XC in Cornwall - any willing volunteers ?

KernowCB

cheers guys. How did the club ride go this monring btw?

allthegearnoidea

didnt make it personally, woke up at half 11 was up an hour and then went back to bed for another couple of hours!! not a good day for me lol!

Surf-Matt

Found a wicked downhill route yesterday - that ends up just the other side of the river opposite our house! Evil climb back up though.

I finally have some lycra shorts (!!!) - Altura Pro Gels that I wear under my Singletracks. Flipping comfy but NEVER to be worn on their own...! New Spesh Saddle in hyper comfy with them on even though it looks like a razor blade.

Kernow - Clive Mitchell do demos too. After a couple of hiccups, I'm getting really good service from them again.

Oh and Mrs Matt has just got some SPDs (Shimano 540s) - some semi comedy moments already for her getting used to them - she's braver than me!

Oh and my gold medal just arrived - very big and shiny it is! There was some error so it took over three weeks to send it!

allthegearnoidea

mrs matt braver than Mr matt with the spd's then!! maybe mr matt will reconvert aftre mrs matt succeeds??? hmmn,

gold medal, whats that for matt?? have you done any competitions recently! :roll: :P

Surf-Matt

Now now Timmo, it's only you that's taking the pi55 about my mentions of it. If you won a race, would you keep it to yourself?!

Methinks not...

allthegearnoidea

Oh god no! hahah! i would Be the Worst Winner in the history of winning hahah! Everyone Would have to know! (just like Ben and Sandringham on the apprentice!!)

Surf-Matt

Or Ben and Sandhurst maybe?!

It was SO cringeworthy when he kept mentioning it. Not even a major achievement - I know plenty who have done the same without trying. Anyway, real men don't go to Sandhurst (Army), they go to Lympstone (Royal Marines) then Poole (SBS) or Hereford...!

I did officer selection for the RM and it was pretty tough but nowhere near as bad as people make out. Oh no - I'm turning into Ben -arrgghh!!!

allthegearnoidea

hahah! i used to pass the lympstone training places on my way to work when i was in exmouth, My Bro in law has done the assualt course run when they open it to the public on woodbury common, said its good fun But hard work lol!
did think it funny whern i went into exmouth by train once that they have armed guards on the lympstone station! certainly gives you a sence of purpose!!!

Surf-Matt

I spent three days there doing the POC (Potential Officers Course) then came back for the AIB (Admiralty Interview Board) - passed it but decided to pursue life on civvy street. Glad I did as the RM are seeing a lot of nasty fighting action in Afghanistan - Yikes!

It was knackering though - several near puking moments...

Wierdest thing is that even though you are only doing selection, everyone calls you "sir!" It's very disconcerting when you are a 23 year old just out of Uni!

Dazzza

I've done the lympstone course, only the sods thought it was a good idea to load our webbing to 35lbs and all kitted out with the rifle etc.

Was good fun though.

Surf-Matt

Dazzza - did you serve in the Forces then?

It's a tough old course. Plus all the other stuff that goes with it (we had to write essays and stuff after nearly vomming!). Character building though! It's a nice setting too - unlike a fair few bases.

Dazzza

Territorial army for 6 years, i left because i got fedup with being beasted everywhere because being ta we had a bigger point to prove to the regular army that and i found it hard juggling it with work, they weren't keen on my having time off.

I was mostly a platoon runner but was section and platoon gunner for a bit as well, very nearly made marksman easy but sodding rifle had two stoppages, all i needed was 68 out of 80 hits to 400m, day before i managed 79/80. :evil:

Well i've done a few exercises around woodbury common, quite interesting having civvies running around.

I have a cousin in the army but i can't say any more than that.

Surf-Matt

Dazza - my sisters bf was a sniper for a few years (now left) - he got good enough to be a weapons tester and was a big fan of his gun/cannon of choice - the Barrett .50 cal rifle!

Just did OTC (TA aimed at potential officers) at Uni - handy bit of extra pay (same as TA) and really enjoyed looning around Sennybridge/Brecons as well as the odd camp in Scotland and Kent. Did a couple of APWTs and got good scores - great fun too!

Also did riot training with those boys from Hereford - we had to chuck stuff at them while they charged us - we bricked ourselves!! Nice bunch of blokes though.

Got very into it all and did the POC and AIB - one of not many (apparently) that pass but don't take a place - I had met my now wife and wanted to earn some decent money (cockey little graduate that I was) - sometimes wonder what it might have been like but think I made the right choice. Would have been 42 Commando who are seeing a LOT of action at the moment!!

allthegearnoidea

just had a Bl##dy good blast around tehidy, lovely and warm, a little damp under foot as such but fast rolling! 8) and the odd puddle to make it look like youve had a good ride!!!
very happy now! and fitted the new heater blower to the car too!
time for a saffron bun down the beach me thinks!!!

FSR_XC

Well saved Timmo . . .

I thought we were heading to become all gun-ho & patriotic then.

Bikes - Cornwall - Bikes - Riding - bike trips - Bikes

That's what this thread's about.

Do we really wanna talk about our past lives playin wiv guns???????

KernowCB

well, i just popped into Clive Mitchells and will be demo-ing the stumpy fsr on friday My FS cherry will be popped!

Surf-Matt

Mark - if it's of no interest, ignore it. At least there's a bit of banter going on - this section often dies on it's backside for days on end.

I could write about every ride but then I could also update everyone on what I have for lunch each day...

We all enjoy riding but also do/have done other stuff.
I find it interesting as does Dazza and others.

Kernow - nice one! Reckon you'll like it. Where do you plan to test it? Bissoe would be ideal.

allthegearnoidea

Nic eone Kernow! could be pootentially damaging to the wallet though! hahaha!

Matt, i have to agree that it is interesting, nice to know your riding on occasion with a couple of riflemen haha!
this section does die quite often which is why i tend to post when i've been out and about during the week to keep it up the top of the page!!
maybe mark's got his roady head on this morning!

helen coakley

Matt,

Just to let you know the surf board I bought from Mr Bunt is awsome.buy far the best by yet and perfect, I have progressed so quick might even look at going shorter...

loving it....except when i mess up and end up in a washing machine...thinking which way is up............

Dazza have you a bike yet..

Surf-Matt

Nice one Helen - sounds ideal! He does shape some tasty boards that work un UK waves. Many go for "bling" brands that are imported and are cack in our surf (I did it once - never again!).

Where are you tending to surf?

Is it CycleLogic you use? Got a Hope headset there the other day and was impressed with their service.

Timmo - you are the "rock" of this thread! Good that you update and always interested in what you're up to when feeling well (or not so well ).

Anyway, cycling - Mrs Matt's VDO cycle computer has just arrived so time to go and fit it for her. it's a model up from mine - grrrr...

Dazzza

Surf-Matt wrote:

Dazza - my sisters bf was a sniper for a few years (now left) - he got good enough to be a weapons tester and was a big fan of his gun/cannon of choice - the Barrett .50 cal rifle!

Just did OTC (TA aimed at potential officers) at Uni - handy bit of extra pay (same as TA) and really enjoyed looning around Sennybridge/Brecons as well as the odd camp in Scotland and Kent. Did a couple of APWTs and got good scores - great fun too!

Also did riot training with those boys from Hereford - we had to chuck stuff at them while they charged us - we bricked ourselves!! Nice bunch of blokes though.

Barret 50cal the lucky little barsteward, i wanted to be a sniper as i was a crack shot anyway but that position funny enough was very popular.

Came very close to being trained for the minmi, i think we would have been the first ta unit to recieve one and one of the few in the whole army, quite a few strings must have been pulled for that one, gutting thing was a mate who was the head sgt was more than willing to train me up on the thing seeing as i've used the gmpg a hell of a lot, just missed out on that one as id then left. :oops:

Sennybridge, god been there a few times i think where we stayed on the barracks we were right in front of the red caps that made for an interesting two weeks.

Not sure if they train at hereford anymore i think they moved a few miles away now, did bump into sbs on few occasions and they were impressive to lads to say the least.

Mark, im happy for any posting in this thread bike related or otherwise, and it's good to see at least one of us is still keeping the thread alive.

Helen, surfboading eh nice, im too unbalanced for that though i did consider a bsac or padi license for scuba diving, used to snorkel a lot until a came out in a rash one day in st ives....

Bike wise, i have something lined up in the next week or two, will take a bit getting it built up but should be very sweet once finished.

Maybe with a pair of these come end of year for being good.

http://www.pinkbike.com/news/Industry-N ... heels.html

allthegearnoidea

Surf-Matt wrote:

Timmo - you are the "C#ck" of this thread!

Edited for accuracy!

Dazz, bodyboarding baby! no need for bal;ance as your lying down! i know its seen as pansy surfing from the stand uppers but just as much fun! (ooh look, its like roadies and mtb'ers but in stand up and ly downs! hahaha!)

Surf-Matt

Bodyboarding isn't always for pansies...





But it usually is...

allthegearnoidea

haha! i used to have some pictures in my college folder back when i was out most weekends, Mike Stewart Doing a picture Perfect Cutback, Big wall of water off the rails, and Ben Zeferson in a Monster barrell! used to keep me going ont he quieter days!!!
i used to know who allthe top guys were by name etc, used to allways have my head in a board mag of description, knew all the boards like you do! remember when gul went into the BB side with the Aviator i think it was called, alledgedly crease proof, that was until one of my mates who surfed Vault beach got one, 3 surfs in Big fat crease ina shore dump! those were the days, used to skive off college if it was on in Newquay and club together for petrol for the one with the car to go! cant say that i was ever any good, but kind of average, used to live for a nice long right hander, pulled an Awsome bottom turn half stall type thing whe out with some mates, full on big spray evoking move, the one that stays permanantly etched on your memories! now its all the fast flowing Single track lol! then it used to be that 'green room' feeling!
i still think about it every time i'm down the beach and its good surf, all thats stopping me is a leash and some ability haha! that and if i can fit in my shorty anymore!! dont think the drysuit would make ideal surfing clothing ahahha!

allthegearnoidea

just noticed int he minor tweeking of mats reply if you swap the R of Rock with a C it comes out as Fool Lol!

Dazzza

cock

Surf-Matt

Timmo - I bodyboarded for a few months (aged 14) - in the days of the Mach 20/7, Ben Severson, etc boards. Then switched to surfing!
Many tales of waveage but a few that stand out are two very near drownings, a 5 month "honeymoon" to Oz and NZ with boards in tow (not easy to carry around!), a repping "job" for Rip Curl, a few competitions (did okay but nothing special), some surf judging with quite famous UK surfers and lots and lots of barrels at Byron Bay, a great "air" session at Watergate, etc - in fact Porthtowan wasn't far off Oz quality wise about two weeks ago!

And being a bit chunky is no excuse not to surf:

Dazzza

It's all about balance, i was up for a lunge lesson when learning to horse ride it's the biggest step a beginner will take, you ride in a barn with no saddle, no reigns as the instructor controls the horse into a gallop, it's all balance to stay upright, biking is childs play to this.

Plus i nearly broke my pelvis on a fall so i kind of stopped riding after that one.

Kind of amusing in a way, if any horsey types give me flak on the trails i know where to fire back.

I did bodyboard briefly, cousin had a swell board but i never got on with it, it's surf or no surf and atm i choose the latter. 8)

Surf-Matt

Mrs Matt used to ride (horses) competitively and got really good (in her mid to late teens). I never learned properly but watching her play polo was pretty impressive - serious balance!
I tried the static wooden horse to practise hitting the ball - I was cr4p at that!

MTB'd and run around Frogpool area with Mrs Matt when she's been riding - adds a new element to it all. Horses are quick uphill and on the flat but hopeless downhill! Sort of a bit like me :oops:

Dazzza

Oh im opposite, hate climbing well not so much hate but i don't go looking for it, i think in part because me bike would lose traction when powering up so i would just give up, this commie however tracks the ground on climbs like no ther, hopefully it'll stop the problem or at least alleviate it.

Downhills i love, pretty rapid once i get going i just have to make sure i stay on.

I do have intentions of riding a lot more in idless, i have these mud x tyres i want to try plus it's nice and technical not the usual same old that is bissoe.

So we'll see be nice either way, gym is good but i crave a bit of fresh air and scenery.

Im surprised the horse didn't get spooked with a bike riding around, mind my horse was a big softie, 14h hanoverian showjumper mind.
:shock: