SMB Bearings Ltd blog

More adventures with Schaeffer Mclean, sponsored skater...

2012-01-20T09:21:00.000Z

Schaeffer's latest video is here people, in which he shows a great sense of fun & a wicked talent.

"Out and about having fun and adventures... Filmed mainly in Spain, finding new skate parks and meeting wonderful and sometimes crazy people, but that just makes it better!

Narrowly avoided the Policia whilst filming this one skating through the streets where they were cracking down on skateboarding in the city and giving out hefty fines.. (someone told us afterwards!) Schaeffer wanted to skate the pool, but there was no rounded bottom so he wanted to get in it anyway. Thanks to everyone who let us use their music - check out the credits. Oh and check him going over his sisters head at the beginning of the last section".

Nice one Schaeffer! :0)

****

Ian Emery, RC Helicopter enthusiast

2012-01-16T13:58:00.000Z

We're delighted to have made a new friend. Local gent Ian Emery popped in last week, after seeing us in Model Helicopter World magazine & just happened to mention he was an RC Heli nut. He sent us these amazing pictures today.

Ian says "I am 31 years old and an Air Traffic Controller by profession so have a natural interest in aviation. I have been flying RC helicopters for 5 years although 2011 was the first year I entered into national competitions run by the Association for Helicopter Aerosports (AHA).

For the 2011 Season I entered into the entry level league (Clubman's League), in which I finished 1st overall after competing in several events across the country.

For the 2012 season I will be competing with my Trex 700 F3C electric helicopter and am busy preparing the helicopter and for the step up to the intermediate class (Sportsman's League) which is due to start in April".

We're delighted to be sponsoring Ian & would all like to wish him the very best of luck for the coming competitive season & look forward to updating you with his results as the year progresses.

Silly Saturday!

2012-01-14T07:00:00.003Z

Meet Uggie the skateboarding dog...

...too cute not to share with you!

Also this week, LA County Museum of Art have the great honour of unveiling the work of artist Chris Burden...

Art installation "Metropolis II" includes 1200 toy cars racing around an enormous indoor city at over 200 miles an hour - this noisy but astounding kinetic sculpture took 4 years to build. Cool!

Marie Bougourd, sponsored skater photo diary

2012-01-13T16:18:00.000Z

Thanks to sponsored skater Marie Bougourd (aka Spoky Woky) for sending us these amazing photos, taken by her friend & fellow gravity sports enthusiast Guillaume Ducreux...

Marie, who is in the top three of this year's IGSA rankings, says:

"It was only a little slide session at my home spot (Lyon) there two days ago!

We were only two riders and a good photographer :) ".

I think we would agree with Marie, Guillaume is a VERY good photographer! :0)

Thanks so much for sharing these great images with us.

Doug Brown, sponsored skater update...

2012-01-06T10:44:00.000Z

We've had the pleasure of sponsoring Doug Brown, the pro US skater, for some months now & are excited to have received an update from this truly hectically busy man!

Doug says "I have an exhibit that is touring libraries nationally to promote my book. Its called "Beyond the Board - the Doug Brown Exhibit" I've enclosed some pics..."

We added a poster to Doug's collection recently, which he's been handing out on his tour - it features himself & our other fab stateside skater Tony Leard (who designed the poster for us). If you should be visiting Doug on his event tour - see dates here - you can probably pick up a signed copy.

Doug has sent us some new pics "from my recent travels"

skate park grand opening

Skate Straight programme

Doug recently featured in a magazine article - the piece in September's Variance magazine is a lovely affirmation of a geniunely nice man who's doing his best to put a bit back into the community - you can see it here or visit the website:

Doug has also been kind enough to add his support to the "See My Helmet?" rider safety campaign that we talked about in yesterday's post - he wears his helmet with pride :0)

Thanks for all the news Doug!

"See My Helmet?" Ride safe campaign...

2012-01-05T10:09:00.000Z

We just wanted to help promote a very worthy cause - Longboard Girls Crew France have come up with a great idea to inspire all future riders to wear their helmets. Riders are being asked to post pictures of themselves wearing their helmets & looking great, to the Crew's Facebook Page, to encourage all riders to keep safe & protect their noggins!

The girls say "It is also an opportunity to establish a small rogue's gallery of longskateuz French! So send us your photo portrait, too, with a small bio-fast on the photos and your little slogan for the helmet :o)

You can send multiple photos!"

They'd like to encourage every crew to adopt this initiative and help to keep as many riders as safe as possible.

What a brilliant & simple idea - well done ladies! If you're part of a skate crew, why not do the same? We'll certainly be trying to encourage all members of SMB's skate crew to support this safety scheme :0)

Shannon Francis, sponsored skater...

2012-01-03T17:36:00.000Z

A lovely celebration vid by Shannon, our awesome stunt-scooter rider, on account of her being so popular on Facebook that she now has 1000 "likes"... go girl!

Outrage a 0% fare rise for cyclists...

2011-12-20T17:29:00.000Z

Rail passengers and car drivers were today outraged by the unfairness of the transport system, as it was annouced that cycling fares would rise by a paltry 0% in 2012, remaining at £0.00. Rail fares are to rise by 5.9% in January, while petrol prices remain as high as drivers’ stress levels.

M. Iserable, a spokesperson for People Who Don’t Cycle, told Cycle Lifestyle magazine: “I don’t see why cyclists should get such a good deal. Cycling already costs nothing, and now prices have been frozen at nothing. When you consider the fact that cyclists also benefit from getting fitter, healthier and happier, the 0% fare rise is a real slap in the face for other transport users. With average commuting distances only 8.5 miles in Britain, it seems that just about everything is geared towards helping cyclists.”

No cyclists were available to comment – because they were all too busy pedalling joyfully through the streets for free.

Thanks for seeing the lighter side people! Brought to you courtesy of Going Going Bike Blog & the lovely people at Cycle Lifestyle magazine: ;-D

Bamboo biking from Africa to the UK...

2011-12-15T09:55:00.001Z

A bike made of bamboo is being given a tough test ride, all the way home to the UK from Africa.

Jack Morris, a local lad from the nearby town of Witney, is on his way home in an eight-month expedition on the machine, designed by a team at Oxford Brookes University.

His trip, which started earlier this month, will take him through Africa, then on to Europe and Istanbul before heading back towards West Oxfordshire. By the time he gets home he will have covered 5,000 miles.

Writing on his blog, he said: “Take into consideration that my cycling experience maxes out at a foray into France and you might get an idea of how challenging this bike ride will be for me. I expect the tour to take eight months, cost me a small fortune and provide no shortage of sunburn. “It should be brilliant.”

Mr Morris hopes his ride will raise awareness for Abingdon’s Rotary Club of Abingdon and Solar Aid, which provides funds for solar replacements for kerosene lamps in Kenya. Dr Shpend Gerguri and Dr James Broughton who devised the bike, road-tested it on an eight-day trip through the Alps before it was put on the market by RAW Bamboo Bikes.

RAW managing director Rachel Hammond said: “This will be another great road test for the bike. We look forward to following Jack’s progress and hearing how the bike performs.” Bamboo was chosen because it has a higher tensile strength than steel and adds vibration-absorbing qualities to a bike frame.

Jack's progress can be followed at his blog here - check it out, it is well worth a read. All at SMB Bearings wish you the best of luck on your adventure!

Brave or stupid?

2011-12-13T09:25:00.000Z

You decide!

You certainly wouldn't catch me up a ramp that big (without the aid of coma-inducing levels of alcohol)... :0)

Toby Newman, downhill skater...

2011-12-09T16:40:00.001Z

Our friend Toby Newman has put together this little video edit for us...

Thanks for sharing Toby, it's always great to see enthusiastic young talent - keep up the great work!

Instructables Christmas...

2011-12-09T16:33:00.001Z

Have a few minutes to spare at work? Things a bit quiet at the moment? Never at SMB, but I image there must be a parallel universe where these things occur... :0)

Check out Instructables Christmas list of things to make and do... snowflakes, pop-up cards, christmas trees - they tell you how to make it all!

Schaeffer Mclean, 7 year old sponsored skater...

2011-11-28T09:12:00.001Z

The latest action from awesome junior skater Schaeffer Mclean- every video sees him improving by leaps & bounds, literally!

Spoky Woky (aka Marie Bougourd) & the happy days of Summer...

2011-11-25T09:50:00.001Z

A gorgeous video edit from number 3 ranked IGSA wonder-woman downhill-skater supremo, Spoky Woky...

Spoky Woky's comment:

"I leave my home 5 weeks to follow Downhill events in europe , awesome trip , nice people ! can't wait to do it again next year !"

We can't wait to see how you get on next year Spoky Woky, you're a real inspiration!

Schaeffer Mclean, sponsored skater...

2011-11-18T13:51:00.000Z

It's been a little while since we've heard from Schaeffer, our most awesome junior skate hero. It appears that he has been astoundingly busy, as usual, & we are delighted to bring you his latest video adventure:

Schaeffer & his Mum, Eve, have just won an award for this video which placed second in the Alongquin Outfitters Adventure video contest. Richly deserved guys, well done!

Photo of the week - night riders...

2011-11-15T09:37:00.000Z

Thanks to Team for Ride for sharing these great photos...

Philippe Dupuy

Fabien Prual

We love it!

Glen Pointon Fly Fishing Blog: Canal pike bashing

2011-11-09T14:02:00.001Z

Glen Pointon Fly Fishing Blog: Canal pike bashing

Lovely photo post from our friend Glen Pointon - his mate with the orange baseball cap/Berghaus beanie combo might need to learn to shut his mouth for future pictures though! :0)

Exciting news... Real Cycling is back!!!

2011-11-09T13:55:00.002Z

So exciting! One of the best bike blogs in the world is back up & running after a year's absence - check it out here ... if you want someone to tackle the world of all things bike who has a fabulous, wry sense of humour then this is the blog for you. Glad to see you back Real Cycling!

Spoky Woky (aka Marie Bougourd)

2011-11-08T12:11:00.000Z

What a busy girl Spoky has been! Check out this awesome interview with Longboard Girls Crew: http://longboardgirlscrew.com/2011/11/spoky-woky/ - it features our very own Spoky & her exploits & quite rightly lists her as an inspiration to many on the IGSA racing circuit & beyond.

And she's just launched her own blog too! http://spokyonwheels.tumblr.com/

You go girl!

F1 in Schools - Team Adactus

2011-10-28T14:18:00.002+01:00

SMB Bearings are proud sponsors of F1 in Schools competitors, Adactus.

Congratulations on the launch of your new website guys, we look forward to keeping up with all the latest news on your progress!

F1 in Schools is a multi-disciplinary challenge in which teams of students aged 9 to 19 deploy CAD/CAM software to collaborate, design, analyse, manufacture, test, and then race miniature gas powered balsa wood F1 cars. Teams must raise sponsorship and manage budgets to fund research, travel and accommodation.

The challenge inspires students to use IT to learn about physics, aerodynamics, design, manufacture, branding, graphics, sponsorship, marketing, leadership/teamwork, media skills and financial strategy, and apply them in a practical, imaginative, competitive and exciting way.

The team say:

"Adactus is an F1 In Schools team from Lutterworth College in Leicestershire, UK. We are currently competing in our fourth year of the competition and have recently changed out name from Mach1. In our first year we won Best New Team at the Central England Regional Finals, In our second year we came first at the Regional Finals which meant we qualified for the National Finals and In our third year we won Best Engineered Car, Fastest Car and First Place at the Regional Finals. At the National Finals we won Best Engineered Car and Second Place. We were lucky enough to be given the opportunity to collaborate with a Malaysian team to compete in the International Finals in Singapore under the name Team Fusion in 2010.

After taking a break for a year, the team is now competing with the strong intention to come first at the International Finals. The team has welcomed two new members this year and has had a complete makeover with a new team identity."

We are very proud to be sponsoring you again guys, really looking forward to following your journey to the National & International Finals!

SMB Skate crew update

2011-10-28T11:36:00.000+01:00

Aaron Skippings has just updated his own blog & has been keeping us entertained with his downhill skating antics & general Facebook musings on life's important issues, like whether a Sherbert Dip Dab explosion, the aftermath of which was witnessed by his unsuspecting parents, could lead to an accidental drugs charge...

Maria (aka Spoky Woky) of 'Team for Ride' fame has just sent us the designs for her new downhill skating leathers & we are proud as punch to be displayed on her thigh... :0)

And here are some amazing images from her year so far...

Tony Leard & Doug Brown have been working on some publicity materials for us:

We are hoping to get some posters made up for the guys to use, especially as Doug tours extensively for his Skate Straight programme.

Shannon Francis has been busy too,

the Bristol stunt scooter rider has picked up a heap of new sponsors & still finds time to practise her second passion - video edits of her adventures...

I am sure that there's lots more to tell you, but that's all I can think of right now!

Happy weekend everyone :0)

****

John Griffiths, SMB sponsored skater update...

2011-09-30T16:12:00.002+01:00

We've had a great update from John Griffiths this week:

"Its been non-stop this month! I don't like to waffle on so I'll keep it short and sweet!

Aaron Skippings pretty much covered our trip to europe... (see the video exploits here) it was rad, the hills where amazing and the party's where even better, coming home sucked I wish I was still there!

As for other events ride the dragon in Wales reclassified longboarding as a watersport, rivers on the track and standing water over two inches deep made the already technical track even more sketchy and racing was more a case of make it down alive than beat the competition. Luckily I managed to stay on my board enough to make it into the finals and third place!

What's more my bearings are still rolling fine even after being submerged underwater for two days in Wales...WIN! Cheers for your help :) "

Thanks for your news John. We're delighted to hear that your bearings stood up to a bit of a battering :0)& many congratulations on the podium place at 'Ride the Dragon' in Wales.

Team for Ride - a new direction...

2011-09-28T17:14:00.002+01:00

Thanks to Fabien (new President of Team for Ride!) for the following news:

"So, I've been on a part of the Eurotour this summer and finished by a nice muscle tear on the left calf (I get hitten by a guy at 70 kph on the Euro champ final). Following to that, a sick leave of four weeks and still doing a lot of physio (6 hours a week), but I'll be able to be back on a board in three weeks.

This injury put me away from the end of the french championship 2011 and away from the podium of this one. :-/

So, about the French championship results:

Thibaut finished 2nd in streetluge and 3rd in classic luge

Marie: female 1st and 19th on the open (male / female / juniors)

Me: 7th in streetluge and 8th in classic luge.

Philippe was still not able to ride but is talking about coming back next year. This year he had focused a lot on the development of a new competition system and help the different event organisation to implement it.

Quentin: not much news... it seems that he is stoping skateboard for a moment.

TFR future:

after a first meeting we all decided to disolve the team, 'cause, Quentin is not wanting to skate anymore, Thibaut is far away in Britanny, Philippe want to come back in the competition but is not really sure. In fact there is only Marie and me who are sure to continue the competition next year, and Marie more than ever! ut at the same time some decision were decided in other organisation we are in, some big projects of french elite camp, skate club, event organisation...

and finally people asked us to keep the name TFR and keep me as president. (Faby el presidente!)

Next year with TFR:

Organisation of a french elite camp to create a kind of "french team". it will take place in the french Alps

Organisation of "Telethon, Noon to midnight", a charity event to raise found for the genetical diseases consisting of a 12 hours ride on a 2km loop on inline and skate.
Organisation of the beginner race on the Parilly slalom race (should be Euro cup)

Organisation of regular session to make people discover the skate / luge and organise training for the people who want to develop the sport and improve the level. The goal is to create a real club with regular longboard lessons".

Wow - thanks so much for all the news Fabien! We'll look forward to helping Team for Ride move forward next year, in whatever ways we can.

Aerocam Pro, another amazing customer!

2011-09-27T17:13:00.002+01:00

We've been talking to Jean-Luc Fornier in France for a few years now, but we've only just discovered what he does with all the miniature bearings that we send to him & we are now truly awe-struck!!

Jean-Luc is pictured centre, with friends on a recent trip to Africa

Jean-Luc produces arial remote control drones (see a demo here & here), the equipment allowing for extremely high quality, professional arial photography at a fraction of the costs involved in using a helicopter to get the same pictures.

Jean-Luc says:

"Our devices, which measures less than one meter wingspan, are capable of operating at very low altitude in very confined space. It can therefore see the most inaccessible places with angles of shots unpublished. This is impossible with conventional means. Our drone is equipped with a GPS sensor allowing the best possible position. The return video allows the framing of the shot from the ground station. This ensures that the shooting meets the expectations of the customer before returning to the ground".

He is currently involved in filming for various French TV channels, see an example here ...

Jean-Luc sent us some amazing images of his recent trip to Africa, which truly demonstrate what an amazing machine he has produced:

You can find out more at Jean-Luc's website - as our French isn't quite up to it, we used Google Translate to get the lowdown!

SMB Skate Crew season update...

2011-09-16T10:00:00.087+01:00

Aaron Skippings

Aaron tells us about his season:
"The season for me has been an awesome one , travelling countries and skating with friends is what its all about ,theres always that time in the year for us who cant skate because of the dreadful winter ,in that time saving money ,getting hyped up for the next year of skating just becomes natural as you know every bit of money you earn is another awesome day etc away shredding it up.

For me starting the first euro race in kozakov was brilliant as i had never had the chance to skate it before ,so many stories of how gnarly it was made me crave for it even more but there was always that butterfly waking up now and again in my stomach.

I can tell you now kozakov was one of the best tracks i have skated since almabtrieb,so fast and tech at the same time just completed it for me . shame about the weather but qualifying was in the rain which resulted in some fast people crashing out and not making the cut as there was only 1 qualifying run because of the time wasted in previous wet weather days. I managed to qualify and was prepped for racing .OMG! Racing was amazing, first heat was a proper tough one going up against some proper fast guys but i held them off and managed to get in there into 2nd place and get through to the second round.

2nd round was here ,all top professionals at the start line and then me ;), was a crazy race and have never been so fast in a heat but i didnt make the cut which wasnt a bad thing as i finished in the top 30! Proper stoke right there! ,apart from the weather ,great event ,great people,great skating ,i will be back in 2012!

favourite videos/pics - our bandito video ofcourse!

Euro Bandito from Oliver Slaughter on Vimeo.

http://www.skatehousemedia.com/08/16/2011/euro-bandito

Upcoming Events
ride the dragon in wales 17th-18th september:

Click here for more details

Thanks Aaron! So great to hear all of your news & so many congratulations on a fine season.

Doug Brown

We've recently welcomed pro-skater Doug Brown to our crew...

Doug does a great deal of motivational speaking & tours to promote the Skate Straight programme for youngsters, but still manages to fit some skating action inbetween! Doug updated us this morning, "Today I'm off on a skate adventure with a crew for fun and filming. I'm proud to announce my new sponsor is SMB Bearings out of England. This will be a great partnership as they are fully behind my efforts and they are good people. These bearings are great quality and the best I've ever had." Thanks Doug! We really appreciate your feedback on the bearings & are so pleased that you like them.

John Griffiths

No updates from John as yet, but he's heading off to Wales with Aaron to attend the Ride the Dragon event & has had a busy European IGSA season with some great results.
Schaeffer Mclean

The youngest member of the SMB Skate Crew, 7 year old Schaeffer has just return from a European skate trip & his new video is a corker!

"This video is part of a European skate adventure which was filmed across 6 countries. Sadly the Camera and footage was lost just before leaving the 4th country at Krakow Bus Station. This is the footage from a secondary camera of mainly the last 2 countries we visited. See if you can figure out which countries they were! Thank you to everyone who showed us skate spots - we discovered some amazing places. It has to be said that the Security Guard at the beginning kindly let us skate in the end. This is the story of Schaeffer's Skate Travels...."

Shannon Francis

The only stunt scooter rider on the team, Shannon's been busy honing her skills, hanging out with friends & putting together some great video edits of their escapades!

Team For Ride - the gravity sports gang!

Another succesful season for the French gravity sports team, getting good results consitently throughtout the IGSA competitions. We look forward to a full season update from them soon.

Tony Leard

Lately i havent been doing as much skating due to an injury im dealing with from a recent fall. But i should be on board soon. I'm mainly busy with graphic design lately, and busy filming trick tip videos for one of my sponsors. But everything lately is picking up good, and i designed a shirt for a company as well.

Check out Tony's blog for his latest news.

Thanks for all the exciting news people! Wer'll keep you updated with all our skate crew's exciting adventures, as & when they happen :0)

Off to the Lake District for a week's kayaking now, so talk to you all again very soon

(just as soon as I've dried out)!

Great Scalextric site...

2011-09-05T15:06:00.000+01:00

If you're a fan of Scalextric, check out this site - it's the Northern Ireland Scalextric Club blog & they share loads of how-to guides, videos news & photos.

They have updates & videos each month, an example of which is shown below:

Check it out - it's great fun!

SMB Skate Crew welcomes DOUG BROWN!

2011-09-02T16:59:00.004+01:00

SMB Bearings are delighted to announce that we are the proud new sponsors of skate legend Doug Brown. Doug started skating in 1986, aged 12 years old, won his first competition one year later & since then has notched up a frankly dazzling array of accolades.

Here, Doug lists his most memorable skate moments:

Winning my first skateboarding competition in 1987
Skating the 2002 - 2004 Summer Gravity Games
Eastern Supply Open House Demo NC 2004
Progressive Skatepark Appearance Atlanta 2004
Doing MC at Fuel Channel's Get Hook-T Up Tour 04
Texas Fort Bliss Military Base Demos March 2005
Canada Newfoundland tour July 2006
Skate Straight Hometown visit Jan. 2008
TV appearance on Good Co. Today Show on NBC May 2010

Through his many sponsors Doug has a range of decks, wheels, books, videos & is also a motivational speaker. His Skate Straight programme tries to teach youngsters key life skills, dealing with a broad range of issues, from bullying, drugs, education & self belief.

Doug's bio:

Chances are you've seen Doug Brown on NBC's Good Co.Today show, at the Gravity Games, AST Dew Tour, or even on a stick of X-Air Deodorant, but that's just the tip of the iceberg. Doug is a motivational speaker, published author of his autobiography Doug Brown: Beyond the Board, and founder of his highly acclaimed Skate Straight Program. From touring arenas with the band The Newsboys to visiting patients in hospitals with Athletes for Hope, Doug has proven to be more than just a skateboarder. Hidden behind his contagious smile and charisma is a wide range of talents and a strong sense of determination. Doug's love for the world of skateboarding began in 1986 after seeing Back to the Future for the first time. While the skateboarding trend has waxed and waned in popularity, Doug's commitment to the sport remained constant. Doug’s professional skating career began by chance at the 2002 Gravity Games, when he caught the eye of his first paying sponsors. He quickly realized his hobby became his living after a whirlwind of extensive traveling, industry events, demos, contests, and personal appearances. While he maintains a strong commitment to his skateboarding Brown has shifted his primary focus and energies towards his Skate Straight program entering schools, libraries, detention centers and being a keynote speaker for conferences. Doug Brown: Beyond the Board was published in 2010, and has added a new dimension to Doug's career. He writes of his life experiences and how it has been defined by a piece of wood and four spinning wheels. Brown wholeheartedly believes in positive change and the importance of hope and optimism. Notable causes and philanthropy include involvement with Athletes For Hope, American Red Cross, St.Baldrick's Foundation, SADD, and his own Skate Straight Program. Television appearances on NBC's Good Co.Today Show, Much Music Television, 54321, Fuel TV, ABC Sports, ESPN, Fox Sports, Planet X, Xcorps TV, and Sports Talk.

http://www.dougbrownskate.com/
http://www.skatestraight.org/

http://www.beyondtheboard.net/

Fingerboarding...

2011-08-26T16:27:00.001+01:00

... & function, all in one pint-sized skate package - AWESOME!!!!

Practise your moves at work & your boss need never know... The price tag may be enough to make you fall off your perch though, in the UK it is currently retailing at over £60!

Andrew Jones Designs...

2011-08-26T14:15:00.001+01:00

Another customer wows us with their wonderful creations! Talking to Andrew (of Andrew Jones Designs) this morning, he told us about his outdoor sculptures & we are delighted that he's found our bearings are just the ticket to keep them turning smoothly.

Untitled from Andrew W Jones on Vimeo.

Andrew says "While studying art and design at Newcastle in 1972, I co-designed the kite that marked the start of my working life for the next 30 years. That kite was the original Flexifoil power kite which is still made today. It was the unexpected result of a sculpture project exploring the wind. Power kite design is all about using the energy of the wind for a purpose (power kite sports). My work now is to explore and enjoy the wind for its own free spirit. "

Untitled from Andrew W Jones on Vimeo.

"The word wind may suggest a powerful force, but it can also be a zephyr blowing gently around anything it encounters. Then, it is often at its most interesting. I turn those unseen movements of the wind into something visible; often chaotic, but sometimes fleetingly ordered or cyclic when the breeze is constant. I am pleased when the movement of the sculpture encourages an appreciation of other things moving nearby, and if the changing angles bring to mind other forms."

Not only are Andrew's creations a delight (if somewhat mind-bending if you watch them for too long), it's also a real priviledge to talk to someone so deeply at the heart of creating today's power kiting.

Being the owner of a number of loved and cherised Flexifoil kites myself as a keen kite-buggyist & landboarder, talking to Andrew Jones is on a par with being introduced to royalty/Dr Who/Harry Potter - you get the idea! :0)

It has been a great couple of weeks for us here at SMB, we just love hearing how our customers are getting on & we've been really priviledged to see some amazing & inspiring designs. If you've got any products, ideas, videos or images that you'd like to share with us, we'd be delighted to hear from you too.

RC Quadcopter...

2011-08-26T11:57:00.000+01:00

Just spoken to Jakub in Poland, who's responsible for this little RC wonder...

mwc quad - fiberglass frame from warthox on Vimeo.

So cool!! :0)

It also incorporates space & a frame for your Go-pro camera, so you can film your flights with ease.

See more details at Jakub's website http://quadframe.com/

Bike Blenheim Palace 2011...

2011-08-25T09:23:00.001+01:00

Congratulations to everyone who participated in the event at Blenheim Palace last weekend, to raise funds & have fun in aid of Breast Cancer Care.

MORE than 5,000 people got on their bike to raise money for the charity. The Bike Blenheim Palace festival hosted everyone from competitive cycling fanatics to families in the Woodstock palace grounds. Competitors could choose from 60 and 100-mile courses through the Cotswolds, finishing at the palace, and a tough 20km time trial all on the closed roads of Blenheim Park.

The event was backed by Cycling Weekly (a great source of news, views & inspiration on all things cycling related).

Human powered helicopter, experienced cyclists required...

2011-08-24T09:36:00.000+01:00

Now that's a gadget!! Hovering for 11.4 seconds has secured a place in the record books for the Gamera team, and for its pilot Judy Wexler, who made the longest human-powered flight by a female U.S. pilot

For the last two years, a team of 50 graduate and undergraduate students from the Alfred Gessow Rotorcraft Center at the University of Maryland's Department of Aerospace Engineering has been designing, building and tweaking a lightweight, four-rotor helicopter that's powered by the human pilot suspended at its center. The hope is to build a craft capable of walking away with the American Helicopter Society's Sikorsky Prize of US$250,000.

The rules of this challenge - named in honor of helicopter pioneer Igor Sikorsky - state that the craft should get all of its power from the human pilot and that it should thus be capable of hovering for 60 seconds within a 10-meter (32.8-foot) square area. During this time, the lowest part of the machine must reach an altitude of 3 meters (9.84 feet) above the ground - if only momentarily. As of August 2011, no-one has claimed the prize. Time to get the Meccano out & start building!

The lightweight pilots used throughout the project have also been experienced cyclists, and were free to design their own training regimes based on their specialist knowledge. The team "became aware through our testing that a more focused training plan that optimized for muscular endurance rather than cardiovascular endurance, and one which trained the motion that is unique to Gamera, would produce even better results," said Schmaus. "Moving forward we are working with specialists in Biomechanics to develop a targeted training plan."

However, the team still think they're a long way off the Sikorsky Prize's target of 60 seconds flight, so there's still a chance for you budding designers out there to nip in & grab yourself a few dollars! :0)

Jankowski Weathervanes

2011-08-22T14:55:00.000+01:00

Just had a really nice chat with Stan at Jankowski Weathervanes & he told us to check out his latest creation on video...

It's always so exciting to see our bearings in action (Stan uses our stainless steel miniature inch bearings), but Stan's amazing creations take it to a whole new level!! We can't wait to see what Jankowski Weathervanes come up with next :0)

SMB Sponsored downhill skaters rampage...

2011-08-16T11:35:00.000+01:00

... & their exploits are caught on camera by friend & fellow downhill skate-nut Oliver Slaughter...

Euro Bandito from Oliver Slaughter on Vimeo.

Thanks for sharing guys! The video gives a real feel for the speeds involved in downhill skateboarding - Aaron Skippings looks awesome as he sweeps down giant slopes, even if he is filming his own butt with a camera on a stick... ;0) And John Griffiths shows us how to do press-ups & make the most of your flowing locks simultaneously - that is a real skill people!

Bionic Hand for Teenager...

2011-08-15T15:23:00.002+01:00

One of our valued customers, Touch Bionics, has made the headlines today with their amazing bionic prosthetics. Sky News have picked up the story:

"A British teenager has fulfilled his dream of being the proud owner of his very own Mercedes - in the form of a bionic arm. Matthew James, 14, was born missing his left hand and had adjusted to life with a simple open-and-close grip prosthetic limb. But after learning about the new electronic hand, called the i-LIMB Pulse, the determined student from Wokingham, Berkshire, knew he had to have it.

Knowing he could not afford the £35,000 device, the Formula One fan wrote a letter to the Mercedes GP Petronas racing team for help. In his letter, Matthew explained how the new hand would give him more control and freedom, and a much greater range of motions. He then put a cheeky proposal to the F1 team, asking them to pay for the artificial hand, and in return, he would let the company sponsor it by putting their Mercedes logo on it.

Team leader Ross Brawn said they were touched by the letter so invited Matthew to the Mercedes headquarters, where he toured the factory and met racing driver Michael Schumacher. After learning more about the prosthetic device - and how it was created using similar technologies to those used in F1 racing - Mr Brawn said they were eager to help. They got in touch with the bionic hand's developer, Touch Bionics, and a few months later, Matthew had his own fitted.

"It is just amazing," the teenager said after receiving the new limb. "My old artificial hand had a pretty basic open-close mechanism similar to a clamp. But with this one I can do everything. It also looks really cool - the outer shell is see-through so you can actually see the mechanics working. They are even going to put a little Mercedes badge by the wrist."

Matthew said he would now be able to take part in sports involving two hands, like cricket, as well school science lab experiments, which had always been a struggle for him."

Congratulations to all involved in this heart-warming story. Every one of us here at SMB Bearings is delighted to be involved in supplying our stainles steel miniature bearings to such a great company & project. You can find out more about Touch Bionics & their incredible prosthetic devices here.

26.08.11 Update - Matthew still needs help raising money for his hand, he's nearly there but there's still a way to go - please visit his page here for further details.

New premises means new bearing sizes....

2011-08-11T12:00:00.000+01:00

See the first pictures of our new premises...

Our new home!

Later this year, or early next year, SMB Bearings is moving to new, larger premises. This is great news, as it means we'll be able to hold a larger range of stock right here in the UK.

If you have any specific bearing requirements that we do not currently stock, let us know and we'll add them onto our inventory if we can.

All built on the outside, just needs building on the inside now...

We're looking forward to having a bit more space, that's for sure! And the good news is, we're only moving across the road, so there should be very little disruption to our customers when we move.

Area Map, SMB Bearings' new location.

For details of our current range, please see our catalogue - if we haven't got what you want, let us know!

SMB Bearings review from Aaron Skippings, downhill skater...

2011-08-05T09:29:00.001+01:00

Thanks so much to Aaron Skippings for his fantastic review of our products - it's always great to hear that our bearings are a real help to competitive skaters, gravity sports exponents, cyclists & more. Here's what Aaron had to say:

Skate Bearing

Ceramic hybrid skate bearing

"SMB Bearings are an awesome bearing company from Brize Norton in the UK , these guys have been hooking me up with bearings for skating use , in the picture above on the left is a standard skate bearing from smb and on the right is the ceramic version . As soon as i used these i knew i liked them , they run super smooth and dont make noises or rattles . The bearings are also pretty good at holding the water out if you decide to ride in wet conditions. I took a few sets of these bearings away with me on the euro tour, i wanted something decent for the world cup races and smb showed me the way. The ceramic versions i especially love as the smoothness of the bearing is at a super high level , no noises and no nonsense from smb again. its hard to say if there is a speed difference between the ceramic and the standard either way i couldnt tell but you know the quality is much higher in ceramics.There super kool bunch of guys have definatly created a brilliant bearing and i hope that other skaters from the uk and even global try these bad boys out , because i gurantee once these bearings are in your wheels ,you'll be riding faster!
Aaron"

Thanks so much for the high praise Aaron - we've put a lot of work into finding the best quality, genuine skate bearings around - we've lots of technical info on them at our website & we also tell you how to care & maintain your bearings for the best performance.

To keep up-to-date with Aaron, check out his blog & of course we'll update you when we have news of his latest exploits to share :0)

RC Carrier launches RC aircraft...

2011-08-03T17:28:00.000+01:00

How cool is this?! Shame about the crashing part, but we can't have everything!! My Christmas wish list just keeps on getting longer and longer...

Angie's Clock Tower to Eiffel Tower Ride...

2011-07-28T10:52:00.000+01:00

Anjie & friends at Carterton's Clock Tower

We just wanted to wish the very best of luck to local resident Angie Bryant, who is setting off on an epic 370 mile bike ride from our home town of Carterton on August 14th. Anjie hopes to raise £4,000 for head and neck cancer charity Heads Up.

WHEN Angie went to the doctor with swollen glands, she thought it was just another bout of tonsillitis.
She didn't realise she was suffering from throat cancer and would need a 14-and-a-half hour operation, followed by months of treatment.
Now the 48-year-old, from Carterton, has battled back from the disease and hopes to repay the support the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford gave her, by cycling with seven friends and family from the clock tower in Carterton town centre to the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

To donate, visit justgiving.com/cartertontopariscycleride - as of today, a fantastic £1,700 has already been raised. If you can't donate right now, maybe you can just share this story with friends and family...

Good luck Angie!!

Must have gadget...

2011-07-27T11:19:00.000+01:00

Every now and again, somebody comes up with an idea that makes every fibre of your childish-being tingle with excitement... as someone who spent many a childhood (& adult) hour in the manufacture of paper aeroplanes, this is just such a gadget :0)

The kit (available from Amazon.com) consists of a capacitor that clips onto the plane's nose, which is connected to a rear-mounted propeller via a carbon fiber shaft. The capacitor takes a 20 second-long charge from a separate battery pack, which contains three AA batteries. One charge provides enough power for 90 seconds of flight. That's probably plenty of time, considering that users presumably have to chase after their powered paper planes in order to get them back! Visit the manufacturer's website for more details on how to best-use your flight pack.

Tony Leard, sponsored skater update...

2011-07-26T09:10:00.000+01:00

Check out Tony's latest blog update here...

Thanks for the nice mention Tony, we really appreciate it! :0)

****

NASA's image of the day...

2011-07-22T16:42:00.001+01:00

The historic final landing of the space-shuttle Atlantis, marked by this gorgeous photo from NASA

Atlantis, the fourth orbiter built, launched on its first mission on Oct. 3, 1985. Overall, Atlantis spent 307 days in space and traveled nearly 126 million miles during its 33 flights. Atlantis touched down yesterday at Cape Canaveral, Florida, on the Shuttle Landing Facility's Runway 15 at 5:57 a.m. EDT, bringing to a close 30 years of space shuttle flights.

"Although we got to take the ride," said Commander Chris Ferguson on behalf of his crew, "we sure hope that everybody who has ever worked on, or touched, or looked at, or envied or admired a space shuttle was able to take just a little part of the journey with us."

Quite a poignant day for all the folks at NASA today, as they held the decomissioning ceremony for the last flight of the Space Shuttle Program...

On a lighter note, we are delighted to discover - in an unashamedly geeky way :0) - that we can now download a range of NASA android & iPhone apps - check them out here.

Keep up to date with us on Facebook...

2011-07-22T14:29:00.000+01:00

We have lots of lovely friends sharing news, views & photos with us on Facebook , why not join them & keep us up-to-date with what's happening in your world?

We also tweet & we'd love to follow your news.

Make your own jet-powered Batmobile...

2011-07-20T17:21:00.000+01:00

... this guy did!!

It is powered by a military-spec turboshaft engine driving the rear wheels through a semi automatic gearbox. It features a custom tube frame/monocoque chassis with fully independant suspension, disc brakes, and a sequential shifter. It runs on kerosene, diesel, or Jet fuel and has a power to weight ratio comparable to a Dodge Viper. The car is registered and insured for the road in the United States. Built in 2011 by Casey Putsch, of the Putsch Racing facility.

Where can I get one?! I'm sure that the insurance premiums will be no problem at all :0)

Wooden bike...

2011-07-20T17:13:00.000+01:00

... a snip at just £4000 & just a 12 week wait for delivery...

When established furniture maker Seth Deysach was invited to be part of the Object Society design show in June last year, he decided to create something special for the occasion that combined two of his passions - creating things in wood and cycling. The single-speed, one size Lagomorph bike boasts strong, elegant lines and an impressive catalog of high quality components. Now the designer is taking special orders for the wooden-framed bike, with custom options available on request.

Personally, I'd be a bit too nervous about my wooden pride & joy ending up as a box of matches if I had a little accident... :0)

SMB Skate Crew update...

2011-07-12T09:41:00.003+01:00

SMB Bearings is proud to sponsor an AMAZING bunch of riders & we are delighted to bring you some of their latest news:

Welcome to John Griffiths, UK downhill skateboarder:

John will be travelling to Europe this year to race Kozakov and Insul on the IGSA European tour and hopes to do well. John says "I have been riding downhill for three years now and have competed successfully on an national and international level, heres a list of my results so far:

3rd - Festival longboarderz in portugal
1st - Marignar outlaw
1st - Bo peep outlaw
2nd - Sheepy outlaw
3rd - Bo peep crash & burn "

We look forward to following John's progress closely :0)

New videos from our Bristol crew - Shannon Francis, stunt scooter rider:

& Schaeffer Mclean, 7 year-old skateboarder:

Aaron Skippings has just announced a new blog, so that we can all keep up with his exploits... check it out here

Gravity sports "Team for Ride" won out at last weekend's Familia Challenge in France - Marie stole the show for the ladies, bagging 1st place

And buttboarding we have Fabien at the front & Thibaut bringing up the rear in their race at the Familia...

Tony Leard, US skateboarder & awesome graphic designer, has been a real treat for us - proactive, helpful & talented, he's produced some great graphics to support the SMB Skate Crew & here are the results so far:

Thanks to you all - we are so pleased (& a little bit awed) to be represented by such a talented bunch of riders!

****

Aaron Skippings, downhill skateboarder & newest member of the SMB Skate Crew...

2011-06-28T11:12:00.001+01:00

Welcome Aaron! All at SMB Bearings are delighted to announce that we are now proud sponsors of Aaron Skippings.

Aaron is only 19, but already a serious contender in UK & international downhill skateboarding events - he is also a passionate & articulate guy & really the best kind of ambassador that this sport could hope for. Normally at this point we would have searched the web for snippets about new riders, but Aaron gave us such an amazing presentation of his skills that we'd like to share it with you unadulterated...

Current Sponsors riptide sports,skateboardsofchoice,eko slide gloves
Videos of me in action http://vimeo.com/15005171 - Sheepy outlaw 2010 http://vimeo.com/14558614 - Bo peep free ride action http://vimeo.com/13051476 - Exeter outlaw final 2010 http://vimeo.com/12843576 - St Aubin freeride France 2010

Watch out for this guy - we expect BIIIIIIG things for him :0)

Almabtrieb world championships,Germany 2010

Aaron tells us all about himself:
"For nearly 2 years Downhill Skateboarding has been a passion of mine and has also become a big part of my life, it is still quite a small sport so not many people know what it is about and is often mistaken with regular skateboarding however the two are completely different. A Long board or speed board is much larger than a skateboard and is designed for speed which often ranges between 50 -80mph, this requires full safety gear such as leathers, helmets and gloves. Roads are closed to create courses for races which have 2-6 man heats. I have competed in many skating events and have travelled across Europe to compete in events trying to push myself that little bit faster every time.
.
My Background
I grew up around skating you could say, it happened by chance, I mean I tried skateboarding first, trying to skate skate parks for the best part of my child hood. You could say it didn’t go very well, crashing was imminent, it was always happening, and I just never seemed to pick it up. It wasn’t till about 2007 when a friend of mine showed me a video of 'downhill skateboarding'. woahhh! It blew my mind .The thought of guys bombing down hills on planks of wood with wheels got my mind going crazy. I thought to myself why can’t I do this? It did I admit look super hard and thought it couldn’t be possible. So a year passed with me going crazy still wanting a long board. Anyway in 2008 they had a world cup race in Eastbourne down Beachy Head road, I had to go to this, so I did. It was amazing to see the skaters shooting down these hills at such fast speeds, the thrill of it must have been brilliant. The event was a success and I knew this was it; this was the sport for me.

Few weeks later I acquired a board a lush Mako to be exact it wasn’t perfect for downhill, but I didn’t
care. It was setup bad at the time but I thought it was perfect. Over time speed was achieved and wobbles were seen far too often, no matter what happened and how many crashes I had, I never stopped riding and pushing myself more and more.

2 years past and my love of downhill skateboarding has grow and grown and to be honest now I was ready for some competing , I had started to get pretty good and I felt it was time to be let loose on the world. Representing Britain in an awesome way. I had new equipment and at high costs too, top end equipment is not cheap as some people know, it’s a lot of money but is well needed if competition gets a hold of you. Having some top end equipment gave me more confidence to push myself more and more.

Starting off with a few free rides to get me going before I competed was a brilliant experience.
I travelled to France for a few free rides then came back setting up for euro tour madness. I would be competing in the Germany world championships, my biggest race so far. Then after that I would be travelling to France for my final leg. I was dead excited.
Getting some practice in Germany before my qualification run
My Euro events were a success! I had so much fun and learnt more skating skills than I could have ever possibly imagined!! . Coming back made me sad because I had met so many friends along the way. I want to try to travel to Europe as much as I can to skate more and get my skill level as high as it can be and with sponsors I feel I can achieve that.

To me skating is everything it’s what drives me and makes me feel alive, without skating I wouldn’t stand a chance of being who I am , being someone else is not who I want to be. Travelling the world and getting the chance to skate with some amazing people is what is keeping me alive, I have the drive to do something good in my life and with skating I feel that it’s only right for me to use this passion, this drive I have and make myself be the best person that I can be. Downhill for me is like a drug, an addiction; I need it to work, to live. The feeling of going downhill at 60moh is like nothing you can experience it’s a silent but peaceful and energizing way to travel; I will never stop for no one this is my sport my life.
Skating makes me happy!

Watch out for this guy folks, he's going to be BIG!

****

Stunt-scooter riding, meet a star of the future...

2011-06-24T15:59:00.001+01:00

Gone are the days that scooters were the poor relations to skateboards, they are now seriously competing in stunts, tricks, turns & flips at skateparks across the UK. Let us introduce to you a very talented lady - please meet Shannon Francis from Bristol, already picked as a hot new star in the world of stunt-scooter/trick scooter riding in the UK. Shannon has only been riding for 18 months but already shows serious skills, as well as bags of enthusiasm!

See her latest vid here:

You rock Shannon! Thanks for sharing your pics & vids with us :0)

Find out more about the sport & scooter community here ...

Gravity sports "Team for Ride" photo report from Rigalet Championships 2011...

2011-06-20T11:00:00.001+01:00

A great performance this weekend at the Rigalet Gravity Sports Championships (near Bordeaux). Our amazing sponsored team, Team for Ride, produced some outstanding results...

Marie Bourgourd, the only female competitor, had to compete with the men but ranked a very impressive 15th overall. Thibault Meline placed 3rd overall in Buttboard and finishing sixth in streeluge. Fabien Prual celebrated a double - placing second in both Buttboard & streetluge!

Rigalet French Championship 2011

Fabien, of "Team for Ride", takes the podium...

A little down-time for Fabien between races!

Fabien & Thibaut take 2nd & 3rd place in the buttboard...

A celebration drink with friends - it is very important to keep hydrated :0)

And doing it for the girls, Marie Bougard...

Taking her top podium spot...

What an exhausting day!

Team For Ride are using our ceramic hybrid bearings (metal rings, ceramic balls & a high-speed plastic cage) & have found them, to quote Fabien "My feeling: GREAT!". Check out Team for Ride on Facebook, for more news, updates & amazing photos.

Well done guys, you are all awesome!!

World's fastest RC car in action...

2011-06-14T17:04:00.001+01:00

...blink & you've missed it!

Britain's "Manliest" Cyclist required...

2011-06-10T12:31:00.000+01:00

Singletrack cycle magazine bring us the exciting news:

"The men’s grooming brand Bluebeard stands for the less than conventional approach to life, cocking a snoot at the nanny state and the madness that is the ball ache of endless red tape and over the top health and safety clap trap.

They believe that racing cyclists are real men who emulate the brand’s philosophy of ‘Train Hard, Shave Easy’. And they are looking for ‘Britain’s manliest cyclists’ at the Dartmoor Classic Cycling Sportive 2011, which takes place between June 25-26 in Kingsteignton, Devon. This individual will demonstrate characteristics of a real man. Someone that goes that extra mile, someone who never gives up, someone who will be a great advocate for the luxury brand.
The winner will:
- Become the face of The Bluebeards Revenge in the world of cycling

- Receive The Bluebeards Revenge racing jersey and accessories

- Receive a year’s supply of The Bluebeards Revenge shaving products

- Star in a cycling ‘Train Hard, Shave Easy’ commercial

- Receive £500 to a cycling club or charity of their choice"

We look forward with great interest to seeing who is crowned the manliest man very soon!

Photo of the day...

2011-06-10T12:05:00.000+01:00

Legendary skateboarder Bob Burnquist lands the world’s first-ever “Christ Air” back flip during the North American debut of Nitro Circus Live at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on June 4^th.

Next in line was the inspirational wheelchair athlete from Las Vegas, Aaron ‘Wheelz’ Fotheringham, who made the crowd erupt when he landed a front flip off the Giganta ramp in front of his hometown.
Other memorable moments included the first-ever two rider mini bike combination jump, FMX rider Josh Sheehan attempting his first-ever double back flip, and a number of world first stunts with crazy contraptions thrown off the 50-foot Giganta ramp, including a drink cooler with wheels, a boogie board, a “Barbie” car, a side car BMX bike, and a number of back flips on kids’ tricycles.

For up-to-date tour information and behind-the-scenes footage visit http://www.nitrocircuslive.com/

Photo of the day...

2011-06-03T16:45:00.001+01:00

These photos feature sponsored skater Schaeffer Mclean, just seven years old, busting some moves at skate club & with his friends - his latest video just goes to show that you can skate anywhere if you put you mind to it!

Tony Leard, sponsored skater...

2011-06-03T10:39:00.001+01:00

Hot news people! We've just made a new friend :0)

We would like to introduce you to Tony Leard from Porter, Texas. He is a skate nut & instructor for Go Skate, as well as a brilliant graphic designer.

We look forward to bringing you more news & updates from Tony very soon!

BMX triple backflip...

2011-06-03T10:05:00.000+01:00

... virtually impossible to achieve according to the science bods (see Wired News) , but here's Jed Milton doing it anyway!!

Don't try this at home folks, unless you have an ambulance standing by and LOTS of insurance... :0)

Glen Pointon on fly fishing...

2011-06-02T17:31:00.000+01:00

Our friend Glen Pointon has just posted this smashing little vid & we'd like to share it with you.

Glen's fly-fishing blog is well worth a visit, as it's full of real character, passion & fishing!

Fishing knots...

2011-05-27T12:30:00.000+01:00

Are getting tied up in knots (or not!) when you have to do an improved clinch? Is a dropper loop driving you insane? Well no more people!!! Check out Grog's Animated Knots, a series of animated step-by-step diagrams guide you smoothly through the knotty complexities, so you don't end up with your knickers in a knot!

They also feature help on a variety of other knotty problems - household, climbing, scouting & rescue to name but a few...

Home build your own electric Z-Kart, this guy has...

2011-05-27T12:20:00.000+01:00

As major automobile manufacturers around the world pour countless dollars and man hours into the research and development of electric vehicles, George Fortin has quietly gone about making one of his own. While it is true that his Z-Kart is just a one-seater with a range of 20 miles and a top speed of 40 mph that lacks pretty much any safety features or cargo capacity, it is nonetheless a well-engineered little buggy that looks like it would be a blast to drive. Not bad at all, for something that was made and designed and built by an estate agent! I feel inspired to get the Meccano out this weekend... :0)

iPhly lets users fly their RC planes from their phone...

2011-05-18T17:37:00.000+01:00

How cool is that?! Thanks to Gizmag for the news, check out their site for more details.

The app can store settings for thousands of different R/C models, and it isn't just limited to planes – iPhly can also be used to control model boats or cars.

So James Bond... :0)

Amazing skate vid...

2011-05-12T09:02:00.000+01:00

Take a run with Louis Pilloni as he rips down a hill somewhere in California..

Fly fishing film

2011-05-10T10:33:00.000+01:00

Courtesy of our Facebook friends Fish Porn, we bring you this gorgeous little film:

Jonathan Adams 2011 Hunting/Fishing Visual Reel from Jonathan Adams on Vimeo.

You can almost feel the sunshine :0)

Coming soon... iBike, for gadget lovers on two wheels!

2011-05-09T17:29:00.000+01:00

iPhone/iPod touch-Based Fitness Coaching System for your Bike

http://www.ibikedash.com/, a leading sports technology company and creator of the iBike® Dash line of cycling computers and power meters, announced that the iBike Dash CC (Cycling Computer) and new iBike Phone Booth Bicycle Mount are now available at all Apple retail stores, starting today.
iBike Dash CC turns any iPhone or iPod touch into your own personal bike and fitness coach, enhancing the cycling experience by helping you ride smarter, keeping track of your cycling accomplishments. Easy to install, the compact (3.2 oz) iBike Dash CC includes the “Smart Phone BoothTM” protective bicycle case with advanced electronics, a wireless bicycle sensor, and free iBike app with customizable bicycling and training tools, available from the iTunes App Store at: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ibike/id369550718?mt=8

The included iBike app shows you how to pace yourself, so that you have more than enough energy left for the last few miles. The app keeps a calendar of your weekly and monthly rides, making it easier to see if you’re improving.

Sounds pretty spiffy to us!

Schaeffer Mclean, sponsored skater

2011-05-09T17:20:00.000+01:00

Just seven years old & bustin some serious moves already!

Well done Schaeffer :0)

May the 4th be with you...

2011-05-04T17:29:00.000+01:00

Happy International Star Wars Day to you all!

****

Hubble's 21st birthday...

2011-04-26T08:53:00.001+01:00

A galactic rose highlights Hubble's 21st anniversary

(PhysOrg.com) -- In celebration of the 21st anniversary of the Hubble Space Telescope’s deployment into space, astronomers pointed Hubble at an especially photogenic group of interacting galaxies called Arp 273. How beautiful is that?!

Model Show

2011-04-20T16:56:00.000+01:00

The South West Model Engineering,

Model Making and Hobbies Exhibition

@ The Royal Bath & West Show Ground, Shepton Mallet

Saturday 30th April 2011, 10am – 5pm

Sunday 1st May 2011, 10am – 5pm

Monday 2nd May 2011: 10am - 4pm

The 2011 South West Model Engineering, Model Making & Hobbies Exhibition will take place over the Royal Bank Holiday weekend from Saturday 30th April – 2nd May 2011. The organisers expect to see over 12,000 visitors over the new 3 day event.

We hope everyone enjoys a smashing show - visit the website for more details :0)

And here he is again!

2011-04-08T17:19:00.000+01:00

Here's the latest video installment from Schaeffer Mclean, now a very impressive 7 years old & so much better at skating than me (& most other mortals) that I might cry...

Sorry we haven't been able to post much of late, but it has been sooooo busy

- not that we're complaining of course, but if we don't do some filing soon

we're going to disappear under mountains of paper... :0)

Happy weekend everyone!

******

More action from Schaeffer Mclean, sponsored skater...

2011-03-22T17:40:00.000Z

Now that Spring is finally here, maybe your family can get the living room back Schaeffer!

Unusual uses for bearings...

2011-03-22T16:24:00.000Z

We always love it when we hear from customers using our bearings in applications that are slightly unusual & today we had the pleasure of chatting to Stan Jankowski. Stan has ordered some of our stainless steel bearings for his custom-made weather vanes...

Aren't they just gorgeous?! See more of Stan's work here.

RC Car Drifting Challenge

2011-02-18T09:43:00.002Z

AWESOME!

Team for Ride (gravity sports team) video...

2011-02-10T09:35:00.001Z

This is so cool, our gravity sports thrill-seekers at "Team for Ride" have put together this amazing little video:

Presentation from Team For Ride on Vimeo.

We are so proud to sponsor these amazing sports stars & think that this video helps to really showcase their skills. Go Team for Ride!!

****

Stunt Scootering...

2011-02-07T09:30:00.001Z

Gone are the days that scooters were the poor relations to skateboards, they are now seriously competing in stunts, tricks, turns & flips at skateparks across the UK. Check this out:

This looks like a great, upcoming sport with the advantage that there's not a massive outlay on expensive kit before you can get started. There don't seem to be many official UK clubs on the go yet, but there's certainly a pretty big Facebook community, which could give all you stunt-nuts out there some useful pointers :0)

Inspirational Skater...

2011-02-04T09:21:00.000Z

Our young skater star Schaeffer Mclean flagged up this video for us on Facebook last night...

There's even a little poem from the skater himself to accompany the vid:

"Hands, more than just hands. Today my legs, which lead me through these paths that life brings. Hands that touch the wheels that take me through life, calloused hands, hands sustained, loving hands, hands needs!" No one else could sum it up quite as powerfully as the man himself...

****

Great news in hydrogen fuel cell technology...

2011-02-02T09:47:00.000Z

The great advantage of hydrogen fuel cell engines is that their fuel can be taken from the air & the only waste product is water. It may currently you cost you $849 a month to lease a Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-Cell (one of the few hyrodgen-fueled vehicles currently available to consumers), but Daimler says that cost will come down considerably in the next few years. Speaking with Automotive News, Daimler's Herbert Kohler said that by 2015 he expects a "fuel cell car will not cost more than a four-cylinder diesel hybrid that meets the Euro 6 emissions standard," which would seemingly place it in a race with Toyota and its promise of a $50,000 hydrogen-powered sedan. What's more, Kohler also said that he expects fuel cell vehicles to actually be cheaper than comparable electric vehicles within the next few years, and he said that Daimler is hoping to bring a "four-digit-number" of fuel cell vehicles to market by 2013 or 2014.

Where America leads, let's hope that the rest of the world will follow...

Sports : Fishing Report: The Almighty Carp - Kern Valley Sun

2011-02-02T09:25:00.000Z

Nice article from Kern Valley Sun on Carp fishing...

Sports : Fishing Report: The Almighty Carp - Kern Valley Sun

Fingerboarding...

2011-01-28T16:31:00.001Z

... we hadn't heard of it either, until we had a call from a very nice chap in Colorado USA this week.

Basically, you custom-build the teeniest skateboard imaginable & then use your fingers to do flips, stunts & tricks with it. Some people seem to take it VERY seriously & indeed our caller bought some very high-spec Japanese miniature bearings for his board, as he wants to take it to the next level & enter competitions with his board.

I suppose at least it keeps the requirement for safety equipment & giant concrete skateparks to a minimum :0)

Happy weekend everyone!!

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Cycling London, in glorious film...

2011-01-26T17:31:00.000Z

To and From from The Digital Collective on Vimeo.

This was screened as part of the London Bicycle Film Festival 2010 & we thought it was worth another look. Check out http://www.bicyclefilmfestival.com/london/ for more news

Mountain Bike Madness...

2011-01-22T07:36:00.000Z

...in the form of the classic thrill-seeking maniac's competition, the Red Bull Rampage...

These guys are nuts, cool but nuts :0). Check out the Red Bull site for details of this year's upcoming events, music, videos & goss.

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Solar-powered Racer breaks sets speed record...

2011-01-14T09:29:00.002Z

The Sunswift IV (aka IVy) might look like a mobile dinner table, but it's actually the world's fastest solar-powered vehicle. The table-top on wheels got the official nod from the Guinness Book of World Records last week, for hitting a top speed of 88km/h (about 55 mph) -- nearly 10 km/h faster than the previous record-holder, the GM Sunraycer, which bears a striking resemblance to a disembodied Android monster. IVy, designed by Sunswift, a student-run non-profit at the University of New South Wales, reached its top speed using 1050 watts, about 400 watts less than the Sunraycer, and performed it's record-smashing run without the 25kg battery it's usually packing. Faster runs have been clocked, including by IVy, but Guinness has not been on hand for confirmation. Plenty of room for a roof box & a bike rack on top too!!
Might not run so fast in rain-spattered January British weather though...

Happy Friday folks! :0)

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Tweed Run 2011...

2011-01-13T09:37:00.000Z

http://tweedrun.com/

We are very proud to announce that the Tweed Run, a truly British cycling romp through the streets of our fair capital, is this year being exported to the USA - our cousins across the Atlantic can now share in the joys of dressing up in as much expensive wool as they can muster & cycling across New York - jolly good show chaps!!!

Scalextric - a new game...

2011-01-11T10:25:00.000Z

Now that's my kind of game!! Well done to East Durham Slotcar Club for coming up with this genius vid :0)

Icy weather posing difficulties for fishing enthusiasts...

2011-01-11T09:40:00.000Z

Elton at Angler's Net has featured the following article:

"We seem to have been very fortunate here in East Anglia, as the weather has been fairly mild in comparison to much of the country.

However, I don't think our friends in the frozen north can claim to have experienced anything quite as drastic as this short clip below, which shows a LOT of carp sitting under what is said to be 18” of thick ice. Given that the area is carpeted in carp, and is said to be the size of a football field, we can only guess that there must be thousands of carp waiting under the ice there.

I should point out that you should NEVER attempt to walk on ice in the UK. Every year, people lose their lives as a result.

I'm not entirely sure where this lake is, but judging by the sheer volume of carp and the fact that no food will have fallen from the sky for them for quite some time, I reckon even MY bite alarms might scream into action if I got to fish it after a thaw!"

What an amazing clip - there is also the news of a very warm January on the cards so there should be no excuse but to go out & get fishing this weekend :0)

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Olympic Cycling...

2011-01-06T14:08:00.000Z

We follow the fabulous site http://crapwalthamforest.blogspot.com/ - full of news, views, rants & comic looks at the mad, bad & dangerous to know world of British cycling. The article shown below gave us a right old chuckle:

"The new Olympics cycling park...

This new cycling park close to the Olympic Village is nearing completion, allowing visitors to watch cyclists in their natural environment of mud, broken glass and infrastructure obstructed by vegetation.

CAUTION. Please stay well back from the fence as the cyclists often appear stressed and angry and may be verbally abusive"

Do please check out their site for lots more wry looks at eccentric English traffic laws & road chaos!

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Possibly the Happiest Penguin Ever...

2011-01-04T17:14:00.001Z

Got to do something to keep those little feet warm

& work off the Christmas excess...!!!

This is shamelessy not related to anything bearing-y, but it is too good to miss :0)

NASA's image of the day...

2011-01-04T13:54:00.000Z

A rocket-launch captured on film in Norway... AWESOME!!!!!

The rocket was launched from Andøya Rocket Range near Andenes, Norway, and carried instruments about 200 miles (320 kilometers) into the atmosphere to observe the aurora and the associated flow of heat, particles, and electromagnetic energy. The rocket eventually landed in the ocean about 900 miles (1450 km) from the launch site.

Welcome to 2011 everyone!

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Ipad Apps for cool cats...

2010-12-21T10:42:00.002Z

During this festive season, we feel at liberty to share the odd highly entertaining snippet of rubbish with you... enjoy! :0)

Schaeffer Mclean 6 year old skater - video volume 2...

2010-12-17T09:10:00.000Z

Electric Eel powers Christmas tree...

2010-12-16T09:18:00.000Z

...do we need to say anything else?!! Should you happen to have an electric eel to spare (& a death-wish) you could try this in your own home :0)

Crafty Christmas for fishing folk...

2010-12-13T11:21:00.000Z

Too cold to fancy fishing? Then stay at home & get crafty!

Crafts are all about creativity, and finding a new use for everyday objects is a big part of the fun. Fishing bobbers are an excellent material for Christmas decorations (& if you recycle enough, you might be lucky enough to have an excuse for some new gadgets for Christmas)!!

Christmas ornaments are a popular craft using fishing bobbers. A Santa or a snowman can easily be made with these red and white fishing trinkets.

For a snowman, use three different sized bobbers, with the smallest for the head, then the medium size below and the largest on the bottom. connect the bobbers together using their hooks and then give your snowman eyes and a hat. Feed thin ribbon or string through the top to hang the ornament with.

For a Santa ornament, just use one large bobber. Glue or paint on some eyes and add a small cotton ball on top (the red half) for a hat and a bit of stretched out cotton to the bottom to make a beard.

Bobber Wreaths

•A Christmas wreath made out of bobbers is a fun decoration for a country Christmas. The wreath is made by wrapping white Christmas lights around a wire wreath form, and then wiring on various sized white and red bobbers to cover the wreath form. For a nice touch, add a large bow of festive ribbon to the top.

Bobber Light Pull

•For homes with a rustic decor, fishing bobbers make excellent light pulls. Simply use the hook on the top to attach them to the existing light pull. If the bright colors don't mesh well, try painting the bobber or shopping antique stores for vintage bobbers made from wood or cork.

Bobber Floating Keychain

Heading out on the boat? Attach a bobber to your key ring using some ribbon, twine, or a number of other materials to keep your keys from sinking if they fall overboard. To personalize the bobber or just make it pretty you can paint it or even add rub-on transfers or rhinestones. Just don't forget to remove any other heavy key rings before leaving land. The bobber won't keep more than a couple of keys from heading to the bottom of the lake

123 RC - an RC site for all model enthusiasts...

2010-12-09T09:56:00.001Z

RC Forum site with lots of interesting chit-chat, reviews, tips, manuals to download & lots more! Give it a try at http://www.123rc.net/ . Whether you're into RC boats, planes, helis or cars, this site is likely to be a great resource.

Not relevant to anything...

2010-12-07T09:38:00.001Z

...but it made us laugh!

Thanks to the Telegraph for this little chuckle :0)

Schaeffer Mclean, 6 year old skater - new video

2010-12-06T16:21:00.001Z

More awesome moves from 6 year old Schaeffer, well done mate! This includes his very first attempt at the dropping an 11 foot vert ramp and ollieing the 3rd step at the famous Lloyds skate spot in Bristol.

Watch out for my favourite bit, someone simultaneously skating & zorbing - a new extreme sport is born... :0)

Cold weather, hot tip!

2010-12-02T15:19:00.002Z

Whether it be for cycling, fishing, skating or any kind of outdoor adventure, there is one smashing bit of kit that we recommend this winter (especially as our thermometre keeps dipping below zero...).

Merino wool has been known to outdoor adventurers for a long time, for it's amazing thermal properties & now someone has very thoughtfully made a neck gaiter in merino wool. You can get them pretty much anywhere (Amazon, Rock & Rescue, Trekmates, Snow & Rock, Action Outdoors to name but a few) from as little as £13 & we would heartily recommend adding one to your Christmas list. Of course, if you have been too naughty to get one from Santa, then at least you know where to buy yourself one from now :0)

For those of you unsure as to why Merino is so spiffy, read on...!

Merino wool is common in high-end, performance athletic wear. Typically meant for use running, hiking, skiing, mountain climbing, cycling, and in other types of outdoor aerobic exercise, these clothes command a premium over synthetic fabrics.

Merino is excellent at regulating body temperature, especially when worn against the skin. The wool provides some warmth, without overheating the wearer. It draws moisture (sweat) away from the skin, the fabric is slightly moisture repellent allowing the user to avoid the feeling of wetness. Merino wool retains warmth when wet helping wearers avoid hypothermia after strenuous workouts (climbs) or weather events.

Like most wools, merino contains lanolin which has antibacterial properties. Merino is one of the softest types of wool available, due to finer fibers and smaller scales. Merino has an excellent warmth-to-weight ratio compared to other wools, in part because the smaller fibers have microscopic cortices of dead air, trapping body heat similar to the way a sleeping bag warms its occupant. Amazing stuff eh?!

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Night Flights, an RC heli gimmick?

2010-11-30T09:31:00.000Z

What do you reckon, pointless gimmick or uber cool extension of your hobby?!

Nasa's Image of the Day...

2010-11-26T10:02:00.000Z

These are soooooo cool!!! Is it a bit spoddy to get excited by these? Well we don't care!! :0)

We love that Nasa take the time to share these amazing images with Jo Public. This is the Expedition 25 Landing...

The Soyuz TMA-19 spacecraft with Expedition 25 Commander Doug Wheelock and Flight Engineers Shannon Walker and Fyodor Yurchikhin touches down near the town of Arkalyk, Kazakhstan on Friday, Nov. 26, 2010. Russian Cosmonaut Yurchikhin and NASA Astronauts Wheelock and Walker, are returning from six months onboard the International Space Station where they served as members of the Expedition 24 and 25 crews.

Welcome home peeps & happy Friday to all :0)

Photo Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

Murray Walker/racing fans will love this...

2010-11-24T09:42:00.000Z

Danny Macaskill... crazy biker strikes again

2010-11-19T15:48:00.000Z

Created by MacAskill in collaboration with Red Bull, "Way Back Home" shows the cyclist riding across Scotland to his hometown of Dunvegan in the Isle of Skye.

Travelling with his friend and filmmaker Dave Sowerby, MacAskill performs stunts at Edinburgh Castle, leaps over rocky terrain and jumps onto and over bridges in the Scottish Highlands.

The journey culminates with a return to the place where MackAskill first learned how to ride, his hometown of Dunvegan, where he skips past local hotels, jumps off railings and even front flips off a building.
Talking about his experience of riding from Edinburgh to Skye, MacAskill said: “My favourite spot in the riding clip is probably the bakery wall ride in my local village. I found it by walking out of the bakery with a big pasty. And then I saw the grass bank and the wall and thought I could maybe jump up there one day. One of the hardest tricks in the film was probably the front flip off Edinburgh Castle as it was blowing a force 10 hooly. It was also raining really heavily, if it wasn't for that it would have been easy.”

Danny MacAskill's first video, Inspired Bicycles, received 300,000 views online overnight and has since been played more than 21 million times. This guy is awesome - I'm not even happy to take one hand off the handlebars for more than a few seconds, never mind the amazing shenanigans he achieves with what looks like effortless grace!!

Local Bike shop in "Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows" fame!

2010-11-17T09:36:00.000Z

We've had some fun ourselves, sending a few bits & bobs to Leavesden Studios to be turned into a bit of wizarding magic, but not in quite such a spectacular way as Watsonion Squire Ltd of Moreton - they have supplied Hagrid's bike & sidecar for the latest installment of wizarding wonder, Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows...

The company have been making sidecars since 1912 - Watsonian Squire Ltd supplied a number of sidecar outfits to be used in the dramatic chase sequence, filmed on location in and around London.

According to the story, the motorcycle and sidecar originally belonged to Harry’s godfather, Sirius Black. Although it appears to be a normal ‘muggle’ [non-magical] vehicle, it can fly as fast as a broomstick.

Click here to visit the official website for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Since their appearance in the film & subsequently on BBC regional news, Watsonian report an increase in interest for their sidecars - I don't think they can all fly though people, just the very special ones!!

Scalextric - possibly the world's best track...

2010-11-10T17:31:00.001Z

Now this is dedication, check our James Harlan's pride & joy:

An American Scalextric enthusiast has built what appears to be the most realistic slot car circuit ever constructed in the basement beneath his house. But James Harlan of White Lake, Michigan, USA, didn't simply buy as much Scalextric clobber as he could get his hands on - he spent $5,950 (around £3,700) and took three years to customise an incredible 145ft racing track. Mr. Harlan used a mixture of fibreboard, copper tape, electric wires and some paint to create the 1:32 scale circuit, which includes 19 corners. It also features life-like pit lanes, a 19ft-long bridge and incredibly accurate scenery that includes skyscrapers, safety cars and television cameras.

Mr. Harlan has no shortage of friends queuing up to play. He often holds race nights with around 30 people, which include rigorous qualifying laps prior to a full-length race.
He has also recreated the famous Le Mans 24-Hour race, but shortened the length to 14 minutes. On track lighting was used for the night-time part of the race.
"I suppose I've taken it pretty far beyond what has already been done," said Mr. Harlan.
"Sometimes when I sit back and look at it, I realise I have created something quite extraordinary, but this isn't the end - I've only just begun."

It makes my figure-8 track with Michelin Tyre bridge look just a little bit sad... :0)

High-tech screen cleaner...

2010-11-05T15:23:00.000Z

I know you don't clean your computer screen very often - I don't either, it's hard to do the inside!

So I was delighted to find this gadget, it's made all the difference...

Just click here and presto, the inside of your screen will be cleaned! You might have to wait a moment...

Happy Weekend Everyone!!!!

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