England
16th March 2013 Riders: Richard , Steve & Adam El Campello, Alicante, Espana Some might say rather unkindly that Spain is an arid and barren dump and looking at the amount of litter, flytipping and tagging by the graffiti artists that is visible from the road you could be forgiven for believing that. But to a sun-starved Brit who has been riding in the UK Slop 'n Grime™ since September last year the promise of dry trails and a warm climate is irresistible. But where to ride? It's all a case of knowing where to look and with that in mind a stealth team of riders from DOMTB were spirited out to Alicante for an introductory week to test out a fledgling business aimed at riding, guided, catered MTB holidays with the boys at MTB Spain .
This week's riding
On the 20th March, I received the following email from Fred Whitton sponsors Saddleback … Names have now been pulled from the Fred Whitton draw hat… We can report back great news… you are now entered in to the 2012 Saddleback Fred Whitton Challenge! As soon as I saw that email I regretted entering the draw. How the hell was I going to get myself in any kind of shape for 112 miles / 12500ft of climbing in 7 weeks? I quickly came to the conclusion that I’d have to go and practice riding hills, something that I usually actively avoid doing! So I got changed, pumped my tyres up and went and rode some hills.
Biking - SIMONBARNESdotNET
I want my life back » Other stuff
Gather round, there’s a bit of a story here. It started nearly eighteen years ago, before Carol and I had even met*, and ended with an incredulous look on her face that I will treasure to my dying day. Carol is many things; exceptionally tolerant of my generally selfish behaviour, a proper parent to our two rather lovely daughters, a calm head in crisis’ generally of my making and the glue that holds our little family together.