Re:
hey Guys, thought i'd do another little update as it's been a while.
thanks for the comments etc and hello Kestonian, long time!
so the last update was really just after Mayhem, good weekend that and nice unexpected lap aswel which wasn't the plan!
first of all i'll tell you about the finances a bit, the first year i didn't pay myself at all, i made sure i had enough to live on so the plan was to start paying myself from may this year, which i have been doing but only enough to get by and no more, my attitude is that if i want this to look after me long term i need to let it grow slowly and not try and rip money out too early, by the end of this year i'll have paid myself the equivalent of minimum wage which is not too bad really, bear in mind i have also been trying to grow the stock aswel, at some point the stock level will top out at which point i'll be replacing stuff that sells as opposed to growing the stock, at this point i should be able to pay myself a bit more sensibly. but for the moment it's ticking over ok for the shop and me personally.
i managed to get a week in the Alps with some friends, i paid for this out of flogging my old stuff (so please buy the wheels etc i have for sale on the forum as that's going towards next years holiday!) the friends that came with me were my buddy Dave on his YT Jeffsy, Ben AKA B3, he came back from NZ with me a couple of years ago, he now works for Specialized UK, also our mutual friend from Burkes Cycles NZ was on a round the world after Uni trip so joined us aswel so the 4 or us had a blast riding there. Tom also rode the Isle of Wight with me before Morzine so that was fun to take him out on some local trails.
Tom likes the taste of Orange
IMG_7716 by
Dr. Branom, on Flickr
the Tennyson Monument
IMG_7719 by
Dr. Branom, on Flickr
the Burkes Cycles stickers get everywhere
IMG_7722 by
Dr. Branom, on Flickr
out for a curry night in Brick Lane in London, it was watch wars
IMG_7726 by
Dr. Branom, on Flickr
before i headed of to Morzine i went to meet CK and JB at Look Mum No Hands in London, i was a bit late but it was a great evening and because we were all staying in a similar place towards Heathrow we were on the Tube for almost another hour together talking bike stuff so that was fun, the next day i met them at Charlie the Bikemongers event in Swanage so i basically had 3 days with these guys including sitting in on the Cranked magazine interview with Mike D and Seb, awesome few days
IMG_7742 by
Dr. Branom, on Flickr
the only selfie i have ever taken and 2 legends were in the pic, this was during the Cranked interview
IMG_7749 by
Dr. Branom, on Flickr
the start of the ride on saturday in Swanage
IMG_7756 by
Dr. Branom, on Flickr
then straight back from Swanage to home, quick shower and off to Morzine the same day! first day riding, L to R. Me, Tom, Dave, B3. this was at the top of SuperMorzine.
IMG_7774 by
Dr. Branom, on Flickr
obigatory pic from the top of the Mossette peak looking back down Puncture alley.
IMG_7785 by
Dr. Branom, on Flickr
IMG_7786 by
Dr. Branom, on Flickr
while i was in Morzine Tom insisted i get pissed, he knows i'm not a big drinker, but i said i'd give him one night, he then said i had to promise i'd stay out till atleast 2am, this was Tom on his balcony at midnight after we'd lost him, B3 found him on their balcony and sent me this pic
IMG_7792 by
Dr. Branom, on Flickr