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Went to the World CycloX Championships yesterday in Hooglede-Gits, Belgium. 30000 pissed Belgians packed into a small park made for an oustanding atmosphere despite the fact that it was bleedin’ freezing cold.
pictured above are the boys stylin’ it at the roller race marquee in their custom-made World Champ wellies. Sweet!

Last Saturday was the 16th Revolution Manchester Velodrome. Highlights were seeing Hayles and Cavendish riding (sort of) together again in the endurance races, reliving their 6 day madison pairing from Gent last year. Also seeing the Master Arnaud Tournant giving way to the new generation (Craig Maclean) by a margin of just 10cm on the line in the Sprint final.

Thanks to Rach who took the pix whilst I struggled manfully at the bar…

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Its coming. Shoreditch, London. February 10th 2007. More roller racing shenanigans from the people that brought you the hugely popular Rollapaluza series… This time its getting tribal as London’s quickest couriers take on some of the capitals spinniest Media / Banker / Gym-rat civilians to see who’s top dog on the wheels of steel. Sponsored by www.rapha.cc, makers of finest quality (and spendy) new-old-skool cycling clobber.
And as befits such an exceptional coming together of couriers and the capitals desk-jockies, the venue is a corker, perfectly poised between the East end and the city. Shoreditch town Hall has been hired because, in the words of organiser Therese Bjorn ‘We wanted to recreate how spectacular roller racing was in the 50s when it was held at Mecca dance halls in between dance sets, but updating it to 2007. ‘ To complement the racing there’ll be the usual bonuses of bands / DJs and that all-important bar. In addition to the main racing there will be a ‘come and try it’ session for all you roller virgins. Track bikes are provided, they’re locked in place by the forks (‘for shame’ he cries…) so you won’t fall off having necked 10 pints prior to riding.
Starts 8pm. See www.rapha.cc for more info. You can also hear Therese interviewed about the event on the Bike Show on Resonance FM (interview starts just over halfway through the program).

Between Xmas and New Year we escaped to Hastings on the South Coast for a day. It was a bleak, overcast and chilly day which made for the perfect antidote to the usual stagnating indoors you do at Xmas. I thought it’d be hard to find much colour given the weather and the usually dour atmosphere of a British resort in December, but in the end you could find it peeking out from all over.
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