Black Canon Collective

Month: July 2010

  • The Cobble Wobble!

    You may remember that we were involved in the Velo Jam last year, an evening of bike centered events held in Frome to celebrate the visiting Tour of Britain cycle race. We ran the Cobble Wobble, a bicycle hill climb sprint in the heart of Frome that saw massive crowds, funny costumes and some very impressive times. It was great fun, and was something that we were very keen to be involved with every year .

    Well we are; this year the Cobble Wobble is being held as a stand alone event but this time we’ve been involved from the start!

    The event poster below explains everything you need to know for now, click on it and you’ll be taken to the Cobble Wobble website where you can sign up to find out about entries before anyone else. It’s going to be an awesome day with lots of great people, food, bikes, Cobble Wobble ale and some pretty amazing prizes too. The event is being supported by Charge Bikes and Red Bull so expect to see some famous faces and very very fast times.

    Neil Cousins, last years winner (and BCC member) is going to have to eat plenty of Helen’s Millionaires Shortcake if he’s going to be in with a shout this year…

    Check out the website for frequent updates and KEEP THE 19TH SEPTEMBER FREE!

    Beans

    p.s. we need 16 volunteers to help run the Cobble Wobble on the day. Volunteers will get free entry to the race and after party (which will be pretty special), food and drinks during the event and a goody bag. They will also be helping to raise money for the club by their involvement. Please email andrew.denham@blackcanoncollective.co.uk if you’re interested. thanks!

  • Montevideo is the capital city of which country?

    Despite the uncomfortably warm conditions and unexpectedly hungry horseflies, Sunday 25th July saw the second Dinner ’til Dusk. Starting at 2pm after a practice period featuring Charlie crashing, the Le Mans style start led to violence and abuse as everyone fought to get to their bike.

    As the chain of riders wound its way down the first singletrack descent Mark’s lack of practice lap was shown to be a mistake as he went straight on and straight through the tape at a sweeping right hander, the riders behind him didn’t let their laughter get in the way of their overtaking.

    Later into the first hour and it was clear how the event was going to work out; Tom was going to steam round each lap hailing everyone he passed with his Pumpkin Man cry – he earned himself a beans prize for his costume, speed and enthusiasm on such a heavy bike, Will would put us to shame with his fixed wheel riding of the technical course while ‘rocking’ a Banana Man costume and Paul would attack every climb and descent which he attributes to his new bike, not his increased skill and fitness.


    As if his mission was to ensure that everyone proved their intelligence as well as their riding skill Pete used his courdroy-wearing-geography-teacher persona to ask questions and hand out ‘gold’ stars, while Andrew convinced Robin (dressed as a punk ferret) to throw in a couple of laps in (between finishing work and going for his food) allowing him a well earned rest from his solo pursuit of Adam.


    About an hour in Chris Sheppard arrived – sleep deprived – to put the Steptoe into his team with our chairman. His fast laps on his new bike put them in contention for the win, while The Chedge channelled the power of his MC Hammer Pyjama bottoms to return after each lap faster than Josh J was hoping, especially as Josh was running up the switchbacks of the main climb each lap, bike on his back.


    While Josh J was running up climbs, Josh H and his teammate Timmy were churning out frequent smooth, fast laps, while showing their musical prowess on the maracas back in the pit area.


    The battle for the win in the pairs event all came down to the final lap, with Greg – paired with lycra wearing, singlespeed riding Big Bird – successfully completing the course in sub 11 minutes to take the victory!

    Meanwhile Adam had put in an incredibly consistent set of laps – ruined by a snapped chain – to take solo gold!

    Other winners of the beans prizes (along with Timmy and Tom) were Josh and Will for both starting their final lap when they had no realistic chance of making it back in time and Gordon, who won the tyres for tolerating my team orders and for putting in far more effort and commitment than anyone else.


    Thanks to Andrew for the stickers, picture captions and designing the climb, Dan for the photos, to Max Bikes PR for providing the prizes and to everybody who helped pack away and took part.


  • Dinner 'til Dusk (2) – White Board

  • Dinner 'til Dusk (2) – Headcam

    I’ve sped up the climbs so that it’s a little more watchable…..

  • Dinner 'til Dusk (2) – this Sunday!

    Click on the image to find out more!

  • The Fast and the Furious

    TickerTape is always fast, hell that’s kind of the point…but today was particularly fast because Spoons had seen some tweaks that increased speed through some of the fastest sections of trail we’ve got at the Allotment.
    Ben and Ben (Batt and Irons) were on the pace from the off-set with both taking great pride unveiling their current fastest time with as much fanfare and suspense as is possible with a raised eyebrow, a whiteboard and a squeaky pen.

    Charles Mountford managed to brain himself on a tree then punch the ground (screwing his wrist up) within 10 meters of the start line. Yep, that straight bit. Between the trees. With no corners or features. Yep, right there.

    Ever keen to showcase my incredible triangular bandage skills I saved the day (by putting a tube sleeve bandage on and accidentally wrenching his bad shoulder whilst laughing at something Simon said when I should have been paying attention). Still, he took it like a man. Grrrr.

    Jamie Friel was ripping all day on a multitude of different bikes. Having his bike stolen last week was crap but on the plus side he must have ridden about £14,000 worth of bikes over the course of the day!

    Simon (Big Burd) managed to get worse as the day went on despite looking smoother than all but Ben (Irons), I reckon he was missing the usual banter from Stace, Jim and Robin or was in need of some alpine air to bring out the best in him.  Robin did make it in the end, but we reckon he should’ve spent the afternoon trying to get that Duran Duran style bleached quiff sorted instead.

    Other than plenty of all round Gunning It there were some that stood out above than the rest…. Jamie McDougall managed to look much faster and smoother than anyone had ever seen, even after destroying his big toenail by kicking the ground then ripping it off with a set of pliers and a tyre lever he continued to impress and was the worthy winner of the Beans award. Ben Irons was the other Beans victor, setting the pace and riding with more grace than a hardtail should allow. Something’s happened to Ben recently – he’s stopped looking like a gypsy and has bought a bike that actually works and as a result he’s killing it and is only getting quicker…

    So there we go that was this months TickerTape – riding bikes fast between trees with mates.

    Thanks to everyone for setting up and packing away, to Tom Rickhuss for the photos, Shimano for the race tape and Schwalbe and Monster for the prizes.

    p.s. Oh…and…Ben Batt was the fastest (at the expense of his brothers bike) and the most visually impressive too (even though I’ve realised he looks like he’s doing a gorilla impression when he rides)! Oh yeah, and what’s with that eye of his….?

    Beans





  • Stolen Bike – Please Help

    Sad news: club member, and winner of the beans award at the TickerTape, has had his bike stolen! Here’s Jamie to fill you in on the details:

    Hey everyone I had my Trek Ticket 10 stolen from the railings outside the Frome vets between 7:30-12:15 on Thurday 15th July
    It had no saddle because that was stolen the month before, but had had red welgo v8 pedals and black odi ruffian lock-on grips with a 661 sticker where the top tube meets the down tube, apart from that it was all standard.
    Frame size is 40cm/15.8″ (a small).
    If anyone has any information about it, it would be wicked if you could contact info@blackcanoncollective.co.uk

    Thanks!

    Be careful people, it seems that there’s been a bit of a spate of bike thefts in and around Frome recently – so lock ’em up!

  • TickerTape – Sunday 18 July

    It’s TickerTape this Sunday.
    We’re riding Spoons.
    The course has been modified (for this month only) to add a little spice, and mix things up a bit.
    The changes add speed (to the fastest trail we’ve got) so lycra and bullet helmets may be an advantage.
    I’m joking of course, bullet helmets help no-one. ever.
    Timing starts at 11 and will run until 3.
    As always, there’s plenty to play for so bring some beans* and your shouting voice too.
    Members only, full face helmet and a working bike needed to take part.
    Oh and some beans, don’t forget the beans!

    *Beans have been proven to be far more effective than Gnar, Shred, Rip and even Gunning It.

  • Dinner 'til Dusk (2) – 25th July

    Sunday 25th of July will see the second Dinner ’til Dusk event at The Allotment. Utilising much of the same course as the last time (but with an all new, much less brutal, main climb) the event will run from 14:00 until 17:00 with the course open for practice from 13:00.

    For those of you who are unfamiliar with the event it is a mini- enduro. Each solo rider or team aims to do as many laps of the course as they can in the three hours with prizes awarded for the riders who have given the most ‘beans’ during the event, whether through determination, enthusiasm or by helping to generate a great atmosphere.

    While it is helpful to know in advance who is and isn’t coming (to build the essential culture of teasing and abuse) it is fine to come along on the day with no warning and no teammates!

    The event is suitable for anyone: downhillers, social XC riders, stag dos, corporate team building groups, nuns, pirates…….

  • Helmet Cam Footage – The Allotment

    Yesterday, Boin and BB King rode the allotment and took some helmet cam footage of the trails. Enjoy!