Drastic action... a head cam it is then!

Wow it’s been a while I didn’t manage to write anything in October but the up side is the loft that me and Mr H ripped out and started to put back together again is nearly finished... well the end is in sight. Bring on the walk in wardrobe! Its going to have separate draws for all my bike gear, a separate draw for road tops, MTB tops, tights and baggies. It beats the old heap in a laundry bag system I am operating at the moment. Obviously if one of the drawers is lacking clothes to fill it I will have to go shopping!!!

Anyhow after 7 years of commuting (is it really that freakin long since I moved back oop north?) I snapped and have purchased something that I have threatened to do for ages. I got a head cam (well ordered it from ebay) the events leading up to this in themselves aren’t so bad, no proper injuries but last week broke the mouse’s straw or somat like that.

While commuting through Prestwich some over tanned minusculey endowed rat boy (not the exact description I gave the nonchalant police officer) was turning right into a side street decided he actually wanted to turn left the only problem was I was where he wanted to turn... que breaking and avoidance manoeuvre by me, I was actually impressed with my skidding skill wish I could execute them on my MTB in a non life threatening situation.

After getting myself off the floor I decided instead of screaming like an idiot at a closed window I would just take a picture of the Reg and report him for dangerous driving. However as I took the picture, the afore mentioned OTMERB didn’t like that fact I was going to have a photo of his car and did a u turn in the side street he was in and drove at me not around me but at me.... ooo not what I planned would happen, my main concern was getting me and my bike out of his way, again que action scene slow mo dive to the floor. I grabbed bike and somehow managed to get out the way.

Reported him to the police but unless the actual incident was caught on CCTV with the registration showing they can’t do anything. Did a bit of Colombo style detectivness and got some footage of the top of me on my bike and the top of the car doing its best to hit me but no registration.

To make it worse I didn’t see the reg as I was just trying to get my phone out and doubly worse the little weasel was laughing and shouting abuse at me as he tried to run me over... what a numpty. Well not again next time I will have footage or evidence and if nothing happens to me at least I will have footage of the many random things you see when you commute on a bike!

Shiny New Bike Stuff

The past few mornings have been on the dull side when I’ve set off so I thought I’d get all prepared and order some proper commute lights in. It may be a little premature but at least know I’m nearly set for winter. The trusty commute bike is Mud Guarded up and I even got a wash in preparation for having new shinny ‘Bike Smack’ attached to it. I can’t wait till its dark enough for me to shine my uber bright lights in the mirror of the next smuck who cuts me up!

Crime Fighting on a Bike

This is one of the guys at works website... I am loving the detectiveness.



Click here for episodes of the Cycling Detective

Really a hose pipe ban!!!

I rode home in the most torrential rain last night it was only 5 pm and the street lights came during one particularly bad down pour. I had no lights on and felt a tad vunrable I ended up stopping at the weirdest bike shop to get a front light, which after about 10 minutes of routing through piles of stuff during which time i had totally cooled down they just about managed to find 1... it also took two members of staff to serve me!

Back outside there were drain grates been pushed up from the force of the water swelling up from underneath, small children been swept away, people panic buying tinned food product and looting shops... well they could have been I couldn’t really more than 5 metres ahead.

I did reach a Zen type state as I realised I couldn’t be any wetter and as I ride the roads every day I knew where the pot holes were, even under the windermere’esque lakes that were covering the roads. If I had a car I would have been glad to be out of the rain but as it happened all the traffic ground to a complete halt both ways on the M60 meaning all the A roads were blocked as well I recon I got home before most of them anyway... losers. (I jest I do not think all car drivers are losers)

The surreal thing is though as I came up Warmsley Rd out of Bury the sun was blazing, it had rained earlier but mostly dried up and due to the cars all been stuck in traffic it was the quietest ride home I have ever had. The down side of this was I didn’t get any respect or sympathy from the other half, I was imagining him waiting all concerned like at the living room window perhaps a hot mug of coco in his hand, all I got was a casual alright and you’re a bit late aren’t you.

Miles covered loads plus some for ridding through really big puddles.

Markets of Britain, a short film by Lee Titt (via Serafinowicz and Popper)

Today this has been making me laugh a lot plus I have now lernt to post Vids!

you voted...

I had chips peas and gravey... Jim had chips n gravey. Mat went against democracy and had a pie, with chips oh and gravey then peas.

Need Technology

My blog is looking decidedly crap compared to other bloggers that commute, I have no mid week extra cycling adventures to report as I’m, too tired to do owt else once I get home.
My stories would start off with felt ace this morning on a Monday mid week feeling more tired to Friday where I would probably ramble on about Jaffa Cakes for a while before nodding of the sleep on my lap top.
My solution to this is technology I need to get pimped up with a computer and a techno phone...
I’m hoping that will motivate me a bit more!Then it will be super intersting stories of miles ridden, miles climbed and calouries burnt. I have worked out roughly that i burn a full chocolate orange each way to work, which to be honest is all the motivation this girl needs to keep peddling everyday!

Bike Rappin Choose your team click on the links next to pictures

Spandex Lover

Or a Dirty MTBer

Brownbacks Race Day

Things I learnt today...
Doing the Darwen Real Ale Wobble the same weekend as racing is not a good idea... that was my excuse through the race only to find out that Mat (racing for Marmalades B&B) and Paul (Life Cycles) who also did afore mentioned Real Ale Wobble, came 1st and 3rd in their category, so I will need to think of another reason why I was so far off the pace. As always there a few other excuses I could use but I think that would take away from the other ladies , it was a really hot day, the sun was relentless, and I suffered nearly dropped out but the thought of seeing DNF on the results kept me going I was no longer in it to win it but just tried to keep in there, counting the marshal points , the one by the 1st tecky downhill bit, encouraging everyone up and down the hill, the one at the top of the red run that we rode up (well I walked most of it) and the one near the end with the Lancashire Vuvuzela, also known as an empty water bottle. Here’s the thing I usually beat myself up if I don’t do as well as I think I should have done, but not today I’m happy enough with finishing I’ll put it down to experience and I’m really please for Jo Holden who won the category she had a bad race last time and as the saying goes you win some you lose some, and sat here after I’m glad I did it enjoyed the race, loved the atmosphere in the quarry and there is always next time! At least one of the Powell ladies won a prize here’s my niece Hollie with her wicked stix spot prize a Hope T-Shirt, which she was too shy to go and collect but the proof is in the picture she loved it... almost as much as her ice- cream.
As always masive thanks to the organisers and big up to all the ladies that raced... we need more of us though!

Shaweeet Fish Chips and Berms

After a week of DIY and hecticness at work, by the time 4.30 came round on Friday me and Mr H decided that all work and no play makes etc etc… So after a trip to the chippy for a reeet good Chippy Tea we took the dog up to Lee Quarry. Football was on so everywhere else was deserted there were a few peeps out and about up there. The sun was shinning and the trails were dusty. I for one flipping loved it put all the DIY into perspective…
The picture... Me and Nettle at the top of the 3 red runs with the pump track just in the distance.

Crikey!
Not only has my language changed in to that of my Mums, but I have gone and done it again. I inadvertently, accidently set an opening date for Marmalades Bed and Breakfast in 3 weeks time. After telling everyone we weren’t going to rush into anything.

It just started off as an idea while redecorating (painting anything that didn’t move white) a few emails later and it’s done the next Singletrack weekender in Lee Quarry will be running a competion the lucky winners will get accommodation for the event with us.

I have just put a panic order of bedding in to my Brother while explaining I can’t pay for it until pay day, so at least our 1st guest’s will have fab bed linen (Edgar Town Sourcing) what else are big brothers for.
I feel one of my ‘to do lists’ coming on, starting with how to poach eggs I’ve never been able to get them right... any tips anyone!

Moving day tomorrow

Up sticks again to Stackstead, me nettle (border collie dog) and the long suffering boyfriend.