LATEST:
15/01/07
14.27: Lots been happening here on the cartoon front, but not cycling-related, I'll be trying to post some new work soon. In the meantime I'm nursing a sore back!
20/11/06
18.30: Last two club rides have been to Appledore (well led by Doug) about 81 miles, and most recently to the Garden Centre near Tenterden, grateful for a lift with Stef back to Mereworth, only 70ish miles but I was cream-crackered, time of year maybe? Once I've recovered properly think I'll try to get out for a logish ride mid-week to build up my stamina!
3/11/06
19.39: Inspired by Martyn please take a look at the latest cartoon.
Local paper has asked me to do a regular weekly slot (not about bikes, just a general cartoon on local issues).
29/10/06
18.20: Wow, so many punctures and all on poor Dave. Excellent ride nontheless and made it to West Malling for coffee, cakes and cold baked beans(!). Back to Marden and on home for a respectable 80plus miles at reasonable average speed.
24/10/06
20.05: Cartooning taking back seat as I have a lot of design work on at moment (which pays!). Hope to get on to the drawing board later in the week.
21/10/06
18.00: Great ride to Sandhurst, near Beckley in Kent during which I had my first puncture in ages, and the first in my Michelin Carbon tyres which up until now have proved bullet-proof, thanks to Dave for fixing it (why does he do that? Not complaining though!). Excellent café at Sandhurst called Harriers – cooked breakfast with limitless tea or coffee for under four quid I think! Got home at 3.30pm, 85 miles at about 15.5mph.
14/10/06
17.07: Hilly ride led by David who took us up some of the steeper gradients including Hollingbourne on the way to Great Chart Golf Club, then on to Bethesden garden centre café because the Golf Club was very slow serving today. 90+ miles at average of 15.5mph (coming home through Plaxtol was rather slow, though aided by High 5 Gel and a can of Red Bull, didn't quite give me wings but did give me a bit of a lift). The club ride itself would have been a bit faster, but my slowish ride in and home brings the average down a bit. 'Man of the Ride' had to be Dave Pearson who not only got to the top of most of the hills first, but also pulled us along for much of the day.
12/10/06
09.15: Well, yesterday proved interesting.
A local business man and a potential client has spent many years developing a board game - very clever and interesting concept (confidential for obvious reasons). In my opinion it needs a lot of development, in terms of branding and graphics to make it ready for the market. This is an incredibly competitive and difficult market to get into, one needs every advantage possible, the odds of sucess for any given board game are still incredibly low. Watch this space!
Spent the evening lying face-down on a massage table being anointed with frankincense and marjoram oils, hope it will make all the difference to my cycling this week!
9/10/06
20.39: It's been a difficult day but finally got the latest cartoon (World of Water) completed and on-line.
8/10/06
09.11: Yesterday's club ride was from Marden in Kent to Bodiam Castle near Robertsbridge, East Sussex in the south-east of England. Lovely bright day that started a bit chilly but warmed up as the morning progressed. The National Trust cafe sells some great sausage rolls and bacon pastries, and top-notch coffee, one or two complaints about the prices, but that's cyclists for you! At least it's going to a good cause. I notched up about 70-odd miles, for the first time ever I got a lift from Marden back to Mereworth which made the journey a bit shorter. Got several ideas for cartoons and illustrations on the go, so should post some more stuff soon!
5/10/06
19.51: Just got back from the Cycle show at Excel. Very good, well worth a visit, especially the Condor stand (very tempted by a new Pista!).
4/10/06
22.52: Thought the club strip designed by Olley might be interesting to see...
10.05: Just uploading latest cartoon, about the cycle show. Inspired by lyrics from the song written by Brenda Russell and sung by Oleta Adams "Get Here". It's been difficult this one, because I wanted to get it online before the cycle show starts.
I've drawn a cartoon this week for the local paper (don't know yet if they're using it). It's about the closure of the local cinema/theatre where people are hoping it will re-open.
Click
on image to see the full cartoon.
2/10/06
9.45: Just updated the site to include 'work in progress', not much to show this morning but it will grow. This week is the Cycle Show so lots going on.
Saturday's club ride was to the excellent Forge tea/antique shop in Appledore for bacon butties or Full English Breakfast! Total of slightly hilly 95miles at a blustery 16.1mph. Still using the new High 5 Carb/Protein mix and definitely think it's got the edge on the normal sticky energy drinks. Had to get back quick as realised was going to be late for the cinema (managed to not fall asleep). Ended up in Wagamamas for a bowl full of Japanese Chilli Ramen. Nice to be in London again and wonderful sight looking at all the the lights from Waterloo bridge.
29/9/06
11.32: Posted completed cartoon 'The Bells'. Think this is a bit more subtle than previous two, so be interesting to hear the reaction! Club ride tomorrow, so planning a big lunch soon!
28/9/06
10.04: Interesting parking! My wife witnessed this the other day, and the local rag has published this picture of the incident!
Click
on image to see the full story.
26/9/06
20.58: Posted first strip of 'The Bells'. It's a different sort of thing to the last two, so be interesting to see the comments. It's meant as commentary on, oops can't give it away yet! Post a comment, join the appreciation list (and win a signed original sketch), then wait to hear when the rest of the cartoon is on line!
24/9/06
18.36: Just changed 'The Chase' back to my original sexist ending, decided I prefer it!
12.48: Yesterday was SFACC club ride. Met with my usual group at Marden and was taken by leader Dave Law on fantastic round trip to Dunorlan Park, Tunbridge Wells via Bewel Water. Day started grey and misty but soon sun appeared and was bright and sunny for rest of day. Clocked up relatively modest 61miles at 16.1mph by the time got back to Marden. That mean't 82miles at 15-something mph by the time I'd climbed up the hill on the way home.
Ride was eased by new High 5 Carb/Protein mix (much more palateable then usual sticky energy drink). Also High 5 gel gave much needed boost 15 miles from home. The last hill is always a slog, so anything that gets me home in a more refreshed state is appreciated!
SFACC is one of the very best and friendliest clubs around. Highly experienced Dave Law is always there to guide and help out, I'm proud to ride with them. One more thing, they've got a great new strip to wear.
23/9/06
04.26am: Woke up thinking of the last line in my cartoon strip 'The Chase', it's too sexist and sets the wrong tone for cycling (thanks to Simon Notley for helping to point this out). On the right you'll see the new ending (colour) with the old (b&w). Better, I think.
22/9/06
9.22am: As of today I've been scribbling away trying to finish 'The Chase' cartoon strip. I quite like the way it's turned out, think I'm getting something out of my system with this one. It's a bit sexist maybe, but I wanted to comment somehow on the hopelessly inadequate sentences that bad drivers often get away with. The irony is that it's very difficult to report a bad driver, because one is asked for independent witnesses. If it's just you on a bike, you're lucky if you even get the driver's registration plate!
10.49am: Worked out the idea for next strip, it's going to be very different to the last two, so look out for it next week.
11.33am: Just remembered, I was trying to find out from Kent County Council exactly why our local village school's year 6 pupils did not get Cycle Proficiency Training this year. Some schools seem to get it and others not. There is a shortage of trainers in the area, but really, to think that kids are not getting trained, it's not good, especially when KCC boasts on its website of offering training to every year 6 pupil*.
More will follow in time. Thanks for looking and come back soon!
* They've now changed the website.
