SkipRatt mountain bike blog

Well winter is truly upon us and with the chill of winter comes the cough's, colds and runny noses of the season...and that's without thinking about the different Flu viruses that we need to avoid.

So what can we actually do for the common cough/cold that will help us without putting loads of artificial chemicals into our bodies which may not work and often have those nasty side effects??

Well one very good step to take is ginger and garlic...now I know this may not be to everyone's liking and it is possible to go into a shop and buy 'Odourless garlic capsules' or 'Essence of ginger', however I find that eating the natural stuff is actually a lot better as it has all of the nutrients there and nothing is lost in the processing.

I take one clove of garlic to the same amount of fresh root ginger..chop it finely and add a teaspoon of butter/marge and then it can be spread on bread, toast, crumpets...added to mash, put on jackets....or any way you fancy trying it. What I have given you are basic proportions but I do tend to make up a large batch in one go and then store it in the fridge (an airtight container is best....believe me on this one!!) It will keep for about 10-14 days no problem.

I have started taking this on a daily basis and I find that I am managing to ward off many of the cold viruses that are flying around the factory at work.

Another thing that you can do is, if you have a sore throat or feel a little chesty try honey and lemon juice in boiling water, It may sound not quite to your liking but it is basically lemsip without the chemicals. Honey and lemon steeped together in boiling water create natural anti-biotic properties which will help soothe the throat and chest. The benefits of making your own instead of drinking a lemsip, (or something similar) Is that you can drink it as often as you want without worrying about painkillers in it, and also you can take painkillers on top if you are feeling really bad. The quantities for the hot drink are roughly (and don't worry there is no exact science to it...some may want it a little sweeter, some a little tarter) about a teaspoon of honey, two teaspoons of lemon juice, one cup of boiling water...double the quantities for a mug. When you have had some...it will not matter if you adapt it slightly to your own taste.

One sure thing not to do when you have cold or coughs is to add alcohol to anything you drink...sure it may sound like a great idea but the alcohol actually destroys all vitamins, minerals, and nutrients on contact so you may as well have not bothered in the first place!!

Are you ready for the all new Lapierre Zesty 714 all mountain bike? Lapierre claim the new carbon front triangle is 300g lighter than the aluminium version, as well as stiffer. Not a bad way to spend £3398.00! (at least if you can get it past the missus..lol!!)

Frame :
New Full Carbon / OST 140mm
Shock absorber :
Fox Float RP2 XV2 Boost Valve 200x57
Fork :
Fox 32FRL FIT 140mm 15mm
Headset :
Alloy Semi-Integrated Cartridge
Bottom Bracket :
Press fit
Crankset :
Shimano XT 22X32X44
Stem :
Lapierre XM 31.8X80mm
Seatpost :
Thomson Elite 31.6X367mm Black
Handlesbars :
Lapierre XC Pro Alu 31,8X680mm
Front derailleur :
Shimano Deore XT
Rear derailleur :
Shimano XTR
Brakes :
Formula RX1 180/180
Shifters :
Shimano XT
Saddle :
Fizik Gobi XM Mg
Wheel :
Shimano XT M778 UST 15mm Through-Axle
Sprocket :
Shimano HG80 9S 11X34
Tires :
Continental MKing Sport 26X2.4 / RKing 26x2.2UST
Weight :
11.7kg
Sizes :
42-46-50-54

Hello all, it's been a while since my last post due to me not being in the right mind set. Just recently I got laid off from work and I have been jumping through hoops ever since with the financial system!!

The viking challenge.........did I ride it???? Well yes and erm..... no! I rode it, but did not actually enter the event as I could not justify spending money on entry fee's with my current situation! So I joined in from the viking way and completed the 50k loop, only stopping once to take this photo. Due to not paying entry fee's I decided that I would not stop at refreshment points, (not like I ever would :)) but enjoyed flying past as others watched on! I surprised myself at how strong I felt, no knee pain in my left leg and at times riding felt fluid like. I mean I could go fast and smooth with little effort!

The whole day was very enjoyable, the weather was dry and sunny. The trails were dry and fast, I must admit though that the wind was a bugger gusting at 40mph at times heading west over the old air field!

One thing is for sure, even though I am laid off work I still have a hobby of riding mountain bikes, and now I have more time for it! (pity it does not pay the bills lol).

The Specialized Stumpjumper FSR is self proclaimed “the most well-rounded mountain bike available,” and for good reason. It utilizes a carbon frame with full suspension, and is very light and stiff. The Specialized/Fox AFR Brain rear shock with Brain Fade and adjustable rebound helps mash pedaling efficiency with bump compliance for the best ride possible. The Specialized FutureShock S140TA fork with 140-115mm adjustable travel takes care of the front end, and Roval Control SL XC wheels are lightweight but sturdy for maximum durability. DT Swiss Aerolite bladed spokes, along with the stiff and oversize axle means that the Specialized Stumpjumper FSR 2010 Mountain Bike is ready for any off road mission. Bike Reviews!!