Peak MTB

Hi blog,
sorry for not being around but Ive been kinda caught up in the whole work thing which has been non stop.

Ride wise we had a great group out over Kider and on the Buxton run in that mad hot weather. Two great days of Mountain biking, finishing off on the Saturday with a fast blast down Jacobs ladder and on the Sunday the road climb out of the Goyt Valley finished off just about every one.

I was pretty chuffed as both me and Keay climbed out on the Big ring after putting in some good K early in the Week.

Thern back to school teaching in Abbotts Brommley School For girls, were Im not kidding half of them came out with bikes and riding hats !! Then off to Paggets at Burton to takes out some year sevens. They Were pretty good and we ended up doing traffic lights and roundabouts. They were also the first ones to recieve in person the new Bikeability Badges and Certs. Both me and Staffordshire are now accreditted. WHoo Hooo.

So I will try not to be away so long and in the mean time heres a pic from pagetts and i will try to load up some vid fron Kinder soon.

Peter

the first half of the week, well Tuesday and Weds to be exact was Ace. Me and Martin were teaching Bike ability to a group of Year six and Five at Heath Hayes Primary near Cannock. The kids cant ride thier bike in at the moment, but after getting and passing level two the head David Dickonson (no it isnt) is buying a bike shelter and allowing them to cycle. Two kids couldnt even ride at the start but by the end of the two days were riding down the road in Prime with the traffic.

Better still there was loads of sneaky singletrack opposite the school for some lunch time cyclocross. And so lunch was quick sarnie and then on to jake to chase martin up the old coal field tracks. Everyone happy

Till Thursday.

New school, kids not allowed to ride to school and the head will never let them. The Ta's who were out with us didnt agree with us teaching kids to ride, or what we were teaching them.No paper work ready. I got loads of grief from two fat birds in thier forties in awhite punto Draped in England flags driving down the wrong side of the road about to run over three kids if I did block her. Still managed another lunch time cyclocross so not all bad and the kids wanted to learn even when it started hailing they wanted to finish the course, so despite everything well done Jerome's primary year six.

I really like this school, theres a real vibrant, fun atmosphere to the place and a feel that the school is trying to face and change some of the difficult issues they face in thier community like climate change and obesity. They do some of this through the cycle training and also through awareness. They also have a great art programme. So heres a pic of the dragon and Jake at the school entrance.

Well I am now well in to school bike traning mode having spent the last two weeks in schools. It never stops amazing just how some parents let thier kids ride bikes that are totally screwed on some of the most dangerous roads around. One bike on Tuesday had no brakes, the handle bars were upside down, gear cables snapped, and rear mech hanging off. The best bit is they had filled in a form saying they thought the bike was safe. It took ten mins to fix and the kid couldnt believe the difference. He thanked me for giving him a "new bike".
Today I was working in Teen and on the ride back I just kept thinking What a great job Ive got. I ride in the city, the burbs, the industrial outlands, and the back of beyond meeting great kids and communities, adults and teachers. Changing travel patterns and lives for the better. even the prick in the VW GOLF who nearly knocked me off on Tuesday cant dampen my two wheel euphoria. Roll on Tamworth Bridgetown and then back to teen.Fabtastic.

After a week of sun and blue skies here come the cold and the rain. Ive stayed off the bike this weekend after the start of a cold but tomorrow its up to kinder for the Kinder kicks route and then a few days of off-road trianing to try and get some winter legs. Any way more importantly me and my nippers finished making the go-kart this weekend and it rools really well. They both like it and pushed each other around all day Saturday and Sunday. Ill post a pic soon. Better still my addidias gazelles arivved for riding the jake, Im liking them alot.
All for now
40 PSI

No riding today.
Just finished mending 2 months worth tubes and washing down bikes, even managed to get a hair cut in after nipping down town on the Jake. But then I think now, just how productive was that day, and Ive started a blog with out really knowing wot Im doing. So I suppose we will just see were it takes us. Training ride tonight but I wouldnt mind being back in time for England Russia on tele. Ill probably just go on the road.
So Im off now to pick up kids and take one of them to piano practice.

Oh the glamour.