Cathkin Braes - Over & Out!

Been a while since my last post, as I've been kind of busy with a trip to the Bionicon HQ in Bavaria, and organizing Round 5 of the SXC MTB Series, which I was organising as a test event for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

Bionicon was awesome, we were picked up in Munich, driven to their "factory", which was basically a big chalet at the foot of the alps - what an awesome place to work. The hospitality was only outdone by the riding - 2 hour climbs (which are easy on these bikes, despite 6" travel!) followed by amazing 20-30 minute descents back into the valley - quite different to the usual trail centre stuff, as these are just walking paths that folk ride bikes down, so pretty challenging stuff, and a but daunting as your guides don body armour and full face helmets at the top, whilst I just put on a waterproof!

The factory tour and product training was a big eye opener, nice to see products being designed for a purpose by a bike riding engineer, and not an accountant! If my German was better (or just existed), I think I'd have asked for a job!

I can honestly say that organising an event is way harder than riding one - you have to put in more hours in the long-term build up to the event, and instead of tapering off, you build up the workload as the event approaches! My body aches in new ways after walking 15 odd miles on Sunday marking out the course, clearing up the course etc, etc.

The event was a big success, with around 300 competitors and a great atmosphere - the feedback from riders and spectators alike will help massively in the development of the MTB trails, and the CG2014 race track. The cross-over bridge (pictured) was particularly pleasing, but stressful - with having to get it approved by the building inspector before we could use it, then camping overnight in the park to guard it!

I'm glad to be having a week off work to recouperate, before getting some training in for the final Rabbie Burns TT Series event next month. I've enjoyed the challenge of TTing this year, but am really missing MTB racing - the prep for Cathkin, and the vibe at the race has given me the bug again - so I'm signed up to ride Strathpuffer 2010 in a pair - should be easier with a friend to share the work with, but somehow I expect it won't be!

Below is a short video compiled by Glasgow City Council of the event. Whilst working with them has been challenging, the event couldn't have happened without their support, so a big thanks to them - particularly Allan MacLean, Tom A'Hara and Jack Devine.

2 Wheels Good

Hello, struggling to think of what to write - bloggers block? I'm normally not stuck for words (if the right topic/rant comes up in conversation), but that is in the real world, not typing!

Life has been very quiet in the bike shop recently, the traditional February blues, coupled with the road to Stewarton being shut following the train derailment of a couple of weeks ago. Still, that means plenty of time for for family & bike riding - popped out of work early to sledging with Finlay (2) today, the recent cold snap is actually pretty good for bikes too - muddy trails are frozen hard, and back roads are quiet (you just need your wits about you on the ice), and snow is surprisingly grippy.

I road with Iain Nimmo and the Squadra Porcini guys at Aberfoyle yesterday - awesome MTB trails there, the SXC in April is going to be awesome - if the ground is reasonably dry it'll challenge Badaguish for best course of the year in 2009 - could be a total 'mare if your tech skills aren't up to scratch though. The line up of events is looking pretty good, and I'm really excited about being a local organiser with Cathkin Braes for the 1st time - pretty nervous too!

Going to be spending more time on skinny wheels this year - less training time with number 2 on the way means having to concentrate on shorter races, closer to home - so aero bike and pointy helmet will be the order of the day. Not really done TT's seriously since 1995, so will be interesting to see what I can do. It'll be good to encourage some of the club guys to give it a go too, plenty really strong riders who I think will surprise themselves and others as the season progresses.

I'm pleased to see my former employer (Scottish Cycling) really moving forward with their performance programme - see their home page for latest recruitment - given their recent growth, I'm sure that results (both racing, and the progress of the sport in general) won't be far around the corner - when you hear about the work going on in clubs like Peebles CC, you can just see the massive leap forward about to happen.

Neil Walker