tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75212099694341312392024-02-19T07:35:22.257+01:00mediocre mountain bikerjust want to ride as many trails as possible...David Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07862529427994411919noreply@blogger.comBlogger92125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521209969434131239.post-37708776432986337402010-07-21T21:44:00.004+02:002010-07-21T21:48:18.770+02:00Mediocre!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdXe1tLqsphYQWqzLVuzyxAsNA0W2ieqo_OsEbREpIoCWzNOaC-5o-G4iiNnM1scDymZJZk1R6-MWPqsnfPNXmC4WQflXnXH6Ql-PUINrRR_5DU0urEscwJD6lcWLBqyLAMpHqJ9WpTPM/s1600/BRONT_COMPLETE+BADGE4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 375px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdXe1tLqsphYQWqzLVuzyxAsNA0W2ieqo_OsEbREpIoCWzNOaC-5o-G4iiNnM1scDymZJZk1R6-MWPqsnfPNXmC4WQflXnXH6Ql-PUINrRR_5DU0urEscwJD6lcWLBqyLAMpHqJ9WpTPM/s400/BRONT_COMPLETE+BADGE4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496448236285115826" /></a><br />If anybody is still out there, haven't blogged in a while...have been riding, but...have a new blog of sorts.<br /><br />Check out the Bronto Blog, this is Todd's and my project:<br />http://brontobikes.com/blog/blog.php/<br /><br />Follow more mediocre adventures there!David Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07862529427994411919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521209969434131239.post-47917787346812712772010-05-28T13:13:00.003+02:002010-05-28T13:40:37.433+02:00Dragons, the movieA little video tribute to Welsh riding and the late, great Ronnie James Dio.<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzK5242XjNYuNv3YFzcWzPUcjBtOxdbMoMSXUgTaSSkSo8TyD94pPCKxpL5tG9EPHyz6ZaXUWSM4psAiEXCrA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>David Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07862529427994411919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521209969434131239.post-60013214611268347662010-05-28T12:39:00.006+02:002010-05-28T13:12:02.593+02:00Dragons<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQNpOvcAYrTVKDnQ6_fVXX61GLjWLupjGdFL1rs-YEydq-N2bUYgh-gx18thBeZeXaBZGMSdac5-SoemEc3kIbTUqDiWiQCuH_LalOEs93Nf31wd9z7NegmAu6BgdSlearBkJC4j5ajJs/s1600/IMG_0925.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQNpOvcAYrTVKDnQ6_fVXX61GLjWLupjGdFL1rs-YEydq-N2bUYgh-gx18thBeZeXaBZGMSdac5-SoemEc3kIbTUqDiWiQCuH_LalOEs93Nf31wd9z7NegmAu6BgdSlearBkJC4j5ajJs/s400/IMG_0925.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476272825996270834" /></a><br />It's no coincidence that Wales has a dragon on its flag, and just recently the mighty Ronnie James Dio, legendary singer of dragons and demons, passed away. Well...maybe there is no connection, but anyway myself and the Tachelet Brothers headed up to Wales after RJD's recent passing for some trail riding.<br /><br />Su-per trails! Maybe the best I've done in Europe. Big mountain riding as it should be. Heaps of climbing followed by seemingly endless singletrack descents. Our first day was to Afan, the most famous of the Welsh riding centers. Multiple marked trails according to different skill levels gave us some choices. We went right for the meat - the W2, a 44km slog fest made up of 80%+ of single track. Heaven! Long descents, technical singletrack climbs, big views, and perfect weather. Awesome day.<br /><br />After a culturally diverse night (mingling among the Welsh knuckleheads and their terrible tattoos), we went out for another big ride. This time in a smaller trail center, Brechfa. Super nice guy at the Drop-Off Cafe gave us some tips and we headed out for another 40km ride. This time, instead of going up and then down, we went up, down, up, down, and so on. Lots and lots of climbing. But that gave heaps of scrumptious trails, and more diverse terrain than at Afan. It took us about an hour longer to complete this loop than at Afan, and we were pretty destroyed at the end, but it was worth it.<br /><br />Finally, back (for me) to Cwmcarn for 1.5 hours of 100% singletrack goodness. We got up early as we had a ferry to catch, and were clipping in just after 7am. Peter had hurt his back the day before, so it was just Stijn and me pedaling up the very technical climb. What a fantastic ride! To get so much exercise and thrills in just an hour and a half. Hour and half on the road bike and I'm falling asleep. Mountain biking rules!!<br /><br />So there you have it. 3 days of some of the best riding I've done. Trails like big west-coast USA trails. Top that off with English beer and Indian food, and you have a pretty ok trip. Except...for the English breakfasts. But you can't have everything, right?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4PU4X6-L4nNMD7dYq3-x2WqKj20o2TEa5B059iqVtzAGEghDIWfaI2Xj_TCKtlyNodwQ_blmBgTRkVAIHt8EAvvLsXoFC7MyWsrH066tMH8s4J5o01NiX13ObFZA4UtycrSFZ8-ygieI/s1600/IMG_0372.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 270px; height: 360px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4PU4X6-L4nNMD7dYq3-x2WqKj20o2TEa5B059iqVtzAGEghDIWfaI2Xj_TCKtlyNodwQ_blmBgTRkVAIHt8EAvvLsXoFC7MyWsrH066tMH8s4J5o01NiX13ObFZA4UtycrSFZ8-ygieI/s400/IMG_0372.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476273587940327282" /></a><br /><br />Dio, RIP<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">UK, here we come!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBUjR-CXx-DO-Sqtajc51gmsIDJUWj9H_6NIlIMGsn3o_Ho2k6RALEk_fU2eUCeZeXCINgztzBz_3IrdAJ6_zOJl6rALXah3z2gLBzVwMFaOOrRovU_L1MgCXC3lo9IVC5ac5jvWeWfxI/s1600/IMG_0883.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBUjR-CXx-DO-Sqtajc51gmsIDJUWj9H_6NIlIMGsn3o_Ho2k6RALEk_fU2eUCeZeXCINgztzBz_3IrdAJ6_zOJl6rALXah3z2gLBzVwMFaOOrRovU_L1MgCXC3lo9IVC5ac5jvWeWfxI/s400/IMG_0883.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476273339831823362" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">All those squiggly lines? Trails!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsHnI0NVzm3yxRMe1oTisvjDSybgaqvxSF80HgM2M-aF4-PoSdDkRKO0_RS1jIewZW3exucCVIDE3vtd3__a6nRfZKaaNsYncqvZ50DH_SFCVSPbmTM9g840yj6unwrrNBea8jijlCGMc/s1600/IMG_0375.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsHnI0NVzm3yxRMe1oTisvjDSybgaqvxSF80HgM2M-aF4-PoSdDkRKO0_RS1jIewZW3exucCVIDE3vtd3__a6nRfZKaaNsYncqvZ50DH_SFCVSPbmTM9g840yj6unwrrNBea8jijlCGMc/s400/IMG_0375.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476273354372389826" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">The big blue van saw us through the trip.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRGfCOJ8s9PXFS1hCSrGOmdqemhoeaLfp_toEKSeXRyVvVmy2HgETNWJKv2YCqiAoVywKr4tOFhutsK98TiMUujXXviVXiCYrf9CL2bKRx_n6ka6t9hY_kaHnDaUS6Gp4brNwAKDrQCKU/s1600/IMG_0374.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRGfCOJ8s9PXFS1hCSrGOmdqemhoeaLfp_toEKSeXRyVvVmy2HgETNWJKv2YCqiAoVywKr4tOFhutsK98TiMUujXXviVXiCYrf9CL2bKRx_n6ka6t9hY_kaHnDaUS6Gp4brNwAKDrQCKU/s400/IMG_0374.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476273355743403762" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Motley crew</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFSjyAsAcbVLxbI2RTSQUICjTKkV-f_7kokm2SvnyVVwhRgrujAyPStJIFJTL1yN89xjTb0-rUoXjyYUnE0o4raJYbZktm5VuhVhD7WDWWPfZqWyur-Mgg7ft0hKOuVhyphenhyphen-m7Boh6fpKmI/s1600/IMG_0377.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFSjyAsAcbVLxbI2RTSQUICjTKkV-f_7kokm2SvnyVVwhRgrujAyPStJIFJTL1yN89xjTb0-rUoXjyYUnE0o4raJYbZktm5VuhVhD7WDWWPfZqWyur-Mgg7ft0hKOuVhyphenhyphen-m7Boh6fpKmI/s400/IMG_0377.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476273594105848050" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">One of the rare moments not on singletrack</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtF3ToIlmXA1_3BI9eAaF-kihXDKZrgTMHl5YhduyFQjFmVtg-PBwM-gDCvXCO-pC0-5bI6_9hBGnfXy7iY1C2j81en2cdya4JQnyuHdVbXqQVnoDEhmXEsyT0bUnHIedeHmLeRSxB-Xg/s1600/IMG_0378.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtF3ToIlmXA1_3BI9eAaF-kihXDKZrgTMHl5YhduyFQjFmVtg-PBwM-gDCvXCO-pC0-5bI6_9hBGnfXy7iY1C2j81en2cdya4JQnyuHdVbXqQVnoDEhmXEsyT0bUnHIedeHmLeRSxB-Xg/s400/IMG_0378.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476273595610375106" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Some "north shore" features. Clearly I was riding so fast I came out blurry...</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjKAYdBJgo7GEexVcwP3kMLjsJC9kOIGCxDQdC1IQxjBJIOc-DgMRnYEAJ0s_VoDZ3yQSOWQ5HDn7F5NMHstMmVVv4LXbH6M4TnlP-5spIm5xkdgWpWl-bzgv8wFgXn4xzVMJ69WeYKQY/s1600/IMG_0381.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 270px; height: 360px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjKAYdBJgo7GEexVcwP3kMLjsJC9kOIGCxDQdC1IQxjBJIOc-DgMRnYEAJ0s_VoDZ3yQSOWQ5HDn7F5NMHstMmVVv4LXbH6M4TnlP-5spIm5xkdgWpWl-bzgv8wFgXn4xzVMJ69WeYKQY/s400/IMG_0381.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476273346322592482" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">The next day at Brechfa. First big climb, Peter breaks a chain</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh18q8xWqY6dfJjAjKWD71g9wCr-fYceekYkDpSlcz6_3A5DmwLb_myeEu82Lm0fQ9BRb9U-yyEQLdCDYQ_eI94IdyywIvkhNaFtLJMzF1CQy4UiY6-1R6fslLtP83D5dpMFTQ-wGcFOcU/s1600/IMG_0895.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh18q8xWqY6dfJjAjKWD71g9wCr-fYceekYkDpSlcz6_3A5DmwLb_myeEu82Lm0fQ9BRb9U-yyEQLdCDYQ_eI94IdyywIvkhNaFtLJMzF1CQy4UiY6-1R6fslLtP83D5dpMFTQ-wGcFOcU/s400/IMG_0895.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476273339602012386" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Flowers are pretty</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0lRfrQKzWi1JgM7OusFyVxjGMxn06xGVcf_58dSJyuMyjUu-b4kDNZhchlhzAqssQbjO4B_UInVbHVfBhYL91fgmj2gespVw-SJkXyYodhMOspryWZv8cc4e5-9uewb4bqr4v-uOnyOg/s1600/IMG_0911.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0lRfrQKzWi1JgM7OusFyVxjGMxn06xGVcf_58dSJyuMyjUu-b4kDNZhchlhzAqssQbjO4B_UInVbHVfBhYL91fgmj2gespVw-SJkXyYodhMOspryWZv8cc4e5-9uewb4bqr4v-uOnyOg/s400/IMG_0911.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476272826383700978" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Here we go...</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiuVsoVG-Mkp1VSDC3sGHkWoOKgXbzuSeTojViXuTEetagSieM2yZieT4swWeQPY4PqgONifYLdOqxJs-L1EwXBkczEJlTiHfpVchUS1kJD7ARHNph54abfUDrqP50t7tYmm3ciwWQFAg/s1600/IMG_0929.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiuVsoVG-Mkp1VSDC3sGHkWoOKgXbzuSeTojViXuTEetagSieM2yZieT4swWeQPY4PqgONifYLdOqxJs-L1EwXBkczEJlTiHfpVchUS1kJD7ARHNph54abfUDrqP50t7tYmm3ciwWQFAg/s400/IMG_0929.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476276758150649954" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Trails, trails, trails</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXE1agKq5ZcNrI9AzQnBaceG4tGVmX1Q3qP3kl4KbvPgvOdTgaNrsWe1B_C5sHe2P2befqfQOsege5pUGjbJT3sXbHDM_vDVJ13rVI-vFfmTlxcL822FuG-XP9BSaOFEdHtcJ52MhQdY0/s1600/IMG_0945.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXE1agKq5ZcNrI9AzQnBaceG4tGVmX1Q3qP3kl4KbvPgvOdTgaNrsWe1B_C5sHe2P2befqfQOsege5pUGjbJT3sXbHDM_vDVJ13rVI-vFfmTlxcL822FuG-XP9BSaOFEdHtcJ52MhQdY0/s400/IMG_0945.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476272818016718530" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Stijn getting his groove on</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijJSq36O6woJCU-NUJCKBdGzntAInWAVJtbSFkc0S1y4pjaYeTDIjZbgiDaH8ZyFkkSyrSwEBV1PKukjVYlWEwoCigb1WKR1R_hFim2S1OIs66h5nyGM9Y5fyK-FyD4KS2trvq5ySDghE/s1600/IMG_0952.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijJSq36O6woJCU-NUJCKBdGzntAInWAVJtbSFkc0S1y4pjaYeTDIjZbgiDaH8ZyFkkSyrSwEBV1PKukjVYlWEwoCigb1WKR1R_hFim2S1OIs66h5nyGM9Y5fyK-FyD4KS2trvq5ySDghE/s400/IMG_0952.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476272816760836626" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Well-deserved beers at the end.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDh3YM_8vY0KnCzKVoTRStgbkknxHD7_oUll5JziZ4kAOpXAlrflFqWyjtVy-ZVgG9wOl3AGPVWbhgAen-eLbc12KOEZTzlBuejsuvHu-dKE71koohK3urR-malsjWs_RopQFKL2Rfd6A/s1600/IMG_0958.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDh3YM_8vY0KnCzKVoTRStgbkknxHD7_oUll5JziZ4kAOpXAlrflFqWyjtVy-ZVgG9wOl3AGPVWbhgAen-eLbc12KOEZTzlBuejsuvHu-dKE71koohK3urR-malsjWs_RopQFKL2Rfd6A/s400/IMG_0958.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476272808165748018" /></a>David Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07862529427994411919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521209969434131239.post-37124752920532071912010-05-15T22:25:00.006+02:002010-05-15T22:50:24.660+02:00Ridgecrest, CA<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM9ZNEjPojOeW2ik_SFkNO7mVtcbkM3JufPP3aKiOmrNk22IXLOqqGKK-szsePYR-m0Iscv3PRCs5g-a7IhXTCyOOUS-R42PPCYiwGslchhFdOsCeUtSHczyI8G0ITD9ytFwdh68B_mGM/s1600/IMG_4038.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM9ZNEjPojOeW2ik_SFkNO7mVtcbkM3JufPP3aKiOmrNk22IXLOqqGKK-szsePYR-m0Iscv3PRCs5g-a7IhXTCyOOUS-R42PPCYiwGslchhFdOsCeUtSHczyI8G0ITD9ytFwdh68B_mGM/s400/IMG_4038.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471599122322658274" /></a><br /><br />Ah, the desert. Something magical about it. It attracts artists, loners, writers, and lots and lots of military base families. Ridgecrest (RC), California, is no different. I was here on a weekend with Ivan and Jenise, to check out the legendary RC. We had all heard the stories...ah, the stories. I had to find out for myself.<br /><br />I imagine if you had to grow up there...you might hate it. As my colleague Craig kind of did. He got out as soon as he could and moved to the beach in San Diego. He also advised me not to ride trails above the college.<br /><br />"Hey Ivan, where we riding?" "Above the college!" Well, we were trying to bust out a morning ride. No time to drive to something epic. And this was the local network of trails, people have been biking, hiking, 4xing, trucking, and squatting here for as long as Ridgecrest has been in existence. I love riding local loops. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX5V5ah9u07WoDIDpqbhw1TMA5OkFmud_du9hTyCDkYN2yLQs_UJv5wArF_D1MTy8AdfoIqNpNb9xJaxQI055xvxVGMMqHaR7hvIbYew-19-ovf1Xars9CLjQcnxIN83QMm6mr0eRtcik/s1600/IMG_4019.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX5V5ah9u07WoDIDpqbhw1TMA5OkFmud_du9hTyCDkYN2yLQs_UJv5wArF_D1MTy8AdfoIqNpNb9xJaxQI055xvxVGMMqHaR7hvIbYew-19-ovf1Xars9CLjQcnxIN83QMm6mr0eRtcik/s400/IMG_4019.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471599371954404642" /></a><br /><br />Desert riding usually means getting up at the crack of dawn, or slightly beforehand. In September, it can still get above 30 degrees in the daytime. Hot. We met up with one of Ivan's old riding buddies and set out on the climb, stopping shortly thereafter for Ivan's ritual mid-climb stretch.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKPcFaLK2I-4FuMLZa4-bocgbp4_WeCnxF0wRDMvCVAjTqkB488EVikSkPyuvKfqWzBX7DtOW94VnIqLODmmdiUrMkJ9BIDrBmp4IfG3aneo_5GKTsXJpzcmubbDOaDLErVmL1QY5-6Ls/s1600/IMG_4023.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKPcFaLK2I-4FuMLZa4-bocgbp4_WeCnxF0wRDMvCVAjTqkB488EVikSkPyuvKfqWzBX7DtOW94VnIqLODmmdiUrMkJ9BIDrBmp4IfG3aneo_5GKTsXJpzcmubbDOaDLErVmL1QY5-6Ls/s400/IMG_4023.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471601298210210002" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmsW6MVUVCck0gQl2WDKTI4-QyQ-hmp6QIWrVYwkoFE5fh9TaU1-2miV19rjoKEXSKnHnLJIJLjgKdyuCfmvFoZf6r2yUoDyYDJEYSIpeGvGl28U6UJ9Ki-6bl71JKrK1GLFkSyY7Il9c/s1600/IMG_4022.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmsW6MVUVCck0gQl2WDKTI4-QyQ-hmp6QIWrVYwkoFE5fh9TaU1-2miV19rjoKEXSKnHnLJIJLjgKdyuCfmvFoZf6r2yUoDyYDJEYSIpeGvGl28U6UJ9Ki-6bl71JKrK1GLFkSyY7Il9c/s400/IMG_4022.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471599366995627138" /></a><br /><br />We climbed and climbed, getting a pretty good view of the valley. After some steep double track rollers, we went onto some new singletrack that was oh so tasty. It was not super long, but long enough for a local loop. Technical, tight, rocky, rocks to play on - everything you want out of desert singletrack.<br /><br />Afterwards we had a huge american pancake breakfast. Good day.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Admittedly, I look like shit at 7:30am on the trail</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-PKZ1NjYkaoyk3cXn_7zmvKIGXCu192Y89aQu_pxJiijv9R3cBtF9-z3JEnXtM9w_KSKE52JSkTUGiiZB7KhZ9wl_lYJTh0dpcJh4kmTDP7ggKGUZP3fwXAvq0hFCKEDaGqk6Zn6YcYY/s1600/IMG_4026.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-PKZ1NjYkaoyk3cXn_7zmvKIGXCu192Y89aQu_pxJiijv9R3cBtF9-z3JEnXtM9w_KSKE52JSkTUGiiZB7KhZ9wl_lYJTh0dpcJh4kmTDP7ggKGUZP3fwXAvq0hFCKEDaGqk6Zn6YcYY/s400/IMG_4026.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471599144516749650" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Old mines around here. Pick your line carefully.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOVY4LyK56P38fsoLB2iwkYjiIcA_RojtnUXgqsa2NNXR2dDoo5cG0_7fpfa1BrBmLs5qujAbgN5caMka6iPswyqWMYfgotd_u-shliUQK6rup8Hv_dPbHTS4vCZQZPagaWO3bxAs-ntI/s1600/IMG_4035.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOVY4LyK56P38fsoLB2iwkYjiIcA_RojtnUXgqsa2NNXR2dDoo5cG0_7fpfa1BrBmLs5qujAbgN5caMka6iPswyqWMYfgotd_u-shliUQK6rup8Hv_dPbHTS4vCZQZPagaWO3bxAs-ntI/s400/IMG_4035.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471599139426928690" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Some local hessians had built some hugemongous stunts. </span> <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzzxeUThzhrpdpQVD3llG1Azv034fAymeqHJwb7MDbfJb9eGI7gILxPFJEjr4bimLahLlWBAIS280jKQ0T3CqBq9n88k1TSbMrnOc6KcblVNZMJUzo2S5PRu2lhnoS4roj7MzNS_xcSg/s1600/IMG_4034.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHzzxeUThzhrpdpQVD3llG1Azv034fAymeqHJwb7MDbfJb9eGI7gILxPFJEjr4bimLahLlWBAIS280jKQ0T3CqBq9n88k1TSbMrnOc6KcblVNZMJUzo2S5PRu2lhnoS4roj7MzNS_xcSg/s400/IMG_4034.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471599136507461122" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Ridgecrest lies down below</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM5NtZZnmh-hTgOSaoZB6XmjJpXVE0fKngtCgKqRYgR0X_5id2U7yHy4-561bQvg3mPfEsYodNZvQMrhm-E9TSvHlNjnE8lTRg5yegL-zI2KfN7DVg8NqU7cu64DrrYauCgcG0qRbkfns/s1600/IMG_4031.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM5NtZZnmh-hTgOSaoZB6XmjJpXVE0fKngtCgKqRYgR0X_5id2U7yHy4-561bQvg3mPfEsYodNZvQMrhm-E9TSvHlNjnE8lTRg5yegL-zI2KfN7DVg8NqU7cu64DrrYauCgcG0qRbkfns/s400/IMG_4031.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5471599131351960274" /></a>David Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07862529427994411919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521209969434131239.post-11450892153302549282010-05-05T16:16:00.002+02:002010-05-05T16:23:26.643+02:00The lummen loop is back!A fine and sunny april has erased all the mud and the Belgian trails are in fine form.<br />I dusted off the Spot, everything seemed to be in working order, and headed out for a morning loop with Jeff. Super fun. So nice riding without mud...<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Guest rider Jeff with his beautiful ti IF single speed</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIJJJvOEpnOJKLJonUt1WxGYksxBJQULfmQLlCEAFPmESF9tufQV3aoWjShd0wMYyZgW_m4BkTW5jh_YLnJ6xw7Ymf6Wf9VtoEUwNMhbz0XCtpRTOffgb5ZlInWnfZwmMvM-0YkoTa0Yo/s1600/IMG_0318.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIJJJvOEpnOJKLJonUt1WxGYksxBJQULfmQLlCEAFPmESF9tufQV3aoWjShd0wMYyZgW_m4BkTW5jh_YLnJ6xw7Ymf6Wf9VtoEUwNMhbz0XCtpRTOffgb5ZlInWnfZwmMvM-0YkoTa0Yo/s400/IMG_0318.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467791203847281042" /></a><br /><br />The next day I went out again, but found a flat tire waiting for me on the Spot. Luckily, the Spooky cross bike was waiting in the wings. Riding cross bikes on single track usually sucks, but this is Belgium so it wasn't too bad. In fact, the Spooky was pretty quick on a lot of sections - very light weight and with skinny tires, I had no problem pushing a 39x17 around for the most part.<br /><br />There's still more destruction creeping into the loop, seems every few couple months a huge truck or tractor drives in and tears a bunch of trees down. But, some previously blocked trails were clear and all in all I can't complain.David Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07862529427994411919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521209969434131239.post-41075706262437828522010-05-03T14:42:00.003+02:002010-05-03T15:02:05.878+02:00Houffalize WC<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwE5sdzIjodngDc15gQLjrKP-0klcRgD-JqB1q15c2vGjcHgDK-p07oVVMyyz8B_YHO2RYC3nOVgtqtV60VqNA0QY5_bwcXMK97Hp2XzdpP3BVoWzpDCxpQm7VJM6Uvm5ZvyeItU587SA/s1600/IMG_0349.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwE5sdzIjodngDc15gQLjrKP-0klcRgD-JqB1q15c2vGjcHgDK-p07oVVMyyz8B_YHO2RYC3nOVgtqtV60VqNA0QY5_bwcXMK97Hp2XzdpP3BVoWzpDCxpQm7VJM6Uvm5ZvyeItU587SA/s400/IMG_0349.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467027228839452194" /></a><br /><br />Anybody who knows their stuff in mountain biking knows that the Houffalize world cup is the most venerated and possibly oldest stop on the UCI world cup circuit. If you're an American and you come to Houffalize for the first time, walking down the road into the little stadium-like town, with 20,000 people drinking beer and cheering on mountain bikers, it's like you just walked into heaven. Despite what I like to call the worst XC course in history, the racing is always exciting, with many vantage points.<br /><br />One thing I never understood about Belgium, however, was why they run their trails straight up and down the mountains. It's great for cobbled roads like the Koppenberg, but I've been on so many rides in beautiful forested areas, where I just have to scratch my head and ask, "did they intend to make the most boring trail on earth?"<br /><br />But enough complaining. The race was fun, the Lachouffe beer was good, some girl won on a COLNAGO and some guy won on a Merida. This is a long, long ways away from Oakridge, Oregon!<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Always good crowds at this event</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxur4UxBIxqw8a-ePlxXUdPMpO-s1srI1fdHqEpAH4jZ_ajN2ojwkkYUjb3xwFXqn7LEkIChSkW9P6N4HgGQC3t_xzxmmctZ7Ama_q-6zzLjjmsR2owTLGuto8aPtapiDZUWBoH5Nf7vM/s1600/IMG_0348.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 270px; height: 360px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxur4UxBIxqw8a-ePlxXUdPMpO-s1srI1fdHqEpAH4jZ_ajN2ojwkkYUjb3xwFXqn7LEkIChSkW9P6N4HgGQC3t_xzxmmctZ7Ama_q-6zzLjjmsR2owTLGuto8aPtapiDZUWBoH5Nf7vM/s400/IMG_0348.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467027215938855474" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">American on a 29er lost to a Colnago. How poetic</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-HEChQW_YrSni6uhbXGj4jD78EYziuAZjqgX5dneaxatYkPaJ7Ag6I-Xf9TwE5y9HKdxi2o6hSqcDzQ_m2qiSv_F4nTvKIkhKq7gx44VtzZoPkElKGNqHDRBWB7JcvBSOC5Tbmko35k8/s1600/IMG_0345.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 270px; height: 360px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-HEChQW_YrSni6uhbXGj4jD78EYziuAZjqgX5dneaxatYkPaJ7Ag6I-Xf9TwE5y9HKdxi2o6hSqcDzQ_m2qiSv_F4nTvKIkhKq7gx44VtzZoPkElKGNqHDRBWB7JcvBSOC5Tbmko35k8/s400/IMG_0345.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467027225488881170" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">German doper almost took the spoils...but faded on the last lap</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2zN3AvgJ6A4X7iSem1zwZw4GNll6rXKWWJx-bSLwDizxvnU0ATVJZyDmPyoyOSHjyuxzm89m86y-HBmqZFfgo9z6XwzUerMWZAYPrjWLX-fA8z1GwJ9JDA5NMn8bqcKpMeqiU8ZZEyK0/s1600/IMG_0351.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 270px; height: 360px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2zN3AvgJ6A4X7iSem1zwZw4GNll6rXKWWJx-bSLwDizxvnU0ATVJZyDmPyoyOSHjyuxzm89m86y-HBmqZFfgo9z6XwzUerMWZAYPrjWLX-fA8z1GwJ9JDA5NMn8bqcKpMeqiU8ZZEyK0/s400/IMG_0351.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467027233118401122" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Best line was on the inside of this straight-down-the-hill-boring-descent</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfgucsFvWBX_HpZ4zaN-M65tTyw1Y2l5Ytz-kI4xmmewjsJfwmXTrFVCzJd5bEsTIZTm6bEaLGcDsZhCrEMvTx7GxFR146VhusLoBGKDBzDcfaJF_eiJ7hkcj0KoRbm3Zc0rm6XPHjnI/s1600/IMG_0354.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 270px; height: 360px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZfgucsFvWBX_HpZ4zaN-M65tTyw1Y2l5Ytz-kI4xmmewjsJfwmXTrFVCzJd5bEsTIZTm6bEaLGcDsZhCrEMvTx7GxFR146VhusLoBGKDBzDcfaJF_eiJ7hkcj0KoRbm3Zc0rm6XPHjnI/s400/IMG_0354.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467027233597327010" /></a>David Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07862529427994411919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521209969434131239.post-81028838811270275582010-04-22T12:15:00.004+02:002010-04-22T12:27:22.563+02:00Riding with really really fast people<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoSvnkbsAvd7No7pP62T-10kevUQnyjfCxphPq2zL_oJIMVk7fgpMrEGoAaC1I6wtLFuciZOFidMJfJEs-MdCV7V8lpK_ToE76QLw2ccUBJ71IhyHv6jZefYdAF6UEbgZpMzdIvVg1ZnI/s1600/IMG_0300.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoSvnkbsAvd7No7pP62T-10kevUQnyjfCxphPq2zL_oJIMVk7fgpMrEGoAaC1I6wtLFuciZOFidMJfJEs-MdCV7V8lpK_ToE76QLw2ccUBJ71IhyHv6jZefYdAF6UEbgZpMzdIvVg1ZnI/s400/IMG_0300.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462905950452094082" /></a><br />After a brutally hard 150+km at the amstel gold on saturday, on a "road bike", I thought it would be a nice morning to go ride the local toertocht in Rillaar. It was close to Aarchot/Langdorp, and was heavily promoted, so the chance that there would be some ok riding was pretty high. And if that wasn't enough, trails were dry as a bone, the weather was pretty damn awesome, and I hadn't ridden on Belgian dirt for months. So I decided to take the Spooky cross bike out on its maiden dirt voyage.<br /><br />However, when I showed up I saw Kim Saenen (top Belgian racer lady) and a bunch of other people with former national champion stripes on their sleeves. "Oh, really really fast people", I thought, "this might be fun." Famous last words.<br /><br />Let us fast forward to the first food stop where, having lost a lung and a spleen along the trail somewhere, I decided that 72km of super-duper race pace was not for me, and took a shorter loop home. Yes, it was sprint-from-every-corner, sprint up the hills...bleed from your eyeballs kind of riding. Or it was for me, at least. Most of the people in our group were riding with one hand on the bar, talking to each other, and sipping a cappucino as they dragged me all over the Rillaar area.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh99Pfm3KRp6ztluM2lEapQ-oWCwaMoCYuwSFS5j7sPSurQQ2osuobXG0TEkVX1aAC2x_DIp9b6EZJXjEu7XJAN2nTfdvcqQxYYkU7Gmq3oLjHetTOmay02tUyFiiI14Zytu_NbEi5PD4o/s1600/IMG_0299.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh99Pfm3KRp6ztluM2lEapQ-oWCwaMoCYuwSFS5j7sPSurQQ2osuobXG0TEkVX1aAC2x_DIp9b6EZJXjEu7XJAN2nTfdvcqQxYYkU7Gmq3oLjHetTOmay02tUyFiiI14Zytu_NbEi5PD4o/s400/IMG_0299.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462905946218501634" /></a><br /><br />Do not let this distract from the pretty awesome (for Belgium) trail riding! Sandwiched between Aarschot and Scherpenheuvel, this tocht had the potential to be either really awesome, or really terrible. Luckily, it was really awesome. Lots and lots of fun little singletrack bits. Better even than, dare I say, the Langdorp toertoch. Technical, fast, tricky, fun.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_I5WrjoDBxG758YD79e4ssbgU0ZymcA4WlpsQ7MNxo7rMJ55YcQ2XYw75tFyy1PwXX3sDEZoTq092dtaW-JDhHyvqM9xQs4poK42jBHhRIwm5BjsUcgEiWNfAq1R3H2qLMRi8fIPNWFo/s1600/IMG_0301.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_I5WrjoDBxG758YD79e4ssbgU0ZymcA4WlpsQ7MNxo7rMJ55YcQ2XYw75tFyy1PwXX3sDEZoTq092dtaW-JDhHyvqM9xQs4poK42jBHhRIwm5BjsUcgEiWNfAq1R3H2qLMRi8fIPNWFo/s400/IMG_0301.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462905952620359186" /></a><br />Anyway. The bike was awesome and it was good to get back on the dirt. Going to need to get me a geared mtb here pretty soon...David Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07862529427994411919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521209969434131239.post-84664033125346602732010-04-15T17:04:00.005+02:002010-04-15T17:38:59.328+02:00Is Wales a country??<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguERoevWtE1hrlXe3KfvW-UO8oYgSPTzb4CtzXbyLAG4QETnJa6TvQSN7hmJtMU3URY3hHfdRLrmBAQSR9_qiDrRZ__JMfnB0RWFA4zswNxTNVUZX57_Wcd-xWYvYS0DP4cLtztb-HxZc/s1600/images.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 144px; height: 86px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguERoevWtE1hrlXe3KfvW-UO8oYgSPTzb4CtzXbyLAG4QETnJa6TvQSN7hmJtMU3URY3hHfdRLrmBAQSR9_qiDrRZ__JMfnB0RWFA4zswNxTNVUZX57_Wcd-xWYvYS0DP4cLtztb-HxZc/s400/images.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460386083219391522" /></a><br /><br />When twenty-ten rolled around, I made a pledge to ride in 3 new countries this year. I'm not one for resolutions and all that, but I definitely want to ride more, and in new places. Meanwhile, I've been aching to ride in wales for years now, from before GG and I had our Scottish adventure. But you can already see the dilemma...does Wales count as a country? <br /><br />Let's see. They have their own incomprehensible language (with far too many consonants, in my opinion). They have their own national sports teams in international competition. Flag? Check. National identity? Check. Is that close enough? Perhaps I should hold my decision until the end of the year.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">This was waiting for me in Wales...</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZXtpvza10mUTeB7O0IqTLLx9ENb74GAdS0cCGeFy-RYYYAeRbQ1r8KsvGYZpgi9RTnpf8gGtZAuQfmAGbkCU8SHD8oIMNy8tNvRl2UjyCgzNThRrID5wZpA84DSuO8GoolCUxHLSzL8o/s1600/IMG_0294.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 270px; height: 360px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZXtpvza10mUTeB7O0IqTLLx9ENb74GAdS0cCGeFy-RYYYAeRbQ1r8KsvGYZpgi9RTnpf8gGtZAuQfmAGbkCU8SHD8oIMNy8tNvRl2UjyCgzNThRrID5wZpA84DSuO8GoolCUxHLSzL8o/s400/IMG_0294.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460383816790199618" /></a><br /><br />So finally the day had come. I had a free day and was in London. That meant I was going to Wales! About 2 hours from the sister's house in west London, I planned to make a day trip out of it. Wales, like Scotland, has a number of purpose-built riding centers just for mountain bikes!!! Pure genius. The original plan was to hit Afan, a center (or should I say, centre) just outside of Cardiff. An uber-epic 46km loop of single track was waiting for me. Unfortunately, those plans were derailed when the most absurd showing of traffic control ever played itself out, right in front of me. ONE TRUCK turns over. ONE TRUCK. The result? Full stop on the freeway, for all traffic. For two hours.<br /><br />Now I'm sure there are those among you who are saying, just as I did, two hours? With the engine off? For one overturned truck? Didn't the British build one of the largest empires of all time, stretching to all corners of the globe? Didn't they invent a bunch of stuff like subways and little tea sandwiches? Haven't they produced the two biggest rock bands of all time? The answer to all these questions is yes. But somehow, the 21st century skill of traffic routing has evaded this quaint little island. It defies logic, is all that I can say, having experienced it first hand.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">This was my view for 2 hours...</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc_L1R1AhQxzTG8jg0Sw6xDamWbWG5v-JgfQsgpXfsrAGoVeHsxTo0e32aI9zOBt7irzBz31TtDXcO0n5hOSZF8nYUzQAUpdJkQmaPNO-himJS_pXs6I9qFHiyrFK1OuKnb1KtHwI8g6w/s1600/IMG_0284.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc_L1R1AhQxzTG8jg0Sw6xDamWbWG5v-JgfQsgpXfsrAGoVeHsxTo0e32aI9zOBt7irzBz31TtDXcO0n5hOSZF8nYUzQAUpdJkQmaPNO-himJS_pXs6I9qFHiyrFK1OuKnb1KtHwI8g6w/s400/IMG_0284.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460384187654115682" /></a><br /><br />End result - new plans. 3 hours later, I passed the singly overturned truck, and headed to a closer riding center - CWMCARN. Now, I have no idea how to pronounce that, but that's not important. What's important was that it was TOTALLY AWESOME. I can say with confidence that it's the most fun I've had on a mountain bike since August, when I was in Oakridge with the boys. 15.5km of delicious singlerack. So so tasty. <br /><br />It started with a nice opening gambit, a steep little stair-case track strewn with rocks. After some rolls, it settled into a fantastic and extremely technical singltrack climb right alongside a bubbling brook. Green moss and everything. I had just ridden a road bike for multiple hours the day before, but the goesting was high, weather was perfect, and I was so excited to be on fun trails.<br /><br />At the top there was a pretty ok view, followed by a peeing-in-pants-inducing descent. Fast, fast, fast, bermed to the brim, and fun. Some choppy stuff as well - part of the fun in riding here was the different terrain, dominated by flat rocks in every shape and size. After some more climbing, more descending, hill traversing, more descending, and more climbing, the final descent brought me back to the parking lot. It was brilliant - a roller coaster line of very tacky soil and seemingly endless berms. Like Whistler for 5-inch bikes.<br /><br />So yes. Wales basically rocks. English traffic people do not. But I will be back in Wales...there are heaps of trails waiting to be devoured.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">The riding "centre" had a pretty nice little cafe and info area</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg3XCzsdnQ3_U5btLjNIuC-HbDFgufRK_oTCSlLnNAZi98LL7iOX4LGRIqAzHIgeuaR_RrprmsdHfvHl8-bPlKne9qUxtxZiGynm6kilcnW4XsohSH4NcS3AdIjaAHCLBln2zuW8CLCto/s1600/IMG_0285.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg3XCzsdnQ3_U5btLjNIuC-HbDFgufRK_oTCSlLnNAZi98LL7iOX4LGRIqAzHIgeuaR_RrprmsdHfvHl8-bPlKne9qUxtxZiGynm6kilcnW4XsohSH4NcS3AdIjaAHCLBln2zuW8CLCto/s400/IMG_0285.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460384184112895282" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">I was rocking the Ibis. Perfect bike. That 160 fork in front was perfect going down.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKwfQlLiMuVAoFKpbgZk3SGOAfwzpnZP2KfnjUFLpjMVuMBEqIGQctb-LPDaYVVp-XUzML06oFlu1NN67_DTIl7jSM3C8FrDKE1ji1YpWEP5gTr5RzFUpru6ylTero8K_94arasi6-bfo/s1600/IMG_0286.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKwfQlLiMuVAoFKpbgZk3SGOAfwzpnZP2KfnjUFLpjMVuMBEqIGQctb-LPDaYVVp-XUzML06oFlu1NN67_DTIl7jSM3C8FrDKE1ji1YpWEP5gTr5RzFUpru6ylTero8K_94arasi6-bfo/s400/IMG_0286.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460384182544255698" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Huh?</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijcTeiJIUZ0EFOkOS-Ycegsi9FS8ZE5KkgrqyiuSsh5NTREfwS5UB7GTcGF7S6fS63kzEXZnII5WTSjV6VW0S9yKubUdjmiRr2jHaW7qZqhBb3_GHPAHDwy_Ox_29hdWpEqk1noAlILPE/s1600/IMG_0291.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 270px; height: 360px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijcTeiJIUZ0EFOkOS-Ycegsi9FS8ZE5KkgrqyiuSsh5NTREfwS5UB7GTcGF7S6fS63kzEXZnII5WTSjV6VW0S9yKubUdjmiRr2jHaW7qZqhBb3_GHPAHDwy_Ox_29hdWpEqk1noAlILPE/s400/IMG_0291.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460384178449305426" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Trail info was comprehensive...</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZfdCsHTqhipj042oo6xiL8wSfKC9pxSU7aeA5hxltUZwDcasgNth4ArA11_4ivfMXW3tzF-_rAODj9m0GUv1Vv-7ycsPG4Y-aEWXFzVM0RF_J0gagqLXZOGMEBbzPBGjuyldBwECnyj0/s1600/IMG_0289.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZfdCsHTqhipj042oo6xiL8wSfKC9pxSU7aeA5hxltUZwDcasgNth4ArA11_4ivfMXW3tzF-_rAODj9m0GUv1Vv-7ycsPG4Y-aEWXFzVM0RF_J0gagqLXZOGMEBbzPBGjuyldBwECnyj0/s400/IMG_0289.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460384174712044210" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Which way?</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAhkIyi_6Q27oUIFobexIGxrHuL8QeztuL8J6I4oCc4W5MoM54X_ff1gqvIFQNzTg6KvXGoBOZW5KBGxdYYmc_L225FDGaeBZyjlr0JWMzZFB6Z0-Q9Rs-sxLsLFlyWs0LIV8fiMgxezQ/s1600/IMG_0287.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 270px; height: 360px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAhkIyi_6Q27oUIFobexIGxrHuL8QeztuL8J6I4oCc4W5MoM54X_ff1gqvIFQNzTg6KvXGoBOZW5KBGxdYYmc_L225FDGaeBZyjlr0JWMzZFB6Z0-Q9Rs-sxLsLFlyWs0LIV8fiMgxezQ/s400/IMG_0287.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460383864743226546" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Cute little welsh boars guided you along the way</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_so2xFHyx28Xc0aQKOeyeLUh03lyhyphenhyphenBUyeSx6hdWENImjYPhTcsMn538JLQvyxz-xpCQBviwLix7hoqmt9VLKRh60B1JdnGNiQguL8zP8vUBTQY_o7EIaLoPKQptcxTHGHut56AwxlBI/s1600/IMG_0295.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_so2xFHyx28Xc0aQKOeyeLUh03lyhyphenhyphenBUyeSx6hdWENImjYPhTcsMn538JLQvyxz-xpCQBviwLix7hoqmt9VLKRh60B1JdnGNiQguL8zP8vUBTQY_o7EIaLoPKQptcxTHGHut56AwxlBI/s400/IMG_0295.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460383838767100818" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">If this doesn't make you horny for your mountain bike, you're hopeless</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfhPgzuKendMGLkGo7o4Zgc1G0n9j-Jc1gZD-eE-dh1eonGOK37G1Z0Kr_95Fx1855LIOTFJj46jv_Sr90ZmLy6x_M86wtB8arjeHvlqpBH1Sn8itXmrRtYZLrEps_Mg8Q9J6NOgqnyZk/s1600/IMG_0292.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 270px; height: 360px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfhPgzuKendMGLkGo7o4Zgc1G0n9j-Jc1gZD-eE-dh1eonGOK37G1Z0Kr_95Fx1855LIOTFJj46jv_Sr90ZmLy6x_M86wtB8arjeHvlqpBH1Sn8itXmrRtYZLrEps_Mg8Q9J6NOgqnyZk/s400/IMG_0292.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460383819455125106" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">My silhouette in front of some welsh hills</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGLqqXoap2t7uO7baA8l6Ri-IJb-Rf_nMzQrcRFubTm3g1VUqnJvaQk3xnD-v82OiGqA8ehsoUjbjbcIdldsC513E93xtHJkW7bBDZjKs0feuUnK34uKF1PY3pTKmzUp7hlVqabZK-dUc/s1600/IMG_0296.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGLqqXoap2t7uO7baA8l6Ri-IJb-Rf_nMzQrcRFubTm3g1VUqnJvaQk3xnD-v82OiGqA8ehsoUjbjbcIdldsC513E93xtHJkW7bBDZjKs0feuUnK34uKF1PY3pTKmzUp7hlVqabZK-dUc/s400/IMG_0296.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460383813306690162" /></a>David Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07862529427994411919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521209969434131239.post-77308866770519317842010-04-15T09:12:00.003+02:002010-04-15T09:28:08.435+02:00More from Seattle - Black Diamond<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwz5neIZr0HzK6TcXMj3sn-1U81zxGofMWCvYtpalztpY4EYaMd8eLhJQOiQ0Pg9Xi7YfwJPyANPuYYjQ4ZK0O1zFewO6frZKr7NFXZSSxUY65z2E-fmEuJiA-HJnNRsr7RNf5NXa7754/s1600/IMG_4326.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwz5neIZr0HzK6TcXMj3sn-1U81zxGofMWCvYtpalztpY4EYaMd8eLhJQOiQ0Pg9Xi7YfwJPyANPuYYjQ4ZK0O1zFewO6frZKr7NFXZSSxUY65z2E-fmEuJiA-HJnNRsr7RNf5NXa7754/s400/IMG_4326.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460261724902184258" /></a><br /><br />It's shocking sometimes, when you log into your blog, to see when the last post was. March 26. It's been my intention to update twice a week, how did 3 weeks fly by? I hope I've been doing something constructive in that period...<br /><br />Well, to be honest, there hasn't been a lot of mtbing going on. I've lost the goesting for the lumma loop. I need to go out and build some new features, because as is...it's a bit of a snooze fest. That said, I did do one other ride in Seattle (and rode in Wales this week, that's coming later).<br /><br />So back when I was a kid...walking to school in the snow every day and all that...the majority of our mountain biking was done out at Victor Falls. Ah, Victor Falls, what sweet memories. Well south of Seattle, up on the ridge above Sumner and Orting, there was a huge forested region that really wasn't ok for bikes, but wasn't prohibited either. A seemingly endless network of criss-crossing trails, we could spend all day out there. Well, Victor Falls is mostly houses now, but the new place is just down the road from mom's house, in Black Diamond.<br /><br />Yes, Black Diamond. Real America. But the riding is pretty damn good! A vast network of tasty singletrack has sprung up since I last lived in the US. I met Eric and Todd Graham out there (the day before I broke a rib in a stupid road race). Typical Eric was in race mode...but that was fine, it was good to giver' a little bit and burn the legs. And although I didn't know it, this was to be the last ride on the Belgian 29er...I'll miss you B29. We shared a lot together.<br /><br />Friends. Superbe single track. Fantastic weather. What more do you want? <br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Eric was in "go" mode all day.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGZbODfT3PtACCirMm35zmdle2bw_0QBShWCCBh9nlaGw_nh7do8N0EiDKJ1jTVNZahSK7m1agkCq9Yu_MIeTzt4OjOq6euzUXKU29TkWl5AsVjhlbyYdlZzMi8iBABHY-LiVfmLhkonI/s1600/IMG_4327.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGZbODfT3PtACCirMm35zmdle2bw_0QBShWCCBh9nlaGw_nh7do8N0EiDKJ1jTVNZahSK7m1agkCq9Yu_MIeTzt4OjOq6euzUXKU29TkWl5AsVjhlbyYdlZzMi8iBABHY-LiVfmLhkonI/s400/IMG_4327.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460261720130208722" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Todd had just finished a time trial on the road bike. </span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiCxwaGcEzMSVfqd5qiU0N1IsMuEMUTWL4Qh86bnNAT5GWYqV6xXOhw6yoVYFYuFol7-6cRxXSx-4eZeTVFBa4gAJVl7ENekBDb8TkxuVZNHHbaV3nZhWmGVZOj_fUoBmcBeOU_6oVceQ/s1600/IMG_4328.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiCxwaGcEzMSVfqd5qiU0N1IsMuEMUTWL4Qh86bnNAT5GWYqV6xXOhw6yoVYFYuFol7-6cRxXSx-4eZeTVFBa4gAJVl7ENekBDb8TkxuVZNHHbaV3nZhWmGVZOj_fUoBmcBeOU_6oVceQ/s400/IMG_4328.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460261714379263490" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">The last photo of the Belgian 29er shredding!!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihHsVcC3wo-OIzkYWYcSaH2vZtiwYEZCZVMfCNl1ZHzRh7TmtrhcA6Gf7LeTlFJYeRx9g6i_EaKPoOs7lyVNnaaLI6dulhwT9orW_s9agmdKDI8vtNZLWSNELI9X7HGZHQeBashlRnmao/s1600/IMG_4329.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihHsVcC3wo-OIzkYWYcSaH2vZtiwYEZCZVMfCNl1ZHzRh7TmtrhcA6Gf7LeTlFJYeRx9g6i_EaKPoOs7lyVNnaaLI6dulhwT9orW_s9agmdKDI8vtNZLWSNELI9X7HGZHQeBashlRnmao/s400/IMG_4329.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460261712114554946" /></a>David Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07862529427994411919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521209969434131239.post-63006171586307814682010-03-26T13:57:00.002+01:002010-03-26T14:11:32.445+01:00ZOLDER<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe8oQ-EHjBWfeGksfoMzYoi9TW0Es_aPo9Kqs5ANza9yGubLGqtxUd4ZpkLTy41L3NbED-2h88PWpUtTpC4rc8JPmAr8eVG-eUKK6f3fEeYjTm5RLMbw_dGtcSnw4mMnDC-LZgp2ks-z8/s1600/IMG_4314.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe8oQ-EHjBWfeGksfoMzYoi9TW0Es_aPo9Kqs5ANza9yGubLGqtxUd4ZpkLTy41L3NbED-2h88PWpUtTpC4rc8JPmAr8eVG-eUKK6f3fEeYjTm5RLMbw_dGtcSnw4mMnDC-LZgp2ks-z8/s400/IMG_4314.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452926853090073698" /></a><br />When Alex asked if I wanted to do the Zolder toertocht, I thought, why the hell not? I had imposed a mtb moratorium on myself until the trails dried up...one can wash a bike only so many times in one's lifetime. But, ever since I moved to this crazy little country, everybody was talking about Zolder this, and Zolder that. "Did you know Roel Paulissen trains in Zolder?" So how bad could it be, right?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh836TFF4kc-WmCY97kfsTwI5l81CAczLF8dJZJdjb1Ev9ioWKKfc8SdjAXNhyphenhyphenCOUGJHrUGoUkuLLAifBPclwYiF585TeUFnCWc8LSzc4-MAkbyyORdVH3btOZ4VziJR84nC8Pqa8DgCCY/s1600/IMG_4316.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh836TFF4kc-WmCY97kfsTwI5l81CAczLF8dJZJdjb1Ev9ioWKKfc8SdjAXNhyphenhyphenCOUGJHrUGoUkuLLAifBPclwYiF585TeUFnCWc8LSzc4-MAkbyyORdVH3btOZ4VziJR84nC8Pqa8DgCCY/s400/IMG_4316.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452926706102082802" /></a><br />Sad to say, it was MISERABLE. Ok, riding in the dirt with a friend is always ok. But the course. Oef, the course. The picture above is really the highlight of the day. A short little climb where we tested ourselves to see if we could climb it without getting off. We made it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW_IeR2aeXbhZqFq6ASZyRt3A8siiIYjusbvqRv7TaK2fv3fo2OyrtQ-8UxXXbU4pnFySdR0BwBA_wAAE8wBgUWGea-78c5gtxN8Oa-Q3lE_UcohBHL-lDpEqE0cfQfU3ZorV0TSr_Koo/s1600/IMG_4313.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 270px; height: 360px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW_IeR2aeXbhZqFq6ASZyRt3A8siiIYjusbvqRv7TaK2fv3fo2OyrtQ-8UxXXbU4pnFySdR0BwBA_wAAE8wBgUWGea-78c5gtxN8Oa-Q3lE_UcohBHL-lDpEqE0cfQfU3ZorV0TSr_Koo/s400/IMG_4313.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452926702204386290" /></a><br />The rest of the course was like this. Cold. Dirt roads. Muddy. I'm falling asleep just writing about it. To give the organizers some credit, apparently it's a new group putting this on, and there was some reason why they couldn't use a bunch of the normal trails. But still. <br /><br />Fortunately, the bicycle dinosaur museum was especially powerful today. Look at this! I don't even know what it is, except it's probably almost as old as me. Full carbon fiber with an elevated chainstay. Magura HS-33! And what is with the strange, sea-foam green bar-ends pointing up to the sky, as if to receive special instructions from the mothership?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyxiR3miIR4T_DBM3DtdSMsaOxQ0U3eI6Vpx2hFl4yYDzq-7mgfco0jicdZiwOoVh7K7m5L7BObUVf0cn4YCAALyp4ztosfKvmOxVv_Yx0oP3jIo5EYs-h5KaiHe8jiTKdtseh0Az32ko/s1600/IMG_4315.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyxiR3miIR4T_DBM3DtdSMsaOxQ0U3eI6Vpx2hFl4yYDzq-7mgfco0jicdZiwOoVh7K7m5L7BObUVf0cn4YCAALyp4ztosfKvmOxVv_Yx0oP3jIo5EYs-h5KaiHe8jiTKdtseh0Az32ko/s400/IMG_4315.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452926697787114274" /></a><br /><br />Here was another beauty. And I'm not laughing <span style="font-style:italic;">at</span> these riders. I think it's cool that they are still shredding belgian singletrack on them. But you must admit...this one is also a little peculiar. The frame, combined with the wheels. V-brakes on a carbon Specialized-branded Rockshox. This was the sexiest bike in Belgium in 1994.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6EfGeSIxmZRkxFXXDIfetnDbz1_1G-ZxyGHXyFw3D7ybSAUNg9TanQhInzd3xoCpq4AQoiNNvr_dITGdekhEmJ-n_vRC_228KU9Yl9FPw9ymnqqh7gyNENywJSKoJTHiZL-NO38tMvec/s1600/IMG_4317.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6EfGeSIxmZRkxFXXDIfetnDbz1_1G-ZxyGHXyFw3D7ybSAUNg9TanQhInzd3xoCpq4AQoiNNvr_dITGdekhEmJ-n_vRC_228KU9Yl9FPw9ymnqqh7gyNENywJSKoJTHiZL-NO38tMvec/s400/IMG_4317.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452926693932680946" /></a><br /><br />Anyway. Highlights were few and far between this day. But that's all right. Bike wash. Beer. Home to watch a cyclocross race. It was all good.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihgqtpLcgVpB6h8bgWasnaCed4B98wKKGOqjV7EE7VMXPIgxHbOsto0w4CzpItPHrlGOShfpSVydDPc1NK2ia8U1dc0Nrx4VaLzH-hByyU_1tfntDtqIvPieCX78j8w8cHWMcgi5dgz3A/s1600/IMG_4319.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihgqtpLcgVpB6h8bgWasnaCed4B98wKKGOqjV7EE7VMXPIgxHbOsto0w4CzpItPHrlGOShfpSVydDPc1NK2ia8U1dc0Nrx4VaLzH-hByyU_1tfntDtqIvPieCX78j8w8cHWMcgi5dgz3A/s400/IMG_4319.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5452926688654002018" /></a>David Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07862529427994411919noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521209969434131239.post-24168288580565930792010-03-16T16:12:00.003+01:002010-03-16T16:27:18.118+01:00Tokul, WA<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghRwWAUACL6m4gCIreHmv-YVRTOBessx131OM9bCaYZvtYLj12ArDFm07NjTTy4AxCx-TNrBFvXe6Zx_U94pmsJ8fzSnOZYuCZh-c-TLRqPTZBDKJfCsT8lXYPrzEay2ZyDhxFIxCGA8Y/s1600-h/IMG_0217.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghRwWAUACL6m4gCIreHmv-YVRTOBessx131OM9bCaYZvtYLj12ArDFm07NjTTy4AxCx-TNrBFvXe6Zx_U94pmsJ8fzSnOZYuCZh-c-TLRqPTZBDKJfCsT8lXYPrzEay2ZyDhxFIxCGA8Y/s400/IMG_0217.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449252356426419218" /></a><br />It used to be that if you lived in the Seattle area, there were really only 2 or 3 areas to ride: Tiger Mountain, Tapeworm, and maybe St. Edwards park. But over the last 5 years or so, a ton of fantastically excellent riding places have popped up. Grand Ridge, Preston, and a totally new one to me, Tokul. Despite a late night of xbox and whiskey until 4am, I managed to drag myself up to Tokul where Eric, Garret, Chip, and Matt were waiting to ride.<br /><br />It had been a tough week. 5 continuous days of endless driving, big meals, and little sleep. The crash in the last week's road race gave me a dislocated rib. So I was totally pathetic going both up and down. But whatever. These were totally wicked trails. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4eRPwVfsmNyXaXAF9KbQAkWTMlhP8pYXsQ5Jd5coZpqpOG7tC6xryqJh0cjVdmEaAyMsfptuIdaf5_zFIL0JA37YS0WwkwjQXgsOf9gDdDz8H12EZE-DM-Ocl-oo3XQWPC2YzJQIf-WU/s1600-h/IMG_0218.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4eRPwVfsmNyXaXAF9KbQAkWTMlhP8pYXsQ5Jd5coZpqpOG7tC6xryqJh0cjVdmEaAyMsfptuIdaf5_zFIL0JA37YS0WwkwjQXgsOf9gDdDz8H12EZE-DM-Ocl-oo3XQWPC2YzJQIf-WU/s400/IMG_0218.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449252369399653762" /></a><br />Wallace brought me a Turner Flux to ride. Although I disapproved of the tires, the bike was solid. And the trails? Did I talk about the trails? Fantasstic.David Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07862529427994411919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521209969434131239.post-11461583207360308662010-03-03T21:38:00.002+01:002010-03-03T22:18:46.400+01:00For those about to rock...Of course, it had to be AC DC<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxzRFtBFKHXkiMT8PLcWjjPHI74q21QKvGPDlKTToKxVH_gi_01UmlE-mQEqiWkvF1POAoEMK4PZ2QR5F8X' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>David Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07862529427994411919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521209969434131239.post-91393003003645646902010-03-03T15:19:00.003+01:002010-03-03T15:30:49.274+01:00You YangsAh, Australia. Our last mtb ride took us to You Yangs, arguably the main mtb spot on the general Melbourne area. I had ridden here before with Mark but there had been some improvements to the trails and some new additions. The You Yangs now was a dedicated mountain bike area. Pretty cool!<br /><br />The two manly men set out on their ride. You Yangs is kind of a lumpy little hill in the middle of a giant, dry plain. It's not all that big but they aussies have managed to cut some fun little trails. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbxYHQfUZ0yLlKsLdsUs23Mmhwuj67ySpTOCDVlBzhvVLZZjskF5HN5rbs3ExSS8ELTdAMlUNCkwWgwlR9EvY4pr0LLbsev2YrRrFSZ4bTXQXWEM3QEdnl0Gil2CTraKBwZPkmLmh34ao/s1600-h/IMG_4292.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbxYHQfUZ0yLlKsLdsUs23Mmhwuj67ySpTOCDVlBzhvVLZZjskF5HN5rbs3ExSS8ELTdAMlUNCkwWgwlR9EvY4pr0LLbsev2YrRrFSZ4bTXQXWEM3QEdnl0Gil2CTraKBwZPkmLmh34ao/s400/IMG_4292.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444412650334772434" /></a><br /><br />Trails were impeccably marked for idiots like me and also graded on level of difficulty, so you could push yourself to the brink of injury. The Boulder track was a good one. Short and sweet, but lots of slick rock and testy little sections.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDp_NXupU0G4gqWAbqyg3_UB85v98BXrsrZpZ5c1nTGUL2S3fI2_SqJe8Hu2SUGvmDiG6bzQf3AKYm2Vf-TYlsn3jMVaW13534pJcUaODgF2rwJJScGmgsjyyvTFJAEWRyvqDf8iC7lfA/s1600-h/IMG_4305.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 270px; height: 360px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDp_NXupU0G4gqWAbqyg3_UB85v98BXrsrZpZ5c1nTGUL2S3fI2_SqJe8Hu2SUGvmDiG6bzQf3AKYm2Vf-TYlsn3jMVaW13534pJcUaODgF2rwJJScGmgsjyyvTFJAEWRyvqDf8iC7lfA/s400/IMG_4305.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444412642833948338" /></a><br /><br />And wildlife. Australian wildlife! If you squint really hard you can see in the center a wallaby, which I found out is just a small kangaroo.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrT65fVBje9096UNgHgRUbkEuV-8wxk0z0iOx66DSgee25enpOLv4eutOdpjA_fOJQQ3amj_B3LtPZ8KpL8WiDkzXU5aD-auzK6hkb1Y9MjzUfI2LiI6tPTxcZLAL629cnFFZtk_w5PTk/s1600-h/IMG_4300.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrT65fVBje9096UNgHgRUbkEuV-8wxk0z0iOx66DSgee25enpOLv4eutOdpjA_fOJQQ3amj_B3LtPZ8KpL8WiDkzXU5aD-auzK6hkb1Y9MjzUfI2LiI6tPTxcZLAL629cnFFZtk_w5PTk/s400/IMG_4300.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444412893189478066" /></a><br /><br />This is also really the only place you could ride a big dual-squishy, and they had a handful of dedicated DH trails with some north shore features. We ended up doing a big figure 8 loop that took in plenty of climbing, some little jumps, lots of flowy singletrack, and some technical delicacies.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguurV4ua1a-DLX2-ySVS9N4BGPzBy451z4RcpWDEWZdOgVXAq1GDP1v5BZb_x-kI7SxO0v5LSjgM7uXcbMNA77olMjgH5tzpTCNNZR64TX44DJ7vs-W1e0fPjvxHBFjZDHhv8I0MUa72g/s1600-h/IMG_4301.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 270px; height: 360px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguurV4ua1a-DLX2-ySVS9N4BGPzBy451z4RcpWDEWZdOgVXAq1GDP1v5BZb_x-kI7SxO0v5LSjgM7uXcbMNA77olMjgH5tzpTCNNZR64TX44DJ7vs-W1e0fPjvxHBFjZDHhv8I0MUa72g/s400/IMG_4301.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444412899558408610" /></a><br /><br />...as evidenced here by yours truly SHREDDING that rock face. Practically turned it into molten lava...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-_O5dMDe1VhatH8i6a0IJFzqEy1lr-raTEigTwMxwsi67IA1_P7UC24bnwVUHFtNY8jJNDQPbHhx4wDOX7pOWg3KawZvuJE8YmauYIYq4qQYL5WJ-6iwZNocMJcJlIGKtSOam4A3WxWk/s1600-h/IMG_4307.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 270px; height: 360px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-_O5dMDe1VhatH8i6a0IJFzqEy1lr-raTEigTwMxwsi67IA1_P7UC24bnwVUHFtNY8jJNDQPbHhx4wDOX7pOWg3KawZvuJE8YmauYIYq4qQYL5WJ-6iwZNocMJcJlIGKtSOam4A3WxWk/s400/IMG_4307.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444412631124090226" /></a><br /><br />Not sure if you can tell from this photo, but it was HOT there. We were pooped at the end.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinAwIifv-wuGtz0yjHHoRdUOi9tzacC_zoUCqcLlX2hlOms7rMTeZwJbumUNppoWDN89a7TvyrdMkQdnlMxkB5gKK7XadqjQce3WgNYNfdHDtEeu2eUJoyUx9P9nh1r6O9tPMnHkQxJyU/s1600-h/IMG_4309.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinAwIifv-wuGtz0yjHHoRdUOi9tzacC_zoUCqcLlX2hlOms7rMTeZwJbumUNppoWDN89a7TvyrdMkQdnlMxkB5gKK7XadqjQce3WgNYNfdHDtEeu2eUJoyUx9P9nh1r6O9tPMnHkQxJyU/s400/IMG_4309.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444412624356641954" /></a><br /><br />Luckily the pilot had pre-empted our tired thirst by bringing cold aussie beverages. Good day all around!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2UpHC8M1XH5X5GqAtPESSAUR7EwspTRIz_3H3jq8K7iaeu2bKgZI_OQWRh-dx_-Xsgtb-X-inD3Qg23wEQsiaRQlCEJ7yL7RiTjN8QMsqXUhsQcIkDvIG6-h_jbF4ot5aU8LT4iO6IQ0/s1600-h/IMG_4308.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2UpHC8M1XH5X5GqAtPESSAUR7EwspTRIz_3H3jq8K7iaeu2bKgZI_OQWRh-dx_-Xsgtb-X-inD3Qg23wEQsiaRQlCEJ7yL7RiTjN8QMsqXUhsQcIkDvIG6-h_jbF4ot5aU8LT4iO6IQ0/s400/IMG_4308.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444412613021574418" /></a>David Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07862529427994411919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521209969434131239.post-38357933499146140952010-02-22T18:56:00.004+01:002010-02-22T19:29:58.353+01:00Walhalla, Australia - a ride and 2 barbiesOf course, that's barby like "put another shrimp on the barby, mate!", aussie for bbq. You can imagine my shock when I found out that aussies don't even use the word shrimp. They would say, "put another prawn on the barby, mate!". Whatever. We had a barby dinner and a barby breakfast up in the beautiful hills of Victoria. Walhalla is an old mining town with huge, beautiful eucalyptus trees. Think Downieville with lots of humidity. The scenery was stunning. <br /><br />Mark woke me up in the middle of the night - 7am - to go ride the old railroad grade that was now a hiking trail. Apparently this was the end point for a hugemongous hiking trail that stretched all the way to the Aussie capital of Canberra. We clipped in from the cottage and grunted up the paved road that took us to the trail head.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">The trail started at an old gold mine</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1eHmrYnnvIrPVzDhiOcZiXrHlpSiIUY8bZYjh_HdgvJjQsE-CyK0LWOsah-fcsRg34X5xdAGz-qVvFgQRBNVJ7tkRP4alHdi9n_MureVYfnOsD0qti1P6hlgHtdjfVTlcVPIe04Bedlo/s1600-h/IMG_4281.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1eHmrYnnvIrPVzDhiOcZiXrHlpSiIUY8bZYjh_HdgvJjQsE-CyK0LWOsah-fcsRg34X5xdAGz-qVvFgQRBNVJ7tkRP4alHdi9n_MureVYfnOsD0qti1P6hlgHtdjfVTlcVPIe04Bedlo/s400/IMG_4281.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441135884646401986" /></a><br /><br />It was very cool traversing across the hillside. Every now and then a view of town would come out. Once again, the fantastic scent of the trees was quite...dare I say magical? That and the pristine morning air, before the heat and humidity set in...there's something about riding early in the morning...I always hate getting up but once I'm out on the bike it's fantastic. And every time it's deja vu.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXXMg1LDn3b42PVHHt5TegZ5RLw-9xku12S1OFaoPwhYEuDGck_ikryx1JlGFMdBtZsKwScOJA7Skh448NbtR1n50eZjjW2yKwU58iCftCQrVH93ZdC1FTKB-B_CCrZlvu-0z7bwkvyYU/s1600-h/IMG_4280.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXXMg1LDn3b42PVHHt5TegZ5RLw-9xku12S1OFaoPwhYEuDGck_ikryx1JlGFMdBtZsKwScOJA7Skh448NbtR1n50eZjjW2yKwU58iCftCQrVH93ZdC1FTKB-B_CCrZlvu-0z7bwkvyYU/s400/IMG_4280.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441135879498737026" /></a><br /><br />The trail wasn't so crazy, but that's probably good since we were both half asleep. Eventually we had to bomb down a crazily steep fire road to the Thomson river. From there we continued on another rail grade, slightly more difficult. At the end, we pedaled back on the road and had our aussie barby breakfast - eggs and meat.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">I look surprising good so early in the morning...</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoD4CLDEpewAlg76ETipKEEBUjtiHKJu0SXJkaH-2v-l48ocJLaGe-9sDkK4UQQ4V2kr4VqKQ0BZ04oI16TRxNLkjid2JnxHrAMGuHcFqLE8pYy0RVKF_4U4Qd3qVtNiTd5a6PD1Wr4nE/s1600-h/IMG_4285.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 270px; height: 360px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoD4CLDEpewAlg76ETipKEEBUjtiHKJu0SXJkaH-2v-l48ocJLaGe-9sDkK4UQQ4V2kr4VqKQ0BZ04oI16TRxNLkjid2JnxHrAMGuHcFqLE8pYy0RVKF_4U4Qd3qVtNiTd5a6PD1Wr4nE/s400/IMG_4285.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441135876143616658" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Mark shreds</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ef86hX-JdLBpASFIrTvBTpZNwXuGjZZ4mBd5F-Zhsiv2GtttjeKl8xZdQgddXrX9_bqZ_v1tLXHLvKojks5oeBsXfAxS0MnR7e-Ax_FpOdB1RgqtXb7qyYlfrW7O5kFoicYwfIAEH34/s1600-h/IMG_4288.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6ef86hX-JdLBpASFIrTvBTpZNwXuGjZZ4mBd5F-Zhsiv2GtttjeKl8xZdQgddXrX9_bqZ_v1tLXHLvKojks5oeBsXfAxS0MnR7e-Ax_FpOdB1RgqtXb7qyYlfrW7O5kFoicYwfIAEH34/s400/IMG_4288.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441135874975739922" /></a><br /><br />Aussie beauty, mate<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvzCmbmn1wNn8Pcx-KHGQKXI5dVcz0SyrCh3oPu7IQ1s_dUv6g6ebOI6gOtv_DHj-HtZeE6Z78e2A87NlgzokKY4u1GSfDtomHNaB9IaptYsza1WcpmMWeWBlXksg4z_WYhv64XSFGu48/s1600-h/IMG_4289.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 270px; height: 360px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvzCmbmn1wNn8Pcx-KHGQKXI5dVcz0SyrCh3oPu7IQ1s_dUv6g6ebOI6gOtv_DHj-HtZeE6Z78e2A87NlgzokKY4u1GSfDtomHNaB9IaptYsza1WcpmMWeWBlXksg4z_WYhv64XSFGu48/s400/IMG_4289.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5441135867235781154" /></a>David Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07862529427994411919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521209969434131239.post-57744838263202225912010-02-21T13:47:00.003+01:002010-02-21T14:39:10.683+01:00G'day Mate!On a recent trip down under, I had the good fortune to stay with the Hewitts, who did me up right - bikes and a bed and some good home cooking. Having bikes meant we would get in some rides, and our first ride was to be at Lysterfield, just east of Melbourne, where the Commonwealth Game mtb race was held. This was a new purpose-built mtb area (I love those), with maintained trails, a pretty cool shop, and some fun riding.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5IwWJdVl2PoTfS-5Fjv3HP1jeN-Rbp5ff55vC8VJVd41zQdNXPaE8IEiWiCvpno8txBbR1rj_9UFNfQs8o3-PXwarPfPE7rsM8Ys-bxQzpeh0GiI7jxn6zzY5WT07B8imJw7gFSRwzjk/s1600-h/IMG_0555.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5IwWJdVl2PoTfS-5Fjv3HP1jeN-Rbp5ff55vC8VJVd41zQdNXPaE8IEiWiCvpno8txBbR1rj_9UFNfQs8o3-PXwarPfPE7rsM8Ys-bxQzpeh0GiI7jxn6zzY5WT07B8imJw7gFSRwzjk/s400/IMG_0555.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440689516686424370" /></a><br /><br />My steed for the week - a Norco Fusion. Something like 130mm of travel front and rear, it would roll over any kangaroos who ventured in my path. Our ride for the day was with Rob Eva - Crocodile Rob - of SRAM Australia. Lucky bastard could ride here from his house.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3TiFoH82F5sAIsfop_CguucJUy9jMeuN2_GWAZEGup7yxhfMjwrGaypwnB5eed2nzUeK-4W4SG2G2ywWeViRmAe-NY-Vb19L1zBL2FSjtpsl58qNxmYT4ZbUQ0wugMZC-yhaLizvvo0/s1600-h/IMG_0559.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy3TiFoH82F5sAIsfop_CguucJUy9jMeuN2_GWAZEGup7yxhfMjwrGaypwnB5eed2nzUeK-4W4SG2G2ywWeViRmAe-NY-Vb19L1zBL2FSjtpsl58qNxmYT4ZbUQ0wugMZC-yhaLizvvo0/s400/IMG_0559.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440689515184634066" /></a><br /><br />We did see kangaroos on the trail, but more importantly, it was fun, sandy singletrack and lots of it. Being in a eucalyptus forest, the scents as you rode were unbelievable. Like riding through an herbal mist. February being the end of the Aussie summer, Rob was fit as fit and basically tore our legs off. But it was still pretty fun.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizTGdwjaiLLd8mFLVzRi8iJ07aaSVxp-EzAm_GtUr_lZ6r5kGMGJAzqLdNVE-4mER28x1z3bU5QzzuH0ayhFqCr-tsS-7mJe_qob0JOD8t8LdQJeaxg9IjVoK-h2Xc5llwv1SasJhG-3g/s1600-h/IMG_0557.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 360px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizTGdwjaiLLd8mFLVzRi8iJ07aaSVxp-EzAm_GtUr_lZ6r5kGMGJAzqLdNVE-4mER28x1z3bU5QzzuH0ayhFqCr-tsS-7mJe_qob0JOD8t8LdQJeaxg9IjVoK-h2Xc5llwv1SasJhG-3g/s400/IMG_0557.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440689508092940242" /></a><br /><br />After we left Rob, we went for a picnic on the lake. Good family times. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjkRutbWGxf0NZR7f6tyI8xSBZyOuTSBPRtzHESydEKeRG6-_AJxCN_VcwJEqY8q6E7hEn8Qg1Q9GP6Vh_k4mQaurj_gYn3-gMQLUqSxnRkPnboWtjtEJO0GOHkzHQUD9YWOq3vd19_VI/s1600-h/IMG_0554.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjkRutbWGxf0NZR7f6tyI8xSBZyOuTSBPRtzHESydEKeRG6-_AJxCN_VcwJEqY8q6E7hEn8Qg1Q9GP6Vh_k4mQaurj_gYn3-gMQLUqSxnRkPnboWtjtEJO0GOHkzHQUD9YWOq3vd19_VI/s400/IMG_0554.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5440689505826302258" /></a>David Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07862529427994411919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521209969434131239.post-76141932140328275842010-02-03T08:15:00.003+01:002010-02-03T08:40:57.324+01:00The rain in Spain falls mainly in BelgiumNo riding = no blogging, and since the rains melted the snow and thawed the ground, the mud has taken on epic proportions, a life of its own. At any moment I feel it could ooze out of the fields and forests and completely cover Belgium. <br /><br />So, I take this opportunity to update some old posts that I missed. Like making a proper introduction with my main bike here, a Spot Single Speed. Not a new Spot out of Boulder with belt drive, this is an original Michael Golinski Spot from Vancouver. MG was one of the first to get out there with steel single speeds, and has himself raced in multiple SSWCs. He was also an early proponent of sliding disc mount on the rear. Smart.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJa4qvmbfyujMlvvxcoAikvTFj7l6b8UPQbo6xXa_XsHRr6weLYqTGUXbImbUchk4ady6RYpzk0P-5h2FqzNVbxX6_kpBRA01VbmPAS_syMqvPCCeL6MXFvW-3pbUtDaq3nb_L3rD70P8/s1600-h/IMG_3217.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJa4qvmbfyujMlvvxcoAikvTFj7l6b8UPQbo6xXa_XsHRr6weLYqTGUXbImbUchk4ady6RYpzk0P-5h2FqzNVbxX6_kpBRA01VbmPAS_syMqvPCCeL6MXFvW-3pbUtDaq3nb_L3rD70P8/s400/IMG_3217.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433916254233540338" /></a><br /><br />I absolutely love this bike. So much fun to ride. It's a tad small and could probably use a complete re-build, but it's hard as a rock and has served me well. Probably better than i deserve.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVVYXxRF8qvxvlksIj3pZp0jn34e4G_LImLASTVBfkKN48bo_uajS_hOS12a4UCmOvdy1fPsEtBP8O0HxshzfgzT-a_JAbzEf10ozu-mhZ31pp4hcU68dTFe46F81JvoKK4xq2oeM0TE/s1600-h/IMG_3225.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbVVYXxRF8qvxvlksIj3pZp0jn34e4G_LImLASTVBfkKN48bo_uajS_hOS12a4UCmOvdy1fPsEtBP8O0HxshzfgzT-a_JAbzEf10ozu-mhZ31pp4hcU68dTFe46F81JvoKK4xq2oeM0TE/s400/IMG_3225.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433916257838570354" /></a><br /><br />The Spot chainguard - I am currently running a 32x16, good gear for flat flat belgium. My trails have some small, tiny little climbs, so this works just fine. I had a 17 on there before and that was good in the mud, or in the winter. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWYXwN4ZImv63JyX8JSBf-a1JcJ0SrewIRAUZX-vIsYDsScSLM0X079ZgIJb76qrvaxQWydcacTVIcMbJnGySqQsmaEiRsgLAEUECOGwWk791lPKfr6ulcaQeqv8iI1dUlTt9C3RvbSDU/s1600-h/IMG_3223.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWYXwN4ZImv63JyX8JSBf-a1JcJ0SrewIRAUZX-vIsYDsScSLM0X079ZgIJb76qrvaxQWydcacTVIcMbJnGySqQsmaEiRsgLAEUECOGwWk791lPKfr6ulcaQeqv8iI1dUlTt9C3RvbSDU/s400/IMG_3223.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5433916250927327106" /></a><br /><br />I love bikes in general, but then there are special ones that give you a funny feeling in your tummy. I would take a bullet for my Spot.David Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07862529427994411919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521209969434131239.post-53904281835438704872010-01-12T20:39:00.003+01:002010-01-12T20:44:10.834+01:00Meanwhile, back in Belgium....Has been below freezing for a while, and I've been lazy. Finally, enough was enough, I got off my ass and onto the bike. Here is the trailhead near the house:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh6jmtybuENrgSAazMKkxeHppUgOD0wDN7sESMDNtJMKHg7SKA3jjlYRgurkRLq5a1KBonDHGhLgU3xps4O2aqzpNCuOAGQvOgRkIyL7vuTF_5pAjvHo8E5gZPZPh2ddBDPjX0PKcaFc8/s1600-h/IMG_4273.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh6jmtybuENrgSAazMKkxeHppUgOD0wDN7sESMDNtJMKHg7SKA3jjlYRgurkRLq5a1KBonDHGhLgU3xps4O2aqzpNCuOAGQvOgRkIyL7vuTF_5pAjvHo8E5gZPZPh2ddBDPjX0PKcaFc8/s400/IMG_4273.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425940499992981474" /></a><br /><br />It was an ok ride, in the snow in the Lummen Loop (aka, the Halen Loop). Traction for the most part was pretty outstanding! I actually ran into 2 cyclocrossers on the trail, it seems I wasn't the only one with cabin fever. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZAJRqeenF5Lzs4_KWOaVJsQsT6ATLjzaIpo11RCe0rZWM6BkV2Qftu3-7TjUBmiZItssyijgnhgFi4SC31bAEOGCig7WjgXVbhhleVkyWXp689PKPzI91csfMC8g2oFxkuZB6bemskLc/s1600-h/IMG_4274.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 270px; height: 360px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZAJRqeenF5Lzs4_KWOaVJsQsT6ATLjzaIpo11RCe0rZWM6BkV2Qftu3-7TjUBmiZItssyijgnhgFi4SC31bAEOGCig7WjgXVbhhleVkyWXp689PKPzI91csfMC8g2oFxkuZB6bemskLc/s400/IMG_4274.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425940500342593346" /></a>David Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07862529427994411919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521209969434131239.post-2705244331294853412010-01-08T16:29:00.002+01:002010-01-08T16:51:34.509+01:00Spain - the motion pictureA re-cap of the action in video.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzwsOF6uQLs0DIyzZ0vEs97DczA2eVL-XKU8lDG3CyO88ZO-Op4b6HL8oPIeB2S7s8VgRWqmwOnkdfsm0GvQg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>David Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07862529427994411919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521209969434131239.post-40133348248112754542010-01-07T07:41:00.004+01:002010-01-07T08:21:37.774+01:00Spain - el finalLast day. We had to check out and point the car north, so we made the rather huge effort to get up at the crack of eight and get in our biking clothes. The restaurant wasn't even open for breakfast until 9 - I love spain. It was cool and crisp but the sky was blue as can be and as we pedaled up the road climb, the splendor of waking up and getting on the bike before noon became increasingly apparent.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifT9ojMfocFLqSdKa3vZNpJisEYghyphenhyphenJQT4kyUeTeiR7RWq8YoPICgK4soB8S6QED3t1UTOFO4YpYXJc4tfYYrG5mvPE1I97kwO5cEWaPocRNhT3sOVgfb7qa7N4W70qwzQAztPiKzcrME/s1600-h/IMG_2080.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifT9ojMfocFLqSdKa3vZNpJisEYghyphenhyphenJQT4kyUeTeiR7RWq8YoPICgK4soB8S6QED3t1UTOFO4YpYXJc4tfYYrG5mvPE1I97kwO5cEWaPocRNhT3sOVgfb7qa7N4W70qwzQAztPiKzcrME/s400/IMG_2080.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423887047683996994" /></a><br /><br />Today's trail was absurdly titled "el moabo", because the british authors of the book thought that anywhere with some slickrock bits must be just like moab, utah. Well, it wasn't moab but it was, for me, the best trail of the week. If it had been 3-4 times at long it would be world class. But as it was, dodging in and out of trees, little drops, steep sections, and, yes, nice patches of slick rock...it was dreamy. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtDWh_aRYWCVVQRqD5SJumGPvxlWOTvj3tDyjVfL4zjwP0op2jbr_nD7YfE-dryPClQu03DKvlfPZKEdvmt5zkCNTw7aZpjtlK2Jai_mBHi95BPw_ChNbyCn4aZVvltikdDbMGkmK9iQQ/s1600-h/IMG_4258.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtDWh_aRYWCVVQRqD5SJumGPvxlWOTvj3tDyjVfL4zjwP0op2jbr_nD7YfE-dryPClQu03DKvlfPZKEdvmt5zkCNTw7aZpjtlK2Jai_mBHi95BPw_ChNbyCn4aZVvltikdDbMGkmK9iQQ/s400/IMG_4258.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423886788037697682" /></a><br /><br />I think if you stayed in el chorro for a week and rode this trail a few times, learning all the corners and lines, it would be a whole bowl of fun. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Hmh4NKO3gNUBjpXMhoKkBPYRQzrokzYE8EfDIO3RoovuG6Ln5aqP4XHXJRYglsH5b5SZ1Cti5Kh6QR9H69xRB9tGdjbIBWpi4Cg10Ax3diezeyW7BvldNQ5NMKnxMEa-ib8i9kvjgvA/s1600-h/IMG_2084.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 270px; height: 360px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Hmh4NKO3gNUBjpXMhoKkBPYRQzrokzYE8EfDIO3RoovuG6Ln5aqP4XHXJRYglsH5b5SZ1Cti5Kh6QR9H69xRB9tGdjbIBWpi4Cg10Ax3diezeyW7BvldNQ5NMKnxMEa-ib8i9kvjgvA/s400/IMG_2084.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423886784434055794" /></a><br /><br />A deceivingly long and steep road climb then took us up to the top of a mountain where, surprise, there was a huge concrete resevoir. Must have been quite a job putting that in. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu8d-pZNeGzP2hkoo6PyKrXhaFMSpdPHscQmjegBjhlzNR5vJK_g_QkQRPVIh27BU3SkXiNwulmyz10bExnZglQvZoMHEEAKWztcQc1Q782WeeeE1SXnmrOx9eR1Y_5_WBF1PXsVj4LKg/s1600-h/IMG_4262.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu8d-pZNeGzP2hkoo6PyKrXhaFMSpdPHscQmjegBjhlzNR5vJK_g_QkQRPVIh27BU3SkXiNwulmyz10bExnZglQvZoMHEEAKWztcQc1Q782WeeeE1SXnmrOx9eR1Y_5_WBF1PXsVj4LKg/s400/IMG_4262.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423886783097493010" /></a><br /><br />But the views were stunning, the weather was clear as a bell and it was well worth the climb. On top of all that we got the longest descent of the week, starting out flowy in the trees, but after a few switchbacks turning to steep, loose, and very rocky. Right down the face of the mountain. This is what seat post quick releases were made for. Unfortunately Peter did not have one of these, but he made it down ok. For me, it was nice to get a long, fast descent in before heading back to the flat lands.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDjoWEIAZsLMu1aPkfS15Qu-YnZaZFx6ZDxsrVA1Zl-3E5g803ZJQ8KB7J9Sv4yHoVqjJamgKvnZS9kIC0-XLnqDEqNtT0wc4SM2YmuynMIi0QZF-99cCWubiJCB7oYihvhQR95KPesd0/s1600-h/IMG_4264.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDjoWEIAZsLMu1aPkfS15Qu-YnZaZFx6ZDxsrVA1Zl-3E5g803ZJQ8KB7J9Sv4yHoVqjJamgKvnZS9kIC0-XLnqDEqNtT0wc4SM2YmuynMIi0QZF-99cCWubiJCB7oYihvhQR95KPesd0/s400/IMG_4264.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423886778022378210" /></a><br /><br />Which is what we did next. 24 hours later we were in snowy Belgium. Doh! But the trails of southern spain have only offered a glimpse of their secret treasure. I'm sure I'll be back. Possibly soon if this weather continues.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUgVuHzFY4MCB6edims0mDxv0saTKK7TyAaNsHfsiLzuAdEanxmeBkBXVtYJ32d4Xhp9lcDEhb63C-i5zcR2gZzQPLF4h8V3qksViiNw5otkCH6VTmTbeEYDemn15WsVSbKNJn8Q1b7J0/s1600-h/IMG_4270.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUgVuHzFY4MCB6edims0mDxv0saTKK7TyAaNsHfsiLzuAdEanxmeBkBXVtYJ32d4Xhp9lcDEhb63C-i5zcR2gZzQPLF4h8V3qksViiNw5otkCH6VTmTbeEYDemn15WsVSbKNJn8Q1b7J0/s400/IMG_4270.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423886773557617282" /></a>David Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07862529427994411919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521209969434131239.post-26559697163218269222010-01-05T09:22:00.003+01:002010-01-05T09:52:21.156+01:00Spanish trails, part dosDay 2 brought showers of rain and cold temperatures, so we fell back on our lazy plan B to do some sight seeing. Nearby Granada proved an easy target so we checked out a lot of old buildings. Afterwards, Peter got a haircut and a shave at a Spanish baber, which was filled with old men singing and drinking brandy. Classic.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8b4ho7kJDKydoF6x5G-wHoOWUWtYy6h9qut7JiTD4Dqi52ZscVUy6uWFoaC_efN1ZXzKxQYddU2wmqhOhHwWRUcW8m-dkosd_NCn7hu2vIREItnSlG1ioeT8e2Axl_nDftbe_SBZ808U/s1600-h/IMG_1999.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8b4ho7kJDKydoF6x5G-wHoOWUWtYy6h9qut7JiTD4Dqi52ZscVUy6uWFoaC_efN1ZXzKxQYddU2wmqhOhHwWRUcW8m-dkosd_NCn7hu2vIREItnSlG1ioeT8e2Axl_nDftbe_SBZ808U/s400/IMG_1999.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423171284674344930" /></a><br /><br />Day 3 was really day 2 of riding, we found a loop in the extremely vague guide book that "guaranteed" big views of the sea and lots of singletrack. El Chorro was threatening rain, but by the time we got near Mijas, on a big hill overlooking the sea, the sun was out and it was warming up. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqP8Y72oNX3id6BWCSne4B4XJ_QMifqFX5ji3FfXkPs3-e443iJPIFxo5r5fjfRA7anuh5M4V0i6KhbfdNmOMySyxGLFmflAVKJGGpTIkYz3IHvC9PCVciA9iuF5GUdxVlBSRRB_OT2Us/s1600-h/IMG_4243.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqP8Y72oNX3id6BWCSne4B4XJ_QMifqFX5ji3FfXkPs3-e443iJPIFxo5r5fjfRA7anuh5M4V0i6KhbfdNmOMySyxGLFmflAVKJGGpTIkYz3IHvC9PCVciA9iuF5GUdxVlBSRRB_OT2Us/s400/IMG_4243.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423170936924321810" /></a><br /><br />After a coffee, a freshly squeezed orange juice, and some churros, we set out on the climb.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-n9T2Z57lgKHCmTFerEnUAqUFMvzY97Q89c_J7q-Ox99UGIvk4y4sW6QK5zpm43kDXGp1tIXvoAlJa6BXhNgkearCX0GoumpXo3GGGQPn_Jdt_b4DJDADoZi6CZvDOpplRM33naSVA9c/s1600-h/IMG_4244.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-n9T2Z57lgKHCmTFerEnUAqUFMvzY97Q89c_J7q-Ox99UGIvk4y4sW6QK5zpm43kDXGp1tIXvoAlJa6BXhNgkearCX0GoumpXo3GGGQPn_Jdt_b4DJDADoZi6CZvDOpplRM33naSVA9c/s400/IMG_4244.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423170928994048018" /></a><br /><br />Directions were, to no one's surprise, impossible to follow, but somehow we managed to find the singletrack. The long climb led to a long and nasty singletrack climb, which led, finally, to some tasty spanish trail riding. The trail was mostly angled slightly down but traversed across the mountain, so speeds were high enough and not too technical, just technical enough to make it fun.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5zOrnZxpW_4clzbCQxVlfQ1s-P2yhstVGhtmXPb_pNXSKIYpnpMlSFwgNASgvsahq2mJN05igjG8C1_kZ7B-BUj2WrK4TtE2JTGjTJrtkxTTUxnAtJJ6iDcHfALTOcouY8bEYCp8zWqw/s1600-h/IMG_2066.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5zOrnZxpW_4clzbCQxVlfQ1s-P2yhstVGhtmXPb_pNXSKIYpnpMlSFwgNASgvsahq2mJN05igjG8C1_kZ7B-BUj2WrK4TtE2JTGjTJrtkxTTUxnAtJJ6iDcHfALTOcouY8bEYCp8zWqw/s400/IMG_2066.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423170925623317298" /></a><br /><br />This ride was a figure 8 loop, and we connected 3 other bits of singletrack before the end of the day. One of which was a loose, rocky, steep-ish and technical affair. Pure joy. Peter rode tough with his 80mm fork and negative rise stem.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0j4y8ITkIoiBFI2LALdV_dgc6W0WCGruFegRTwgF699VJs42-lu9uVaWRy3ZGQL3G-tBo5sO8LwR4FelJpGSBwuLLktbbMX42U9TScNov9ihtNpv4nZEmHgUlMe85EYss7o0LO3yK-FQ/s1600-h/IMG_4251.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0j4y8ITkIoiBFI2LALdV_dgc6W0WCGruFegRTwgF699VJs42-lu9uVaWRy3ZGQL3G-tBo5sO8LwR4FelJpGSBwuLLktbbMX42U9TScNov9ihtNpv4nZEmHgUlMe85EYss7o0LO3yK-FQ/s400/IMG_4251.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423170923883508994" /></a><br /><br />Finishing at the car, we had a fat spanish meal and a san miguel at the same cafe. The sun was shining and it was 18 degrees. Enough said.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxXVInATlOXQFyeSEMD-UNN6T2y39sdjDAVBmQnuABKH675lc5jQGWqhNFYtlGn5orQnrXJYliyydi2ZABvLl9O_E_H0vtIyu_7_L6dxbyrcmemPLJoDC7mfSDPJnfJCQelRsIs9I2pak/s1600-h/IMG_4255.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxXVInATlOXQFyeSEMD-UNN6T2y39sdjDAVBmQnuABKH675lc5jQGWqhNFYtlGn5orQnrXJYliyydi2ZABvLl9O_E_H0vtIyu_7_L6dxbyrcmemPLJoDC7mfSDPJnfJCQelRsIs9I2pak/s400/IMG_4255.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423170916225474274" /></a>David Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07862529427994411919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521209969434131239.post-20633121313762803672010-01-04T12:56:00.004+01:002010-01-04T13:20:48.836+01:00Spanish trails, day 1Ah, sunny Spain. So warm, so beautiful... Our first day out, according to our trail guide book (written by british people), promised huge climbs, huge views, and huge descents. Perfect. After a leisurely taken breakfast, we set out from El Chorro, pedaling up into the hills and across the Guadalhorce dams. British instructions were extremely vague at best, so we were checking the book just about every 3 or 4 minutes. But eventually we made it on the first big climb of the day, up into the mountains.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Peter's kit matched my bike nicely</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxEN0gWK_mjDeGeFl9D7XsxPhlARU7I68fAHAFfQCg3T8uetQ-ffcHx2UHVMHOn8zA3VofOQfkVp6LW0312ZvxhcfQjw5eOEanVdh22pF2qFNyGRkvkBky_DCIdxoLoRNAXhRPGdRvqy0/s1600-h/IMG_4222.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxEN0gWK_mjDeGeFl9D7XsxPhlARU7I68fAHAFfQCg3T8uetQ-ffcHx2UHVMHOn8zA3VofOQfkVp6LW0312ZvxhcfQjw5eOEanVdh22pF2qFNyGRkvkBky_DCIdxoLoRNAXhRPGdRvqy0/s400/IMG_4222.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422854421518354898" /></a><br /><br />The climbs were big and steep. And big. And steep. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqH6PmHK1jiAmSpj_4KtZeEQH9HHt78uoJZlZSVWYadpw2TR3PHFdEMVkUzz_-isuvmSeBzv2tm4nDRJSZp6uVLe9cPIrrGioPqRDe761LxxynJWfWgjcxPF9xlMDOWT6_XUvbRweyuWk/s1600-h/IMG_1971.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqH6PmHK1jiAmSpj_4KtZeEQH9HHt78uoJZlZSVWYadpw2TR3PHFdEMVkUzz_-isuvmSeBzv2tm4nDRJSZp6uVLe9cPIrrGioPqRDe761LxxynJWfWgjcxPF9xlMDOWT6_XUvbRweyuWk/s400/IMG_1971.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422854415066408258" /></a><br /><br />But being the manly men that we were/are, we eventually made it over.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVOtAM15uBRnfj6KQCQ-Hyu3NqIwzYQptGFAkztWFti8UYq3rqvQTmct_b9Wjl3MZM6tF_Pc__k9qb-Ty-xRrMDdEu_gumKhjtNqcy2s-Kh_ozFAIIfLcNj6kK_wrUzJy96IyGAj0Xh4E/s1600-h/IMG_4228.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVOtAM15uBRnfj6KQCQ-Hyu3NqIwzYQptGFAkztWFti8UYq3rqvQTmct_b9Wjl3MZM6tF_Pc__k9qb-Ty-xRrMDdEu_gumKhjtNqcy2s-Kh_ozFAIIfLcNj6kK_wrUzJy96IyGAj0Xh4E/s400/IMG_4228.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422853961470943010" /></a><br /><br />Oh, and it was really beautiful.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQf9PWBeNzskn5NQ2UDb1YWxcxfGUTq9t73YWv4vjp581PVfvHQYO4a2gvYV3tk-HeToFdy2i-0IT3_aePjR4-WRmHdxxMmLLasVohmeltpF-hIzg60NJVF7Y9oOvouPd_PixBEqml5aE/s1600-h/IMG_1980.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQf9PWBeNzskn5NQ2UDb1YWxcxfGUTq9t73YWv4vjp581PVfvHQYO4a2gvYV3tk-HeToFdy2i-0IT3_aePjR4-WRmHdxxMmLLasVohmeltpF-hIzg60NJVF7Y9oOvouPd_PixBEqml5aE/s400/IMG_1980.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422853957187747106" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">One of the many stops to check the stupid book...</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Lm4gcyCrmtsy1AhhdDzTQbuuNKlYV151bEHIm2NUcQcDWrGAMuDV9bRLNYjMQqMCUHWs8zfwQMNr5iyARQd3CwexyLToadn2NzPBm9nC1j_Q9R-94fqo5aQytfKH5n7BeyGJzZS-Gw8/s1600-h/IMG_4229.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Lm4gcyCrmtsy1AhhdDzTQbuuNKlYV151bEHIm2NUcQcDWrGAMuDV9bRLNYjMQqMCUHWs8zfwQMNr5iyARQd3CwexyLToadn2NzPBm9nC1j_Q9R-94fqo5aQytfKH5n7BeyGJzZS-Gw8/s400/IMG_4229.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422853958736548994" /></a><br /><br />At the top of the climb I noticed that one of my suspension linkage bolts was gone. Whoops. After some creative problem solving, it looked like I wouldn't have to walk down hill. Thank goodness for that. The descent was long and rocky and fun as hell. Big fork and big tires were hard on the climb but paid off in spades on the descent. The only drama was losing the best bit of singletrack due to poor instructions on our book's part.........<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQNFTkI9m6fdqdwLtWucMx2xrPQicXBdCR2KPWMGAVH-sbKsi3DTgftw7nzu5OD0vPBT_fxIZjrd_S5SI6OmfyKAw53F1nwzf2jk-343q7lmaMhhH38EXpYc64iU8jO4gbK-ztE6DSHWo/s1600-h/IMG_4236.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 270px; height: 360px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQNFTkI9m6fdqdwLtWucMx2xrPQicXBdCR2KPWMGAVH-sbKsi3DTgftw7nzu5OD0vPBT_fxIZjrd_S5SI6OmfyKAw53F1nwzf2jk-343q7lmaMhhH38EXpYc64iU8jO4gbK-ztE6DSHWo/s400/IMG_4236.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422853952227947970" /></a><br /><br />...it made Peter so angry that he had to make this face<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgRs9Y6UTN2dZfplE7LTFCoVRwZd7VDzURJ_NWlzw1LPbxqBPfzSRzuBTgD2N_NwHQw-Nw9YSazKOVotkeQhBx4XLZcys2d3b3pr6K6Ry-mhKRu_9ryS-zSXJvncZAYcL9om45AIuMfZ4/s1600-h/IMG_1987.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgRs9Y6UTN2dZfplE7LTFCoVRwZd7VDzURJ_NWlzw1LPbxqBPfzSRzuBTgD2N_NwHQw-Nw9YSazKOVotkeQhBx4XLZcys2d3b3pr6K6Ry-mhKRu_9ryS-zSXJvncZAYcL9om45AIuMfZ4/s400/IMG_1987.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422853948353653938" /></a><br /><br />More to come!David Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07862529427994411919noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521209969434131239.post-7046989340677047012010-01-03T18:54:00.002+01:002010-01-03T19:02:59.922+01:00¡España!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfrQKCy4ZDsctn6KT_azdNidTaevO3bubcSSrOgwefCdliSIqx4xTRFnPMtahBpj4fIPTAMhT-MAfEBeWwyXQBLNqA24uvPboYY5X0_uk929HUX9_9sNoT0iaEVnFy6n1eRrrSqAdEhbg/s1600-h/IMG_1897.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfrQKCy4ZDsctn6KT_azdNidTaevO3bubcSSrOgwefCdliSIqx4xTRFnPMtahBpj4fIPTAMhT-MAfEBeWwyXQBLNqA24uvPboYY5X0_uk929HUX9_9sNoT0iaEVnFy6n1eRrrSqAdEhbg/s400/IMG_1897.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422574367339611634" /></a><br />With nothing but snow and gloom on the belgian forecast, and only similar on the uk forecast, I abandoned the plans to visit the sis in London and drove south to the sun. Tachelet came on board and we headed to the promised land - Andalucia.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz0JNOwZl_fkBStOErAE0ZiPAamItOPztbqgxdndBbxorXmlNcy9YH0s4opvj1c7t8hjCwJ2FzvguLXQiCObNBFMIW3YmsqJka-X643pepeweqf9cSSgtrsp2hTYD0wFRlbwibLRMzqVs/s1600-h/IMG_0524.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz0JNOwZl_fkBStOErAE0ZiPAamItOPztbqgxdndBbxorXmlNcy9YH0s4opvj1c7t8hjCwJ2FzvguLXQiCObNBFMIW3YmsqJka-X643pepeweqf9cSSgtrsp2hTYD0wFRlbwibLRMzqVs/s400/IMG_0524.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422574365766507378" /></a><br />It was a bit of a haul to get down there - about 20 hours of driving - but worth it. Short sleeve weather when we arrived, and the place we were staying, www.elchorro.es, was stunning.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0aemFgkaZ-inj8__KM53x2I1NMATqM3xC_wTpkJgC1jTssZvV1xiaNs-uKgj6LD6QuTQGOi4UTnmI_CLW5sx8tqTzmvAWkhzEiMnVfszkhN4_XAgtky1dW4zR3tjFOfnhCOziFRCYGpU/s1600-h/IMG_4265.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0aemFgkaZ-inj8__KM53x2I1NMATqM3xC_wTpkJgC1jTssZvV1xiaNs-uKgj6LD6QuTQGOi4UTnmI_CLW5sx8tqTzmvAWkhzEiMnVfszkhN4_XAgtky1dW4zR3tjFOfnhCOziFRCYGpU/s400/IMG_4265.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422574355528727474" /></a><br /><br />El Chorro is a tiny town famous for its rock climbing. The hills promised countless kilometers of technical singletrack above. It was destined to be a fine trip.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOR1g8DGjEdET6rQYPu_B7mySuIfXjsUx5Jxjb2HQwB1bylf0NbbNuDP0ZrMPvFLSyAK8F93kTwYCCQdLkFo65jCbHiU0r_2qMb6S_ywgvn7vVe58vOxcG035Un46FYPYP3ZBgCZgy0-k/s1600-h/IMG_1961.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOR1g8DGjEdET6rQYPu_B7mySuIfXjsUx5Jxjb2HQwB1bylf0NbbNuDP0ZrMPvFLSyAK8F93kTwYCCQdLkFo65jCbHiU0r_2qMb6S_ywgvn7vVe58vOxcG035Un46FYPYP3ZBgCZgy0-k/s400/IMG_1961.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422574350139410466" /></a><br /><br />The view from the hotel. More mtb stories to come soon.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUb5HfYjEjNNEdFdOmbYlvx79i3u_ATiHP0abKtoSWcia6ZXT9-Z4UeHvCmzY1sIasVlec1QGfFyzhiukY4rJ0C1ftvW8htmOU1Sj-fdr3x-0_XGk50PtpPBbogMbUEPGQUkDW72nQM_U/s1600-h/IMG_1962.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUb5HfYjEjNNEdFdOmbYlvx79i3u_ATiHP0abKtoSWcia6ZXT9-Z4UeHvCmzY1sIasVlec1QGfFyzhiukY4rJ0C1ftvW8htmOU1Sj-fdr3x-0_XGk50PtpPBbogMbUEPGQUkDW72nQM_U/s400/IMG_1962.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422574351944257746" /></a>David Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07862529427994411919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521209969434131239.post-22052965549916576592009-12-24T12:40:00.004+01:002009-12-24T13:03:59.038+01:00Another cold Belgian rideAside from a short trip to Asia (where I rocked the road bike), it has been more of the same here in BE. Cold. Muddy. Whatever.<br /><br />Went with the boys to Zutendall, just nestled on the border next to Maastricht. The ride had a lot of potential - all wooded areas, fairly decent elevation gain/loss. But aside from about 100meters of fun trails, it was a slog.<br /><br />Still, you can have fun on boring trails when riding with good company. And so it was.<br />And plenty of heckling to be done. <br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">The group before heading into the abyss...</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFWiHYoTvbYdxihQea2_-eGoe8D1ej_m9X8l_5Ua5qdq5tYW3UTJ-NPVYZznYTHb2VQlGeXZiQVuuZcG02ovzZc6sTvUEMXKpoWTe3WRL09xrY_03uULJ5HMVsFkD40he0sWUhVwBGxD8/s1600-h/IMG_4204.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFWiHYoTvbYdxihQea2_-eGoe8D1ej_m9X8l_5Ua5qdq5tYW3UTJ-NPVYZznYTHb2VQlGeXZiQVuuZcG02ovzZc6sTvUEMXKpoWTe3WRL09xrY_03uULJ5HMVsFkD40he0sWUhVwBGxD8/s400/IMG_4204.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418770979428281090" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Alex once again sets the pace</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqY6S2srHFGMbsLmJx3iBvXzfxjBjU9imEcvv9r3qKxz8RFayJB6iZtZivUd1zVaM_6vVzGcIIZxzl_FizNtteXJZbEgJga1GAfCvYQvTA4sNz1DL2k9F1LIZPykbymDUbFgcMJx2TM44/s1600-h/IMG_4205.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqY6S2srHFGMbsLmJx3iBvXzfxjBjU9imEcvv9r3qKxz8RFayJB6iZtZivUd1zVaM_6vVzGcIIZxzl_FizNtteXJZbEgJga1GAfCvYQvTA4sNz1DL2k9F1LIZPykbymDUbFgcMJx2TM44/s400/IMG_4205.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418770971565775586" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">The Douce was back! Out of retirement and putting the hurt on in the early miles</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfA_I6lujzIKUiihYeBNpv1BbhPNXOv7Sl7U6QVRn-isoznJXMIbmOXfzEd3c8B0UOtJnVGyyXwmYwWcr5NTe_d3N6MKYQCntr1uZMqGu4rbdCikTRPk2c2DCEXM5jDNukSAkIZR5c55o/s1600-h/IMG_4206.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfA_I6lujzIKUiihYeBNpv1BbhPNXOv7Sl7U6QVRn-isoznJXMIbmOXfzEd3c8B0UOtJnVGyyXwmYwWcr5NTe_d3N6MKYQCntr1uZMqGu4rbdCikTRPk2c2DCEXM5jDNukSAkIZR5c55o/s400/IMG_4206.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418770971691853986" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Alex enjoys a good waffle</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxx_eATGvwsmJZhUGpDHKjKp23bqzx2ot5w1x73uvLm7IRVHurgDL8sbPN9n-iqRW-H3-WFmZ7PBmPIvGpy6Jf1w5bEXxjWmMNeOE9ym31FjnqLRc47kAbGlautD56IRtHJRsy4r8MSlE/s1600-h/IMG_4210.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxx_eATGvwsmJZhUGpDHKjKp23bqzx2ot5w1x73uvLm7IRVHurgDL8sbPN9n-iqRW-H3-WFmZ7PBmPIvGpy6Jf1w5bEXxjWmMNeOE9ym31FjnqLRc47kAbGlautD56IRtHJRsy4r8MSlE/s400/IMG_4210.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418770968839322338" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Ah, the euro mullet...always a classic</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-zKeUNjqx49kSTB3LMgPTqh3i6O6qkvI81YasYf2_1HJoFodjHJQdIyno0W7y6NVzZYYVUaI59Mb_kA_fXyslaxdahh5nU3WaXs803UY2eEW0RVjJZravKbxLygSxXvAmbSD0o3rC-lU/s1600-h/IMG_4209.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-zKeUNjqx49kSTB3LMgPTqh3i6O6qkvI81YasYf2_1HJoFodjHJQdIyno0W7y6NVzZYYVUaI59Mb_kA_fXyslaxdahh5nU3WaXs803UY2eEW0RVjJZravKbxLygSxXvAmbSD0o3rC-lU/s400/IMG_4209.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418770396251650178" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Yes, that seafoam green object on your head does look good</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtEh-wsjFauoGQdh9FEXBUFgDOtfCH_wQqBW-_ElSAN1UP3vlbe_Shojtdt-bqKGaDxL1TUkeZJQ2Tg6OPKLkP8FRFzJYn7TSLPpmGVzH6Yr46FhnjG_CAS101oyH8PeLqGdnQ6iDLmYg/s1600-h/IMG_4211.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtEh-wsjFauoGQdh9FEXBUFgDOtfCH_wQqBW-_ElSAN1UP3vlbe_Shojtdt-bqKGaDxL1TUkeZJQ2Tg6OPKLkP8FRFzJYn7TSLPpmGVzH6Yr46FhnjG_CAS101oyH8PeLqGdnQ6iDLmYg/s400/IMG_4211.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418770395009016834" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Yes, short white socks tucked over your tights does look snazzy</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHFh_FYS2EEFjuLIDg0ReNe6slyfGYVsWMDfE5kMltu8ZCDLxkfl1frIZ9T-jPN43thYDChv1CtrpglS9SjQHoaFdti-FrX2YN9gfgcDc1jJFVFE9R03PXg5-X7t9CL9LC2yR6DjPSWRE/s1600-h/IMG_4212.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHFh_FYS2EEFjuLIDg0ReNe6slyfGYVsWMDfE5kMltu8ZCDLxkfl1frIZ9T-jPN43thYDChv1CtrpglS9SjQHoaFdti-FrX2YN9gfgcDc1jJFVFE9R03PXg5-X7t9CL9LC2yR6DjPSWRE/s400/IMG_4212.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418770388232256722" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Who needs a camelbak when you can run a fanny pack?</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7XwvoKSblTgs3Z27jIiRwHshoR6Shl7ykjZEP1jhE5CqKY9Nv6RoGN8q7rfrpivnAFPdp44P0C5z8sB9IWGxsXHUxqVcXxx2gpX0qHbEIyqR6tEeOfsMs19qTlkaj47TpU7eHQDP3vpY/s1600-h/IMG_4214.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7XwvoKSblTgs3Z27jIiRwHshoR6Shl7ykjZEP1jhE5CqKY9Nv6RoGN8q7rfrpivnAFPdp44P0C5z8sB9IWGxsXHUxqVcXxx2gpX0qHbEIyqR6tEeOfsMs19qTlkaj47TpU7eHQDP3vpY/s400/IMG_4214.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418770386196620786" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Now while you may laugh at this old bike, it is still pretty cool that someone is rocking trails on it.</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Anh6wKfxsQrAjF-JcTpIDbGQHs8IoGA2YjbIbjojQoLYcmPmFIVm_OdczBPuvKbiddMlaNCd5cGWUqhTPlWCOfVZDkVXORDYkVeiBHisP92YGsy3QspcrCfco8CrIFG89YSqe7yLZXo/s1600-h/IMG_4215.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Anh6wKfxsQrAjF-JcTpIDbGQHs8IoGA2YjbIbjojQoLYcmPmFIVm_OdczBPuvKbiddMlaNCd5cGWUqhTPlWCOfVZDkVXORDYkVeiBHisP92YGsy3QspcrCfco8CrIFG89YSqe7yLZXo/s400/IMG_4215.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418770378688404642" /></a>David Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07862529427994411919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521209969434131239.post-56780261911073785952009-12-13T20:11:00.003+01:002009-12-13T20:22:37.942+01:00ScherpenheuvelHope I spelled that right.<br />Yep, Alex, Yannick, and myself headed to the environs of Diest to take part in what should have been a decent ride - plenty of hills and wooded areas. Alas, while there were some fun sections, the highlight was really watching Yannick inexplicably cutting the course in the wrong direction.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">How many belgians does it take to load a jagermeister machine?</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqmJf3hsVGu6EKwvbmTXtDRc8PXMIhVBZj6Vog__Zp1MDK_NXAVw5DPxIX3XNYAwR1uruz_sP-IiA4juEDfJTqwuDJsmPWbUuIgHOm0XL8xFGNbSHw_okK-svmzKX7xeGXMhWHbOX0rqs/s1600-h/IMG_4190.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqmJf3hsVGu6EKwvbmTXtDRc8PXMIhVBZj6Vog__Zp1MDK_NXAVw5DPxIX3XNYAwR1uruz_sP-IiA4juEDfJTqwuDJsmPWbUuIgHOm0XL8xFGNbSHw_okK-svmzKX7xeGXMhWHbOX0rqs/s400/IMG_4190.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414803131190981234" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Alex was waiting for us most of the day...</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTU5fh82Cl_aK52GZGWpFIxZjDHHwn0u20ViwFGUz00fjzumrrN3DcBgiSRaXC-ndje83nW0ob_trFe7BPoybH-oKG48Jwy3QMkcd79Jb_fmyV4Z8pIA7uJXf0u3Mji0Xjh9Hn-MJZi7g/s1600-h/IMG_4194.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTU5fh82Cl_aK52GZGWpFIxZjDHHwn0u20ViwFGUz00fjzumrrN3DcBgiSRaXC-ndje83nW0ob_trFe7BPoybH-oKG48Jwy3QMkcd79Jb_fmyV4Z8pIA7uJXf0u3Mji0Xjh9Hn-MJZi7g/s400/IMG_4194.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414802128948311218" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Yannick was excited...not sure why...</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq_f7U6UHaK9pqoyNEXxPBMHtdSD4RyEFbWisWJiFqDjZbIQQ-RKc8k_747iMJGCB4Oo4pUrHixn75h2rTgoa8HptMBZAIbagriFFcryS_vpH0UoZb1Zbc61HXg_5CNLkIj_-L-dDYUXc/s1600-h/IMG_4195.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq_f7U6UHaK9pqoyNEXxPBMHtdSD4RyEFbWisWJiFqDjZbIQQ-RKc8k_747iMJGCB4Oo4pUrHixn75h2rTgoa8HptMBZAIbagriFFcryS_vpH0UoZb1Zbc61HXg_5CNLkIj_-L-dDYUXc/s400/IMG_4195.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414802120550953186" /></a><br /><br />Suuuuuuuper windy, and it seemed like half the ride was this insanely muddy, extremely flat road along a river. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGy7x-P6Q39TLXUOA2DmC742ZZ6ablPJsOr0uRcdreuwsd4Mz4oedgSktQoBvCTehA6CA64niApqE-c-S1bu3m7VqzUfyycCfD05VYgoiW2zyUFfV4g39VMwrWONzqu8iXSw4NBAS6yGA/s1600-h/IMG_4198.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGy7x-P6Q39TLXUOA2DmC742ZZ6ablPJsOr0uRcdreuwsd4Mz4oedgSktQoBvCTehA6CA64niApqE-c-S1bu3m7VqzUfyycCfD05VYgoiW2zyUFfV4g39VMwrWONzqu8iXSw4NBAS6yGA/s400/IMG_4198.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414802116603442034" /></a><br /><br />So, disappointed, but got to get out and play in the mud, so I guess it was ok. <br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">This bike suddenly appeared out of a time warp</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDv7BDf1f8B4Dv0FOMQ2z0BQ0E70IgK-3bBddOD3t2F41NqgXlyqhEugHrj0-PRwymxpSb4MQH2c7oHCVYs1_Z1KoI3j3X338O5ZFFYorHcKcN4CHdTyKjJL71o3hK65vmDed65ic9PFQ/s1600-h/IMG_4199.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDv7BDf1f8B4Dv0FOMQ2z0BQ0E70IgK-3bBddOD3t2F41NqgXlyqhEugHrj0-PRwymxpSb4MQH2c7oHCVYs1_Z1KoI3j3X338O5ZFFYorHcKcN4CHdTyKjJL71o3hK65vmDed65ic9PFQ/s400/IMG_4199.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414802114108489010" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Kickstands are extremely underrated - they can be useful anywhere, any time!</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifTJLkxtQyHuKfkGFtAmYNYB_see87XculhAE7eelgvvpfH_zHVjjcqNIoMY2hTPcNUjhpvLcw3Z5IE741o9TdaF38KbCE28BBNY8ccDnWg4FtKwjBIrCf6rUVvH56kJHzf_S5TQXD-vA/s1600-h/IMG_4202.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifTJLkxtQyHuKfkGFtAmYNYB_see87XculhAE7eelgvvpfH_zHVjjcqNIoMY2hTPcNUjhpvLcw3Z5IE741o9TdaF38KbCE28BBNY8ccDnWg4FtKwjBIrCf6rUVvH56kJHzf_S5TQXD-vA/s400/IMG_4202.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414802109761105090" /></a>David Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07862529427994411919noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7521209969434131239.post-21173203331608099562009-11-30T15:43:00.004+01:002009-11-30T16:04:13.518+01:00LANGDORPFor those who have spent any time riding in Flanders, the name Langdorp is usually associated with some of the best mountain biking north of Wallonie. So that means, when it's toertocht time, there are going to be WAY TOO MANY riders on the trails. Such was the case recently when Peter T and I met up in Aarschot for the Langdorp Toertocht.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Peter looking sharp in his new embrocation kit</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Rwxt_NbL0smKcg0-cpC-lZNdpQ4w1O_MAIzBrol5rFK_MI41qyIQAMmwXbwQIuEaFPJQ1iu9VzpE3DYam_yiqEvF_kEhjzbUGlTztrPMop22Rktqgimozkgk3dLey7sduphzRisMYWM/s1600/IMG_4178.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Rwxt_NbL0smKcg0-cpC-lZNdpQ4w1O_MAIzBrol5rFK_MI41qyIQAMmwXbwQIuEaFPJQ1iu9VzpE3DYam_yiqEvF_kEhjzbUGlTztrPMop22Rktqgimozkgk3dLey7sduphzRisMYWM/s400/IMG_4178.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409908726538211282" /></a><br /><br />Its reputation is pretty well deserved; there are plenty of fun pieces of singletrack. And if you didn't know the area, and didn't do an organized ride like this, you'd have a hell of a time figuring out a loop. So we paid our 3.5 euros and clipped in. I was on the singlespeed, fat and out of shape. Peter was on his fancy new niner race bike, pretty much in shape. So there was a disparity there.<br /><br />But, there were a lot of people. And flemish mountain bikers, especially those who ride in the winter, don't go downhill very well, or very fast. So we weren't able to give'r like we would have normally...give'ner<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr8zY7lW9uLJoaf1F0Eb4XTFduJIaCb4KyYYEcA9jFMBkZx5z43Ef-_SZBaTMTMTurZMBGxqoLJ8nuLuzTaJNT9TnO-3LJgye6MBw_loKduLbAa2Z7NyJji71Bku98ENJrP9ZCVG8se_U/s1600/IMG_4179.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr8zY7lW9uLJoaf1F0Eb4XTFduJIaCb4KyYYEcA9jFMBkZx5z43Ef-_SZBaTMTMTurZMBGxqoLJ8nuLuzTaJNT9TnO-3LJgye6MBw_loKduLbAa2Z7NyJji71Bku98ENJrP9ZCVG8se_U/s400/IMG_4179.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409908723833399106" /></a><br /><br />I've done quite a few tochts now but I'm still constantly amused by what passes for a mountain bike here in Flanders. The Magura HS-33 brake still rules supreme. But whatever. As long as it has two wheels. I've certainly made a fool of myself on the north shore on more than one occasion.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpdImsRcGurMURLFN1GJ8PqvpvocMpilmYG8x-5YzlBCR1LU_nrdRUlzr24mUGGCDy1e8wAGont6QkKs5IRDaewIufb79v3lLn8-YUHhFZ5gs4pbRlG5fAibF30dLJCktOHg9z4ObC-v4/s1600/IMG_4180.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpdImsRcGurMURLFN1GJ8PqvpvocMpilmYG8x-5YzlBCR1LU_nrdRUlzr24mUGGCDy1e8wAGont6QkKs5IRDaewIufb79v3lLn8-YUHhFZ5gs4pbRlG5fAibF30dLJCktOHg9z4ObC-v4/s400/IMG_4180.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409908720963122034" /></a><br /><br />One highlight was my first crash in months. It's almost impossible to crash in northern Belgium. But I was doing something stupid on a steep-ish descent that was all soft sand. Felt good to hit the ground. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikppiD6T6zUVGgu6yDS5Ro0eWjYD-w1oL9G0T6HtH0m_EHLbigjoV3_ebSHOx8b8kcslxaRCP83qxN38YFM2qnl62V3EU-pCNR4m-jZ-JErmuCsknaJ3Acju2xuhTKycjDDBWmlpIVh4A/s1600/IMG_4182.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikppiD6T6zUVGgu6yDS5Ro0eWjYD-w1oL9G0T6HtH0m_EHLbigjoV3_ebSHOx8b8kcslxaRCP83qxN38YFM2qnl62V3EU-pCNR4m-jZ-JErmuCsknaJ3Acju2xuhTKycjDDBWmlpIVh4A/s400/IMG_4182.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409908714119965170" /></a><br /><br />Yeah, another good ride. I think we did 40k, and were pretty spent by the end. Fun trails, albeit totally overcrowded. It could be an argument for coming earlier next time? Or just learning the loops on one's own.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">A hot room full of sweaty bodies</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLyNob_CgzkDKaEgaPxa5cdJrYEe9iejMoedLle0bt-2lfdDc_52S3jfj6kYE0259Xays_rfKgIyYy5Rn6xHhnWZQpXRYPzB6NLNA10e134D2-qq2UxdP7fxr1dWMOeUxVNRe5hSs5f0o/s1600/IMG_4183.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLyNob_CgzkDKaEgaPxa5cdJrYEe9iejMoedLle0bt-2lfdDc_52S3jfj6kYE0259Xays_rfKgIyYy5Rn6xHhnWZQpXRYPzB6NLNA10e134D2-qq2UxdP7fxr1dWMOeUxVNRe5hSs5f0o/s400/IMG_4183.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409908708648550130" /></a>David Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07862529427994411919noreply@blogger.com0