Automatic Cycles

Seeing as everyone, ok just @jasonmilesracing and @emilyofchappell, are posting photos of winning @strathpuffer here's mine. This was 2011, and, I think, my 3rd solo ride there. I was in training to ride the Iditarod Invitational. Somehow I knew I was going to win this one. It didn't hurt too much and I was really calm. It came together and I set the course record, in fairly heavy snow. While my hands were cold and numb, during the race, I hadn't realised how bad they got. Seeing as my thumbs are still really bad in even mild cold, I think I may have pushed in to frostbite territory. Worth it though. The @enduraofficial Stealth jacket is still in use, although will be replaced by a new one soon. One the best bits of kit ever. 📸 Brian McLeod iirc

New paint day. I finally got round to getting The Prepper rebuilt after powder coating. What was initially intended to be, primarily, a single speed now has fancy electric gears. They work incredibly well, but, I'll just say, if there is any chance you'll be using them it would be a lot easier to plan it before you built the frame. I've been really enjoying this bike and will do my best to abuse it through the winter. (at Ashton Court)

I like autumn: I love the colours. Riding in the dark has always been fun for me, and I like the slither. The stouts are good, especially in front of the fire. But now I have a stinking cold and I'm dreaming of warm temperatures, a big blue sky and hundreds of miles of dusty singletrack. The photo is of Joey @velorutioncycles on the Colorado Trail in 2001. It's an amazing ride and was one hell of a holiday. Apart from when I was sick on @steveheading 'a feet. Sorry about that. #tbt #ctr #coloradotrailrace

I built another bike. I'm calling this The Prepper. It's a long front-centre 650b+, xc/bikepacking experiment. The build is a bit away from the parts it was designed around, but first impressions are good.

Out Klunking. The Hack Bike had been getting a lot of attention but I felt like riding my 29er klunker today. I love the coaster brake for cruising around town but it's pretty sketchy on the singletrack. #klunker (at Bristol, United Kingdom)

A few months ago I was lucky enough to get invited to the inaugural @hackbikederby. 17 riders turned up, with self-built frames. Then we raced them as hard as we dared. It was an amazing weekend. The film dropped today. Thankfully it didn't break. Link in profile 📸@adamgasson Huge thanks to @thebicycleacademy #hackbikederby

Double rainbow.

Filled my #toolroll for a Belgian road trip. The contents differ slightly each time I take it away but it's getting pretty sorted. #handtoolthursday #biketools #pbswisstools

#newbikeday is a bit different when you've spend ages building it. This is an Allroad, or what ever you want to call it. Its currently in its more racy build, with a carbon fork, ready to take to Flanders. It's got hidden pannier mounts on the rear and, in the future, will have a steel fork with clearance for 44mm 700c tyres and full guards.

Today I was reminiscing about old race bikes that I don't ride any more. I grabbed a couple out of storage to reassemble. The plan was to ride them. Then I thought about how great the bikes I ride today are. Now I have a horrible feeling I'll regret it, as the memory will be better than the reality. It's a bit like High Fidelity, but with bikes. And it would be frowned upon to lock your ex-girlfriend in a storage unit.

Back from the amazing @hackbikederby . 18 riders each with a low-cost, self-built, #klunker. Ace old school riding, fire, plaid, crashes and mud. Lots of mud. 📷 @anthonyoram #HackBikeDerby

Got my #HackBikeDerby #klunker done just in time to race tomorrow. This is going to be fun.

Today I made some forks. Cook Bros inspired for the #HackBikeDerby

Dragged @bikiechick out of her comfort zone to sleep in Utsi's hut, on the edge of Cairngorm. Short but very wet ride out in the dark. The wind and rain are sweeping around us but the little hut protects us now. It's a funny little place built in the '50s by the first person to bring reindeer to the highlands. It's built out of the shipping crates the deer arrived in. Now enjoying #Talisker from a @alpkit titanium mug.

#tbt back to the Coed-y-Brenin Mountain bike festival in 2003. Still a memorable weekend great riding, great partying and swimming with demo bikes. Also it's probably the last time I didn't have a beard. 📷 @chippschippendale