Testing, testing..

As if I have any 'normal' weeks any more? It was a tough couple of days after the four hour blast at the weekend - I was totally sapped of energy and could probably have slept all the way through. I did however, manage to re-fuel myself really rather well!!

While I haven't been back out on the MTB this week, I have been busy in the gym with the ninjas and I've just got back from a day out chasing the Bristol branch of Priority Express around fields and woods shooting paint balls at them. I took quite a few hits back which I have no doubt will develop into some horrific bruises! I've also agreed to help out a student at Cardiff Met with her dissertation project which includes some long stints on the cycle ergometer. She's providing some stats back which'll be nice for George and I to review. We started off on Thursday with a lovely VO2 Max test. All good fun!

So after a thorough clean and session in the work stand, my race bike is looking all bling bling again. The single speed still hasn't got a set of forks yet so that one is staying indoors for a while longer (poor thing).. That leaves my recently neglected work bike which threw its toys out of the pram on Friday! I'll grab a pic of the cog I removed and post it up - it's not really a cog any more 'cause it has no teeth! Chain and fixie cog were replaced with a slighthly smaller gear and a monster of a chain that I found knocking around the BikeShed. I've only given it a few short blasts around town but initial feelings are good: Now I'm running a 44:15 ratio on the Langster. Pics below!

Bit of a ramble of a post today. SORRY!!

New cog, new chain. Long overdue.

Brass Monkey Round 3 2012

I asked Coach George what the plan was for Sunday and got a reply that I very much enjoyed reading. Following George's advice I went off as hard as I dared right from the gun. Within a hundred meters I'd cleared past the traffic and stuck myself to Ant White's back wheel and felt reasonably comfortable there, until Ant's gears caused him to pull over at about 2 hours.

Now either Mr White was a great wind block or the perfect pace maker for me but that's when I started to lose the plot. A dodgy third hour and some horrific cramps (again) left me just about surviving in the last hour to cling onto 4th in my category, which I still am really happy with!

I must say really well done to the guys at Gorrick who organised the series. I only made it to 2 rounds but both were really well organised and were the best trails I've ever raced on!

Looking forward, all roads lead to the XC season, which will see me competing in the Welsh XC Series and all of the National Mountain Bike Series. This'll be my first full season of racing and I'm really, really excited about it!

I've said thank you to my supporters personally since I've got back from Surrey but thanks again to Paul at Priority Express /Cardiff Cycle Couriers, me Dad - Andy for bottles / navigation and all at BikeShedWales.

Pics below!

Photo by http://joolzedymond.com

Photo by http://joolzedymond.com 

And why do bikers love big vans? See below:

Van by www.PriorityExpress.com

"Simon Says..."

One of my colleagues suggested a title for a new page I have planned. "Simon Says.." will be mini reviews of stuff that I try out.Working at the shop we get some curious items delivered so I'll make an effort to jump on them. I've recently kitted the Superfly out with Gore's Ride-On sealed gear cables and some of Shimano's ever so cool heat sink equipped sintered brake pads. I'll be writing in a few weeks time anyway as the next few days for me is more hard training and early nights ready for the suffering in Surrey on the 22nd.

It's business as usual in Lingard Land: The couriers have been busy and we've opened up a Bristol branch to compliment our Cardiff operations. Priority Express have also invested in a very fancy website for us - www.CycleCouriers.com is now live and without having to hunt around too much you can find evidence that yours truly really, REALLY needs a hair cut. The shop has also been busy, our mission to have everyone in Cardiff riding bikes is going to be complete soon with seemingly endless streams of smart new machines and accessories leaving the doors of both our units.

This evening I flew up the Taff Trail towards the woods trying to squeeze every minute out of the sun lit day. I'm getting further and further through my evening rides without having to click my Joystick on. This makes me very happy! Radyr Woods, Castle Woods and The Wenallt are about as dry as I've ever seen them and running really quick. There's still some think gloopy puddles out there to catch you out but it's January and this is Wales. I'm still learning how its done on a 29er and still being caught out but the epic quantities of grip even low knob tires can provide in far from bone dry conditions. More on that in my up-coming reviews!

Keeping it short and hopefully sweet.

Si.

Sorry Blog

I feel like I've been neglecting my blog. I have a fair excuse in that I've had my head down training properly hard! I'm actually sat on my bike typing this out, having just finished an awesome sweaty turbo session.  The last week has seen lots of mixing it up between the turbo, mountain biking, roadie stuff with work and some great growling and funny face pulling with my ninja associates in the Dojo.

Everything is pointing towards my next race in a few days time - the third and final round of the Brass Monkey's series out in Surrey. It's a bit of road trip from Cardiff. What's better than a road trip to a bike race!? The logistics are a bit of a nightmare but I'm learning that the planning of these details is as important or more important than what happens on the day.

Some of my buddies from the shop have just landed back from Scotland after competing in a comparatively mild Strathpuffer 24hr. Well done to Luke (4th in Solo) and Team Tapas (for finishing the team event). I'm still undecided as to whether I'll ever do a 24hr.. They're nuts..

I've got a big piece of carpet to clean now, my bike has cleaned itself. Everywhere...

Another new arrival!?

It's probably a bit late into this season to get hold of a winter bike but I had just enough time today to build up my new 2012 Gary Fisher / Trek Marlin Single Speed.

It's a 29er, SS specific frame with sliding vertical dropouts and a standard, threaded BB shell. Rather cheekily I think, it's got stops for front and rear mechs so I could run it geared alongside my Superfly if we have a damp summer!

This is a complete bike for less than £500. A bargain. The frame alone would sell easily for more than half of that price.. I've got a pile of fairly posh parts that'll get swapped out before the bike even leaves the shop but this is more 'because I can' rather than because the machine really needs it.

...And I waited for a 2012 model because the new year's paint job is just so spot on, don't you think?

2012 Trek / Gary Fisher Marlin SS

Full specs and manufacture's blurb at www.TREKBIKES.com - opens in new window.