Sketchy.

But the new Crud Roadracer mudguards work a treat.

The best laid schemes o' mice an' men...

Gang aft a-gley.

Renner Location (Part 2).

Finally got some time to work on more of the Renner photographs that i shot last month.

Not as bad as predicted...

..but my route ideas for the week commencing December 23rd aren't going to plan so far.

Phonecamera.

Meadowbank Project, Winter.

Dan Tag (a slight digression).

It's only been two days of non-hospitable bike weather and my mind is starting to wander, not that you could skate in this weather either mind you. Found this while digging for a present.

Dan Tag photographed at Livingston Skatepark in the early 1990's.

The Meadowbank Velodrome Project.

Just bought a domain name and hosting package for my Meadowbank project in anticipation of an upcoming article in issue five of the The Ride Journal. Holding page only so far, www.themeadobankvelodromeproject.co.uk .

Reconnaissance.

Mill climb a beauty from the south John, cheers.

Thanks...

...to Hugh at The Tri Centre, Ayesha and Jill at Amber Arts and my art-collecting Ironman benefactor.

Winter Bike Time.

On Tour, Bradley Wiggins (Photographs By Scott Mitchell).

When it was first mentioned that there was a possibility of me getting my sneaky hands on a book to review i was flattered but a few things crossed my mind, the first being that i am a photographer not a writer, would i have the credentials to comment on anything other than that. Two, would i be able to put aside my prejudices about Team Sky and Bradley Wiggins, i've always been a fan of Spanish climbers, Belgian hardmen and crazy lone attackers (read Vino, oh lord forgive me for my sins), not superteams. And three, what if i didn't like it, would i be able to stick to my morals and tell the truth?

Thankfully, once inside, i was instantly visually attracted to the book, black background double page spreads, jumping to white with room for the photographs to breathe and then into a slightly chaotic mix. I enjoyed the look of it and the further i delved the more it jumped around and it made me think this is what i imagine the Tour is like, organized chaos. The photographs are stunning, just how Scott managed to capture what he has without an official press pass is beyond belief. Apart from capturing Bradley Wiggins tour he has managed to somehow be at the right place at the right time to document many of the iconic moments of this years tour, Lance suffering, Contador climbing behind Schleck with a look of pain in his face, Cav's last burst in Paris, and also many other images which have nothing to do with racing but are just as important to build the story of the Tour, i could go on.

Bradleys story is equally as interesting and refreshing given the fact that he did not fullfil the dream of a podium place, although failure is not a word that i would use. At first i wondered whether a straight daily diary of his Tour could hold my attention to read in one go as i only had the book for a day, i am a photographer remember, however like the visual layout it tends to jump from personal diary to insight on many other things Tour related, then back, organised chaos again? I loved the fact that he dosen't hold back on naming names and dosen't agree with certain unwritten peloton rules, i loved the fact that he admits that he got things wrong personally, i loved the fact that he agrees that there is a place in the Tour for crazy days of chance like the pave, i loved the fact that he admits he got things wrong from a teambuilding point of view and i loved the fact that he admits he has a soft spot for Stephane Auge.

As far as i know the idea for the book was Bradleys own and what has been achieved is something that lives up to the Tour books of yore that he admits to enjoy leafing through himself. Basically i loved the book and i will be going out to buy a copy even though i know a man i could probably blag a copy from, however i feel it would be unjust to not mention a couple of things that are nagging at me. I don't know Bradley Wiggins personally but what i saw of his tv interviews from last years Tour he seemed extremely passionate and firey as opposed to the more measured Bradley from this years interviews, this also comes across in the writing, personally i enjoyed that fire but i admit you can't judge someones character based on tv interviews conducted seconds after stage finishes. Also from a photographers point of view there seems to be quite an inconsistency in the reproduction of the images from a tone and contrast point of view, that being said the book is still worth more than the fifteen quid that it costs.

One other thing i loved was the fact that i spent four hours in the sunshine on my bike with Scott today, oops, does that give away how i managed to get my hands on a copy pre-release. On Tour is available to buy tomorrow.

Top photograph of Bradley Wiggins courtesy of Scott Mitchell.

Renner Location.

Renner Studio.

The last few weeks have been spent indoors and off the bike but at least todays indoor stint was bike related. Renner website coming soon... ish... hopefully.

Sunday Best.

Ok I was way out with the worlds result but delighted for Hushovd none the less. And in another show of power lets just say the MTS Cyclesport Kinesis guys were ...dominant. Great day of cross at Meadowmill.

Silver!

I love when Millar sets his heart on something and gives it everything even when it doesn't work out, performances like that seem to justify why i continue to follow professional cycling amid all the controversy. Talking of controversy i would have gone for Vino trying a breakaway near the end on Sunday but he's not on the start list so i'll go all patriotic and say Hunt and Millar working themselves to the bone for a Cavandish win. ...mmm those climbs don't look easy though.

David Millar photographed at The Tour of Britain 2008.

Worlds photo by Roberto Bettini, cyclingnews.com.

Next...

First cross race of the official season at Meadowmill this coming Sunday. Shame the organisers didn't consider the multi genre fan when they placed the event on the same day as the Mens Elite World Championship road race. Maybe i'll not bother flying to Austrailia after all.

Something Borrowed.

I've spent the last couple of weeks perusing an intimate portrait of Belgium by photographer Stephan Vanfleteren who i first heard of in the pages of Rouleur magazine. Although the subject matter is none too uplifting it is one of the most inspirational books i've seen in a long time, reminiscent of when i first saw In our Time by the Magnum photographic collective. Thanks Dave.

Image and quote from Belgicum by Stephan Vanfleteren.

Inside The Outskirts.

I've a couple of my Meadowbank shots in a group show at Amber Arts in Abbeyhill, all welcome.

Meadowbank Project, Tifosa.

Track league finished for the season, until next year then...

Nocturne Revisited.

I just can't help getting the old FM2 out.

Meadowbank Project, Last Light (in colour).

For Steve.

Eventually.

Phonecamera.