Fort William BDS RD2

Last weekend I went to Fort William for RD 2 of the BDS series. I have just got these  two cool action shots from Ian Linton and that is why I haven't posted sooner. Theres a lot you can say about riding the Fort William DH track and being in the surrounding areas. For one Fort William is a really nice place of Scotland. The bottom pic was taken on my phone from the campsite. The course is a DH course I have wanted to ride for seven years. I have only been there once before and that was to watch the world cup when Steve won back in 2005. The track is probably the gnarliest on the world cup circuit. After Steve, Danny Hart and 'The Don'  they all kinda said the same and only Mount St Anne comes close. Its a super fast and rough track and you do well to just get to the bottom in one piece and with out any crashes or mechanical's - (the bikes take a real beating too).

Friday
I drove up to fort William on the Friday. I set off about half past six in the morning and got there just after dinner with the usual Starbucks stop off. When I got there I went straight to Morrison's in Fort William centre got the grub I needed for the weekend and then headed to the campsite which wasnt far away. The Site was really nice I had booked a camping pitch but was just going to kip in the van. Turns out It was dead so I set my tent up and then headed over to the course after eating a pasta and salad pot. We set up the pit area and I walked the whole track (up and down) as by the time I went to walk the track the gondola had stopped. I was dead exited but just wanted the first run out the way. It was so rough nothing like I had ever rode before. the weather was good but there was still snow at the start hut which was pretty cool. There was expected bad weather so it was good to see clear sky's. I headed back to the camp site about half past eight, shattered from the long drive and walking up a big mountain I got an early nite.

Saturday
I slept ok but it was super cold the weather was a bit overcast but looked good for mtb action. I got about six practise runs in and loved every minute of it. We had to do seeding and It would be taken as our only race run as the Sunday was cancelled due to bad weather coming in. I was gutted about that but glad I got some runs in. I was kind of getting the hang of it and my seeding run was ok apart from an annoying slip up at the top which cost me a lot of time. Most people packed up after racing and went home. i had booked on the site for three nites so I decided to stop and see what the crack was Sunday. Saturday nite I went round to Tristan's Caravan which him and a few masters guys had rented for the weekend, Vickers and 'the Don' was also on my site so we all went round for some beers and watched Jaws haha.

Sunday
First off the weren't wrong about the weather, I woke up early and the tent was just being smashed by wind gusts. I was hoping to find somewhere to ride but no uplifts where running so I packed up and headed home. 110mph wind gusts where recorded at the top of the start hill so the racing was never going to happen. On the way back cars where off the road and a motor home pretty much on its roof, the van bash being battered all over the place. I got to Glasgow and it was still real windy there with brolly's everywhere and bins over. Back home though was Sunny and no wind at all which is sods law. I unpacked some of the stuff and got another early nite, cleaned everything up Monday and went Delamere for a bit.

Overall an amazing riding experience that all DH riders should have a go at. The Gondola uplift is about £30 a day and runs everyday in summer. I am defo going back next year and can't wait to go to back up there in July for RD 3 at Glencoe

Farmer Johns

Bit late update but for some reason I thought I had already done this post.

Anyway got the bmx out last week just for a spin, turns out to be a bad mistake. After not riding it for months I thought I would be able to continue where I left off-long story short I crashed. Really stupid crash winded myself badly and my left hand took a bad impact.

Three days later I went to the Farmer Johns DH race. Really chilled out track with some wicked roots at the bottom. I got red flagged on my first run and with my hand still sore I just did my final run and went home. Got loads of practice runs in and with the push up it was a tiring day. Few of the team turned up which was cool too.

I worked bank holiday and had a nice tea that mum did with cheese and crackers and stuff. Me and Jo got our hit of coffee at costa and I'm now all ready for fort william!!

New Treds

More Mountain Biking Videos

Hey peeps, These swanky new Five Ten Danny Macaskill shoes just turned up at the door, there a super smart looking shoe and real comfy. Im going to be using these as my flat riding shoes. Joe Bowman's done a cool vid to tell you all about it and give you a closer look.

Wet Week

Weekends nearly over with it being bloody Monday tomorrow. I will mostly spending all of my Sunday trying to fix my van. At around 6am this morning it decided to not start. Looks like the battery or alternator has gone. Hopefully I can get it sauted for work tomorrow.

On the plus side just entered the local farmer johns race for next weekend, campsites booked for fort william and I had a couple nice deliverys this week. I can now run my Five Ten Hellcats as spd's as I got some nice new Shimano cleats to put on. I'm going to run them with the Shimano pedals I was using last year which I am comfortable with after using them on my xc and bmx bike.

New Smith V2 goggles came and a new GoPro mount for my TLD peaty lid. I fitted the roll offs which are cool and I might end up doing away with the tear offs.

The weathers been gash all week but Peaty and Swinny have been over in Italy in the sun shine, check out the pic of there uplift machine. Perfect for swindogs SPS rig.

Peaty's Steel City

Hey guys I had a wicked day last Saturday, I drove over to Sheffield early morning to race Steve's Steel City race. It was a well cool day with good weather and a right laugh. The track is in Grenoside woods which is on Steve's doorstep so I think he had an unfair advantage. It was a mini DH race so the full on V10 was not really the bike for the job. I gave it a good go and was super tired on my second run. There was lots of pedalling and some real flat root sections which just robbed all my speed. I ended up about 30thj over all which was quite good considering. It was a really chilled out event and got to grab a real ale at the end courtesy of the local brewery who had beer on tap - in the middle of the woods I know. There where plenty of people taking pics and doing videos, this is one I found on the bike magic website-check out my slow-mo at 1:23. This cool pic which I think is off the Roots and Rain site, I'm not sure who took it but cheers:-)
I will defo be going again next year!!

BDS Rnd 1 Team Edit

Check out this edit that duncan has done for the team from round one of the BDS at Combe Sydenham

BDS RND1 f1rst race!

After a chilled few days at the UK Bike Park on the Friday we all packed up and drove the 2hour drive to Taunton, picked up Jo from the station and headed to the track in Combe Sydaham. The track was wet a slick on the friday and was some of the same on Saturday practice. Wet tyres went on and I got better through the day. Sunday I got everything diled in and tried getting it together for seeding. I messed up the big step down and the quad in the field. I then hit a tree in the bottom woods. I new I could go well faster so pinned the flat sections but made loads of mistakes in the woods before the field missed the drop again but got the field and the bottom woods mint. I knocked around 10 seconds of my seeding which I was happy with. I know if I didn't make all them slip ups in my final I would have broke the 3mins. Still I was happy with my weekend overall. I learnt a lot and now know the speed I need to do to get a respectable result. Just want to thank Jamie our mechanic for all his help and everyone for the support in my first downhill race. Its not bmx, in my opinion its 100% more fun, enjoyable, scarier but just as fast which is mental. Fort william is the next national which is proper in at the deep end but really can't wait for it. With Steve showing us the lines I know I will have a good run

UK Bike Park

Hey guys

I'm sat in work wile the rain lashes against the cabin window, I can't help but think about the week I have just had. One big learning curve, new kit, new experiances and the first race on my new bike and new team.

Last Tuesday afternoon I drove down Down to Dorset to the UK Bike Park where I met up with all the SPS team (exc Loosedog) where we had a couple days booked for uplits. We all got there at different times and went to the local for some grub. Around 20 of us bunked in a cool bungalow/ cottage I managed to tax a footon which was a lot less comfy than it looked.

Wednesday was a cool day we got to the bike park early and met Paul who is the owner, he is a super cool bloke with a great venue for riding your bikes I could have stayed all week. In the morning we got all our new kit including a 'peaty' D3 custom Royal kit, 661 protection, smith goggles and Five Ten Shoes. We rode loads of lines with steve and I hit the less 'tech' line a few times and gave feedback to Jamie our mechanic who got my bike set up and feeling mint. Then managed to get 30 people into a curry house which was a right ball we even traveled in style going in Irvin's big Land Rover 4x4 I got to sit in the front Rad! Tristan made stupid hats and we had a few local ales as the beer on tap was...well...shit-in a word.

Thursday was more of the same but we grabbed loads of wood from the bike park, piled it into the SPS trailer and made a bomi in the back garden. Alex celebrated his 18th and a few headed to the pub for free wifi. 10 pints later, well you can guess the rest. I really enjoyed the few days at the UK bike park and would erge everyone to book an uplift and go ride you can get up to 30 uplifts a day if you get on it. We had around 10 a day but we did session sections and took our time. Wicked week hope to go back soon.

Derby Win

Wigan win 28-10 at Langtree park at the first ever Wigan vs Saints derby. Proud to have the tattoo and be a Wiganer today. Now a pint to celebrate

Derby Weekend

As I'm off next week down Dorset I'm working both bank holidays and at weekend. Luckily I don't work all day so can go and watch the biggest derby in super league and one that all local people don't miss. Rugby league Wigan vs Saints, it must be good friday. Tickets sold out super fast and I was gutted to miss out. Where guna go to the local and watch it on the big screen. Get a pint of real ale and enjoy the game

I went for a few downhill runs after work yesterday, its given me a chance to try out my new Leatt neck brace. It was one rule that if I race downhill I must have one (mums rule). So I got the model before the stupid £500 plus model its feels great and it doesn't affect my riding. I had an open mind when using it for the first time and I'm really happy with it. I have even been resting my head on it in corners just to take a rest :-).

Rite time to beat these Saints. Come on WIGAN!!!