Fat Lad Has Seen The Light

How new tech is this, written from a pda waiting in our new offices for the construction crew to finish up.

Anyways... about 2 1/2 years ago (i'll linkify later) I got some new lights and although they've performed really well it's time to retire them.

Step in my new lumicyle hid jobby. They're new, they're powerful and most importantly they're shiny. Sadly Mrs Fat Lad used her power of wifedom to nix the gold 'pimp my mtb' one, and I've got a more sensible black ones instead.

Piccies and feedback to follow post night ride...

Is what I was supposed to post earlier sadly blogger mobile was having none of it. C'est la vie!

However post ride. I'm now sat getting the warmth back into my chunky yet manly body. For it's not even October yet and it's bloody freezing. I'm over a stone lighter than this time last year and while pedalling away in these sort of temps previously would cook me like a cheap Chinese microwave; this year I've got three layers on and still felling a bit chilly.

Anyways back to the point. I do have one, honest. A little while ago I got my Fireballs. Due to an unexpected windfall from a utility company this saw me with some quality lamps with a good burn time. Sadly however they are starting to let me down more and more and with a loan from the local branch of Bank of Mrs Fat lad the boys at Lumicycle despatched the following very quickly indeed to me:



First impressions are quite simply amazing and the following is the illuminated trail of the entrance to Knife Edge.



They are very bright indeed, the claimed burn time is around 4-5 hours and I cant comment about that yet as we only blasted round for about 2 hours tonight.

It's been a fecking cold night but when you get to see sights like below, you know what, its worth it.



Fat Lad

Fat Lad Wishes....

I wish I could climb like Jim. Ascending the hills with speed, strength and deceptive ease.

I wish I could descend like Gezz. Hurtling down the hills with abandon, skill and balls.

I wish I was as mechanically gifted as Pete. To be able to see something, take it to bits and whizz it back together before I've even got the kettle on.

I wish as determined as Amy. To keep going despite injury, tired legs or whatever else life throws in the way and keep hitting double century weeks.

I wish I was as funny as Phil. Pulling laughs and humour out of any situation and ensuring any ride will always end up memorable.

I wish I had a phrase for everything like Chip. Right here he'd say something local, funny and poignant.

I wish I had Roachy's encyclopaedic knowledge of local rides. To land in any random spot of North, East, South or West Yorkshire and hit the trails with confidence.

I wish I was as good with words as Juancho. To get across the true feeling of our two wheeled buddies and the life and good times that go hand in hand with the rolling and pedalling.

I wish I could pull it all together like stAn. To keep together and keep strong a MTB club with no fees, no rules and no bullshit for 15 years. That is a real fucking accomplishment.

But above all I wish this all will never end.

Fat Lad

Fat Lad Has To Ride

A certain UK bike journo said in an interview (in Dirt Rag) that he doesn't feel the need to ride like some people do. Upon reading this I thought it was odd for someone whose very living depended upon our two wheeled hobby to say this. It seemed so alien to me not to have the need for riding ingrained. Then I actually thought about it for a little while. I know some of my riding buddies that don't have to ride. It occurred to me how strange they are and what a strange plane of existence to inhabit. Then I thought about it a little further. What if it isn't them who are the weird ones? What if it is me and my insane desire to ride?

Take this week for example. I couldn't ride Tuesday as I couldn't pass up the opportunity to see a piece of classic British film on the big screen so I rode Monday instead. Thursday I spent helping Mrs Fat Lad pack for her driving expedition supporting three of her work colleagues doing the Three Peaks Challenge. So I rode Friday instead.

Okay, so rearranging my rides isn't so bad. But what about the times where Pete and company have sent me home from rides because I was so ill I could barely stand yet had merrily decided to come out for a spin?
How about when then the rest of the world is sensibly tucked up inside warm and cosy while I ride in windy wet and near zero winter nights?
How about fitting badly maintained/out right broken parts to my steed and "making do" so I can still ride?

So back at you, do you have to ride or is it something you just do?

Fat Lad

Fat Lad is....

not sure what to write actually. Jane Tomlinson died yesterday. I've never been one for hero worship, our idols always seem so human after all. But I think our very own Leeds lass was the nearest thing I've ever had to a real hero.

Links

Local Press
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_yorkshire/6976050.stm

Her ride across America
http://www.bbc.co.uk/leeds/content/articles/2006/06/30/jane_tomlinson_usa_20060630_feature.shtml

National Press
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,2162084,00.html

Fat Lad

Fat Lad is Fecked

It's all Dave's fault. This morning I wandered over the the ASDA car park to round up any riders joining myself and the Chip Shop Crew. Waiting under grey skies Tom and Dave were already out of their cars and raring to go, compared to Amy still in her pyjamas it was an unusual sight. After a brief summary of the two routes available:

1) Down the hill and into South Leeds for the Middleton Mosh a steady away ride, pretty much fun, singletrack and giggle all the way.

or

2) Follow the whippets into the climbs for the Calverly Corker. Painful legs, hills and saddle sore.

As far as I was concerned it was a no-brainer and the terrible twosome agreed. That is, until we got to Pete's driveway. Dissent amongst the ranks meant we would be following the fighting fit. I shouted to Dave as we rolled out "Remember you had this choice when you're half way up bankhouse!"

The ride was hard. Really hard. I had a lot of fun and the company of my ride buddies can never be out classed. I won't give you the usual blow by blow ride write up because it would look something like this:

Pain, pain,fecking climb, pain, pain. Corking descent. Pain pain pain, fecking climb, pain pain another fecking climb pain pain.

A point of interest was having to use my First Aid kit for the very first time on a ride. Our casualty was brave and silent waiting with a proper amount of British decorum and a stiff upper lip:



Pete managed to lose the the pivot bolt from his rear brake lever. Very sharply spotted by Tom, a wood screw was drafted as a makeshift pivot. Some bandage tape later our very own silver haired charmer was ready to go again.



So here I am 28 miles later, 28 miles of some of the toughest climbing our local trails have to offer and I'm trying to cram as many calories into my body as I can manage. Got to go I can here another packet of sour jelly sweets calling me.

Fat Lad