Extreme Torque Show - Nissan, Washington.

Sunday me & Arran went to the Extreme Torque Show @ Nissan, Washington. Its the first time we have been to this event but it has been running for a few years now. There was a massive queue to get into the car park but plenty of spaces when we arrived at 10pm. Saying that there was already loads of people already there and through the gate. The queue for the cash tickets on the day was two people, the queue for pre paid tickets was 200+ people long, they had a long wait but they saved a few quid. I was £17 & Arran £8. Once past the ticket gate the show was based 100% outside so thank god it did not pour down. There was three stunt arena's - Urban - local trails lads, couple on bmx's, one doing basketball and four parkour lads from down south. Their show was canny but the trials lads could have used more of the stun stands they had out.
Extreme area - some bloke putting a Nissan on two wheels three times - not very impressive to be honest, a bloke going around in a mono wheel motor bike, this was defo not extreme in any circumstances. Four FMX riders who were getting some massive air, three stunt riders on tricked out motorbikes (similar to Dave Coates) then two of them went onto drag motorbikes, they were loud and smoking back tyres. To finish that show off was four lads in the ball cage - now they were impressive, especially when there was three on them in there at once!
Torque arena - drift cars & monster trucks. The monster trucks were impressive but only did two runs each and was over in 10mins. The red truck broke on the first show (see video clip below) as he nearly tipped it over. The drag cars where good to watch but the circuit was quite small with only three turns in.
There was a couple of local business's there but not many and a funfair with burger vans etc.
To be honest I have been and seen and will not be going again. Gate price was too expensive and by all accounts they sold 18,000 tickets by 11.30am!!! work that that out, mega £££'s.
Bikewise at the Police HQ is a better day out and way cheaper!

and here is some video clips, they might not show on some mobile devices

 

 

Fresh Goods Sunday - Park Tool BBT-90.3 - Press Fit Bottom Bracket Tool Set

I now have several bikes / frames with press fit bottom brackets - Shimano and Sram. I have only ever pressed them in and not needed to knock one out. Then Richy landed with his Scott Foil a few weeks ago and was swapping from Shimano to Sram so left him to knock it out with a socket, extension bar & hammer. It came out after a few good blows but thought to myself its about time I had the proper tool. This Park tool BBT-90.3 comes with the remover and adaptors for pressing in new cups. As you would expect from Park Tool the quality is fantastic and should last for many years to come. In use the tool is simple to use, side it in backwards and pull through bb until you hear the second click and hit the end with a hammer until bb cup comes out, turn the tool around and repeat for the otherside. The fitting cups can be used with a headset press or some threaded bar, washers/ nuts for a cheaper option.
At the time of ordering no companies in the uk had any stock or the uk distributor Madison so bought it from Acycles over in France £29.90 less top cash back and £2.99 postage if your order comes less than the free min value. The rrp is £45 so shop around. This is the second time I have purchased from them and it arrived within 3 days with no probs.

The removal tool looks just like a scaled down headset cup remover. I have added it to my drawer of ever increasing bb tools !

Here is the manufacturers blurb - "Designed to remove and install the bearings and bearing units used in BB86, BB91, BB92, Shimano Press Fit, SRAM Press Fit GXP, Race Face Press Fit and other press fit bottom bracket systems using the nominal 24mm spindle.  The BBT-90.3 tool set includes a bearing removal tool, which slides through and expands behind the bearing (like a head cup remover) so it can be tapped out with a hammer.

The BBT-90.3 also includes two installation bushings #669. Use the bushing in conjunction with an HHP-2 or HHP-3 Bearing Cup Press to press the bearings into the frame"



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Early Sunday Morning local road ride on the Nano Black inc

Firstly apologies for the lack of blogs this week but one thing or another inc excessive heat & lack of sleep has paid its toll. Yesterday I took Jane and Arran down to Whitby for the day to chill out a little, decided not to take the bikes and just have a walk around the town, up the steps to the Abbey, slot machines, fish n chips washed down by ice cream! Angus is working all weekend, again!
Today I was up at 5am with the sun blazing away so decided to go for a local road ride on the bling machine. What I did not notice was just how cold it was at 6am in the shade! Garmin was reading 8 degrees and I didn't take my warm warmers so the first half of the ride where there was no sun was chilly to say the least. The second half warmed up and by the time I got back in after 8am it was 14 degrees. The roads were lovely and quiet but still a few cars kicking around at that time of day, also a few other cyclists also out for an early morning ride. My mind and body was not in the ride at first but with the sun on my back and a couple of steep hills later I was getting more into it until I was climbing out of Coxhoe to turn right to Kelloe and a fellow cyclists come whizzing past me at probably double my speed! just great I thought, but I was steady away'ish up the hill.
I went through Crossgate, Nevilles Cross, Cock of the North, Durham, Maiden Castle, Low & High Shincliffe, Bowburn, Coxhoe, Kelloe, Quarrington Hill, Cassop, Shadforth, Sherburn Hill, Sherburn Village, Low Pittington, Carrville, Framwellgate Moor. Local 32 mile village ride I call it!
In the afternoon me and Arran went to the Extreme Torque Show @ Nissan, more on that soon