Phase 2 Big Build Day – Sunday 7th June
Swinnerton Cycles Forest Centre 10am
BBQ & Refreshments Provided
Prize Draw for all volunteers
Tools Supplied (Feel free to bring your favourite spade)
Bring Sturdy Footwear & Outdoor Clothes

The next Chase Trails Big Build draws ever closer – this Sunday, June 7th. Thrills! Spills! Lizards!

The plan is to meet at Swinnertons at 10am, but the nearest parking to the build site will be Beaudesert Old Park carpark if you get there a bit later.

Remember, the trails don’t build themselves, and Chase Trails do a huge amount of work maintaining what’s already there, planning and building new stuff, and championing the cause of mountain biking on the Chase. So if you’ve ever complained about breaking bumps, or sections being closed, or generally moaned about the trail, it’s YOUR DUTY to attend and help out. The more people that contribute, the faster stuff gets done, and you get a sneak peak and what’s planned! And meat! DON’T FORGET THE MEAT!

I am now sufficiently recovered from Bike Radar Live to do a blog update.  Huzzah!

The event was fun – a bit to improve on, but a good start.  The range of mountain bikes available to demo was a bit limited, particularly if you were very short (like me) or very tall (like Mr Toast).  The mountain bike demo loop was a bit flawed too – a lot of it was wide, with steep sandy berms and grassy climbs, but there was a woody section that was very tight singletrack with a couple of unavoidable technical features.  As there was no indication of difficulty, there were a lot of families with small children riding it and coming a cropper, and that section of the demo loop was very congested.  Ideally they could have done with a couple of different loops for riders of different abilities – maybe next year!

As for the bikes…I’ll admit, I was a bit worried about demoing bikes, as I was scared that I’d ride something and prefer it to the Professor.  Fortunately, I needn’t have worried!

First up was a Giant Anthem.  I’d demoed the women’s specific last year, but this time I tried the standard model in extra small.  The fit was actually very nice, good reach and lots of standover.  I previously described the women’s anthem as handling “like an epileptic donkey”.  That was perhaps a touch harsh, but I still found the experience a bit overly brittle and twitchy.  I think it just doesn’t suit my style of riding – perhaps if I was a proper cross country racing whippet, as opposed to a lazy trail centre bum!  Still, massive props to Giant for actually having a good range of sizes available.

Then, there was the true test.  The Lapierre Zesty 514L.  This was the one I was most worried about – I’d loved it on my previous demo ride, but I hadn’t really had the chance to put it through its paces.  In a lot of respects, it was better suited to me than the Professor – there was a decent amount of standover, without sacrificing too much of the reach.  But it didn’t feel as nice as the Professor, certainly not as smooth.  Don’t get me wrong, it’s a fantastic bike, and perhaps if the suspension was set up a little differently it would be right for me – but I’m glad I’ve got my Stumpy.   I prefer the feel of him, he’s prettier, he’s £600 cheaper and he’s not French.

The other demos were a bit sillier.  There was the quite frankly TERRIFYING tandem demo where Mr Toast and I sallied forth around Donington race track – him on the front steering, me on the back ‘stoking’.  It’s very eerie to be pedalling on a bike with no control over the steering.  I also had the unfortunate habit of inadvertently poking Mr Toast in the bottom whenever I shifted my grip on the handlebars, which he found slightly disconcerting.  I saw some other couples on tandems going stupidly fast though, and I can see why Mr Toast’s best man Jaggy referred to them as ‘Human Suicide Missiles’.

I’m still not quite sure what to make of tandems, but the people at JD Cycles were lovely, and clearly very enthusiastic about them.  If you’re interested in tandeming, their site is a great resource.

On the Sunday I had the strange compulsion to demo a folding bike.  Part of it was born out of necessity – I wanted to ride a bike, but there weren’t many in my size.  But I also found them oddly compelling, and their practicality appeals to me – I could ride to work, and not worry about my bike being nicked.  Plus…riding around Donington on a folding bike?  How often am I going to get the chance to do that?

I rode a Brompton bike, and you know what?  It was bloody great!  I was expecting riding it, with its tiny wheels and three gears, to be a bit hard going – particularly going up hills .  But it really wasn’t –  it was a very nice little ride, and ideal for commuting.

I’d love to see some one doing Follow the Dog on a folding bike – it could join unicyclists and singlespeeders in the ‘wacky niche’ category.

Rest of the show was entertaining – Rachel Atherton having a cheeky dig at Tracy Mosely over skin suits again, Danny McAskill ‘off the computer’ wowing people with his trails skills, and impressive action on the dirt jumps and 4x courses.

Given that I crap myself if I get even a couple of inches of air, I can’t help but wonder what goes through their minds whenever they do a huge jump, or a risky move like a backflip.

So, generally a good laugh.  Crepes were rubbish though.

The next Big Build Day is scheduled for June 7th. At the last one there were ducklings and lizards! Oh my!

Phase 2 Big Build Day – Sunday 7th June
Swinnerton Cycles Forest Centre 10am
BBQ & Refreshments Provided
Prize Draw for all volunteers
Tools Supplied (Feel free to bring your favourite spade)
Bring Sturdy Footwear & Outdoor Clothes

If the good weather keeps up, I’d also add, ‘Bring suntan lotion and a hat’.  Lobster pink and sunstroke isn’t a good combination.  Note to self: turn up on time. -_-

The build days are a great way to get to know other bikers, and to also contribute to the local trails in a practical way.  Plus there’s sausages.

Had a bit of a trail building fail today.  Fully intended to do our bit, but unfortunately set out a bit later than planned – for some reason, my mom was quite insistent that we check on the state of the spare fridge in the garage…

We turned up at Swinnertons at 10.15, quarter of an hour late.  The Chase Trail chaps had already set off, and the guy in Swinnertons said that they were planning on going up to the old section 8.  So, I speeded through section two, and then took the fireroads to the start of section 8.

Unfortunately they weren’t there, so I waited for a little while, and nommed some Fruit Pastilles.  Decided it was best to keep riding, and perhaps I’d catch up with them on another part of the trail.

I was riding section 8 quite well.  I’ve been making a conscious effort to lay off the breaks and relax more, but I was perhaps a bit too relaxed.  I took a corner a bit too quick (or rather turned a bit too slow), and went wide into some mud.  I’m not entirely sure what happened next – I’m assuming that I panicked and tapped my breaks.  I’m assuming this, as I can’t think of any other way my bike would come to an abrupt halt and end up in a tangled heap behind me as I went over the handlebars (I think!).

I got up, made sure that everything still worked and was intact (both for the bike and rider), and carried on riding.  I was a bit shaken, but I actually felt better riding the remainder of section 8 than I did yesterday.  Perhaps because I’d had a nice rest on the floor.

Rode the rest of the trail without incident, actually overtook some people that weren’t small children, rode 16 without clipping the bars again.  I rode the two sections I’d missed first thing (6&7), chickened out riding down the start of 6 to the bridge.  I also avoided the boardwalk and took the chicken run, as I was starting to get some interesting aches from my previous faceplant adventures.

After that, I’d got some time to kill before meeting Mr Toast at the café, so I generally pootled about, attempting to ride down section 3 (one of the old abandoned sections that I used to really enjoy), but failing rather spectacularly.  No, I stayed on the bike, I just couldn’t find the ruddy trail – there are so many branching paths now, and I inevitably picked the dullest, most straightforward one.

Met Mr Toast at the café, snaffled food, and set off on an afternoon ride.  Bumped into Rob at Swinnertons, who told us that the ramp leading off the bridge at the start of section 6 had been made a bit easier due to the number of people coming off on it.  Suddenly, my knew found grace and skill on that feature was explained.  Although it’s good that people’s safety is taken seriously, I would have liked to have gotten genuinely good at riding it (as opposed to riding it with the elegance of a three legged donkey) before it was nerfed.

Chased Mr Toast through section 2, as he tried to find a suitable pace.  Initially he was going a bit too slow, so I shouted ‘faster’.  He went a little faster, but still too slow, so I shouted faster.  He then rocketed ahead, but at least it gave me a target!

After section 2, I’d decided I wanted to do the green loop, as I decided that a) it was a nice day to see more of the Chase, and b) I’d acquired quite enough interesting bruises for one day.  But first – I couldn’t allow the entry to the bridge on 6 to become another NEMESIS.  So, I decided to give it a shot.  I rode down the slope…and onto the bridge.  And then rode along the bridge, and off the end, without incident.  Not terribly exciting, but at least I know I don’t have to be stupid about it now.

Green loop was suitably lovely, if busy with families and dogs.  The Canadian Goose family I’d seen the other week were present, with the goslings being slightly larger and more goose-shaped than before.  All in a big pile!

We’d gotten about halfway around when there was a loud CRACK from Mr Toast’s bike.  His rear wheel had broken.  Again.

There was quite a lot of swearing, and the Zaskar (and its XT wheels) were dragged back to Birches Valley.  Once we got home, he took the hub apart, and found that the ball bearings in the hub were smashed – the coatings were broken.  There was more swearing, but he eventually realised that he had two broken XT rear wheels – both broken in different ways.  By cannibalises the old Meta wheel, he could fix the Zaskar one.  Weeeee!

He also decided to keep the rim off the cannibilised wheel, which involved him manically cackling as he took a hacksaw to the spokes.  From the remains of the destroyed hub, he created a beautiful sculpture!

Ride: Cannock Chase

Trail: Follow the Dog, various green bits, section 3 (sort of), sections 2, start of 6, section 12, green loop, section 13.

Highlights: Getting a good long ride in the sun, doing the slope on the bridge at the start of 6

Bad bits:  Going over the bars on 8.

Post ride food snaffled: Had a ham and egg salad sandwich baguette and a cookie for lunch

Good dogs seen: A white malamute type dog, lots of Jack Russels.

It was hard to believe that the NPS race was only a week ago.  Last weekend had torrential rain, harsh winds, and generally crap, miserable and grey weather.

This weekend was glorious, with blue skies and baking sunshine – if only it had been like this last week!  To give you an idea of how warm it was – I went out without legwarmers and left my thermal jersey in the house for the first time this year!

Before heading to the Chase, we had to go to the Specialized Concept Store in Brum to pick up my proper saddle, and also to spend some of our Spring Reward Voucher.  I got a couple of new jerseys, the Arona and Stella ones, and Mr Toast got some new SPD shoes, as the straps on his old ones are about to give up the ghost.  As an aside, here’s me modelling the Arona jersey.  I was quite mortified when I saw this picture, as I didn’t realise how Dame Edna Everage the glasses looked.  I’m sure they don’t look that stupid in the mirror…

It was a bit of the pain in the arse getting to the Concept Store – there had been a bad accident, and a few of the routes to Fort Dunlop were closed.  The remaining ones were absolutely rammed with traffic, so it took us ages getting both in and out – we didn’t get to the Chase until nearly 3pm.

Got onto FtD, rode section 2 stupidly fast.  Walked down to the bridge at the start of section 6 like a big cowardly, cowardly custard.  Rode the bridge, and marvelled as I rolled down the end – I did it a lot smoother than two weeks ago, it seemed particularly easy.

Did the boardwalk, no excuse no to when it’s dry and sunny.  My cunning plan for today was to conquer Evil Root Number One (on section 7) and Evil Root Number Two (on section 12).   Alas, I failed on ER01, I couldn’t muster the courage to attempt it – I just kept riding up to it and stopping.

Things took a turn for the worse as I hit the fireroad hill.  It was now past three, and I had the startling revelation that perhaps going for a ride on nothing but a bowl of Special K and no lunch was probably a bit of a rubbish idea.  Did section 8 a bit sluggishly, but picked up on the rest of the ride – think it was the Fruit Pastilles and ginger nut biscuit kicking in…

On section 12 Mr Toast caught up with me (he’d been off exploring), and we rode the rest of the trail together.  Evil Root Number Two managed to thwart me, although I nearly got over it – I probably would have done if I’d kept pedalling and put my weight forward a little, but I instinctively put my feet down just before the back wheel hit the root.  To be fair, it was the first time I’d even attempted to ride it since the ‘Small Child Incident’, which was actually documented in this very blog.  Over a year ago.  Oh dear…

I assure you, his days are numbered!

Rode the rest of the trail pretty well, and even managed to ride all of 16 without catching my handlebars once. Miracles do happen!

Ride: Cannock Chase

Trail: Follow the Dog

Highlights: Riding well at the start and the end of the trail

Bad bits: Running out of energy, only having a limited amount of water in the Camelbak

Post ride food snaffled: None at the cafe, but had a monster Chinese takeaway at my mother’s.

Good dogs seen: Best of the bunch was a husky and a minature black wire-coated daschund.

The NPS race was held at Cannock Chase over this weekend, and Mr Toast and I helped out marshalling yesterday’s events.  The NPS was founded by Pat “Mountain Mayhem” Adams, who’s known for throwing a good mountain biking party, and was held in association with Singletrack Magazine, aided and abetted by Chase Trails.  I like to point this out, just so that I can post these photos of pretty fluttering banners.

Friday’s weather had been suitably bleak, with heavy rain taking its toll on the course.  Saturday morning looked far more promising, however.  Look!

This was the little drop near my marshal point, with a chicken run  an officially sanctioned alternative route.

And this was my base of operations, which was in between outbound and inbound sections of course.  As a marshal, it was my duty to make sure that the riders weren’t getting into trouble, or trying to cut corners.  There were one or two stumbles caused by skidding in the mud, but no-one looked like they were even contemplating cheating.  Perhaps they leave that to the roadies? 😉

See the sunshine?  Nice, isn’t it?  Unfortunately, the weather was suitably schizophrenic, with episodes of torrential rain versus gloriously warm sunny spells.  For the most part, the day was grey and overcast, but not too cold.  And I should bloody hope so – it’s May!  I want a proper summer, 24 – 28 degrees minimum, and I want it now! Or at least for more than two weeks this year…

Despite the iffy weather, all the racers were determined to give it a shot, from the super fast guys leading the field, to the more casual entrants slogging through the mud.  The race leaders were stupidly fast, and seemed to fly across the mud and any obstacle they encountered effortlessly.  All the riders deserved a huge round of applause though – hopefully next time they return the weather will be a little kinder!

Also a big round of applause to the Chase Trails chappies for building the course and for organising and  looking after the marshals.  Sharon and Dale’s culinary efforts were particularly appreciated!

I took a few photos, some of which are gracing this here blog post, and the rest of the best can be viewed in the gallery. I struggled a bit getting decent shots – it’s been a while since I’ve used my camera, and I mainly used to do amateur gig photography.  I did come to the revelation this evening that my gallery is mainly comprised of sweaty men…

There are also some rather awesome photos of the event on Rocketdog’s (possibly not his real name) Flickr, and the official race photographer Rob Crayton is also likely to have a few good shots! 😉

Today I felt rubbish, for no real reason.  I just felt a bit tired and sluggish, and could have quite happily stayed in bed instead of riding over the woods.  With some gentle coaxing from Mr Toast, I managed to haul us to the Chase.  And I’m glad he did, because rather predictably I had a splendid time.

The Chase Trail chaps had been busy, with both section 2 and the new start of section 6 being open today.  Section 2 in particular is riding nicely, it’s great to have it open again,  The new bridge is a nice addition, taking the FtD traffic away from the shared track that’s normally fairly congested, and it avoids The Rock.  My exit off the bridge was a little lacking in grace, but I rode it without hesitation and I didn’t fall off.  Victory number one! I’m hoping next time will be easier, when there’s not a pair of blokes near the end of it having a picnic…

Section 7 went OKish, still a bit ropey on the boardwalk, but no comedy offs or injuries as of yet.  Got up the fireroad hill…wait for it...entirely in the middle ring!  Victory number two!  At the top I was Oatieless, but I had a break anyway.  I was passed by a chap and his kid – just as I noticed that dad was riding a Stumpjumper FSR Elite, the kid piped up, “Nice bike!”.  Kid was also riding a Stumpjumper FSR Elite.  ‘Twas a veritable Stumpjumper Elite convention!  I was going to crack a joke about how one of us was going to have to go home and change, but I didn’t because a) I don’t think blokes understand the cliché about not turning up somewhere wearing the same outfit, and b) they’d already ridden off, having superior stamina to myself.

Not wanting to let the Professor down as his brethren zipped off ahead, I jumped back on the bike and headed left through section 8.  As I was riding, I realised that I really, really love the Professor.  We make a good team.  I’m still a bit ropey on those jumps – I think I just need to take them faster and smoother, because at the moment the front-end is landing a bit heavily, particularly on the last one.

Got to the end of section 8 – I felt a bit more knackered on the climb at the end than I did last week – and was faced with the log slope of doom, which I’ve ridden down once.  Badly.

I admit, I was going to chicken out yet again.  I literally got off the bike, started to push it down…then pulled it back up.  It was one of those things I’d have to get over sooner or later, and it was very quiet – no-one behind, no-one in front.  Took the bike back a bit more to get a run up, rode to it…and down it.  It’s a bit like having an injection, it’s never as bad as you think it’s going to be, and you’re left with a sense of ‘Is that it?’  Victory number three!

I rode 9-12 fairly speedily, not breaking between sections.  Section 13 was great fun, again (iPod tune of the ride: Guns n Roses, Live and Let Die), although I did nearly lose it on a corner.  I take this as a good thing, it means I’m going faster! 😀

14 was tiring but rewarding, plus it had a friendly dog pacing up and down the hill that leads to it.  I think he lived in the nearby house, he didn’t seem to have any owners with him.  He was nice though.

I had to pull over to let someone pass on 14, which lead to an interesting moment when my saddle decided to spin.  Tightened up the seat clamp, and off I went again.  Rode 15 well, made me smile.  Unlike 16.

Ahhh, section 16.  Will we ever be friends, you and I?  Somehow, I can’t see it happening.  I know I should blame myself and my lack of spatial awareness and steering ability, but instead I’ll blame the trees.  I just can’t get any speed up on it at all, plus I always seem to smack my handlebars on a tree at some point, and come off the bike. Even the offs on 16 don’t have the common decency to be dramatic, they’re just a bit slow motion and rubbish, more like comedy dismounts.  Although this time I did manage to knock out my back brake, which made the concluding part of the ride…interesting.

Rode back to the café, some tosser was right behind me.  I moved over to let him past, but he seemed intent on staying behind me.  Pulled over near section 6 to let him past, turned out it was Mr Toast.  Git.

Ride: Cannock Chase

Trail: Follow the Dog.  All of it, as it’s now all open! \o/

Highlights: Doing stuff I’ve never quite managed before

Bad bits: Section 16.  We hates it, my precious, we hates it!  Stupid people out for a stroll on section 6 and looking surprised every time a mountain biker went past.

Post ride food snaffled: Dotty cookie and tea

Good dogs seen: The Littlest Hobo near the start of section 14, various dirty dogs enjoying the ‘bath’ near Swinnerton’s bike wash, a border terrier.

Today I was on a mission.  As this blog is a testament to, I’ve become a bit of a biking evangelist.  Today’s target for conversion:

My friend’s six year old daughter. Given that I didn’t learn to ride a bike until I was 11, and had never ridden on the road or owned a bike with gears until I was 28, it’s too late for Olympic XC glory for me. But I can live out my thwarted dreams via the medium of my friend’s children. HUZZAH! RIDE CHILD! RIDE!

The little ‘un did well – rode for 2 hours, even though she’s only very recently learnt to ride a bike (and only on the road).  And her bike is heavier than the Professor.   And the Trekadee.  Possibly both combined, seriously…

To encourage the small child, ducks were promised.  Oh yes.  Initially the waterfowl were keeping to the other end of the lake…pool…thing.  But soon we were surrounded by ducks.  And canadian geese.  One of which flew into my friend’s head.  But they redeemed themselves by having a nest with goslings.  How can anyone be angry at baby animals? EVEN IF THEY GROW INTO GREEDY HONKING FEATHERED BEASTS!

Ride: Cannock Chase

Trail: Various greens

Highlights: Goslings.  The happy smile of a small child

Bad bits: None really

Post ride food snaffled: Chocolate fudge cookie and tea

Good dogs seen: There was some sort of pooch event on, so there was an abundance of good dogs.  Long haired sausage dogs, huskies, malamutes, jack russells, alsation and labrador puppies…