***12 Days of Christmas Competition***
Comments
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I'll off up this wonderful shot from our group ride last night.
2020 Reilly Spectre - raw titanium
2020 Merida Reacto Disc Ltd - black on black
2015 CAAD8 105 - very green - stripped to turbo bike
2018 Planet X Exocet 2 - grey
The departed:
2017 Cervelo R3 DI2 - sold
Boardman CX Team - sold
Cannondale Synapse - broken
Cube Streamer - stolen
Boardman Road Comp - stolen0 -
Morning all! Thanks for all of yesterday's entries, editorial team are looking now and I will announce the winner later today.
***TODAY'S PRIZE - PROVIZ 360 RUCKSACK, CHARGE LTD EDITION CHRISTMAS SADDLE AND 'SLAYING THE BADGER' BY RICHARD MOORE***
Keep the entries coming as this is the final day!
NOTE: TODAY'S COMPETITION CLOSES AT 1700!
GOOD LUCK!!!!
I could be dead and not rescued by then, that wet outside, Oh well off to pedal have a good day gents0 -
What it means to be a cycling parent in the Winter - cheering on my daughter in the U10s race, and then competing in the Vets race; lots of the Vets have kids racing, so there's an almost constant chorus of "Come on Daddy" wherever you are on the course. This was the London Cyclocross League, at Sumners Ponds:
Pannier, 120rpm.0 -
We were at the Manchester Christmas markets the other day, having O'laf...
So for the second time Homers Double has been chosen as a winner!
Thanks for all the entries so far and remember today's competition closes at 1700.
Good luck all!BikeRadar Communities Manager0 -
Merry Christmas!
Pannier, 120rpm.0 -
My entry for today is here:
viewtopic.php?f=40088&t=13041653#p19767291
Contrived by yours truly (You can stuff your King Williams College version).seanoconn - gruagach craic!0 -
So today I started the Festive 500 again, some people don't need the incentive, for some people it isn't a goal, but at least it gives a reason to tell the family, friends and lovers.
I first did it 3 years ago when I had only been cycling for a few months just to see if I could cycle that much in a week, in that weather. It was hard but I did it and I was proud. The patch for free was nice but it wasn't the purpose.
Last year I knew I could do it but I thought why not go again, use it to mark the start of training and ensure I had a reason to go out. A few of these rides were done with friends. Hard earned miles on some grim or gorgeous days. Some people have felt better but we perceived together and helped each other along... my friend last year wasn't happy with the nice ish day and the push for good miles https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/10410515_1542336002674005_8987138095387009032_n.jpg?oh=a5826cf1e3f1af80f150a0efd871af79&oe=5720A668 (not worth the pic spam)
This year I wasn't going to bail either. I know I can do the distance, I can even battle the weather I guess, but I wanted to end 2015 in the way it hadn't started, my year half ruined through injuries, my mileage count down.
Yesterday wasn't a bad day, this morning was grim, the wind and the rain ensured the dogs didn't want a walk and as I got my kit ready and put the mudguards back on the bike from CX my Date (one for the BB crowd) asked why I do it and what the hell I think about as I ride. She isn't sporty so to speak.
It got me thinking as I stepped into the rain about every ride where the roads are soaking wet, covered in grit. You haven't the energy to talk your ride mates. Your hands are numb, you hope that by scrunching your toes you will warm them up or getting some feeling back, at least enough to get home.
You want to quit, you ask yourself why the hell am I out it is 8am dark, wet and cold. Some may say unforgiving.
But with friends you refuse to let the pace drop and let anybody down, no matter how much the legs hurt, you keep spinning, or claw back to the wheel in front, knowing the effort will be better, no head wind then surely.
As I complete these rides I ramble even in my own head, one minute digging deep, licking lips covered in mud and salt, asking the legs for more. With friends, who you feel silently ask for more you laugh, head down you laugh, perhaps wanting to cry.
You think about the pain then talk about girls, the calories you can eat later, how shit their mudguards are knowing yours is no better. With one friend particular, neither of us can sing, nor do we know any words but you'll get random lines and a tune of a song then a switch to something completely different. It all helps the miles go past. It gets people smiling (and mocking us). It all provides another reason to ride. It is all a distraction and you all know that is why you do it, better to laugh and struggle than languish in the dark place. But those dark places have light in the end, Christ they have light in the middle, eye of the storm you could say. You ask yourself is it worth it, then you tell yourself of course this is worth it.
Now I have rambled and still have no answer, but I enjoy it and I'll remember rides like this morning for years to come, like I remember other miles and rides that were endurance. I know these miles make the summer ones easy and fun. I also know I battled my own demons and struggles and I didn't let them win, I'd hate to look back and think they had.
However many miles you manage, however you do them, I hope you all won your own battles in 2015 and win more in 2016. I hope you can all laugh like I try when you struggle and want to quit. Because if you quit it makes it harder next time. Enjoy those showers when your feet are so cold it burns. Remember your heroes struggled too.
Rides that start grim (to the level I put deep winter kit on and couldn't see out of the car window) can lead to days like this
Enjoy the festive season riding or socialising, I still need to think of a normal answer for the Date, I don't get paid to ride so none of the suffering makes sense to her.
Oh and this is as serious as I will get, I strive to be a brackateer on this forum.It has been a pleasure to see the Pro crowd and others mix with the riff raff and some excellent photos dotted throughout
Apologies for any poor grammar or spelling, it was something I let flow/ramble0 -
Have you thoght about getting help?
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So today's (final!) winner is Flaneur!
The picture alone was nearly good enough for today's win, but the words summarise the passion for our sport incredibly well.
Good luck in the Festive 500 and the BikeRadar team wish all of our forum members a very happy christmas.
Thank you to everyone who participated in this comp, I hope to have more of these throughout the year as a bit of fun!
Cheers all!BikeRadar Communities Manager0 -
Good call, a well deserved win!Advocate of disc brakes.0
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That post by Flaneur is brilliant and really does sum up the reason why, and riding in a group no matter how cold/dark/wet it is you never want to feel you are letting them down and push on. Really enjoyed reading that.0
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Too late to count but that doesn't matter as I already have half the prizes, and Flaneur would have won anyway.
A little reminder of why I suffer through the rubbish weather at this time of year.
It is so I can enjoy the summer rides without suffering.
Remember to enjoy the route, not just the ride.
The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
I am not sure. You have no chance.Veronese68 wrote:PB is the most sensible person on here.0 -
Nice Colnago PB.seanoconn - gruagach craic!0
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Seven years in, and still chuffed to bits!Nice Colnago PB.The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
I am not sure. You have no chance.Veronese68 wrote:PB is the most sensible person on here.0 -
Seven years in, and still chuffed to bits!Nice Colnago PB.
I have a C40 - it's a stunning ride. Not as stunning as the steel and chrome for looks though.seanoconn - gruagach craic!0 -
I saw a C60 in Pollensa earlier this year. Pearlescent white with Italia colour trim.
Seven years in, and still chuffed to bits!Nice Colnago PB.
I have a C40 - it's a stunning ride. Not as stunning as the steel and chrome for looks though.
First carbon bike to turn my head. Twice.
PS:- Prize arrived today. Cheers! Looks like some interesting light reading. :PThe above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
I am not sure. You have no chance.Veronese68 wrote:PB is the most sensible person on here.0 -
seanoconn - gruagach craic!0 -
Better paint job, and finishing trim than that one.
The closest that I can come up with, but nothing like it.
Swap the black for a very sparkly white.
Then swap aero rims, post, saddle, stem and tape for some white, green and red.
More tastefully done than that sounds.
The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
I am not sure. You have no chance.Veronese68 wrote:PB is the most sensible person on here.0 -
Better paint job, and finishing trim than that one.
It still looks good.
Anyway, get your aris over to my Christmas quiz in Cake Stop.seanoconn - gruagach craic!0 -
Had a look, frazzled my brains.Better paint job, and finishing trim than that one.
It still looks good.
Anyway, get your aris over to my Christmas quiz in Cake Stop.
Doubtful my brains will be up to much for the next couple of days.The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
I am not sure. You have no chance.Veronese68 wrote:PB is the most sensible person on here.0 -
Seeing as we're all at it...
Advocate of disc brakes.0 -
Probably the best winter bike in the world.
seanoconn - gruagach craic!0 -
Come on lads, lets get behind this or are we a bunch of Scrooges and Humbugs! I ve got an excuse I m hanging after last nights Works Christmas Party.
I know it probably doesn't qualify but just to kick off I want to Nominate our Clubs Secretary Diane Thorpe who paid £150 of her own money ( we are going to reimburse her as a club) for catering at a Sportive ride she organised last week to raise money for the Notts and Lincs Air ambulance. Who attended the scence of a Motorcyle accident earlier in the year, were the Prompt actions of Di and Two other of our clubs members saved the motorcylists life.
http://newarkadvertiser.co.uk/articles/news/Crash-biker-meets-lifesaving-cyclists
Sorry if it doesn't qualify, but thought I d get the ball rolling.
Only just spotted this TW - I did this ride and it was a very well organised and enjoyable one too. Cake stop half way round had some of the best cakes we'd had all year. Hope you raised plenty of money - for your efforts you deserved too0
