http://sometimesridesbikes.blogspot.com/

If you are looking for my photo website, then that can be found at http://qwertyphoto.com

Cheers Rich

A great weekend with so much worthy of mention. Some of the stars below.

That coupled with more an more of my time being commissioned to take pictures, regrettably means it is time to wind up the hire business.

If you want to buy some great pictures of mountain bike riders, fell runners, track cyclists or landscapes, then check out my photos website qwertyphoto.com

Here’s a small selection of the photos I took at the event.

Copies of all can be ordered via my picture website qwertyphoto.com

Rod Mason

Night time bike cleaning courtesy of Muc-Off

Exiting the Bombhole In Style.

Quite a tricky descent at speed.

One of Trios team mates iirc.

Jase - Well done on your top 5 placing.

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Here’s a few recent pics. Clicky for more.

The first event I’ve done this year after Nick Craig’s recommendation.

We went down on Saturday after sorting out some hire bikes, and unusually Wales was bathed in sunshine. Nice.

A couple of beers on the Saturday evening plus music courtesy of Syspender.

After some heavy rain during the night, a sunny day greeted us on the Sunday morning.

I’d elected to potter round and take a few pictures on the way round.

I nearly came a cropper taking the above shot. Whilst concentrating on framing my shot with my 40D held above my head, and avoiding my fellow riders, I forgot the importance of not stopping pedaling whist riding a fixed gear. It’s years since I’ve done that.

After the road, there was more up. A long fireroad climb, which thankfully my gearing allowed me to get up without to much expenditure of effort.

The rest of the route involved what seemed to be more up than down, and lots of deep muddy puddles.

A tough but fun 50K ride, plus a great vibe at the HQ and campsite in Machynlleth.

Oh and Tom beat Chipps at Jenga.

I love it when folk come up with unusual ideas. ~100K in the peak mainly off road would be great. “Singlespeeds are the bike choice for the day!” she says. Err. Crazy.

I only have a fixed one gear bike, so that’s what I rode.

I couldn’t make their 6:45 rendezvous meeting at Sheffield station, so instead met with  Amy Kate Jon and Simon just past Rushup edge.

We headed back towards Hayfield, taking in some nice tech riding on the way.

Once at Coldwell Clough it was a mix of riding and pushing  to Edale Cross, and onwards to the top of Jacob’s Ladder. Simon offered his flask of whisky round, but unusually I turned down the offer of a drink.

I got to go first down the ladder, and I’m happy to say I made it without dabbing, though the steep bit at the top was a bit sketchy.

Thence to Edale for Pie,  Chips and Guinness. Yum yum yum. But 2 hours waiting for and eating food would mean we’d never get to Sheffield in daylight. Mmmm.

The weather had turned a bit nippy, but the climb via Jaggers Clough to the top of the Beast warmed us up again.

Down the Beast passed with out event. Why it is called the Beast alludes me, unless you’re talking about going up it of course.

We headed then towards Cut Gate via Derwent Reservoir. Nearing 5pm now and without lights I make the decision at Slippery Stones to head back over to the Hope Valley in order to get the train back homewards. Everyone else had lights, and I did not.

I arrive at Bamford station, and I’m cold. In the distance i see train headlights. I can’t believe my luck. Seconds later the train flys past at warp factor whatever. Arse.

A look at the train timetable reveals that the next train is near 2 hours away. Arse.

I phone Ann. “Erm I’m in  Bamford, would you mind picking me up?”

Ann”Where’s Bamford?”

Me”Near Hope”

Ann” I’m just driving through Sparrowpit, see you in 10 minutes” (10K away)

Lucky me.

I did about 65K. Quite pleased I managed to ride so far having not ridden much recently.

The rest did over 110K ! Amy’s account here

Kate flying by.

Until today, I hadn’t ridden a bike for ages.  Busy working some of the time, the rest being lazy, procrastinating, and drinking red wine.

I’d planned to go out earlier in the week, but it just didn’t happen. Anyway today I did it. I went out for a ride.

I could have just gone for an easy pootle, but that wouldn’t have given me the buzz I’d been missing. Plus I really wanted to know how fit I was, and if I’d still got control of a bike when the going gets tricky.

I opted for the mountain bike classic loop, Hayfield, Rushup, Edale, Jacob’s Ladder, and then back home. 2hours 15 minutes on a mountain bike when I’m fit. Let’s make it a bit more challenging and take the Cyclo-Cross bike though.

Through the village plan A was to gain height quickly and take Highgate Road though this of course would have been the easy option. Instead down Valley Road towards Elle Bank. Once the road ends, the track starts to kick up. Muddy, a little loose under tyre and some rocks. That’s more like it. I’d like to say that I made it all the way to the top, but it’s years since I’ve done that. A bit of pushing, but no more than usual. One photo taken heading towards Mount Famine before the battery died. So no excuses other than to just ride.

Onwards towards South Head. From there a loose descent down towards the Roych. In the distance I see some mountain bikers. This of course means that I must catch and overtake them. It’s in the rules.

By the Roych I’d caught them all. Next comes a steep little climb, tricky to get up what ever the bike.  The mountain bike riders let me go first. I set off. Tyres were slipping but the bike was finding it’s way. Then my cleat unclips from the pedal. I hear a “ooh”. It seems I have an audience. Still I have some momentum, so foot back on the pedal. A couple of seconds later I’ve made it up the hard bit. Yeah success.  Err no, the front wheel gets deflected of a rock and I’m off. From the river below I hear clapping, a round of applause. That made me smile. I hope they had more luck than me.

Back on the bike again I ride to and then along Rushup Edge. As I ride along, a crazy idea comes into my head. Crazy, in a could end up seriously hurt in hospital sort of way. No, bad idea, it’s not even possible I think. Chapel Gate on my Santa Cruz Blur with 6 inches of suspension didn’t save me from going over the bars on at least two occasions. Chapel Gate on a cyclo-cross bike would just be stupid.

So at the junction I do the right thing. I turn left towards Chapel Gate. Flat at first on a wide smooth track, it all looks so easy. Very slowly the trail dips downwards and loose stones appear. As it steepens so the stones get bigger. Small drop downs, big drop downs, water mud, and then massive boulders. It’s steep now I need speed to get through this rough terrain, though speed and a crash down here will mean hospital food.  This track is always changing, through erosion.There is no definite line. At least I knew that. Every time I ride it it’s like a new trail. The ultimate test. It passes quickly I put my foot down 4 or 5 times on the way down. Twice I nearly lost it. But wow, I made it. Buzzing.

Down to Edale for Coffee and the skinniest slice of cake I have ever seen. Then onwards to Jacobs Ladder. At the bridge at it’s foot I made the sensible choice. I chucked the bike over my shoulder and walked up hill. From the top is nearly all downhill to Hayfield. Not an easy descent though. I’ve seen a few come off down there. My hands are now sore. I concentrate.

I meet some riders fixing a chain half way down. I stop to check they have everything they need. One lad says “Good practice for the Three Peaks“. I say “Yes, probably the last time I rode this bike”.

I must have passed 20 riders today, no one passed me. 2 hours 15 minutes less the cake stop.

I did OK.

If you don’t know Chapel Gate, have a look at the YouTube video below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91zzrgbphvo

Dates

Sunday April 19th 2009
Monday May 4th 2009
Sunday May 17th 2009
Sunday May 31st 2009

More details can be found at http://brownbacksracing.co.uk/

Oh yes, and I took the pictures.