February 18th, 2008
Brutal Calderdale
Photo Copyright © and Courtesy Chris
Over to Calderdale to gatecrash Chipps’ 40th birthday I was pleasantly surprised by my fitness this weekend. Usually a trip to the valley is a chance to ride the latest Singletrack test bike. Last time I ended up on the very nice but wibbily-forked Kona Hei Hei. Nice, but I couldn’t help feeling that I preferred my own bike.
So this time I stuck to my own trusty Five Spot. A bike that despite it’s burly appearance weighs three pounds less than my 1993 XC race bike - meaning I have no excuse for being so laggardly up hills, sadly - and flatters my downhilling. I may be playing the soundtrack to an early Crusty Demons of Dirt in my head, but I know that if anything I’m one of the Bubba interludes.
The trails were frozen dry as a summers day and my traditional black wool proved suitably warm in the sun. Only multiple chain snappage - raw power, moi? - could spoil things, but even that not much as my riding companions were more than patient while I faffed.
Thanks are due to Blazing Saddles for sensible Sunday opening hours allowing me to ride home on a fresh chain, and my riding companions: Tim ‘Fingers’ Kershaw (route guiding), Chris (pictures and teacakes), and Rob from Felt (geared sympathies).
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