Chorlton Green - Christmas Day 2009
Posted on | December 25, 2009 | No Comments
Posted via email from Matt’s posterous
Random musings from the Southern Hempisphere
Posted on | October 18, 2009 | No Comments
So, 5 days into our Honeymoon, and still the amazing times continue.
Following our incredible wedding - and I’m not saying that in a “fit for OK Magazine” kind of way, but a “how lucky are we to have such amazing friends” way - and the not-as-bad-as-it-sounds 30hr flight, we hit Auckland in a pretty good state. Following some great advice fro Auckland natives Ed & Sian, we stayed at Hotel De Brett, if you’re ever looking for a hotel we can’t recommend this enough. Luxury, Boutique, yet refreshingly un-pretentious. Spending the first night chilling in the reading room with a bottle of Epic Beer, with Creedence spinning on the turntable, was a great way to unwind. The next day we had a good wander around the town (picked up some Ltd. Edition Parra Vans, nice), got the ferry over to Devonshire to walk up the hill there, lunched, and back over to the City. We then walked up Queen St to the very disappointing K Road, then up the Skytower for the panoramics. The next day, after a visit to Kelly Tarltons Sea Life Centre and some Irwin-inspired ‘Ray Revenge, we headed up to Ponsoby (which really reminded us of Portland) for Fish n Chips, or “Fush un Chups”, which were pretty uninspiring. Don’t worry Beech Road chippy, our heart is still with you. Once back in town we headed out for a quick pre-dinner drink, only to make friends with 2 Kiwis (who it turned out didn’t even know each other) who after spending less than an hour with them had given us plenty of free drinks, recommendations for places to visit on the rest our trip, and touchingly, their mobile numbers should anything happen to us in NZ that left us needing any help or advice. This was the point where we realised just how amazing this place is. So refreshing to be surrounded by such genuine people. Sunday was a pleasant enough flight to Wellington, where arriving at 530pm on a windy, grey, Sunday probably not making the best impression on us. After walking nearly all of the town, we settled for dinner on Cuba Street, which was pretty good! Waking up today to bright sunshine painted Wellington in a much nicer light. We’ve done it all today - shopping, learning at Te Papa, lunch, amazing art (Yayoi Kusama), cable cars, and beers, and right now I’m writing this and watching the skaters over the road and the amazing little park on the seafront. Next up - the ferry ride to the South Island.Posted via email from Matt’s posterous
Posterous
Posted on | October 13, 2009 | No Comments
Posted via email from Matt’s posterous
Rapha
Posted on | July 13, 2009 | No Comments
Lovely, dramatic prints at Rapha
Your common sense has gone to Scotland
Posted on | June 8, 2009 | No Comments
Quick spin round Llandegla with Steve and a very hungover Dave. Nics away so he got some pretty merciless banter. The new stuff they’re making there looks awesome - some kinda jump track and also a crazy looking pump track, can’t wait for them. Took it pretty steady after last weeks spill, quite nice not to be going balls out for a change. Only thing to spoil the ride was the heavy rain and waiting 20 minutes for a sausage sandwich. The service in that cafe sucks so bad.
The MoorGods didnt want us there
Posted on | May 31, 2009 | No Comments
Lovely sunny day, lovely afternoon out at Dunham Massey, lovely lunch at Red House Farm, horrible ride up Lee Quarry.
Wind was strong, too strong to get your speed up or jump, got some speed into the bermed corner rock garden, massive pinch flat. Get going again, have to pedal hard into the last downhill to get some speed, clip my pedal on a rock, down I go. Twisted and bloodied, we decide enoughs enough, and leave.
Ride fail.
Whinlatter
Posted on | May 25, 2009 | No Comments
What better to spend a gloriously sunny Bank Holiday Monday than to pack up the car, pickup Pirate Steve, and head North on the M6 - destination Keswick. Thankfully the roads were pretty clear and Ady and Dangerous arrived at the same time. Game on…
We set off on the red rated North loop, the pace was high as the cans of Relentless kicked in, until Pirate went down after a couple of minutes. First blood. Then the climb started, and went up, an up, and up, the only relief was the stunning Lakeland panoramics, and the scorching sun bouncing off the gravel.
The descents started, with some lovely drops and big berms. The final descent was awesome, chasing Ady and Steve down the top section through clouds of dust kicked up by Ady roosting it through the switchbacks. All the tabletops cleared and into the trees, Ady got friendly with them after overshooting which let me through, into the trees again and pull up by a couple trying the logride. Hear an almighty crunch above, Steve knows instantly it’s bad. Adys down. Clipped the landing of a jump. Cut knee, hips, elbows, broken toe. Patch him up and roll down to the carpark, he still rode that section faster than most.
Patch him up proper at the bike shop, and off we go again onto the South Loop. Up, up, up. I’m hurting, legs tight and sun hot. Made the top and fuel up, top section of the descent is ok but nothing special. Next section much better, starting with the ladder drop, into the berms, Pirate puncture. Sit and watch others roll the jumps as it’s fixed. Off we go again, we all clear the jumps, taking the kicker line straight into the berm - hairy, get let through by those infront. Then we’re back, all a bit underwhelmed by the South Loop.
All in, reminded me of Innerleithen in it’s straight up, straight approach. Bit trickier and dangerous then Glentress, but not as big as Inners. We’re getting fast, I’m sure. Pads from now on.
Roadtrip 09
Posted on | May 6, 2009 | No Comments
Drumlanrig - Great idea to stop here en-route. I don’t think I’ve ever ridden so many roots in one ride, let alone so many roots on switchback descents. I don’t think anyone can write abouyt this place without using the word ‘Natural’. After riding it, I decided it was my favourite Scottish Trail.
Glentress - Pretty good as usual. I’m totally over Spooky Woods, it’s not even my favourite trail there (I think Super G is, if you care). The night ride down the blue was fun - infact, the Blue is ALOT of fun when you’re hauling. Which we were, freqeuntly.
Innerleithen - We’ve gotta stop riding this place on the third day of Roadtrips - it hurts too much! The pain is worth it for Minch Moor/Enduro track though. Berms you can properly rip into and get spat out, jumps, and FAST. One step closer to conquering Caddon Bank too - rode the first drop, but not the next two since the howling gale made it a bad idea. Eyed up the big one, and it didn’t look quite as bad as I remembered. Next time - it’s mine.
Commencal Meta 5.5 - Utterly fantastic. I can’t think of one thing I don’t like about it. Wanna manual a hollow in trail at Mach speed? It’ll do it, no questions asked. Pop off the end of berms like in the videos? Easy. I seem to have built it up pretty light comparing it to Ady’s Giant Reign, which was a nice suprise.
Life on the edge
Posted on | April 18, 2009 | No Comments
After hearing plenty of good reports about Lee Quarry, Pirate Steve, Dangerous and I headed up to check out the new trails. The weather was amazing, so what a great way to have a run out on the newly completed Meta 5.5.
Once all the pre-ride faffing was out of the way we climbed up into the quarry, past the first trails area and onto the red route, which is only really short but well on the way to good things. Second lap round we took the black route. which was downright scary! The trail itself was fine, it was more the big drops off to the side that worried me. Not being great with heights a few sections really freaked me out! The last section through the jumps was great, and I’m looking forward to riding there more often and getting confident around there.
RAD
Posted on | March 29, 2009 | No Comments