hell yeah

just had my first proper ride since the accident, "the italian duke" felt great, perfect winter weather, got home now listening to rocket from the crypt, flip i feel good for the first time in 2 months. its so true sometimes the wind is on your back other times its in your damn face.

Nice video from last weekend

Rapha Super Cross 2011 from RAPHA on Vimeo.

I am in there around 2.25, beats the time i was on the local news playing football, except i was actually involved that time round rather than just drinking.

SUPER (fun) cross

The second of this weekends cyclo-cross racing was Rapha's  third 'Supercross' instalment in Alexandra Palace. A fantastic day, Rapha's lovely logo looked glorious in the sunny weather, I couldn't stop staring at the grey touring van. My friend Delia won, there was great beer and we shared a lovely (and now legendary) piece of lemon drizzle cake watching the high spirited novice & junior race. Pretty weird seeing the London skyline ever present and I think it threw a few unknowing locals as the first race kicked off with cow bells and all.

The AP logo stair rails – could make a great head tube badge.

Ahhhhhhhh

 Delia races to victory

Not so muddy hell

This weekend was a double bill of London cyclo-cross racing that my two friends David and Delia were racing in, and I was, well drinking in. The first up was 'Muddy Hell' – brought to Herne Hill by Rollapaluza cycle club/events. my photos aren't great from this nite, i was too busy catching up with friends and having a good nite. It is a Halloween themed, the riders are encouraged to dress up in devil's nite attire and ride their lungs out. Like all fancy dress nites, some go all out and others just pin a cats tail to their shorts.

Nice one Delia for coming in third (bravo face pictured)

judging by the cover

and while i'm talking about objects i've seen i love the look of – here's the cover of Condors' (by far my favourite bike shop, for their friendlyness and stock) new book, 'past present future'. can't wait to get a copy and i'll stand it next to all my other yellow things. maybe one day in the future i'll also own on of their frames.

Look out for the Lug Man

this is enough to make you cry and put your fist in your mouth and think about another credit card, nevermind another frame. lovely lovely hand cut lugs from the yorkshireman. nerd yourself out. Sigh.

smile as wide as my bars

A smile as wide as my home made bullhorn bars – went for my first ride after my crash yesterday. it was fine, a couple of laps round the park in the glorious october sunshine?? – and even stopped to read my book for a while and pause and reflect on it all. My friend has just lent me a bunch of cycle based books, including "put me back on my bike" – the other tommy simpson bio. fairly apt title for me over the last couple of weeks.

I wasn't expecting it to feel as weird being back in the saddle – i was all like "oh it will be just like sitting in my favourite chair once more" – but it was actually more like wearing someone else's odd shoes, only for the first five minutes thank god.

good charity shoppe

picked up this amazing old magazine rack today – reminded me of three things – spokes, my favourite colour combo at the moment and the eames coat rack. 

i always thought those coat racks like all coat rack/stands look better with nothing on them at all, which fights with their function. unless it's nice a cane umbrella or 1960's gents hat. my new rack needs a spot of paint and gluing – nice little restoration project i got while i am taking things easy.