bikes and things

Trying to use a camera a bit more for leisure rather than just using Instagram. A few efforts from the weekend. A whole new set sure to arrive of Gina our houseguest but these are all non-dog related for now.

And another version. Not sure which I prefer.

I was sent this beautiful quote from my client at work today. Quite simply the best definition of cycling I’ve ever read I think. I’m buying the book for sure. Somehow it manages to describe the joy in all the riding I do, from commuting to mountain biking.

It makes previously unknown districts more accessible and familiar ones more difficult. It reinvents familiar geography, opens up towpaths or riverbanks or favoured rat runs across town. It offers the little tremor of happiness from bending urban by-laws back to suit the individual, and the constant delight in going straight to the front of the queue. It allows one to feel smooth and charged and graceful in a world full of blocks and obstructions. It has the peculiar attraction of being healthy, dirty and risky all at once. It offers the interesting discovery that getting to and from work need not mean the abandonment of sanity. It can be companionable or solitary, competitive or amicable. And, like the horse or the sailboat, it feels somehow as if it’s exactly the right pace for a human to travel.

The Bicycle Book’ by Bella Bathurst.

I can’t wait to get back on mine that’s for sure. Just as soon as this back heals up.

Ok, so it’s clearly a marketing film but one that I’m very interested in. GoPro have been talking about a remote adaptor which will allow you to stop and start the camera from a wrist strap and also change mode and also set up camera angles remotely from an iPhone app. Impressive stuff, although it did look a bit like vapourware for a while. Fortunately they’ve got it together and it’s now on sale.

The camera views from under the skateboard are great.

Will be interested to see how much it is when it’s released over here.

She’s back for another weekend! Let the dog bothering begin. Hoping to get out for some walks and make sure she’s so damn tired that she sleeps all the way through the night.

© Emma Hutton

To conclude a fairly hectic weekend Emma and I had the pleasure of attending the wedding reception of Graham and Victoria – better known as Jenx from riding – on Monday. A superb evening of dancing was had and we both felt very privileged to be there. A few photos of the merriment below.

Bit heavy on the “ruin porn” in places but some great moves in this little skate video. Nice little overlays of the now abandoned water park in use too.

After stacking it the previous day I managed to get myself out of bed and on the road to Afan with Dad. We set of a bit later than planned so hit all that traffic heading down to the South West on the M5 but finally made it to Afan and headed out on the start of Whites Level. Dad’s bike had a few issues on the way round so we made a few tweaks including re-joining an exploded chain. I had pumped myself full of ibuprofen which meant that it wasn’t actually that bad, not as fast or fluid perhaps but still enjoyable. I knew the trail well so knew what was coming, or so I thought.

Top of the trail before the first descent.

There was a trail closure in place at the end of the Energy Trail which sent you straight back to the top of the original climb and then past to the final descent of Skyline. Less than ideal really as it’s the rockier of the two descents.

Dad on the skyline descent.

Gotta say that I really didn’t enjoy it with a stiff neck. Dad also managed a slow plop over the bars at one point. Anyway, by the time we got to the cafe that was all forgotten. Nice day out really. A lot of climbing and sad to see on his trip computer that it was only 12 or so miles. Good day out and hopefully back soon but in better condition. Great to still be able to get out with Dad on the bike too considering he’s in his 60s!

Just rewards.

His and his.

Been a while since I’ve fallen off my bike properly but managed to come a cropper on Friday at Llandegla. There’s a ladder/shore section on a short section of trail about half way round – I normally slow right down and gently roll it. This time I thought I would just try and pop the wheel a bit and clear the tiny little drop and be a bit clever. I overcooked it and I think I landed it nose first, blew through all the travel on my forks and smacked the right hand side into the gravel. It took the wind right out of me and I really hurt my neck in the process. There’s a fairly large lump out of the back of my helmet too which I’m glad was there to take the hit.

Fortunately I was doing a time-lapse of the trail so managed to catch the moments in between being up on the trail and being the wrong way round.

I was glad to be riding with Gav who managed to scrape me off the trail and get me going again. Here’s the section of the time-lapse. Was down for quite a while getting my breath back by the looks of it.

Needless to say I took the rest of the trail pretty gently which was a real shame having driven all that way. Fingers crossed my neck heals up soon as it’s be great to get out on the bike again.

I’ve been having a bit of a play with time-lapse this week on my commute. Always thought that video would just be too boring so instead I went with 1 shot every second and have stitched them all together after into a movie.

The GoPro seems to struggle a bit with the changing light conditions – from light to dark etc and often overexposes. Still the effect is there. Might try one looking back at the cyclists and traffic behind me next time. The one coming home is a bit trippy due to the blurred lights.

There…

And back again…