Mountain Biking
- Thread starter Zefan
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@PinkFloyd @TallPaul_S finally got the MBR Demo Day info pack - was starting to get a bit nervous! Did either of you buy the uplift ticket or just the cycle pass?
Soldato
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Just the main pass for Saturday, I want to see how the bikes climb (although I'll probably regret this after the 4th demo ride!!).
I thought that too, which is why I bought an uplift pass lol. I do plan on taking one or two bikes on a full loop to see how they climb.
Soldato
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The uplift is at the end of the loop I think so at least I won't be shattered just in time for the good bits, looking at the red and blue loops, the red has a tricky off camber steep downhill section so I might stick to the blue for the day 
Soldato
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Yeah I looked on trail forks, the blue is part of verderers and the red is the same but with Y2K added/instead of one part.
Both loops are in the PDF in the email.
Yeah, I've seen the PDF but now you've said it, I can see they're both a similar loop bar Y2K
I'll take a look at Y2K on YouTube then.
First bit of actual sunlight and blue sky I've seen in over a week and the first time in over a month its not been raining when i've had a chance to get out on the bike! Just a shame i totally misjudged the conditions...
I genuinely though it might have thawed enough to get a decent if not a little sloppy ride in. Oh boy was i wrong, majority of the trails were covered in ankle-knee deep snow with some spots of chest deep drifts. Not too bad when you could keep momentum and weight back as i could sort of surf the top layers of the snow, but as soon as you shifted weight forward or had to slow down or just hit a soft/deep spot it was game over. I spent more of the 2 1/2 hour ride hike-a-biking than i did riding, but it was a beautiful day nonetheless.
I genuinely though it might have thawed enough to get a decent if not a little sloppy ride in. Oh boy was i wrong, majority of the trails were covered in ankle-knee deep snow with some spots of chest deep drifts. Not too bad when you could keep momentum and weight back as i could sort of surf the top layers of the snow, but as soon as you shifted weight forward or had to slow down or just hit a soft/deep spot it was game over. I spent more of the 2 1/2 hour ride hike-a-biking than i did riding, but it was a beautiful day nonetheless.
Soldato
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Went to the Whinlatter for the first time yesterday, took my 6 year old too as he's bike mad. We did the blue trail (long route). Really nice little circuit that. I wouldn't do it again with him though as he finds the climbs too tricky.
Just bought the base ticket here, wanting to see how the bikes climb aswel as go downhill. Glad they finally sent something through though, like you I was begining to wonder how the whole thing was going to work. Glad I don't have to be there too early!
The time you get on each bike per session is lower than I'd expect at 35 minutes. Hopefully enough to get a feel for the bike. I guess if it comes to it I can try and get another lap on the Canyon I'm heavily considering buying!
Think I'll do a mix of blue and red runs. Definitely want to take the Spectral on the red, but really fancy trying a modern hard tail on the blue to see how it goes. Likewise it would be good to try a 29er.
Shall we try and meet up for lunch?
Soldato
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Don't nick the XL Spectral, that's mine!!
I may try and have a couple of runs on that depending what else I manage to ride...
I'm happy to meet up for lunch too, I won't be there until 10am (3 hours drive, 7am start from Kent... zzzzz).
I may try and have a couple of runs on that depending what else I manage to ride...
I'm happy to meet up for lunch too, I won't be there until 10am (3 hours drive, 7am start from Kent... zzzzz).
Got to the event, realised we'd not planned how to meet up, saw I had zero signal and had to give up on that plan.
Fun day out though, despite the mud and the lack of availability on some of the bikes - the queues for the Canyon Spectrals were crazy. I managed to get a go on the Medium even though I wanted the large, was definitely worth it though, best bike of the day despite the size being off.
Went out on a Titici Flexi for a complete change of pace and following the initial thought along the lines of "**** this is sketchy" I got the hang of how to ride it and really enjoyed the speed you can hold on a skinny super light 29er. Would never buy one though without having the money for multiple capable bikes. A lot of the blue run was too much for it with my skill and experience.
Last bike I tried was a Evil Insurgent, fast and fun but just didn't win me over like the Spectral. The complicated rear suspension geometry looks like it would be a bitch to clean too!
Even managed to get out of the "car park" (muddy field) without help with a bit of rocking the car too and fro on the clutch!
Fun day out though, despite the mud and the lack of availability on some of the bikes - the queues for the Canyon Spectrals were crazy. I managed to get a go on the Medium even though I wanted the large, was definitely worth it though, best bike of the day despite the size being off.
Went out on a Titici Flexi for a complete change of pace and following the initial thought along the lines of "**** this is sketchy" I got the hang of how to ride it and really enjoyed the speed you can hold on a skinny super light 29er. Would never buy one though without having the money for multiple capable bikes. A lot of the blue run was too much for it with my skill and experience.
Last bike I tried was a Evil Insurgent, fast and fun but just didn't win me over like the Spectral. The complicated rear suspension geometry looks like it would be a bitch to clean too!
Even managed to get out of the "car park" (muddy field) without help with a bit of rocking the car too and fro on the clutch!
Really enjoyed it! Got 5 runs in in total, so not too bad - how many did you do? Heard people say they barely got 3 in after waiting for so long at the Canyon tent! Evil The Calling just pipped the Nukeproof Mega & Canyon Strive for me. Felt incredibly plush - loved it.
I had to get towed out by the tractor despite being 15 yards from the front gate
I had to get towed out by the tractor despite being 15 yards from the front gate
Soldato
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I managed 3 bikes, the stumpjumper 29, spectral and the focus jam2 e-bike
That climb/push back up was a killer! The only way I was going to get a 3rd run was on an e-bike, they're interesting machines. Felt like I had to apologise to every rider I passed on the climbs though!
The spectral. Awesome bike. 10/10.
I've not been mountain biking for about 15 years, only done a couple of rides on hire hardtails - I was getting a bit of air on the rollers on the blue section so that shows just how confidence inspiring and playful it was. Oh and it flew up the fire road climb at the end, loads of grip and really good rolling speed on those 2.6" tyres.
The spectral has gone right up the list bikes to purchase come autumn and it's confirmed I want a 27.5 rather than a 29er.
Borrowed my dad's car with 4wd so I was fine in the car park, had to help push out the car next to me though!
That climb/push back up was a killer! The only way I was going to get a 3rd run was on an e-bike, they're interesting machines. Felt like I had to apologise to every rider I passed on the climbs though!
The spectral. Awesome bike. 10/10.
I've not been mountain biking for about 15 years, only done a couple of rides on hire hardtails - I was getting a bit of air on the rollers on the blue section so that shows just how confidence inspiring and playful it was. Oh and it flew up the fire road climb at the end, loads of grip and really good rolling speed on those 2.6" tyres.
The spectral has gone right up the list bikes to purchase come autumn and it's confirmed I want a 27.5 rather than a 29er.
Borrowed my dad's car with 4wd so I was fine in the car park, had to help push out the car next to me though!
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Couple of pics. Mud!!
The northwave goretex boots did their job, nice and dry feet.
I really would like to test the Spectral and Cube stereo 140 back to back at some point over summer but not sure I'll be able to, my plan is to buy a Vitus Escarpe 27.5 VR in about a week, as I'm coming back to mountain biking I can't justify spending £2800 on a bike just yet...
That'll get a me a decent spec (revelations, deluxe rear shock, SLX drivetrain, brand X dropper) for £1670 - which is nearly £700 cheaper than the Aluminium eagle version of the Spectral/£400 cheaper than the model below that - and then I'll be looking to upgrade over autumn/winter - I'd either sell the Vitus or sell just the frame and put the parts onto a winter hardtail.
The Canyon Spectral is right at the top alongside the Cube Stereo 140 for that winter FS upgrade - I prefer the spec of the Cube (and I think I prefer Fox forks to RS, just a bit more sensitive to small bumps, I found the 34 performance model very very plush) but it's going to have to be very, very good to match the ride quality of the Spectral, those 2.6 tyres made a big impact I think - I think there's clearance for 2.6" tyres on the Cube though.
I should get to demo the Cube in the middle of May.
The northwave goretex boots did their job, nice and dry feet.
I really would like to test the Spectral and Cube stereo 140 back to back at some point over summer but not sure I'll be able to, my plan is to buy a Vitus Escarpe 27.5 VR in about a week, as I'm coming back to mountain biking I can't justify spending £2800 on a bike just yet...
That'll get a me a decent spec (revelations, deluxe rear shock, SLX drivetrain, brand X dropper) for £1670 - which is nearly £700 cheaper than the Aluminium eagle version of the Spectral/£400 cheaper than the model below that - and then I'll be looking to upgrade over autumn/winter - I'd either sell the Vitus or sell just the frame and put the parts onto a winter hardtail.
The Canyon Spectral is right at the top alongside the Cube Stereo 140 for that winter FS upgrade - I prefer the spec of the Cube (and I think I prefer Fox forks to RS, just a bit more sensitive to small bumps, I found the 34 performance model very very plush) but it's going to have to be very, very good to match the ride quality of the Spectral, those 2.6 tyres made a big impact I think - I think there's clearance for 2.6" tyres on the Cube though.
I should get to demo the Cube in the middle of May.
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Only managed 3 runs here, due to arriving later than intended and then having to wait ages for a Canyon. Think there needed to be more bikes all around really, especially at Canyon.Really enjoyed it! Got 5 runs in in total, so not too bad - how many did you do? Heard people say they barely got 3 in after waiting for so long at the Canyon tent! Evil The Calling just pipped the Nukeproof Mega & Canyon Strive for me. Felt incredibly plush - loved it.
I had to get towed out by the tractor despite being 15 yards from the front gate
Yeh the climb felt disproportionate with the amount of single track, especially with some of the fireroad route going downhill too. I don't think the carpark and event was in a great spot in relation to the trials really, but I guess that can't be helped.That climb/push back up was a killer! The only way I was going to get a 3rd run was on an e-bike, they're interesting machines. Felt like I had to apologise to every rider I passed on the climbs though!
Soldato
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I waited ages for a stumpjumper to start then waited a while for the spectral after lunch.
Yesterday was my first time being able to compared shimano and sram brakes too, Guide R vs XT - I think the bikes with the Guide R's (Spectral) weren't bled/set up properly as even with the lever reach adjusted all the way out they were coming back pretty close to the bar, I like my levers to bite quite far out. They did feel nice and progressive though. The XT's on the other hand were set up very well, they had almost no progression - was locking up the rear whenever it got light and I was a little worried about applying the front as I suspect it would have been very easy to lock up! Need to get on a good set of sram brakes to make sure that's what I prefer, I'd like a decent initial bite but loads of modulation. I definitely prefer eagle over shimano though, got to try Di2 on the focus e-bike, the only way I'd go shimano over eagle (if the budget allowed) is with a Di2 2x system.
TBH I may well have chatted to either of you guys over the course of the day, I was in the light grey/yellow 7idp helmet and grey jacket.
