Rain, overcast skies and a message, “my bike has been stolen”, and so the 14th Alpentour Trophy battle launches into another year. In 2010 I worked at the Crocodile Trophy as support for the Belgian Kipeo Team. Cleaning bikes and washing knicks, it was not as glamorous as one senses supporting a mountain bike team […]
Beskidy MTB Trophy 2012
4 day stage race in the Beskidy Mountains of Poland on the border with Czech and Slovakia. www.mtbtrophy.com Not often that one hopes for a mechanical to get out of a race but that is what I was hoping for 30 minutes into stage one of Beskidy MTB Trophy 2012. Riders were passing me in […]
Beskidy Trophy: Still punishing, yet motivating
After a wearing Rally di Romagna I hoped for milder weather, and most of all couldn’t wait to be back in Istebna after a 2 year hiatus. Also, these times my respect towards Beskidy diminished slightly after Romagnas enduro-like craziness. I took to the first stage fiercely, in a way I was astounded how well […]
Matt Duggan’s blog: I don’t believe it…
I’m not quite sure why but things are rarely straightforward for me. The Bristol Bikefest 2012 was no exception. At first I was riding in a team of 4, entry hadn’t been sorted, so then I wasn’t. After many emails pleading with race organiser I finally had confirmation of my 12 hour Solo Singlespeed entry, […]
Justin Morris’ Blog: From Russia with a Message
G’day Mates, Thank y’all for reading this latest blurb from the US of A. Since I last penned a blog many miles in planes, trains, vans, cars, buses and pushies (bicycles) have been covered. The month of May began as a spectator at my first ‘Major League’ Baseball game, with some Aussie and Seppo mates. […]
Rock Volley
If I had to pick one event on the calendar that has all the ingredients of the best clost-to-home race around, the Rock Wallaby would be it. It’s a techy, mountain biker’s course, it’s longer than an XC race but not as long as a marathon, I can sleep in my own bed the night […]
Sight for Sore Eyes
“Where do you want me to start?” Eye specialist, Dr Ross Fitzsimons, looked over a list of vision difficulties that filled up half a page. If you’re Google searching your own eye specialties words like myopia, astigmatism, strabismus (squint), severe dry eyes and “is Lasik surgery really good idea if I don’t understand why neither my […]
Research Pathways and the Humble PDF
There’s joke among fellow researchers that mocks the interest others have in their PhD thesis – a sustained piece of writing and investigation that cements a pathway into the academic world. When submitting a hardbound copy to the university library, authors are advised to slip a $50 note into the pages of their work. If, […]
Mood Therapy
Yesterday I rode when maybe I shouldn’t have. I was in a filthy mood and had the first symptoms of a cold. While the warning signs of a virus did nothing for my mental state they flashed a warning beacon somewhere in the back of my mind: “If you don’t ride today, you may not […]
Nic Lamond’s JoBerg2C: Busting a gut with a busted gut
After a night of sleeping in the sprint position so I could wake up every hour and run to the portaloos, I started today feeling understandably anxious. The prospect of 122km with the squirts wasn’t filling me with my usual enthusiasm for a day on the bike. Although, let it be said that if there […]