XC Feed Zone Stand Photos

1. This was the stand in its first testable format - the beech joint at the top will be replaced with the 3D print and a different cage mount will be used to support two cages.

 2. As the 3D printed component was not yet ready, the beech joint was used again, however the cage mount is here and the stand supports both bottles.

 3. An exploded view of the tripod assembly.

4. Close-up of the pin and slot of the height adjust mechanism. The pin slides in the slot and you just lift and twist to set the height of the stand - there a 5 heights.

 5. Another view of the height adjust mechanism

6. The tripod assembly on the workshop floor. Holes for pegs are visible in the feet.

7. The stand supporting two bottles (OK I know they are half full but I can't peg it into ashphalt...) 

8. Close-up of the tipod connector (It's not green, the light was funny)

9. Close-up of the bottle cage mount. The larger hole fits the tube and the cgaes fit in the holes and grooves to stop them from rotating.

10. Cages fitted into the cage mount. 

If you want to see any more photos of different parts of the stand, post a message on XC Racer.

Thanks,

Kim

Winter Training

Winter training is going well, this is the first time I've written a proper plan and stick to it. Weekly riding time is up to 6 hours, I'd like to get more long rides in but with college commitments, this is about as good as it will get at the minute. I'm feeling fitter than ever and increasingly ready for a great season this year!

The dates and venues for the Southern XC series have been announced (they are on the website). QECP looks to be a good round - my home race of you like! I'm planning to get up there as much as possible for plenty of climbing practice. Also looking good are the Wasing and Crow Hill round, I really liked the courses last year and hope I can go faster this year! Checkendon and Porridgepot Hill are new venues for me so it will be good to race somewhere new.

See you on the trails,

Kim

New Year New Start

To kick off 2014 I've been planning some of the things I want to achieve this year and making a list of events I want to compete in. The number one goal is the get into university - but spending all my time doing A-levels will drive me mad. I'm still undecided whether I want to spend most of my year on the water or on riding a bike - I'll probably split it between the two and end up incredibly busy and forget that I should probably schedule time for revision and school work...

Sailing

After last year more time sailing is definitely a priority! My boat is in need of some love - paint needs stripping and replacing, foils need some attention and some of the fitting need replacing. Since I'm not sure what the yacht situation will be next year (owner is selling the boat) I want to spend more time in my Europe but also try my hand at sportsboat sailing.It's something I've not really done yet and I also want to learn some new skills on a boat (perhaps I'll give trimming a go!). A definite target is the Europe nationals, other commitments meant we missed them last year so I really want to race them and at least one of the traveller events. My club racing also needs more commitment - I had good results this year but wasn't racing often enough to translate the results into series wins.

Cycling

Racing XC last year was great fun - big learning curve, lots of friendly new people and great racing - I'm definitely going to do it again this year. I also want to ride in new places and complete different events; my sights are set on some MTB sportive style rides as well as a 2 or 4 hour endurance race (bit of training required there!). The one ride I really want to do is the round the harbours bike ride in Portsmouth for the British Heart Foundation. It's local and every year we say we will try and do it but sailing commitments end up on the same weekend. The ride is not particularly challenging but we've said we'd do it for so long that it seems now is the time to do it! The BHF are also organising a 35 mile along the South Downs way which is also on the list.  Another challenge will be a road sportive - I have a spot at the New Forest Cycletta event this year which should be good fun. I'm still coming across rides that I want to do, the next challenge will be fitting them in!

The final aim for this year is to update this blog more frequently. It's working in harmony with my aim of a training diary that will be filled in daily. Last years attempt at recording training was good but I didn't do it daily so big chunks of the year are missing. I also started recording my sailing but that was even less frequent. Keeping a log of everything I get up to is my number one priority and number 2 is finding lots of things to get up to!


All the best for the new year, 

Kim