Gentlemen...

... Start your engines.

The wheels of the 2011 cyclocross season are starting to turn both here, in the U.S. and eventually over in mainland Europe* And with this momentum, our latest kit order brought with it a few new names that will be sporting our colours within a couple of weeks as the fresh produce drops through their letter boxes.

So say a big hello to:

Mark Solomon
Darren Holloway
Ian Parkinson
Paul Goulden
Steve Cooper
Tom Hill
Kenny Christie
Nigel Winsper
Matt Kendall
Greg May

Some of these guys write, ride and run and some of the others I don't know anything about. So in an attempt at a fair approach it'll be up to them to introduce themselves should they so wish.



*whilst the seasons finished in the southern hemisphere which is a bizarre concept.

Ride to live

General guff from me in the current edition (August) of Cycling Active on sale now.......

And then a write up on the Ronde van Oost Lancashire in the next month's mag.

Hello...

The latest kit order has been received, succesfully netting more willing victims to the way of cross and cobble. So without further a do, here are the guys, some in their own words some not (who can always give us a breakdown to their exploits in the future, at their leisure).

John Parkinson:
"Based in Guiseley, West Yorkshire, nearly 40 and brother (big) of Ben Parkinson. Enjoy all aspects of cycling, but started racing cyclocross (well taking part in cx races), a couple of seasons ago - in both the Scottish and Yorkshire Leagues. Generally not very competitive, with most (read all) races undertaken to date, having been the battle for 'not to be last'!! Occasionally successfully in that quest, I hope to improve my placings over the coming seasons."

Ben Parkinson:
"35 years old and based in Glasgow. Got into competitive riding recently after getting bored with sportives. Now getting by a on a diet of cyclocross and triathlons. Not very fast or fit and carrying more timber than I would like. Enjoy regular racing through the season, although, there is plenty of room for improvement."

Matthew Pixton:
"Bit of an all-rounder ex (crap) road racer, even worse TTer but relative success running(!) the fells at local level. Prepping for a LEJoG later in the year. Three 3 peaks 4:20ish finishes but happily don't have the obsession gene. Probable fave pro cycling moment is Tchmil snapping Museeuw's elastic in the utter hell of 1994 Roubaix. Own a full pint Duval glass."

Nick Waggett:
"Completed first 'cross season this year in the Yorkshire Points Series for Clifton CC (York). Also took part in Hit the North and the RVOL. Aiming to do summer CX series and hopefully Three Peaks as a fully fledged Belgian. Rode the Pyrenean Traverse in 2009 with Belgians' Richard Allen, Mark Bradley and Winkie Thin plus lots of sportives including the Fred Whitton and Etape du Dales. Key contribution to HCTB: knows someone who can get a regular supply of Ghent noses."

Jason Surridge:
"Race cross in north Wales and have a great love of frites and beer (always end up in Belgo when in London)."

Gareth Jones:
An enigma - I don't know anything about Gareth but that's a Welsh name if I can spot one. Hopefully he isn't as good a Geraint Thomas or he'll be tearing our legs off.

Andrew Sinclair:
I know less than half about Andrew as I do about Gareth. So that's not alot :)

David Switzer:
A tiger stripe clad Lune CC rider with a good set of legs and a much appreciated dry sense of humour.

Jarrod Rouhan:
Calls Melbourne, Australia home, so our first fully fledged Australian team member (I stand to be corrected on this). So lets look at the facts, Australian plus Cyclist means we're gonna get smashed in the sprint (I stand to be corrected on this too).

Sean Lester:
I sent his kit to T-Mobile so I have a vision of a mildly freckled, rusty haired individual going by the moniker of 'der kaiser', churning away in the big ring. Oh what am I talking about I haven't got a clue really.

So there we go, all present and correct, welcome to the madness.

Christmas Presence...

The eagle eyed, regular returners among you will have noticed a minor facelift to the blog over the last few days. Partly instigated by my need to meddle with the aesthetics of anything (if I change the link colour one more time somebody shoot me) and partly due to the ever growing team list, that on the previous layout took an eternity to scroll to the bottom of.

Yep, that's right, a growing team list. So here's some more names to become familiar with:

Andrew McHugh: Founder member of Hit the North taking time out to avoid getting fired and/or divorced. Keen but not very accomplished MTB and occasionally CX racer (still getting to grips with the dark art of the rapid remount). Forum loud mouth under the pseudonym of Harry The Spider.

Carl Keen: Races cross in the Central League and a bit of road with the LVRC and a smidgen of XC. When not racing, he's riding the lanes of the Chilterns in search of Belgian toothpaste.

Carl Nelson: A North West Cyclocross stalwart and Crossjunkie interval session sparring partner.

Cheryl King: Loves cycling, loves photography and love the fact she gets to combine both. We love the fact Cheryl manages to capture some of our better moments on film (well CCD actually).

Dave Haygarth: A nearly has-been proper cyclocross specialist as nearly was a proper cyclocross specialist. Veteran of the 3 peaks since 1995 and a dedicated Wheelbase rider who was once forced (fairly willingly) to share a bed in a Premier Inn with Rob Jebb.

John Elkin: Rides (usually singlespeed) cross through the winter and sportives during the summer. Usually nips across for Flanders, Roubaix, Amstel Gold and LBL, good riding and great racing.

Phil Haygarth: Ronde? tick. 3 peaks? tick. Museeuw dispatching Tchmil in 1995 on the Muur? tick. Here Come the Belgians approved? Big tick.

Rachel Calvert: Possibly the Enigma's financial controller. Rachel sends money, I send kit to Yorkshire. I think I have the basis for a spy thriller (or a kick in the nuts for mindless ramble).

Steffan Chandler: Actually won his first cross race, as a junior 23 yrs ago and then won the Yorkshire champs in his 2nd race the week after... Unfortunately wins are hard to come by nowadays and the best he can muster was 5th overall in the NW league last year (don't let the undersell fool you Steff races hard and fast, laughs alot and heckles even better).

There, intros done. Have a great Christmas, enjoy the racing over the festive period and I'll probably catch up with a few of you trackside...mine's a mulled wine and mince pie.

...or a beer

...or a baileys

...and don't forget the pork pie with egg.

Bogging at Boggart

Pic: Ed Rollason - there's a lanky Belgian in there somewhere

We had a crack team of 4 out riding at Boggart Hole Clough, Manchester with Rich Allen and Mark Turner also present but sidelined due to lurgy. Jo Hanglebads was on cake-dishing out duties and surprisingly surrendered her camera to Rich too. We have yet to see the rushes...

Boggart is probably one of the best courses out there in the NW - it mixes rooty singletrack, tarmac blasts, grassy field, a little bit of bog and a brutal tarmac climb that needs to be big-ringed but hurts you if you do. We had a massive 130 starters which required a round and round the field type thing to string us all out. Nick Craig won easily, Duncan and Ric built on their previous outings and fitness for 65th and 30th respectively, and I managed to get clear of the start mayhem to ride strongly into 4th Vet and 19th overall. Spare a thought for Mark Thomson who punctured on the 2nd(?) lap. He saved his energies for the Velodrome later that day though so it wasn't a wasted trip.

And onto a little digression. Whilst we are spoilt here in the North West and Yorkshire by our own Jo's super snapping, there are some professional photographers out there too. Cheryl King has become a Belgian friend over the past few seasons, and like Jo, attends most of our races and in all weathers. Her dramatic and insightful photos have been recently collated in a book Cyclo Cross, which featured both myself and Duncan as well as other regular North West riders. This is a shameless plug really, in the sense that people like Cheryl are out there for the love of the sport and hopefully bringing it to a wider audience. I received some of her photos from a friend as a present and they were most welcome. I urge you to support her and her craft at www.ckingimages.co.uk and http://www.flickr.com/photos/ckingimages/


Anyways, I know Jo won't mind me upstaging her pic wise this time as good though Chery's pics are, she has yet to offer me cake at the end of a race.....

Ric Knowles



Alan D





Dunc




This coming Sunday brings another comedy name venue - Pignut Hill in Northwich. Also a good cross course too. Must be in the name.

Oh I almost forgot. Dunc won the gurning competition. Again. Check out his fine effort captured by Ed Rollason....

Team People...

I've been remiss. I've overlooked a valuable contributor to capturing our moments in time.

Jo Allen (Hanglebads), a kit owning team member from the beginning and a valued photographer capturing our days in the dirt. Also to be found with various bits of team kit draped around her person following a frantic start grid strip off.

Apologies for a long overdue addition to the teamlist.

Please may I have some cake now?

TEAM KIT RE-ORDER...1 WEEK DEADLINE

As you've seen from the previous posts we've begun campaigning this colour scheme already. With the popularity of the kit I'm putting together a re-order so here's a chance to either get some more kit or get yourself onto our juggernaut of a cyclocross and kasseien team (buying a shirt gets you on the squad).

PRICES:
Shortsleeve shirt: £38.50
Longsleeve shirt: £45.00
TechFleece Jersey: £62.00
ThermoShield/TechFleece Jacket: £76.00
ThermoShield Jacket: £87.50

Gilet: £37.00
Wind Jacket: £47.00

Bibshort: £50.00
3/4 Bib Knicker: £60.00
3/4 Fleece Bib Knicker: £67.50
Fleece Bibtight (no pad): £71.00

Skinsuit short sleeve: £73.50
Skinsuit Long sleeve: £78.50
Skinsuit Cylocross (fleece): £95.00

If you're interested email teamhctb@gmail.com for an order form.
Order book closes MONDAY 11th OCTOBER 5.00 pm prompt.
Please note - NO ORDERS will be taken after this date.

Yorkshire Cross Round 1

Yorkshire Cross League Round 1 - Oakworth School

Rich Allen, Mark Turner and Mark Bradley rode, Alan took photos and barracked good naturedly.

Cross is in the house!

Rich





Mark T



Post race

New Signings...

So it's the silly season in the Pro ranks with various riders transferring, dopers being unwelcomed back into the fold (come on be fair, being ginger doesn't deserve that abuse) and the rumour mill working overtime. With that in mind following the recent successful kit order (thanks everyone for making it possible), I've some new names to introduce.

Andy Anderson - "Oh no, now I'll have to race cross"...oh yes, now you'll have to race cross. Having made that statement Andy quite easily justified it in my eyes by using cross as a way of burning off the Belgian beers... or giving him room to consume more, I can't remember which.

Andrew McPherson - Gravitating to HCtB via the virtuous route of Velocake and a very good cakey route it is. Does anyone else have misty eye nostalgic memories of coffee flavoured swiss roll? I digress.

Damon Largent - Bought a shirt, snagged a nice cross bike, all ready to race... apart from needing to fix two punctures on his first foray. Goes without saying he's feeling pumped about the whole team thing.

Gavin Long - Second year Cross campaigner. It's like your favourite band, can he surpass that breakthrough first album, will he be wearing KISS style facepaint to go with the spandex?...(spandex? sorry I meant Lycra and was getting all carried away).

Jason Miles - endurance racer who's probably ridden more in one race than some of us have ridden all year. Racing 8, 12, 24 (and more) it's all there... hours that is... I'll repeat that HOURS! He's a wrong un, well, maybe a right un as we might be able to learn something from him that's for sure. Fair play, Chapeau!

Jonathan Day - If you need a set of wheels consider giving Jonathan's site a perusal. Jon's getting his business, STRADA WHEELS, up and running and his handbuilt wheels look worthy of our interest. Welcome to the gang.

Mark Bradley - An Enigma. Can I buy a shirt? Yes. Here's your money. Thanks.

Murat Tasan - I'll admit it. Initially we were inspired by HUP United's style and antics...and now we converge. Murat, HUP rider and Boston, USA (soon to be Toronto, CA) resident joins the team. He made reference to Ex girlfriends, log distance classic riding and style in his emails so sounds like a strong candidate for the VDB character on the team. If the white oversocks and cut off cap comes out to play we know we need to employ a head doctor.

He's giving D2R2 a shot this year. I'm quietly jealous.

Nick Jardine - Another enigma. Greetings to the little isle from the big island... How's it? I feel like we're on Dog the bountyhunter. Actually we aren't and Nick's on the Isle of Wight. So there.

Richard Knowles - A strong rider with the air of just turning up and riding, without the sufferance of training miles...only to leave you behind. I know, I got left behind.

Russell Robson - Off to ride some Flandrians bergs, or so I've been told... make sure you tell us some more.

Steven Treanor - Is single speed cross a good idea?... Any cross is a good idea in our books. Welcome on board.

So there we have it, I need a sit down and a tea with 2 sugars. Blimey.

Team Kit - Autumn/Winter 2010

Here we go, winter kit with a more dirt friendly colour scheme. Expect to see this colour way tearing through the mud this winter.

PRICES:

Shortsleeve shirt: £38.50

Longsleeve shirt: £45.00

TechFleece Jersey: £62.00

ThermoShield/TechFleece Jacket: £76.00

ThermoShield Jacket: £87.50

Gilet: £37.00

Wind Jacket: £47.00

Bibshort: £50.00

3/4 Bib Knicker: £60.00

3/4 Fleece Bib Knicker: £67.50

Fleece Bibtight (no pad): £71.00

Skinsuit short sleeve: £73.50

Skinsuit Long sleeve: £78.50

Skinsuit Cylocross (fleece): £95.00

Euro style race cap: £8.50

Order book closes Wednesday 11th August 5.00 pm prompt - Be late, lose out.

Chasing Back On...

I think I now understand my role in this Road/Classic/Cyclocross microcosm. It's the one of the rider we've all seen on TV, off the back, chasing back on. Not through lack of form or deep suffering either. It's the rider who's befallen one of the banana skins that dog our world. Maybe caught behind a crash and fallen in a ditch, a flat tyre just before the Koppenberg or maybe standing behind the level crossing as the breakaway disappears into the distance and the train roars along the tracks.

Bearing this in mind I'd like to introduce another new team member (something I should have done a few weeks ago - chasing on geddit?). So welcome onboard to Jemma Nurse, cross and mountainbike rider, South Wales resident and wife of team member Simon.

Jemma's currently sporting the red summer kit and I can't decide whether it was a case of Simon ordering the wrong size kit or a cunning plan by Mr Nurse to double the female presence on the team. Whichever, it's great to have you riding in our kit.

There...Bridged back on.

Family...

As we wait with baited breath for our new kit to arrive (not long now as I do a little dance to the lords of far east manufacturing) I'd like to take the opportunity to introduce some new team members. Some names you won't know, some names you might. I think we may be in the process of becoming a family, as our blog worlds converge.

So here goes...in no particular order.

First up is Philip Malcolm. Cockermouth (Cumbria UK) resident and soon to be organiser of our next ride around the seldom used lanes of Cumbria. Seldom used because they're a harsh ride I suspect.

Ben Rathmell...or Paper Thin Ben in his blog alter ego. Rider, Racer, LBS worker and photographer. See convergence - I told you so.

Next up are two Gents from across the pond. Michael Fox of Tallahassee, Florida and David Watts of Charlotte, North Carolina. Two Gents that like to ride and hopefully will give us an insight to Stateside riding.

Welcome also David Watts of Solihull. Expect to see a HCTB stickered Uncle John around the Birmingham area - I know...I need to send him the stickers.

Finally welcome Mike Mulroy of Velocake fame. A manchester expat now living in Cornwall with a love of the bike, good coffee and good cake. A kindred spirit.

So there we go. Told you we're becoming a family.

Interlude

I've had this vid a couple of weeks but with Al's call to action still fresh I thought it best to let the RVOL post simmer for a while. So here it is the foolishness that was Hit the North....

And I still don't get it.

Chapeau to Al for his podium position...and he even had to fight for it even after the Lantern Rouges had long finished.

Thanks to Simon Fox and son Will for the chance to post it.

Hit the North 2010

We came, we raced, we got loads of shouts and we got muddy - full report to come.....

In the meantime here's a great portrait of Mark post race, courtesy of Richard Seipp/qwertyphoto:



I think he might be saying "Now someone remind me, exactly why did I agree to do this?...."

Race, Rest, Rebuild...and race again.

I'll be honest, I'm enjoying a little down time. The cross season is all but over, the intervals have pretty much finished and a return to steady mileage and exploration can be enjoyed.

Like all good squadra we keep adding team members. II'd like to introduce Simon Fox as our latest team member. A north westerner with an eye for cyclocross and a passion for the 3 peaks, expect to see him out and about when the going gets rough.

He also turns his hand to recording the moving image as can be seen here.

Race again... A splattering of us will be riding Hit the North tomorrow and I have a feeling Simon may catch our antics on film.

I'm off for a St. Tropez just in case.

Stronger and stronger...

The truth is no news is good news. I haven't become a recluse or given it all up, nope, just working like a beast behind the scenes to get stuff done, kit ordered, new kit styled, training done and racing thrown in for good measure.

In the meantime I'd like to introduce new team member Oliver Wright. Sheffield based, with an eye on a few classic sportives (Cheshire Cat, Lakeland Loop and Fred Whitton) and forays into road racing he looks to ideally complement our growing number.

He also has a hand in organising, with a Peak District Audax to be found here and here.

Surely our numbers will start to resemble a pro squadra, wonder when we'll get a wildcard.

A snapshot of Haslingden

Jo has been out with her camera again. Great shots as ever.........

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hanglebads/sets/72157622768718765/



"That's not the way you do it, you want to do it like this....."


"Rich can't get enough of that superman thing........and he appears to be riding in a random direction too"


"The tarmac finish straight and none of the 3 riders in shot are riding...."

"Tire pressure blah blah, bike change blah blah, did you see blah blah"

Caption Competition!

This was too good to let it get away........

Rich has been racing in Myrtle Park, Bingley and was captured by his devoted wife Jo.

Use the comments section below to leave your witty, abusive or plain off the wall caption.



"Rich's childhood obsession with Superman took on a new and unexpected twist"......

Interview with crossjunkie - Sporza TV Far-Out Show

Ok, I promise this is the last one. Unlike Big Brother, I will retire at the top of my game, the genre intact......

Crossjunkie talks tubs, tread patterns and about his passion for the tubular:

http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/5694019

3 is a magic number...

Onward and Upward, Team Here Come the Belgians continues to expand at a rate of knots, a pure tidal wave of black & white, crushing all before it after the whistle goes.

First of all introducing Andy Parker. Cross and Kassein connoisseur from the East UK Region. Keep an eye out for forays into France and Belgium to rid the bumpy stuff, drink and eat Frites. Oh, how we expect words and pictures!

Our next two team members consolidate our truly international appeal. Here Come the Belgians welcome Maury Long, Californian native to the fold. We can only display our envy of your weather and scenery, but rain can't kill you* and it will only make us stronger.

Wolfram Kollig becomes our first representative in Germany. A first hand knowledge of Gent and it's delights mean he's well at home in the black & white.

Here's hoping we see some international photo journalism.

Let's go riding!

*ok,ok, riding naked in rain with subzero temperatures may result in hypothermia which may result in an early demise.