British Mountain Bike Series signs more top brands to create and all in E-commerce assault

The organisers of the British Mountain Bike Series have announced a further 5 brands who will be exhibiting and demoing at this years series. With Trek, Specialized and Giant already on board we can now confirm Santa Cruz, Genesis, Gary Fisher, Merida and Yeti will be joining them at all 6 events beginning with the demo only event at Glentress on March 6. In addition to the bike brands each event will also feature the chance to sample the full range of Accelerade nutrition and the new range of hydraulics backpacks from Osprey.
The Series now consists of 6 demo events, 5 rounds of the British XC series and 3 challenge events, so race, ride, watch or demo or all of those.

James Olsen from Genesis was keen to jump on board
”Genesis is pleased to announce that we’ve signed up for the demo events at each round of the 2010 British MTB Race series. It’s the ideal place for us to give you a chance to ride a 2010 Genesis bike, or just come over and say hi if you’re there. The main attraction of this series as a demo event was that the organisers have pulled together the UK XC race scene by hosting XC and Enduro events in the same weekend. We think this will mean more appeal to spectators and riders and hopefully it’ll be a return to the race weekend atmosphere of the early days – we’re looking forward to it.”

Santa Cruz
“Santa Cruz is very excited at being involved in such a high profile demo series which will enable more people than ever before the chance to ride some of the best bikes at the best venues across the country. Demo-ing bikes is a crucial part of what we do, and combined with the British XC race series, this not only offers more riders the chance to try before they buy – it also gives them the whole weekend package of riding, racing and spectating.”
Dickon Hepworth
MD Jungle Products / Santa Cruz UK

DATES AND VENUES:
Demo only
Mar 6 Glentress
Race, Ride and Demo weekends…
Round 1 – Mar 27/28 Sherwood Pines, + night demo saturday
Round 2 – May 8/9 Wasing Park (note venue change)
Round 3 – May 29/30 Margam Park, + Big Welsh Weekend enduro
Round 4 – July 3/4 Dalby Forest, + Great Yorkshire enduro
Round 5 – Sep 25/26 Newnham Park, + Newnham 60 enduro

Millions wrongly think they have food allergy

Millions of people wrongly believe they have a food allergy where as in reality just a fraction have a genuine problem, researchers claim.

One in five adults think they are allergic to food, with most stating a wheat intolerance as the problem.

However, when they are actually tested just two per cent have a genuine allergy or intolerance, a report from the University of Portsmouth said.

Women are more likely to report a food allergy than men and it is thought the increase in the use of home testing kits and fad diets and celebrity eating regimes may be fuelling the misconceptions.

It means a vast number of people are avoiding foods that can safely eat and may be missing out on vital nutrients, the researchers said. Conversely symptoms that people think are linked to food may be due to another underlying condition that is going undiagnosed and therefore untreated, they warned.

Half of the population believe wheat allergy or intolerance is common but in reality it is as rarer than peanut allergy which has recently been found to hit only one in 50.

Dr Carina Venter, the lead author at the University of Portsmouth, said: "There is a clear discrepancy between the number of people who report that they have food allergy or intolerance and the numbers whose food allergy or intolerance can be confirmed by a medical diagnosis.

"Self-diagnosis and other diagnostic tests not conducted by qualified medical professionals are not reliable.

"Food allergy is usually investigated via a skin prick test by a medical professional with access to the patient's clinical history, sometimes in conjunction with a period of eliminating the suspect food.

"Parents who believe their child has a food allergy may feel anxious about their health and go to great lengths to ensure their child avoids certain foods.

"Children are more prone to nutritional problems when foods are excluded from the diet so it's even more critical that they receive a correct diagnosis."

Surveys have found that around 20 per cent of people said they had a food intolerance ranging from wheat and eggs to milk and peanuts.

The researchers said that 4.5 per cent of people thought they were allergic to wheat where as studies in children had shown that in reality less than one in 200 actually had a problem.

For those with genuine food allergies or intolerance it is vital they receive advice about replacing the nutrients they are missing out on which is why it is important people do not self diagnose, the researcher said.

Dr Venter added: "If you exclude bread from your healthy, balanced diet, you'll won't be able to enjoy a great tasting food which is naturally low sugar, low in salt, is calcium enriched and is a good source of protein and fibre."

The Wheat Hypersensitivity Report was commissioned by the Flour Advisory Bureau.

The figures did not include coeliac disease where the immune system does not function correctly causing weight loss, diarrhoea, and stomach cramps.

Symptoms of wheat allergy usually start within two hours of consumption including hives, itching, gastrointestinal symptoms and wheezing.

Wheat intolerance is similar but the symptoms are usually less severe and occur over a longer time frame and after eating more.

Guest house grandfather clock sells for £400,000

A grandfather clock that was a conversation piece in Lake District guest house turned-out to be a rare example that has sold for more than £400,000.

The ebony veneer "long clock" was made in London around 1670 by Dutch-born Ahasuerus Fromanteel, who built the first-ever precise pendulum clocks in England.

It went into a sale at Bonhams auction rooms in London with an estimate of up to £150,000 but went under the hammer for £400,800, to an un-named collector.

Bonhams sold the timepiece on behalf of the owners of a Lakeland guest house where it arrived after spending 100 years measuring time at a house in rural France.

Despite its travels the 5ft 9inch tall clock is in fine, original condition with the ebony veneered case intact along and with exquisite mouldings to the hood, trunk and sides.

A Bonhams spokesman said: "Without doubt, had this clock been known to the great horological historians of the past, it would have featured in many of the standard reference works and exhibitions as a wonderful, largely untouched, example of the formative years of the English pendulum clock.

"The clock recently returned to the UK having graced a family home in the South of France since around the time of the second World War.

"The vendors family have their roots in the North of England and inside the hood, written in pencil at the back of the tympanum is "W Rogers, Cook St. L'pool, July 1885, JW"

James Stratton, Head of Bonhams Clock Department says: "This is a fantastic result. This clock was made while the ashes from the great fire of London were still cooling.

"Impeccable provenance, rarity and immaculate construction all make this a collector?s piece and a fantastic investment.

"The best of the best will continue to demand a premium price - which has proven to be the story of this recession.

"The estimate of £100,000 - £150,000 paid tribute to the lot?s historical value but even we were surprised by the level of interest.

"Without doubt, had this clock been known to the great horological historians of the past, it would have featured in many of the standard reference works and exhibitions as a wonderful, largely untouched, example of the formative years of the English pendulum clock."

Historic records show that the Fromanteel family produced the first pendulum clocks in England, following the visit of Fromanteel?s son John to Holland.

He learned to make the new-style clocks from Salomon Coster who had an agreement with Christiaan Huygens to use his orignal idea.

It meant clocks had became accurate enough to have minute hands for the first time.

Cops take kids Christmas shopping

More than 125 local children, armed with police escorts, converged on Walmart on Saturday morning looking for the perfect toy during the Bullhead City Police Department's annual Shop with a Cop.

The program, now in its 14th year, allows children to be paired up with a police officer for a morning of shopping, buying toys, clothes and music for themselves or for their families. Children selected for the program are nominated by their school teachers and approved by school administrators. Participants need to be on the free and reduced lunch program in order to be nominated.

Scott Steele, president of the Bullhead City Police Officer's Association which sponsors the program, said the event is always a success.

“It's a memorable morning for not only the kids, the officers look forward to this event as well,” Steele said. “It is a way to interact with children on a different level since a lot of them see us while we are working and are scared of us. The program gives kids a positive experience with us.”

The officers assist the child with picking out the items they'd like to purchase and keeping a running total of the amount. Each child is given a $100 gift card to spend.

“I want video games, like a racing game and gun games,” said 7-year-old Carson Rac.

Walmart not only provides extra staff for the event, but also pays the sales tax for the items. It's an event staff say they love.

“Shop with a Cop is an event we at Walmart look forward to every year,” said co-manager Dale Westrom. “We're glad to be part of it.”

Before going to Walmart, the children and officers ate a complete pancake breakfast at the Elks Lodge.

“I only ate my sausage,” said Blythe Holloway, 7.

Shop with a Cop is made possible by donations from community groups, businesses and individuals.

In addition to the Bullhead City Police Department, members from the Mohave County Sheriff's Office Search and Rescue, Fort Mojave Tribal Police Department, the Mohave County Constable's Office, California Highway Patrol, Arizona Department of Public Safety, Arizona Game and Fish, Bureau of Land Management, Nevada Department of Wildlife and the National Parks Service participated in the event.

Christmas Shopping, use internet, not high street
Shoppers should avoid the high street and head to the internet if they want to cut their Christmas shopping bill by hundreds of pounds, a leading watchdog has found.
Presents, including books, perfumes, CDs and toys, are on average 17 per cent cheaper from internet retailers than from high street shops, according to Which?.
The consumer watchdog researched the price of 28 of the most popular gifts and compared the standard high street price – looking at a wide range of shops, both national chains and independents – and compared with the cheapest online price.
Just one item, a Blu-ray DVD player, was cheaper on the high street and that was at an independent shop. All the other goods, from Calvin Klein perfume, Antony Beevor's latest history book The Battle for Normandy, a DVD of The Boat that Rocks, to Star Wars Lego and a Barbie doll were all cheaper on the web, sometimes significantly so. The online price included the cost of delivery.

The Which? report did make clear that shoppers who preferred to visit shops, rather than sit at their computer, to do their shopping, could track down bargains – but only if they did their research. While the average price for DVDs and books on the high street was more expensive than on the internet.

Come Winter, Come!

Style is a dicey affair. The need to conform to the rules laid down by a nebulous group can be maddening, especially if you’re the kind of person who would much rather wear faded pyjamas outdoors if you could just get away with it.

But the good thing is that it’s possible to fit the bill when it comes to style while enjoying it at the same time. Come winter and clothing sees a sea change. There might not be snow or frostbite, but cold and chills can be equally threatening.

Pack away your flimsy cotton capris, spaghetti straps (unless you plan to use them as padding) and flip-flops. Cold weather doesn’t necessarily imply dull shawls and depressingly dark jackets. This season’s canon is colour, and the brighter the better.

It’s only November but the bounty is spilling out of stores. Shrugs, misconstrued by many as temporary garments that only hide too much skin or curves, have stepped up as the newest must-haves.

Jackets are also seeing new styles this season. The typical sporty jacket that you pull over T-shirts and kurtas comes in greens, purples and yellows apart from the standard greys and whites. Woollen jackets are also widely available: thick, soft material in cutesy colours, both thigh-length and to the waist, with whimsical tassels and floppy bows to soften the overall look. They might be slightly heavy on the pocket but they keep you snug.

I Love Roxy Watch

Roxy Watches are the sister brand to the very popular Quiksilver Watches.

Roxy Watches keep launching distinctive surfer-style watches with an enduring appeal for active girls.

Case: Solid marine grade stainless steel
Crystal: Reinforced mineral crystal
Movement: Japanese 3 hand quartz analog movement
Strap: Polyurethanel
Waterproof: 5 ATM