It belongs to Richard Sparks from Tankerville St, Shrewsbury; I know cos he put a message on facebook – look him up on there is your best bet. Track him down quick cos he works offshore a fair bit.
Post back here if you cant get him.

Yes, it’s all very interesting to see what’s happening at the front of the race, but the linky above shows Cavendish out the back of the pack already.

Green going to Gilbert/ Rojas cos Cav gets timed out?

Mind you, he’ll get back on the descent, eh?

Is there much potential for garden/ home visits by riders today?

I went to Glastonbury pretty much every year from 1989 to about 1996.

Glastonbury was always about much more than the music. Its the random stuff that you encounter that made me laugh, and off beat stuff like the burning wicker man for instance, or taking some time-out to listen to a story teller.

A little anecdote from 1989 that plagues me:

The ONLY thing I can remember about the 1989 one was leaving the Pyramid Stage area at the end of Saturday night. For some reason, there was a hoofing great ditch to cross, and the only means of crossing it was over a long plank that someone had improvised. As we approached the ditch, there was a crowd of hundreds going nowhere fast, what’s the hold up I thought as I pressed forwards. There was some guy completely toasted beyond belief stood in the middle of the plank. He had his trousers around his ankles, covered in filth, mucus dripping from his nose, masturbating FFS. Nobody was willing to try to get past him, hence the hold up. He eventually tripped over his trousers and fell in the ditch, thus enabling everyone to get past. Fair play to the chap that dived into the ditch to help the wa@nker though.

I feel robbed that this is my only memory of that year, as I was quite into The Waterboys and have no recollection of their performance.

Much prefer to watch Glasto on telly at home these days

Worst bit – stacking it on the very first root of the very first section of singletrack on my very first first lap.

Best bit – all the biking totty around the place. and finishing.

Link to Rob Crayton’s photo site

http://www.robcrayton.co.uk/mountainmayhem2011.htm

Rider 1559 has just made my day, whoever you are.

Cheers – Loving this

Bobby sounding quite eloquent -he shouldn’t be like that with everything he’s shoved in himself.

The 2 second clip of screamadelica live at Olympia made hair stand up on my neck cos I was there. Truely amazing it was.

Thanks to the organisers for putting on another great event. Dyfi Enduro is unique.

I left the Kenda small block 8 rear tyre on, should have known better as I got three flats and had to blag a tube on the last one, won’t chance it next time.

Roll on more trailside surrealness next event please. The Banjo Man should be an annual fixture, maybe we can have him duelling with another player next year.
…and bring back the cheerleaders.

Think I rode back to town with mince-cam man, drafted his front tyre for a few km.

Cheers – looks like sprint hill intervals is the way to do it. (Oh no, turbo trainer session except running!!)

Event was “Fearless Duathlon” at Llandegla, run excellently by uberfit & would recommend it to others. Think it was a ‘one off’ event

Done transition from bike to run before the event so I’m familiar with the wierd sensation of the switch over. Didnt really get going on second run in the event so didnt get the wierd feeling.
Fk me, 10K in 35-40mins is going some, my 5K training run best is around 22min at present.

Saw screamadelica live on Friday night.
Was a simply sublime superb gig. I thought it was played exactly how it should have been. Higher than the sun was immense. As you’d expect there was a lot of late thirties/early forties blokes (like me)re-living the vibe.
Did the gig sound good on 6music?

Best of luck with the business venture.

Any plans to develop the woods at the southern end of the Mynd nearest to your base? Definitely scope for some decent trails in there. Would be a good idea to develop that area, as it would keep the future (potentially high) volume of riders away from the popular walking trails us locals have been riding for years. It will only take one yeee-haahhh rider to clatter into a rambler on one of the Minton Batch/Townbrook/Motts Road corners and you’ll get more than close scrutiny from the National Trust landowners.
Must pop into the shop soon.

Timbuk3 – The Future’s so bright, I gotta wear shades

Doing Land's End to John O Groats

Getting 3rd Cat Roadie licence

Seeing my 5 year old learning to read and write

First went in '89, you just parked where you wanted and camped next to the vehicle. I've no idea who played that year, suspect the Waterboys. I think. Went a lot until mid nineties, recall orbital on the NME stage was a big highlight one year, and stumbling on Osric tentacles in random small tents in middle of nowehere. Walked straight in one year, no ticket or owt, that wouldn't happen nowadays. I remember the Wicker man burn as well. 😎

Cheers for the head up about Mumfords on red button, quality.

Honeymooned in Corsica- amazing island, will go back at some point.
Saw no brits for 2 weeks

Top day out, finished in about 3.5hrs.

Well done to the organisers for being brave enough to include some of those nasty descents in a mass participation event, some of which had me riding like a, er, roadie. World cup descent was nuts, the yooftube vid of it on the other thread doesnt show how steep bits of it really were. Rigid would have been hell. A&E must have been busy.

I must be getting fitter, as this year I managed to beat an old bloke from Builth and I saw Nick Craig covered in mud at the arena – he's normally back home having his tea by the time I finish.

One gripe- stop the locals walking their **** dogs at the start area for a few days beforehand, eh??

Pros – Shrewsbury has superb MTB and road riding, as indicated above there's a big roadie club, the Mid Shropshire Wheelers or the Paramount Race club. Roadie riding good as some big hills, roads not as busy as elsewhere in the country, lots of time trialling locally, Sundorne track for winter training. MTB is pretty big, lots of top downhillers locally. Some big off road clubs, such as the Wild Wednesday Mechanicals. If you are into running/jogging, theres the Shrewsbury Shufflers or whatever they are called who meet every week at the park. I'm sure you could get yoga classes somewhere if you look. Thers a Mountaineering shop, & club that can act as a focal point for climbing scene. Climbing wall at Sundorne sports centre and bouldering place at Newport (10 miles away).
Quality of life and work opportunities OK too. Housing cheaper than south east. Nice tractors round here. Prbably a few drinking dens for forty somethings such as the armoury, if thats what your after.

Cons- I'm struggling on this one to be honest.

Dunno about conwy/cardiff, never lived there.

MilitantGraham – sorry mate, I was one of the guys that beat you in vets, I had a mid-pack finish lapping in around 26mins. You are right, at the sharp end even in Vets its well quick (21mins), I'm woefully off the pace. I reckon you need to be doing 8-10hrs+ a week with some pretty intense riding thrown in to get anywhere near the top end. I'm lucky if I get 5hrs in a week.

£500 will get you:

Cheap road bike
Heart rate monitor
Turbo trainer

You will blitz your previous performances much more than a new set of wheels/tyres would

Be careful tho'….its a fine line between 'going for a ride' and 'going for a training ride' cos you'll end up doing the latter before you know it.

Oh, and eat less*.

* as part of a controlled balanced diet

Oooh good, did the last one (I think). Would like to do it again, the paths around those lakes were nice.

Was snowy up high last sunday, most should have gone by now.I'll find out tomorrow morning.
Mud not normally a problem (apart from Minton Batch).

The Yanks have it.

Another close heat.

Ed Leigh is gonna have a heart attack by the time the final comes.

Llandegla looks like it might be open soon then…….

Rode up at 7stanes for first time a few weeks ago.

Glentress Black (inc Boundary Trail) was **** superb. Gnarltastic, in fact. Leave it all just how it is.

Granny Greenlove at Ae was just mildly annoying, probably built by local full susser salesman.

I quite like the smooth stuff up there too(e.g.Minch Moor descent at innerleithen), so there's room for both rough and the smooth if designed/built well.

You can't beat the bargin' out of date snacks at the Stiperstones shop. I'm sure I saw a marathon for sale in there recently (pre-snickers prototype).

Longmynd trail centre wont happen as its 95% owned by National Trust. I can see guided riding riding a viable go-er, but that will be only on the legal stuff, right?

Try Eastridge woods, some trail building going on there recently, even did a small bit myself. Links up well with Stiperstones routes as well.
You could do a big day out linking eastridge/Stiperstones/Longmynd.

I've guided a few guys off here in the past, but haven't done it recently as trying to get fit.

Yes, riding the footpaths around here would be really stupid, especially places like Townbrook Hollow that are clearly not for bikes.

Glad you've posted this as I'm in the same boat.

Mate has persuaded me to do a cross race, but it will be on my MTB hardtail as dont own cross bike.

Advice on tyres/ tactics etc sought.

Are MTBs significantly disadvantaged relative to cross bikes? Will I be better off trying to borrow a crosser?

Well organised and tough event.

Finished long route in 5hr 40m, struggled back with cramp for last 25km, the salty crisps at the last couple of food stops were saviours – nice touch.
Gutted I got beaten by a woman(a double olympic gold medallist, mind you)

The Midlands XC series ran this year – Four races including one at Rugby and one at Cannock, both fairly near to you. I think this years series was a success, so hopefully they will do it again in 2010.

They do an Open Category which is a good place to start if you are reasonably fit. BUT do not underestimate the standard at XC races. I have podiumed in the Open races when feeling good, but am woefully inadequate for the 'proper' race categories (e.g. masters)

See you there, should be dry for a change (oops, Kiss of Death- we are now lined up for a monsoon-like Deluge – apologies to all)

100km for me (although left knee beginning to twinge already)**

** get yer excuses in early, is what I say..

Hope it's a long time to Wiggo's next race, cos he's gonna have a mutha of all hangovers for the next few days.

I simply cant comprehend how hard the Tdf must be, sterling effort for 4th, hopefully it will inspire the next generation of brits.

Wiggo = Legend

Oh, and Cav to win the stage.

Roll on next year.

Personally, I can't wait for the Tour to end….I need my life back..

I'm, er, rather obsessed by the TdF at present.

Go Wiggo in the TT!! Put time into the Shlecks and then stick on their wheel on Ventoux

Sounds like it’s the Open for me, not Masters.

Did the Open race at the Dragon last week, managed a respectable finish, the bloke in 1st would have done OK in Experts.

I would have finished about a demoralising 21 out of 22 finishers in Masters had I entered that cat (and 4 laps would prob have killed me).

Roll on Vets next year… or is that even harder?

I got flashed by a temporary camera in some M6 roadworks, was doing about 62 in a 50 limit in my van.

Was about 8pm Thurs 12 Mar – No Notice of Intended Prosecution has turned up yet.

Have I got away with it? (i.e.explain the 14 day rule to me pls)

Single: Silver Machine, Hawkwind

Album: If you Want Blood, AC/DC

I was about 8yrs old when I bought these.

Thanks for the info.

Sounds like Bothy Bikes will be the first port of call.

The stream crossings on some routes sound a bit sketchy, prob give them a miss as I’m sh1t at swimming.

Next question- Where can I get a decent beer in Aviemore on tha’ neet oot?

After xmas/new year, each week I’ve generally done one longish interval session (say 4 x 5 min hard aerobic) per week and one short interval session (8 to 10 x 2 min anaerobic @ nr puke)with equal length rest intervals between. Plus longer ride at w/e, sometimes with roadies, sometimes not.

Made me much fitter but actually makes bllox all difference cos the standard at XC races is generally so high that <3 months ‘training’ is not enough. (i.e. I came about 50th at Thetford race last w/e in my age category, and about 25mins after winner).

I should really just go out and have some fun on the bike.

One more bit of advice…..get some motorhead on your MP3 for the turbo sessions

At what point does a MTBer become a roadie??

I must have made the switch-over as I cleaned by road bike last week, and have been going to the local roadie track recently.

Even the peak on my lid gets permanently left off these days too.