Mountain Biking

Malevolence said:
Extremely happy with it. Currently it's taken everything I've thrown at it (canal towpaths, roads, fire roads, up on the moors, some easy downhill trails) in it's stride without skipping a beat. The components seem to be rock solid and bullet proof, the forks in particular, but the obvious caveat is that I haven't taken it anywhere seriously stupid yet due to me not exactly being in the best shape at the moment.
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Thanks for replying!

How do you find the headangle? My current is very Xc orientated but then again it's 12 years old so quite out dated! Did you find it slack enough for the light down hill stuff you've done?
 
Anyone here ride at Cannock Chase? Looking to make a trip over next weekend but hoping someone have info on the unofficial trails? Monkey Trail, Follow the Dog etc look OK but the unofficial stuff looks better from what I've seen on YouTube
 
SpudMaster said:
Anyone here ride at Cannock Chase? Looking to make a trip over next weekend but hoping someone have info on the unofficial trails? Monkey Trail, Follow the Dog etc look OK but the unofficial stuff looks better from what I've seen on YouTube
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I live near and been a few times. The off piste stuff is decent, I don't know of all of it but a fair bit.

Drop me a trust and I'll send you where it is, it's not that well hidden though :)
 
Would be interested to hear about peoples favourite bits of the Surrey Hills. I'm due to go over there in a few weeks and as it's my first visit I'd like to hit the ground running! Would ideally be looking for trails and maybe some XC bits.
 
SpudMaster said:
Anyone here ride at Cannock Chase? Looking to make a trip over next weekend but hoping someone have info on the unofficial trails? Monkey Trail, Follow the Dog etc look OK but the unofficial stuff looks better from what I've seen on YouTube
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Debating between Cannock and Llandegla for a weekend trip myself. Was going to head north to Gisburn but sounds like it's in a rough state currently.
 
Cleisthenes said:
Thanks for replying!

How do you find the headangle? My current is very Xc orientated but then again it's 12 years old so quite out dated! Did you find it slack enough for the light down hill stuff you've done?
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Sorry for not replying sooner, am currently on jury duty so phone is off 99% of the day.

Yeah, the Reaction TM head angle is more suited to XC which more suits my style of riding and the areas I tend to ride in. As for downhill, and this is just for me, I found it be just fine for the small amount of DH I've done. But again, I couldn't attest to how it is for someone more proficient than me and on the more tricky and technical routes. One thing I will say, is for me at 5'10 and with a 32" inside leg the head angle coupled with the reach is nigh on perfect, and with it not being one of the longest bikes you can really throw it around.
 
Had a bike workstand and torque wrench set delievred this week, have to say for £50 (https://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/jobsworth-bike-repair-stand-and-torque-wrench-set-bundle-3723379) I'm very impressed. The torque wrench is no good for my crank or BB which need over 50Nm so the Halfords Pro one for the car will do those jobs, but otherwise it has heft and is fully metal. The stand is hefty as well and fully secure extended.

Good thing too as Southsea cycles phoned me today with an update on my bike. It's all back together with correct spacers on the crank and everything running nicely. They did note that the freehub is wearing and at some point will need to be upgraded or replaced but that stock for this freehub is specific for this wheel and hard to get a hole of - Anyone able to point me in a suitable direction of an upgrade freehub compatible with this?

So all in all the whole bike has been stripped, cleaned, greased, torqued, wheels trued. They also mentioned the cassette was installed incorrectly with the little cog not aligned right which was causing some gear change issues. This was the work of the local bike shop that did the job back then...

Now that everything is sorted, I can work on the bike myself :cool:
 
Malevolence said:
Sorry for not replying sooner, am currently on jury duty so phone is off 99% of the day.

Yeah, the Reaction TM head angle is more suited to XC which more suits my style of riding and the areas I tend to ride in. As for downhill, and this is just for me, I found it be just fine for the small amount of DH I've done. But again, I couldn't attest to how it is for someone more proficient than me and on the more tricky and technical routes. One thing I will say, is for me at 5'10 and with a 32" inside leg the head angle coupled with the reach is nigh on perfect, and with it not being one of the longest bikes you can really throw it around.
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I'm a new biker so I'm sure I wouldn't be pushing it harder than you are!

Thanks for the details, it's invaluable having real insight!
 
Invertigo said:
There's a good few lads on the FB group saying the trails are rutted to hell currently, big holes in the middle of berms etc. Just what I'm reading, never been up that way so no first hand experience.
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I can only assume they like trails that resemble canal paths and nothing more extreme :p

I've only been going up there for the last month or so and its always been a bit rutted in places but nothing too bad and they are arguably the best parts imo. Smooth trails can be fun but get boring fast if that's all that's on offer but I'm a downhiller at heart. I'm riding a 140mm front and rear trail bike when up Gisburn for reference btw.
 
SpudMaster said:
I can only assume they like trails that resemble canal paths and nothing more extreme :p

I've only been going up there for the last month or so and its always been a bit rutted in places but nothing too bad and they are arguably the best parts imo. Smooth trails can be fun but get boring fast if that's all that's on offer but I'm a downhiller at heart. I'm riding a 140mm front and rear trail bike when up Gisburn for reference btw.
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My mate rode gisburn on a gravel bike the other week, so it can't be that bad :p (or so he claims...........)
 
Cleisthenes said:
Would be interested to hear about peoples favourite bits of the Surrey Hills. I'm due to go over there in a few weeks and as it's my first visit I'd like to hit the ground running! Would ideally be looking for trails and maybe some XC bits.
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It's pretty local to me though I've only ridden there twice. Summer Lightning, Telegraph, Yogurt Pots and of course Barry Knows Best.

My advice would be to stitch a route together on trailforks or join the Surrey Hills FB group and ask to tag along with a group.
 
Gisburn has had a few issues with wash out from the rain and also e-motorbikes using it ripping it up. Still rideable and enjoyable, just not as smooth in some places as it used to be. Thought about doing Degla also, but it looks to be rammed on every picture i see, i'd probably just drive past and go do Penmachno or Marin Trail instead.

Just ordered some Hope Tech 3 V4 brakes for my machine, not getting on with the standard Shimano 4 pots it shipped with, i think they might have a leak as constantly having to bleed them.
 
Begbie said:
My mate rode gisburn on a gravel bike the other week, so it can't be that bad :p (or so he claims...........)
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I actually say a guy up there on gravel bike about few weeks back. Maybe it was him. Gisburn forest is essentially a large fire road loop with red and black sections that cut off from it so you can ride entirely on the fire road if you wanted. But nowadays the red and black options mean time of the fire road is minimal unless you choose to stay on it.
 
kefkef said:
Just ordered some Hope Tech 3 V4 brakes for my machine, not getting on with the standard Shimano 4 pots it shipped with, i think they might have a leak as constantly having to bleed them.
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My mate has had nothing but issues with recent Shimano's mostly with the SLX 4 pots, inconsistent, bite point always changing constantly having to bleed, and then finally having (ceramic?) pistons on both calipers crack whist bleeding (with bleed block installed). He has given up on them and done the same thing and went with a set of V4's.Put me off buying newer Shimanos thats for sure.

I almost dropped money on a set of Magura MT7's for the Clash. Its brakes need to go back on the Crush. However, reports of them not playing ball with Hope floating rotors put me off, and I really cant stand disc rub. So I've just gone and ordered E4 front/X2 rear setup for the Clash. I tend to be quite light on the brakes for the most part, also due to availability/long lead times on V4's/E4's. I found a shop with stock of E4/X2 but only in euro fitment (brakes are wrong way round) which is a very easy fix, just need to swap the hose round. So I thought I'd try running the X2 on the rear and see how it handles it, if I find it lacking I'll just replace it with another E4.

I've put in a big parts order to upgrade the Clash and get the Crush back up and running.
Hope E4/X2 brakes
Nukeproof horizon headset in bronze ZS44/56
Brugtec Penthouse mk5 pedals/headset spacers/topcap all in Kash Bronze
Renthal Fatbars V2 in 40mm rise
Brand-X dropper 170mm
Bontrager Line 30 Comp front wheel and 108t engagment upgrade for the rear.
SLX m7000 mech and shifter as I just find 12 speed to be too finnicky at the moment, I am notorious for not cleaning my bike and neglecting my drivetrain, I find 11spd to be much like 10spd in its robustness, the tighter tolerances of 12spd just cant handle my laziness.:cry:

That should see me good.

Got the Crush being sent out in freight to Cyprus soon in preparation for spending a month out there later this year (work and play). So I've had my hand forced to get it back up and running. The Clash is going to be pretty much where I want it bare a few odds and ends. However, the Crush is just getting most of its old parts back. with a little bit of a refresh and a lower fork service. Hopefully it'll hold up fine.
 
steve45 said:
My mate has had nothing but issues with recent Shimano's mostly with the SLX 4 pots, inconsistent, bite point always changing constantly having to bleed, and then finally having (ceramic?) pistons on both calipers crack whist bleeding (with bleed block installed). He has given up on them and done the same thing and went with a set of V4's.Put me off buying newer Shimanos thats for sure.

I almost dropped money on a set of Magura MT7's for the Clash. Its brakes need to go back on the Crush. However, reports of them not playing ball with Hope floating rotors put me off, and I really cant stand disc rub. So I've just gone and ordered E4 front/X2 rear setup for the Clash. I tend to be quite light on the brakes for the most part, also due to availability/long lead times on V4's/E4's. I found a shop with stock of E4/X2 but only in euro fitment (brakes are wrong way round) which is a very easy fix, just need to swap the hose round. So I thought I'd try running the X2 on the rear and see how it handles it, if I find it lacking I'll just replace it with another E4.

I've put in a big parts order to upgrade the Clash and get the Crush back up and running.
Hope E4/X2 brakes
Nukeproof horizon headset in bronze ZS44/56
Brugtec Penthouse mk5 pedals/headset spacers/topcap all in Kash Bronze
Renthal Fatbars V2 in 40mm rise
Brand-X dropper 170mm
Bontrager Line 30 Comp front wheel and 108t engagment upgrade for the rear.
SLX m7000 mech and shifter as I just find 12 speed to be too finnicky at the moment, I am notorious for not cleaning my bike and neglecting my drivetrain, I find 11spd to be much like 10spd in its robustness, the tighter tolerances of 12spd just cant handle my laziness.:cry:

That should see me good.

Got the Crush being sent out in freight to Cyprus soon in preparation for spending a month out there later this year (work and play). So I've had my hand forced to get it back up and running. The Clash is going to be pretty much where I want it bare a few odds and ends. However, the Crush is just getting most of its old parts back. with a little bit of a refresh and a lower fork service. Hopefully it'll hold up fine.
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Some absolutely class riding out there. Get over to the Macheras range.
 
Begbie said:
Some absolutely class riding out there. Get over to the Macheras range.
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I'm properly excited for it, not sure where we will be riding though, It'll be towards the end of Sept, so still expecting it to be nice and toasty as well:cool:.
I'm not the group leader so wont have a huge amount of sway to say where we ride, but I'll be doing my research and planting seeds the whole time till we get there.
 
I used to have Saints on my DH bike and didn't really have technical issues with them but didn't really like the on/off feeling you get with Shimano. Swapped them out with some Magura MT7s and imo the MT7 are a much better brake. As much power, if not more but these actually have modulation. Liked them that much that when I got the trail bike I swapped the brakes for Magura MT Trails with 4 piston front and 2 piston rear.

People say the Magura levers can be more susceptible to damage etc but I've not have an issue yet I'm 10 months of owning the MT7s and I've manage to snap a Saint lever at the master cylinder!
 
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