Taking VR after 13 years* is one of the best thing I’ve done. Enjoyed a nice 6 months off over summer, rode my bikes a lot, did a bunch of DIY and some volunteer work. Then a couple of interesting jobs came up and I got one.

Good luck!

* although only really the last year that was pishy as it was clear we were for the outsourcing chop.

http://havecamerawilltravel.com/photographer/images-photos-facebook-sizes-dimensions-types

Registered too, but would need a temporary, very localised suspension of gravity to see me get through qualifiers.

Victoria Street isn’t supersteep, but enough of a hill and cobbly enough to hurt. Raced the Nocturne there the first year (for a few laps anyway…). Road bike almost certainly still quicker up.

Steep enough for this rider to have to push up…
http://goo.gl/maps/7lS9Z

Have the done the first two and looking forward to doing 3 & 4.

As others have said, the booking system and wait to get on to an accreditation session is a real PITA, but once you’re into the velodrome itself the hire centre and instruction staff are great.

Related to Hora’s link – plenty of aircraft remains closer to home…

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IMG_6355[/url] by martysavalas[/url], on Flickr
Canberra

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IMG_1595[/url] by martysavalas[/url], on Flickr
Wellington

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MJS_4245[/url] by martysavalas[/url], on Flickr

Oregon and Sorley say: 9kg? we are totally quoting that next our fat asses get weighed…

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A ginger squirrel (ref: A Toop) at Inshriach Nursery.

The Edinburgh Road Club 48s were great fun. Course within the city, cheap to enter, friendly. Proper grassroots racing – we should have much more of this sorto thing.

Scottish Cycling will be able to help if you’re going down a racy route – events@scottishcycling.org.uk

Blundstone 500s

I’d suggest a sample pack of razors (via Ebay) to work out what suits you best.

And a mug if using soap.

We got some of the clippy top Really Useful boxes from Staples when we moved in here – http://www.staples.co.uk/SearchEngine-storage+boxes

Got a stack of stuff in them in an outside store and they’re airtight enough that my vintage collection of Oor Wullies haven’t gone mouldy.

Have also done the taster session (Accreditation 1) as part of a mixed group with no problems. Looking forward a lot to stage 2.

iain65 – pretty sure they’ve given it a quick hoover… 😉

GrahamS – is it swept regularly and treated during winter?

Whilst we’re on this subject(ish).

When new traffic calming throttles / narrowing are installed with buildouts, should these always have bypasses for cyclists (there’s room)?

A series with alternate priorities have recently been installed on my commute. Finding that oncoming cars won’t stop at the ones where I have priority and on a couple of occasions when I’ve stopped to let something else through, the car behind hasn’t (they’re quite long). I know the bypasses lanes often fill with crap, but it’d be nice to have the option…

most bikes stolen have absolutely appalling locks, and that either few bikes are locked up properly

here’s a fine example from the bikeshed at my old workplace.
https://twitter.com/naegears/status/269778079923183616/photo/1

Other favourite one was a bike with a U-Lock through the chain and the stand only (can’t remember if it had a quick link)…

Hmmm, not convinced that’s a particularly good example. Cab is at an angle, driver appears to be Janette Krankie’s height and both truck and cyclists appear to have been dropped out of the sky.

As an occasional LGV driver (just a “wee” 7.5 tonner), if mirrors are properly adjusted then blind spots should be minimised.

“Proper” SKS ones and bodge on with P-Clips and cable ties?

Genesis Day Yin?
http://www.genesisbikes.co.uk/bikes/cross/day-one/day-one-disc

Missed tickets for this, but was at Thunder Drome and heading to Revolution in the New Year. Amazing venue.

Highly recommend having a go too. Just £10 for a taster session which saw us all riding up the bankings within the hour. Really looking forward to my next go in a few weeks.

When you’ve got that much raw power at your disposal, you might as well… 🙂

Glupton – Cuan Sound must get a bit “interesting” at times…

Correct – similar/same type of boat to the Easdale one operates on Seil – Luing too.

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did a bit of island hopping the other week. bikes free on the CalMac and Argyle and Bute Council ferries – even the very wee ones…

Wee Ferry
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Wee-er Ferry
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Even Wee-er Ferry
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Wee-est Ferry
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In Scotland, we split Women, Juniors and Vets into a separate race from Seniors in 2010 (IIRC) when numbers became unmanageable.
http://www.scottishcyclocross.org.uk/

For truly amazing numbers of racers, check out how the Cross Crusade Series in the NW US split their races:
http://obra.org/events/20819/results

One more huge climb and descent to go
Not between Carbeth and Milngavie there isn’t.

Steve Macinnes is still the fastest I’ve heard of. 7th in the 3 Peaks last weekend btw.

Phil’s double is an awesome ride – as was Joe’s before him.

As Drac says, it’s been anything from slightly achy baws to mild back pain to a horrible tearing sensation to I THINK I’M DYING.

Particular low point was coming down with the proper pain whilst on holiday in Aviemore. Was drivien to A&E in Inverness only for pain to subside as I got out the car and having A&E Doc suggest that it was “probably constipation”.

here’s one of mine, caught from mid-flow by my mad ninja skillz:

I helped to organise SSEC2010 as it goes so try getting down of that high horse.
You get a great view of posturing from up here…

Charlie – sounds like an interesting plan.

Officials with clipboards can **** right off back where they came from.
Have organised a couple. Countless hours and a fair bit of my own dough put in for other folks to enjoy a race and a bit of nonsense. You?

Both SSEC04 and SSWC07 were put on with the help of TLI who offered a lighter touch than other race insurers, but there was the same amount of form filling, risk assessments, first aid and marshalls in hi-viz.

Might be cool to think that you can put on races in a guerilla fashion, until it’s your arse hanging out or you **** chances of using a course for racing because you piss off a landowner…

Good stuff. Are the plans online anywhere? Have only seen a snap on FB.

The course has been open for ages, I did a race there about 3 years ago.
Well, the SXC folks put on an event at Cathkin Braes using a mixture of existing paths, some newly cleared stuff and a scaffolding bridge to allow a figure of 8. The CG course hasn’t been built yet.

Saw a snap of the Commie Games course and it looked like it was going to be built at the NE side of the SXC course, i.e. missing out the stuff to the west of the shallow tarmac steps which went out round the back of the the doocots before looping back towards the woods from the SW. Hope they use the ski slope section that AndyB was busting the big air on in the final design. 🙂

Will be a great facility in a big city – park has great views over Glasgow from the higher points. Will be interesting to see how the designers will make a modern XC race course usable by the general public before and after the Games and whether more trails can be built beyond the 5km(?) XC course.

Used these – as I was too lazy to change them after a recent CX race – no clagging (on a rigid bike), so seemed to be riding more than others in some of the sticky stuff, but still slipping and a sliding when they got loaded up.

http://www.fisheroutdoor.co.uk//product.asp?category=946&part_no=TYS11100185&find_category=&find_description=&find_part_desc=cx+pro

Was on 2.4 X-Kings last year… 🙂

Trentham Gardens isn’t available as a venue any more – it was redeveloped and monkeys moved in. As anyone that was at the first Mountain Mayhem (or the last Sleepless there) will tell you, it was pretty brutal when wet too.

There aren’t that many venues around that are weather-proof, accessible and have camping for the numbers that these events bring in.

although IIRC it does reduce the drag of the rider in front too.

What about me **** dog
Is the answer Froomedog?

as far as I remember when the Telly Savalas Fan club organised SSUK and SSWC
FFS! Changing our name now eh? Player Club. PLAYERS CLUB.

I’ve very angry and I want you to fall on my sword.

is my OP moaning?
SSUK:-(
Not really a neutral thread title is it?

…I was under the impression the venue was a fundamental part of winning the bid to host the event so assume that Gisburn had been secured.
Pretty sure that’s what David Beckham and Seb Coe said whilst presenting the case to the UCI…

Never ridden lee Quarry but not sure a rigid ss would be the weapon of choice for most visitors judging by what I’ve seen
LOL!

Just under 11.5 hours for Stevie.

Pretty sure Steve McInnes knocked out a sub 12 hour a year or so back (same time as Rob Lee attempted the double) and Rab Wardell in just over 12.

Will check about Stevie’s time and post back.