Thursday, June 29, 2006

'ROAM' by The Collective (DVD Review)

Bit of a video review here.. i thought i was a pretty decent bike pilot until i saw the new 'ROAM' DVD featuring 'The collective'.. If you havent seen it yet, its 45 mins (plus about 30mins of extras) of intense global action filmed in a awesome and stylish way. Its just biking at its core, no frills, just biking and features some crazy as s**t downhilling, freeriding (incorporating the infamous North Shore possie) and trials action.. All i will say is that i hope everyone involved in making the dvd has some got freakin good medical cover.. Seriously get this DVD, is one big spiritual journey underpinned with heart and soul, maximum air and mind blowing skills... 10/10

Go check out THE COLLECTIVES WEBSITE for more information (or just belt down ya bike shop and buy it..

Wednesday, June 28, 2006

Need psyching up before the trail.. Wild freebie CD with DJ Mag


If ya into ya dance music and want some wild psyching up before you go full on mentalistic down the trails, then get yaself down to the newsagent and pick yourself up the latest copy of DJ MAG (21Jun-04July edition). They are giving away and absolutely stormin cd by Carl Cox (Space Resident) & DJ Simi (Angel of Love Resident Italy). Its a fusion of scorchin bangin tech, tribalistic and electronic belters. The cd is part of a 'Face Off' series of 5 cds (you can collect them all in the coming weeks) featuring 2 different DJs working together.

Tuesday, June 27, 2006

Do You Suffer from PTTD !!!!

Post Traumatic Trail Disorder (PTTD)

Definition:

The psychological and physical disorder resulting from nailing the best freaking technical ride ever.

Symptoms:

1) Initial feeling of intense euphoria, nothing else matters, stuff everybody else, you are simply God.. then you realise in all the excitement you are half way home and you’ve left your rig in the car park.
2) Subsequent chronic build up of inter-cranial pressure resulting from ones brain slapping around like kipper in a fish tank.
3) Neurological fatigue and the sick ability to listen to your parents Barry Manilow CD’s without any complaint what so ever.
4) Zombiefacation resulting from muscle spasms and the sudden ability to walk like you’ve picked up too much soap in the prison shower.
5) The ability to sink 5 pints of post-trail isotonic fluid (Fosters) then bring in all back up at twice the speed that you drank it.

You have been warned!!

Friday, June 23, 2006

Advertise your Biking Blog or Biking Information Site on Active Brits.

I've recently had lots of requests off people wanting to put their mountain bike blog, bmx blog, free-ride blog, downhill blog, cycling information site, club and event etc on my other site Active Brits (Outdoor, Adventure & Extreme Sports and Travel Pixel Directory).


Thanks for all the emails by the way, much appreciated, some really nice feedback... and yes, i'll continue to add a humourous element to this site.

Well i hope this keeps everybody sweet. I've done some modifications for you so feel free to add your site to Active Brits. If you follow the links below it will take you to the appropriate grid where you simply select up to 10 blocks, add your site logo (or any logo that is pretty funky and not copyrighted), add short description and an email and thats it... boom you are on activebrits.

To add your 'Biking' related Blog or Informative Website.. (not just adverts) Click Here..

To add a 'Biking' related event or competition.. Click Here..

To add a UK 'Biking' related course or the site of a professional instructor or guide.. Click Here..

To add your Biking club or association.. Click Here..

To add a cool UK 'Biking' shop (or extreme sports or adventure shop).. Click Here..

Dont forget to check out the rest of Active Brits and please tell companies, clubs or associations in the appropriate sectors to place a link.. All kinds of opportunities for people in the adventure and extreme sports sectors and for the global travel industry.. All grids are FREE to advertise on (except the Premium Grid and this is only for a short while to help cover the cost of the script and setting up the site.... the site is not about making stacks of dosh, havent got time to do that and bike).

Have a top weekend on the trails everyone, go kick some ass.. but be safe..

Thursday, June 22, 2006

Check Out Techno-Leak.


Check out a cool small dedicated techno site called Techno-Leak for some upfront downloadable tunage from the likes of Luke Slater, La-Di-Da and Rino Cerrone, live DJ video action and insights into upcoming global parties, DJs and the latest music.. Keeping it underground..

Wednesday, June 21, 2006

The science behind flies and mountain biking..

The following calculation is based upon highly accurate scientific records. In theory, actual calculations may differ slightly from those stated on account of limited baseline data being available, howeveeeerrrrrrr, it must be noted, that in arriving at the following conclusion we adopted several scientific techniques while completely inebriated and suffering from post traumatic trail disorder..

The following calculation will help determine:

1) The total weight of flies consumed during an estimated 20 week spring/summer season...
2) The weight of flies consumed in comparison with the weight/ number of Heinz baked beans.

Calculations

Where:

(a) Approximate weight of a general housefly (12mg)
(b) The average number of flies consumed per 4 hour ride (estimated to be approximately 3 unless you are very greedy)
(c) The number of rides per week during spring-late summer (estimated at 4 times per week)
(d) The number of weeks of quality biking during the main season (estimated at 20 weeks).
(e) Total weight of flies consumed.
(f) Average weight of a Heinz baked bean based on a single sample (i ate the rest)
(g) Equivalent number of baked beans eaten.

1) Total Weight of flies consumed:

Calculation: a x b x c x d = e (0.000012kg x 3 x 4 x 20 = 0.00288kg 0r 2.88g)

2) The weight of flies consumed in comparison to the weight of a Heinz baked bean.

Calculation: e / f = g (0.00288 / 0.00094 = 3.06 baked beans)

In conclusion



Important information: Do not consume anything much bigger than a housefly (no eating sparrows or bats) and please consider many species are endangered so if you are hungry do not try to double up on your consumption, its far easier eating a Mars Bar.

We are yet to undertake taste tests to clarify the pros and cons between eating baked beans and fly mass but as soon as we do we shall publish our findings.

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

Mmmmmmm Apple Pie :o)

Full on died and gone to heaven.. i'm not going to lie, i'd definitely brake for a piece of this pie :o))



If you want to make one of these at home, be sure to ask for permission.. I will not be held responsible for helping initiate a global apple or Devonshire Cream Custard shortage.. You can check out CASEY COUNTY APPLE FEST site for more info is you really really really want to.... Looks like it was one hell of a party eh!!

Monday, June 19, 2006

Just cant stop drooling... SANTA CRUZ bikes... Ahhhhhhh

What a weekend the Active Brits crew has had.. It doesnt get much better than a stonking beer filled Saturday night with quality banter, top mates and great pub scenery ;o) followed by a trip up to Bike Treks in Ambleside to spend all afternoon drooling over the latest range of bikes before heading off for a few hours to search for some new routes to nail..

While the rest of the Active Brits possie rummaged around for new bike parts, i must have spent about an hour just hanging around a couple of high end Santa Cruz bikes that where on show. I went into full on trainspotter mode, reckon i should have taken a thermos in with me and a comfy chair. I just entered the 'wishlist' zone and started to think how cool it would be to be able to actually get a mortgage to buy one of them.. I've always liked the looks of Santa Cruz bikes, i've seen them performing on the open trails in Canada and the USA and they seem to just scream quality and robustness with huge welds and sleek lines. I've come to the conclusion that they are definately bikes designed for single people.. If ya happily married, forget it, we are talking awesome stunning rigs that you'll never grow tired of, serious divorce material..


BLUR XC - Click Here For Info




BLUR LT - Click Here For Info




NOMAD - Click Here For Info



Say no more eh.. truly amazing bikes, well worth getting hold of a giant piggy bank then spending the next 5 years saving for one..... For more information more bikes within the Snta Cruz range check out SANTA CRUZ or if you know of any competitions to win one (or several)then please let us know :o)

A few of us are seriously going to try a couple of these out for size by the end of the year so any personal comments/ reviews by fellow mountain biking bloggers would be welcomed..

Tuesday, June 13, 2006

Top Rides At Moel Famau Nr Mold North Wales

One of the favourite afternoon haunts of the Active Brits possie is head to Moel Famau (554m) near Mold/ Ruthin for some quality riding with transitions from forest trails, to gnarly climbs, high speed grass decents to technical singletrack.

Pic 1) Summit of Moel Famau




The area around Moel Famau is stunning. Its the kind of place where you can do some top riding, let ya hair down, have some quality fun, see some top Welsh scenery and be well away from the crowds. The place has got everything for either the full day rider or for those undertaking an afternoon training route. It is definately not a beginners destination and the kind of place where you can take a family biking. Ok, so its got a few low level forest areas that might keep the beginners amused for a couple of hours, but for learning skills a day would be better spent in Llandegla Forest located about 12 miles away en-route to Wrexham with its facilities, tea room, bike cleaning area (what next!) and specially designed trails. I'm not just saying that to put people off so my friends and i can do high speed decents without the fear of trashing loads a kids and parents (ok there may be an element of that ;o) but once out of the forest, the routes are extremely exposed and can cover some serious elevations and distances from facilities and mobile phone reception is poor. Tracks often take you over open moorland where temptations exist to let the bike rip for a while on speedy mixed terrain decents where good technical skills are required. In late autumn and winter the routes are really only suitable for the hardened riders and out of the forests bear brunt to the full force of the elements.

More recently the area has adopted several bike focussed routes following 'legal paths' which form the basis of most of the routes in the area (note: routes are also accessible to the devils children with their thermos flasks so caution is advised). Im not going to get involved in describing the beginners routes but here are a several selected links from Ride The Clywds Website which will take you direct to maps/ printable route guides for some good intermediate and advanced biking.

Intermediate Routes

1) Over The Top Distance:34km.. Climb: 545m
2) Arthur 2 Times Distance:31km.. Climb:660m
3) MBR Killer Loop Distance:37km.. Climb: 990m

Advanced Routes

1) Almost The Delyn Distance: 78.8km.. Climb: 1605m
2) Going Backwards Distance: 37km.. Climb: 730m
3) Loop Da Loop Distance: 53.5km.. Climb: 1570m

The place is definately worth a visit if you are coming to North Wales or en route to Snowdonia. After the ride its worth checking out the pub at Loggerheads called the 'We Three Loggerheads' for plates filled with top tucker and a good beer loaded with carbs (ok fat as well but after an intermediate or advanced route who cares eh :o).. Directions to pub.. Its on the Mold to Ruthin Road 3 miles from Mold adjacent to Loggerheads Country Park..

Pic 2) Unknown Rider Taking Time Out..




Pic 3) Stunning Views across the range - You can see Snowdonia on a clear day


Check Out Warbled Music


Check out Warbled Music, the brainchild of San Diego DJ & Producer, Panic, for quality fresh sounding Tech-house and tribalistic beats :O)
WARBLED MUSIC

Sunday, June 11, 2006

Check Out Beats in Space Radio


Based stateside BEATS IN SPACE hosts an array of underground house and electronic DJ's with refined sounds and tripped out beats.. Thanks Tim for putting on a great show and kicking out some quality vibes..

Thursday, June 08, 2006

Wicked Urban Trials/ Freeriding Video

Came across this scorching video of a technical bit of urban trials/ freeriding. Some mad as riding.. If you haven't already watched it, then its well worth a shufty.. quality stuff..

** Cool Video Here **

Friday, June 02, 2006

Traditional 'Wild' Riding vs Bike Dedicated Forests

I'd be interesting to read people thoughts on the 'evolution of bike dedicated forests'.. Personally, i've got mixed opinions of them..

What i have noticed, especially in N.Wales, is that since bike dedicated forests have opened, the odds of bumping into a family of 6 on a bridleway has dropped significantly. I reckon the vast majority of beginners and intermediate level bikers that struggled on the gnarly 'wild' uphill routes have opted for the relative ease of the hardpacked man-made/ enhanced forest and singletrack trails.

I have only used the Marin Trail once, it was late afternoon on a week day and it was still uncomfortably busy with traffic blocking the majority of the downhill sections. I can appreciate dedicated forest routes as a training aid and to evolve techniques, but are they starting to pull people away from considering the more 'wild' rides that take time and preparation? Are we becoming Americanised in the sports department as well where we want it all handed to us on a plate? Rather than using dedicated forests, I tend to opt for the fusion of rideable ascent, carry-ups and technical descents on the bigger hills which offer a level of uncertainty and most of all tranquity and awesome views. Is it just me or is there becoming a definite distinction between the 'traditionalist' mountainbiker and the dedicated 'forest rider'? Is the ease of arriving at a dedicated forest with a cafe, cleaning facilities, parking and a pre-designed trail starting to remove the element of adventure from the realms of the biker?

Have a great weekend everyone and remember to do everything in your powers to keep Bridleways open..

FREE & Premium Advertising Available for Outdoor Recreation Companies

If any fellow bikers have got friends or colleagues that own a company or association within the OUTDOOR RECREATION, UK INDOOR SPORTS, UK TRAVEL, or INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL sectors, then please tell them to go to my site ACTIVE BRITS and place a small company logo on one of the pixel advertising grids as noted in the header bar. The vast majority of the advertising is FREE, the site currently has a Google Rank of 4, and only a small charge is placed on premium exposure which helps cover my web and development costs... (see the Premium grid at the base of this page). I just want the site to be the biggest collage of targeted active lifestyle advertisers in the UK, its what my life is all about...

If you add a logo/URL to one of the pixel grids and want to backlink, then you can add a text link or small banner of Active Brits to your site by going to the 'Link Us' section at the top of the page..

Thanks, and i hope i can help send some targeted traffic your way and further enhance the UK active lifestyle scene.. we've got a lot to offer if you ask me..