Richard Cunynghame - Charge team blog

Pure and Right, Flat out XC

The other day I went for a ride around my local woods on my own with the tunes blaring and I tried to have a tricky corner flat out, it goes off camber half way through and then a slight uphill exit to it. Obviously with the slight rise it was important to carry the speed, then I realised, I was treating it just as important as a corner in a Downhill run. I was just out hacking about on my own and it felt so imperitive that I got it as perfect as possible that I stopped studied the corner and sectioned it a few times, looked at different lines and eventually got it so fast that I just power wheelied out of it.

I got sucked into the same on the very next corner which had a mound right on the apex and a root halfway through the line I wanted. I normally ride my Duster hard but now I'm getting even more agro on it. Everytime I go for an XC ride I'm gonna section the tracks just the same as I do at Downhill tracks, it's mega, I have no suspension and there's an added factor that their might be some uphill. Makes it tougher but so rewarding and knowing that there is no other reason to do it except for my own enjoyment makes it feel perfectly pure and right...

Kasabian Live

I went to see them in Wolverhampton the other night. Absolutely amazing, I've seen them a few times before and they never disappoint. Heard a few new tracks which looks good for the upcoming album. If you have never seen them before, make sure you do, they tore the roof of the place!!! Here's a pic a mate of mine took of them once and a shady phone pic I took on the night.

Radiohead in the sun

Last weekend I saw Radiohead at the Lancashire Cricket Club in Manchester. They were supported by Bat for Lashes and MGMT, all three were amazing. Loving MGMT!! First weekend I've had in two and a half months not at a race so was mega to simply chill in the sun with some mates. A mate of mine's organised a one day festival in my hometown of Shrewsbury in a weeks time too and I'm not racing then either so will be enjoying that too. If ya in the area get yaself down to it.

My New Blender

No I don't have a new Charge Bike but I do have a new kitchen appliance that it is named after. Perfect for summer, the smoothies and milkshakes are flowing fast now. mmmmmmmm

Blue Sky and a Hot Back

XC ride round my local loop straight from my door yesterday. Warmest I've been on a ride this year. Felt like summer a bit. Sun beat down on my back. Till mud flicked all up my front. Seen some Blue sky. Front Puncture on way home. Tried to wheelie rest of way. Managed 100m. It's more tiring than you think. Walked the last four miles. Blue skies though. MEGA

New Dirt HQ

I went down to see the guys in the new Dirt HQ the other day. A much less cramped affair now. We discussed the upcoming year and it's looking good I can tell ya that!! Jonesy also showed me a big gap that he has in mind. Mega big with a fast run in landing on a grass bank. I'm waiting to get the call that they've built the ramp for it, can't wait to hit it up. There's nothing more fun than a ridiculously big jump. I didn't take any pics so here's one of Editor, Mike Rose (at the back), back in the day, with now retired writer Jim Buchanan and also now retired racer Matt Farmer.

It's that time of year.....

.....to get out digging dirt jumps. The soil is still damp enough to get good shaping and it ain't so wet it'll be too heavy to move. And with a bit of sun showing through every now and then it's a nice time to be outside. We've started digging at a new local spot and there's already four jumps done. They're all riding and are MEGA!! I can't wait for the set to be finished, it'll be massive. I got that feeling today that explains every reason you ride a bike in one split second. Here's some pics of them and Donny jumping one of the hips.

Manchester Show

I went up to Manchester recently to the Snowboard shows that are held each year there. Met up with Charge team sponsors, WeSC and Circa. WeSC's new spring/summer line looks ace and I even got to take away a pair of next season's headphones. These things are amazing, apart from looking cool as, they sound unbelievable, I listened to Massive Attack's 'Protection' album and heard loads of little details I'd never noticed before. The plugs have even been re-designed so they'll fit in my iPhone. My new favourite possession.

The Great Outdoors

The sky has turned blue, I love it, makes riding a bike so much easier. I was even working on my bike out in the sun. Then went or my first bit of downhill since I did a photoshoot a few months ago. Was pretty good, pushing up, old school style. Also saw a nice Butterfly!

Metal to the Pedal to the BMX track

Received a beautiful voluptuous package yesterday of '08 kit from Troy Lee and Crank Brothers. So wound on my new pedals, pulled on my new race trousers and headed to the newly re-built Crewe BMX track. I hadn't been to a BMX track for ages and hadn't been to the Crewe one for even longer. It used to have a 90° turn at end of first straight then after the second was all uphill. Never seemed like a good idea but now there are three 180° berms and it gradually progresses downhill, Loads Better! The jumps are bigger and better built and it's even floodlit till 10pm.

The first straight was kinda tricky to get but the toughest thing about it was the kids sat on the second double. I was shitting it, going over the first flat out, that they would roll out in front of me on the second. Luckily they didn't. I had a mega time, I'm going again soon.

Check out this link for a bit more info on the Crewe Track:
CHESHIRE GHOST RIDERS BLOG