SBEDF - Day 8 - Garage Days Revisited

So, thats the first week out of the way. Sore achilies and a bit of a cold didn't prevent me from trecking across SwinDoom to the DoomRamp in sub-zero temperatures once again. This is the third DoomRamp roll in a week - a new record (but don't get me started on records...).

So, back and forward for a bit then back to dropping in, which wasn't quite as manic as last time. Still struggled to do owt at the far side but at least its a tad more controlled.

The strip lights lasted all of 40 mins before one decided to shut off as I dropped in. Feckin good timing. I think I'm going to have to bite the bullet and buy a small generator and some halogen floodlights. I can get a 750W generator is about 100 quid and the lights are pretty cheap. Just worried about the noise so I need to hear one running before I buy. Wonder if they'll fire one up in Machine Mart for me...

Anyway, out for dinner tomorrow night so it'll be a quick car park roll after work.

SBEDF - Day 6 - DoomRamp Redux

So its wet and miserable in Swindon - no change there then. Undercover or indoor choices are limited, so its back to the (lower) east side and into the garage again.

No daylight this time so rechargeable strip lights only. Quite enjoyed rolling back and forth until one of the lights went out......then another. OK. Time to call it a day but I got 45mins of rampage in and felt better about it than yesterday. Maybe SBEDF is working...?

The iPlod chose an odd selection - Dead Kennedys followed by The Doors then Deep Purple. Looks like its only shuffling the D's but it seemed to work.

Tomorrow...? Praying for some dryness so I can do a skateboard in the open air. Or I might try the works multi afterhours - but I'm expecting the security guards to be humourless. Might be worth a go though.

SBEDF - Day 5 - DoomRamp

After the arctic Cretesham experience of Saturday, today was relatively balmy at a damp +3degC. Swindon had received a covering of snow as forecast so outdoor was off-limits, which only really leaves one option - The DoomRamp.

Now me and the DoomRamp don't quite see eye-to-eye. I bought the makings of the ramp off Ebay about this time last year, then it sat in bits in my garden until I got a council garage to put it in (which now costs me over £40 a month). I reskinned it and its been operational since about April 2011. And I've used it about 4 times...but really SBEDF is an attempt to get to love the DoomRamp a bit more.

Thing is, its fairly tight in the garage and I'm a fairly novice skater. I can drop in on it but it all goes wrong on the other side. There ain't really any room for error, which of course I am quite adept at making.

So today I spent most of the hour pumping back and forth and doing the occasional turn. A few drop-ins but the lighting ain't great when its daylight outside so mostly pumping and turning. And OK I started to quite enjoy it and was feeling the pump and getting close to the coping.

But it would be much better in a less confined space. So, any of you Swindon locals reading this - if you have, or know of, a bigger space I could use, or rent, then please let me know. Decent lighting or mains electricity and preferably not damp would be best. The other side of the deal is that you can use the ramp any time you like - its a 2 1/2ft high, 6ft wide mini with about 8ft flat bottom. If I'm honest I much prefer skating with company than on my own anyway.

Let me know either email (kazz1e@ntlworld.com) or via the blog or Facebook.

Skate Badly Every Day in February - Day 4

Snow was forecast so got up and out for an early Cretesham. It was minus6degC when I left home, -7.5 showed on the car thermometer down the M4 and -4.5 when I arrived in Corsham.

The park was deserted but nice and dry. There was frost on the top of the flat back and on the coping on the small quarters. And it was ferkin bitterly cold.

Spent an hour rollin or droppin in, rock'n'roll on the very small quarter and generally skooting about. I didn't get warm at all. Managed to slam droppin in on the smallest quarter in the park. Proper over the front job but rolled out. Twat.

After an hour the skooter kids started to arrive and swarms were turning up as I drove away. Just timed it right.

Day 5 is weather dependent - dry might be an evening Cretesham, wet will be the DoomRamp.

New Vinyl

This is the first new LP I have bought in 20 years. Alec reminded me of Naz Nomad during his A-Z. I saw them play in Finsbury Park in the late 80s, but never bought the record.
Newly reissued in various vinyl colours, and black or course.

Sayonnara

Time for the Honda Civic to head to pastures new.

That only leave one Honda in the stable - C70.

Swindon Needs A Proper Skatepark

Come along and support the first fundraising event. Or just buy a ticket for a good cause.

We need to build this before my knees give out.