Wishing I Wasn't Here

In the Snow

2010-06-28T05:29:00.005Z

Heading to Proposal Point On Blackcomb Mountain.
(No i didnt)

Pictures for today

2010-06-14T16:23:00.000Z

Northshore Pier - Damn Big Chain

Northshore Pier

Photo of the Day

2010-06-13T17:19:00.000Z

Westwards from Ambleside Beach, B.C.

Look what i found

2010-05-19T20:47:00.005Z

Horsely Castle
Horston; Horeston; Horsford Horsley; Harestan; Harstan; Hareston vel Horsley
More Info here and here

Lynn Adds some prospective

Car Trouble

Looks like I might be going back here ;)

Camera Crane Test 2010

2010-05-16T17:29:00.003Z

Whistler Omen 2009

2010-05-06T08:12:00.004Z

phatboyian films presents...

On the Wall...

2009-11-24T20:21:00.002Z

Finally got some of my favorite photos of stuff we have done on the wall!!

Photo by Hamish McMurry
Heli-drop 2008 Rainbow Mountain Whistler BC

Photo by Gary Cartwright
Rider - Me

So i went Splat...

2009-08-26T18:30:00.002Z

So heres how not to ride...

I think thats killed the riding off for me but at least am not dead ;)

Bike Park

2009-08-25T16:44:00.008Z

Couple of pics...

3 Wolf Moon Poster?

2009-08-10T23:02:00.004Z

Click to Zoom on em!

Whistler 2008 A Line

2009-07-26T15:01:00.003Z

Last year was Amazing, we got some good footage hoping this year will be as good. Check out the Video...

Jumps Destroyed

2009-05-25T15:26:00.008Z

Its turned out to be true somebody has destroyed the jumps in the woods, all the hard work the guys put in building them is wasted. So what if its private land? The fucking dog walkers and horse riders are always in there so why not us!!

Its bureaucracy gone mad...

Formerly the dirt jumps, use to look like video below!

Still wishing I wasnt here

2009-05-22T07:00:00.007Z

Word on the street is that the trails and dirt jumps in the local woods between Morley and Little Eaton in Derby have all been flattened, this sucks.

I really am hating living here, why I can't do my hobby at home? I have to go to Scotland or Wales to enjoy trails like this.

I will check it out later for myself and get some pictures posted...

No More??

MTB UK Sessions 2008 Part 1

2008-10-15T21:46:00.003Z

More UK MTB footage...
Music: Beastie Boys - Mullet Head

MTB UK Sessions 2008 Part 2 Drumhill

2008-10-15T21:27:00.003Z

More 2008 Video...
Music: Orbital - Quality Seconds

Upper Freight Train Video

2008-09-22T23:21:00.005Z

Finished the first proper effort at a video this year,

Trail: Upper Freight Train
Whistler Bike Park, BC

Whistler Day 4 - Heli-Drop

2008-08-05T15:55:00.001Z

Words arn't really required here the pictures should say it all...

No Photoshop Required

From Cold water to Hot!

Whistler Day 3

2008-08-04T15:46:00.000Z

Had another day in the Park no filming or pictures to speak of, we just rode...

... but it didn't stop the angry vein from showing its self?

Whistler Day 2 - Much Better

2008-08-03T15:10:00.004Z

Lightweight on the lift

Think I managed a smile today as we managed to get into the park and had a really good day, Scott for T2R took us round the park and he did a good job.

Checking out the Bears

Pity that later the food was not for me when we got back, there are to many people at the Ticket 2 Ride digs to get round the table to eat. So I went without.

Took myself for a walk round the town was ok and took my mind off not eating. Had a couple of beers when i got back on my own, as everybody else had gone to bed. It was 21:50hrs??

Whistler Day 1 - Wasted Day

2008-08-02T08:00:00.000Z

After the longest journey ever which included an 8hr diversion by road (landside on sea to sky highway) we got to whistler late last night. Today i really wanted to have a play on my bike in the park, but we decided to go on T2R intro ride on the bike i don't want to pedal. We built up our bikes then went for food, i was my usual Grumpy self as i felt like we were wasting time. When we finially got out there on some of 'Cut Your Bars' it was ok and we took some footage and photos but i feel felt like we had done nothing and have wasted the first day...

Oh and I found out that i have left my bank card at home, am such a twat, can anybody loan me a $5?

Cwncarn DH Old Course

2008-07-24T20:40:00.002Z

We were doing the uplift at Cwmcarn over two days and decided to Hike-a-bike up to the top of the old Downhill course. We're a bit slow as we only did it once, thats my excuse... but it was really sweet they should do more to it and get and up lift going there to maybe?

Seasons

2008-06-09T09:01:00.005Z

The Collective Film in my opinion capture on film the essence of riding, the huge sick tricks that are pulled on other films are amazing but The Collective go beyond just that. The new film gives you a sort of behind the scenes look at what these guys go though to be at the top of there game, and that it don't always go there way.... I Don't Call it training, its playing in the woods

I was fortunate enough to see this at the cinema on Sunday preceded by The Collectives previous film, Roam. I was not disappointed. Whislter is where i'll be holidaying this summer and if there trials live up to the look in Seasons I might even break into a smile.

My words won't really do it any more justice, just watch it you'll see what I mean...

QT trailer

2008 Story So Far

2008-06-01T19:37:00.002Z

Got some good footage so far just need to refine mine and Pete's new seatpost camera mount....

Note that this is just bodged together as I still don't have a dedicated PC for editing up and running yet....

Avaston BMX

2007-10-17T19:48:00.000Z

Finally done a double at the track where I broke my shoulder!

Biggest Mistake of my Life?

2007-10-01T07:37:00.000Z

So I Got the opportunity to go see Gwen Stefani film a song for the Ant and Dec show on Saturday (29/09), my name was down on the door but have no guarantee to get in? Now the dilemma, do I spend a truck load of cash getting to London in the hope of seeing the dream girl or go to Dalby forest with the lads as planned keeping well clear of fantasy land? I listen to everone elses reason and I chose the later, still not sure that I did the right thing... Here's some photos of I did do rather than this.

...great...?

Gwen Stefani Sweet Escape Tour

2007-09-26T07:49:00.000Z

Went to Birmingham NIA to see Gwen Stefani's Sweet Escape Concert, it was good but I felt isolated as it was seated. My pictures are poor and for that I apologise. The formula was the same as the DVD and as with the video she seems genuinely nice and had invited all the staff from the zoo she visited earlier. She also, as ever, looked amazing...

Early Winter

Hollaback Girl

Time to go home :(

Today so Far

2007-08-10T18:04:00.000Z

Just found this, its ace. Gwen

And i recieved this today from the guys at work, Where I'll be for the next 6 months as have no holidays left :( B@stards!

A dirty job....

2007-08-09T17:25:00.000Z

For some reason I have to get my sister a gift because I'm on holiday? I never ask for anything other than her having a good time, No Doubt (Mmm, Gwen) it'll be something that'll just sit in her room unwanted. Anyway whilst downtown carrying out said rubbish job i found the Donair Hut, so how could i refuse eh? 1 Chicken Donair wrap coming up "hot sauce?" he asked "yeah", "One line or two", "Two", "Three?", "Yeah go on then". It was good, washed down with there home made lemonade 9/10! no picture tho (sorry Steve), it didn't last that long so directions will have to do!

We got out for final ride on the shore b4 leaving did CBC, and Team Pangor. Took the Video camera so if i get chance later I'll post some footage...

Random Picture for todayNoticed this guy whilst coming come down an escalator he so looks like my Dad from the back?!

Squamish

2007-08-08T15:20:00.000Z

Went to Squamish with Paul and did a trail that reminder me for of the trails at home in the UK. Was good fast and less techical trail, was a good day.

Paul doing his exporation thing, a detour the right way... Down!

Holy Kebab Batman...

2007-08-07T20:20:00.000Z

It took some doing but i finally managed to get a kebab in Vancouver, i appears in North Van at least that the places only open during the day. Its got to be said it was rather nice just not as large as the boys at 3 Chefs maybe that's why its hard to shed the weight eh?

Fixed up my bike again new bearings in the front wheel and lower shock bush replaced too! Feels OK again lets hope nothing else goes wrong!!

Critters

2007-08-06T14:57:00.000Z

All of us rode the bike park today and it was a first from some of us Ali wins the prize for the most swearing to the terrain.

There was plenty of wildlife around today also, first thing we saw was a bear just down the trial from us and try as i might i could get my camera out fast enough before it went into the woods, it look our way as Doug said "BEAR!" it was obviously thinkin "Oh there's Doug" but was embarrassed to come over with all of us stood round...

Ali done some serious swearing down Smooth Smoothie.These fellas didn't move a fast as the bear, think it was because they were playing golf thoThe view from the car on the way home, before the traffic got really bad.

Kamloops Bike Ranch

2007-08-05T23:15:00.000Z

Doug and I went to Kamloops and couldn't do the trial we had planned as it was on private land and the keep out (pronounced"Keep Oot") were all over the place ended up at the Bike Ranch. Was OK but it was red hot and it was really just a jump park and BMX, track. Doug was disappointed for sure so we headed back to Sun Peaks and filmed some footage for this years bike video, was funny...

We shot this at the Ranch with my Digital Camera so the res. is low...

Sun Peak's Bike Park

2007-08-04T15:37:00.000Z

Got out riding on the bike park was good, we did quite a lot of the runs. Missed out some of it as a few kids had interrupted some bears and they had reared up at them. So we gave the bottom section of Steam Shovel a miss, but sections of that run were my favorite, stream gap jumps and table tops, felt like i was going larger than normal, at least my forks were holding up!!The View Up towards Biker Cross course.

Mission to Sun Peaks

2007-08-03T16:08:00.000Z

Set off with Nicky, Paul and Sophie the dog for Sun Peak's was a five hour drive but think about it, its only like going to Scotland at home. Sun Peaks has more potential tho.Find a different type of burger along the way Triple-O's had the Cheddar Bacon Burger not bad at all 8/10! Like the "leave the pickle on the outside" for those freaks that don't like, weirdo's...Got to see the Blues Brothers in the gas station to think they were there to save the world or something or maybe just Hope?
Got to the place about 17:00hrs and was well impressed with the place we had got thanks to Nicky and Paul for sorting it. Was soon in the hot tub looking like a fat balding Ozzy, I seemed to have miss placed that photo tho

Its Thursday!

2007-08-02T01:58:00.000Z

Got out riding today on Mt Fromme, met a couple of guys from Steeds bike shop, tagged along with them took few photos was cool...

Working Bike?

2007-08-01T17:29:00.000Z

Got the bike back today at a massive cost $1135, (try to fix forks, jockey wheel then buying new ones) looks ok a bit heavy. Next is new wheel bearings, and shock bushes, great...

"Think were gonna need a bigger bike..."

2007-07-30T05:25:00.000Z

Doug and I spent the day in whistler was sweet up until I trashed my Fox 36 forks!! The rebound damping had gone AGAIN when I stopped to inspect the damage i realise that t have lost my upper jockey wheel too. So I ended up rolling to the bottom and as luck would have it there was a Fox Racing Team service tent down the hill under the lift. I Bounced my way down there only to find out they wouldn't help as the were doing some kind of testing. Fortunately I manged to Hire Kona Stinky Carbanzo, Hooray!

We spend the later part of the day avoiding the top part of the mountain as that was ruff as hell hence the damaged forks, and stuck mainly to A Line and Dirt Merchant it was quality and i really enjoyed the hire bike even tho i bottomed it out a few times anyway we videoed some stuff and I made this video...

Whilst we were in the lift queue Doug was talking to Matt Hunter he was asking him about his TCD (Tony's Chain Device), Pro Rider interest at last for Tony...

Also Saw a Bear with 2 Cubs on the trail from the lift, and ten minutes early Doug and Myself had been stood in the same spot, could have been really interesting...

And finally a T-Shirt to celebrate the event

Fishers!!

2007-07-29T05:17:00.000Z

Vancouver Aquarium well worth a look round, even if is just to watch Sea Otters swimming about...

Stupid Picture for today

"This, my friend, is a pint." "They come in pints?"

Crankworx at Whistler

2007-07-28T19:56:00.000Z

Got up Crankworx at Whistler this afternoon, was good experience but it went too long and the course was poor in places the riders seemed to struggle with the unfortunately named last jump the Gap-O-Tron? It was huge.Practice on Badlynamed-O-Jump

We first settled near the dirt jumps I was amazed by how stupid Joe Public are "Er maybe you don't wanna sit there cos people are trying to ride those jumps?". The amount of near misses was amazing I saw one guys climbing up (damaging) a jump as one guy was flying towards it, he cr@pped his pants! Her "Oh, what the hell was that",
Him "i not sure darling maybe a bird, looks like is gonna land on the kids"

The riders were also badly scored we BOOed the judges more than once, was entertaining but it could have been so much better. At least people got heckled at by the Downhill guys.

Nathan Rennie and others taking the Pi$$.

Cinema Failure

2007-07-27T18:36:00.000Z

Was rather looking forward to watching the Simpson's Movie today, so I got my ass down to Cineplex Odeon Park & Tilford what a disaster area! First if just stopped for 15 minutes, it played for a little longer then picture stopped then the cell just melted, for a few seconds I thought it was part of the movie but no it was another F@ck up by the cinema, they tried to tell me as I'd seen more than 1/2hr and I couldn't get my cash back and I'd be given a pass. They clearly hadn't tangled with the adamant Englishman before, after I left with my cash I thought about summing up what I saw. Its racer than the TV show, Naked Bart was unexpectedly shocking and hilarious The Trev will be glad that Green Day get killed off in the opening sequence! I got to see my favorite bit from the Trailer too.

"Spiderpig, Spiderpig, does whatever a spiderpig does,
Does he swing from a web, no he doesn't cause he's a pig,
Watch out hes the spiderpig..."

Oh and Also have a play with the Simpsonizer the results are quite good, ok I tweaked the beard and face metal but still...
Sat on the roof and fixed my biking gear and in the sun took in the view below, not much I here you say well if look above the drying sheets you can see downtown, and above that the mountains in the USA quality.

Red Robin Day

2007-07-25T16:33:00.000Z

Spent all most of the Day Slogging it up Mt Fromme Did Seventh Secret a couple of other runs, to the bottom and then rode right back up to Expresso. Did some skinny stuff on there and surprised myself by not falling off.

Despair- I'd only ridden half way to Mt Fromme on the Road, then you still have to go up it!

Mt Fromme Expresso - Some of the easy Shore riding

Headed back to meet doug and count the seabus to downtown to meet Karen for Dinner went to Red Robins, yes I know another burger but what a burger easily best so far 9/10 9.5 if the meat was a little warmer!

Trying to have a conversation with Karen around the starter was a bit of a problem.

Beer & Burger and it looks like the picture on the Burgerizer!

Doug giving his Bleu Ribbon Burger the thumbs up!

View from the Seabus - Northshore at night.

View from Doug and Karens roof deck of the First Night of the Celebration Of Light.
We were about 2 miles away so it musta been Big!

Do Nothing Day

2007-07-24T17:25:00.000Z

Didn't take a single photo today, when Doug Got home we went up Mt Fromme and blasted down Pipeline and another (?). Was good.

Here's first attempt at night skyline photo from the roof from last night, should of waited till it was darker maybe?

Raven and the First Men

2007-07-23T18:36:00.000Z

Today set off on the bus to West Vancouver to the Museum of Anthropology at UBC, there are many examples of totems and house beams done in a native style. I got there just in time to catch most of the tour which was more informative than just reading the cases.

The Raven and the First Men by Bill Reid

One of the masks in the Visable Storage Area looks like something from LOTR.Giant roof support beam for a lodge, forground the chiefs seat the slaves are based on Andy and Roland.The hunger pangs had kicked in a while ago so it was time for another burger Veras this time and it might look like road kill but the Baja Burger tasted great. 7.5/10 Mmm chillis...

Canadian Bacon?

2007-07-22T03:44:00.000Z

The plan was to go up to Whistler today but the weather was bad, so we went around nearly every bike shop on the Northshore. The first plan but into action was breakfast we ended up at the Eighties Restaurant. They can do any kind of eggs you would like but Bacon, Back Bacon, the stuff I love at home they just don't do properly, although its a slightly better attempt than the option in France, Lardons?

We headed over to Deep Cove for Ice Cream, the weather wasn't to good but it still looks nice.

Border Run to Galbraith

2007-07-21T00:00:00.000Z

We got up early to get across the border into the USA it was still a wait of 90 minutes which was rather dull. We eventually get to Galbraith and the weather was much better we're being lead by Sheldon (and wife Nancy) one of the NSRIDE guys he was a good laugh and he really knew his way round that place. There was quite a lot of up , some fast downs and a few stunts, I found it enjoyable.
We got food in the gas station on the way home, in the UK that would a sweaty sandwich, not so here. An 8" Chicken Hot Sub with all the Jalapenos and pickles you can shake a stick all for $5, bargain!
Few beers later in the Rusty Gull and it was all over, we were all knackered...

Doug, Karen, and Nikki

Karen, Nikki, Sheldon and Paul

Me, sporting my new shorts before I ripped em.

Doug with his Banana aka Doug with his illegally smuggled fruit.

More than meets the eye...

2007-07-20T18:14:00.000Z

After riding the last few days and the epic-ish ride I did yesterday I wanted a break so I went to see The Tranformers movie. After my inital fear of all the school kids in the place talking all the way though it subsided I got down to enjoying the film and enjoy it I did. Not followed the story for years but other than a few obvious car changes to America Models it seemed an ok story and visually amazing.

Went to the Queens Cross Pub for some food and 1 to many beers, oh and i had burger, chicken this time tho. Was really good 7.5/10 it did have a tomato in it but it was soon ejected! Got back about 0:00hrs trying not to think of our 06:00hrs start in the morning...

Lynn Canyon

2007-07-19T18:07:00.000Z

Went over to Lynn Canyon today, the ride over was mainly up but at least it was drier than yesterday. With Doug's Detour completed I was into the forest once more and again I found the roar of the river very peaceful.
Didn't take a great deal of photos on the suspension bridge as it was only just big enough to fit my bike down it. At this point I hooked up with a Swiss guy called Casper and yes he was friendly. We traversed over to Mt Seymour and eventually found the bottom of the Ned's trial and pushed up (not advised it was a funking long way). We were soon back down, I can see why they shuttle here....

The view upstream on Lynn Suspension Bridge.

I finally got back at a little after 17:30hrs I was met by Doug loading the Car up for the Thursday Night NSRIDE club ride. We set off up Mt Fromme at 18:30 after a short drive to it and i started peddling again, I think I did quite well seeing that I had been in the saddle since 11:00hrs. We met up in Seymours pub after and I had 3 (not quite) pints of some Honey Lager which was quite good although the waitress was the most grumpiest ever, and your supposed to tip em? F@ckin Smile!

Stanley Park

2007-07-18T18:00:00.000Z

Decided it was time to get out on the bike again so I headed down Marine Drive to the Lions Gate Bridge to get into Stanley Park. Some of the coat ride/walk was shut due to damage from the Winter, trees over etcFound a great big dead tree with an other growing out of it, that seems to happen quite a lot here.
Between the beaches on the south side of the headland spotted a big bird, this time not from Sesame St. Possibly a Sea Eagle? Tried to get a better pic and it cheesed it then got mobbed by seagulls but it was happy about that...Once my tour of the headland was completed and I'd seen all the usual touristy type of things like the totems, I headed back to North Van I turned up Capilano Rd and ended up eventually at the Cleveland Dam. Man was it high, just look at the little folks on the left and they ain't anywhere near the bottom.
Decided I wanted more pictures so I rode down the footpath (naughty, naughty) wasn't to many people about, just folks letting their dogs crap all over the trial, nice...
There were quite a few look out points which were really well placed, the one below had a large rock ledge sticking out over the river with a plunge pool under it, fancied giving it a try, but i know my luck. NEWSFLASH "Today a man dropped the 30' into the Capilano River and struck his head on a huge rock watched his bike get stolen then died" well maybe not....

Oh, did i mention it was raining? All day. None Stop.
No? Well it was.

The strange thing it wasn't cold shorts and a T was all I required, on the local news they were having a block party and the weather didn't seem to bother them??

The height of the valley was pretty amazing, and the cloud was in the trees.

My Favorite Photo of the day has to be this one of a Giant Fir in the forest, it came out almost black and white not sure how but I Like it.

Downtown in the Rain

2007-07-17T01:15:00.000Z

I went downtown with Karen on her way to work, we parted company after we got outside the sea bus station. It hadn't stopped raining all morning i walked the width of the headland no shops were open and although I'd past about 500 Starbucks on the way i wasn't going to go in one. I wander back down Seymour and took a few turns to find the library, I really need to get outta the rain... I eventually found refuge in a Native art gallery called Hills it was warm dry and very interesting looking at the artwork in there. Spotted some images a quite liked, and some of the sculptures were good like this killer whale couldn't quite afford the selling price tho...
As the rain was slowing cruised around a bit more in Gastown, wandered onto West Hastings and found that most of the people round there either were F#cked up drugs of smelt like pi$$ as i passed then, cheesed it outta there and went back to main drag and Canada Place. It looks crap, but i did manage to get a good shot of brontosaurus feeding by the coast...Was passing the Steam Clock at Noon when i sounded off was a L.O.B. Visited two more galleries the better was Inuit Gallery, Vancouver, BC but man was it expensive one piece of wood work was amazing called Eagle and Salmon Mask. Then I went back to Hills and purchased a print of Confessions of the Moon which I was very impressed with earlier. They took the seabus back to the Northshore, then used the same ticket to catch the bus even closer to home. cost $3.25 compared to £1.40 one way to town in Derby? Pattern developing here i think?

Burger Time
After swooping some shorts at Cove bike shop went to Wendy's, I was greeted with the usual
"What can I get you sir?"
"I'll have the Baconater " sniggered Phatboy

Gotta admit it was good, square but good. Its just managed to scrap in with a 7/10, the fries sucked but that's just the same as everywhere else.

Did the Grouse Grind after D&K got back from work did it in 47Min's which wasn't to bad by all accounts. Got to see the bears but didn't stay to long as the bugs were biting!!

The view from the top of Grouse mountain looking North East ish.

One of the fear inducing Grizzly Bears of Grouse Mountain

(OK so I edited out the electric fence everybody was hiding behind.)

Wandering North Vancouver

2007-07-16T01:15:00.000Z

Crossing the road in the UK is taking your life into your hands here its weird and unnerving people in cars just stop for you!! They actually expect you to walkout in front of them between those two parallel lines. Most pedestrians here don't even bother to look if anythings coming, just weird.... Wandered through the Native area of town was a bit of a dump by comparison to the rest of North Vancouver. Ended up in a few shops found the shorts I bought on Saturday at half price so now i have two pairs, D'oh! and I wonder why i have no cash. Wandered around a few typical supermarkets comic and surf shops seem reasonably priced, unlike the bike shops the spares are about 40% more expensive they need a CRC here!

Burger time again, one because it was the only place around I went to Mc D's, much cheaper than the UK but the burger was in an anemic bun and wasn't that tasty either can only give it a 3/10. And just like the film said, the drinks are massive this a medium aka large in the UK, am so glad i asked to see the cup first I never would have lifted a large off the counter...

Mc Donald's "Am Lovin it" ? maybe not...

Mt Seymour CBC trail

2007-07-15T17:55:00.000Z

Doug and mark took me up to CBC trail on Mt Seymour today after i had spent far to much money in the Cove Bike shop. Was pretty amazing, Glover will be kicking him self that he went to Morzine over this place he would be in his element. I gave the shore stuff a try its a bit "1 Pee 2 Pee" to did quite a bit of it but some was well out of my league. I was amazed by the speed that some of the locals were doing the high level stuff, I was in awe... carful don't wanna add a "some" to that word just yet

On my mission to search out strange new burgers I can say that A&W were poor, a mere 5/10 and thats only because I was starving, the root beer was good tho.

Sunshine Coast

2007-07-14T17:05:00.000Z

We took the ferry over to the Sunshine Coast today to meet up with the guys from NSRIDE. Taking the ferry was a bit strange as its out of the ordinary but here its just the norm...
As the club caters for so many differing types for riding at all the different levels it took a while before we were on our bikes. Once we were it was so very challenging and the heat in the forest was sweltering. The shore riding was so high in places I was just glad this section had a handrail, it wasn't all this sturdy tho...

Eventually we reached our goal a trial called Red Baron it was pretty smooth and so fast, I gotta admit i did end up in a ditch at one point but it wasn't my fault i've not ridden this bike in ages :) but I don't think my P1 would have cut the mustard on that trail tho.

The Contrast in Weather...

2007-07-13T16:29:00.000Z

As to be expected my journey to the airport was very wet as it has been in the UK for weeks! All the extra security checks were fun too, got a really grilling off the passport control lady at Vancouver Airport all because we can via Glasgow maybe? :(

The view of Greenland was pretty amazing, if only i had a sledge?

The view of Vancouver from the plane window as it taxied from the runway. The sun beating down on the North Shore mountains in the background can help thinking that I should have brought more shorts, suppose that's what you get when your nesh sister to help you pack ;)

Doug picked me up and we were soon in a bar was struggling to stay awake

Body or Bike Armour?

2007-07-12T08:20:00.000Z

Packed my bike last night ready for to my trip to see Doug and Karen in BC Canada. Its not that i don't trust airport ground staff...

OK it is, here's hoping it makes it in one piece!

Wishing I had been in Morzine...

2007-07-09T12:22:00.000Z

Just been looking at Daves report on his week in Morzine, couple of days of bad weather, or is that just an excuse to get covered in mudd? Pictures look good check it out here.

Here a silly picture for today... Am such a dick...

A Simple Task...?

2007-07-06T06:45:00.000Z

Why is any little task in my house such a ball ache "just need to take the radiator of the wall" turns into "all the rendering is loose its gonna be easier to replace it". It sucks! Least i still got a mirror tho...

My 2006 Video

2007-07-03T21:01:00.000Z

Finally posted my film for 2006 on t'internet, enjoy...

No longer an Orange Orange

2007-07-03T00:31:00.000Z

Well my frame developed a crack on the shock mount on the down tube, and with just 4 weeks till my holiday to B.C. I was gutted!

I sent it straight back to Orange who informed me that not only was it just out of warranty the swing arm was cracked as well!

They said they'd fix the weld but I had to pay for the swing arm to be fixed at a cost of £200. Not to bad considering I get a respray and the loan of a swing arm till after my holiday plus new bearings and mech hanger.

Straight outta the box, with a leaky back brake and a damaged hose not so good. The silver swing arm is the loaner.

All back together again, well it was for a while the BB is in bits as in needs some new bearings.

I got nine more days till i get it onto a plane plenty of time?

Better than painting the lounge

2007-04-01T16:44:00.000Z

Most of the time life sucks,
doing the day to day grind that keeps you fed and watered.
Then every once in a while the clouds part,
you climb to the top of a big hill,
and you suck you gut in and pose for pictures. This makes me feel a little better, but am really just thinking about getting back to the car, but its not really about the destination more about the journey which is mostly down and with assistance of some little fellas inside me that my Doctor calls Endorphins Its Sweet!

Sandra taking in the view.

Start your engines...

Descending Hamsterley Once Again

2007-02-28T13:10:00.001Z

Not been for a very long time, last time i did this:

The uplift was cancelled so was pushing up all day, the mud was sticking to everything so the bike was double its weight by the time we finished. Nearly everybody there was just sessioning the big tabletop. Was a great to be on one of my bikes agian after spending the last 3 weekends fixing up the house...

Good friends, dry day, overall a sweet day...

H took quite a few photos.

Its Ma Biff Day

2007-02-13T09:00:00.000Z

I don't do Birthday presents and cards as think there a waste of everyones money so don't get me started on Retailmas (sorry i mean Christmas).

Thing is not everyone in my family plays by my rules, hence this gift my sister has sent me from the Alps in France.

I just had to share it with the world...

WTF?

(OK so I did the background...)

Flame on...

2006-12-11T16:58:00.000Z

Finally lit the fire today for the first time, and I felt rather pleased with wot I got done. My sister was rather content burn stuff as well....

It was raining, no surprise there then...

2006-12-10T16:21:00.000Z

Coed-Y-Brenin in the rain...
Saturday was a really bad start for me after about an hour my free hub destroyed itself. The on site shop didn't have one so I walked for about 1.5hrs to find one in town, I was rather pi$$ed off even took a picture to document the walk back the views were great but I’d rather have been riding.

Anyway all told 3hrs later I was back on the trail but I was so far behind even with the shortcuts I still missed my lift back to the digs.

That wasn’t too bad as I got to ride a new bit of trail called 'Dream Time' on the way back which was a sweet fast single track.

Even after a truck load on G&T on saturday night Anna was showing Pete how to do the hills...

Sunday it rained none stop all day, but that doesn’t seem to affect the trails here which was nice. Made the streams look pretty spectacular to…

Battered Haggis and Chips time agian!

2006-11-30T12:12:00.000Z

Its friday, no work, drive for 5hrs and find some dirt in Scoltland and do some riding at Ae although most of the AeLine was closed:(

Get to the digs in Peebles quick shower then out for a Gallon of beer!

Then do it all over agian on saturday

Finish on sunday with a play on the freeride park at Glentress in the sun, Yes SUN! Was Quality!

Burning Desire

2006-11-15T09:48:00.000Z

So I have finally done some more to the house, and i've decided on a solid fuel fire, once its finished am gonna have to get me a sheep skin rug, a roll neck jumper and a pipe...

...What girl could resist a combination like that eh?

Had the fires of desire doused by The Trev last weekend as he managed to get to first base with a girl i've fancied for a while, the git but as i'm off to his gaff this weekend coming i'll have to return the favor ;) Although rumor has it he messed up along the way maybe theres opportunity still?

So anyway i've had to turn my attentions back to fixing up the house, but theres still a long way to go but it doesn't look to bad so far?

Gutted

2006-10-03T16:30:00.000Z

After living here for ten years i finally decided to do some work inside the house, so far its took me about 2 weeks of evenings and weekends to do this.

No doubt it take me another ten years to put it right, but theres no stress of a bird pestering me to "get it finshed", although on the filp side i ain't gonna get one with it looking like this, Gutted!

OUCH!

2006-08-15T20:19:00.000Z

I don't recommend getting your bar caught in anything that'll cause it to tear, it really hurt!

Downhill Holiday in Morzine France 2006

2006-08-14T20:26:00.000Z

So today was the first day back to work and I got the blues pretty bad, not so good eh? So I spent the day think about what I got up to last week.

We stopped at Chalet Tintin in Morzine it was a really nice place with its own Jacuzzi!

The weather at the start and finish of the week was bad but we got some drier days in the middle of the week and even some sun. The trails were being repaired by the end of the week making them quite slick which was a relief for my tired wrists.

Spent most evenings with a few beers in the chalet watching the days video footage that we’d shot, and talk shit with Ailsa the girl who ran our chalet. She was quality I did have a really good time chilling (/moaning) with her.

Got a free 4 pint jug thingy of beer in the Buda bar for having “Cool Hair” but one drunken night I got Ailsa got cut off the green horns so I look normal once more. I was trying to video it but I was so drunk I couldn't work my own camera.

The side effects for cutting it off were no more free beer, and that nobody took my picture again unless I was wearing my helmet?

I finally did the shed drop at Les Gets, wasn’t as bad as I expected it to be and I was still alive and not broken which was a bonus! Although later in the week I hit a tree at speed on the Pleney which really messed up my day the odd noises I was making whilst trying to catch my breath are rather strange, and its all caught on video too.

A broken seat post bolt on the last day was an unexpected cost, €20 for the wrong sized seat post just for the 8mm bolt, you don't get that kinda trouble in the winter fixing bindings now do you! The guy just needed a mask to go with his stripped top, day light robbery!

Getting it fixed was worth it as I quite enjoyed the day overall and Hamish took this photo of me trying to get some air. Even in the rain and the freezing fog on the lift back home didn’t break the buzz of a good day out riding.

If i could be the filling in a sandwich...

2006-07-21T08:49:00.000Z

...this would be the perfect bread!

Pity i could find a high res i would stick it up on the wall at home;)

A Hot and Chilli Night with the Red Peppers RHCP

2006-07-05T23:09:00.000Z

Just got back home from seeing the RHCP's at Pride Park in Derby a rather close 15 minutes walk from home. Was great went with Johnny and Martin had a really good night like give special thanks to the short blonde who was with us most of the night and half naked girl for keep the idiots entertained.

The only half decent shot I took of the band.

And us Before...

...and After, it was a bit sweaty...

Free TV Day!

2006-07-04T18:11:00.000Z

A few weeks back, I was notified that I had won the Sky HD competition and that id won a Sony 40” Bravia HDTV, a Sony Surround system and Sky HD box and a years subscription. The Set turned up today its a bit grainy but I’m still waiting for the HD box to see if that makes the difference, but for free a can’t moan to much…

Think its time for a biking movie…

The Glover New Blinggin Ride!

2006-07-03T21:13:00.000Z

Couldn't resist adding to the bling look of his ride, the gold went ok with the black Santa Cruz chameleon frame, but the Silver S-works?

Sweet ride tho I’ll have to get him to let me play on it, seeing my Patriot 66 is in the shop again to fix the forks again Fox 36R’s got best reviews!? I’ve had nothing but trouble with em!

Maybe it’s cos I’m a fat lad eh?

2006-06-26T21:13:00.000Z

Not really sure what this is all about, but any hoo lets give it a go...