Black Canon Collective

Month: April 2011

  • The Gap

    The day began well with us all crowding out the little cafe in Talybont, with cups of tea, coffee, & beans on toast for Mr Sheppard.
    On to the bikes to start the 7 mile climb, enjoying the views, blue skies and bright sun shine, the day could not be better. Geraint had to make a quick return to the van for his gloves, well he needed to ride off his Saturday evening head!
    We all had a go at riding up the impossible loose, rocky, challenge climb, where Kevin, Chris & Neil went back for a 2nd go. The rest of us stood at the top cheering them on, but no one made it to the top this trip. So onward to the cafe and half way stop.
    During our time at the cafe enjoying sandwiches, welsh cakes & tea, we noticed Geraints shoes were held together with duct tape, very nice handy work. Well fueled and back on the bikes, we made our way to the top of The Gap.
    The 1+ mile rocky descent now awaits us, will Geraint make it down without a pinch flat? Off we all go. Half way down Neil takes a rock to the shin, nice lump ! Also a bent chainring tooth, Chris the mechanic to the rescue with 2 rocks to bash it out. At the bottom, guess what? Geraint not only had a pinch flat, his duct tape shoes needed some serious work, like a lot more tape. With both repairs sorted, we made our way down the comedy bridle path, where a rider that will remain nameless, decided to go over the the handle bars whilst trying to avoid rear ending another rider. Back along the canal path to Talybont and a nice cold beverage at the local crowded pub.

    Thanks to eveyone coming along, next month were going to Dartmoor for a weekend if you can make it, please check the club forum for details…

    Here’s some stats from the ride thanks to Gareth Simpson…

    Distance: 34.9 kilometers
    Elapsed Time: 4:58:17
    Avg Speed: 7.0 km/h
    Max Speed: 44.1 km/h
    Avg Pace: 08′ 33″ per km
    Min Altitude: 132 m
    Max Altitude: 613 m

  • Dig Day – come and have your say!

    Sunday 10-5

    We’ll start by discussing peoples ideas for the new XC Descent (BDT) and the new OneFourThree lower section, looking at the trail corridors and getting some stuff down on paper. We’ll mark out a route and try and take some measurements so that we can produce a good sketch for everyone to use when generating ideas before the next dig day.

    Then we’ll work on repairing some features on Spoons, mounting some new signs on the noticeboard, and giving the area a tidy up before making a list of any the existing features that need repairing, and wish list changes to existing trails so that we can get materials before the next dig day.

    See you there!

  • PLEASE dont litter


    It’s a simple request, and one that you’d hope wouldn’t need to be made, but at this time of year we do seem to have a sudden rise in litter at The Allotment. Please take yours home with you, and if you see anything else, take that too. Not only is it against the club rules to litter, it’s disrespectful to the surroundings and other forest users. So please, show some respect, and keep the place tidy.

    Thanks.

  • XC Ride Away – The Gap!

    Here are the details that everyone needs for the ride……

    The drive is about 2-2.5 hours, so we will car share as normal to keep things simple.

    The Gap Route – Brecon Beacons

    Distance 40km
    Total Ascent 1100m
    Time 5h +
    Meeting point Talybont-on-Usk
    Time 10am for a 10:30 start
    (Parking is on the main road it can be busy, especially if the weather is nice!)

    The ride is mainly on existing bridleways that cut through the Brecon Beacons. The highlight of the route is riding through the ‘Gap’ between Cribyn and Fan-y-Big at 599m

    A route map can be found here: http://www.ridethequantocks.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/gap.pdf And a description can be found here:
    http://www.mtb-wales.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Subjects&file=index&req=viewpage&pageid=31

    There is a café at about the halfway point, grid reference: SO055175
    (Bring something to eat just in case the cafe is not open)

    Notes:
    Unlike trail centres, the tracks were not designed with mountain bikers in mind, and have to be shared with other users. At some places on the route we will be many miles from civilisation, mobile phones can’t be relied upon. The highest point on the route is exposed to the full extremes of weather.

    • Ensure your bike is in good mechanical order
    • Always ride within your ability
    • Carry enough food and water for a full day
    • Carry your own tools and spares ( Bring at least 2 inner tubes )
    • Even if its sunny when you set off carry a waterproof and warm jersey
    • A personal survival bag or blanket is recommended
    • As is small backup light

    The ride is open to members and non-members alike, but please inform us if a non member is coming to we know detaits in advance.

    Any questions please let us know, we’re meeting 7.15am Cheese & Grain, Leaving 7.30

  • The Erlestoke Twelve

    Charge Bikes have done it again… looks lovely doesn’t it.

    Now, who hasn’t entered yet? It’s filling up fast!

  • Is that dust…?

    Dan Irons showcasing his skills behind the lens whilst his brother Ben shows off his on two wheels…

    A Birthday Ride from Daniel Irons on Vimeo.

  • Lots of Laps + Lots of cake…

    Dinner ’til Dusk 3 – Heroes from Black Canon Collective on Vimeo.

    It’s hard to put my finger on what makes Dinner ’til Dusk fun.

    There’s the competition (despite everyone’s denial), the way the work is shared (thanks Chedge), the shared hatred of the boggy climb (or any climb for that matter), the attempts at fancy dress (special mention to Marjory for her Suffragette costume), the banter, noise and ‘styling it up’ at the finish line and finally the icing on the cake was the BCC bake off.

    Chris N won beans and the solo event for determined, haribo fueled, big wheeled riding.

    Team Betamax (in training for Le Tour and bicycle brazing respectively) won pairs.

    Finally (and some would argue most importantly) Karolina (Piotr’s lady friend) won the battle of the bakers with a cake both tasty and beautifully decorated.


  • 1 in 100 Lottery – The results

    Well it was a long time in the making but we finally managed to get the first Black Canon Collective Lottery completed.

    I think the idea was originally suggested at the end of August last year (2010), and after a little bit of a false start (we didn’t have a clue what was involved) we managed to get a license, produce some tickets and with a massive amount of help from club members sell most of them!

    So to cut to the chase the lottery raised £390 for the club and in the process made a few people chuffed that they had bought a ticket.

    • First prize is £500 cash————Mr Mark Vose
    • Second Prize is £50 Kushi Clothing vouchers————Master Ryan Makee
    • Third Prize is £40 Batchelors Cycles service voucher————Master James Hatvany

    As this was the first event of this type the club has run, it was really a case of testing the waters so feel free to comment on the format that future lotteries may take, i.e. ticket price, prizes etc.

    It goes without saying that the event would not have taken place without the support of the club members that worked hard to sell tickets (special mention to Chris Sheppard), friends, family and colleagues who bought tickets and the generous prizes donated by Kushi Clothing and Batchelors Cycles.

    So congratulations to the winners and to everyone else thanks and better luck next time.

  • It's Mother's Day!

    So you should spend the day looking after yours, it’s what we’re going to do!

    This of course means that there’s no Dig Day this weekend, it will be rescheduled for 2 weeks time in place of the TickerTape.

     

    Please note: riding your bike rather than treating your mum is not in keeping with the spirit of Mother’s Day (unless she rides bikes too!)

  • We'll accept IOUs..

    Ok, we know that the 5 day deadline may have been a bit short for some, so in the interest of everyone getting a jersey at the low price of £30 (and so that you get it in time for the summer) we’ve decided to offer each member a two week IOU option, where they can order one jersey and have up to the 16th April to pay for it in FULL.

    We would still need the orders to be in by this Sat night at midnight, and would issue you with an invoice that you would have 2 weeks to clear.

    Hopefully this will help some of you.

    If you’d like to take us up on this offer please email me details of which jersey you would like

    andrew.denham@blackcanoncollective.co.uk

    Cheers