Summer CX Season : Final Report.

Overdue : my report on the last round of the Banjo Cycles summer CX series in Newbury.

After the interesting events of round 4  (Race-lead-self pit-lead-crash-win-concussion-ambulance-car breakdown)... I decided, wisely, to NOT race in round 5 and give myself a decent run at recovery from the concussion. This was the right thing to do.. riding ill, or riding hurt isn't a good thing. Especially as you get older and recovery is tougher.

Of course, the upshot of this was that I didn't score any points for round 5..And looking at the points table going into the final round, I was sitting in 3rd place overall but unlikely to move up, even with a win. 3rd place overall, for me, is rather cool...

P was unable to join me, which after round 4, was a bit of a worry.. If I managed to headbutt the planet again. I'd be in serious risk of not being able to get home... solution... DON'T CRASH ... this seemed like a plan.

After work, I drove over to Newbury in glorious sun, parked up, and made an effort to thank all of the organising team personally for the support and help after my last race crash. The course for this week contained the same "up the left, down the right" hill but there was more use made of the woods at the top of the hill and after the down hill the course switched back and forth all over the flat section making it the longest lap yet. I rode a couple of recce laps and said hi to friends, the downhill was good for me, basically the same as the previous round I'd ridden, so I had confidence in the possible lines and knew just how low to duck to get close to the trees we slalomed through. The "flat" section wasn't too bad but did feature a very short off camber chicane, just like the one that claimed me (and others) in round 4, then a long off camber section (we used this in round 1 going the other way)...

Trying to keep up with hydration, I got through most of my water in the car and got ready for the start. I lined up next to Mandy Scott (Cotswold Veldrijden), who has been my closest rival in terms of consistency and points. From the start, I pushed (and got overtaken by most of the senior men) but ended up behind Mandy on the first climb. Get into a rhythm and settle down. I got past Mandy at the top and gapped her on the down hill...but on the long flat sections of the course, she closed up the gap again.. This would be the pattern for the whole race. Mandy overtook on the hill on the 3rd lap saying "don't worry, you'll pass me again, I'm knackered" ... um... yeah... she pulled away a little..

At the top of the hill, there were some very tight 180s and I caught up and passed Mandy just before the woods...and on to the descent, I went as fast as I could (back wheel slid away a little as I turned back across the off camber section that crosses the hill before the fast part of the downhill, caught it... just) and built a gap... I pushed really hard and tried to increase the gap. As we came onto the last lap, I had a steady gap on Mandy.. onto the hill and it dropped a bit... onto the downhill and I stretched it further... I thought I'd broken the elastic this time... onto the flat section... head down.. keep going..

Coming towards the last sets of corners, I looked back and Mandy was catching me fast... there were two corners to go to the finish straight... as we went into the first, a 180 switchback left, Mandy got onto my wheel... the next corner went slightly left before a switching back right... as I went into the corner I let the bike go left to stop her coming past there and then aimed at the apex. I knew this would push me wider on the exit of the last corner giving Mandy the possibility of coming up the inside.. out of the corner, change gear, out of the saddle.... SPRINT...

This was the first time since my first CX race that I have been this close to a rival right at the end of a race..the first time, the organisers hadn't rung the bell, so I didn't realise it WAS the finish and missed the chance to sprint hard....THIS TIME...I knew it was the end... last race, best chance to get points... and sprinting for 3rd in the race...

Where was I ???

Oh yes........ SPRINT.......

In my best "trying to channel Cav from what I've seen on telly" I got as low as possible and just emptied myself...

It was very, very close... the most fun finish in any race I've done..(this doesn't officially include round 4 as I can't remember finishing... ) to be pushed to really HAVE to race...

Very often in the women's races, my placing has been settled well before the end of the race... This was so much better...

I thanked Mandy for the race, she really must have flown over the last section to close the gap..

We all waited around as the organisers tallied up positions and points for the series prizegiving..I thought that I'd done enough to get 3rd overall.. And when it came to the women's trophies... Mark started..."and in 3rd place...Mandy Scott".... oh...damn...maybe not then... 2nd went to Ruby Miller, and then "in 1st place".. Me....um....really? I couldn't see how this worked ...but I went up and got my trophy and prize (£60 of vouchers at Banjo)

A surprise... 

The drive home was lovely, a beautiful sunset and a happy panda.....

When I got home, I got online to thank the organisers again and to confirm the positions... they went away and the following morning confirmed that I was right, somehow, in the push to get the results out, a mistake had been made and Mandy should indeed have been 1st overall and I should have been 3rd, as I expected...

It's taken a little while to organise getting trophies back and forth but... I now have my "legit" 3rd place overall trophy and I'm rather proud of it... it's the first thing I've won since starting CX racing. In the series, I took my first Ladies race win (albeit in a very small field and not against the faster riders) ..

I've learned more about race craft and pacing...and, most importantly, I had a heck of a lot of fun racing Major P in the summer series...

Now it's time for me, Major P and the newly completed Major B to get ready for the CX season proper.. although I will miss the opening round due to Bridesmaid duties in Wales that week.

THANK YOU to everyone at Banjo Cycles for organising the race series, for the race sponsors and all of the riders who made the Summer CX Series such fun. I'll be back next year.... 

My rightful trophy.. Happy with that.

Next for me is Griff's Cycle Lab Opening Event on Saturday 30th August ..... our "Grand Depart" ... Please join us if you can... you can check out the new super light Trek Emonda SLR, Lazer Helmets entire range, BlendaVenda, and the chance to win a £600 bike...  

See you there 

Panda

Clif Bar CrossVegas Announces Strong Women’s Field

World’s #1 and #2 Ranked to Race in Las Vegas

Longmont, Colorado – The organizers of Clif Bar CrossVegas have revealed what could be the strongest women’s field in the 8-year history of the season-opening race.

Squaring off on Wednesday September 10 in Las Vegas will be the number 1 and number 2 ranked riders in the world, Katie Compton of the U.S. and Helen Wyman of Great Britain.

The women’s field will be competing for a prize list equalto the men’s field with almost $9,000 in cash plus valuable UCI points as a result of the Category 1 status of the race.In addition CrossVegas is part of the season long U.S. ProCX Calendar awarding $40,000 in prizes. Women from 6 nations competed in the 2013 version of the race at least that many nations expected for this year.

Compton, ranked number 1 in the world standings, is theoverall winner of the World Cup and a two-time winner of CrossVegas. The Trek Cyclocross Collective rider returns after an absence of several years.  “I'm looking forward to starting my season in Las Vegas this year. I've skipped this race in previous years to delay the start of a long season but decided I couldn't miss it again,” Compton commented.

Compton went on to say, “I'm sure this year will be super hard with fast competition from the mountain bikers coming off their world champs as well as true cross racers dialing it up for the early season. I look forward to some suffering and being cheered on by some creative hecklers!”

Wyman is currently ranked number 2 in the worldstandings following a stellar 2013 season that included a silver medal at the World Championships and a win in the European Championships. Wyman commented on her plans, “I'm really excited to be racing in Las Vegas in 2014. CrossVegas is a standout event on the world calendar.”

Team LUNA Chix brings their usual dominating strength to CrossVegas including Katerina Nash of the Czech Republic. Nash has taken a podium spot every time she lines up at CrossVegas with 3 wins including 2013. Joining Nash will be teammates Catharine Pendrel of Canada who was 3rd in 2013, Georgia Gould of the U.S. who is always among the top finishers, Teal Stetson-Lee and Maghalie Rochette of Canada who was 10th in her first CrossVegas in 2013.

Other notables vying for a win under the lights of Las Vegas will be:

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  Rising American star Elle Anderson who comes to CrossVegas before departing on a European career with Belgium-based KDL Cycling Team. Anderson finished in the top ten at CrossVegas 2013 and capped her season with a silver medal at the U.S. national championships.

•

  Caroline Mani of France of the Raleigh-Clement squadwho be looking to kick off her cross season using the fast start she is renowned for.

•

  The “ British Invasion” continues with Gabby Durrin who finished in the top ten in CrossVegas 2013 andDiane Lee who finished 3rd in the National Championships in 2013.

•

  Meredith Miller of the U.S. who is a perennial top ten finisher at CrossVegas riding in new colors for Noosa Professional Cyclocross Team.

Race Director Brook Watts adds that more competitor announcements on both the women’s and men’s side will be coming shortly as racing schedules are finalized for the season.

About CrossVegas

Clif® Bar CrossVegas is organized by Watts Marketing Inc. of Longmont Colorado and has become a fixture on the U.S. cyclocross calendar. It is the largest cyclocross race outside of Europe attracting 10,000 spectators to Desert Breeze Soccer Complex in Las Vegas on Wednesday September 10. Complete information including schedule, hotel information, sponsorship and admission is available at www.crossvegas.com. Follow on Twitter @CrossVegas.Sizzle Video: http://youtu.be/HIj7urH0pwo

2013 Clif Bar CrossVegas women’s podium from left Lea Davison (2nd), Katerina Nash (1st) and Catherine Pendrel (3rd)

Photo Credits

Award Podium: Courtesy CrossVegas.com

Project Jake 2 - The Finished Result...

Well.....He's done ....

I spent Sunday afternoon finishing off the Ex-Helen Wyman 2013 Kona Major Jake..

I'm very happy with the result, he looks excellent and, based on a very quick shakedown ride, the narrower bars and the smaller frame size feels just a tad more nimble and aggressive. I will report back once I've done a proper shakedown ride.

Finished..at last 

The final build specification as follows:

2013 Kona Major Jake CX (56cm)

Shimano Ultegra 6700 STI Shifter/Levers

Shimano Ultegra 6700 Rear mech

Shimano Ultegra 6700 Front mech (34.9mm band)

Shimano Ultegra 6700 wheelset

Shimano Ultegra 6700 Cassette 11-28
Shimano Deore XT SPD pedals

FSA Gossamer Pro BB30 chainset 46/36 (CX specific rings)

FSA Headset, Stem, Seatpost, Bars (w/Pro gel bar tape)

TRP EuroX Magnesium cantilever brakes w/SwissStop pads

Challenge Grifo Open Tubular tyres

Selle Italia saddle

Bike Pure headset top cap and spacer

I can't thank Helen enough for the chance to own this frame. He was always going to be built to be ridden and raced...this isn't a wall hanger. I've enjoyed building him up and am really looking forward to putting him through his paces in the coming weeks.... but for now... let's have some pictures.

The most colourful bike I own 

Side By Side - Majors P and B line up for a photo call

A brace of Konas

The two Majors looking purposeful and ready.

Major P has won a round of the Newbury Summer CX Series, and Major B was one of a set of frames that took Helen to victory in races such as the Koppenberg Cross and the European CX Championships.. so they are both winners...

Oh, and I think I owe you all an update on the last round of the Summer CX Series too... stay tuned....

Project Jake 2 - Latest Update on Major B(lue)

Ah, it's been a while, but we are back.

The brief lull in employment meant that I had to be a bit careful with cash for a bit, so the Major B project has been on brief hiatus.

Just before I went off to do support for the RN on a 2 day test event on the first two stages of the 2014 Tour de France, I managed to tweet a tease picture...

A few shiny boxes of shiny bits

I've been waiting until I sourced a suitable FSA Gossamer Pro BB30 chainset (46/36 chainrings) before putting the rest of the drive train parts on.

Tonight, I've spent a little time after work getting the chainset, drive train components and levers on, I've routed the brake cables through (though the TRP EuroX brakes still need to be properly set up) so...here are a couple of shots of Major B looking a tad more "Bike Like". Still got to route and set up the gear cables, adjust the drive train and brakes and I still need to get some pedals (Deore XT as per Major P and I've got some blue Pro Gel bar tape to keep the blue/black theme that Helen had on the bike when it was being raced.

Levers on, some cabling done and .....

...Drivetrain basically in place.

TRP EuroX Magnesium brakes.. not QUITE set up yet.

All this means that, all being well, Major B should be pretty much done and ready for test riding.... Excited...

C

CX Summer Series update - 2 races, 1 crash, 1 ambulance...1 win

Second blog entry for today.....

Time for a racing update:

The first day working at Griff's meant that I had to miss round 2 of the Newbury Summer CX series, by all accounts, a hot and tough evening. The course had been lengthened from the first round to reduce the number of laps and overtakes.

My next chance to race was round 3, P was busy, so this one was solo.. I loaded the car and drove to work, prepped the bike and headed straight over to Newbury from the shop. This time the course was reversed, going up the left side of the hill in a zigzag, going up into the woods and out on to a fast descent which turned it's way through trees and into the flatter park section. I did a couple of recce laps, tentatively at first on the fast descent and tight corners.. bit of a chat and then formed up for the race... I was a little slow at the start. The rest of the women's field was made up of two U23s and a U14, all routinely quicker than me. The first climb up the hill was tight and messy and I tried not to get in anyone's way so I lost positions quickly. After this, it was a lonely race.. I struggled to judge my pace and not get in anyone's way when the fast riders came through, The overtakes were a mix of good, poor and downright dangerous... and I just couldn't get a rhythm going.. actually, my laps were pretty consistent, if slow.. though I did find that I got faster each time on the descent through the corners...

Result - 4th place in the women's race (from 4 starters, no other veterans) and not last overall.

Onto Round 4....

This Thursday.. P collected me after work and we duly headed off to Newbury... in the rain. After the previous week, Mark (the organiser) had apparently asked the parks people to cut the grass...which they duly did the day before the race...and with the steady rain, it meant that the grass pickup on the bikes was really bad..

P came round on the first recce lap.. I ran with my Challenge Chicanes for this... the course was similar to round 3 but with even more back and forth on the flatter area but also the return of the really nasty little off camber kink that caught people out on week 1 (foreshadowing, as @CXhairs would say on the Svenness videos).. I gave the bike a quick clean and changed to the wheels with Challenge Grifos for a second quick recce, though I missed out the hill this time..I pushed a little to get my heart rate up and lined up for the start. the field was a little smaller and the women's race was just me and one other Veteran. I had resolved to start harder than last time and duly pushed hard on lap 1... I gapped my competitor and pushed on..the grass pickup was bad, the course pretty slick.

Mid race - looking focused

First time through the off-camber kink, I kept it as tight and high as possible and carried reasonable speed through it.. keep going... keep extending the gap...towards the end of the second lap, I really felt the bike dragging with the grass, already a couple of riders had pulled out with mechanicals and I'd seen one crash up ahead. On the third time up the climb, it was getting really hard and I heard the rear mech starting to struggle, at the top of the hill, I looked down and couldn't see my rival so jumped off, grabbed as much of the grass out as possible and set off... the Major felt like he was flying... I started to attack the course more... this time through the off-camber kink the bike slid a little and I had to pull hard to get the Major back up onto the course...

Lap 4 and I was pushing and feeling OK.. there were points where I was parallel to other riders and going as fast as the guys I could see. I went quite hard on the descent to keep ahead of a rider coming up to lap and let him by on the flat and hit the park section... as I went into the off-camber kink this time it gets a little blurry... I think the back slipped and then the front broke away, the bike went down and I fell to the right into the crest of the off camber bit..my head hit the ground HARD... it felt like the sky changed colour briefly (best way I can describe it) and it really hurt... I dragged myself up and (apparently) against the suggestion of the photographer who was there, I jumped back on was determined that I would NOT DNF and I would not get beaten after building such a lead (about half a lap)...

Full disclosure: my memory of the next period is hazy and has gaps...but I know I pushed...the last lap I rode was my second fastest of the night..I was fast down the hill through the trees, I know I was worried about the kink... I can't actually remember how I took it on that lap, nor can I clearly remember sprinting over the line (apparently I did) and rolled over to P...

I can remember sitting at the finish and there being concern, I can remember then being back at the car and Mark coming over (I Don't remember not listening to P giving me clear instructions based on his knowledge of head injury care which I duly ignored (sorry)). I was wrapped in a jacket and put in the car, Mark checked out the helmet, apparently intact, but concern for my state meant an ambulance was called. I was duly popped into the back and checked out. The ambulance crew were both professional, amusing (P getting given the hand injury leaflet instead of the head injury one, for example), calming and made sure I was OK. My head hurt a lot and I was starting to feel the impact on my side and shoulders.

After a while getting cleared and doing the paperwork, we exited the ambulance and everyone apart from the organisers had gone.. I thanked Mark and Jamie for sticking with us and keeping an eye on me. And we headed off home.

Result... 1st in the women's race (field of 2), but it was a win.. even if I can't actually remember crossing the line.

Overall ... I'm now sitting second in the overall standings but I may not be racing this coming week, either because I may be away with work, or if not, because concussion is a risky thing and I probably shouldn't race.

All results are here

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Oh, yes..... just to add "insult" to "injury", our car has been having issues, P had been getting it checked earlier in the day and we'd been told it was OK to drive.... but.....

On the M4 coming to Reading there was a bang and the engine sounded awful..we pulled to the side and left at the junction...pulled into a business park and called the AA..mentioning that I'd just been in an "incident" and an "ambulance" and we needed to get home... I was also starting to really need to use a loo..(I'd been drinking a lot after getting the all clear) we saw someone come out of the Verizon offices so P went and asked the security dudes if I could use a loo, so THANK YOU...not only did I get to use the loo, I stayed in the foyer whilst we waited and was given a cuppa too.. the AA were really quick and the patrol man did a fast, temporary repair to the exhaust downpipe (it had separated) and we were on our way..we got home around 2330... I went straight to bed and proceeded to get not much sleep....

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UPDATE

After the crash, I've retired my Kask K50 helmet as it hit the ground pretty darned hard.

Here is the replacement...

As of today, I feel stiff and sore, the headache is diminishing (Friday was rather vague at work) and I should be OK for the event that I'm off to support for the next few days.... that I won't be able to discuss until after I return... till then.... take care... and ride safe, people....


P.S There are pics of both races HERE .. including a sequence of my crash, if you really must... I warn you... it's NOT flattering

A New Job and A New Shop

Back in March I heard that my local independent bike shop might be changing ownership. We've been customers off and on for several years and they supplied us with spares when P and I did our LEJOG in 2012. Not long after this I received an email from the manager of the new manager asking if I'd be interested in coming to work with them in the workshop. We then spoke at length about the plans for the shop, particularly the approach to women's cycling and making sure the shop had a full range of bikes and clothing for women and organising specific ladies night events and rides.

The opportunity to work with a team I know, in a shop very local to me, with such a strong focus on women's cycling was tempting enough to say a very positive "yes".

Couple this with a net reduction from 4 hours a day commuting to and from central London to approx 25 minutes total commuting across the woods behind where I live...No longer needing the folding bike, no longer needing to shell out for season tickets and deal with the vagaries of the rail network...and I can use the Cross bike through one of my regular training runs every single day... 

I think the phrase needed at this point is "no-brainer".

This meant that I spent a few weeks at home catching up on things and getting some good riding in, but on the 12 of June, I went in for the first time to the new shop to build stock and we opened on Monday 16th June.... 

So, Ladies and Gents, allow me introduce you all to......

Griff's Cycle Lab 

The first two weeks have been busy and productive, the workshop is getting booked out fast and we are seeing a great range of bikes come through.

The shop has a great mix of road and mtb bikes from Trek, Genesis, Ridley and Saracen, and our location in Crowthorne, Berkshire means that we are not too far from the Surrey hills and just down the road from Swinley Forest and I'm very much looking forward to our proper "formal" opening night event in a few weeks as well as some of the other things we have planned for the future, not least the range of Cyclocross bikes we will be bringing in especially the Treks and Ridleys (but I may be a little biased there)

If you are in the area, please do pop in and say hi...

A Ridley Liz and Trek Lush in the window

Pride of place in the front of the shop for the women's clothing and accessories

Oh, and I really love our logo...

 
Coming next .... Report on my last 2 rounds of the Newbury Summer CX series....

Race Support with Matrix-Vulpine

A few weeks ago, knowing that I was not working for a bit, I asked Matrix-Vulpine DS Stef Wyman if he needed any mechanic help at the London Nocturne (a (obviously) night time crit in central London, around Smithfield Market). He said yes....

It was a little strange heading to the Nocturne as it basically re-enacted my old commute. Cycling to the station, train to Waterloo, cycle up through Smithfield... though leaving at 2 in the afternoon was a weird timeshift (and it's the first time I'd taken the Major into London).

Arriving at Smithfield, the support races were already on the go, and after a brief and confusing conversation with a marshall about getting to the pits (you can't.. you have to sign in.... but you can't cross without accreditation) I spotted the Matrix-Vulpine team car and got a wristband passed over..

A few of the riders were already around, relaxing and enjoying the day. I parked up the Major, next to Helen Wyman's race Kona. and got ready...

The Major in more exalted company 

The day itself was a riot of noise and colour, and I mean RIOT....the PA was kicking out music at ear bleeding levels making any conversation in the pit nigh on impossible though apparently, a quiet word from a world no2 ranked CX rider to someone got the nearest speakers "accidentally" unplugged... nice one.

TV crew grabbing a few words with Baz

The support races were an interesting diversion, none more so than the Boris Bike race which, on the slowing down lap, took a turn when someone (who may or may not be a Radio DJ) decided to sort her hair out, riding no hands.. wobbled and headed straight for us... she missed the car next to us, Emma Borthwick jumped clear, and it hit Stef and the team car.. 1 bike and a few wheels skittled and one DS with a gronked wrist...

The team gathered and we prepped the bikes.. (major front end adjustments for Harriet and Jo's bikes) and then the riders began to warm up. We'd scored a great spot with enough room for the whole team to warm up on rollers/turbos and be seen by the fast growing crowd.

Warm up time

It was good to chat to the riders and learn a few of their set up preferences, and basically be there to catch things, hold stuff and make their evening easier.

"And they are off..." DS Stef Wyman and Nick Hussey of Vulpine make sure online fans are kept up to speed on the race.

The race was fast and hard, it looked like Katie Archibald (Pearl Izumi-Sports Tours International) was going to ride off the front until she arrived in the pits having had an off, getting caught in the barrier on the other side of the circuit out of our view. In the end, the team's best finisher was Jessie Walker in 11th.

Not the best results, but a great shop window for the team, with many people taking time to say nice stuff about the team. Penny Rowson mentioned that the NFTO guys had said it was cool that Matrix-Vulpine had a female mechanic (which is nice) and it was good experience for me.

After getting the timing chips off and loading the bikes on to the car, we sat and watched the Elite men's race (won by Tobyn Horton - Madison Genesis) and I set off into the warm london night (around half 10 to head home) A slow trip (with no loos and a half hour wait at Ascot) and The Major and I arrived in Camberley around 01:15 am for the ride home, in shorts and a short sleeved jersey...the roads were quiet.....the moon was out in full... excellent.

The Major sitting on a train at Ascot waiting to get home - ignore the lights, especially the impromptu green "bracket" at the back :)

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A few days later and we did it all over again, this time for the Matrix Fitness GP series race in Woking. An easy 30 minute drive from the house. I arrived nice and early, worked out the circuit and chatted to @argyle_panda who invited me over to the WWF offices in Woking for a quick tour.. very impressive building, a lovely space to work and imaginatively constructed for minimal environmental impact. 

I may have picked up a little friend at the WWF offices - He's now in Belgium !

The afternoon wore on and the teams had a major struggle to get down to the pits area. The riders rode down to the circuit, so whilst we waited for Stef and the car, I got the timing chips fitted to each bike (thanks to Rapha Condor-JLT mechanic for the pair of snips I proffed) and FINALLY the cars arrived, it took about an hour to get the cars from the parking round and on to the circuit. Bikes prepped and we were off again.... Helen only needed to secure one point in the sprints competition to secure the overall jersey win, and duly delivered at the first sprint... hereafter she is to be referred to as "Top Sprinter" Helen Wyman...

It did look like the team might get a decent result, but unfortunate timing meant that the front group caught a, as yet unlapped, group right on the final VERY tight hairpin, throwing the group into confusion and allowing Eileen Roe (Starley-Primal) to get a jump and take the win. Frustrating, but... that's bike racing...

The teams had to clear out quickly to allow the men's team cars in, so as soon as we'd got the bikes loaded, Stef shot off (on the long drive back home to Belgium, pausing only to collect Helen after the podium ceremony, and in possession of a small, panda shaped, passenger) and I met up again with Ade (aka @argyle_panda) and we watched the men's race from the Hospitality area by the finish... which was a nice end to the day...... 

Two days later.........New job kicked in..... but we will get to that soon.....

Thank you to DS Stef Wyman for the chance to help out the Matrix Fitness-Vulpine Team 

To (Top Sprinter) Helen, Jo, Penny, Baz, Louise, Jessie, and Sigrid for being a pleasure to work with.

To Nick Hussey of Vulpine for being dapper personified at the Nocturne and a top sponsor chap,

and to Emma Borthwick for the company and chat at the Nocturne.

Thank you also to Ade (@Argyle_Panda) and Adele Mitchell for the great company at Woking.