dirtschool - Andy B

Dirt School Does the Double

2009-09-29T20:50:08+01:00

Well I can happily announce that I won the last round of the Scottish XC series in style, taking the overall in the process. The Tomac Attack worked a treat, and I managed to hold on to the lead from start to finish. I only managed two wins this the season, but both of them when it counted, and on the most technical tracks of the season.
My Trek Top Fuel performed brilliantly, as did my Hope brakes and my Michelin tubeless tyres. Now where did I put that beer?

Just ridin' along

2009-07-30T18:01:31+01:00

One of my pals, Chris, has recently bought a mountainbike after about a ten year break. It’s been just like old times: heading up Corstorphine Woods for a quick blast in the evenings. I used to race downhill with Chris back in the day when you still had to push to the top of the hill. And a downhill bike was just a cross country bike with it’s seat down and some riser bars. In a lot of ways it felt like we were pioneering the sport back then. I can remember ‘fixing’ a front mech up with a clothes peg and some zip ties so the chain wouldn’t fall off my single ring (controversial). “Just don’t back pedal”
The thing is, Chris has picked up his new XC bike and started riding it like he was never off it. He might be struggling on some of the climbs after nearly a decade of giving his body a rest from physical exercise, but he’s still got it on the downs that’s for sure.

I guess I thought it relevant to tell this little tale because it illustrates that you never forget how to ride a bike. Once you’ve got the skills, you never loose them. Chris might look a bit like he’s stepped out of a photo-shoot from 1998, but I’d put money on him being able to beat most of the Glentress weekend warriors out there on the downs. With or without his Mumbos on.

Andy B

Dirt School wins Scottish Champs

2009-06-16T10:31:35+01:00

Well I finally did it. And on one of the finest courses Ft William has to offer – steep, rooty, naturally technical downhills with old school flow. Just up my street. The ‘Tomac Attack’ was the order of the day, and the Trek Top Fuel SSL was perfect for the occasion. So now you can come to Dirt School and have a lesson with the current Scottish XC Champion. ha ha

Andy B

New bike is flyin'

2009-04-07T14:41:32+01:00

As I’m the relative ‘new boy’ at Dirt School, this is the first Blog I’ve written, but after riding my new Trek yesterday I figured I had something to talk about. I am lucky enough to have been loaned a Top Fuel to race XC on this year, and although I started off with a solid result last week at the first SXC race, I wasn’t really used to the bike. A carbon fiber, full suspension race bike with a double chainset that weighs less than a hardtail, is a strange ride to get your head around at first. I reckoned the best way to get to grips with it was a flat-out loop of the Black at Glentress: Hub to Hub – no deviations or shortcuts. And I have to say that I was very impressed. The bike climbs so well! Despite it’s 100mm travel at the back – it was very efficient on the ascents. It tracks the ground so well that you end up being able to flow with the trail, rather than worrying about all the rough stuff on the top of it. I had a pretty good loop with only a handful of mistakes, and reckon I could go faster on a dry day with a proper warm up, but I still managed a 1 hour 31 minutes and 40 second lap! The sub 1:30 is on the cards this year for sure. I’ve been riding for seventeen years now, and still have the same enthusiasm as I did when I was fifteen. This is the best sport in the world. Get out there.

Andy

Here it goes

2009-04-06T22:12:51+01:00

So here I am. It only seems like last month and Schladming World Cup was just about over. 6 months later and it’s round one of the UCI World Cup in Peitermaritzburg, South Africa. It’s hot, really hot. In fact the heat isn’t the issue, it’s more the humidity. Wow. working, riding, anything is tough going. Anyway, 4X finals are on Saturday with the Cross Country and the downhill is on the Sunday. We’ll see who’s been in the gym and who’s been in the bar over the winter as it’s along physical course. Even the 4X is almost 800m long!

In other big news, while I’m over here sunning myself in a UCI shirt, Andy Barlow has come on board at Dirt School and is taking the helm whilst I’m away. Great news and he even started his season well with a 5th in his first race on his new Trek Top Fuel 9.9SL, talking of Treks, we’ve been riding our EX9’s loads and really getting into them big time.

The book I’ve been spending the winter writing should be released in the summer which is cool and if you guys want instant fame, write into MBR awith any health/ training Q&A’s and I’ll do my best to answer them.

There’s also something big on the horizon with Scottish Downhill and Scottish Cycling so stay tuned in May for any announcements on high performance news…

I’ll keep you posted on the low down from SA,

Enjoy your Easter,

Chris