
Blog
Who’s afraid of the Big Bad Yak?
The Yak Attack - the worlds highest mountain bike race - has something of a fearsome reputation; I'm about to shatter a few myths... well, kind of. It seems that a lot of people are discouraged from entering because they think it is too hard for them. I'm going...
Review: Alpkit Morphosis – first look.
I called in at Alpkit on my return from Nepal to check out their new Morphosis Jacket. I was so impressed with it that I also bought the Half-Zip Top too. My old Softshell has started to see better days and I was looking to replace it. The Morphosis is Alpkit's modern...
Stop all the clocks…
Darren Holloway 1970-2012. Why would one year be different to the next? Isn't it strange how we put significance to some numbers more than others, when, in fact, they are really just numbers? Today doesn't feel like just a number. The wind outside is howling through...
Less is more. Finding Nemo.
The Final Frontier. Last year I awakened a whole new passion: singlespeed mountainbiking. I hadn't ridden a singlespeed bike for well over 20 years. I brought a cheap, but good value, Vitus Dee 29er from Chain Reaction Cycles for commuting. it proved to be something...
The Fungi Factor.
With my recent incapacitation I've been forced to enjoy my wood as a spectator for a change. Thankfully most of the work takes place in the winter months so I haven't got behind with my plans. I have been popping down quite regularly to keep an eye on it, and to...
The Peaks 200 – by Mitch Bryan & Pascal Lally
Rainbow Chasers Mitch Bryan, Martin Tansley, and Pascal Lally recently took on The Peak 200, an Individual Time Trial (ITT) that circumnavigates most of The Peak District National Park. This is their account of an epic days mountain biking. I really enjoyed reading...
On the Up.
My post-op recovery seems to be going OK. It's only been a week and a half admittedly, but the pain has receded considerably and is more like a nagging toothache now. I've been out walking quite a bit and I've had a few sessions on the turbo-trainer just to try...
Alpkit announce their #ContinuumProject
Perfectly in line with their "Go Nice Places, Do Good Things" tagline the good folk at Alpkit have announced their latest social & environmental initiative through their Alpkit Foundation. The Continuum Project is a partnership with several other organisations to...
Review: Osprey Stratos 34
I've been using and recommending an Osprey Atmos 35 litre rucksack for quite a long time; and with very good reason - It's the best pack I have used for travelling, full-stop. Osprey have now discontinued the Atmos in its 35 litre guise and so I contacted them last...
Operation Factory Reset.
Four years ago, during Yak Attack 2013 in Nepal, I dislocated my shoulder in spectacular fashion. A mere 5km out, on Stage Six from Chame to Manang, I was hammering down one of the few descents and took the inside line on a fast bend, as I exited the corner three...