Sierra Nevada

Hello,
Well myself, Ali, Ash, Mel, Tom, Jimi T and Skates are back from Spain which quite frankly was superb. The area is fantastic with the cool city of Granada and the Sierra Nevada Mountains within about 25mins of each other. 5 days was spent exploring the area under the guide of Ali who learned the trails during his time with Ford over there. Definitly heading back soon.

Social Change

How about this?

Step 1. Calculate the level of emissions that Man can produce without contributing to global warming. Call this level the Emissions Ceiling.

Step 2. Identify a country that currently produces at the Emissions Ceiling.

Step 3. Impose global laws to bring about forced regression of development on all countries currently above the ceiling level to bring them down to the level of the country identified in Step 2.

Step 4 (optional). Provide (genuine) development aid to all countries significantly below the ceiling level to bring them up to the ceiling.

Result. All the world's nations live equitably and we no longer have to worry about global warming.

Prognosis. Not gonna happen. Those of us who live in the First World are no way going to be prepared to reduce our standard of living to one which is compatible with life at the Emissions Ceiling, perhaps one comparable to today's Tanzania.

Necessity is the mother of invention, and in our predominant capitalist world ('our' as in 'belonging to those of us who are fortunate enough to, by choice, live in and benefit from it, as opposed to those who are oppressed by it or slaves to it') necessity means 'economic necessity'. Until a solution to global warming is economically imperative, the policy tinkers and often misinformed, often half-hearted (though laudable) individual efforts will do nothing to reduce our emissions and change our society to the benefit of our planet.

Having said that, it doesn't mean that we should stop our misinformed and half-hearted efforts. Perhaps the global warming phenomenon is a genius ruse created by some social philanthropist who wants us all to rediscover the adventure in overland travel (rather than the teleportation of air travel), or to get all the fat people walking and riding bikes rather than using 4x4s. This is certainly my hope!

Ridin - no pics

Ok, what a great weekend for weather.
Friday - went shopping
Saturday - rode in Swinley, managed to do a step down i have done once before, but had the fear after i landed it front wheel first and rolled on the front whell for 10 metres, so, 3 months later i have done it. on my 4x bike, its frightening, shoots you up in the air and down in to a left hand corner so a bit of a hip. really nice and glad to have got that done. then i just rode lots of local trails with a friend. Was nice, fast trails and good traction. then went shopping in london for my sisters wedding

Sunday, ran and then rode with the girlfriend.

Monday, went to the Bull track in kent. It was fun. an ok DH track but then jump city, lots and lots of trails, managed al most all the trails, they were all at least 10 in a row, ranging from super small and tight, really tech landings and no time for the next. that was great, the flow once i had them dialled was really nice. just went in slow.

then a much bigger set with some sniper landings, but they were easier

i saved my self something for next time... a huge 10-15, gap... (i think) i have done one that size before in FOD a few times, but this was much more built up. so i am going to try next time, annoyed i didnt do it.

good to ride after hurting my back, neck and head last week. and good to ride both long travel bikes and hard tails

now hopefully i have found someone to swap by session for a 224.

All Change!

"....I feel like i'm riding on the back of a tandem at the moment, furiously working away, getting somewhere but not quite in control of what is going on!....."

Since my last entry i have been continuing to consume the earths natural resources by commuting 100miles a day. Combining that with flights up to Preston twice a month I have been going out of my way to really give mother earth a good kicking.

Whether I agree or disagree with Global Warming i don't know. I think its hyped up beyond belief and after watching the Global Warming Swindle program I thought, yeah, they've got a point.

However I also think these programs are obviously biased to make you think that way. After watching Loosechange 9/11 i thought the whole World Trade Center collapse was a controlled explosion and the whole American Government should face the death penalty. After watching the Global Warming Swindle I thought that the government were theifing bastards for all the "green taxes" and i'm off out to buy a 4x4 to really show my contempt at the knee jerk reactions of the media!

Whether they are right or wrong, to be honest it makes no odds. The main issue really is that this doesn't excuse our generation depleating the earths resources like we do and anything we can do to minimise pollution has to be a good thing right?

Well, i'm getting there. This afternoon I am walking into my bosses office and handing in my notice. I have been fortunate enough to find a job closer to home, with a great company and a career jump with pay rise. Its taken time believe me! Its worth holding out for though, there have been a number of occasions over the past 6 months where i've nearly taken a job because it met some of my criterion but not all. I'm glad i waited.

So combined with moving on from the company i have been with since i graduated, starting a new career elsewhere, I have also suddenly found that i have agreed to move in with my girlfriend, my flat is on the market and we have had an offer accepted on a new house. I feel like i'm riding on the back of a tandem at the moment, furiously working away, getting somewhere but not quite in control of what is going on. The house is awesome. Lovely 3 bed early 1900's house right in the centre of town. The temptation to get excited is hard to fight. Anyone who is familiar with the house buying/selling process in England will appreciate that a lot of things can and all to often do go wrong.

So anyway, watch this space. Hope everyone has a fantastic easter.

Matt.

Global Warming

I actually do not know where to stand on this. To me it seems that there is a lot of a misinformation and supposition. If it is true then we should be ok as it will become more difficult to access our reserves and people will be more inclined to buy efficient cars, especially with the price of fuel. After reading Freakonomics i think we stand in good stead of getting out ok. Either fuel prices need to decrease or consumption must decrease and this will incentivise to use less use regardless of global warming, we will not be ablt to keep it up economically.

Regardless, reducing emissions is a great thing, breathing becomes easier and less chance of things like cancer.

What can one person do to reduce "global warming" if it is CO2 based? I for one could reduce but the world needs 1000's of me. So will this ever happen? Not through want/benefit of the planet but to keep ourselves alive, we are a selfish mammal, our impact is larger than any other but that is also just natures way, we are all out to survive.

We could talk aboout where did it all start, Big Bang / God?