What's happened since the first post!!

Well the week before I created this blog, I decided I would buy a cyclo cross bike for winter training and maybe to do a few races on too. Well I couldn't resist as soon as the wheels went in the bike I couldn't wait to have a dabble. The Following weekend I did a race in Myrtle park, Bingley. The gap between my ability and the top lads was huge it was so hard, setting off like a Kermess race but  running up steps, negotiating trees and jumping off the bike, which was all new to me but i plugged away and finished respectably,  falling off a few times on the technical parts of the course but its only mud!!!

 The Following week I couldn't bring myself to change the tyres and was hooked on riding off road. On the Tuesday I decided I would ride to a cafe at Airton about an hour & a quarter ride on bridleways, sections of canal and through fields, running with the bike slung over my shoulder when ever it got a bit to tricky to ride, so a good 2 1/2 hours had getting plastered.

Wednesday- I thought I would just have a quick rip round the local lanes through the Paythorne, Hellifield, Winterburn and Gargrave area, but still with the fast moving cx tyres on another track became to tempting. This time to those of you who know the area, it was from Hetton to Gordale Scar, Malham,  a real tough pull 50% on a old rough drover road and then into fields and across bordley moor "riding on grass is harder than it looks" climbing up to an altitude of 377 meters above sea level. Then the fast road decent down into malham, where i found myself running out of brake block!!!!! again absolutely plastered in mud i was a site for the local WI at the cafe!! But another great 3 hours in the saddle had!!

Thursday- I had get the road tyres back on! a road ride with my mate sam was calling. Today it was through the lanes to settle, then a long pull up to ribblehead "witha  beast of a tail wind" round to Ingleton and back through clapham and home. A really good 3 and 3/4 hours through cracking scenery.

Friday- A steady spin about 2 hours with my mate john to the local cafe and then to Wilks Racing  stores for some much needed new over shoes and gloves, oh hang I mean his wardrobe!!!!


Sunday- Today was a good day, I had arranged to meet my mate Daniel Patten Who I lived in Belgium with this year in the Peak District for a Publicity ride, which was organised by and to publicise ONIX bikes. The ride was based from Langley near Macclesfield  and took in some great countryside, most notably the cat and fiddle climb, which was made even more eventful with unbelievably strong winds "so strong as i was riding with David Harmon he just kinda disappeared of the road" I mean I know chatting to me sometimes is a bit much but no ones ever gone to such lengths before!! All in all though it was a nice day and good excuse to ride on some different roads.  That afternoon Dan came back up to my place to about 5 days riding in my neck of the woods. For some Yorkshire tea and maybe some caramel slice....... a long standing joke!!!

Cat and fiddle with David Harmon, Ken Jones and Dan Patten.

Monday- After a nice steady ride on the sunday in the peaks, i decided Monday would be a nice 3 1/2 hours around the dales, showing Dan what the north has to offer as far as great cycling roads are concerned! and I think he really enjoyed it, at times I was listening to myself and think I sounded a bit like a guided bus holiday, "over there is...., just down there on the left is......"

Tuesday- Now today was a different kettle of fish, is wasn't a day for the bike but a completely different kind of exercise. The North of England is famous for its Grouse moors and in winter as part of my training and just as importantly my bank balance I go grouse beating, flushing game birds out for the pleasure of the Gentry to shoot, from lords and ladies to I'm quite proud to say Royalty!! Its hard walking, bad weather and great for building fitness, so me and Dan went on the moors for the day on my local shoot!! Petrol money for his journey back to SUNNY essex!!!

Wednesday- Back to two wheels and another great ride with Dan Patten and Sam Boast, a good 3 1/2 hours through single track lanes to Wharfedale, up round the Hubberhome triangle and the back down the valley to the cafe, which was much needed after a strong 20 mile head wind!! But no caramel slice we had to do with scone and cakes!!!!

Thursady- Today me and Dan met up with Craig Middleton, Onix bikes,  for a good leg spinner round the Ribble valley and a coffee and cake at waddinton cafe!! I don't think we had a flat bit of road all day and the car count on the road was in single figures "GREAT"!!!!

Friday- Today it was Salue Manneke Patten, the long drive south awaited and a day chopping wood awaited me but you gotta have a rest sometime!!

Saturday- And then today Saturday, for me another day trogging over the moors flapping my flag, hard walking this time through hip high heather!! 

Hope you've enjoyed reading this blog, i'm sure theres no other like it............. Yorkshire tea and a caramel slice!!!