Cross Crusade Race #4 PIR from Burk Webb on Vimeo.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Why is the US cross scene so much cooler than the UK's?
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
More shots for Condor Cycles
I shot another bunch of photos for Condor last Friday and the first are beginning to appear on the interwebs now - eg the new World Series of which this is one have been on Bikeradar and Bianchista today, together with half a dozen of my shots.
This one was shot behind Mount Pleasant Post Office on a sunny autumn morning, and I used one flash to camera left to lift the shadows a bit and pop the silver bits on the bike.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Eastern League, Essex
Fourth place today. Bit of a shame as I was in the lead group most of the race but got course tape wrapped up in my wheel with two laps to go and had to stop and untangle it. I lost 35secs on the other two guys who were racing for second in that incident. I pulled back 20secs over the last couple of laps, but it wasn't enough. At least I have this photo of me leading the race.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Manfrotto Magic Arm + Bikes
Had a play today with MBR's magic arm. Seemed pretty easy to get good results to me. Processing's a bit ott on this, I'm still playing around with Lightroom, enjoying it though, it's a really good tool.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
National Cyclocross Rankings
As of this morning I am the 12th ranked cyclocross racer in the country. I know that the ranking system is somewhat skewed with wildly varying levels of points being offered at seemingly comparable events, but hey, that's not my fault, and I'm pretty chuffed with the current situation.
That ranking was helped by my scoring a second second place of the season on Sunday at the London League at Herne Hill. An incredible 150 riders started the senior race, showing just how popular cyclocross is becoming, especially when the racing is held at a venue as accessible as Herne Hill.
My race was pretty uneventful really, which is why I got such a good result. I didn't crash, I didn't have any mechanicals, I just plugged away and eventually found myself in second place, while the guys around me were falling off, smashing their bikes up and flatting.
Phil Jones made this silent movie of the race. There are quite a few comical moments in their if you've got the patience to sit through it all.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Condor Cycles, London - New Site, Timelapse Videos by me
Bike Fitting - Condor Cycles from Condor Cycles on Vimeo.
The second video is a re-edit of one I made last year about wheelbuilding. Condor build their own wheels so it seemed like a good fit. I love that I managed to get an Elliot Smith song onto it too — best singer/songwriter ever in my opinion.
Wheel Building - Condor Cycles from Condor Cycles on Vimeo.
Think this kind of thing would look good on your website? Give me a shout!
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Monday, October 11, 2010
National Trophy 2010 Round 1, Abergavenny
I'm pleased to say I achieved both those goals in the first National Trophy at Abergavenny, finishing in 30th position, 6mins and 47secs behind the winner Paul Oldham. That's a big time gap, but crucially, it was less than a lap.
Racing at this level is so much harder than local league stuff and every corner, ever straight and everything in between is a battleground where you're either trying to overtake or being overtaken. It's brutal, but so much fun. I had a good first lap: starting from sixth row on the grid, I narrowly avoided a start straight pile-up that brought down Nick Craig, and moved up a load of positions by being an absolute git on the first few corners. By the end of lap one I was toast though and it took me another two or three laps to recover, by which time I'd lost another few places. I then set about reeling people in, eventually catching the guy who was in 30th at the bell. I didn't know where I was at the time, so I just buried myself trying to catch the next rider, 10secs ahead.
I crossed the line more exhausted than I've been all season, a good workout. I only found out the result this morning — a great start to a Monday. Top 30 is important as that is where you start getting points, and points mean a better gridding position next time. So instead of starting on the sixth row, I should be on the fourth row, making that first lap slightly easier, meaning I won't have to go so deep into the red, meaning I'll be able to maintain the effort for longer. That's the theory at least. Roll on Ipswich and round two, I can't wait!
Both photos here are by Dave Haygarth who has moved up to the Vets this year — I'm pleased as it means he's stopped beating me, and started getting some great photos of me racing. There are more on ukcyclocross.com
Thursday, October 07, 2010
Condor Acciaio and X-Terra
Saturday, October 02, 2010
Podium
Hugo who won this weekend and last is a name to watch - already National Champ in the Youth category, he's now winning senior races as a first year junior. Next weekend is the first National Trophy, but he won't be there, he'll be getting paid start money to race the Superprestige in Belgium instead. Good stuff.
RE my podium pose, I look well out of place eh? I need to work on that - practice makes perfect!
Photo by Claire Beaumont