Trial by video

Whilst browsing in PC world on Saturday, I noticed this little camera mount from the makers of those little Flip Video USB camera thingies:

So I thought, hey, why not give it a go. I've got an Olympus 770SW which is a fairly rugged compact camera - you may recall an earlier post where I fell off - well, this is what did most of the damage to my hip!

I took a quick climb out of Skipton, up Shortbank Road, to try out a familiar piece of singletrack. Tree-lined singletrack is in short supply around these parts and I wanted to see how the camera would cope with light and shade, as well as dealing with a lot of information, combined with a rocky and rooty surface.

Here's the result:

Shortbank descent from Richard Peacock on Vimeo.

I'm going to continue with different mounting styles and the video would help by having another rider in front of me, watch this space!

Get your fill of Fort Bill Downhill

For those that can't be there (and wish they were), myself included - you can watch live coverage of the UCI Downhill World Champs right here!

Exploring is never boring

Okay, so it's Wednesday and I'm still aching from Bank Holiday Monday's ride. It's not down to the mile count or the gradient, lack of fitness (maybe?) or poor bike choice...

I fell off. There... I said it, I feel better already.

It was a simple corner, a slight step down into a puddle which concealed a rock. A rock which impeded my front wheel's progress sending me over the bars. Still clipped-in I fell sideways like a sack of potatoes onto my dodgy shoulder, delicate right wrist, ribcage and right ankle. All of which are sending me signals telling me I'm too old!

The point of this blog isn't the fall, it's where it happened. I rarely fall on my local trails. I hardly ever fall at trail-centres, both of which are understandably predictable riding.

This ride was one of those hidden gems, my riding-buddy and I didn't see another cyclist on the whole loop! And what a loop, starting out from Ripley near Harrogate, North Yorkshire, taking in ancient bridleways, tiny forgotten villages, churches used and unused, Fountains Abbey (including a ride around the perimeter Monk's Wall), woodland, farmland, Manor houses and a fantastic single-track bridleway, gently downhill and flanked on either side by wild garlic - absolutely magical.

Our average speed was no more than six miles per hour, a case of ride-a-bit, map out, ride-a-bit-more, map out. Occasionally looking for well concealed signposts and bridleway arrows.

This was definitely one of those rides that will stay logged in the memory banks for quite a while and has given me a taste to explore more. So, get out your OS Explorer maps and ride where you don't ride, exploring is never boring.

Update: Here's the route for you to explore:

Fountains Abbey Loop

Share your bike routes @ Bikely.com

Now really get out and ride...

After that last post of tailwhips and backflips, I started hunting for a mountainbike video that was more on my level. Who would've thought I would find it right under my nose, courtesy of the lovely people at Howies!

Definitely my kind of riding.

Bike - Life is Complicated. Sport is Simple from howies on Vimeo.

That's it, I'm outta here, I've got a bike to ride.

Just get out and ride

So it's May, the trails should be dry and dusty, but they're not.

It's rained most of the day today and tomorrow I'm riding up at Gisburn Forest.

So what's my motivation?

This:

Kranked 8 Trailer from Ally Video on Vimeo.

Now I've never done a backflip, frontflip, tailwhip or superman-seat-grab, but I'm still inspired by the level of riding shown here.

I'll pootle around the forest, checking the new trail building progress, ride some of the old singletrack and some of the 'local knowledge' stuff.

My wheels will barely leave the ground.

But who cares!

Enjoy the trailer, turn up the volume and enjoy your riding.

An evening out with the birds...

Just back from a great ride. You know the kind; your bike works so perfectly you almost forget it's there, trails are empty and dry, the sun is shining just enough, there's a little welcoming breeze, and there's wildlife everywhere.

Now I'm no Bill Oddie but my appreciation for wildlife grows whenever I have one of these near-magical rides. The Grouse with their 'hellohellohello' call, the Pheasants with their crazy run-up-the-trail-instead-of-fly routine, the lone Kestrel doing his thing with mathematical precision, the 'kileep, kileep' of strangely out-of-place Oyster-Catchers, the glorious call of the Curlew that signifies Summer's on it's way.

And I've only ridden a 10-mile loop!

The bike is covered in magical dry-trail wonder-dust that would be sacrilegious if I cleaned it off. If this is an omen for the rides of Summer to come, then bring it on!

More of the same please.

Local trails...

It's always nice to see someone else riding your local trails faster and harder than yourself. Here's Howies and Mongoose rider Chris Akrigg giving it plenty on some of West Yorkshire's finest lumps of rock.


Chris Akrigg's Golden Nugget from chris akrigg on Vimeo.