Exciting times.


The ideas, thoughts and actions in life are just like riding Skyline at Storm-Lo: find the flow and enjoy the ride!

SingleSpyder.

dimecres, de novembre 09, 2011

Magicshine Old MJ-836 V New MJ-872

The Magicshine is a light I have been using for over two years. The light I have been using is the MJ-836 This light is claimed to produce 900Lumens on full power for a battery life of 3-4hours on Full power and 6-7 on low power.
I have had no issues with this light and havent ever really needed to test the full capacity of the battery until the 24 hour race. I had a spare battery and also head torches so we mainly tried to keep the lights on Low power to get maximum battery life. The lights lasted without having to use the spare battery which was great. The batteries have a nice blue backlight to give you an idea of the time left. The light switch also has a colour coded pattern. The switch glows Green for a full battery 100-75%; Blue for 75-50%; Yellow for 50-25%; Red for 25-5% and Flashing red 5% to Shutdown.This is a very bright light.... Well until I seen this new light MJ-872The MJ-872 is Claimed to produce 1600Lumens on full power for a battery life of 2.2hours. I havent had a chance to test the battery but this light has more settings. Full beam, 75%, 50%, 25%.The light comes with an O ring that straps around the bars or to a helmet. The old one had a more secure clamp with a flat connection on the base. I will need to see how the O ring compares when I am out on the trail on rougher ground.
The photo above shows the different mounting options. The new light MJ-872 has the O ring which wraps around the bar and across hooks on the light body. The old light MJ-836 has a clamp which attaches to the bars then a quick release flat connection for the base of the light.
The photos below show the garden with no light, the garden with a standard head torch and then the old and new Magicshine lights.



Garden with lights off:Standard Head torch:
MAGICSHINE ON FULL POWER

MJ-836 (Old):
MJ-872 (New):

The Old MJ836 was purchased on ebay and shipped from HongKong - $79.99 took 5 weeks to arrive.


The New MJ872 was purchased from www.magicshine.co.uk - £109.99 took 1 day to arrive.

Two hours.

És el temps de bike de cada sortida dels darrers dies, seré més exacte, entre moltes la d'ahir.

Va molt bé sortir a pedalar, en aquest cas a les prèvies a l'hora de dinar, i més si tens Consell a la tarda.

I de fet així va ser, una descompressió com la d'ahir a dalt de la bike i tot,  després de rodar aquest 120 minuts entre senders, a excepció d'una pala vertical imprevista,  té el color que ha de tenir, o millor dit, no sé quin color ha de tenir, a mi m'agrada el que jo estic veient, que no ha de coincidir amb cap color que agradi a d'altres bikers, i tant que no, per això estem bé, perquè tenim el nostre color, i que aquest el podem canviar demà, sí, però mentre en parlem, si no el color és el què ja tenim, mtb, mtb, mtb.


Entre ahir i avui dies de moltes decisions, però moltes, bike de 29er Single Speed, forquilla de 29", transmissió de 29" Single Speed, moltes i de tots els àmbits, i tant que sí. I això fa que tot camini de manera senzilla, planera i molt il.lusionant, sempre però aquesta il.lusió agafada de la ma d'una marcada estabilitat, de fet tota aquesta il.lusió pivota sobre un pilar,  el de l'estabilitat.

Ho dic perquè des de que sé que el corriol que em porta fins al poble no està lliure d'un cert conflicte de pas, encara que lleuger, encara que no hem de passar-ho malament, ara no gaudeixo en, en primer terme pensar que hi he de passar, quan fa uns dies pensava, "que bé que m'ho passaré" i després tota la sortida estic pensant, "mira que si per anar en bike tinc un conflicte", per un cop hi sóc pensar, "que s'acabi, que s'acabi", així no puc pas sortir a pedalar per un corriol, per sesancional que sigui, com és el cas.


La decisió presa quina és, "fora corriol", per què no diu que no vol que hi passin?

Així que en cerquem un altre, perquè també és veritat que no anem sobrats de corriols, tampoc mancats,  però aquest que semblava un bon corriol,  i que tot i que el pas es va fer de manera consentida, ara no és un bon pas, tampoc un bon corriol, i els que l'han obert, ara ja no són "fantàstics" si no que són "uns netejadors de corriols possiblement conflictius",  és a dir fer un "reset" i oblidem aquest pas, així de fàcil, així de senzill, i no cal mirar més lluny, cal tenir-ho present, i no invertir un segon un cop n'has tret les conclusions pertinents sobre el perquè de tot plegat, i tant que no.


Una sortida memorable, no perquè gaudís de la sortida, que no va ser en cap cas, sí per la claredat que m'ha aportat una sortida com la d'ahir, perquè així avui quan ens enfilem a les bikes un altre cop ja podré gaudir des del primer minut, perquè no estaré pensant en el què ahir em va fer que no gaudís de la sortida, i això, el fet de poder, de mirar  d'evitar situacions d'angoixa no té preu, o millor dit si que el té, i és molt elevat.

Vull dir que millor invertir el temps en pensar com evitar d'haver-la de passar, l'angoixa vull dir, que no pas prioritzar "el fer per fer", el sortir vull dir, i haver de patir pensant en el corriol, exactament com al conflicte del Montalt, a on no em fa sentir gens bé pensar amb el pas tancat, però encara és pitjor passar pel pas en aquestes circumstàncies.

Una pedalada, curiosa, sorprenent, per la seva duresa extrema passada la primera mitja hora, per després d'escalar per una pendent que no repetiré properament, poder corriolejar ara sí ara també darrera de casa, i un cop superats els  90 minuts,  començar una baixada entre senders de somni, el darrer però aquest que siguent de somni, hauria d'afegir "mal" somni.

Una arribada a casa pausada, a on a l'hora de dinar i després al despatx penses, "això ho he de fer més sovint del que ja ho faig", no vull dir el fet de dinar i treballar al despatx, que això ja ho fem cada dia, si  no el fet de sortir a pedalar aquestes dues hores, perquè tot agafa una altre dimensió, no fent referencia a importància,  sí a un  to molt pausat, segur que massa, però ja està bé, oi?

MTB, MTB, MTB.

Decididament la Vicious no frena.

Decididament he d'anar equipat 100% d'estiu, he sortit amb mallot de màniga llarga i sense passar molta, molta calor, no anava bé del tot, avui aniré 100% d'estiu.

Decididament la clau multi funció ha d'anar fora de les bosses del darrera del mallot, no sé molt bé a on, però fora.

Decididament, em cal perseverar amb aquest corriols, i tant que sí, la data de l'arribada dels Trinxes és llunyana, per això cal perseverar ara.

Pla de la Calma-Aiguafreda...el nostre Utah Particular

De petit he passat molts estius a Aiguafreda.
Amb l´inici de la pràctica del MTB les sortides es van anar prolongant cada vegada més, fins a arribar un dia al Pla de la Calma.
Quantes vegades hauré pujat?
De fet, durant les vacances d´estiu, la meva rutina diaria consistia en sortir d´Aiguafreda, pujar fins al Pla de la Calma i tornar per a qualsevol dels infinits corriols de baixada.
A la tarda, després d´una bona migdiada m´escapaba de nou amb la bici cap al Muntanyà o bé m´enfilaba a la Cinglera de Bertí. Quants records!

Durant aquests anys el Pla de la Calma ha estat el lloc escollit per estrenar una nova bici. Cap bici s´estrena com cal si no es fa un Pla de la Calma!

Una vegada arribat al Pla de la Calma cal tornar a Aiguafreda (punt de sortida) i res millor que fer-ho pel recorregut del Meridià Verd. No té despercidici. Has d´aner alerta, si dubtes pots fer-te mal...molt mal.

Es el nostre Utah particular.

"Fem un Pla de la Calma?"

dimarts, de novembre 08, 2011

The Raid 24 Hour Adventure Race

The Raid 24 Hour Adventure Race
The Sperrin Mountains
Ireland



Kayak Toome to Portglenone 13km
The race started with the usual race briefing and kit checks. We got our maps and then were bussed to Toome for the first stage. The teams all had 4 persons and most had a female member in each team. The teams got their Kayaks paired up and took to the water in the river Bann. The start would be a mass start in the water heading down stream.

The river was fairly calm but the open lough beg section was fairly rough. Thankfully the wind was on our backs and we were able to surf some of the waves from time to time. We stopped briefly at Newferry water-ski club to dib at the first check point. A long pull to the next check point at Portglenone forest. At this check point we got the boats out of the water as we would be doing a foot orienteering section through the forest.
Foot Orinteering - Portglenone forest 3km
We got an orienteering map of the forest with a number of checkpoints to collect. All of these would be done in order. The forest floor was quite open so straight lining was the best option between checkpoints. We were picking these up very easily and when we crossed the road for two checkpoints on the other side we passed a few teams who were struggling to find them. We crossed back into the main forest and picked up the last couple of checkpoints. After a drink and a snack we got back into the kayak for the second paddle section.

Kayak Portglenone to Kilrea. 11.5km
The last section seemed to go a lot quicker than the first. I think this was due to the first section having the lough crossing. We paddled down to Portna Lockgates. The weeks before the race had seen a lot of rain and the river was well flooded. Having been warned about the flow of water and the dangers of the flood gates at portna all teams hugged the river banks coming into this section. We had to turn left into the canal avoiding continuing forward in the fast flow. The river was very fast at this section as the flood gates were open to let the flood water down. Missing the turn off and going over the edge into the stopper would have probably resulted in Death. Something we heard twice in the race briefing. It makes you pay attention when you hear death in a race briefing. Despite the flood water it was still a long tough paddle in the sit on top kayaks. A welcome site was the steps at Portna.

Run to Woodhall Activity centre. High ropes Task 1.5km


After we changed out of our wet gear we ran the short road section from Portna to Woodhall activity centre. At this point we would be off the clock. We took the time to get some food and a change of clothes where it was needed. When we were ready we went to the high ropes section.


There were two separate tasks one the Jacobs ladder and the other the Leap of Faith. The Jacobs ladder was a large ladder made from wooden beams suspended by metal wire. The gaps between the poles got bigger as the ladder got higher. The objective was for three team members to climb the ladder. The climbers could not use the wires or the safety belay rope to climb or balance. It was a test of team work using each other as a means of balance.

The Leap of faith was a test of nerve and agility. First there was a climb up a ladder to a platform on the pole about 15-20ft up.
In front of the platform there was a ball suspended in the air. The jumper had to decide how far from the platform he wanted the challenge to be. The further away the greater points but also more difficult.
The jumper had a harness and a safety rope with a marshal ready to tighten the rope as you start to fall. The jump reminded me of a bungee jump. Knowing you were on a rope but still having that doubt as to it catching you. With this section cleared with a top score it was back to the kit boxes and pick up our bikes.

Cycle kilrea to Tirkane mountain. 19.5km
It was starting to get dark at this point and the cycle from Kilrea to the mountain was on a number of small back roads. We picked up a couple of check points along the road. With head torches and bike lights both solid and flashing we looked like a Christmas tree. It was a really nice pedal on roads at night.

Foot orienteering over the mountains 17.5km
When we reached the carpark on Tirkane Mountain it was proper dark. We dropped the bikes off and headed into the mountains. The first section was pretty straight forward following a track to the summit. The clouds had cleared and the starry sky above made the climb up really special. On the summit the navigation really started. We took a bearing from the pole at the summit to the next checkpoint. This was a tough open mountain section on long heather and very uneven rough terrain. Our first mistake was on reaching some tougher sections we tried to find an easier way around it. This didn’t save us time and we missed the next check point. When we reached the track on the map we turned right but unfortunately we were to the right of the checkpoint. When we got to the fork in the track we realised our mistake. At this point we decided to miss the next two checkpoints and take the time penalty. The next checkpoint we found easy as we had a fence close by to follow. When we crossed the fence and headed for the next track we went a little too far to the right walking to the side of the track we were looking for. We eventually found it and headed down the mountain towards the next checkpoint. The mountain section was very slow and even with the shortcuts we were still the last team back.



Hike bike over the mountains 21km
After we picked up the bikes we would retrace our path back up the mountain. The first section we rode with no difficulty. The next section was very washed out and rough so we pushed the bikes up to the top. When we reached the end of the track it was back into the open mountain. Having went slightly of course on some of the other sections we decided to keep by the compass as best we could with more regular checks. This worked and we got right to the gate we were looking for. Looking back on this section I think we learned a valuable lesson about navigation at night. Trust your instinct, never doubt your judgement and ALWAYS follow the compass.
Cycle Glenshane to Hall 10.5km
The track we followed took us on a fast decent towards the Glenshane pass. The glenshane forest had a couple of checkpoints and a track to the stop of point. We got a puncture just after the track section so after changing it took the road direct to the event hall and a welcome break. Kit boxes with food dry clothes and spare batteries for bike lights and head torches.
On leaving the hall competitors took the back roads that run down the valley in the direction of Dungiven. There was a further two checkpoints on the road section. After dungiven there was another rope section.



Ropes task and Foot orienteering 3km
Teams had to walk a rope section with a river crossing and zip line. At the end of the ropes there was a short orienteering section on foot before returning to the bikes.



Bikes from dungiven to Banagher Dam 8.5km
The next section was a long road bike ride with some very steep climbs. Checkpoints on the way took the race into Banagher glen. Climbing on the road to the back of Banagher dam and the Reservoir.

Kayak the reservoir 4km
The Kayak section was up the reservoir and back down. With most teams doing the paddle at night. The valley makes this section fairly calm and a smooth water paddle. At the end of the kayak section teams got back on the bikes.
Cycle from banagher dam to the mountain Foot Orinteering 15.5km
Leaving the kayaks teams followed the forest tracks through Banagher forest and across the mountain. A steep climb up one side on rough forest tracks and a fast descent down the other side. The forest track crossed the river at a ford and then exited the forest onto the Glenedra road. There was two check points in the forest across the road or missing these took competitors across the mountain roads in the direction of Draperstown.


Foot orienteering across two mountains 12km
At McDaids Pit teams parked the bikes for a very tough orienteering section on foot. The teams descended one valley crossing the Moydamlaght Road and climbing the very steep rocky mountain section to the left of Moydamlaght forest. Crossing the mountain into the forest and then returning across the road and climbing back up to the bikes.

Final cycle – Trail quest through to the finish. 36km
The next section was a series of checkpoints stretching almost to Maghera and back through Moneyneany to the sixtowns community centre for the welcome sight of the finish line. After teams had a hot shower we all went to the Shepards Rest for a sit down meal and prize giving.


Ja ha arribat la tardor a Collserola

dilluns, de novembre 07, 2011

New Day-Big Day.

És que amb l'arribada de la tardor, no de l'hivern, les sortides agafen un ritme frenètic, no mentre sortim, si no les vegades que sortim, de fet, jo estic sortint més que la Betty, però això no vol dir que ella surti poc, si no que surt una mica menys que jo.

La darrera sortida de dissabte, entre pluges, amb un terreny perfecte per a rodar. 


Avui he sabut que el corriol que estem fent, el darrer no és prudent que hi anem amb més bikers, sí si hi passem amb prudència nosaltres dos.

Així que caldrà cercar un pas alternatiu a aquest, demà si les pluges no són aclaparadores com les d'avui o ahir, sortiré a cercar aquesta alternativa, i tant que sí, les ganes hi són, moltes oi que sí?


MTB, MTB, MTB.


Ara estem propers a les dues hores, puc aconseguir sense allunyar-me de casa fer les quatre hores, però no sense posar-hi una component trencadora pel que fa referència al desnivell, que ja vaig exposar que s'apropa als 700 m. positius per cada vint quilòmetres, això són molts metres acumulats, perquè per a seixanta quilòmetres són 2.100 m. +, vull dir que penso que anirem a fer uns quaranta quilòmetres molts tocats, i pel tipus de dent de serra del recorregut no seran fàcils d'assolir, la imtge de sobre no ho aconsegueix transmetre però la pendent és considerable, just al límit pel 32x20 de l'ARC.  


Bé, seguiré el pla previst, primer fer ara sí ara també cada corriol, cada possibilitat, per a cada sortida anar enllaçant progressivament cada tram de sender sense passar per pistes, aquesta és la intenció, i fins ara ha anat prou bé, mtb, mtb, mtb.  

Spot Brand: Manifest d'intencions.


http://classifieds.mtbr.com/showproduct.php?product=70437&cat=

El color, la marca, el Belt Drive, mtb, mtb, mtb.

El què deia de les talles, una S i per 5'7", està tot dit, oi?

Però aquesta bike té el què ha de tenir una "single" per venir cap a casa.

MTB, MTB, MTB.

Dies de molta activitat al Blog, i tant. El fet és que no publiquem ni el 5% de les informacions que ens mirem dia sí, dia també, si més no les meves, en Colorado no hi publica ni un 1%, jo diria que fins al 1 per 1000 no es decideix a posar-ho al Blog, d'això ja en podeu estar ben segurs.

En Michael no ens queda lluny, jo diria que més proper a en Colorado que no pas a mi, i així cada un dels contribuïdors, com sona, així de senzill, així de planer. Bé,  de fet ara que hi penso, tenim contribuïdors a punt de passar a la reserva.

Però ja està bé que això sigui així, el ritme de The Great Escape MTB, no té perquè ser el ritme del dia a dia, o sí, o no, el fet és que no és important.

Sí ho és com ens divertim publicant ara sí, ara també.

Tinc pendent la crònica de la darrera visita a Chain Reaction, que serà crec "interessant", però aquesta ha de venir una mica sola, cal que passin dies, segur. La primera i les hores que va requerir va ser important.

Tinc pendent l'historia per a mi, èpica,  de l'arribada a les carenes del Montalt de les Fades de la nit, i la marxa d'aquestes dels Cavallers de la llum, també la de la imposició dels reis de l'espai, els Dracs, també de la rendició incondicional dels genets a les Fades i Cavallers.

Tinc pendent la propera evolució de les bikes, notable aquesta certament.

Tinc pendent la darrera decisió de què seran els propers vols més immediats de genets i Dracs, definits tots de cap a peus al detall.

Tinc pendent exposar com camina el tema del GPS i cap a on ens dirigirà aquest als propers dies, lluny d'aquí certament, molt lluny d'aquí.

Tinc pendent el proper components de somni que està pendent de venir entre aquesta setmana i la propera, "custom build in Fort Collins, Colorado", de fet la portarà ell.

Tinc pendent de posar les imatges dels dos darrers conjunts d'equipaments Assos i Castelli per aquesta tardor que ja són a casa.

Tinc pendent també les imatges de la jaqueta Sportful i culot d'hivern que ja està reservat per passar-lo a recollir tot seguit, que puc avançar que és literalment trencador.

Tinc pendent de decidir si el conjunt Rapha de mallot, culot i "gorra" ve definitivament cap a casa, o pel seu preu, no és per res més, decideixo que no serà. Tot i que estic condicionat per les millores de la Vicious, que us he esmentat dient "propera evolució de les bikes".

Tinc pendent de detallar la fita que persegueixo més propera,  i el camí per portar-la a terme.

Tinc pendent de fer rodar al Blog el proper projecte pel que fa referència a rodes, que sí he comentat a BO, amb en Jordi i en Narcís el dijous passat. Que és un canvi important pel que fa referència a concepte, al canvi d'aquest vull dir,  definitiu fins avui, com ho és el pensar en deixar enrere els Tubeless.

Bé ja us puc assegurar que el "tinc pendent", no té d'entrada fi, i tampoc vol dir que segueixi ni aquest ordre ni aquesta llista, tot i que aquesta és la intenció, i tant que sí, mtb, mtb, mtb.

Maverick DUC32-Single Speed.


http://likinbikin.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/dscn5820.jpg

Està clar, tot seguit deixi de ploure,  inici de les nocturnes, però ja, perquè tenim els equipaments i un detall important, "NO FA FRED".

Fa dos dies que espero per agafar la bike, i no hi ha un moment de més d'una hora que deixi de ploure, bé cal perseverar. Mentre es feia fosc he pensat, "avui nocturna", cinc minuts després la pluja ja ha fet acte de presència, i és a on som ara.

Demà seguiré la pista per poder enfilar-me al meu Drac, i tant.

MTB, MTB, MTB.