Building

Picked the frame up from the signwriters with a little bit of paint on.
Left hand side the colours from the MTB race team I am/was in and right hand side current road club colours. Pleased with it.

About halfway through the build up and thanks to an ear infection things are a bit wobbly so called it a night.The tricky stuff is yet to come.

Climb On Bikes open night

Our club; Pontypool Road Cycling Club, had a generous invite along to the open night and fish n chip supper at Climb On Bikes, Hereford on Monday. Work has meant this hasn't appeared until now.
Anyway, it was great to have a good nose around a shop that's just local enough. Two floors of bikes and part that would skint me faster than a night in a bar. Maybe.
There was a good amount of people there-

Stand out bike for me was this Cervelo P5-

with fantastic integrated magura brakes

 A true speed weapon. I also got a call on Friday to say that I had won a raffle prize! Hurrah! It wasn't the P5 though...
Thanks to the shop for the invite and for a great evening.

Getting 'cross in Herefordshire

Second cyclocross race of the year for me today, and what a change in course to the previous leisure centre field slog of Brecon. The course picked through the woods of Mansell Lacy, with a couple of streams thrown in as well as three hurdles. A great mix of concrete access roads, rooty singletrack and muddy grass. I was in a better frame of mind this time and it felt good. Hard, but good.
A few pictures then.

First off cutting through the trees, I managed to avoid all of them, so my target fixation is getting better. I didn't want a repeat of the April tree visitation that left me with a broken finger. The first stream. This one had to be dismounted for and leapt across. As the race went on feet went further into the mud on the landing bank, then a scramble up the slope and remount.

From there the course wound back through more trees before another dismount due to a concrete plinth. Then a faster open section before another stream crossing, though this one was rideable.

Coming out of the other side through the gloop meant effort, and that meant angry face

Honestly, I'm a very placid person.
Soon the final lap bell was heard tolling and the wick was turned up a little. Of course that meant on the final stream crossing I got stuck, my chain came off and I had to run whilst trying to get it back on. Typical. Calm head, son.
It was muddy, it was enjoyable and roll on next weekend at Pembrey.

Brilliant, and I have to say a great big thank you to my race mum Michelle who took photos, cheered, and provided food. Thanks.