December 2011
2 posts
Windy in Scotland!
(Credit: BBC News) Posted via email from dropbars
Dec 8th
4 tags
I am a "cyclist"
It makes perfect sense… ;-) Posted via email from dropbars
Dec 8th
November 2011
3 posts
3 tags
Coffee & Cake lovers: The Music Room now opens on...
Ian, aka @coffeehopper of Atkinsons tea and coffee fame tells me that the best coffee place around Lancaster and surroundings now opens on Sundays. It has made my day. GO THERE. It’s on Sun Street.  http://themusicroomcafe.com/   Posted via email from dropbars
Nov 17th
7 notes
Mohawkvember - 1st public appearances
please let this not be in vain… donate to Dan and Dave Mo(hawk)vember pages. They are are growing the proper lip fluff to support men’s health. http://uk.movember.com/mospace/1801544/  http://uk.movember.com/mospace/1494222/ Posted via email from dropbars
Nov 5th
1 tag
Mohawkvember
Did the Mo last year, even kept it for two months. All good fun to raise money for a good cause. I am not growing a fluffy upper lip again thisyear but in the spirit of things I’ll be keeping a mohican Travis Bickle style for November. Mates Dan and Dave are growing the proper stuff so head to their fundraising page and support their facial hair: ...
Nov 3rd
September 2011
1 post
1 tag
3 peaks cyclocross 2011
Photo by Andy Holden Many accounts of this year’s 3 Peaks Cyclocross race are coming out left, right and centre. Dave Haygarth is doing a superb job at linking to the many blogs, videos and photo galleries covering the event. Check out http://3pcx.blogspot.com/ for getting inspired.  There is even a report compiled by John covering the Peaks from the team’s perspective....
Sep 28th
August 2011
1 post
Ventoux
Good rides in Provence borrowing my dad’s Cannondale CAAD9. I tried to get on the bike every day and starting to incorporate some running and carrying of bikes in preparation for the 3 peaks. No idea how that will translate into race fitness for CDNW Dolphinholme and Oakenclough. Nonetheless riding was good and enjoyable. I improvised routes incorporated some new roads each time. One regret...
Aug 12th
July 2011
4 posts
Site for the Blogroll: Velocast Journal
One piece of good news in this Novermber-like Summer’s day: “Velocast Scott” is back - Back on twitter and in the guise of a Tumblr blog appropriately entitled The Velocat Journal. http://velocast.tumblr.com/ Posted via email from dropbars
Jul 18th
6 tags
Lakeland Pedlar Cafe Review
Here is a review submitted to Louise McCall (McCake?)’s site Patisserie Cyclisme See the full gallery on Posterous Lakeland Pedlar Cafe   Description:  Located right in the Centre of Keswick the Lakeland Pedlar Vegetarian Wholefood cafe/restaurant with a bike shop on 1st floor. Route taken:  Lancaster - Levens - Bowness - Ambleside - Grasmere - Dunmail Raise - Thirlmere -...
Jul 18th
1 note
3 tags
One for the Blogroll / RSS Reader: "Thinking about...
A plug for Lancastrian / sustainable transport thinker / uni lecturer / cyclist / nice guy Dave Horton’s blog: http://thinkingaboutcycling.wordpress.com/ Posted via email from dropbars
Jul 13th
3 notes
3 tags
First Aid for Cyclists by Steve Evans...
Paramedic and cyclist Steve Evans (aka @paramedicsteve on twitter) put together a set of slides aimed at cyclists to increase awareness about basic first aid when out cycling. First aid courses typically cover the worplace environment and tend to focus on typical office environment hazards but this is quite different. I think any cyclists, clubs and groups of cyclists alike would benefit from...
Jul 13th
2 notes
June 2011
3 posts
Ventoux hilday plans
have a look at http://cyclingapprentice.wordpress.com/2011/06/15/ventoux-revisited/ (via Rich Mitchelson) Can’t wait to get back on the slopes of my favourite hill of all: Holiday Plan: One week off the bike to recover from the racing fatigue I will inevitably have accumulated One ascent from Bedoin to attemt breaking under 1h15 Easy rides around Luberon/Provence 6am to 6pm / 12h...
Jun 15th
Benefits of the Bicycle
Articie about Health Economic Assessment Tool for Cycling: Link Posted via email from dropbars
Jun 14th
The Badger and Greg through my letter box - Thanks...
I had been enjoying the Kindle edition of Slaying The Badger but having the real book in my hands is even better. It doesn’t even have to rely on my phone being charged to read it. Thanks Richard.  Posted via email from dropbars
Jun 13th
May 2011
1 post
Sahara Desert January 2006
The one event that got me out of couch potato land.  Posted via email from dropbars
May 2nd
April 2011
7 posts
6 tags
At the start of Three Peaks Fell Race
Thanks to Laura and David at http://www.sportsunday.co.uk for letting me borrow their equipment. A few shots taken at Horton in Ribblesdale at the start of the 3 Peaks Fell Race.  As Laura said, “No excuse for poor shots now…” :-S Posted via email from dropbars
Apr 30th
5 tags
A few photos taken at Lancaster CC TT around Salt...
Excellent inclusive event. Well done Lancaster Cycling Club! Posted via email from dropbars
Apr 28th
3 tags
Shins, you're next!
<p>Anterior + Lower Leg from Leigh Boyle on Vimeo.</p> I find it interesting that body parts / muscles that have been ommitted from stretching routine (out of ignorance) end up complaining / fatiguing first. This week for the 1st time my shins were a bit tight/tender/sore. Not full on shin splints thankfully. I have had that out of playing too much squash and that’s nasty. ...
Apr 28th
Wednesday Lancashire Chaingang (Starts 27th April...
Initiated by Matt Cronshaw to address a lack of big quality chaingang around, cyclists from the Preston/Lancaster area can now congregate to Scorton on Wednesdays for a hard training ride of 2 and half laps of the old Cockerham racing circuit. The 1st Chaingang is set for 1pm on 27th of April. Join the Facebook page for more information. There is also a poll in there regarding at what time...
Apr 27th
Easter Mondays don't get much better than this. A...
Posted via email from dropbars
Apr 25th
2 tags
WANTED: Islabike Beinn 20 (Small) - please RT :-)
Hindsight is a wonderful thing, eh? I shouldn’t have sold our first daughter and should have kept it to pass it on to her sister. Alice’s birthday is coming up soon. She’ll be starting to go to the local Go-Ride club (Salt Ayre Cog Set) and she is in need of a new bike. Second-hand would do. If you or know anybody willing to sell an Islabike Beinn 20 (small frame), let me...
Apr 23rd
3 tags
Hitting the cobbles in slow-motion
Beautiful. Posted via email from dropbars
Apr 14th
3 notes
March 2011
1 post
#irideabikebecause ...
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px ‘Lucida Grande’; color: #ffffff} span.s1 {text-decoration: underline} @marktearle asked people on twitter to state why they ride a bike by using the hashtag #irideabikebecause.  My take: #irideabikebecause it’s wonderful. rain or shine, slow or fast, short or long: wonderful. Quite a contrast to #idriveacarbecause I have...
Mar 9th
February 2011
7 posts
BBC Replies to complaint: All is well, Clarkson...
…the Hamster stood up for cyclists.  “Thank you for your feedback about Top Gear broadcast on 6 February 2011. Please accept my apologies for the delay in replying. Jeremy was singling out what he sees as aggressive cyclists, like the one who scraped his car. I don’t think anyone can deny that, as with motorists, there are cyclists out there whose road behaviour is hardly ideal....
Feb 22nd
Parc National de Porquerolles Video
Just came across this video campaigning against the establishment the Parc National des Calanques. http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xgi7fm_contre-le-parc-national-des-calanques… Scandalous! Aren’t national park supposed to protect the environment?  Posted via email from dropbars
Feb 21st
It has been a good week
The little part-time project that has been occupying my mind for the past couple of months has been has been gathering pace.  It will be be unvelied very soon and it’s going to be fantastic. I am convinced this year is the start to something that will become quite special. Yes, it’s all about cycling.  Busy / interesting times at work Back on a bike after last week’s 4 days...
Feb 19th
2 tags
Hit The North wrap-up
Monday morning, usual easy roller session behind me, breakfast inside me. It seems a good time to reflect on the week-end. More specifically on Hit The North, a 2h long MTB/CX hybrid race set at Phillips park on the outskirts of Manchester. December 2010: Ha… The buzz from the 1st forays into cyclocross… 1h races in varying degrees of boggy/icy/snowy/slippery and sometimes even sunny...
Feb 14th
2 tags
Oxford to Avignon by Bike
Thanks my good friend Huy for pointing me in this direction. As it turns out I had been discussing such trip a Lancaster to Avignon with my better half.  <br /><small>View Larger Map</small> http://cyclingroutesoxford.blogspot.com/2010/09/oxford-to-avignon.html 11 days? probably a little too long. 2 days to get to Oxford then 6 days to reach Avignon would be an attractive...
Feb 7th
1 tag
Pester and mortar / coffee experimentation
See the full gallery on posterous Earlier this week I had the (nasty) surprise to get up in and discover that the only coffee in the cupboard was not the usual ground Carte Noire but the Carte Noire “Grains de Café”. Schoolboy error! Not so much of a problem if we had a buff grinder. 1st try: tea towel and rolling pin. inconsistent ground which led insispid tasting coffee 2nd...
Feb 5th
1 tag
Lumix FT10 camera - first impressions
Good selection of shooting modes,  well made on and off in a snap fits perfectly in jersey pocket Buttons well positionned for on the bike shooting 1st cycling photos are looking just fine only disappointment is that connecting the camera does not charge the battery Posted via email from dropbars
Feb 5th
January 2011
10 posts
New camera. What can I say? I am excited!
I am hoping this will be the perfect companion on the bike. Waterproof, dustproof, freezeproof, shockproof - i.e. cycling proof! So long Fujifilm A500  - Served me well the past 4 and half years. Actually, very well for a camera supposed to be “poor” Posted via email from dropbars
Jan 31st
Cyclocross World Championship Elite Sankt Wendel...
Posted via email from dropbars
Jan 30th
"One dog walking picture a day keeps the vet...
http://plixi.com/p/71488038 Love it.  Nice one John :-) Posted via email from dropbars
Jan 21st
2 tags
New cycling site I like: The Cake Run...
cakes, cycling… what’s not to like? some great routes in there and gems of cafe stops. http://www.thecakerun.co.uk/ You can also follow Gordon / The Cake run on twitter too: @thecakerun Posted via email from dropbars
Jan 20th
4 tags
Cycling sucks (via @markbikeslondon and...
Posted via email from dropbars
Jan 20th
Mapped icy stretches of roads near Lancaster -...
<br /><small>View Ice warning Lancaster 20th January 2011 in a larger map</small> Take care! Posted via email from dropbars
Jan 20th
Cycling photo per the day etc... - a close call...
Nearly chose that one… …but decided to select for the massive thorn sticking through the tyre.  Posted via email from dropbars
Jan 18th
Tomorrow's club ride route is out. should get some...
Posted via email from dropbars
Jan 15th
Tomorrow's club ride route is out. should get some...
Posted via email from dropbars
Jan 15th
fun little #todcross video via @DaveHaygarth
Look out for that off camber slippery muddy grassy bank. Nice. I am sorry to have missed Todmorden cross - both as a rider or spectator. The last minute plan to ride to Todmorden didn’t come off - uninspiring route was to blame. There is always next year! Posted via email from dropbars
Jan 4th
December 2010
6 posts
1 tag
Titanium frame (52cm), full carbon forks, campag...
For some unknown reasons, I fancy a new frame. I’d never thought that I’d be willing to sell my do it all frame. I am sure I am going to regret this but so be it… I am accepting the right offer on my unbranded titanum frame of russian origin. Ride can be described as fairly neutral, comfortable (done 1400km randonnees on it). Comparatively speaking the ride quality is in my...
Dec 22nd
2 tags
NWCCA Round 10 Geoff Beweley Memorial Cross Video...
Memories of a great course but a bad day on the bike from me :-) Posted via email from dropbars
Dec 17th
Gorgeous day for a spot of snowy cyclocross.
See and download the full gallery on posterous Posted via email from dropbars
Dec 5th
A ride to see snow at Ingleborough before it melts...
A strong late contender for ride of the year. Everyone should have a cross bike for days like today. See the full gallery on posterous Posted via email from dropbars
Dec 4th
Peaceful and beautiful. Only landed on my arse...
Posted via email from dropbars
Dec 4th
One cycling picture a day to keep the doctors away
A new project… See the full gallery on posterous Posted via email from dropbars
Dec 1st
November 2010
25 posts
Thanks @runtimeexec. Good luck with new job!
Posted via email from dropbars
Nov 30th
What questions would you have to Dean Downing?
Dean is our guest at our club’s Christmas dinner and has the taskto answer some questions. Put your question as a comment to. The best few questions will be asked… I’ll relay the answers here. Cheers! Posted via email from dropbars
Nov 28th
A short, flat ride with the Lune to Grange & back...
Posted via email from dropbars
Nov 28th
1st visit to the Music Room.
Posted via email from dropbars
Nov 27th