Week 5 of "52 weeks"

I'm attempting to compete in the Mega Avalanche in 2010 - It's a journey of 52 weeks till I actually get there and it's gonna be tough!

Read on to hear more about my week of funerals, big crashes and first race!


..Inside are the Pics, video diary and loads of letters from the alphabet, which form words..


.Monday

Just got home from a 4 hour session over at Chase trails with Daniel in his bargain ebay car. We headed over fairly early to the cannock tracks in prep for this saturdays timed runs,held by Racers Guild monthly at Chase trails - the setup for the day looked great - perfect weather, snacks and drink and 2 riders ready to ride!


5 minutes in I took a rather tough slam as i took a quick handlebar hop in the woods after landing a large, fast jump and hitting a tree stump - thus throwing me 20 metres along a rock gully down the left side of my body.

I got up to my feet sharpish in alot of pain - Various cuts and nicks all up my left arm and hand, dead leg, really sore stomach and a helmetful of rocks to top it off! After I brushed myself off Daniel and I checked the bike and we were Proper amazed as there wasnt even a scratch - so no excuses it was back to the top. As we walked and pushed our steeds up the steep little hill, I knew that as soon as i rested my leg would be seizing up - so it was down to Daniel to lead the way and keep us going aslong as possible on the trails. We sessioned the track Ridge Run and just spent some time getting to know the track and practicing the weaker areas of our ability.

After a few epic and highly amusing runs - I just couldnt walk anymore, I hadnt pedaled hardly all day, just freecoasted but I just couldnt walk anymore up that hill one more time, so it was off home for a fairly early finish!

Tuesday

I woke up to this....



My body bruised and grazed all over the lefthand side of my body and we had a nice relaxing day at Alton towers! However while at Alton towers i recieve an intresting email from Commencal regarding my project - ill keep you posted with the progress of what happens next! Also another email awaits me at home from Schwalbe tires with another potential sponsorship offer!

Wednesday

Had a mega rough nights sleep last night due to over doing it at Alton towers yesterday, when all my body wanted to do was rest! Finally got to sleep at 4am and woke up at midday for Lunch with the family!

Decided to finish upgrading the Kona by adding a front brake and disc specific wheel - looks quite sweet now to be fair and rides so much more comfortably! Just when the KONA was finished, Elijah entered the garage and gave the signal for wanting to go out riding by bringing me his helmet and pointing at his carrier seat


We headed out on a 15 mile loop and we were hit with torrential rain and gale force winds - but he slept through half of it! Spent some time on a small section of lanes doing some speed work on a 1/4 mile uphill climb, attempting to beat my timed ascent each time, was happy with the results!

As the rain got heavier we decided to head home for a well deserved brew and snacks!

Thursday

Today began with a 2 hour drive to Wales, unfortunatly not to ride but to attend my grandma`s funeral - Im not gonna say much on this to be honest, but it was an emotional day and a nice bit of closure on the passing of my Grandma!

On arrival home I get a phonecall that my mates bike was stolen and there was a rumor floating around that some idiot had listed it for sale on ebay and it was being advertised in our fair city DERBY

This is my account of what took place, typewriter styley that night!

My mates Kona got knicked - however it had been at my house for a week prior to that being upgraded and pimped! But due to these high priced bikes getting knicked I had marked it in secret squirrel ways!

Anyhow we found it on ebay Today... so i set my ebay account to a different area - as he is in derby - contacted the seller with a Pinochio of a story to arrange a viewing tonight

Then I called the local bobbies

They took me on a stakeout of the property because the owner of the house has been arrested 16times for acts violence, mainly assault!

After our 20min stake out - we had a genius plan!

So I entered the house solo to view bike

Then my signal to the cops to come in was to go to my car and get a tape measure and a wheel to show the thief - as i was gonna expalin how i mark my bikes!

Showed him how I and what they look like as proof of ownership

Cops came in and arrested him

I took my mates bike back to his house for him!Read More

Awesome - i would like to dedicate this day to all the bikers who wanted revenge on thieves, and never got to meet or see them!



Friday

9am there is a beautiful sound at my door - The sound of Boxxer 151`s being delivererd - thank you very much posty man - now its off to the shed to assemble the patriot!


Midday - Im now at leisure lakes www.leisurelakesbikes.com in Derby, as the bike is all finished apart from the one small important detail - no front brake!


I have spent all morning setting the bike up with no success at all - i just cant get this rotor to line up with the caliper and to make my life even harder - i had not put the correct size on! DOH - Im now sat chatting with adam at leisure lakes, derby on the floor attempting to find a needle in a hay stack - a Boxxer d mount in a box full of disc mounts!! After 30 mins im leaving the shop with a not too happy face

Then to the rescue Samway cycles www.ukcyclestore.com in Derby! I am greeted by a young gent and im utterly gobsmacked at the phenomenal level of service and hospitality offered in sorting this issue out - 100% success in less than 10 minutes from this young gent and im off home with a new saddle to finish the deal!

Cheers Samways!

Headed out this afternoon with the family and one upgraded and retroised Patriot to Hemlock stone just to check it all works and see how she feels before the timed runs on saturday at Cannock!


She is ripping - bit heavier but much more stable, loving this ride! After some sun, rain and hail stones we headed to Ikea for some dinner and then into a lovely hour of bank holiday traffic ques for pudding!

Get home to an awesome email message from Tyler at Pinkbike who is sending me some stickers, clothing and Merch for the Project in way of support - Thanks pinkbike xxx


Saturday

Ok so its finally here - Racers Guilds Timed runs at Cannock Chase. It has been over 10 years since I have done a timed run/race - and after mondays crash I wasn`t feeling 100% confident and also I was still in alot of pain. So as Dan arrived after my hearty scrammbled eggs breakfast and making 5 bottles of Bikefood up, we Loaded the newly retroised and upgraded Patriot into Daniels car, and off we journeyed to Cannock for 10am.

On arrival we did a quick walk of the race track for the day ridge run, and when we got back to the top after a lengthy walk - we helped some guys put up the starting gate gazebo and we headed to the car to gear up for practicing before the races begun.


After a few very slow runs and attempts to memorise some lines on the berms and tight twisty wood section, we headed to the top for race numbers and times for the day.


Man these local boys are ripping it and representing Cannock proud - I was so impressed with the riding and attitude displayed today by all - every single person riding down of all ages and on all types of bikes, was encouraged and cheered on as if they were best freinds or family! We headed to the top to get ready for our timed run...


So I approached the top for my first run and before I knew it I was next to go and I was off, it was an ok run I think, but I messed up some sections and needed to nail some better lines but I was having alot of fun and enjoying it. I even got some adrenaline boosts from some boys I have never seen before screaming at me to pedal and Go on son and my favourite you can do it , as I approached the Ski jump booter!

First run time was a 1:03:00 - which suprised me alot, so me and Dan missioned to the top for a time slot for another run!

So after a round an hour, I began my Second run, it went alot better I nailed a better bottom section on the turns and I was feeling quite confident that this run was definatly faster!

Second run was 1:00:03 - i was chuffed but ready for one more go at getting under the minute

Ok so we trekked up the hill for a final run and waited 45 minutes to hit the track again - great to watch other riders nailing and railing the course and to have some chinwagging with some other riders.


Third run was interesting to be honest, im pretty sure it was faster in section but I ended up breaking so much more into every corner due to being a bit lazy - and instead of carrying my speed I was like a bus on a town route stopping constantly and accelerating away sharpish!

I cant remember my third time but it was ok!

Had a fantastic day and I just want to thank everyone who encouraged me, made me feel welcome and for answering all my "newbie" to the race questions! Was a fantastic day.


I think it would be good to just re-inforce to everyone that this event is brilliant, but is designed to function as a grassroots training day for locals more than a "race event!".It would be great for other areas to take this idea to their home track and begin a culture like the racers guild have created. This is a very special event which I think is desperatly trying to hang on to its roots and why it exists, if flooded by too many "travellers", Racers guilds timed runs could become a slog to run and just a bit to busy for the locals to enjoy anymore.



Just want to give massive, massive props to the Racers Guild for a superb event!

http://www.chasetrails.co.uk

Here is my footage of loads of riders and sections from the day!



Weeks round up and video diary



Had a great week this week to be fair, even if I have fallen off and been to a funeral! Im fairly happy with how the new diet is going and the Patriots upgrades - Just wonder what next week will bring?


Thanks to our sponsors and supporters of Project "52 weeks"


http://www.bikefood.com


www.aquilahealth.co.uk


https://www.pinkbike.com