Went back to Coed Llandegla today. Its two weeks since I first went, so wanted to see how I had improved.
I fitted my Fat Albert 2.35" Snakeskin front tyre last night and bled the rear brake (as it had gone a little mushy).
Wow, the difference between front tyres was amazing, it just grips! You can put the front end where you want it to go and it holds the line. Before I was feeling a little out of control on some of the faster descents on the loose rocks and wanted to keep the speed down, hence cooking the rear brake. Just a confidence dab on the brakes and let it flow now! The bike flies, and it doesn't seem to have cost much in the way of speed.
I monstered around the red route, dropped the saddle before the technical half, did the drop offs and powered over the humps and bumps. I even managed some baby jumps off them with both wheels off the ground (don't laugh!). I was on a massive high and felt great! Got out the saddle and made it up the super steep hill too this time.
Had my lunch then did the True Blue route, started to have some problems with the rear mech adjustment, gears were starting to skip slightly which was a pain. Had to keep it in the lower gears on the rear mech and go slower. I'll see if I can look at it and fix this myself, but turning it over by hand they don't do it, only when pedaling does it happen. Might have to take it to the bike shop.
My backside started to hurt and my legs had had enough on the True Blue descent too. Made it round OK, but with some more fitness I could have kept going better there. Had 4 guys lycra'd up fly past me on this route towards the end.
The rest of the day I had been overtaking pretty much everyone, especially on the climbs, must be Southerners who don't know what a hill looks like
