BSB Silverstone

I had a great couple of days at the British Super Bikes at Silverstone last weekend. A friend Richard Metcalfe from Kawasaki invited me behind the scenes with VIP tickets into the Lloyds British GB Moto team garage/pits which was fantastic.
It was a real insight into the Lloyds British Moto Kawasaki team and BSB racing in general. Everyone was super friendly, Mark Smith-Halvorson the owner was very welcoming and open about the bikes, riders costs and stresses of what it's like running a top level BSB team team.
The riders Chris Walker and James Ellison have both had a couple of crashes this season so both recovering from injuries so not 100% at the moment, although James got a 3rd place in Race 2 on the Sunday which was fantastic.
Ironically James lives in Kendal! - I'm sure I'll continue to bump into him now we've met..

 

Chris Walkers bike before race 1

220BHP to the back tyre and costing around 70/80K!

 

The unveiling of the bikes to the public before race 1

 

Race 2 - Ryuichi Kiyonari finished 1st, Shane Byrne 2nd and James Ellison 3rd, which was a great result for the Lloyds British Moto Team Kawasaki

I had a great weekend and thanks again to Richard and the Kawasaki team.

Safe racing!

Ade

 

Fred Whitton

I had a few days after the 3 Peaks with my feet up resting, which fitted perfectly with ISM's end of year meetings, as normally I'm itching to get out before day 1 is even over!
Over a couple of beers in the Masons Arms on the last evening, Steve Monks and I pulled together the final plans to ride the Fred Whitton the next day!
Meet in Windermere at 7.30am and head off from there!
I woke early, loaded the car and then scrapped the ice off the car's front windscreen - it was 2 degrees on the car's temperature gauge as I pulled away and there was frost on the fields as I left Kendal, it felt like a lovely cold and clear winters morning, but we were heading off for the Fred Whitton!
Gearing up in Windermere we could just feel the first rays of sun on our backs and we new this was going to be a fantastic day.

 

Passing by Ullswater early morning after our first pass which was Kirkstone Pass

 

Looking down into Buttermere after cycling through Keswick, up Borrowdale and over Honister Pass

 

 

Heading up over Newlands Hause towards Winlatter

 

Just about to head up over Hardknott Pass and the Wrynose Pass after cycling from Winlatter and down the west coast

 

Me pulling over the top of Wrynose Pass - next time I'll ride a triple and have a 32 on the back!!

We had a fantastic day out, the weather couldn't have been any better - 180km and over 4000m of ascent! - thanks for a great ride Steve

Safe cycling

Ade  

Yorkshire 3 Peaks Cyclocross

Well, I eventually took delivery of my new cyclocross bike, but unfortunately it was just before I headed back out to the Alps!....so not too much time to get to grips with it and I was still trying to sort tyres a couple of days before the 3 peaks!

Specialized Crux Pro Carbon, Stans No Tubes wheels and Ultegra Di2 groupset - very happy!

 

 

Straight into the 3 Peaks last weekend, after only being back home for a day or 2. 

Great weather this year though, dry and no wind which is the complete opposite to what I've experienced during the last 4 times I've completed the race!

 Heading up Simon Fell towards the summit of Ingleborough

It's a fantastic event, well organised with a great family feeling amongst all the riders. 

650 riders left the start line at Horton-in-Ribblesdale with most riders this year completing the 3 peaks (Ingleborough, Whernside and Pen-y-Ghent) and cycling the 28km of road and 33km's of off road of which maybe 10km of that is unrideable!

It's a tough ride even on a good weather day and it's the transitions that are tough going from walking/jogging up hill carrying the bike for maybe a couple of kilometres to a few kilometres of off road riding getting on and off on the steeper or boggy sections and then a full on hard road ride for 8km......

A taster of the race this year -3 Peaks Cyclocross 2014

Need to 'train more', no need to 'train' next year!

I'm now converted to disc brakes!

Safe cycling

Ade

Back home from the Alps, after a great month of climbing and mountaineering......some mixed weather and strong winds in the last days, but fantastic conditions generally everywhere.

Below is a montage Ben Tibbetts sent through, following our week together guiding in the Chamonix, Mt Blanc massif

Safe climbing
Ade