Carbon-Monkey

I woke up to a chilly sunny autumnal morning today and decided it was about time I got off my bum and biked to work again, and with a newly (re)built monstercross bike I had no excuse.

So off I span, unsure of whether I was overdressed or going to get chilly with @Scroobiuspipyo ‘s new album . . . → Read More: walsall to digbeth the monster cross way

New chain
New shifters
New brakes
New pedals
New tyres
New bars
New bar tape

Same old battered but loved frame

Test ride to work tomorrow me . . . → Read More: all done

My 29er has been sat for weeks in a half re-built state. And today I’m going to get it finished.

Here she is at the start of the . . . → Read More: time for some bike tinkering

Next monday i have a whole day free in my diary (a rarity!)

If anyone wants a last minute skills course, days guiding, mechanics for begginers (or intermediates) then drop me a line.

tom@carbon-monkey.co.uk
07794 . . . → Read More: A free day

Yesterday my partner, our little one and a girl from the Cave and Crag club headed down Carlswark in the Peak District for an excellent days caving, exploring, crawling, squeezing and adventuring.

Today we all ache and i have a mamoth bag of muddy, wet kit to sort out.

Next month i hope to return to do a . . . → Read More: Carlswark cave trip

Whilst I’ve been out on the bike with a group on canal towpaths and country lanes my girls have been out on their bikes in the woods and by the looks of it had a good time.

Somewhere hidden in Sutton Park the girls found these north shore ish stepping stones, might have to get them to . . . → Read More: Sutton Park trails

@James_Gilles and I haven’t been out for a ride for a few weeks but got out tonight on the mountain bikes for a great spin south out of the city and up into the Lickey Hills.

This evening’s light was wonderful, casting a burnt orange glow over everything; including this combine harvester. It’s harvest season, which . . . → Read More: lickey hills MTB route

There’s a nasty great plume of smoke rising over birmingham today, not sure what’s causing it but it doesn’t look very good for our lungs or the atmosphere . . . → Read More: nasty smoke

Then this life wouldn’t be a bad choice at . . . → Read More: if i could choose the life i please…

@James_Gillies and I got out for a ride again last night. It’s been a few weeks and I was starting to feel the effects of not enough miles under my wheels recently.

We span north out of brum on the canals, linking in parks, bridle ways and cheeky trails until we rolled, almost by mistake into a . . . → Read More: two shaddows are better than one

Wish I was 10-16 . . . → Read More: kids only fun

Last night and today I’ve been taking part in a distance challenge around Brookfield Park. There’s 30 two hours slots to fill and we’re aiming for at least 20 laps a slot, equalling a lot of miles.

At 4am this morning I was full of cold, head ache and working hard to keep the legs spinning. Now . . . → Read More: lands end to john o groats round brookfield park

Sometimes nature provides the little boost you need to keep pushing on.

Today that boost was a fine little crop of wild strawberries.

Keep your eyes peeled folks, these little gems won’t last for long and they’re the true taste of . . . → Read More: the fruits of your labour

I stumbled across this little gem yesterday while exploring the lanes around the north side of the Black Mountains. Hidden on the eastern edge of Felindre, to the east of Talgarth, I spotted an organic veg sign. On further investigation I found a wonderful little spot, staffed by wwoofers who pull your order straight from the . . . → Read More: proper food

In between the bouts of rain that’ve been drenching abergavenny this weekend I managed to find a few hours of weather dry enough to take a look at the local skate park, and boy was I in for a treat!

As the skate park is hidden round the back of a building I really didn’t know what . . . → Read More: skatepark session as the sun goes down