Soldato
Eurrgh. Was going to do a 200KM ride today, woke up with a stiff calf which feels like I've pulled something somehow 
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Eurrgh. Was going to do a 200KM ride today, woke up with a stiff calf which feels like I've pulled something somehow
200KM?? jesus...
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Soldato
So, I went out for a ride this morning, and remembered I still hadn't changed the clock on my Cateye Strada. I couldn't remember how, so when I got back I popped it off the bike so I could find the instructions and change it later.
I've just now walked passed the washing machine with all my stuff in it and thought "hmm, whats that clunking noise.. Oh ******".
So I now have a very clean Cateye Strada. Know what though? It still bloody works! I was quite amazed..
I've just now walked passed the washing machine with all my stuff in it and thought "hmm, whats that clunking noise.. Oh ******".
So I now have a very clean Cateye Strada. Know what though? It still bloody works! I was quite amazed..
Was at the demo day at Glentress today, very good... Had a go on a KHS Flagstaff full-suss 29er, a Lapierre Zesty 514, a Cotic Soul and a Mtrax 4.0... The idea was to try some bikes much like my own but also some completely different...
The Zesty was brilliant, but helped convince me that I just prefer a hardtail for my riding (the test runs I was using were blue, red and orange- blue climbs mainly and Pennel's Vennel and Hit-Squad Hill for red descents). It absolutely ate them up, and had me hitting all the harder routes (bar one, which I chicken out of completely every time) and I started intentionally flat-landing jumps just because I could... But I just didn't feel much joy in it to be totally honest, same as on my mate's Heckler (though a LOT lighter, it really climbs fantastically well)
The 29er was interesting, I'd expected it to climb well but it really felt its weight, it was hard work... And the handling was just a wee bit cumbersome, though at the end of the day you can ride it just like a regular bike. Carried speed incredibly well, I kept charging into things too fast. But despite being a weird offshoot of regular mtbs, it actually felt very oldschool, someone described it as "mellow" which is spot on. I loved it, for XC and distance riding it'd be superb. Or, maybe a 29er hardtail just to shed the pounds, as it was a big heavy thing.
The Mtrax, I didn't like at all. I used to run a Carrera Kraken with a Rockshox Tora in it, £400 worth of bike and fork, and it rode almost exactly the same as this does (£1100). it just felt overstiff and dead... Speclist was great but it just didn't ride like I'd expect over a grand's worth of hardtail to do. My own Scandal absolutely owns it to be totally honest (and it's far more flexible too). Fail. But some people do love it, I just don't know why, it just felt like expensive parts bolted to a cheap old frame.
The Cotic Soul, on the other hand, makes my Scandal look pretty poor It's almost exactly as good on the downs and jumps, but far, far better on the climbs, more accurate handling too. I was hitting the trails almost exactly as hard and fast as I would on the Scandal within minutes of getting on it. I want this frame, so much. If all goes well, I've found my next bike. Which is a wee bit disappointing since I didn't actually want to find a next bike, I was just there for some free rides!
Very good day out though- simple and straightforward organisation, no real buerocracy on the day, basic but it worked. Great range of bikes too- the big names were absent, pretty much, but I think it's better to ride the smaller names...
The Zesty was brilliant, but helped convince me that I just prefer a hardtail for my riding (the test runs I was using were blue, red and orange- blue climbs mainly and Pennel's Vennel and Hit-Squad Hill for red descents). It absolutely ate them up, and had me hitting all the harder routes (bar one, which I chicken out of completely every time) and I started intentionally flat-landing jumps just because I could... But I just didn't feel much joy in it to be totally honest, same as on my mate's Heckler (though a LOT lighter, it really climbs fantastically well)
The 29er was interesting, I'd expected it to climb well but it really felt its weight, it was hard work... And the handling was just a wee bit cumbersome, though at the end of the day you can ride it just like a regular bike. Carried speed incredibly well, I kept charging into things too fast. But despite being a weird offshoot of regular mtbs, it actually felt very oldschool, someone described it as "mellow" which is spot on. I loved it, for XC and distance riding it'd be superb. Or, maybe a 29er hardtail just to shed the pounds, as it was a big heavy thing.
The Mtrax, I didn't like at all. I used to run a Carrera Kraken with a Rockshox Tora in it, £400 worth of bike and fork, and it rode almost exactly the same as this does (£1100). it just felt overstiff and dead... Speclist was great but it just didn't ride like I'd expect over a grand's worth of hardtail to do. My own Scandal absolutely owns it to be totally honest (and it's far more flexible too). Fail. But some people do love it, I just don't know why, it just felt like expensive parts bolted to a cheap old frame.
The Cotic Soul, on the other hand, makes my Scandal look pretty poor
It's almost exactly as good on the downs and jumps, but far, far better on the climbs, more accurate handling too. I was hitting the trails almost exactly as hard and fast as I would on the Scandal within minutes of getting on it. I want this frame, so much. If all goes well, I've found my next bike. Which is a wee bit disappointing since I didn't actually want to find a next bike, I was just there for some free rides!Very good day out though- simple and straightforward organisation, no real buerocracy on the day, basic but it worked. Great range of bikes too- the big names were absent, pretty much, but I think it's better to ride the smaller names...
Funnily enough, Brant was at Glentress today with the Ragley. It's a lovely looking bike, but I'm still not sure what the odd design touches like the in-frame rear brake are all about. That's something they started doing for slot dropouts but it seems meaningless on QR. I bet it rides well though. So, I did ask him why he left On One, since people asked, and the answer was "I just wanted to do some new things which didn't really fit with On One, so it made sense. And I wanted to be able to do design work for other companies" Nice feller.
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Soldato
whats the general thought on Rockshox Dart2 forks? my bike that should be here today has them fitted, are they something i should look at replacing sharpish or will they do for now? bike is a 08 commencal combi disk
I had them on my first bike and though they were terrible - even for a first bike. They are especially bad when its cold outside, just becomes completely rigid!
If you are in the position to change it, I would recommend you do so.
Soldato
I got them on my XC bike (80mm travel) My main bike is a glory with fox 40s and i gotta be honest i find them ok when setup properly. Ive given mine a right hammering, even ridden dirt jumps on them and downhill tracks. Just ride them, adjust them and then see how you feel?
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quick question here:
in the not so distant furture going to upgrade gears, ie, chainset/rear/front/shifters ect(not inclu cassette) from lz/decore to SLX and wondering:
should i buy parts online then ask a shop like evans to fit it for me and if so would i be ripped off?
or should i go to LBS and try asking them for fitting the parts and/or buying parts though them, and if so how much it cost you recon to fit it?
in the not so distant furture going to upgrade gears, ie, chainset/rear/front/shifters ect(not inclu cassette) from lz/decore to SLX and wondering:
should i buy parts online then ask a shop like evans to fit it for me and if so would i be ripped off?
or should i go to LBS and try asking them for fitting the parts and/or buying parts though them, and if so how much it cost you recon to fit it?
Soldato
Get prices for what you pay online, then ask what your local bike shop will charge for fitting, then ask them how much it is for them to supply and fit the parts.. Go with cheaper option 
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My current rides.
'07 Kona Stuff + various upgrades
'07 Standard 250L custom build
'07 Kona Stuff + various upgrades
'07 Standard 250L custom build
Soldato
Shame I'm not actually eligible to race
Caporegime
My bike after a nice clean, good job I dont have a MTB or that room would be a bombsite!
Try them then decide
People will slate them because they're cheap, but they're like the Suntour XCRs- good enough, just. If they feel OK to you, don't worry about it.Try them then decide
People will slate them because they're cheap, but they're good enough, just. If they feel OK to you, don't worry about it. Buying a bike then immediately upgrading it is always madness tbh, if you're thinking that way you should maybe sent it straight back and get a bike with a better spec to start with, it'll probably work out better for money... But it should do you perfectly fine. I have a very similiar performing fork, Suntour XCR, in my spare bike and as long as I remember what bike I'm on they do fine.
Soldato
Got back from Afan today after a weekend there. Me and three mates did the Skyline on Saturday, which was a complete waste of a day, 46km of rubbish singletrack and way too much climbing. Anyone thinking of going to Afan, give the Skyline a miss, it ruined the weekend. Everyone was too knackered after to do anything else so we just did a 23km ride on Sunday, which was way better. Lots of fast swooping singletrack and nice climbs.
It was great, but if we'd not done the Skyline we'd have had the energy to do two or three other trails, which would have made for an even better weekend.
The Vagrant was awesome though, now with '09 Fox TALAS 36's which are incredible forks. The change in head angle and front end height made up for the extra weight of my heavy wheels, a great bonus I wasn't expecting! I'll get some pictures up of the bike when I've cleaned it!
It was great, but if we'd not done the Skyline we'd have had the energy to do two or three other trails, which would have made for an even better weekend.
The Vagrant was awesome though, now with '09 Fox TALAS 36's which are incredible forks. The change in head angle and front end height made up for the extra weight of my heavy wheels, a great bonus I wasn't expecting! I'll get some pictures up of the bike when I've cleaned it!
I did Afan W2 (The Wall and White’s Level combined) ride last August when it was about 30c and it was a killer.
From my experience of all of the Welsh Trail centers; the Energy, Goodwood and Darkside single track sections @ Afan are probably the best in Wales.
The Skyline trail adds too many double track scenery sections which is great if you enjoy XC rides with stunning views but so no great if you just want single track goodness.
From my experience of all of the Welsh Trail centers; the Energy, Goodwood and Darkside single track sections @ Afan are probably the best in Wales.
The Skyline trail adds too many double track scenery sections which is great if you enjoy XC rides with stunning views but so no great if you just want single track goodness.
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Soldato
I did the skyline ride twice in March, The single track in wales are just amazing.
However next time i venture to Afan I will be doing the W2 instead.
However next time i venture to Afan I will be doing the W2 instead.
Just got myself my first steel frame since '95
I've always disliked the way alloy bikes ride so looking forward to building this one up! Now that I have a Meta 55 for the rough stuff think I'll appreciate a hard tail more on the less gnarly trails.
I've always disliked the way alloy bikes ride so looking forward to building this one up! Now that I have a Meta 55 for the rough stuff think I'll appreciate a hard tail more on the less gnarly trails.
Associate
well, that'll teach me.
Thought i'd do a turbo session last night, nice and easy one to get me back into the swing of things.
10 mins warm up then 5min intervals split between 105rpm in low gears and 75-80rpm in high gears working at a max of 147bpm(right for me).
No problem doing it, felt nice to be working my self in a controlled way, HR was pretty steady and would recover quickly during the transition from one interval to the next.
Roll on to 2am this morning, woken up feeling as though the whole of my body was on fire.
Guess Neuropathic pain/MS doesnt take well to being having some abuse, and now im discovering what real fatigue is like.
Was an interesting exercise though. At least i know what my body cant do
So bang goes this years cycling targets.
Thought i'd do a turbo session last night, nice and easy one to get me back into the swing of things.
10 mins warm up then 5min intervals split between 105rpm in low gears and 75-80rpm in high gears working at a max of 147bpm(right for me).
No problem doing it, felt nice to be working my self in a controlled way, HR was pretty steady and would recover quickly during the transition from one interval to the next.
Roll on to 2am this morning, woken up feeling as though the whole of my body was on fire.
Guess Neuropathic pain/MS doesnt take well to being having some abuse, and now im discovering what real fatigue is like.
Was an interesting exercise though. At least i know what my body cant do
So bang goes this years cycling targets.
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