Oh I don’t know – The Faroe Islands had a shot bounce off the goal and I am sure they have at least 2 Icelandic internationals!!

Scotland won 3 – 0 last night 😀

Oh and the weather is looking not too bad right now for Sunday 😀

I’ve found this thread with a route on a map – is this the kind of thing for the first loop? This is one route I have always wanted to do.

http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/best-borrowdale-bash-route

I’d still be up for it – are there any obvious exit points or would I be totally comitted? I’m up for a 6 hour ride as the last killer loop I did was 7 hours (with a pub stop half way round : )

What OS map is this on? I dont mind buying a map if need be. I assume this is on the net somewhere as a route to have a look at?

Hi – do you have an idea of how many miles the ride is? Is there a map at all of the route?

I’d be potentially interested as I have never done the Borrowdale Bash before but there is a but. I am bit worried about the distance of the “extras” – I tend to ride for around 3 – 4 hours and am neither fast not technical. Oh, and I wouldn’t really fancy it in difficult weather conditions. But apart from that if you could say a bit more about the ride and types of rider you’d like to ride with that would help!

If the SLAs are all internal, are you able to get hold of some of them? This is a guess, but if you can, at least in the interview you will be able to demonstrate a good knowledge of what is in them. The interviewer will be looking not so much to test your knowledge of SLAs, but of business processes. When you review them, see if any business processes are missing, and could enhance the business practices. Speak to those people who have responsibility both for writing them, and those who have to meet them. They will give you a lot of information as to the current state of the business. Obviously I do not know your business environment, but many of my previous colleagues would have been happy to chat over a coffee break if it was to help with an interview.

emsz – don’t blow your cover. You’re far too amusing.

You’re not suggesting that emsz is another Mark Datz are you?? 😯

Well it wasn’t open today. But I can highly highly recommend Thomas Tosh in Thornhill!

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IMG_0034[/url] by simon ralli[/url], on Flickr

Steven

Well when Drumlanrig was running uber fast and dry in August, there were maybe a handful of cars in the car park and Craig1975 and I saw in total 5 other people out on the trails. Part of the reason for posting this was because this poor chap was spending all day clearing the trails and it would be a real shame for them to be barely ridden. (I did my bit too by putting an empty energy drink plastic bottle in my bag that someone had seen fit to actually jam into a tree stump and not take home themselves.)

Hels
True – it wasn’t raining today but I got wet every time I rode into a tree and shook the water off their leaves. 🙂

Unfortunately I didn’t speak to Rik because the bike shop now is only open Friday – Monday in winter.

Drumlanrig is fab and so quiet. Lovely lovely.

Hi Diane. Yes, I wanted to put out this PSA as it seemed that chap was working so hard but for maybe just a handful of riders. I think there could have been one or two riders there some way ahead of me. I didn’t see anyone on the trails, but there were some fresh tracks.

A real breath of fresh air compared to GlenTress and the like.

Thing is, I can really understand the popularity of Glentress, which is a place that has done wonders for introducing people to mountain biking. But I was trying to mention Drumlanrig’s downhills, which for me as an XC rider are really exhilarating, especially as there are some really slidey, wheel going sideways moments, and times where I struggled to stay on on some pretty steep sections. It’s not about the big air, but loose and rooty at this time of year can be just as exciting, but in its own individual style. Yeah, more people should try Drumlanrig and also Ae and Dalbeattie too which are not well visited really.

Well I was a bit worried, but I managed to do the “bombhole” without stopping first.

Also, do you remember the steep drops on the black descent that I walked down when we rode? That was the bit where the chap had been clearing, and he was there watching so I decided to MTFU and have a go, as it would have been rude not to ride after all his sterling work. I made it half way down then the problem (as for many parts) was that my wheels would slide sideways over the roots and not actually go over them, so I came off half way down, but I am more confident now at least trying these things.

You wouldn’t know that was your first video. Great choice of music, and also some good framing of shots given that they are all fixed. A really enjoyable vid and look forward to seeing some more. Maybe you will now be inspired to make some videos with friends in, and with some moving camera shots too.

Cheers – there were some amazing views of the snow capped mountains but am not too sure you can really see them on film

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IMG_0017[/url] by simon ralli[/url], on Flickr

Most of the pics came out blurred like this one which is a shame really as the trails were great and the woods still lush with deep green undergrowth.

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IMG_0004[/url] by simon ralli[/url], on Flickr

The good news is that much of the countryside will be very empty so start planning rides/walks now 😀

I don’t have a royal family and am subject to no one so the news really does not affect me.

Crunchy Nut Cornflakes next to the bathroom on the floor???

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DSC01320[/url] by Chris_mbuk[/url], on Flickr

Well that chap in the wheelchair was killed. It was in all the newspapers a week or two ago. But yeah, some people ay? I tend to have a look at epicfail.com most days.

Oh and I love the Who’s intro to that song on Woodstock when he is singing Touch Me, Feel Me etc. Can’t remember the song but it’s great in concert!

I’m sure there’s a really good Velvet Underground one that was used in a car tyre ad but as for al the other great intros that must be out there I’ve drawn a creative blank right now.

Hard Day’s Night was quite good for mixing a piano chord with a guitar chord (probably) and of course I love Voodoo Chile when watched as part of Withnail and I when they are driving up north.

Fixing a Hole

Looks a bit too gnarcore for me so I welcome the warning 🙂

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IMG_0005[/url] by simon ralli[/url], on Flickr

I’m not exactly too sure what you have done as I am not really niche. Have you swapped wheels from one bike to another or is there more to it than that? Just asking – hope it’s all good!

I am riding quite a lot to keep myself sane right now and am not currently working. But am swimming a bit too due to some muscle damage.

If TJ is there and one of you rides with no helmet then he won’t need to act 🙂

Cheers for the post. I was taught by Tim for a week on my MSc I have just finished.

Ton – I’m with you – did the mods delete certain posts in a thread I have missed or what?

Am hoping this will be a great game. Birmingham – Sunderland yesterday was an amazing match!

If you want blue sky – Dalbeattie was the place to be this morning! No photoshop, no filters, just pure blue sky and a bbrrrrr inducing -2 degree start!

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IMG_0001[/url] by simon ralli[/url], on Flickr

But yeah, great pic of the hills.

Well I rode the north red, the south red and the blue today and I wasn’t dissapointed. I really don’t have any DH skills, and would have liked a sturdier and slightly slacker bike I think (oh and some skills too obviously) but I thought there was some superb singletrack. Don’t know why I didnt go sooner, maybe I had heard that it was getting worn or just wasn’t that good, but plenty of smile inducing sections I have to say.

I had the same off as in one of the pics, just as you come off a tiny step off a small piece of northshore – I think there was a puddle after the step and my front wheel stayed there. I also comitted myself to that snakey steep s shaped stoney section on the north descent and that got the better of me but luckily I didnt hurt myself coming off. All in all a great day and a good ride if you do all three routes. Took me much less time that I was expecting, and I’m not fast.

Actually I may as well post this, my own unique interpretation of Tears for Fears Mad World

http://soundcloud.com/simonralli/04-mad-world

🙂

That’s because you didn’t say hello to me 😀

Just got back from Whinlatter. The weather was pretty grey, but amazingly it only started raining once I got back to the car which was lucky for me.

Cheers Mark – good job I didnt go down then! I am not too sure why I was thinking it looked like a lot of blokes from a magazine about to review some new kit, but it did. And they must have been there for a good hour faffing away!

I have been keeping an eye on the weather there all week. I am going to be riding Whinlatter on Friday, but it doesn’t fit your killer loop requirements and as I am dead slow and not a technical rider I wont suggest a meet up 🙂

Well Dumfries is pretty central for Kirroughtree, Dalbeatie, Mabie, Ae and Drumlanrig, plus a little over an hour away you have Glentress, Innerleithen, Kielder, and Whinlatter (plus the northern lakes). Oh and lots of other forests around here with decent fireroad riding.

Cheers Mugboo

It seems the weather is going to pick up for Friday so I’ll try Whinlatter first and then maybe Kielder next week, assuming I am now down in London.