Broken Friend

Hello everyone and welcome to another entry from the mind of yours truly, I trust you are all having a good month so far, this month for me has been about change, most notably the change in the weather and how it has affected my riding but also about how I am going to have to make more changes within, to the man inside and how I am doing the things I do so that I can achieve my goals.

This month has been pretty kind to me really, this past weekend was the Bontrager 24/12 race here at Newnham Park for which my younger brother came down to try his hand at the 12 hour solo. The course was pretty tough as we have come to expect and the recent poor weather has made it even more lethal than normal keeping the first aiders busy.

My brother did really well, but the course got the better of his back and forced him to call it a night earlier than he had hoped, still he put in a great effort. Me on the other hand I was doing a 24 hour challenge of a different kind as i was helping a friend and my local bike shop (The Bike Cellar) out with his trade stand. Although it was not working in a bike shop it gave me a good insight into working in one and all the effort that goes into it, I now know I have made the right choice in changing trades as I enjoyed it thoroughly, it has re injected some drive back into me to push harder towards my goals.

On a sad note I had a little accident this week, I broke my lovely D200 camera and the 17-55 f2.8 lens I use so much, after all we have been through together, it has survived everything I have thrown at it from dusty hills and scorching heat to the muddy trails and snow, and lets not forget the salt spray of our beaches here and the cold snow of Norway.

After all that it was just a 1 foot drop off my bed while secure inside my camera bag, the lens....well the mount has been torn off and the rear element scratched, the zoom is very notchy, as for the body the mount is damaged, actually twisted and it has damaged the front of the casing and add to that the mirror is also damaged and it does not always power up.

Luckily it seems the house insurance is going to pay for replacements so I am heading off into town to sort out the quotes they require, not looking forward to that as I hate crowds at the best of times so wish me luck.

I though I would end the blog on a lighter note, I managed to pop out for a ride last night, it has been a week since I last rode, mostly due to feeling crap and working all weekend. My original intention was to just do a quick short spin to loosen my legs off but I soon found myself riding up into Cann woods, the trails were lovely up there and the sun is already starting to cast long shadows of an evening.

Makes you want to ride? You know it does, more to come later but for now the sun is shining and the trails they are a calling, enjoy all.

Simon.