had been removed due to fear of racers crashing in the rain-rutted sections. The laps were 25 minutes and that would become a factor as the race wore on.
Very quickly i settled into a good spot in the singlespeed/solo race, punching out the first 9 laps in 4 hours. The downside of this was that my upper body, back and hands were taking a lot of punishment. The total climbing gain was accruing as well. There were very few recovery/smooth sections and at the rate we were riding another 14 or 15 laps would be a real killer.
As ever the rocks and hard ground took their toll on all the riders. After 5 hours it was everything i could do to not throw in the towel as my back became one giant muscle spasm and blisters appeared at an alarming rate on my hands. The top 3 were lapping in very similar times: it would take a herculean effort for me to catch Dan Treby (of Buff - Feel the Ride) in first place. Meanwhile, Matt Carr of Trek bikes was around half a lap down but riding strong.
The hours ticked by slowly. Our lap times stayed stable but the number and length of stops increased. In the open race, the geared riders were flying and began to lap us rapidly. Suspension forks and gears must do something, but those guys were pumping the big meat.
With my last lap finishing at 20 minutes before the 12 hour deadline, and any laps finishing after the cut off not counting, our placings were set.
I was happy to finish in second: I reckon my legs had a first place in them, but my back and hands werent cooperating.
Despite Matt and a few others getting bikes stolen overnight saturday, the event was excellent: great organisation, course and the food and coffee avaialble was second to none. Well worth an entry.
Monday, 24 May 2010
Time Trials, Road Races and Lakeland Hills
Photo: James RuskinThe last couple of weeks have contained some annoying distractions for me, meaning I couldn't ride my bike as much as I would have liked, exams I think they are called, and I wouldn't recommend them. However, I've still been riding a bit, so here is a little picture update of me riding in the sunshine.
University 10 mile TT Champs
I travelled down to Cambridge to do the uni time trial champs, it was really sunny and warm and I had the loan of a disc wheel. I rode to the start line, got there ahead of time and heard the noise no one who has just drive for 5 hours to ride 10 miles wants to hear; my back tyre going flat. They let me start later on but I didn't get an official time. I was in no way frustrated. Moving on...
Ingliston Criteriums
There were five criteriums being run at the Royal Highland Show ground at Ingliston, which Maddy and I both took part in, they were a lot of fun, and provided a very welcome excuse to not revise.
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Lakeland Sportif
On Saturday I rode the Lakeland Sportif, I really enjoyed it. The route was 65 miles long, and was kind of like the Fred Whitton Challenge with all the easy miles taken out. It went over Whinlatter, Newlands and Honister from both sides, in a figure of eight loop which my anti-sense of direction would on no account have allowed me to ride if there hadn't been signposts telling us where to go the whole way around. The route was pretty spectacular, I hadn't ridden in the Newlands valley before, and was really pleased this gave me the opportunity to do so without getting completely lost on the way there. My Polar tells me that the maximum gradient was 28% but I think you can see from the route profile below that some sections are quite clearly overhanging.
Sunday, 23 May 2010
Muir of ord Road Race
My first road race in 17 years. I was a bit nervous at the start not knowing what to expect. I haven't been on the bike for the last 3 weeks with a bit of man-flu, so form was not great going into this.
The distance was 50miles of 4 13 mile circuits finishing short on the last lap with a dirty little climb about 300 yard from the finish straight. Two boys went off the front quite early and stayed away for the rest of the race i think they had about a 3 and half minute lead at one stage, not sure what the final time was, but it was reduced .
My main plan was to stay in the bunch and see what happens. And thats what i did; the pace was highish, but when your sheltered at the back it was pretty easy, just watching out for water bottles flying over the road with the rough surface.
then 3/4 the way round on the 3rd lap i decided to move to the front and do some work it felt pretty good, i did about a minute stint, hoping so more people would work properly and try and reel in the two at the front, it didn't work so i moved back through the field where i was at home and save myself for the group sprint.
The last lap was a lot quicker with boys attacking, and l was struggling to get near the front again.I was boxed in most of the way round, until i seen an opening and a boy going through, i got on to his wheel, and got towed to front 5. About a another 5 or 6 boys came through and i got boxed in a bit. Then on the sprint my legs ran out of steam, and a couple more guys pasted me.
It was good fun, and lets hope its not another 17 years til the next one.
Monday, 17 May 2010
10 Under the Ben
So, by the sounds of it, the whole of Scotland was bathed in glorious sunshine on Saturday except for Fort William, where Maddy and I (and about 1000 other die hards!) slogged it out for 10 hours at 10 Under the Ben in the heavy rain.
The route was slightly different from last year's (so I'm told) with extra bits of singletrack cut in, keeping it interesting and not simply following the existing World Champs course. These singletrack sections proved to be quite challenging as the day wore on and the fresh roots became more and more exposed.
Lap 1 went as expected with queues (?!) at most of the tech-y features with people either crashing or getting off and pushing. But by lap 2, it had all strung out well and Maddy and I found our flow. We decided to take turns doing 1 lap each, which I think was the fastest option for us, and we were sitting in 3rd place from the off (I think!).
Looking back, it felt like it pretty much bucketed down the entire time, with the odd dry spell here and there. Nonetheless, the testing course held up well and was really enjoyable to ride. And at least the rain kept the midges away!
The route was slightly different from last year's (so I'm told) with extra bits of singletrack cut in, keeping it interesting and not simply following the existing World Champs course. These singletrack sections proved to be quite challenging as the day wore on and the fresh roots became more and more exposed.
Also new for this year was the Le Mans style start, which, after agreeing that it would be unfair to expect Maddy to do (broken ankle at Christmas), I was totally dreading. However, the run was more like a 100yard dash across the carpark and I was just about capable of this!
Lap 1 went as expected with queues (?!) at most of the tech-y features with people either crashing or getting off and pushing. But by lap 2, it had all strung out well and Maddy and I found our flow. We decided to take turns doing 1 lap each, which I think was the fastest option for us, and we were sitting in 3rd place from the off (I think!).
Photo: Pete Morgan
We were completeing our laps in quite consistent times with no mishaps, until.....BANG!! Two thirds into my 4th lap I though one of the other competitors had resorted to underhand tactics and tried to take a shot at me. Turned out they hadn't and it was just my back tyre exploding! With no option but to leg it back the 4miles to the finish area carrying/pushing/swearing at my bike, it felt like I was on foot for hours and was convinced I had lost us our 3rd place. But it turned out it only cost us about 15-20mins and we were still safe.
In the end, Maddy & I completed 9 laps in 10hrs40mins and earned ourselves a respectable step on the podium.
The Walkers Cycling girls Alexis Barnes and Julie Nimmo took second, while the Craigie girls Kim and Lee took 1st with 10 laps.
Photo: Ross Black
We also took the opportunity to model the new kit at the race. The fists on the shorts seem a lot bigger when I'm wearing them though....
Sunday, 16 May 2010
Farewell Ride
Serendipity; left the music on random all afternoon and when I decided that I just had to go out for a few hours for a last ride on the trails-from-the-door, Beck was playing 'Farewell Ride'. He was being a bit melodramatic as I'm only moving five miles and will be able to ride these trails on my way home, but it still felt odd.
Gorgeous ride, trails were perfect, bluebells still out, creatures everywhere; more muntjacs than I've ever seen - at one point following two down a trail they parted, one to each side as I rode through like Tracey Island palm trees.
Refreshed and ready for new trails from the door...
Gorgeous ride, trails were perfect, bluebells still out, creatures everywhere; more muntjacs than I've ever seen - at one point following two down a trail they parted, one to each side as I rode through like Tracey Island palm trees.
Refreshed and ready for new trails from the door...
Thursday, 13 May 2010
local trails and the log o doom
Didn't quite get the hopping dialled enough to take on the log o doom and didn't want to snap my Ibis Hakkalugi or stop with my face (as Marty so beautifully put it) in the process. Will keep practising those hops though - log o doom, you will be mine one day!
Monday, 10 May 2010
Ae Avalanche Enduro.
This weekend was the Ae Avalanche Enduro. Format: friday and saturday course opens for practice. Basically it consists of select parts of the big loop and 'the shredder' one of the downhill runs there. You have a generous amount of time to make it between the timed sections where you race 2 up. Your compatriot is found by doing a seeding run on the saturday afternoon, after practice.
The timed sections are not long - about 3-6 mins....but some are pretty balls-out hard efforts. A lot of fuss is made of stage 4 (of 6) that includes a (gasp!) climb. But for me, stage 6 is the issue - the shredder. i can get down it, and indeed do the jumps on it courtesy of the new bike (well all except the road gap, but that is taken out of the race after a bloke rips half his face off) but i cannot descend it anywhere near in control at race pace.
Saturdays practice (which takes me 3 or so hours) is useful. I'm getting to know the Vertigo, and to be honest i'm pretty overwhelmed by what this bike can and will allow me to do. It is best on hard & fast mountain terrain, rather than table tops and ultra rough dh type terrain, but the limit is definitely the pilot. I crash in qualifying on one of the '7 stanes-typical no edge (tm) corners on loose stones', then again trying to take a poor line on a slimey fresh cut drop in - much to the baying crowds enjoyment.
In the end, i'm top hardtail (though there are precious few) in 74th. Top 25% is good for me. My friend Rob Hamilton Smith smashes into the top 20 and Nico Vouiloz is in 7th ( i think) after on-sighting the seeding run...yep. No practice...amazingly fluid rider....and fellow Moulineer Lyndsey is right up there in the dames (the race organisers term, not mine!).
Race day after an early start: My fellow rider is Stuart Bond - a good bloke. A veteren of several Avalanche and mash up type events, he is really helpful keeping me right. We decide (as many other pairs do - due to the narrow tracks and lack of passing opportunities) to take it turn and about for leading into the sections. We have good banter and are pretty evenly matched, though i use the xc fitness and hardtail to my advantage on stage 4.
On stage 5, stuart has the lead. Unbeknownst to him, i launch off a steep transition on one of the table top jumps. These seem to be more bmx suited than mtb to my mind and many others, and they are pretty unpleasant if you dont soak them up. Needless to say i am skywards and over rotating before i touch down off course heading down a fortunately grassy slope over the course tape and into a small gully. Regaining the course gives me a lot of work to do, but i come in a second or 2 down on Stuart with only the Shredder to come. It is my turn to lead, but i gladly hand this over and Stuart dissappears off nto the distance. A poor line choice loses me more time and my nerves start to jangle as i hit some of the bumps too fast and ragged. Into the final drop on Omega man trail and there is a crowd. At some point i have picked up a puncture and the rear end is fishtailing as i try to soak up the drops. Onto the ladder trail with a last minute adrenalin kick as my completely flat rear tyre refuses to steer me off the end without a caveman effort to keep from flying face first into the brush.
I lost some time on that last stage (probably close to 30 seconds) but that was to be expected. Even so, i made it into 58th place - which i'm pretty pleased with. Next time i need some burlier tyres (stiffer sidewalls really) and some bigger cojones. Lyndsey did really well (i'm sure she will post something soon) and Rob punched it into 13th on a borrowed bike. Given the calibre of the field that is a pretty impressive result!.
Some guy called Nico won, and i'm sure he'll go onto great things.
Good fun indeed.
The timed sections are not long - about 3-6 mins....but some are pretty balls-out hard efforts. A lot of fuss is made of stage 4 (of 6) that includes a (gasp!) climb. But for me, stage 6 is the issue - the shredder. i can get down it, and indeed do the jumps on it courtesy of the new bike (well all except the road gap, but that is taken out of the race after a bloke rips half his face off) but i cannot descend it anywhere near in control at race pace.
Saturdays practice (which takes me 3 or so hours) is useful. I'm getting to know the Vertigo, and to be honest i'm pretty overwhelmed by what this bike can and will allow me to do. It is best on hard & fast mountain terrain, rather than table tops and ultra rough dh type terrain, but the limit is definitely the pilot. I crash in qualifying on one of the '7 stanes-typical no edge (tm) corners on loose stones', then again trying to take a poor line on a slimey fresh cut drop in - much to the baying crowds enjoyment.
In the end, i'm top hardtail (though there are precious few) in 74th. Top 25% is good for me. My friend Rob Hamilton Smith smashes into the top 20 and Nico Vouiloz is in 7th ( i think) after on-sighting the seeding run...yep. No practice...amazingly fluid rider....and fellow Moulineer Lyndsey is right up there in the dames (the race organisers term, not mine!).
Race day after an early start: My fellow rider is Stuart Bond - a good bloke. A veteren of several Avalanche and mash up type events, he is really helpful keeping me right. We decide (as many other pairs do - due to the narrow tracks and lack of passing opportunities) to take it turn and about for leading into the sections. We have good banter and are pretty evenly matched, though i use the xc fitness and hardtail to my advantage on stage 4.
On stage 5, stuart has the lead. Unbeknownst to him, i launch off a steep transition on one of the table top jumps. These seem to be more bmx suited than mtb to my mind and many others, and they are pretty unpleasant if you dont soak them up. Needless to say i am skywards and over rotating before i touch down off course heading down a fortunately grassy slope over the course tape and into a small gully. Regaining the course gives me a lot of work to do, but i come in a second or 2 down on Stuart with only the Shredder to come. It is my turn to lead, but i gladly hand this over and Stuart dissappears off nto the distance. A poor line choice loses me more time and my nerves start to jangle as i hit some of the bumps too fast and ragged. Into the final drop on Omega man trail and there is a crowd. At some point i have picked up a puncture and the rear end is fishtailing as i try to soak up the drops. Onto the ladder trail with a last minute adrenalin kick as my completely flat rear tyre refuses to steer me off the end without a caveman effort to keep from flying face first into the brush.
I lost some time on that last stage (probably close to 30 seconds) but that was to be expected. Even so, i made it into 58th place - which i'm pretty pleased with. Next time i need some burlier tyres (stiffer sidewalls really) and some bigger cojones. Lyndsey did really well (i'm sure she will post something soon) and Rob punched it into 13th on a borrowed bike. Given the calibre of the field that is a pretty impressive result!.
Some guy called Nico won, and i'm sure he'll go onto great things.
Good fun indeed.
Sunday, 9 May 2010
Bealach Beag
You couldn't have asked for a better day in the West for the Bealach Beag Sportive on Saturday, Sheildaig was a picture postcard in the early morning sun.
Leaving Sheildaig there was enough time to warm up before Tornapress where the serious business of climbing the Bealach na Ba begins in earnest, Ascending 2408ft in just 6miles. Dropping down towards Applecross riders had to battle with a with a nasty crosswind and rather lumpy road surface leading to a few very hairy moments. An evil headwind conspired against the riders on the long stretch to Fearnmore, Seeking to be as aerodynamic as possible left precious little time to take in the glorious views of Skye and Raasay. Finally with the wind in our favour the sting in the tail was about to be unleashed with countless short sharp climbs evenly interspersed to weaken already tired legs in the run back to Sheildaig village.
Once all the pre ride faffing and numbers secured to bikes and riders was complete we set off for the start on the main street in Sheildaig.
Leaving Sheildaig there was enough time to warm up before Tornapress where the serious business of climbing the Bealach na Ba begins in earnest, Ascending 2408ft in just 6miles. Dropping down towards Applecross riders had to battle with a with a nasty crosswind and rather lumpy road surface leading to a few very hairy moments. An evil headwind conspired against the riders on the long stretch to Fearnmore, Seeking to be as aerodynamic as possible left precious little time to take in the glorious views of Skye and Raasay. Finally with the wind in our favour the sting in the tail was about to be unleashed with countless short sharp climbs evenly interspersed to weaken already tired legs in the run back to Sheildaig village. Gordymac's Bealach Beag stats:
43 miles with 6500ft of ascent.
Climb time: 36 min 10 sec, 12th fastest.
Finish time: 2 hr 34 min, 17th place.
Saturday, 8 May 2010
Friday, 7 May 2010
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