Things I have learnt from riding in Whistler

1) The Canadian word 'intermediate' roughly translates into England English as: 'WOAH! Holy f**k! Are you insane?!'
2) Being able to clear jumps on Crank It Up, does not automatically mean you can clear jumps on A Line, unless landing on your face counts as an official landing.
3) Elbow pads look rubbish but tucking and rolling without them stings a bit.
4) Whiskey Jack accommodation at Whistler Creek is pretty freakin amazing value for money. Book through Hotels.com and get an entire house for $80 a night.
5) The Evil Revolt is one of the only times when day-glo looks awesome. Pretty awesome.
6) It is not necessary to try and show off in front of Thomas Vanderham. He is better than you.
7) The Lift Coffee Company does the best sausage rolls on the entire planet. I know this to be fact as I have relatives in Scunthorpe and they live for sausage rolls up there. 4369 Main Street, Whistler.
8) Kona Stinky's are absolute pish. Norco A Line's are actually pretty damn good.
9) Spreading my knees could finally be the key to getting on in life. On the bike people! Jeez.
10) Large black crash pads around cable car poles are not actually black bears, despite their resemblance when going mach 10. Either way, it's best to continue with the turn as initiated rather than lose concentration for a split second. I refer you back to number 3.

I actually think Whistler is the best place on earth. Maybe. Bit expensive.

p.s. that's not me in the photo. Yet.

Chicksands and a surprising little Norco

So it was a pretty busy weekend all things considered. Tom went off to shoot the Red Bull X Fighters thing which turned out pretty good aparently. And when someone crashes they put big screens up so no one can see the rider being scraped off the floor.

Wish that had been the case at Chicksands on Sunday. We hot footed it up there to do a bike test for the Guardian's podcast and blog, securing a Norco, Commencal, Intense and Santa Cruz. major battle ensued for the Commencal Absolute - freakin lush bike on the 4X course there.


Pedalfeet loving the Norco. Focus.

But biggest surprise was the dainty little Norco Faze 2. Light as a feather but actually a bit of a bitch on the track, although sometimes a bit scary off the big jumps as it felt on landing as if it were going to explode.

The Commencal Meta 4X performed super good on the 4X course but also really nice on the dual slalom DH course and the dirt jumps. Tom took loads of great pictures, Pete from Madison was being super cool (in a very French kind of 'suuuper cooool' way even though he's not French)I caned myself trying to overtake my brother on the inside of the last corner and Stu was just lovin being out on some top quality bikes. Reviews and stuff to follow. Bosh.

Morzine piece finally up and well done Tracy!

So Ms Mosely nabbed third in the UCI Downhill in Mont Ste Anne, upsetting the French 1,2,3. Sabrine and Floriane first and second. Jess Stone came in top 20 - she's rad (18 years-old damn her) and Fionn Griffiths in top 10. Sweet.

Here's the Morzine/ Dirt Girls piece which was in Observer yesterday. Fantastic piece of prose. or no.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2009/jul/26/dirtgirls-mountain-biking-alps

Chicksands last weekend. Ride from the station was a bit of a schlep broken only by a can of Red Stripe halfway. Nice. Good mellow day on the dirt jumps and 4X course. Was on the Subzero but heading back next week on a 24seven Slacker. Shall report back obs. And just took delivery of Norco Faze 2 for a bike test for the podcast. Happy, happy days.