Today's Bike Ride

[Hanneke]

Brilliantly scary ride with the boys from Castle Bikes MTB club last night! Went to pick up my bargain ex demo Exposure MaxxD from them, good to have friends with bikeshops! Decoded to tag along with their ride. It was most definitely scary in places, especially when the night set in in the wooded singeltrack :w00t: But was told afterwards it was the baptism of fire ride and the most technically difficult they can find on Machen Mountain and I obviously graduated, even though I walked the two really steep scary drops, as they said: see you next week

Mind, I wasn't the only one walking those drops... Only one guy rode the second drop... about 2 metres of mossy bank you can apparently just roll off. He made it look easy... but without a run out and on a steep wooded slope, you defo need to know what you are doing! I decided I leave hanging off the trees to another night ACE ride though and was happily at the front of the ride on the climbs and less techy stuff

Next time I am out with them I shall put the handlebars up a little and the saddle down... as my aggressive cross country set up certainly wasn't helping me. Managed to use all the travel in my lovely forks as well for the first time whoop!

Not sure I want to keep the new handlebars at 710 mm... I will give it a few more rides, but think I am going to cut them down... wibble...

[John Walker]

Cutting carbon is always a worry; because it cuts so easily its tempting not to use the proper blade and that gives all sorts of issues and can generate even more particles to bung up your face mask or get into your skin. Nasty stuff.

[Hanneke]

Great couple of hours playing on Hatterall Ridge this morning, almost 4000 feet of ascent in the bag too, over 25 kms :w00t: Hence the slow speed. But the descents are worth it and I did do all the climbing to get better at it, riding a little bit more up hill every time. I get defeated when it steepens to 35% now, not sure how you can still move forwards AND keep your front wheel on the ground unless you get out of the saddle, which alas didn't give my Racing Ralph rear enough grip without my weight on it, so spin paradise, dabbing and walking ensued...

Managed to dip myself into a really deep puddle too and by deep I mean as deep as the axles of my 29er bike :-O Almost toppled over because of loss of momentum and got VERY wet and muddy Much fun! :thumbup:

[shaunaneto]

2hrs or so blatting around woods and links on the new bike.

Received a lesson in BB/pedal height, probably picked up a few bruises with that lesson.

[Hanneke]

I know what you mean! Been there, done that!

My 29er is brilliant for that, still not quite used to the fact that the BB/pedal clearance on it is so much greater than on the crossers and 26 ins MTB

2hrs or so blatting around woods and links on the new bike.

Received a lesson in BB/pedal height, probably picked up a few bruises with that lesson.

[Hanneke]

Unexpected mid week treat: day off and a lovely ride with friends over the 'Gap' on the MTB's. Weather wasn't brilliant, so we set off in pooring rain and gale force winds. Had to walk with the bike accros a very windy gap in the ridge we were on at some point, but half way around, it stopped raining, we had views all accross South Wales from the Gap in the Brecon Beacons ridge then wooshed down the rocky descent and over bridleways back to the campsite where my friends were staying. Drinks in the sun after a hot shower and then decamped to the pub for a big meal. ACE day! Loving that bike more every day. It may well be an aggressive XC and endurance race setup, but it copes excellently with 'wild' riding as well

[shaunaneto]

1hr 30m steady on the cross bike, ahhh, it's a joy

[Rich C]

An hour on the turbo, 1st "ride" after breaking collar bone 2 weeks ago. Less pain every morning so things must be getting better.

[geronimo]

Shap and Back time trial on Sunday 26th August starting 10 am
28 miles and 1500'
club TT so no need to enter in advance
start on A6 by Mintsfeet trading estate outskirts of Kendal to 30 mile signs at shap village and back.
danger of event being cancelled due to lack of entries. anyone interested in doing this?
organised by Kent Valley RC

[Hanneke]

Nice one Rich

Sorry Geronimo, engaged elsewhere racing the MTB...

No riding for me yesterday or today either. Severe weather is not very conducive to road intervals... Could have gone to the track this afternoon, on my way to Bristol, as I have to go and pick the track bike up anyway at the velodrome, but frankly, I cannot face it... so now just being lazy for a change

An hour on the turbo, 1st "ride" after breaking collar bone 2 weeks ago. Less pain every morning so things must be getting better.