All Play and No Work Makes Steve A Greedy Sod

Monday 8th August 2016

I remember sitting on a high ledge at Addingham Moorside in Yorkshire, watching an elite biketrials rider making light work of a rocky outcrop in a British Championship Round and asking myself: Why would you want to sit in your room writing poetry when you can be here watching these incredible athletes, or even having a go yourself in the novice section?

These days I’m under no illusions. The mind lasts longer than the body. But only just. It was good to check out the terrain in Castleside quarry this afternoon, but I’m as keen to read the new Julia Eff pamphlet as I am to take a bike on a bit of an old blokey scramble course.

We’re all getting older. Even Lydia Lunch is reading from the page these days. And nationally recognized university writing tutors are disguising their own self-disgust by displacing criticisms of academia to the third person.

It’s been a good day. I got the grass cut. Tomorrow, of course, will be even better. Okay, out of here. 11.20 pm.

Tuesday 9th August 2016

Rough as hell when I woke up this morning. Went to the bathroom feeling dizzy at half seven then back to bed for a few hours. Slept again this afternoon after looking at bike frames on my tablet. Didn’t start to feel better till early evening. Got myself a chicken rendang  from a can with rice. Going to heed the advice of well wishers from earlier this month and take it easy – not going in to Cambian Appletree tomorrow. Having said that, I managed to read three chapters of theory this evening and try out an exercise; but with nothing planned for a demanding session, I think it’s best I give myself a full rest from facilitation… Good to see Pashley and Leeson trials bikes online tonight; and footage from the 2003 Red Bull Bike Battle. Me and brother Mark were at that event in Nottingham. Thirteen years have flown by. 11.47 pm.

Wednesday 10th August 2016

Rang Cambian to say I wouldn’t be in for session, then had a late breakfast and watched some amazing Chris Akrigg bike videos online and found a cool interview about his custom-build trials frame. It looks like a regular 15 inch mountain bike frame with short curved rigid forks, riser bars, a seat and single-speed granny ring… I went out on my trials bike this afternoon. The quarry was muddy and the ride was shite. I can’t do any of the stuff I used to do just five years ago. And the stuff I was capable of ten years ago seems like the actions of another person, even though I’ve got the pix to prove it was me… Keyed in a page and had a shave this evening. Frustrated with myself and the limitations of the body. Head starting to hurt. Can’t wait to be back in bed. 10.10 pm.

Thursday 11th August 2016

Really feeling a resistance to creativity these last couple of days. Managed to get next month’s Poetry Jam poster knocked up and made a print out of the ‘Never Mind the Ramones #3’ set for a week on Saturday; sorted some HMRC stuff on the phone and the rest of the time I’ve just been enjoying bike videos. Downhill, urban, freeride, trials. Chris Akrigg is my favourite rider at the moment. He can do trials on any bike. Even one with no brakes. His riding is some of the most dangerous stuff I’ve ever seen. Cliffs, rooftops, tree-trunks. And he rides good fluid lines. Aggressive but smooth as well. I got to see him on a few occasions at Addingham, Brimham Rocks and, I think Nottingham, in the noughties. The guy is thirty-eight now and still going strong. Watched some Jeff Lenosky clips as well. He’s nine months younger than me and still awesome. Makes you sick! But seriously, great stuff. Brilliant! 11.25 pm.

Friday 12th August 2016

Finally! After weeks of waiting. I got out on the Lush Pinnacle longboard in Blackhill and Consett Park today and it was excellent. At a retail price of £269.00 it should be. I would never pay that much though; it cost me a hundred. It’s definitely an improvement on my pintail deck. Enjoyed starting from scratch and taking it easy on the gentle slopes. But felt much more confident with the wider trucks and longer wheelbase, better kicktail. Was out about ninety minutes on it. Didn’t want to come home… This afternoon I went into Newcastle, bought some birthday presents… Got my groceries at Consett, bought Writing magazine, came home and ordered the new Julia Eff zine tonight. Watched more Chris Akrigg vids, bit of online research then another look at 15-inch ‘jump/slalom’ trials-substitute frames. If I get a windfall I’d love a frame custom built by Curtis but they cost a fortune. Maybe I should play the lottery. 11.38 pm.

Saturday 13th August 2016

Okay, so a bit more focus on work today. More research reading for autumn sessions. Keyed in some words, did a piece of feedback to Vandem Longboard Shop about the new set-up. Watched amateur footage of Madonna’s entire Rebel Heart show from last year. Don’t know how she does all the moves at 57. Good show. 10.50 pm.

Sunday 14th August 2016

Read some of Best British Short Stories 2016. Brilliant stuff from Stuart Evers and Robert Sheppard. Went out on the Giant STP bike. Don’t like the suspension though. Didn’t have a good ride. The sooner I can switch to rigid forks the better. Finding compatible bits and pieces to build the rig the way I want is a pain – lots of time at the computer. Watched some more Chris Akrigg videos this evening. Got to put a full week of work in as of tomorrow. 11.35 pm.