#RIDE4MB 100 Mile Challenge - LOGO

With thanks to the awesome Aaron Tolley Design I have a kick ass logo for the Challenge:

Now I just have to get some clothing sorted...

#RIDE4MB 100 Mile Challenge - The Beginning

Many of you who follow me on here or on Facebook and elsewhere will be aware of my passion for Mountain Biking. One of the key people who has stoked that fire in recent years has been Michael Bonney of Orange Mountain Bikes.

I forget how we first made contact, it's not really important, but I do know that we got talking about the famous Endurance DH event at Fort William very early on. An abridged version of the conversation went like this:

Michael "Have you heard about the Endurance DH event at Fort William?"

Me "Yeah, it's in a few weeks time, I'd like to do it one day"

Michael "Do it this year"

Me "I don't have a bike"

Michael "Ride one of ours"

Me "Errrrr ok!"

This is what Michael does, he gets people riding bikes. He is the spark that ignites people around the world to get out there and do something.

In March this year, Michael was out riding and crashed badly resulting in a C3 spinal cord injury. The result is that Michael is now tetraplegic - paralysed from the neck down, requiring a ventilator to breathe.

I've not know him for long, but I can tell you that Michael is a Tough Northern B'stard in the truest sense. He will not be beaten by this but he will need some ongoing support.

It is with this that I present a 100 mile challenge I am doing this summer.

• On August the 17th, I will 'Race the Train' in a 14 mile off road running event.
• On September the 19th, I will ride 60 miles in the first 'Ride for Michael Bonney Sportive'.
• On October the 6th I will run the 26 miles of the Chester Marathon.

NB: I should add that I haven't run in an off-road event before ( Tough Mudder doesn't count ), I've never ridden a road bike and I haven't run a marathon before....so it really is a set of firsts!
 

For the long-term, the process of setting up the Michael Bonney Trust Fund and charitable projects are in progress. Sadly until they are firmly in place, well known services like justgiving.com are not an option for reasons out of the control of Michael's support team.

Therefore to raise funds ( and get your hard earned CASH ), I am asking you to support the Ride for Michael - Stage 1 Campaign.

All you need to do is hit the 'Contribute Now' button ( or you could buy some merchandise to help spread the word! )

Granted doing it this way will make it hard for me to track what I raise, but this isn't about an individual target or about a personal ego massage. This is about raising funds to support one of our own.


This is also an open invite to all of you to join me at any of these events and to do your own for #RIDE4MB

This is just the beginning.... please keep checking back for updates.

PLEASE SHARE THIS POST AND SPREAD THE WORD.

1 Race 3 Blogs

One week on and I am still buzzing from racing in the awesome Mini-Enduro at Eastridge Woods. Ok I didn't exactly set a fast time, but I did clean all the lines and finish in one piece. I also got to hang out with the super talented Charles Robertson and he busted out some great pics like this one:

The Saracen Ariel 143 is awesome...but still needs a little help from time to time (c) Charles Robertson 2013.

So with a good day out on the bike it would seem rude not to go blog-crazy..

Just click the logos:

 



I think I did it justice...and yes I count this as one of the three ( get lots of traffic these days)

Now to wait for the next dates as I really like this format of racing!

The Sadler Messenger Bag - Designed and Made by Emma Cornes

I've taken on many roles in my time. I've been a sales person, an IT nerd, an e-commerce pioneer (cough), a teacher, a marketeer to name but a few. At the moment I guess you could say I am a bag man ( if there is any doubt Wideopen Magazine did on P115 of issue 18 ). Of course that isn't strictly what I do, but it makes it easy to understand what keeps me off the streets and the mortgage being paid.

With this experience I'm pretty confident in saying that I have influenced quite a few designs in my time, a kayak here, an advertising campaign there, a backpack or two of course, though I would never be so bold as to claim I am a designer. I have however had long protracted 'discussions' about nomenclature, and being a little too opinionated when it comes to the topic, I like to win those battles ( I still claim ownership of the Pyranha Burn name as well as plenty of others in the current line up ).

All that said, I am sitting here with an awesome bag designed and made by Emma Cornes called 'The Sadler'. And yes that would be my surname and yes I feel completely humbled by the whole experience.

The Sadler Messenger Bag - Made by Emma Cornes

I can't remember how the process started. I am sure that there was always a plan to add a Messenger style bag to the collection, but knowing a little bit about bag design I threw a few ideas in the pot, ( hoping not to offend of course ), but generally kept nudging each time a new blog post came out about how the project was developing.

The Sadler Messenger in it's Natural Environment

Next thing I know Emma say's that she likes to name her designs after people she knows ( there are already 'Elizabeth', 'Helen', 'Kirsty' and 'Nicola' designs ) and drops the bomb that it will be called 'The Sadler'. I suppose I have become immune to my name, but hinting at leather products it does have an agreeable ring to it when applied to a bag ( though still makes me feel a wee bit uncomfortable ).

Scottish Woven - Cheshire Made - The Sadler Messenger Bag

It's fair to say that Emma is relatively new to this cut & sew game, but picking up this bag you would think that she had been busy working at these designs for years. The finish it on par with the highest quality bags you will find in that there London Town and using true Scottish Tweed this has a feel that evokes Rannoch Moor or the Callanish Stones.

The Sadler Messenger Bag - Plenty of Space.

I've used lots of Messenger bags in my years and fit is a funny thing. You don't want it too large so you overload it and can't find anything, but equally you don't want to be left wanting more room. Size wise this bag is spot on for everyday use ( blokes don't have weekend bags do they? ). I can get my Ultrabook ( or iPad ), Compact Camera in Lowepro pouch, Joby Gorillapod, Sunglasses, magazine, passport, pens and all the associated cables and still have got some space to play with.

Other features include leather straps with metal buckles and a reinforced waxed cotton base.

Not sure what else I can say about this bag. It's like a Barbour Jacket or pair of Hunter Wellingtons. Not cheap, but you know you are getting something that if looked after will last a lifetime and be equally at home in the office or trudging into the Clachaig Inn.

It is worth noting that along with the Sadler, there is now also the 'Fairweather' iPad sleeve ( which I am guessing is named after the legendary Kayaker David Fairweather ). You can also get some of the first-off-the-sewing-machine bags direct from Emma here.

The only thing left to say is check out Emma's website here and if you see her at one of the craft fairs she is hitting up this year, say hello!

More pictures of the Sadler Messenger are on my Flickr Page ( I'll be adding some more soon ).

The Sadler Messenger Bag - Made by Emma Cornes

I should add a footnote at the bottom here apologising to Emma's lesser half Pete, as my grammar and punctuation of late has been truly horrendous ( and Pete is one of the greatest wordsmiths I know ). I promise to do better much like I have done before like.