VeloCake Development Team - Cross Training.

So today was the day that the VC Development Team (Team Ted) finally got round to business - some cross training.

With Mikey now the proud owner of a new CX stead it was time for a real adventure, it was time to do some off road miles.

A plan was hatched.

On waking, the world outside was cold and cloudy so after some procrastination and fettling we packed up the car and took a short drive to Portreath on the north coast. By now the sun was out but it was still cold. A quick stop to browse at a LBS - The Bike Barn - and a natter with the very nice staff (One of whom, was extremely impressed with my bike.) before we set off on our mini adventure.

We haven't done this route since last September and that was on MTBs at a much slower pace with my family, so I was excited to see what I could do on the lovely Yeti and Mullertons was looking forward to thrashing around on his Trek.

Admittedly, the route we picked was a fairly flat route but it was perfect for me to practice riding on skinner tyres over lumpy bumpy and loose rocky trails, without suspension to ease the strain. Thankfully, the tracks were dusty and quiet which made for a perfect ride and we made short work of the 9miles, along the old tramways and through quarries to the south coast at Devoran.

Once in Devoran, it was time for lunch. The sun was now blinding and warm - there wasn't a cloud in the clear blue sky. Our first stop was at the waters edge to watch the world go by and eat our cheese and pickle butties and a Tunnocks biscuit. We then migrated to the local pub beer garden to eat some cheesy chips and sample the local ale. It felt like a warm summers day. After half an hour sitting enjoying the warm sunshine and peacefulness of the quaint village we headed back.

                                  Cross training, VC style.

Sadly, the wind had picked up making our ride back a little harder, especially as we both now had full bellies, but again we made pretty short work of it and we were soon back at the car. I couldn't believe how quickly we had completed the full ride and how easy I had found it...

At this rate I am sure that I will have graduated into a fully fledged VeloCaker soon.

Anyone for a jersey or two?

Because Big Steve and probaly Grant can't go a full 24 hours in the same shirt, we will be getting those cheeky kilt wearing lycra stitchers at Endura to pull out the stops and avoid the foul stench of man sweat hanging over the Borders region  like a mushroom cloud of funk.
So, as I have also have several requests from several other VC'ers out there for fine VeloCake apperel the time feels right to order in more threads for you lucky people.

Now if you're a regular viewer/reader of this here rubbish you may well be thinking that, Hey...I'd love one of those shirts to wear on the bike and be the talk of the town, but I'd rather not be covered in corporate advertising for various corporate stuff. 
Then fear not my friend, the next batch of clothing will be going back to the original VeloCake V0.1 jersey. (in my mind the best).

If then you can't contain your excitement and have already maybe leaked a little, leave me your requests and bank account details below.

Remember, Endura don't just do jerseys, there are shorts, gillets, windproofs, white overshoes and most importantly, CAPS. in caps. 
Don't delay, get you orders in fast.

The full range of posibilities are  right here

Feck The Man..

And screw him too!

Certain members of the clan will be delighted to hear I've given up chasing the big buck mega corps.  I'm going back to our roots and keeping it real.  It's all about the little guy.

Tough luck Trek, so long Spesh, adios...erm..

Here come the Belgians,  a plucky band of like minded bike riders from the north west area.  Slightly obsessed with cross and  Belge weilrennen, and being an anti team.  Not only that, they've got a nice line in caps.  
Danke u wel Belges.

You can follow them on the left there some where.

In todays other news, John and I saw David Walliams riding to Lands end for charidee today.

We waved as you do to other cyclists.  He replied in his usual camp way with a "ooooh hellooooo"   We do keep meeting these comedians  don't we.

Your VeloCake Needs YOU! (insert big finger pointing visual gag here)‏

Greetings All,

You may well have noticed that other internet based cycling "groups/teams" seem to have an annual role call of their riders in a shameless bit of self promotion.

Oh yeah, he's doing this, she's winning that, team bollards was 273rd at sleepless in the mixed fun catagory.... blah blah blah.

So, as I am constantly on the watch to "up" the online presence of VeloCake I have decided to do the same. If you wish to be on the team and become part of VeloCake Pro-ish Squdra I will be compiling a list that will read like a whos who of the great and good of cycling.

Whether you be doing solo 24 hour mountain marathons, cross races, the 3 peaks, , heck...even enduros or the Altrincham Seamons club 8.3 mile TT.

If you'll put VeloCake down on the list then you're in.

Tell us your hopes and dreams for the upcoming year and I'll make a super dooper team roll call of who's doing what under the VeloCake flag in the next 12 months. I'm sure you all get the idea. If you're vain and want a photo putting in too, then why not. Send that as well.

This includes you James Kay, stuff Bogle Bartle and Hegarty, you sign up for Mayhem as VeloCake, I'll buy you a danish...

I hope you will all respond favourably and think big, together we can drive the dream forward...

(I'm practising motivational speaking for the end of May)

Iroadie

Today, I should have been out on the mountain bike with a couple of friends.  In the usual slack way it didn't happen and i spent the early part of my day off farting around on the interweb, reading other peoples blogs and tweets.  After well I'll just have another brew and there was that thing I meant to look into, I decided to shake myself.
My riding slackness seems to be never ending at the mo. I have every intention of riding far and fast, it just never happens. 
Today though I turned to friends for a kick up the arse.  last month big Steve wrote about faux belgian-ness. This seems to be my go to. After a quick recap of this I stumbled across Jenn's blog about riding with Ipods.
I had a plan, a quick 45 minutes on the road bike and dammit I'll take my 2 months old Ipod. (luddite).
I seem to be ending up out on the road alot these days, all be it, on jake the snake with his big tyres and mudguards. It just seems less hassle than the mountain bikes.
It's cabbage picking season down here.  Every back road, the type cyclists like, is covered in mud.  Big chunks of mud at the edges and greasey compacted mud under the car tyre tracks.  it was muddier than most cross races.

My ride intensionally took in all the short steep Burgs I could find whilst having to battle the winds coming straight off the sea. ( just like Belgium) and to top it all, it was grey, drizzling and then raining.  It was quite enjoyable.  Another thing I was revelling in was the music.  I happened to be listening to Hoppipola by Sigur Ros as i climbed one of the many Cornish burgs.  It reach the crescendo perfectly as I summited  (If you don't know it, watch the BBC trailers, eh Grant).  Another treat the shuffle function provided,  I had forgotten about was Motorcrash by The Sugarcubes was on there.  How nearly apt the words could have been.  One more thing i gleemed from my musical journey was the drumming of Maureen Tucker provides an excellent metronome for pedalling.

So the 45 minutes turned into a musically fed hour and a half of filthy dirty roads, crappy weather and short steep climbs.  All it needed was some cobbles. Faux Belgian indeed. Help, I think i'm turning into a roadie.

The Trek VeloCake Love-in Continues

Oh yes, the reason posts have been few and far between lately, is because I've busy working on a few things, namely ebaying everything to buy new bikes but more importantly i've been working on the 2010/11 season race wear.
Behold and feast your eyes mortals.......

It might need a few more tweeks, I'm not sure the Trek brand is represented quite enough.  I guess once they see the drafts, their people can get a few more logos on it. 

Place your orders now, VeloCake V0.2 fitter,stronger more rubbisher

As other bicycle brands are available, heres a picture of mundane Peter's Charge avec stickerage.

Bikes Eh...

Firstly I should apologise for not blogging anything for weeks.

My enforced lay off has creeped over a fortnight.

Bikes are wonderful things aren't they. 

They take you places, make you new friends and empty your bank acount. 

A couple of bikes have come to my attention this week. 

The first one is an old acquaintance, the second a new friend.

So first up is the new Trek TT machine, it's soo new it's yet to be painted up in Radioshack livery, heck it only mentions Trek a couple of times on the frame. It's that new!   Actually it's not.  If you're not familier with Simon's Extreme Commuter from a few years ago allow me to introduce you.  And yes, it was/is rideable.

Now occassionally, i check all the visits, IP addresses and where everyone is coming from.  Every now and again, VeloCake is visited by several folks from the Greater Brighton and Hove area. What if it is a certain sheep drawing bicicletta polizia di modo should clap eyes on it. Wouldn't that be great.

Saving the best till last, there was the patter of tiny wheels around our house as we welcomed a brand new turquoise Yeti. Ted, as he has now been named (although he was "Not Bob" for ages, thanks Grant) was pretty much finished off last weekend after borrowing a few bits and bobs from various places (thanks Jumbly) and our local LBS, the Cycle Centre, he was taken out for his first ride yesterday. Theres a full report on not Bob's outing and a very excited Katie's reactions here:  new yeti

Finally for a little balance and Alan, a cake.  Note the posh china.

Sunday Club Run

Sunday's club run had only a small turnout, with just myself and Mikey - possibly was a poor show because we forgot to announce it! Ahh, well. We had fun anyway.

We set off early and found ourselves enjoying empty roads. The sun was out but as usual the Cornish wind was fierce and there appeared to be a headwind in every direction we turned.

After an hour of riding (and a pit stop to repair a puncture) it was time for a cafe stop for tea and cake. Straying slightly from the tradition, we both opted for toasted tea-cakes. Mmm... they were scrumptious and warmed us slightly.

We set back off and headed towards home. We hadn't even pedalled 100metres when from around the corner a vision that I just wasn't expecting appeared on the horizon. Was I imaging things? Could there really be someone riding towards us in a VeloCake jersey? I shook my head in disbelief. It couldn't be... could it?

It was though, I giggled to myself, what a small world. Stupidly, Mikey hadn't seemed to notice (apparently he was too busy admiring the fellow VeloCakers bike and panniers). He finally clocked the rider as he passed by and called out a cheery hello and waved. It was Don. I'm not too sure who Don is, but it was really great to see someone wearing their VeloCake colours with pride - despite the cold winds he was in short sleeves! (It seemed odd that he would be wearing short sleeves and shorts but then it all made sense when Mikey told me he was a hardy Scotsman!)

Go team VeloCake!