Vic-Tim.com : Tim Sadler © 2012

The Y.O.C., yeah you know me?

2012-01-21T20:31:00.000Z

Many many years ago ( actually more than 20! ), I used to be a member of the YOC, or the 'Young Ornathologists Club'. It was basically the kiddy-winks version of the RSPB and it was just another way of me getting out of the house and into the countryside. As I grew a little older and found the delights of skateboarding and biking I stopped going along and the binoculars ended up somewhere in the loft.

Fast Forward a couple of decades and not only have I found myself working on specific products ranges for birdwatchers but also finding that it is another great excuse to get out of the house with the family. So to get some practice in for the Big Garden Birdwatch next weekend, Immy and I headed over to our local Country Park ( we can walk there from our house ). Not only did everyone want to talk to us as we had telescope to play with ( maybe we can blame Stargazing Live for that? ), but we also found out that the local Ranger is building a Hide for a large area of wetlands off one of the trails.

Ok, it's not an adrenaline sport, but you know what, it's still pretty awesome ( though call me a 'Birder', 'Twitcher' or 'Spotter' and I'll shove this telescope somewhere that birds don't nest...).

One Cup

2012-01-20T14:47:00.001Z

I do need to cut down on how many re-fills I have....

Trail Jabber

2012-01-20T08:45:00.002Z

I wonder if my famous English Teacher would be proud hearing me talk like this? ( and yes he really was my English Teacher and one day I might tell you about the time I let him be God as I just couldn't be doing with it. )

Honesty

2012-01-18T16:56:00.004Z

Got that right... ( Via Viktor Hertz )

Lists

2012-01-17T12:45:00.002Z

Half way through January already and I haven't really quite started the year yet. My excuse is there has been a lot going on with Vicky storming ahead with her awesome new venture , lot of stuff going on at work and of course a couple of cheeky girls to deal with. So maybe it is time for one of those list things that others seem to be so successful with?

So what goes on it....

1. Sort out the 365 - Yep I need to actually make sure that I did indeed finish last years 365 project. I might even print out a little photo book to keep in a draw somewhere. Either way I actually need to make sure there are 365 images in the Flickr Folder.

2. Re-build the blog - Vicky has also been playing with this Social Media malarkey and is starting to put me to shame with her blog . To be fair, I did build this Vic-Tim site on the original Blogger format and pretty much the whole thing is hand coded ( you couldn't have extra pages back then so I had to build in multiple 'mirror' sites...bet you never noticed did you? ).

3. Leave the Audi Club - Yes the time has come for the kick-ass A4, which has driven the Sadler clan over 100k miles, to be moved on in favour of....don't laugh now.... a Skoda. Blame a company car policy which supports green cars and of course Jeremy Clarkson.

4. Run a Marathon of Sorts - I am not a runner by any means, but I do find myself wanting to enter a silly event this year. So who is up for booking onto Hellrunner?

5. Sort out 2012 Steed - Not quite sure how I am going to do it yet, but I reckon I need to get my kit ( and ass ) onto an Alpine 160 as soon as possible.

6. Cook More - Got Hugh's latest offering for Chrimbo and so far it has proved a winner. I just need to turn the occasional Tim-Made Meal© into a regular thing.

7. Book some Mountain and Beach Time - We may be in times of austerity ( did anyone actually use that word before 2010? ), but that doesn't mean we should get playtime. After all both Immy and Eva need to see more of the world and less of the (concrete) jungle.

8. Fix the Garden - Easy to forget with everything else going on, but Spring is the time to clean up and drop in some stuff to grow. Also need to make sure that the lawn which I planted last year has actually survived.

9. Catch up with Friends - I don't want to learn about what my friends have been up to on Facebook, I want to hear it from them over a nice cup of tea and some homemade biscuits. Old Fashioned is good sometimes.

10. Blog more or blog less...?

Tablet Time

2012-01-07T21:27:00.001Z

It's taken at least four times as long to write this as suprise suprise this Blackberry Playbook is still no replacement for a good laptop.

Do I even attempt to add an image?

No.

When?

2011-12-13T20:09:00.003Z

Blatantly stolen from an SF designer responsible for this.

Pola-Climbing

2011-12-09T10:58:00.001Z

Project Cruiser

2011-12-06T17:00:00.001Z

Ok, I must be getting old as I now feel the need to dig out an old Skull Skates deck I have somewhere and do this....

What's in your coffee?

2011-11-23T08:56:00.001Z

I do prefer espresso though...

Is that the question?

2011-11-15T08:13:00.001Z

I was gutted when I realised that I had missed the Cameron Crowe Pearl Jam Twenty Film on BBC4 last week...but good old Virgin On-Demand came through and I sat down with a glass of Ribena and watched it in all it's glory last night.

It's hard to describe the emotions it captured. Back when Pearl Jam released Ten I really was in that weird place when you don't know who you are. There is no better illustration of this then being the first person in my school year to buy 'Nevermind' ( on tape ) on the same day I bought 'But Seriously'....yes I was that messed up.

There is certainly no denying that Eddie Vedder is one of the most talented musicians of our time. Seeing footage in the film of him singing 'Alive' after being with the band for only one week was inspiring. In recent years he has even made the Ukulele cool ( and who would have thought that is possible? ).

I am going to make sure I keep a copy of this movie so I can show my girls when they have grown up. It pretty much defines the mighty Grunge period from which I came. And before you start mocking, back when I was growing up only real tools liked the Smiths ( all your Hipsters just started liking them when someone with tight jeans on said it was cool to do so ). The Google generation listened to Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden and Nirvana. We wore bad fitting jumpers, baggy jeans and trainers, army rucksacks with band names written on in blank ink ( though to be fair my pencil case did say 'Clapton is God' in humble reference to the grafitti which covered the streets of London during his time with John Mayall ) and we took the headbanging and moshing of our Heavy Metal cousins to a new level.

It's true, I went to a fancy school and instead of having long hair, I had a side parting. But anyone who knew me in my school days would testify that I never did conform. Under that itchy blazer I wore this t-shirt ( sorry girls if you are reading this when you are older...those are indeed rude words ).

But back to the film. If you are sitting there typing on your Mac or listening to music stream through Spotify, remember the generation which was vilified by the oldies for being miserable and underachievers, then look around you. We made this. ( yes we are arrogant too ).

Oh and whilst it wasn't in the film, this is the track which defined Pearl Jam for me...in my humble opinion, one of the greatest performances of the decade.

Off to sort out my iPod playlist for the drive home.....

Crazy Image Time

2011-11-10T08:14:00.000Z

Crazy Images time from Tim Sadler on Vimeo.

Just playing with it at the moment.....needs some tweaking!

I need a new helmet...

2011-11-08T21:18:00.000Z

Randomly the pics of my trusty Giro Remedy are some of my most popular on my Flickr photostream ( if you are interested the shots are here ), but the lid itself is showing some serious signs of needing replacement. I've tried on various occasions to smarten it up with some serious sticker usage, but not really been happy with it.

Now being an archetypal nerd I have always wanted a kick ass Star Wars helmet...which is why I am really rather interested in this lid.. ( via highsnobiety )

Ok, it does look like it is a sprogs helmet ( annoyingly it looks like the whole mash-up is all kids stuff ), but it is the way forward.

So come on Giro, make me a Remedy like this please...

Or shall I give an old kayaking contact a call...... ( yes Mr Ainsworth made the original )

Sir Jimmy we salute you!

2011-10-29T20:28:00.000+01:00

Rest in Peace Jimmy.

All about the QR Codes....

2011-10-19T15:26:00.002+01:00

Maybe I am a little late to the game, but playing with QR codes today, they do seem like a lot of fun. Now to get to grips with augmented reality.....

Everest in the Lakes?

2011-10-13T20:36:00.000+01:00

Ok, so reading about walking the Bob Graham Round in Trail Magazine it got me thinking of a wee little challenge for next year...

Now the 'Round' is the equivalent of 42 hills, 72 miles and 27,000ft of ascent ( I might have to check that on some map software? ). Little old Everest ( location of my greatest ever outdoor toilet moment in 1996 ) is a smidgen over 29,000ft. So if I add in a couple more peaks, this 5 day stroll ( 4 nights ) would be the equivalent of climbing the tallest mountain in the world ( and that is from sea level, not high up a glacier in the Himalayas! ).

Been a while since I have stretched the legs for a few days out, so I think I fancy this quite a lot.

Now who is with me?

After the Danger Panda...

2011-10-01T20:46:00.006+01:00

After my first attempt at a Danger Panda ...

I didn't know what to do next....

Now I do!

Panoramic Goodness

2011-09-30T16:34:00.001+01:00

Adding a GorillaPod Video to the HX9V should make for some fun Panoramics this weekend!

Something to live by...

2011-09-23T11:52:00.003+01:00

via Bill Mattos

Mud Pies and Marmalade

2011-09-21T16:24:00.002+01:00

The missus has been busy and yes I am TWH.

Seriously?

2011-09-19T19:47:00.003+01:00

Watch these two videos, then walk into your garage/shed/corridor and look at your bike, then spend at least 5 minutes questioning the meaning of it all.

Then go ride your bike and work it out for yourself.

Another SF Trip...

2011-08-29T21:58:00.004+01:00

Another trip, different camera this time ( a Sony HX9V )

Wanted to capture SF in a more candid style.....

Click here or image for the gallery.

Industrial Revolutions - Concrete Circus

2011-08-16T08:59:00.004+01:00

All round top film guy Stu Thomson got some face time on C4 last night. Stepping aside from the awesomeness of the film ( no cheap cutaways or tedious slow motions sections ), Stu is a bloody nice bloke who really does believe in what he and his company MTBcut / Cut Media puts out.

Check out the movie 'Industrial Revolutions' featuring the legend Danny Macaskill here:

Click MTBcut and Click Media.

MOVE , LEARN , EAT.

2011-08-05T12:48:00.004+01:00

You'll thank me for sharing these...

....how can you not be inspired?

Camping with the Sproglets

2011-07-12T08:24:00.014+01:00

Back from another crazy little camping trip down to the Forest of Dean with the Sproglets. Randomly we were actually staying at Doward Park which for those of you who learnt to kayak with H.A.W.K.S. is the campsite at the top of the Biblins track. It's a great little campsite hidden in the forest. Not that many pitches, a relaxed atmosphere and an awesome tyre swing!

Anyway, here are 5 shots to sum up the trip ( also submitted to my 365 project )

Strike Camp - This seasons colour is obviously blue.

Keep Falling - Yes it rained every day. ( but this is England/Wales? )

Forever Blowing - Immy got a bubble machine. It was great!

Faster - This tyre swing went big, really big.

Burns - An old friend came out of the woodwork and made us feel welcome in his manor.

Photosynthesis - Green fields are better than carpeted offices.

We are now planning our next trips, hopefully get away a couple more times this summer at least. So if you know us and want to get away, drop me an email and we can carve somes dates in the diary!

Check out the rest of the Gallery of shots here ( or click the image above )

Bikes + Boards + NZ = Roadtrip

2011-06-29T13:45:00.004+01:00

Inspired NZ roadtrip on bikes with some skating thrown in for good measure.

As a side note I hung out with Silas Baxter Neil and Rick McCrank on an éS Tour many years ago and I have to say they were probably the nicest pro skaters I ever met.

All five episodes here:

Riding the Long White Cloud Part 1 from predatory bird on Vimeo.

Riding the Long White Cloud part 2 from predatory bird on Vimeo.

Riding the Long White Cloud part 3 from predatory bird on Vimeo.

Riding the Long White Cloud part 4 from predatory bird on Vimeo.

Riding the Long White Cloud part 5 from predatory bird on Vimeo.

Let's get shooting?

2011-06-23T08:58:00.001+01:00

But what about the battery grip? ( how will people know I am a Pro? )

My name is Tim and I am an Addict.

2011-06-16T15:05:00.002+01:00

Snowdon - the Headcam stuff

2011-05-28T22:24:00.003+01:00

Ok, not as exciting to watch as it was to ride. Next time we are going to be doing it earlier ( to miss the crowds ) and faster ( to clear the rocks ).

Click here or the image above to watch it.

p.s. also trying out Vimeo for the first time...

Who ate the Chocolate Cake?

2011-05-23T16:57:00.002+01:00

Got to love the 60mm lens on the D90...

Ride a bike son..

2011-05-14T21:10:00.003+01:00

ok I have two girls...and they are going to kick ass on their bikes!

Snowdon Biking

2011-05-01T20:22:00.003+01:00

Whilst 2 Billion people watched a toff marry a commoner, I headed up Snowdon with some mates and our push bikes and toasted the happy couple before picking lines down some very silly 'loose as a goose' trails.

Check out the pics here.

Stats:

1) We did the Llanberis route up and Ranger/Telegraph Road back.

2) There is a lot of pushing up ( with only a little shoulder work ). It took 2hrs 40mins to summit ( definitely do it quicker if needed ).

3) There are some bits on the Ranger which need speed to clear ( and walkers on the trail mean that is sometimes not possible ).

4) We did it in sunny weather and it was very very loose in places ( foot out and drifty ).

5) If you own a Mountain Bike, you need to ride to this at least once.

6) Take spare inner tubes ( the hardtail in the group went through 3 )

7) The Telegraph road is superb singletrack, but you need to be able to clear rocks at speed to enjoy it properly ( great drainage gaps ).

8) The Summit of Snowdon is a horrible place...seriously don't think this is a place to hang out.

9) Eat Welsh Cakes, they are lovely.

10) There is a voluntary ban till the autumn... it's worth keeping to it!

Style Cop - Dusty April Images

2011-04-21T11:57:00.002+01:00

Super quick before work edit of some shots from last night at Style Cop with Ben and Darren. So don't be too surprised if you see some more images slightly tweaked in the coming weeks.

Click the image above or click here to see the album.

For more info on Style Cop click here.

Jinx - The Robot I Always Wanted

2011-04-12T08:55:00.004+01:00

On this anniversary of Yuri Gargarin checking out of our atmosphere and floating around a bit before coming back for some more Vodka, I randomly remembered one of the most awesome robots in Movie history.

Yes, Jinx was the NASA robot which, instead of going mental crazy and attempting to blow up the world with a game of Tic-Tac-To , 'arranged' for a bunch of squeaky clean politically correct Yankees to take a ride into space with Mrs Speilberg.

I've never really wanted to be an astronaut ( blue jumpsuits are so 1986 ), but I've always wanted a kick ass robot.

The closest I got was a Tomy Dingbot...

Privateer Geoff Waugh Signature Model

2011-03-11T13:04:00.006Z

This last week I've mostly been working at the highlight of the UK Photography Calendar Focus on Imaging . Along with talking shop with lots of nice camera type folk, it's a good place to catch up with legends like the young Mr Geoff Waugh who I have the pleasure to say I 'work with' ( rather than follow around like a scary stalker ).

I'm sure it was just a ploy to get me to send him over some of the new camera kit I've been playing with, but I was rather stoked when he handed over a copy of the new Orange Bikes 2011 brochure ( which actually has a picture of me in it ). Nice cover boys!

But this was not the end of gifts....he handed over a copy of the 2nd issue of the kick ass Privateer Mountain Bike magazine ( which features shots he took of the Orange Factory ). Naturally the geek side took over and he kindly signed it for me.

What a guy!

Follow the style guru himself on Twitter @thewarhead

And follow the nice chaps at Orange @orangefactory

No time to blog...

2011-02-27T13:44:00.003Z

New site design coming soon!

And the #365 is coming along nicely thank you very much.

New logo?

2011-02-12T20:03:00.004Z

Just hoping it isn't too close to these guys?

Still Got The Blues

2011-02-06T19:17:00.003Z

RIP Gary Moore - listening to his tracks made me pick up a guitar and thrash it out. I even remember playing this live track on VHS at school to try and explain the fusion between rock and blues ( the point at which he switches pickups ).

Do yourself a favour and buy some of his tracks now. You'll thank me.

Keep Calm

2011-01-31T20:30:00.003Z

One for the fans/nerds.

Baking Day

2011-01-23T20:04:00.002Z

Clickety Click the pic above for the Album

What better way to spend a Sunday afternoon?

Got that right..

2011-01-07T09:47:00.000Z

Simply the best US export.

2011-01-03T20:29:00.002Z

Step aside Lady Gargh Gargh, take a walk Bouncy....this is the best thing you guys have exported...errr...period! :-)

The 365....

2011-01-01T20:02:00.005Z

I've been talking about it for a while and know plenty of photographers who have done more than one year, but now it is my turn to take on a 365 challenge.

Nothing really complicated about it. I just have to take a picture on some sort of device ( DSLR, Compact, Phone, Lomo, Webcam? ) every day for a year!

Some shooters opt for Self Portraits ( or 'SPs' ), and yes I am going to do a few, but it is going to be more of what I see than how I am seen ( if that makes sense? ). Apologies in advance if I am a bit random and no doubt I will have to play catch up when I can't get online, but my aim is to stay true to the concept.

Why? Well today is 1/1/11 and whilst I'm not a fan of resolutions based on a calendar created by a Pope bloke called Greg, It did seem like a sensible time to take it on. And it already looks like it is going to be an 'interesting' year....

So here is the opening shot...

1 - { And so it begins }

You can follow my progess on here as well as on Flickr ( add me as a contact if you want ).

And whilst you are at it add me to Twitter

8 hours of fun..?

2010-12-19T19:41:00.006Z

Here I am drinking Honey Vodka ( Export strength ) trying to remember all of today's rather 'interesting' adventure....

It started a few weeks back when our friends Liz and Nich dropped an email around saying they would be back in the UK for a weekend near Christmas ( they currently reside in Vancouver ). having not seen them for too many years we looked at the calendar and confirmed that we would be meeting up with them for some Sunday lunch along with a huge bunch of mate type people.

Fast Forward to this week and the country has been sitting under a blanket of snow and ice and the lunch was looking doubtful. However we really wanted to make this work, so after checking on good old FB, Twitter and countless 'accurate' websites we headed out this morning at 09:30 on the drive down to a pub near Oxford ( 158 miles away ).

It was looking good, got past work in record time, hit the M6 Toll and the outside lane had a bit of snow on it...stopped for a quick coffee at the services and then onto the M42. This is when it started to get interesting. Can anyone tell me how cars in really cold countries cope with cold weather and screenwash? As in anything under -2 my squirters freeze and I am left looking through a window covered in road crap. Cars where pulling over all over the place in a desperate attempt to clean windscreens ( to only have them crap up again 5 minutes later ). The missus even tried the bottle out of the window trick ( but it just blew back up her sleeve ). We drove on...

..then it was the M40. The road which took me home from University and also provided that route out of London to the Mountains. I thought it was my friend, but today it was definitely p*ssed off at the world. We went from 3 lanes, to two lanes, to one lane, to carnage. It wasn't looking good. Our ETA started to drag and the roads where not getting better. Just like climbers at the bottom of Hillary Step, we looked at our destination 25 miles away and turned back, it was just getting too silly. The time was now 2pm ( 4.5hrs after starting ).

We turned back on the M40 and started looking for a stop for lunch ( and water the daises ). The first services we slid into was at Bicester. And when I say 'slid' what I mean it slip, slide, wheelspin, drift and will ourselves into. But our will wasn't enough, the carparks were a scene of devastation with cars at all angles, some left, some pumping power through low profile tyres in a vein attempt to grind them into something useful. 2nd gear, low revs and we got out ( with a quick bush stop ).

Back on the M40 we dribbled along with cars now breaking down and ending up in snow drifts. Our wills held out though ( as did our luck ) as the family wagon got to Warwick services and a welcome Starbucks. Re-fuelled we traced back out steps and amazingly somewhere on the M42 the screenwash kicked in again ( vision isn't overrated ). We finally made it back at 17:30, some 8 hours after starting off. Granted we did plan for a couple of hours there and a couple of hours back, but this was a straight 8 hour drive ( strangely the first time I met Liz and Burts I was a passenger in their car on a kayaking trip to the Alps....a long drive with a mini-disc player which ended with a flooded run on the Sanna and me spending a long time under water in a pour-over ). Oh and as we hit -8 on the M6 Toll the screenwash froze again.

What a mission...

..and what people carriers can you buy which are good on the motorway and have 4WD??

p.s. we met a family at Starbucks who had spent the night at Heathrow after their family trip ( for 10 of them ) to Disneyworld had been cancelled. So there is still some perspective to be had.

5 Minutes in the Orange Limelight

2010-12-15T08:33:00.004Z

I've been working with the cracking chaps at Singletrack magazine a wee bit this year and I've also been lucky to have had spent some time with the team at Orange Mountain bikes as well ( remember the Endurance DH event? ).

If that wasn't enough, issue 61 of the magazine hit my desk yesterday and on the back cover is the 2010 Orange 'Resolve' advert....and yes if you look on the second row down on the far left that is me!!!

Click go largish

It may not seem much, but I am pretty stoked to be honest... like an early Christmas present!

Owle for iPhone

2010-12-06T20:11:00.003Z

I may have actually found a reason to own an iPhone. Whilst working this past weekend at a rather enjoyable event. I got the chance to play with the most awesome bit of kit I have seen for a very long time ( and this was at an event where I was playing with a £30,000 Phase 1 camera system ).

It doesn't look like much, but the Owle Bubo for iPhone 4 take the finger tapping, app overloading, hyped to the max, Apple junkfood, overated phone and makes it the most awesome movie system i have ever seen. Nothing complicated...just a 36mm lens ( to sort out the lens on the phone ), a little external mic and an very cleverly designed rig and Bob's your uncle...

...still prefer my Crackberry though :-)

Tron

2010-11-30T20:34:00.003Z

Forget the re-make... I want this helmet from the froggy peeps at Ruby

Ok, I don't want this open facer...but the graphics would work on a Troy Lee!

via Highsnobiety

Confessions of a Gear Freak...

2010-11-01T19:47:00.013Z

For those of you who don't know me, I am a Gear Freak. Yes there you have it, a confession of sorts. I am a borne and bred Freak de Gear....Freako dos Gearo....Freakicht das Gearstein.... whatever you want to call it, I have an addiction which I should warn you all about.

Yes a dude carrying a kitchen sink ( must be American! )

I'm not sure I can put my finger on when it all kicked off. Maybe it was when I was a little Scout and at aged 10 all I wanted was a pair of Troll Omni Climbing trousers that all the grown-ups had? ( now that is a confession ), or maybe it was walking past the old Jack Shorne's shop in Harrow looking in the window and trying to work out how to buy a Whitby Black Widow catapult or original US Army Alice Backpack ( isn't it already worrying that I can remember gear wants from 20 years ago? ). Maybe I was just born with it? Either way it is pretty hard for anyone other than a Gear Freak to comprehend...but let me try to explain.

An Original Alice Backpack ( still awesome )

1) Being a Gear Freak is not just about having the latest kit. It is more than that, it is about getting the kit before anyone else. By the time it is on the shelves it is just too late. The Holy Grail of the Gear Freak is 'The Prototype'.

The Prototype of the Pyranha Burn ( the last kayak worked on at Pyranha )

2) Being a Gear Freak seems to be intrinsically linked to Outdoor Sports. If a Gear Freak knows the difference between an original Berghaus Mera Peak and North Face Mountain Jacket ( in Yellow of course ), then they will also know the differences between an Original Pyranha Acro 270 and Perception Mr Clean ( as well as the difference between a Orange Clockwork and Santa Cruz Heckler etc etc ).

3) The Gear Freak knows the stats. 'Know your Hydrostatic Head!'

Yes it's a Hydrostatic Head Tester ( of course it is? )

4) The Gear Freak is your friend, they will be the one with the spare hat ( ok it won't be spare to them as it will no doubt be designed for a specific requirement ), in fact if you need to borrow anything ask a Gear Freak, they either already have it or they just need an excuse to get hold of one. Just don't use the term 'don't worry, it doesn't have to be a good one'.

5) The Gear Freak is passion unleashed. Don't pretend to understand them, don't try to engage in meaningful debate... just remember pretty much every company which makes cool stuff, be it Outdoors, Automotive, Tech or whatever, was created by a Gear Freak. Steve Jobs= Computer Gear Freak, August Horch ( founder of Audi ) = Car Gear Freak, Werner Von Braun ( one of the guys who helped set up NASA ) = Space Gear Freak. I could go on, but you get the picture.

Come see the Freak Show!

In short, embrace the Gear Freak ( and no that doesn't mean I need a hug )

One last thing ( though I have a feeling this might be a reoccurring topic ), how do you spot a Gear Freak? Well check their reading material.... yes they do like their niche core magazines in their chosen passion ( check out the new Privateer Mountain Bike magazine if you are that way inclined ), but for the most part you will find them reading catalogues. Yep, for me it was growing up with the old Survival Aids brochure, this then morphed into the Cotswold Outdoors Catalogue and it now is firmly stuck with Howies and Patagonia catalogues.

Got to love the concept of every one of these catalogues ( Lomotastic )

It simply is all about the Gear...

Inappropriate pics from Stockport Hat Museum

2010-10-30T21:36:00.003+01:00

The Daddy of Biking Magazines...

2010-10-16T20:22:00.004+01:00

Managed to blag a copy of the new Privateer Biking magazine courtesy of top photographer ( and work colleague ) Geoff Waugh.

I've been reading biking mags for what must be 20 years or something ( flipping eck that is scary ), and this is truely the Daddy of mags. Then again what else would you expect from the stable that came up with Rouleur ?

Cover price is 9 squids, which may seem a little steep, but this is set to be a collectors item already ( should have got Geoff to sign mine seeing as he has lots of shots in it! ).

If I were you, I would buy it...

For the Fixies...

2010-10-07T21:05:00.003+01:00

Peanut Butter Power Cookies

2010-10-02T19:56:00.007+01:00

Those following my Twitter feed will have noted that in the last couple of weeks I have baked a fair few batches of cookies. Still messing with the recipe, but tonight I banged out a quality batch, so thought I would share the recipe with you.

You will need to find the following:

125g of quality Peanut Butter ( no cheapo stuff and go for wholenut organic stuff )
100g of Margarine
125g of Soft Brown Sugar
125g of Caster Sugar
1 large egg beaten up a bit
225g Plain Flour ( no cheap bleached stuff please )
1 tsp baking powder ( what does this stuff actually do? )
1/2 tsp Bicarbonate of Soda ( no idea what this actually is and I have a Science degree? )
125g Rolled Porridge Oats

So not a lot of stuff then!

And this is how you make them:

Oh, put that oven on 180 degrees Centigrade now.

Mix the Peanut Butter, Margarine and Sugars together till smooth.

Mix in the egg

Sift the Flour, Baking Powder and Bicarbonate of Soda in.

Fold in the Oats.

Mix it till it is smooth cookie dough texture.

Wack little balls on some baking paper in the over...move them around a bit so they don't burn ( surely it isn't just my oven which bakes unevenly? ). 15 or so minutes later and you are a baking god.

Put on cooling rack ( but eat one hot, you have earnt it ).

Enjoy.

Playing the sheep....

2010-09-28T19:59:00.003+01:00

Ok, I admit I was one of those who laughed at the early adopters to the iPad. However, here I am on a train from London back to Stockport able to check work emails, Twitter and FB, as well as writing a blog post ( granted blogger isn't working properly in Safari, but you can't have everything ).

Will I buy one? Probably no.

Will I try to blag the work one for every work trip? That would be a yes!

Retort - Buy the T-shirt ( chapter 2 )

2010-09-17T21:00:00.002+01:00

As a comic retort to my previous post, inspired by Father Ted ( thanks Burts )
I'm bored of this now...

Aggressive Atheist - Buy the T-Shirt

2010-09-16T19:26:00.004+01:00

In response to some jumped up story teller bloke in a dress...

Buy the t-shirt, badge, sticker, bag, mug...err and loads of other random crap here.

P.S. I don't expect anyone to actually buy these bits of tat, it is actually a really clever political statement? ( well it made me giggle and who reads this anyway? )

Gower 2010 - It's all about the camping!

2010-08-30T19:26:00.005+01:00

Been a while since we just went away camping, so was really looking forward to the trip to Oxwich Bay this summer. It didn't disappoint!

The Top 5:

1) Fresh Coffee brewed in the Morning light.

2) A campsite without fuddy duddys in caravans.

3) Tales told in tents ( though will pack more books next time )

4) Running in fields

5) Putting the tent away in a huge thunderstorm ( yes it was so silly it was funny )

All I can say is that we will be back ( that should be advert enough )

Check out the pics here or click the image below.

Cwmcarn Headcam Edits

2010-08-11T20:51:00.005+01:00

I really should use the Vholdr headcam more and I have now made a cheeky mount so I can put it on the bike for those crazy angled shots...but in the meantime here are some very rough edits from a recent uplift at Cwmcarn DH track.

As you may be able to tell I am sitting on the brakes, you can blame that on the kick ass Orange 224 Evo I was riding ( it certainly wasn't my skill ). Almost 9 inches of travel makes ragging down trails like this a whole lot quicker!

If you liked these and want to see some real biking footage ( with some crazy headcam ). Check out the boys at MTBCut .

Endurance DH at Fort Bill - the lo-fi review.

2010-08-03T20:07:00.022+01:00

The Orange 224 Evo - my toy for the weekend

10 days after the event and I can still remember pretty much every rock on the Fort William World Cup Downhill track, after all I did get 6 hours to get to know it personally.

It's their fault...

So, the short story is that after a phone call from one of the main men at Orange Bikes I ran out of excuses and found myself driving up to Fort William ( with one of the other main men from Orange as co-pilot ) to compete in the World famous No-Fuss events Endurance DH Mountain Bike Race.

Here is the rest of story in Polaroids:

Yes, I burnt the porridge...( an omen? )

Trusty little tent hidden in the woods next to the trail.

One of these was going to be mine ( yes like a sweet shop )

The Orange Factory Team ( David and Vaughan )
( Dave won the in-house comp on an Orange 5, the crazy fool )

Stu from MTBcut was on hand for filming duties.

The pits were set up with spare wheels a plenty

The course is world famous, but it was still my first time on it.

Yes it rained.

Yes it was muddy.

Yes I hurt my handYes it was the an amazing course and stupid amounts of fun.

Yes, I do want to do it all again ( after doing 10 laps in 6 hours )

In conclusion:

If you don't race mountain bikes - this race is for you.
If you do race mountain bikes - this race is for you.
If you just want to do one race for the hell of it - this race is for you.
If you want to have a bloody good laugh - this race is for you.

Check out the Orange Bikes report here

Check out more events by the team at No Fuss ( including the MacAvalanche!? ) here

Check out the MTBcut video here ( pay close attention to 1:05 as well as the load screen )

Additional Photos courtesy John Chennels at Orange Bikes.

Isle of Harris Roadtrip

2010-07-28T20:07:00.003+01:00

Far too much to say about our trip to the Isle of Harris...so here it is broken into Top 5:

1. It's a long way away from anywhere, so plan a roadtrip ( we went via Fort William and Isle of Skye )

2. It is a quiet relaxed island, so don't expect lots going on. This is a place to explore and relax into.

3. Without a doubt these are the some of the most mental roads I have ever driven on ( and I have done lots of driving in my time ). Treble your normal driving times! That said if you have a road bike this is a serious Mecca.

4. There is a reason why Stornaway has it's own weather station...they get a lot of it there.

5. Buy some Harris Tweed, it is from a world we sorely miss.

Naturally I took some pics, click the image below to check them out...

Fixies - The New Rollerblades?

2010-06-23T08:48:00.002+01:00

via Chrome Bags

Hale Superbole - Suck it and Huck it.

2010-06-04T20:14:00.007+01:00

I'm getting a little too used to these dry and dusty conditions and you couldn't get more bone dry then yesterday when Matt and I headed down to an old stomping ground to check out the newly opened 'MTB Pursuits at Hales Superbole'. That is a bit of a mouthfull for what is actually a managed Mountain Bike park.

So what is going on over there? Well it was first set up as a Mountain Board park ( yep the pretend snowboarder types ), but now it is definately more aimed at the 4X and Freeride fraternity.

The hill isn't that big, so a short walk to the top and you have a fair few choices. Look right and you can either jump on the Mini DH run ( nothing too silly here, just one crazy gap which comes out of nowhere ), or walk 20m and you have the ladders, wall ride, dirt jumps ( 2 lines ) and mini-shore section. Looking straight down the hill you have the World Class 4X track ( which splits for a serious PRO line half way down ).

At the bottom of the hill ( and next to the entrance ) is an awesome big jump line with two big tabletops, then a little one into a very smooth Quarterpipe. Of everything in the park, this was the most fun. The sort of jumps you have to hold the bike back from really flying...you could go really big here.

So what else can I tell you? Well it looks like in the wet this place is going to be hard going ( sooo much clay around ), but it does look like it is going to be a dry summer? ( am I tempting fate there? ). The lines here are pretty intense, yes there are some easy pickings which you could build up on, but to get the most out of the day here you really do have to 'Suck it and Huck it'! Think of it as an Alpine Bike Park without the mountain behind it and you will have it spot on.

The only negative point is that to experience this playground you do have to dig out a tenner...yep £10 in new money ( £7 on late nights ). But before you run away crying lottery funding, this is a private enterprise with a passionate set-up who is constantly maintaining the course and developing it ( it has only been open a few weeks ). I would definately give it a try, but pack your armour as you are going to be experiencing some air-time.

Check out the pics by clicking any of the images or clicking here

For more info on the park check out their website here

Also worth noting that my good friends Bob and Ally of Campbell Coaching are some of the instructors on hand here along with the DH legend Neil Donoghue. Check out the details here.

Self Proclaimed? Moi?

2010-05-24T19:49:00.002+01:00

What can I say? I must have left an impression!?

decluttr aka 'things are better on black'

2010-05-24T15:47:00.003+01:00

Been playing around on Flickr a fair bit recently, mainly as I have up'd the processing on a lot of my shots and I am being a little more selective about how I show them ( so many photographer mates now and they are so hard to please! ).

Now Flickr is superb ( only web service I actually pay for ), but it is rubbish for actually showing images. Up until recently I have used BigHugeLabs to show off some images, but the experience was 'clunky'. So I thought I would check out what other people are using and decluttr kept coming up.

Why would you want to show an image on a black background? ( ignoring the science bit about how the eye and brain perceives colour and space )

Compare and Contrast

Using Flickr

Using decluttr

Need I say more?

( Oh if you are struggling to work out how to use decluttr...follow the link...drag the [decluttr] phrase from your browser to your bookmarks....then after going to the Flickr image you want, just click the link in your bookmarks...simples! )

San Fran - Avoiding the Cliché Shot

2010-05-10T13:14:00.003+01:00

I did have some grand plans about taking some less than cliché images on this trip to San Fran, but a trip across the Golden Gate bridge and into the Marin Headlands put pay to that.

Every shot has a story...given a bit of time and some more caffiene and I may try and explain them a little bit more. But until then, check them out by clicking here or the image below.

( You will notice some less than glorious attempts at self portraits...I have been considering a Flickr 365 project, but don't think I really have the smile for it! )

Cure for Jet Lag ( San Fran style )

2010-05-10T08:33:00.006+01:00

After the joys of being delayed by the latest dust cloud some help was needed in combating the jet lag... fortunately I had a couple of hours in San Fran before flying out and Lucky from the Acme Made crew introduced me to the delights of Peets Coffee.So here is my four step jetlag cure 'San Fran' Style!

1. Get some Peets beans ( I went for Major Dickason's Blend, though I hear that the French Roast is pretty awesome too ).

2. Grind it yourself ( don't be lazy now )

3. Brew it in a Cafetière ( this is how the pros do it you know )

4. Get a big mug!

Now to process the rest of my shots from the trip...

Jet lag...

2010-05-02T15:49:00.004+01:00

Currently in San Francisco with work..fighting the good old Jet Lag ( ok it is morning here which is afternoon in the UK so it isn't that bad at the moment ). Hit up a blues club last night just to stay awake to the hedonistic hour of 9pm!

Got these shots out of my camera and they pretty much some up what my head was doing...

Blue Sky Thinking

2010-04-24T11:33:00.004+01:00

Looks like the carnage at the airports is coming to an end with flights back on schedule, but whilst the planes were grounded instead of watching endless news reports of Brits stuck abroad, I was stuck looking at the most amazing blue skies I have ever seen.

I live near Manchester Airport, so I am so used to seeing the sky full of white trails, it was simply surreal seeing none in the sky. There will be very few occasions in a lifetime when you will experience it, ( last time would have been post 9/11 )..and I miss the clean skies already.

Anyway, on a side trip into Manchester to catch up with an old mate and his missus, I pointed the camera up at the sky and snapped away.

Click the image for the rather simple results...

I also set up a competition via my work Twitter feed @LoweproUK with some very skilled photographers taking pics and uploading them to Flickr. Check out the entries here.

My gmail got hacked...gutted!

2010-04-18T20:13:00.003+01:00

I've had a Gmail account since September 2004... it was still in the Beta testing as well, so I am I suppose one of the first users in the UK. In the years I have had the account I have sent thousands of emails and ended up with hundreds of contacts. It has been superb, far better than my old Madmail ( remember them? ), Yahoo and Hotmail accounts. It's been solid too, no issues for all that time...Until Saturday.

Yes, my email got hacked.

First off, let me make this clear. The hackers didn't gain access to my computer, or my wireless, or did they sit in a white van looking through binoculars at my keyboard to work out my password. The hackers got access to my account via Google Servers....yep the mighty Google made a boo boo. How do I know this? Well a simple search on yes, google, and you can find lots of articles on gmail hacks ( with rather a large number of fingers pointing to China? ). I am also rather confident that my password for this account got never be guessed ( and I have all other security measures in place ).

All I can say it is feels nasty... it is like someone breaking into your house and using the toilet ( but not flushing ).

So sorry to everyone my account spammed, I'm hoping that you either noticed before you opened it ( and deleted it accordingly ) or your spam filter picked it up before you saw it. Weirdly it looks like it was only accounts A to M?

More info on potential Chinese link here

More info on the various problems in this forum link here

Long techy document ( from 2008! ) here

Biking 2010 - It's Begun

2010-04-09T21:50:00.003+01:00

Classic day out in the Spring sunshine enjoying the mighty trails of North Wales...morning at the Pump Track and Skill Areas at Llandegla and the afternoon at the Gasnach.

Click the image below to check out the shots.

And for some top coaching follow 'Campbell Coaching' on Facebook!

That there London - Easter 2010

2010-04-05T21:42:00.003+01:00

Don't you just love late minute trips? Well this one was to that there London courtesy of the Bro-In-Law and his Fiance lending us their flat in Highgate ( what nice folks ). We caught up with Family and Friends and even squeezed in some time at Hamleys and the Science Museum ( Immy preferred the latter )...and then there was the Olive with a face?

Click the pic below to check out some images from the weekend.

BST..

2010-03-28T21:41:00.005+01:00

It's been a while since I made an animated gif. Not really had the need to do it of late, but thought I might have a play in photoshop just to see if I could still remember how to do it.
British Summer Time started today. I got up with Immy, had a nice breakfast and then headed to the new trails at Delamere Forest. The change in clocks must have caught all the gravity bikers out as the trails where empty ( conversely there were loads of roadies wooshing past in their team coloured lycra? ).

And of course with the new BST...comes some new graphics to the trusty helmet.... and this season I am all about the Evel Knievil look ( though in black ).

The Legend himself..

These videos inspire me...

2010-03-24T13:31:00.003Z

...fact!

More Mountain Biking >>

Patrick Edit at Carlmont from keithdasneak on Vimeo.

Tunnell Fun...

2010-03-20T11:28:00.002Z

My favourite image of 2010 so far..

You can check out the original in the new Spring 2010 image folder here ( yes I will be adding more images ).

The Ultimate Gear Bag?

2010-03-19T20:42:00.005Z

Let's get a couple of things out of the way, I'm a web nerd and I am a gear nerd...

...ok, now we have that clear, check out this awesome Maximus 40 duffle bag which I got via a Highsnobiety online competition.

Now I have had my fair share of duffles ( though still wishing a got a limited edition North Face Base Camp duffle I saw in Chicago once ), but this one is the ultimate! After a nuclear assualt, two things will survive...insects and this bag!

It's a simple bag ( as all true outdoor products should be ). It's extremely well built and hardwearing with multiple haulage options. I really wouldn't be afraid of throwing this onto the back of a landrover or off a bus in Khatmandu...and the blue is very distinctive ( which is a good thing ).

So what is the skinny? Well it's made by the new Eddie Bauer 'First Ascent' brand, who make stuff under the 'Guide Built Gear' heading. Check the list of the people they are working with...it's a who's who of mountaineering ( remember Ed Viesturs from the original IMAX Everest movie? ). Now I have only had a chance to check out this one product, but by the look of their website the rest of it looks pretty awesome. Nice clean functional lines, no pandering to the masses...pure mountain design. Unfortunately you can't buy First Ascent products in the UK ( or any Eddie Bauer for that matter ), so looks like when I am back in the States i'll be checking more of their kit out ( looks like May for another work trip to SF ). Just look at the clean lines of the BC-100 ( and liking the blue colour too!)

Anything negative? Well this is only the 40 litre model, which whilst awesome, it isn't big enough for my mountain biking or full outdoor kit...but i'll still be using it a lot. I might even use it as my international travel bag? ( instead of a shoulder strap it actually has a very clever backpack harness instead ).

Anyway, check it out online here

The Camera Nerds Mug..

2010-03-13T20:30:00.003Z

I may be a Nikon user, but still want one of these...

I have contacts all over the world working on getting me one ( seriously )

I need dry trails...

2010-03-11T21:31:00.000Z

More Mountain Biking >>

It's still a fixie...

2010-03-01T20:39:00.003Z

Yeah, this shows awesome skill, and you wouldn't catch me being able to do any of this on a bmx, trials or big bouncy bike...but it is still a fixie and it still looks a bit...well...silly?

Chris Akrigg THE MAURICE.0 from chris akrigg on Vimeo.

Sandwiches

2010-03-01T09:04:00.003Z

It's a long running joke at work that I don't like sandwiches...it makes business lunches that little more interesting.

I'm not a meat eater either, and I am not a fan of mustard or mayo..or American bread for that matter. But I do like crusts.

So why does this look like the most classy sandwich ever to be made?

Tea...the truth.

2010-02-28T19:39:00.003Z

A Patagoniacs Book Review

2010-01-28T20:44:00.005Z

I've always been a fan of Patagonia kit, there was just something aspirational about it when I was really getting into the Outdoors game. You didn't find it in a lot of stores and the cost of their classic Mountaineering jacket was always that little bit silly ( that said my first Gore-tex was the classic Berghaus Mera Peak which at the time was the most expensive jacket they did ). I had heard and read about the founder Yvon Chouinard plenty of times, especially when it came to the drive for a more green approach to business ( which if truth be known I didn't take seriously until much later on in my career ) so I had always been looking for an excuse to buy his book 'Let My People Go Surfing - The Education of a Reluctant Businessman'.

Role on Christmas and a bit of cash in my pocket walking through the Lake District town of Keswick ( we were supposed to be on the hill, but the snow was a little too epic ) and the purchase was easy.

So what was this book like? Well to be honest it was more 'interesting' than 'gripping'. This is a man who has struggled with the concept of business since setting up the classic Chouinard equipment many years ago. It is enlightening to read about his approach to staffing and making sure that you look after your own people ( hence the title ). Patagonia is still a very successful business and you do get little glimpses into how this has been acheived ( most notably the amount of CEO's the company has had ), but the main issue being presented in this book is that a company whatever size can and indeed, should be making a difference to the world. What is also very interesting is the transparency of the company. The say and they do. Having seen my fair share of greenwashing and even companies abusing the 1% for the Planet foundation that the author set up, it is refreshing to go back to the originators and see how it should be done.

I've never been a fan of business qualifications, especially the dreaded MBA which for some reason people hold in high esteem, ( I like the authors MBA - Management By Absence ), but if these courses are to have any credibility this book should be on the reading list. It should also be read by anyone who sits in the car on the way to work questioning the way things are done. In this book, you may just find some answers ( or at least a new path to some ).

This leads me to the next book I picked up. I have run into references to Steph Davies on various outdoor sites for a fair few years and seen her pop up on Twitter talking about some scary wingsuit flying in the Alps, but didn't know she had written a book. Then randomly I saw an old rock climbing movie on a plane trip and also saw her on TV ( albeit as a background story to Dean Potter setting a slacklining record ). So in looking up more about slacklining ( which does look awesome ) I ended up on her blog thinking about climbing again ( been a long time since I had been on a rock face ). I picked up her book 'High Infatuation: A Climbers Guide to Love and Gravity' online and from page one I was gripped.

Avoiding the standard autobiographical layout, this book is more of a collection of thoughts and experiences. The running theme is the challenge of living a life driven by challenges. How can it effect your personal life, how can you put down any roots living a nomadic lifestyle and how hanging 1000ft from a cliff face can form friendships for life. It is almost like reading a diary of sorts, but you really do get carried a long from Patagonia to Moab, back to Patagonia and off to Yosemite and back again. It's a crazy trip and there isn't an end. I challenge anyone to read this and not want to pack everything up in a battered old jeep and head to the hills. The only thing that challenged me in this book was the 'Aid Climbing' . Being a British climber the concept of taking a hammer to a rock is totally alien and in a strange sort of way I did get the impression that the author was starting to feel that too. Either way it is a good book to read and blog to follow.

Need another outdoorsy book to crave the interest...suggestions welcome!

Planning...

2010-01-21T21:14:00.002Z

So where to go this summer?? Thinking Dublin or maybe Copenhagen...any other ideas?

It's a Knockout

2010-01-12T20:20:00.004Z

Sorry Mr Moyles, we have had a good run and there were some good laughs, but you have changed. Let's face it, as soon as there was pressure to drop the average listening age at Radio 1, you were always going to loose out. Step in Mr Evans, he has been rebelious, but has now calmed down and is playing music which people actually like ( whatever the yoof producers say, no-one over 10 years old likes NDUBZ Mr Moyles ).

So that is that, I'm 32 and I am now a Radio 2 boy....( it was looking doubtful until Sarah 'Let's play another wacky showtune' Kennedy stepped back to allow Chris Evans to start at 7am )

So when do I get my pension?

Polar-Day

2010-01-06T20:42:00.011Z

Still loving the Polardroid action...

Gisburn Forest - A Polaroid Adventure

2009-12-13T20:06:00.035Z

Badge of Honour

2009-12-07T15:39:00.004Z

It's that time of year when the wind has changed direction and along with the rain there is an icey wind blowing. That of course means the trusty Down Jacket comes out of the closet has a bit of an airing and then gets thoroughly abused until the Spring comes. I've had this beauty since sometime in the late Nineties when I bought it on a Staff Deal directly from the Carringtons ( it was actually Sue I dealt with, wife of Rab Carrington ). It's a 'Kinder Guide' which means it has the re-inforced shoulders for carrying a pack and a better face fabric. Not sure if tney still make this model ( The company was sold a while back and I don't think it is family owned anymore ), not that I would replace it.

I've always seen a well used Down jacket as a Badge of Honour for those who enjoy the Outdoors. These are not the dreaded 'Puffa Jackets' full of nasty polyester, these are technical bits of kit which will serve you well for years. So if you have a Rab, North Face ( like the Missus ), Mountain Equipment, Mountain Hardware, or Patagonia ( like the nipper! ) get them out of the cupboard and use them with pride!

It's a pity that Immy's jacket won't last as long as mine ( she may have grown out of it by next Winter )

The Best Frett-fiddling Concert Ever?

2009-12-06T21:04:00.003Z

I remember having this on video and watching it on full blast in the early nineties...has there ever been a better line up of fret-fiddlers?? Watch it ( and ignore the bit with 'More than words'... ) and turn it up to 11.

Something else 'New' for the Hipsters..

2009-11-22T10:28:00.001Z

Loving the Gluhwein..

2009-11-19T19:54:00.006Z

Gluhwein in Manchester....

Immy is 1

2009-11-18T20:45:00.002Z

check it..

Kung Fu and BMX...

2009-11-13T16:20:00.001Z

Kick ass BMX action!

I wanted a Trango, but ended up with a Mera Peak...

2009-11-08T21:38:00.003Z

Got to love the re-issue!

Northern Cali

2009-11-02T11:23:00.003Z

Managed to get some camera time whilst out in Northern California. Nothing to hot, but with some cheeky processing there are some nice images in there ( I purposely went for a more washed-out, saturated look, not sure why, maybe I wish I was using a Holga? ) Click here or the image above to view the album.

Kid You'll Move Mountains...

2009-10-04T20:34:00.005+01:00

Imogen is 11 months old today...and not so long ago we had a naming day ceremony for the wee nipper. Friends and family came and we shared a special few hours welcoming her to the world. Following that day I had a word with my mate Wrennie to see if he could use his artistic talents to put some of the words we spoke that day onto paper.

A few things got in the way ( most notably Wrennie having a 'tactical dismount' during a Downhill Mountain biking session on Moelfre which resulted in broken ribs, a punctured lung and some pneumonia. I still think he was just being soft ), but then the old Ginger Prince came round for a spot of din-dins and to show us what he had drawn.

We were blown away that day and we continue to be so......I'm not sure I can use this blog post to explain how awesome these are and how much they mean to us. Just click them to get the bigger versions and ask yourself why this guy isn't doing this for a living?
To coin a phrase....stoked.

This makes you think...

2009-09-21T21:36:00.002+01:00

The Longest Way 1.0 - one year walk/beard grow time lapse from Christoph Rehage on Vimeo.

Victim x Casio

2009-09-20T10:40:00.006+01:00

I'd quite like one of these... ( no link to me, just the crazy Japanese Clothing label Victim )

Via Freshmag

Getting back in a kayak..

2009-09-13T20:14:00.007+01:00

Yep that time of year has come when I run out of excuses and jump back into a kayak for a run down the mighty Tryweryn! Taking advantage of the Pyranha Fest and stealing a Burn from an old Team paddler Jamie Burbeck it wasn't as harsh as it could have been. In fact the river was pretty much the same as it always was. I may have been a little shakey, but I didn't expect to be hitting every micro eddy after 12 months out of a boat.

Weirdly the sun was shining ( the sun never shines in Bala ), and it does make me think about alpine trips and classic Ogwen sessions. But then he muscles in my back remind me why I used to end up sleeping on the floor ( as it was the only place comfortable after a day in a boat). 10 years of paddling will probably keep a Physio in business when I get older!

I always joke that not much has changed since I left the industry. In fact I was paddling a Burn which was the last kayak I worked on ( I still claim ownership of the name! ). However I did catch a look at the new Mark II Burn ( slightly softer, probably for the lame ass US market where edges are the sporn of the devil ) and the new playboat the Pyranha PDQ ( which I know as the machines that process credit cards, though it more than likely relates to 'Pretty Darn Quick' ). There are even rumours of it being available to the public in carbon....that could be interesting!

So yes, it was a cracking day on the river. Lots of awesome paddlers hanging out, the sun shining and Vicky and Immy there for a spot of lunch. Yeah, it would be nice to get a run down the Conwy, Llugwy or Ogwen this season, but with the water levels so hard to predict, it probably won't happen ( but it would be nice if I could at least squeeze a run down the classic Conwy..just to get my face wet ).

Roll on next year and another day out in a kayak....

Italia 2009

2009-09-06T19:28:00.006+01:00

Ok it has been a while since I posted up here...but not been slacking! It's been all go on the work front and had a great time in Italy with a little break by Lake Garda before Big Brother Jez got married to the lovely Monica.

Still need to get a couple of rolls of Lomo film developed, but got some good shots from the Lake, Venice and the wedding in Verona.

Click the images to go direct to the albums...

Click Here for images from the Lake

Click Here for images from Venice

Click Here for images from Verona and the Wedding

For the time being I have just put up the batch processed images straight from the camera, but will find some time to do some nice things with photoshop and other software. I'm thinking some nice B&W, a wee bit of cropping, maybe some Tiltshiftmaker action.

Now I have Italian relatives from the region around Verona, it seems only right that I now want a custom bike from the local bike builders Chesini. We will be going back again, so might have to check them out a little bit closer. Could this see me buying a road bike??

Treasure Hunt

2009-08-10T20:09:00.010+01:00

Ok, Vicky has raised the bar when it comes to Birthdays...

1) It was a Treasure Hunt

2) It started with Belgian Waffles

3) We got to ride in a 1st Class carriage of a Steam Train

4) We drank old school drinks at the last 'Temperance' bar in the UK.

5) We spent it with Immy :-)

Here are some choice pics from the day...

The Clues!

Slattery's For Breakfast

Steam Carriage

Old Man Driver

Mr Fitzpatricks

The Ladies who made it happen!

So an awesome Birthday out...and topped off by a day watching the boys and girls rag it around Plattfields in the National BMX Champs...perfect!

For pictures of this adventure and other Summer 2009 trips click here

3's ( by Polardroid )

2009-07-30T20:50:00.008+01:00

It might be a bit slow, but I do like Polardroid...

The most awesome present ever....

2009-07-20T21:02:00.003+01:00

Not for me, but for young Imogen Layla Sadler.....yes it is the sheet music for Layla by Derek and the Dominos signed by a Mr Eric Clapton. Yep the Slowhand himself. Or as I prefer to call him..GOD ( see graffiti references of the 1960's and my pencil case of the 1990's )

The most awesome present for Immy from rocking Uncle Steve!