Tattoo

My wife and I have been watching programs like Miami Ink for some time. Her Grandmother recently died and one of the things that she wanted to get with the inheratence was a tattoo. This is a good way to remember somebody. It doesn't have to be a memorial tattoo or even that persons favourate thing. It just needs to be something that will help you remember the person by. She chose a water dragon.

After months of searching she eventually found the artist who would do her tattoo. The art form has moved on from dancing girl outlines and ships anchors. Now you can get all sorts of art drawn directly onto your skin. These are graphic artists. You can get portraits, cartoons, lettering or abstract designs.

However, if you hire a traditional artist to paint you a picture, if you don't like it you don't have to buy it or if you grow to dislike it, you can take it off of your wall. With tattoos it is different. Once on it is on. So find your artist with care. Look at his work. Look at the stencil. You can cancel at any time. One artist sent a couple to stencils via e-mail. They were not what she wanted.

She found the artist that would give her a one off tattoo, not a picture from a book, but an original designed Japanese water dragon, in the colours that she wants, in the style that she wanted. This meant that, in order to get what she wanted, it would cost a fair amount of money and a trip to London for the day.

Today she got the outline done and the first colour, green. She will go back for a second 2 hr sitting to get it finished. The artist is also thinking of adding flowers. She is very happy with the artwork. The only drawback is that it hurt like hell, but she got cuedos for not screaming, crying, or changing her mind. Anyway, I have posted some of the photos of her back. I is slightly bigger than she thought, but still loves it.

Alex

I Picked Up the New Bike

A production of epic proportions, years in the making, I have finally picked up my new bike. Well, when I say years, I probably only mean November of last year. However, it felt like years.

The saga started some months again when I came into some money which, due to legal reasons, would take some time to get to me. That said, I started bike hunting straight away. This involved looking in magazines and talking to other riders, notably club members. I eventually arranged a test ride day at Grapham water. For the cost of a single rental bike I arranged a fleet of five bikes to try out. There were prose and cons to each of the bikes that I rode, but the one that gave me a real grin factor was the Anthem X2. So when the money arrived in May and after some hagling on extras, the order was placed with Pitsford cycles.

I dare say that, using Podium Points from an online supplier I could have gotten more googars, but Pitsford is my local bike shop. I know the mechanics and trust them to set up the bike. I get two free services and I still get some extras. I was not disapointed. The only downside was a wait of upto 8 weeks. Great bike, worth the wait. However, I only had to wait for three.

Before picking up the bike I went around to the local DIY store and picked up some pipe cladding. My worry was that the metal of my bike rack would damage the frame and so, gaff tape and craft knife in hand, I set to the pipe cladding and attached it to the bike rack so that at no point would metal grate or bash against metal.

I then went to pick up the bike. I had my daughter for the day, so decided that, rather than just picking up the bike, we would take it for a quick lap of the reserviour with my daughter on her bike. I arrived at Pitsford an got my goodies. They then gave me a comprehensive lesson on how to set up the air shock and forks, as well as the brake adjustment etc. We then set off around the lake to break in my steed.

One of the things about the Anthem is that it is a fast bike. Normally, I could just peddle slower than normal to ride with my daughter. However, the Anthem was having none of it. It wanted to be off racing the lower life forms and shredding single track. I had to dump a lot of gears in order to ride at Hana's speed, but we had a pleasant ride, complete with ice cream and Jelly Babies.

I am going on a Dads ride at Stanwick tommorow, so the Anthem is going to be a bit of an overkill. But who cares. I am looking forward to my ride with James on Tuesday, but I am really looking forward to Wednesdays club ride, when I am going to make some of the faster riders eat my dust. (Evil laugh time.)

For the moment the bike is safely in the kitchen, put away for the night. I had to take a kitchen photo anyway, since it is an MBR tradition. So here you are MBR forum, the White Goods Shot.

Luck

Marin Rough Ride

This weekend saw me taking part in the marin Rough Ride. The clue is in the name. It is a rough ride sponsored by Marin:

http://www.roughride.co.uk/

The distances do not seem too much, since it is only a 45k or 75k on the long (That means 50 miles max). However, it also encompases 7000 ft of climbs. It started at 10 and I finished six hours later. There were great downhill bits, moorland on top of big hills, evil descents, epic climbs, impossible climbs and awsome schenery.

Throughout this ride was well organised. Direction arrows on the course made it impossible to get lost. A good spattering of marshals telling you how far to go, or manning food and water stations. The Territorial Army was also helping out with logistics. There was also the mountain rescue and paramedics on schene. In short it was well organised. There were also photographers snapping at various points throughout the course (hopefully taking pictures of my heroic bits, rather than the ignominius parts where I am pushing up a massive climb). I mean, two miles of 10% climbs, with gravel and roots?

However, at the end of it, when you come around the final corner, cold and wet, running on the last of your researves and you see the tents and the marshals and the finish line, it is the best feeling in the world. The cheap T shirt is equivelent to Olympic Gold, the veggie stew and bread (Or Black pudding stew which I would have tried if it was ready) was the best food in the world, along with the chocky cake and coffe and I now display the rough ride sticker in my car window with pride.

Might try Hell of the North next year. Oh yeah. This is why I love biking.

Luck