Charge Bikes

Here’s a couple of pictures….

We went out and shot some pics around St Pauls the other week. Here’s a couple of em:

BFF, Berlin, Bike Show, Fixed Gear London

I’ve been really busy recently and enjoying being back on the bike more than anything.

I went to the opening night of the Bicycle Film Festival which was great. We watched a selection of shorts including Waffle Bike by US artist, Mike Sachs and a preview of the new Macaframa film. After the movies we headed upstairs for some drinks and I go at roller racing. I had a go but I was ill (honest!) and so not performing too well….

Charge made a special one off Plug for the festival which was getting a lot of admiring glances. It was a Plug racer with pink sugino messenger cranks, white double toe straps and pink bar tape. Nice.

 

I couldn’t go to the rest of the festival as I went to Berlin for the weekend. On Friday, we got up at the crack of dawn to catch our plane and then crossed our fingers that our bikes would emerge unscathed at the other end. Unfortunately for Sam, her bike didn’t make it intact. Her chain ring was so squashed that she had to hire a shopper for the weekend, a bike so heavy that she was forced to go at about 2 miles an hour for the rest of the trip. I was so happy to see my Plug was alright! I would have been a real grumpy git if it hadn’t been. I have no idea how Sam dealt with it so well!

We met up with a group of fixed gear riders from around the world who had made Berlin their home. I could see why they’d done that; Berlin is brilliant for riding. The streets are wide, smooth and empty. Well, generally they are – there are some cobbled streets and some with tramlines, but for the most part, it was amazing; a million miles from the streets of London. We found a few nice locations for photos including some banks, bombed along the banks of the river, visited Kierin Berlin, drank a lot of red wine and had a good time. I don’t have any of Sam’s riding pics to post she is saving them for an feature in Cooler Magazine, but here’s one I got of me and the girls:

This weekend I went to the Cycle Show and had a look at all the new stuff that’s gonna come out.

The Charge stand looked amazing; I didn’t get a good picture of it myself so I’ve borrowd these from Andy @ Fixed Gear London’s flickr (Thanks Andy!) I saw the new Charge Skewer, which looked really, really nice. Its unbelievably light too and I can’t wait to get one and start putting some miles in.

Fixed Gear London took some new pictures of all the riders and put them on there site. There’s one of me looking shifty on there. They have a new blog too, so we’ll all be contributing to that. They also have some very nice t shirts in their shop, one of which I’m wearing now.

Erm, I think that’s about it. I’ve been doing lots of riding pictures recently so I hope to get those up here soon, plus I”ll be going out filming with Alex Rankin and Ted so hopefully I’ll get some footage to stick up here too.

Newz

My arm is on the mend and I’m back on my bike. Finally! I’m trying not to get carried away and start mucking around/doing tricks immediately as a fall would really screw things up. However I did a shoot for Huck Magazine on Sunday on guess what? I just couldn’t help myself….Have you ever tried leg over the bar skids on on grass? You should; its really good! ha ha ha! The mag will be out in October so I look forward to seeing that.

I also did a shoot with the Plug for Amelia’s Magazine. Its one of those style based thingies rather than anything that sporty, so they stuck me in a dress and gave me a pair of heels to wear. Halfway through, I’m standing there holding my bike, and I think, ‘What the hell am I doing???" I’m not sure whether those pictures are gonna see the light of day. But you never know. The pins looks alright, I think, but the shoes are minging.

Myself and Posy also took some pics for my new clothing company, Hell Yeah. This is me dicking around with another bike (it wasn’t as good as the Plug) and Posy trackstanding on hers. Hell Yeah sponsored the London Bike Polo Tournament where I also organised the afterparty. At the moment, its just some t shirts but there should be some hoodies and a shower proof jacket coming soon. Well, I say soon, but things move slow..

Hell Yeah Projects

Next week is the Bicyle Film Festival so I’ll be around for a bit of that then off to Berlin for the weekend.I’m going with six girls who I ride with in London and we’re taking our bikes. If I can just keep myself in one piece until then it’ll will be a great trip. I’m filming a video podcast for Cooler Magazine and the mag will also be doing a feature on us ladies. We’re hoping to hook up with some Berlin Fixed Gear riders; in fact I’ve already been stalking the Berlin Fixed Gear sites. Anyone fancy riding with us or taking us for a beer?

Wrist Surgery

Hmm.. those little broken bones didn’t do much healing. From my research (googling scaphoid injuries, reading reports, working myself up etc), I knew that the chances of my type of break healing on its on were pretty slim. Plus, the doctor had told me back in July :

"it’s at the consultant’s discretion whether to operate immediately." And had decided not to do so. Great.

So, at my follow up appointment, it was no suprise that my wrist had not healed one single tiny bit. I’d just wasted 4 weeks waiting for no reason at all and also lessened my chance of it healing no matter what treatment we went for. And all that time I could have been on my way to healing instead…

Anyway, I opted for surgery and following a bone graft to promote healing and the insertion of a giant pin through keyhole surgery, I am finally on the mend.

Not sure how long it’ll be till I’m back on the bike but shouldn’t be long now. Seeing as I couldn’t ride it this bank holiday, I stickered it. Oh, and yes, I know my seat is angled up; I will be adjusting that once I have full use of my hands! And fitting straps to the pedals.

New bike, broken wrist

How annoying.

I came off at the weekend and broke my wrist…. before I’d even had a chance to try out my new Plug.
I’m gutted! I’m sitting here in my living room with my new bike looking all shiny and all my mates are out on theirs enjoying the summer. Bah!
I’m trying not to be negative but scafoids can be a bugger to heal as the blood supply to the bone is so weak. I snapped the scafoid right in half and the pieces are just floating next to each other. Hopefully the two pieces will reach out to each other across the void and do some serious growing.

I aim to eat as much cheese as possible and get those bones working overtime.

Its driving me mad not being able to ride

Hello

Hello there.

Thanks to Nick and everyone at Charge for hooking me up with their bikes. I am so very happy! Along with most of London, I’ve admiring Ted’s Plug Freestyler for ages so its going to be great to get a Charge bike of my own.

I have a Blender Hi on the way as I’m off to Les 2 Alpes to where I’ll be riding snowboards in the morning, bikes in the afternoon and skateboards in the evening. Followed by a nice cold beer, that is pretty much my idea of heaven. It looks amazing there; have a peek and feel the envy!

http://2alpes-vtt.com

When I get back there’ll be a Plug waiting for me to ride on the streets of London so I’m looking forward to that  I’m gonna try and get some pictures and video up here as soon as I can.