Moving on...

BY: George Budd

Published: 13th November, 2014

I got the news that Salsa wouldn't have a UK distributor next year in the middle of this season. Whatever happens with regards to a team for next year, my time on Salsa has come to an end after 8 years. I thought it was time for a bit of a reflection.

I started out riding for Salsa back in 2007. This has come about via a connection my previous team boss, Paul Hore, had with Ison Distribution, where he had previously managed a more 'jumpy' team. Back then there were up to 7 of us on the team - Phil Buick, his daughters Anna and Imogen, their mum Sara, Nick Owen, Ruth Owen-Evans and James Dalton. We raced 24s, 12s, Enduro6, D2D and loads of other events scoring a large number of podiums. We even managed to podium at SITS and Mayhem in the same year once. Winning pairs at D2D with Ruth was a good intro for me to the lures of crazy endurance racing. She seemed to enjoy it despite being stitched up for an extra lap at about 1am... Expecting to only ride one lap, Ruth came into transition to find me in jeans. I then produced a light, a fresh bottle and some food and sent her on her way. I think she forgave me eventually. We each had a Moto Rapido bike kitted out with some really choice parts thanks to Paul and Ison. We were also lucky enough to pick up Exposure as a sponsor from the very beginning of the company - I still remember riding round the arena at Eastnor in 2007 and being more amazed by their anti-dive fork that was fitted to the test bike than the light I was supposed to be reviewing.

After 3 years we got some exciting news, that Salsa would be bringing out a range of titanium bikes. They were delivered in May 2010 and were absolutely gorgeous. I've still got mine and raced on it right through until the end of the 2014 season - 5 seasons of racing on the same frame. It still looks immaculate - got to love ti.

Over the years, the team thinned to only me as Phil focused on cross, Anna had a little incident with a stick and Imogen was stepping it up to racing abroad for Giant. Nick retired to family duties and I'm not sure what James is up to these days. What I find absolutely remarkable is that Phil never, ever missed a changeover and was never, ever, late back from a lap at any team race we did. Which was quite a few - at a rough guess we've done over 25 12/24hr races together. Quite a record.

In terms of results with Salsa, particular highlights have to be winning the UK Singlespeed champs twice, being promoted to Elite in 2010 after driving round the entire country chasing points in 2009, the 7 day Tour VTT in France in 2010 with Billy Whenman, Luke Smith (van driver extraordinaire) and Lee 'sleeps on the immigrant blankets' Williams, winning the Fatbike Champs at Battle on the Beach in 2014, winning 12:12 with Mountain Trax in 2013 by 30 seconds, winning solo at D2D in 2013 after 3 years of trying and of course the epic battle with Pivot at Mayhem in 2014 where we lost by 90 seconds. The team race at Mayhem remains one of the few endurance events I've never won... It's top of the the list for 2015.

Looking back the same people have been such a massive part of my life for 10 years if you go back to the Titus days with Paul. So many memories! The dead fish that jammed the Dirtworker at Mayhem in about 2008 when we were filling it from the lake has to be a highlight.

It's also fair to say that I've become known as a bit of a fatbike fan. Project Beargrease ended up being the first ever fatbike raced at a UCI XCO race at Cannock in 2014. I've also raced it at Erlestoke in some horrendous conditions this year and kept the marshals entertained as I was the only person riding a number of sections...

More recently I started picking up other sponsors - Schwalbe, Exposure, USE, Middleburn, Race Face, Kuroshiro, Mule Bar, Halo, Shimano and ODI. Most of these will be staying on post-Salsa and I really appreciate everything that so many people are providing. Cycling is a hideously expensive sport and this support makes it possible for me to keep competing.

For the last couple of seasons I've been begging lifts from Ben Thomas in his posh new Vauxhall van. This, coupled with John Newport on bottling/gentle encouragement duties, has made this time a lot more enjoyable than it would have otherwise been, so a big thanks to Ben, John and of course Scott 'Ginsters' McCarron (although not any more as he's gone vegan!!).

Particular massive thanks for everything over the years has to go to Paul for starting it all, Andy, Pat, Maz and PCJ at Ison who have just been amazing with their support. After a particularly biblical Mayhem in 2012, the Monday morning "hello Andy, please can you send...." reached a new record. That sort of support made it possible for me to enter events I wouldn't usually be able to and I am eternally grateful.

Here's to the next few seasons.... More news next week.

GB

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George Budd

Marathon racer & Deputy Head. Usually found eating carrot cake in Peaslake.

Thanks to my sponsors: Pivot Cycles, Upgrade Bikes, Ison Distribution, USE, Exposure Lights, ODI, Gusset, Halo, MRP, Schwalbe, Absolute Black and Rotor

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Moving on...

BY: George Budd

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George Budd

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