Smiffy's Station

Smiffy's Station http://smiffyj.multiply.com/ Fri, 4 Jul 2008 22:37:29 -0000 Tue, 1 Jul 2008 07:06:08 -0000 Smiffy's Station http://images.smiffyj.multiply.com/logo http://smiffyj.multiply.com 100 100 Nias the Tiger My wife bought me a 'Big Cat Experience' at the WHF in Kent for my birthday, and we visited WHF last Friday to see what goe on. <a href="http://www.whf.org.uk/index.cfm">http://www.whf.org.uk/index.cfm</a> Nias is a Sumatran tiger weighing 110KG and he likes chicken legs! We had a fantastic afternoon meeting 8 tigers, 6 leopards, 2 cheetahs, 4 lions, a serval and two pallas cats. The sign on the gate says, "These cats are fed 3 times a week, if you don't know which days then don't break in!" http://smiffyj.multiply.com/video/item/14/Nias_the_Tiger Tue, 1 Jul 2008 07:06:08 -0000 World Series By Renault Silverstone June '08 Pics from Silverstone at the weekend, both racing and show cars. http://smiffyj.multiply.com/photos/album/10/World_Series_By_Renault_Silverstone_June_08 Mon, 9 Jun 2008 11:37:24 -0000 Renault R27 F1 car GP2 driver Romain Grosjean got the chance to wring the neck of the R27 at the weekend, as part of the World Series By Renault at Silverstone. He was 'lifting' or even changing down through Copse corner on previous laps, but on his 5th time through he just feathered the throttle on the way in, and carried momentum to grab 7th gear well before the Maggots complex. He was perhaps doing 175mph at the apex and hitting 190mph a few seconds later. In last years' GP the regular drivers were making 1m22s laps, Grosjean was quickly into the 1m24s range with more to come, watch out for this http://smiffyj.multiply.com/video/item/13/Renault_R27_F1_car Mon, 9 Jun 2008 11:16:33 -0000 TT Tandem Highlight of the year so far, not to say something that'll go down as 'legendary'! It was the first 'Devils' route Rocko TT last night (4th June 08), Ali and I lined up 13th from 17 riders on the tandem to give it a go.  We'd practiced the route at the weekend so we knew what to expect.  Nigel Tomlinson went at No.15 and caught us just after the top of the Devils Staircase, he wasn't expecting what happened next.  We held the gap across the 'highlands', then the fun began on the descent to Medbourne.  He was hitting "over 38mph" when we breezed back past, tucked in and too fast to pedal, registering 43.5mph in the process.  We were nearly at the junction in Medbourne before he caught us again.  What a laugh. Just to round it off we had a great scrap with the remaining solo riders, and didn't finish last on the road either, excellent. Results here when they get updated.............. <a href="http://www.rockinghamforest.org.uk/">http://www.rockinghamforest.org.uk/</a>   http://smiffyj.multiply.com/journal/item/44/TT_Tandem Thu, 5 Jun 2008 10:27:45 -0000 Easton Aeroforce Carbon tri-bars Got these from Chain Reaction.... <a href="http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=11551">http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=11551</a> I got the 'small' size, handily slightly cheaper then the longer models; these are recommended fitment for my Easton EA70 road bars. You'll need to go on the Easton website to get the correct size from their sizing chart there. The construction is very simple and thus very robust, fitting is easy and all you have to do is adjust the arm rests and off you go. There is no flex when in use, I've got them set up so my thumbs are all but touching and there is plenty of adjustment to get your arms in the right place. It didn't take long to get used to the new riding postion and straight line speed has been transformed. The only downside is now when riding on the the 'hoods' it feels like you're sitting upright like a spinnaker! All in all, I'm very satisfied with these tri-bars and look forward to taking some tie off my TT http://smiffyj.multiply.com/reviews/item/5 Fri, 30 May 2008 09:10:54 -0000 'ICE' from Gladiators Now that Caroline Pearce is working on TV's Gladiators are we to be denied the pleasure of her modelling on the Wiggle http://smiffyj.multiply.com/photos/album/9/ICE_from_Gladiators Mon, 12 May 2008 07:11:42 -0000 Thetford Winter Series Round 4 Report Having DNF'd at the last round and STILL sore I turned up yesterday just wanting to finish and salvage some points for the series.  This was the least of my achievements as it turned out........ I got to the venue in plenty of time and managed a pre-lap; dry and frosty under wheel, and a very fast swoopy course awaited the hordes of riders.  To be fair to the course-setters it wasn't the most demading or technical Thetford course ever, but at least the elevation changes ensured some good lung-stretching moments. The race was flagged away in bright sunshine, I got an awful start and was something like 15th in our group (2hr) into the first singletrack sections.  Immediately, it became apparent that the leaders were getting away while negotiating the horrendous traffic, and leaving a series of accidents in their wake.  I managed to get past at least a couple of tumbles at the top of the first open climb section, but was seriously baulked by a lady compe... http://smiffyj.multiply.com/journal/item/43/Thetford_Winter_Series_Round_4_Report Mon, 11 Feb 2008 11:22:35 -0000 Thetford Winter Series Round 4 <A href="http://www.timelaps.co.uk/assets/uploads/MWSR4_20-02-08.htm">http://www.timelaps.co.uk/assets/uploads/MWSR4_20-02-08.htm</A>     http://smiffyj.multiply.com/journal/item/42/Thetford_Winter_Series_Round_4 Mon, 11 Feb 2008 10:27:45 -0000 Gorrick RD1 Just a week on from trying to modify my ribcage I took the trip down Surrey for the first Gorrick of the new year.  A beautiful day but the dry and mild weather had still not sorted the course out completely, there were still many muddy bits (but the venue change from Saturday to Sunday was managed brilliantly, well done to the organisers).  I'd elected to go and play with the big boys in Super Masters, if only becasue you get to do and extra lap over the 'ordinary' masters; BigRing agreed with this course of action. BigRing lined up alongside for the start on his newly built up singlespeeder, and shouted encouragement as I blasted away with the leaders.  I was about 10th into the first technical section, but plummeted to mid teens by the end of the first lap.  I was keeping my neck firmly 'wound-in', and pain from my still healing ribs curtailed any heroics.  I was finding the course very 'stop/start' and I just couldn't find a rhythm, much... http://smiffyj.multiply.com/journal/item/41/Gorrick_RD1 Mon, 28 Jan 2008 08:56:22 -0000 OUCH!!!!!! Thetford Winter Series 3 Apologies to one and all for my precipitous exit yesterday, I'm afraid the Smiff had a mishap on lap one. I got away just behind the leading gaggle and for a start was being slowly tailed off.  This stablised and I was hanging on about 100-200 metres behind, so was in contention.  Unfortunately I misjudged a small hole in a muddy singletrack section and was spat over the top.  This wouldn't have been too bad if I hadn't come straight down on my 'bars, ribs first.  This left me seriously winded gasping for air at the trackside, Nigle Scott passed and asked if I was OK followed by a couple of others who asked if I wanted the paramedic?  I managed to remount but it wasn't pleasant so I pulled out after registering a lap.  The pain was exquisite by this time so I elected to drive home while I still could.  It's since eased somewhat but I've been left with the perfect impression of a Ritchey WCS bar end plug in my side, nice!  Luckily, I don... http://smiffyj.multiply.com/journal/item/40/OUCH_Thetford_Winter_Series_3 Mon, 21 Jan 2008 09:06:40 -0000 Funniest moment of the weekend My good lady wife and I were in Boots, Kettering on Saturday afternoon.  The till girl took my payment and was happy to tell me I'd qualified for £2.00 of free haircare treatment.  It was only THEN that she looked at my bald http://smiffyj.multiply.com/journal/item/39/Funniest_moment_of_the_weekend Mon, 3 Dec 2007 14:01:37 -0000 Marin Winter Series, Rd.2 I felt jaded coming into the race, having had lots of late nights and other issues during the preceding week, so I wasn't expecting to do a lot.  Luckily for me, one stress was removed when Billsons gave the use of their van, thanks boss.  I just wanted to score some points and then look forward to the new year.  That is how it panned out, but it was a bit more eventful than that.......... The start was the usual melee, but I soon slotted into a leading group position.  As we hit traffic on the 'Beast Reverse', 'Little Beast', whatever you want to call it, we were repeatedly pulled up on the little rises, the slower rides were just not making headway or moving over.  We were all dismounted and pushing and by the fourth time running I lost it, shouting 'Riders' at the top of my lungs.  One of the lady competitors took exception to this and howled, "For f*cks sake, I'm racing too!"  Ask Loaker, it was some outburst.  I lapped her much later in the ... http://smiffyj.multiply.com/journal/item/38/Marin_Winter_Series_Rd.2 Mon, 3 Dec 2007 09:05:25 -0000 American Classic MTB Wheels Ordered these a few weeks ago from Chain Reaction for £275, and they were just under a week later than advertised when they arrived from the US. Website: - <a href=http://www.amclassic.com/index.html>http://www.amclassic.com/index.html</a> They weigh just 1550g for the pair with the skewers supplied, and are just as pimpy as you like. No apparent problems so far, and they didn't need truing up after the first race with them. American Classic's blurb advises a riders' weight limit, so these are definitely NOT for big hitters and freeriders. For me they are perfect though, and the price/weight equation seems to make them better value than competing products from Mavic and Hope, time will tell if they're up to extended hard use. The graphics are a bit sudden but if you can get over looking like an avertising hoarding (to quote BigRing) then all is http://smiffyj.multiply.com/reviews/item/4 Mon, 12 Nov 2007 13:14:27 -0000 Marin Winter Series, Rd.1 Just a few words about the race: - Training has been going well but I didn't know what to expect, Lloyd suggested that reigning champ Ben Loaker was crocked with broken ribs from a training accident.  It turns out that the chinese whisperers were hard at work and Ben had done nothing more than slightly bruise them with a medicine ball!  Anyway, he was present at the start together with plenty of other 'names', so I knew it was going to be hard work.  I got away well and soon joined the leading gaggle of about 7 riders or so, a right mixture of classes as it turned out.  Soon, Joe Bedingfield (Fig Rolls Racing) was having his moment of glory at the front and I moved into 2nd, trying to close the gap.  He was riding very well and my speed is never the best in singletrack anyway so I couldn't close up. He lead us through into lap 2, I was absolutely determined to get the lead myself at some point so made an effort to get past.  The rest of the group included ... http://smiffyj.multiply.com/journal/item/37/Marin_Winter_Series_Rd.1 Mon, 12 Nov 2007 11:46:22 -0000 Team KR Moto GP Dunno if anyone else I know has taken up the offer, team KR have offered to put everyone's name on their bike for the last GP of the season this Sunday at Valencia.  All you had to do was send them your name via their website, I did and my name 'John Smiffy' appears on the top of the tailpiece, click the link below and you can JUST see it 12 rows up from the bottom. <A href="http://www.teamkr.com/updimages/pdf/seat_top.pdf">http://www.teamkr.com/updimages/pdf/seat_top.pdf</A> How cool is that?  I can now say my name is whizzing around to possibly last place or a DNF in this wekends race, ahem! To be fair to Team KR they haven't had the best of seasons, but hopefully things are looking up for next year, best of luck to 'em.     http://smiffyj.multiply.com/journal/item/36/Team_KR_Moto_GP Fri, 2 Nov 2007 15:29:29 -0000 Wheelsucking Roadie Scum (Not really!) Well sort of, I was on a very hot 30 miler last night (Wednesday 31st Oct) when I caught another rider going along the Welland Valley between Seaton and Caldecott.  The rider was going well 'coz it took me a while to overhaul him.  It turned out to be 'Biscuit' Mcvitie on his way to the Rocko.  I gave him a cheery 'hello' as I came past and sure enough he was straight onto my wheel, hence the 'Wheelscuking Roadie Scum' title.  I asked him if he was okay after about a mile and all I got was coughing noises in reply.  When we pulled up at the 'lights in Caldecott he'd recovered enough to say I was pushing on, between breaths.  The poor old boy was feeling the pace and had to let me go, aah!  I asked him to say hello to everyone at the Rocko from me.    As a footnote, I completed the 31 3/4 mile ride in 1h30m40s, very satisfying. http://smiffyj.multiply.com/journal/item/35/Wheelsucking_Roadie_Scum_Not_really Thu, 1 Nov 2007 11:25:57 -0000 RUSSIAN TUNNEL CCTV footage from a Russian underpass, my absolute favourite internet vid. Close your mouth 'coz I know you're jaw will http://smiffyj.multiply.com/video/item/12/RUSSIAN_TUNNEL Wed, 24 Oct 2007 15:26:45 -0000 Lucky4.wmv Betcha this guy STILL didn't look as battered and bruised as Glynn did from last nights http://smiffyj.multiply.com/video/item/11/Lucky4.wmv Wed, 24 Oct 2007 15:17:47 -0000 shatabdi.wmv In keeping with the trains theme of the 'insane' vaid, check out the view at this Asian railway station, cutting it fine fellas! The driver is obviously much more accustomed to this sort of http://smiffyj.multiply.com/video/item/10/shatabdi.wmv Wed, 24 Oct 2007 15:05:47 -0000 insane.wmv Numpties playing chucken with French freight train, the drivers' reactions went http://smiffyj.multiply.com/video/item/9/insane.wmv Wed, 24 Oct 2007 14:59:07 -0000 Thetford Tandem ulp! I thought it might be a good idea to take Alison around the D2D course on the tandem, foolishly she agreed.  With bumps in mind I stuck on an old pair of Marzocchi Z5's, which worked a treat.  Ali screamed like a girl when I showed her the first bomb-hole but laughed like a drain when we got out the other side! <A href="http://smiffyj.multiply.com/photos/hi-res/upload/RxMx-woKCrMAAANTqIE1"><IMG class=alignright src="http://images.smiffyj.multiply.com/image/1/photos/upload/300x300/RxMx-woKCrMAAANTqIE1/tandem.jpg?et=zLjnsNrfwU00kZg2shzTlg" border=0></A> We got maximum respect from some jump guys when they saw what we riding!  We found little trouble following the course for about the first 7 miles but as we were going the wrong way down several Black route sections (much to other riders annoyance, sorry) we decided to use alternative routes, soon getting hopelessly lost and disoriented.  The thing is, followIng a well laid out course day or night is pretty easy.  As soon as you have to navigate for yourself, it all goes tits up.  We got ourselves out of it by using the well trodden Black route back to Fire Road 10, then doubling back by Mayday Meadow so we could have a go at 'T... http://smiffyj.multiply.com/journal/item/34/Thetford_Tandem_ulp Mon, 15 Oct 2007 09:43:33 -0000 Billsons Steel Stockholders and Fabricators A word from our sponsors (for Glynn and I), after all it's only fair 'coz we get to use the works' van, computers etc. Check Billsons out for all things steel, in raw or fabricated conditions. You could even place your enquiries here if you so wish, or use the standard e-mail: info@billsonssteel.co.uk There, that's the plug done. Hopefully now the boss will let me/us use the van for the Gorricks and Thetfords!!!!!!! http://smiffyj.multiply.com/links/item/5/Billsons_Steel_Stockholders_and_Fabricators Fri, 7 Sep 2007 12:29:18 -0000 Friday night up town Some people say they havn't been able to get info for tomorrow nights' social, so here's a quick re-cap.... It's 7.30 in the 'BAR SUN', SIlver Street, Kettering.  Glynn and I will be in there along with whoever else we can coerce into a few bevvies, and we'll see where the evening takes us.......... Should be a good excuse for a few beers and some season end bike type chat/piss-taking/drinking games (delete as applicable). See you there, Smiffy.     http://smiffyj.multiply.com/journal/item/33/Friday_night_up_town Thu, 6 Sep 2007 09:10:27 -0000 Wind Assisted!!!! No bottom jokes please, this was another ride out to the Fens on Sunday last (2nd Sept, yesterday).  Knubley and I had been out on Saturday for a 30 miler, and I'd don my best to keep my powder dry for the following days efforts......... The first 10 miles took as much as 26 1/2 mins, but 51 mins dead for 20 miles was absolutely flying.  Full credit must go to the 20mph WSW following wind, allowing a steady 27-30mph cruise when the road allowed.  30 miles came up in just 78 1/2 minutes having touched 45mph before Gt.Gidding, and the pace didn't slacken till well after the 50 mile mark (passed at 127 mins for 23.6mph average).  My ultimate pb for this route was set 3 years ago on a Merlin MTB with slicks at 2h28m (very wind assisted) so I piled it on as best as my ailing body would let me.  The road here heads almost North so the wind was now fiercely sideways, negating its assisting effect. Nevertheless I rolled into Outwell at 2h26 3/4m cl... http://smiffyj.multiply.com/journal/item/32/Wind_Assisted Mon, 3 Sep 2007 09:44:57 -0000 Rocko TT - 290807 Odd sort of night, everyone complained that it was 'hard work', and it was...... Smiffy - 25:15 Browny - 26:00 Nigel - 26.26 Graham DNS, bloody puncture again just before the start.  Hard luck, I know the feeling. Salter didn't turn up, but you know next week will be busy whatever the weather.  DON'T FORGET, it's a 6.30pm start next week for the last night of the series.  The following week is the hill climb, can Jack defend his title? http://smiffyj.multiply.com/journal/item/31/Rocko_TT_-_290807 Thu, 30 Aug 2007 08:27:39 -0000 End of season booze up! Both Glynn and I agree it has been far too long since either of us got up town and 'tied one on'.  So post here if you fancy joining us for a few beers in Kettering town one night soon and what days/weekends are best for you.  Fridays and Saturdays preferable for http://smiffyj.multiply.com/journal/item/30/End_of_season_booze_up Sat, 18 Aug 2007 13:21:43 -0000