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Jaymie Mart memorial downhill

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Jaymie Mart was a seven times Scottish downhill series winner who tragically died in September last year.

A new Mountain Biking festival, ‘Jayfest’, has been announced, and will be held in her memory in Innerleithen, Scotland, from 14th to 16th June 2013.

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Jaymie was a colourful and well known personality in Scottish mountain biking, and although I did not know her, and am not plugged in to the downhill scene, my brother did and was deeply saddened to hear of her passing.

Here is the media information for the event- with pro rider Tracy Mosely, and coaches Emma Guy and Tracy Brunger (formerly of the Glentress Hub) on board it is sure to be a great event.

Download the Jayfest poster PDF

Jayfest will host an invigorating range of mountain biking events, complemented by a multitude of supporting events over the course of the weekend. Jayfest aims to promote biking, the arts, fun and laughter, all in the stunning setting of the glorious Tweed Valley.

The weekend will offer a variety of biking coaching sessions and races, and will also including a world record attempt at the longest mountain biking train. The festival will also include The Marketplace, a chill out teepee, children’s entertainment, pump track, and nutrition and wellbeing booth.
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Tips for cat 4 racers: stick at it! (but have fun)

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The start of another road race season is only a few weeks away. Enthusiasm is often high at this time of year: you’ve had a good winter, got a new bike maybe, are inspired by club mates or pros, and are raring to get stuck in.

The 4th category road racer’s main aim is usually to get those 10 license points and move up to 3rd. Some are happy to race for the challenge and the participation, but the road scene has a bit more of a competitive atmosphere than, say, time trialling or cyclocross, and everyone wants to do something.

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Dig In cyclocross 2013
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(Scottish) Cycling vernacular: testers

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In a previous post I referred to Scottish rouleurs getting a chance to test themselves in an early season time trial, and someone queried my terminology, suggesting the correct phrase for this type of riding should be testers. As we head towards March, time triallists will be looking to the first classified 10 of the year, the Corrieri’s Classic.

A tester is the British slang for a pure time triallist, and wikipedia lists this as “slightly derogatory” – a time-trialist who tends to over-specialize in the discipline. What do you think of this? I’ve heard time trialling devotees refer to themselves as testers as well as roadmen use the word in a slightly disparaging way.

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On the continent, a rouleur (or passista if you’re Italian) is a general term for a rider capable of fast riding on the flat. This phrase does seem to encompass a workhorse cyclist who can drill it on the front, chase down breaks and crank up the pace ahead of a lead-out, but as the Euros don’t have as much of a tradition of time trialling as we do, they don’t seem to have specialist terms for against-the-clock specialists. Before the RTL-l’Équipe podcast was cancelled, I remember the (French) panellists bemoaning the lack of French time trial specialists and referring to them as ‘rouleurs’.

The Bunch

Much of our cycling slang comes from continental terms and a few French slang phrases exist for types of rider that we don’t seem to have names for, such as the puncheur – a punchy rider? – and the barroudeur – a swashbuckling all-rounder who loves the solo break.

Voeckler, the people's champion!

Also worth a look is a glossary of European cycling terms on one of my favourite sites, The Inner Ring.

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Inside the velodrome, right inside it

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Writer and broadcaster Matt Rendell was involved in producing videos for British Cycling at the recent Track World Cup in Glasgow.

In addition to the usual rider interviews and spots covering the sporting element, a couple of shorts stood out to me- taking a look in areas most of us won’t get to see. I’m invovled in architecture, through my work, so found these alternative views of the velodrome are interesting.



I’ve had trouble embedding the youtube video- watch it here.


Link to watch this one here
See all the other videos on the British Cycling youtube channel

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Scottish Bike Show 2013 news

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The Scottish Bike Show is back for its 3rd year at the brand new Emirates Arena & Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, home to The Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2014. “Next year is going to be special” said Rowan Mackie, Magdala Media. “The recent success of the ‘Thunderdrome’ event and ‘Track Cycling World Cup’ has already put this new venue on the map as a world leading facility and I am sure this is only start of things to come.”

Confirmed exhibitors to date, Madison, Upgrade Bikes, Condor, Alpine Bikes, Ronde Bicycle Outfitters, Eurobike, Keela, Cycling Scotland, Scottish Cycling, Schwalbe, C4C and a host more will be attending the 2013 show.

The recently launched SBS website boasts many new features for the 2013 show. A larger exhibition hall @ 6,000 sq metres, full use of the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome for the visiting general public to enjoy taster sessions throughout the weekend of 27th – 28th April and a 1 kilometre outside test track as a demo area to test ride a multitude of road, commuter and mountain bikes. To compliment this, SBS 2013 will be providing a presentation area for cycling stars past and present, free spinning classes, kids play area, a huge BMX display from Scottish outfit BSD Forever, with Mackie promising even more features still to be confirmed.

On the following Sunday, 5th May – the 2nd annual SBS Sportive will take place around Loch Lomond and The Trossachs, starting at Balloch Castle with a choice of either 65 or 100 mile routes. Over 870 entrants completed the inaugural event in April and next year both entries offer excellent value at under £30.00 per rider. Nutritional sponsor High 5 & Hydration sponsor Gatorade will provide all riders with plenty of options at the 5 feed stations to keep their electrolytes buzzing to the finish line. Additional sponsors and partners confirmed, Cyclosport, Kinesis, Ronde, Braveheart and Loch Lomond National Park Authority.

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Team NetApp–Endura strengthens its management

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Team NetApp–Endura will start the new season with an expanded management team. Alex Sans Vega (Spain) and Brian Smith (UK) will be reinforcing the current management of Team NetApp.

The management staff on the top-class German team assembled around Team Manager Ralph Denk and Sport Directors Jens Heppner and Enrico Poitschke will take on an international face as of 2013. Alex Sans Vega and Brian Smith are being additionally appointed to the team management.

“Alex will bring a great deal to our team because, as a sport director for the Endura Racing Team, he already knows a large part of our new squad. In addition, we can count on the experience he has gained from 20 Grand Tours. In terms of our Iberian riders and the races in southern Europe, he’s a valuable addition to Jens Heppner and Enrico Poitschke,” explains Team Manager Ralph Denk.

“Brian Smith will support the team with organizational planning and, in particular, with scouting activities for talented and up-and-coming riders. It’s important for our development that we also become professional with regard to scouting. Brian not only has a wealth of experience and a very good network at his disposal. With Endura Racing, he’s also demonstrated a nose for talent,” adds Denk.

Team Management NetApp – Endura 2013
(As of 19 November 2012)

General Manager: Ralph Denk
Assistant General Manager: Brian Smith
Head Sport Director: Jens Heppner
Sport Director: Enrico Poitschke
Sport Director: Alex Sans Vega

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A night with Graeme Obree at Ronde 24 Nov

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Here is some info about an appearance by the great Graeme Obree that readers may be interested in.

On Saturday 24th November, Magdala Media (organisers of the Scottish Bike Show) & Ronde Bicycle Outfitters will be hosting ‘A Night with Graeme OBree’ celebrating the Scottish legend’s achievements in cycling and the upcoming cycling land speed record. Taking place in Edinburgh at Ronde, this special evening will be open to the public to attend, including an interview session with Graeme to be lead by the Founders of the ‘Velo Club Don Logan‘ podcast, followed by Q & A from the audience.

Neil Dryden, Ronde Bicycle Outfitters commented, “To have such a prestigious ambassador for Scottish Cycling coming to our premises is amazing. We often host in-house evenings showcasing various new brands and niche designers, but to have one of my hero’s at the store is really quite exciting.”

Graeme will discuss his amateur and professional cycling career including becoming the World Hour record holder, his brushes with the UCI, rivalry with Chris Boardman, Drugs in cycling and coming right up to date with his world land speed record attempt aboard The Beastie – his latest and most radical bike design.

‘Beastie’ will be on show during the evening and will provide all attendees with an up close and detailed view of the ingenious and revolutionary design the Flying Scotsman built from nothing.

There are a small number of tickets available for ‘A Night with Graeme Obree’ at £18.00 per person. From 7pm – 10pm, the entry price will include complimentary wine, cheese and nibbles.

To pre-register your tickets, contact info@magdalamedia.com or neil@rondebike.com Tickets will also be available to buy at the Ronde Store this Friday 9th November:

66-68 Hamilton Place Stockbridge, Edinburgh EH3 5AZ

Tickets sold are on a first come, first served basis – we look forward to celebrating the evening with everyone.

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Endura -> Netapp

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Recently the news was confirmed that Team NetApp will extend and welcome Endura as a second name sponsor through to the end of 2014.

This is seen as a merger in many quarters but to me it looks a bit more more like the closure of the Endura Racing team with sponsorship, resources and some of the bigger name riders moving to the German squad.

Finance in pro cycling is tough as it is in many other areas of business right now, and I’m sure this decision wasn’t taken lightly- if Endura Racing had been able to secure a big sponsor to meet its ambition to gain Pro Continental status then I’m sure it would have continued.

However it does raise a few questions:

Who are the 8 riders? One presumes it will be the bigger names that have raced the European circuit this year but this is just speculation. Paul Voss is German so that is an obvious fit and we may see the likes of Camano, Mandri, Wetterhall and Dempster but hopefully there will be some UK riders moving up too. Bibby’s future is uncertain, and you’d expect riders who have focused more on the UK calendar like Wilkinson and McEvoy to be looking for new squads but there are some talented young riders like Rowsell and Thwaites.


Photo: Ian Bibby, Tour Series Kirkcaldy by Larry Hickmott | www.VeloUK.net

What about the riders who are left? Hopefully they can all find teams, and this announcement has come relatively early on. Brian Smith is good at moving riders from team to team and has hinted that Endura needs a presence in the UK so maybe a low level sponsorship or involvement in one of the domestic squads will remain. I’ve seen it mentioned that Endura still need a presence in the UK and they have been incredibly successful in the Tour Series and Premier Calendar this year.

John Tiernan Locke’s future is unconfirmed but everybody thinks he’ll be moving to Sky. I joked today that Netapp were working to help Endura pull back the break in the Tour of Britain, because maybe they would benefit from Locke’s points next year, but he has said he is expecting to join a World Tour team. It will be interesting to see where he goes and how he develops.

Most importantly: what colour will the kit be? I have enjoyed the black and lime green and it would be a shame if this disappears but I would expect it to be different.

It will be great to see a Scottish-backed outfit moving onwards and upwards to European level, but I can’t help but feel this is the end of an era for a team that has its genesis in a local shop team from Pedal Power in West Calder. There’s a sad tinge but also expectancy for the future.


Photo by Joolze Dymond | www.joolzedymond.com

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Riding in Ille-et-Vilaine, Brittany

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I have been in France on holiday and while the blog is predominantly Scottish in outlook, I like to do some local French stuff once a year too.

Staying with my inlaws means I have had more time to ride, read and write than normal, with no daily grind and plenty of family members champing at the bit to look after our kids – even dinner and bath time is a pleasure for aunties and cousins.

Back road in Brittany
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Tour de France podcasts

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I’m in France on holiday but as ever, managing time is a bit a juggling act, with family to see, children to chase after, bike riding to be done (as much as possible), weddings to go to, and so on.

I’ve always been a fan of radio and at Tour time, podcasts are a great way for me to keep up with all the aspects of the race- I don’t have time to read all the written media and if I’m lucky I’ll see an hour of live coverage, but when I get home and have to go back to work, I sometimes even struggle to catch the highlights.

This year there have been several shows, after what was something of a light summer in 2011.

Velocast
My favourite, The Velocast, returns to daily Tour coverage. Hosts Scott and John have taken a bold step in asking for A £10 subscription upfront and I am supporting this venture and hope it leads to more shows and more time for the two of them to produce content. This may not be for everybody but

Cycling Central
Australian journalist Anthony Tan is doing what looks like it will be a daily show with Cycling Central. Scottish writer Richard Moore joined him for one earlier show- a partnership that has been seen before on the now-defunct Cyclingnews show, that was sponsored by Rapha one year, and ran to publicise the cyclingnews.com website in 2011 (as I understood it). ‘Tan Man‘ and Moore have a good chemistry and seem to thrive by slagging each other. Others may prefer their commentary more ‘straight’ but I enjoy listening for the nuances in the relationships- after 2 weeks of Tour madness, you can tell that cabin fever sets in amongst the journos and often more honest assesments of poor tactics or bad conduct come to the fore. As well as the banter there is good analysis and interviews- it’s Aussie in focus though, with audio from Allan Peiper, Matt White, Matt Goss and plenty of others so far. Cadel may be elusive but they keep a close eye on his exploits. There’s still plenty of British interest with views from Moore and today Daniel Friebe and Will Fotheringham.

Cycle Sport
Richard Moore hosted a show with Cycle Sport (and Cycling Weekly) writer Lionel Birnie. This one looks like it will be more occasional but also had some really good analysis.

ITV
This show backs up the UKs main terrestrial highlights show on ITV4. It has a professional feel with clips from the English language live commentary by Phil & Paul and interviews with the stage winner or some other man of the day by Ned Boulting. Matt Rendell is cerebral as ever but there is plenty of humour between him, Boulting and the ex pro Chris Boardman. The Scouser’s humour appeals to me, there may be impressions and possibly even some ukelele from the technical staff if we are lucky.

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