Graduation

Last Friday I graduated from Staffordshire University with a 2.1 in Journalism. Thinking about it I really don't know how I managed to get a decent grade. I started writing articles for IMB in December and found working for them much more fun than my modules so put everything off until the last two weeks before hand in.

I wasn't really fussed about the graduation ceremony beforehand but it actually turned out to be a really fun event. Even more fun was having a few drinks with some of my tutors afterwards and going for a night out up Hanley duck.

Video Editing

When I started putting videos together it used to take me weeks and weeks. Thankfully now it doesn't. One of my house mates taught me to be more brutal when choosing what clips to use and the best ways to link them. Now the hardest part is trying to find music to go with the riding.

I'm still using iMovie. One day I'll be able to afford a macbook pro with final cut. Until then iMovie works fine. Apart from it wouldn't load up the 'MTS' files that Pete's camera saves videos as.

If anyone knows how to convert files to '.Mov' for free without getting a massive watermark in the corner of the clip give me a shout. Here's a sneak look at the video for Winterberg. The real version will be in the next issue of IMB.

Trips Away

Holidays, I mean work trips, for the magazine are awesome. Packing isn't. This is how things were looking before my visit to the Cube headquarters in Germany. When going away the three most important things to pack are your camera charger, laptop charger and phone charger. Forget one and things get a bit tricky. Forget two and you're screwed...

And if you forget all three and your house key so you can't get in when you get home then you may as well just give up. Lesson learnt I suppose. Also if you're going to be testing bikes take your own pedals. No matter how good your shoes are you won't get any grip on plastic pedals.

Note Book

I know we're living in a world of netbooks, dictaphones and apps but having a simple notepad is seriously useful. Scribbling down a few words at the end of the day really helps when you come to doing a write up on what you've just been riding.

It doesn't matter if you're in the passenger seat of a van on the motorway or sat on a balcony overlooked by mountains. Notepads are awesome.

Winterberg Bikepark

Me and Pete got back from a five day trip to WinterBerg Bikepark yesterday afternoon. I'm about to start the write up for IMB so look out for it in the next issue. If you can't wait till August here's a quick round up:

It's amazing. So many fun tracks and all in the same place. Plus it's in Germany which is always good. Go now. And stay here.

IMB Issue 6 Out Now

Issue 6 of IMBikemag is out now so check it out here for free! This was such a nuts issue to work on. Myself and Rou went on a road trip to the Bristol BIke Fest to meet the Torq XC team then headed North to the Fort Bill World Cup. As the world cup circus packed up on the Sunday we headed even further North to ride at Laggan Wolftrax.

On the way home we stopped off for a few rides of the Fort Bill Red Run track, joining onto the Black run at the bottom. We got two runs in with the gondola then PUSHED to the top for another go! It took just over two hours to get from the bottom to the top and back. So worth it.

As well as all that I got to interview Max Commencal for our feature on Commencal Bikes, and British downhill riders Jack Reading and Thomas Braithwaite. So, click here to view the whole issue or follow the links below to see my articles:

"To the Max"

"Laggan Wolftrax"

"Torq Fitness" (warning: contains lycra)

"Jack vs Tom"

Resolutions - 6 Months In

Ok, so at the start of the year I set myself some challenges to try and improve my riding. Six months later here's a recap of how I've been getting on with them.

Learn to tabletop properly. Well, I'm about halfway there. I turn the bars the right way now which is a start. Now I've just got to work on getting the bike 'flatter'. I'll keep working on it.

Get faster. Yep. Don't want to sound bigheaded but I've managed this one. Taken a few crashes and had a few hairy moments but I've got my speed up.

Get fitter. It wouldn't have taken much to be fitter than I was on New Years Day. Gym sessions at uni, a few road rides at home and a few trips to the swimming pool have helped loads with my stamina.

Better bike maintenance. Well, my Kona is running better now than it has been for ages. In contrast my GT Moto is pretty ruined. As soon as I've got some money I'll start replacing the broken bits...

Find somewhere new to visit. Holiday to Winterberg is in a few weeks now. Had a great time riding in the peaks with IMB and have got a few more trips planned. Pretty sweet.

So there you go. Six months left to improve my tabletops and fix my Moto!

IMB Issue 5 Out Now

Issue five of IMBikemag has just gone live. It was a really fun issue to be involved with. I got to put my time in Morzine last year to use, spend a weekend riding in the Peak District and interview the owner of Solid Bikes. Check out the latest issue here, or follow the links below to my work:

"Peak District Punishment"

"Morzine Madness"

"Solid Bikes"

Foxy

A big thanks goes to Fox for sending over some kit for the trail guide at Laggan Wolftrax. I got soaked and covered in mud but it's somehow come out the washing machine looking clean and fresh.

Also check out the 'V3R' carbon helmet and 'The Main' goggles below. Look out for the reviews in a future issue of IMB.

IMB Issue 4 Out Now

Here's why I haven't updated the blog for ages. IMBikemag issue 4 is out now. Check it out and enjoy. Click here to view the whole issue or follow the links below to see my work:

"End of an era"

"Oli Beckingsale"

"Pedals"

"Go your own way"