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So, here we are, the day before the latest stated delivery date and no word from Halfords.

No later than 9th May? Hm…..we’ll see.

The Doig Family Unit uplifted itself and made the short journey to Drumlanrig for SSUK08.

After pitching the tent and food, we hung out in the marquee for a while, before Jen took the kids back to put them to bed and I got my pass to chill out with friends, drinking whisky until 1am and discussing the finer points of the GDR.

National Star Wars Day saw 250 souls roll up the hill to the car park of Drunlamrig Castle for the ride out to the start of 2008’s UK singlespeed champs. A short ride out led us to a field at the start line for the usual lemans start. As is customary, some bikes were hidden or piled up high, the token Trek 69ers being one victim of this.

It was time to start and the course was revealed - three laps of a combination of the red and black loops (which translates as 3 laps for the fast guys 2 or less for the mortals). It was time to start - the starting beer was drunk (no starting pistol here - one of the organisers downs a beer. When he’s finished, you go) and we were off.

After the initial bottleneck (250 riders into a piece of singletrack has that effect), we climbed up tight singletrack and the odd access road, until we got to the beer stop. If you downed a can, you got to take the shortcut, if not, you had to go the longer way. Well, what would you have done? Lets just say I descended the next section burping beer smelling breath.

Anyway, the loop continued, singletrack descents and climbs and the odd short wider section, the first lap seeming to last ages and, after one comedy-near-crash, I got to the end of the lap, where the Doig family unit was waiting. With words of encouragement rining in my ears from my eldest (”Look, it’s Daddy!! FINALLY!!!!”….ah, the impatience of youth), I set off on lap 2, somewhere in the upper-middle of the field based on Jen’s estimate.

Back round and back to the beer stop, just as it ran out. ARSE. Never mind, we’re a friendly mob and the last beers were shared. At that point, the leaders came through on their third lap. At this point, the race was really over, so lap 2 was a little more relaxed. I took the longer route instead of the shortcut and got back round quicker than lap 1.

Time for chatting and chilling now, plus packing up the tent etc, but with a diversion via the prizegiving.

Male and female winners went away with trophies, best outfit, worst outfit, tallest rider, biggest rider, youngest riders (male and female) and best facial hair went away with prizes ranging from tyres, tops and the like to framesets from Genesis, Kona and Singular.

All in all, a good weekend. There’s pics on Flickr….

The Doig family unit are off to Drumlanrig for SSUK08.

Will the back wheel on the Spot live long enough to finish the race?

Will the family unit enjoy their first race?

Will the family survive the first camping trip since the August 2006 Aviemore disaster?

What will this race / year’s token injury/mechanical be?

Find out on Sunday night when we return……………….

After chasing for an update (again…they’re no good at keeping you informed), the estimated delivery date is “no later than 09/05/2008″. That’s the Friday after SSUK08.

Woot and all that.

Now we just have the accessories aspect to sort….

Broken 1000 mile barrier for the year to date, which is nice.

That’s all.