Redlands

Wow, 2 months into 2013 and this is the first post on the blog since last November. I guess it's a reflection of the awful summer/autumn/winter we've had and also the non-biking distractions occupying everyone, myself included.
In fact a quick scroll down shows there have only been half a dozen posts on here since last June and two of them were about road bikes.
On saturday the two Marks and I took a quick trip up into Redlands. Conditions on some trails are remarkably good and the light snow and solitude provided an atmospheric backdrop - unfortunately there was no photographic evidence to corroborate this.
We had a bit of fun, most trails will be better once they've dried out a little more but it does look like the trail pixies have been active over the winter, opening up some new lines and re-establishing some old ones.
Fingers crossed for an end to the interminable rain and a dry spring - perhaps 2013 can be the year MTB makes a comeback!

Replacement Bus Service!

So, after weeks of no cycling, we finally arranged a jolly out on Sunday. Mark, Rich and I... meeting at the Pilgrim at 0830! Train from Redhill to Dorking (as still no cycle rack) at 0727... arrived in plenty of time at the station. RAIL REPLACEMENT SERVICE! No trains from Redhill, and was told I couldn't take the bike on the bus! :(.... So off i trotted on my own with the Mega, and did a little XC jaunt. Should've changed the bike - aside of my lack of fitness levels, the Mega was not really the bike to be hacking round an XC course on - next time take the alpine - or even the trusty stumpy!!

What it did remind me however, is that XC is a little boring - bring back all mountain. Now where's that phone to book the towbar fitting.

PS - The Trek Domane has arrived! Josh asked how many bikes did I want? I had to explain the concept of n+1.....

Uh Oh!

It's coming...

Octoberide

New camera test and video of some new jumps we hit last weekend.

Mark

Joining the Dark Side

I realise it's not really appropriate content but I've just pulled the trigger on one of these - a full carbon race bike.

I'll see you on the Zig Zags in my lycra disguise sometime soon!

My Olympics

Cav's time from start of the zig zag to top of Boxhill (opposite tea shop) 5 mins.  My time on the 5Pro 11mins 55secs! I've got some training to do.....

La Clusaz 2012

Last week I had the fortune to take an afternoon out from our family holiday in the French Alps and hit the trails of La Clusaz.  Wilf had come over from Les Gets and we hired a couple of Scott Genius 50's to tackle the trails around La Clusaz.  After taking the Beauregard cabin up the mountain we hit a technically demanding red which got us in the mood for some sweet alpine single track riding.  The bikes were right for the job and the remote front and rear lockout came into it's own during some punishing climbs - I'm sure the air is thinner!

For some insane reason I forgot to pack my knee pads which didn't help when I lost it on some wet rocks whilst hammering down another red.  The day ended on a very technical red where I lost it 3 times on some tight switchbacks but we both had big grins to show for our efforts.  La Clusaz is well set up for VTT, certainly not as extreme as Les Gets/Morzine but not as busy.  They are building more trails for next year but we were not disappointed.  The hills are bigger and the falls harder and all caught on my GoPro so maybe in a years time I might get round to editing something together.

Tom

Summer Nights

Finally a break in the constant, interminable weather provided since May during what passes for our "British Summer". This week has seen temperatures of 30 degrees, drying trails and general pleasantness. I got out for a couple of quick solo rides early in the week and last night Mark, Dunnie and I met at the Pilgrim for a proper ride - Tom had threatened to join but then jilted us by text, deciding instead to go for a solo ramble in his unending quest for anonymous man-love.

Mark and I were slightly concerned that Dunnie had fitted a new rear brake in record time, feeling the subsequent odds on mechanical failure would be rather short. We needn't have worried - Dunnie's brake held up without problem, only his new Terminator riding glasses and the rattle from his seatpost lever providing any impediment to unruffled progress throughout the evening.

We rode over Ranmore, taking in the log roll, Reformation and Numbskull then onto Deerleap Woods and up to the A25 and Wolverns Lane. Despite the warm weather our pace was unrelenting and we rode through to Coldharbour. Resisting the temptation of the brilliant service and wonderful welcome of The Plough we pushed on to the Redlands jumps then into the woods proper to ride White Jam and the new link up to Firebeater and S&M.

Finally we rolled back along the road to Dorking and The Star where we imbibed a couple of refreshing libations and regaled one another with gentlemen's tales of mirth and mishchief.

Bye, Bye 'Tubeless', hello 'Chainless'...

Why is it that some people suffer punctures much more than others? And why is it that I have never had a puncture, but am plagued by chain breaks? Twoo weeks ago, out on the On-One, broken chain, and incurring of the Wrath Of Bish by holding everyone up...

Last night, out with Tom, heading up to Ranmore from The Pilgrim, we were discussing this very matter - was my chain too tight; was it (as Tom was convinced) too clean (?)....

And before we had even got off the 200m stretch of road, the inevitable happened. Big bunch of arse.

Still, luckily it was the speed link which went, and the repair was complete in a nifty few minutes.

A lovely evening and a good ride followed, with Bish meeting up with us at log roll.

PS -  for those who have not seen Roger's suicidal new drop off, it is worth a respectful look...

Dunnie

Tubeless

Not much riding going on at the moment but plenty of fettling...I've decided to give tubeless a go, I've got Stans rims on 2 bikes and most of the tyres we use are tubeless compatible anyway so in theory for a small investment (Stans yellow tape, a couple of valve stems and some tubeless tyre sealant) you're all set. I've heard it can be tricky to set up so I made sure I went step by step with the handy help videos on the Stans web site - it took a little time and a methodical approach but touch wood no problems!
No ride report yet but the benefits of no flats - punctures supposedly seal themselves - and the ability to run lower pressures certainly appeal to me.
Let's see how it goes!