Live and direct from Andorra…

I’m feeling frazzled, wet ‘n cold. 

Left home at 11pm last night – drove ’till 3 – laid out my sleeping bag in the car and slept four hours.

Woke up, slid in the drivers seat and ragged along some stunning mountain roads… The only hairy moment was suddenly noticing that the fuel gauge was at empty…

Luckily I’d just crossed into Andorra, and (as it’s a tax/duty-free haven) there is a petrol station/ciggy shop every 200 meters here.

I’ve never been here before, and the weather isn’t turning me on much. All in all it’s a bit like Scotland, only colder, wetter and even hillier…

Which is of course why we (the motley crew of MTB spectators, racers and industry blaggers) are here; for the mountain at the Valnord Bike Park. More specifically still; for the UCI XC, 4X & DH race.

When I got here at 8, I headed sraight up the hill, wandered arround the paddock and saw a few old faces. Then back down into town, find a hotel and a few other errands. 

I’m now sitting in Cedric Gracia’s very own bar, the Podium lounge, which is where the photo was taken. The hill in the background is the bottom of the hill the race is taking place on.

Right, got to get going, off to do some work and find out what’s happening tonight / tomorrow. Apparently I’m going to be jumping into the commentary booth for Freecaster at some point… yikes!

 

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Yeti

The ever-mysterious Mr Yeti to you, is another old buddy I should shout out more often.

Read his mountain climbing exploits. See his ginger afro. Smell his socks.

It seemed to be a good opp to pull out these shots from  ’03….

US Open video

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Backlogging and Updating

OK, there’s a few things happening to the site at the mo… I seem to have re-discovered a desire to blog, and so:

There is an update to this template on it’s way – the lovely Mr Mig Pilot is hard at work creating something special…

I’ve copied over the most interesting / relevant blog postings from 06 and 07… they have now all been tagged and I am slowly going through re-inserting links and photo’s. Check out the category cloud or the calendar on the RHS to find what I was up to…

Dirt

Thanks to my lovely lil’ Sis, I’ve a freshly minted copy of Dirt to read this weekend!

IN the back pages, there’s a great little article on my great buddy Dan White – he’s the ex Royal Racing – now Cube Bikes UK guy – and one of my constant sources of inspiration and giggles. Nice to see him getting some of the lime-light he so richly deserves!

Black Pencil

Those of you caught up in the Mac cult will no doubt already be aware, but Jonathan Ive, the lead man at Cupertino’s design department, won two BP’s this week – bringing his total to six. 

The way Apple approach design is something I am smitten by; the problem is that Mac lovers become almost evangelical in their Apple-fetish. Behind all that hype (and there IS lots of Apple hype – they are not just a cuddly design company – any company with $1B in PROFIT is a monster out to get your money) there seems to be a very down to earth, British born design genius. 

Interviews are rare, but you can find one here is you are so inclined.

How rich are you?

I just got a posting from the Howies RSS feed – not only do those guys make some cool clothing, they also dig out some good thoughts for the day.

Todays link told me I am somewhere in the middle of the richest 230,000,000 people in the world.

Considering the SO and I saw the bank manager today and were doing our home accounts this evening – the news doesn’t make me feel very rich at all.

But I’m still there, up along with the top 4% of the planet…

I remember a factory visit a few years ago, to a dirty place lost in China somewhere. I asked the manager what one of his factory workers earned. A bit of mental athletics later he told me the sum, in US$: 500.

“$500 per month, that’s not bad” said I. “It’s annual” said he. That’s still good enough for a top 80% position…

 

For Sale: Trials Bike

  

Page_1.jpg, originally uploaded by the VeloFello.

I’m selling this nice little trials bike – ideal for anyone looking to get into riding on a budget.

Trials Bike

There are more photo’s over here on Flickr

For Sale: KHS Folding Bike

    

Page_1.jpg, originally uploaded by the VeloFello.

I’m selling a KHS folding bike, with some great components for a bargain £400.

There are more photo’s over here on Flickr

KHS Folding Bike

 

For Sale: Marin Mount Vision

   

Marin Mount Vision, originally uploaded by the VeloFello.

More Photo’s are here:

Marin Mount Vision Pro

Marin Mount Vision 2005
Rock Shox Reba SL for from 2006 (serviced in ’07)
Shimano XTR: Rear Mech, Wheels
Shimano: LX Shifters, new Chain & cassette
Formula: K18 Oro brakes with 160mm rotors
Truvativ: Firex cranks
FSA: XC280 Riser Bars
Ritchey: WCS stem
Shimano: Dura Ace seatpost (same as the classic XTR post)
Other: Lock on grips, Bontrager tyres, Fizik Saddle

£1200 Ono – postage included.

There are more photos over here on Flickr

Rumble Ride

Rumble Ride

Just me out on the bike to clear some headspace on the nice little XC loop out back of my house… Peace.

Universally good

Fred Machabert is a guy I’ve known for a few years, a well known face on the French MTB scene as he used to work for Bike mag over here. 

On the way down to last years Roc d Azur I gave him a lift – spent a nice few hours chatting over stuff; life, work, bikes (of course) and his ideas for providing a better MTB racing information site. 

Well, he’s now gone off and done it, and I have to say that after a few months of fine tuning it’s proving to be a very useful reference – after today’s UCI DH WC he was the first to upload results (yes, before the UCI itself…)

My only “complaint” – and one I warned him about – is that by writing in French he’s rather limited his audience, however if you don’t mind trying to decipher another tongue, do go and check it out, it’s well worth it.

Where is it? oh… how about here?

The Imelda Marcos of shoes…

Guess who I used to work for…?

Busy

Been busy… a days seminar on development of MTB parks at the SAM show (the bi-annual trade show for ski resorts – want to buy a ski lift, this is the place to be) then a few days in Switzerland, then up to the Vosges (Absalon teritory) for family, though took a bike and got in a ride. Back home and in the thick of several projects… need a holiday!