Rebuild...

Mentioned yesterday to my boss that I'd spent the afternoon stripping down my Trek, on him querying my thoughts of another MTB (new story...), and he said that he's looking for a new bike and had been ebaying various full sussers at the five hundred pound mark...

So spent last night rebuilding said Trek, and its on the car for him to look at - so I can now buy the new bike, if even just on a promise of a sale.

Do I tell him about the fact that the forks could do with a service..., never sell to friends or family, thats ok, he's a colleague!

Update - he bought it!

Strip Down

Decided that the Trek, now Duncan has use of Garry's hardtail, is in severe need of some TLC - especially after the chainrings almost parted company http://roaringforty.blogspot.com/2007/08/evening-ride.html

So spent Sunday afternoon dismantling it, every little piece, and putting it all through my parts washer http://www.justoffbase.co.uk/Parts-Cleaning-Tank-Bench-Portable-Sealey-SM21;jsessionid=ac112b321f43345300e4362d4b598f50b6536e366716.e3eSc38TaNqNe34Pa38Ta38Nahf0?sc=2&category=178, which I can throughly recommend for delousing MTB's.

With the exception of the scarred frame, there is very little wear/tear, even all the bushings/bearings were pretty perfect (ie not dodgy French made, eh Garry?).

Now parked it all the the garage loft while I decide whether to sell, rebuild/recondition or just keep for spares.

Back to work

So where do we start with the 'holidays' or based upon my normal +500 miles per week, 'busmans holidays'...

Fri - took Nikki, Christian, Thomas and 2 bikes (Enduro for me, Trek for Christian) to my parents in the Scottish Borders
Sun - returned, sans the lot
Mon to Thu - busy week, including Paris via SteliosJet
Fri - travelled to Scotland, collecting eldest sons, and 2 bikes (GT for Joseph and Saracen for George) in Doncaster
Sat - visited my first 3 Day Event-ing, note picture of horse just before falling on rider and breaking her leg..., ouch

then Bayf arrives, good Italian in Melrose with all the family, where Bayf goads George into eating all of his pizza, after mussells and breads, and then a banana split - he is a bit delicate on the drive back (window open!)

Sun - Nikki flies home while the five of us visit a wet and murky Glentress - the boys love the new 'blue' freeride section

Mon - Back to Glentress, another good day, except Christian's bike came loose from the car rack (while driving...) and proceeded to grind away 1/2 inch of handlebar before I realised - doh

Bayf falling off the 'high' woodwork!

Tue - Bayf and I ride from my folks to the top of the Eildens, and back - then its Edinburgh, park car, beers/eats and Foo Fighters, then pi55ed walk back to hotel - and very good they were too
Wed - recovery day, while Bayf went home we fixed up the bikes - new bars for Christian and lock-ons for all 3
Thu - last day for the elder 2, so we went to Glentress, my wheelie demo wasn't a great success - spd's are a bugger to get out of when spinning over backwards (cor my kidneys took a beating)
Then to Edinburgh to collect Nikki from her flight back up and a very good meal in a French restaurant
Fri - dropped boys back at Scotch Corner and then had the pleasure of sitting in an A1 traffic jam watching the air-ambulance arrive

Sat - we went again up to Glentress as Christian wanted to show Nikki his skills, and while there I managed to be persuaded to enter the Avalanche Trophy (http://www.avalanchecup.com/)

Sun - back to Glentress and the enduro, all went well except for me practically falling off the starting stage and then missing a sign between Stages 2 and 3 (with a 15 min loss of time)

Mon - back home via Grandma's

Evening ride

Bayf and I managed an evening ride this week. It had chucked it down all day, and Bayf took some persuading... And I'm on the Trek today, as I've already taking the Enduro to Scotland in anticipation of a 7-Stanes week.

Anyway he turned up at 5:30, forgetting his shoes, so had to ride sans-SPD.

We rode from home across the Bugle Horn bridleway to Little Kimble, then straight up onto Pulpit Hill (definitely felt that), and down the otherside to the back of 'Chequers'. Across the Ridgeway and then home via Butlers Cross and the bridleway.

It was very dark, even down to not been able to see the roots in the trees, and they were well slippery.

Only item of note was my chain getting stuck between my outer and middle cogs on the chainset, and finding out the reason was that 3 out of the 4 bolts had fallen off! I guess this what comes of paying the Trek no attention (as Duncan's been riding it), with that and the creaky BB and stiff forks I think I need to give it a full stripdown and service. Hey Duncan when you buying a bike?

Once showered and changed it was into town for a couple of beers (when did The Grapes shut?), a curry and St James's, for a drink ;-)

Saturdays (Almost) Dry Ride

As the boy Frost mentioned we had a good ride, but my backside does hurt after the flower-pot incident...

Mind you, the funny point was him finding out that the 2.1 Nobby Nic's on my Trek (that he's riding) with their quite tall profile are incompatible with Aylesbury Vale clart (mud) and consequently meant that at one point he just stopped moving...

And amazingly it didn't rain until the last tarmac stretch.

Looking forward to the weekend.

Happy Birthday To Ya.......

The day started out with the silly shoes at the bowling, Terry felt right at home as it brought back memories of his love for all things MOD, but he was disappointed the blue and red ones didn't come in his size; which is a 4. The teams were ready and with Steve running late we all covered for him and bowled well in his absence except Henry; who classically put the bowl in the gutter twice and then bowled a strike for his own team. The look on Bruce's face .........priceless. After round one the Genius team and the Specialized team were level at 310 with the Commencal guys lagging behind on 260 odd. So into round 2 and by now Steve had arrived, warmed up and hit a double strike. Garry, Henry and Erik also discovered their form. The Genius boys were lagging behind, and what with Terry trying out every weight of ball until he found one he could lift up which ended up being pink like his old car, we were losing. With a bit of sportsmanship aimed mainly at Neil, and a double strike from myself we were back in it. The Commencals won round 2 easily, but they were out of the final running. In the end us Genius boys won by 3 points. Competitive................. not at all !!!

So into the pub for a couple before it was time to head off and get ready.

The weather was trying it's best to rain, and luckily it pretty much held off. Pimms on the lawn was greeted by a dozen or so Penguins and not a meringue in sight, instead the girls looked fantastic and the cameras were clicking. Nikki looked amazing in her ivory number, anyone for extra melon in their Pimms !

Dinner was fantastic, but I am sure they forgot the veg. On my table was Terry and Amanda, Neil and Mel, Cheryl, Henry and Kelly. Mel delighted us with her stories of Neils recent antics and what with his lame attempt to chat up the waitress all in all a priceless evening. Can't remember too much else as the red wine went down particularly well.

Lastly, I would like to thank Nikki for her generosity and organising a terrific day and evening to celebrate her 40th. Welcome to the club.

Aston Hill Re-visited - 26th May

Garry, "Dave", Bruce and I headed off to Aston Hill but with only 3 bikes loaded on the racks, yes it is still too early for Bruce to get back in the saddle. I was rather nervous about this outing, as although it was my second visit to Aston Hill, the first only lasted minutes due to the accident. This time, body armour was a must!

Garry and I headed off for the x-country course, 5 miles of what turned out to be very technical riding, whilst Bruce limped over to the "Bombholes" yes you have read that correctly, and the 4x with young "Dave".

The x-country course was tough and I came off a couple of times, due to a lack of confidence and a distinct lack of ability. Two sponsored Trek riders who went past twice, made it look all too easy. For some reason I was out of puff despite putting some decent training miles in during the week, and surprisingly even Garry was finding it tough going, but that was down to the 10 pints and a ruby murray he had the night before.

Garry decided to go for a second lap whilst I looked to get my second wind in the "Bombholes" section with young "Dave". After this and a bit of a mess around on the 4-x course and a circuit of the top loop of the x-country trail, we went back to the scene of Bruce's accident. After Bruce repeatedly stated "I can't see how I came off" we all agreed, as the jump is not really that bad, and to prove the fact "Dave", Garry and I had several goes progressing to actually taking off, well "Dave" and Garry actually, as you can see from the photo's.

After lunch and another hour or so messing around it was time to call it a day. Garry had managed to shed the calories gained from a Chicken Madras, "Dave" had managed to make jumping look far too easy and I overcame my fear of Aston Hill. As for Bruce, well it won't be long before he is back in the saddle, but riding this type of terrain.........who knows.

Afan trip

I sent the boys off (Duncan and Garry) to Afan this morning.

As Duncan is borrowing my Trek, I just reminded both of them that bikes cost money to fix, whereas the NHS is free...