A note: I have had revision/exams at college these past couple of months and now they are finished plan to update my blog more regularly. I am heading to Megavalanche in 2 weeks so I will post a full blog post about that soon after the event!
When I first took mountain bikes off road it was a good friend who convinced me into it. We went down to the local hill and rode down it as fast as possible, pedalling like mad men before coming to a halt at the bottom. It was amazing. Nowadays there seems to be so many different disciplines; downhill, four cross, all mountain, cross country, trail, enduro, freeride and dirt jump. Each rider is pigeonholed into a certain category, each ride a certain type. Recently this has begun to grind my gears as we see trail riders calling cross country lads the lycra brigade and freeriders berating enduro riders for enjoying climbing! This kind of an attitude is why I've started just riding in the woods. I'll pull on my knee pads, stick an open face helmet and a pair of gloves on, then pull my 150mm travel full sus out the garage and go for a hoon. I don't need to ride a certain set of trails on this ride. After a steady climb to the top of the hill I crank hard and begin to plough my way down Almost Cut My Hair, a flat-out, rooty set of steep(ish) chutes, grinning like someone from the funny farm! I'll then steadily climb back up before picking up the pace down Rad Lane, a long trail full of smooth corners, smaller roots and a few small jumps to keep things interesting! After that I'll feel like something with a really natural feel - a more worn out trail - so I'll ride Evian! After I can climb over to Fly Tipper and Northern Monkey, one a jump fest with the other steep corners into a flat out berm-filled wonder land! As you may have gathered on these rides I ride everything from trails firmly parked in the cross country category, all the way up to proper freeride style trail with 10ft gaps and serious potential for carnage!
But hold on a minute. Did I just ride all of that with the same bike and kit?! Many mountain bike magazines would argue that you couldn't possibly ride all those trails on one bike, surely you would need a whole garage worth of steeds?! The point of this post is essentially to try and blow away the myth that you need a different bike for each type of ride! Sure it's nice, but for the most part, completely unnecessary! To summarize I basically hope for mountain biking to go back to its roots, where one bike did it all and people just having fun on bikes!
Showing posts with label comparison. Show all posts
Showing posts with label comparison. Show all posts
Sunday, 23 June 2013
Monday, 15 April 2013
Tech news: SRAM Roam and Rail wheelsets
Two years after the release of their Rise cross country hoops, SRAM have given news of two new wheelsets aimed at the trail and enduro market. Aptly named Roam and Rail these come with two alloy options and one carbon, in 26", 27.5" and even 29"!
With both products SRAM started from scratch, the first product being the Roam trail hoops. All budgets are catered for with both a carbon (Roam 60) and aluminuim option (Roam 50), using hub internals from the DT 240s. The 60s weigh a claimed 1495g for the 26", 1550g for the 27.5" and 1625g for the 29" which is actually heavier than their aluminium alternatives - the 60 aimed at more of a range of hardcore riding than the 50. The 60s are slated to arrive in July for the 26" and August for the other sizes. Pricing is expected to be around the £1700 mark.
Both the 50s and the 60s have an internal rim width of 21mm, the 50s using an aluminium rim to keep costs down and weight low, in fact coming in 20-24g less than the carbon option, being aimed at lighter riding. The set of both wheels comes in at 1475g for the 26", 1530g for the 27.5" and a sprightly 1611g for the 29". An RRP of £840 is what SRAM are currently planning however this could change closer to the time.
The Rail wheelset is designed to be a wider, burlier version of the roam, aimed at all mountain riding over trail. It only comes in aluminium, with a 23mm internal width and extra material in high stress areas! The 26" rim weighs 500g, just 90g more than the Rise 50 equivalent. The 26" weighs 1690g, the 27.5" 1750g and the 29" 1830g. They are expected to cost the same as the Roam 50 (£840), aiming for the mid to high end target market.
The new hoops from SRAM look set to make an impact on the wheelsets, offering a lightweight, full UST rim system, with top quality hubs at a mid range price-point. Only the future will tell how reliable and strong they are and if durability has been sacrificed for the sake of lightweight.
Tuesday, 12 February 2013
Going tubeless
As far as changes to my bike go, it's all been rather manic! After writing off my previous 6 year old rim I decided to update my wheel/tyre system to something far lighter and a bit more up to date. Some online research and a few phone calls later and a lovely set of Hope Hoops were on their way to me: their uber-reliable Pro2 Evo hubs laced up to Stans No Tubes Flow Ex rims. I chose this wheelset as I wanted reliability and strength matched with relatively light weight (1880g), something this wheelset gave in spades. Whilst I was at it, I decided to refresh my tyre choice as well moving away from my trusty high rollers, instead fitting a set of Schwalbe Hans Dampfs. This is Schwalbes brand new all condition tyre, something I was excited to try out.
I decided to go tubeless at the same time, using the Hope/NoTubes conversion kit for the Flow rims. This is a fantastic piece of kit and proved laughably easy to set up. It was a case of sticking the tape firmly down in the rim bed (I left the original cloth rim tape on), fitting the valve stem and seating the tyre sans sealant and finally adding sealant and inflating. The whole procedure was trouble free and simple but that could well have been down to both the tyres and rims being brand new.
I am running the Hans Dampf tyres at roughly 30psi at the moment however I expect I will drop them down further but my initial impressions were very good! The first proper ride was at some local (ish) downhill trails where the conditions were muddy, chalky, wet and horrible! The tyres gripped well and slid predictably whilst staying composed on roots, everything I wanted from a tyre! I dropped pressures steadily throughout the day yet never experience burping. Having said that we stayed clear of the big jumps due to the conditions.
Overall both the wheels and the tyres are very good: they're reliable, strong, light and easy to set up tubeless. If you're looking for a reliable and relatively lightweight wheelset for less than £350 then you can't go far wrong with the Hope Hoops for all mountain riding, but more XC orientated riders could get lighter if they are willing to sacrifice strength! A few months down the line I'll post up a long term review, to see what shape the components are in after some serious hammering!
I decided to go tubeless at the same time, using the Hope/NoTubes conversion kit for the Flow rims. This is a fantastic piece of kit and proved laughably easy to set up. It was a case of sticking the tape firmly down in the rim bed (I left the original cloth rim tape on), fitting the valve stem and seating the tyre sans sealant and finally adding sealant and inflating. The whole procedure was trouble free and simple but that could well have been down to both the tyres and rims being brand new.
I am running the Hans Dampf tyres at roughly 30psi at the moment however I expect I will drop them down further but my initial impressions were very good! The first proper ride was at some local (ish) downhill trails where the conditions were muddy, chalky, wet and horrible! The tyres gripped well and slid predictably whilst staying composed on roots, everything I wanted from a tyre! I dropped pressures steadily throughout the day yet never experience burping. Having said that we stayed clear of the big jumps due to the conditions.
Overall both the wheels and the tyres are very good: they're reliable, strong, light and easy to set up tubeless. If you're looking for a reliable and relatively lightweight wheelset for less than £350 then you can't go far wrong with the Hope Hoops for all mountain riding, but more XC orientated riders could get lighter if they are willing to sacrifice strength! A few months down the line I'll post up a long term review, to see what shape the components are in after some serious hammering!
Sunday, 3 February 2013
Long term product review: Shimano Zee mech/shifter
Shimano's latest groupset, Zee, is aimed at the gravity/enduro market bringing an affordable, efficient and hard wearing 1x10speed drivetrain to the masses. Having written off both mechs and mech hangers using a widespread cassette with a long arm derailleur I jumped at the chance to do a long term test of the new shifting equipment.
There are two key qualities I look for when purchasing drivetrain components, namely functionality and long life. If a mech has incredible shifting action that means nothing to me if the first time it collides with a rock I have a long walk back to the car! In that respect the Zee parts have been faultless. Running a complete outer cable to prevent grime ruining the shifter seems to be working so far. I've been using the same cable (both inner and outer) since fitting way back in August of last year, meaning it's survived 7 months of riding including most of winter, not a regular occurrence!
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| Still running sweet after a hammering at PORC |
Since the setting up the gears with the wide range 11-36 cassette (Deore grade) they've remained maintenance free, somewhat of a rarity and a key reason why I love this set-up. A combination of work, studies and college mean what free time I have I want to enjoy riding my bike not fixing it. As a result the reliable and solid nature of the Zee gear more than makes up for the minimal weight increase over XT (12 grams for the derailleur) which can be saved elsewhere by having a smaller breakfast prior to riding!
The most anticipated feature for me was without doubt the Shadow+ rear mech essentially a clutch system designed to stiffen the cage to quieten down the bike. Although something you don't initially notice when riding the bike, the moment you hop aboard one without a clutch-mech fitted the difference is noticeable. It sounds as if you are riding with a bag of spanners dragging behind!
Moving on to the shifter it is a well thought out desig, with comfortable ergonomics and a dimpled thumb release for extra grip with gloved hands. Although perhaps lacking the "snap" of a SRAM shifter, the gear change is both definite and smooth, with the multiple downshift being a handy feature when a climb sneaks up on you!
Overall the both the mech and the shifter are well thought out and neatly executed however very much aimed at the gravity market and those wanting more than a double and bash at the front would want to look elsewhere. Shimano Zee is a bombproof, value for money alternative for those not wanting to shell out for Saint, keeping most of the features but not the hefty pricetag!
Tuesday, 22 January 2013
Film Review: Where The Trail Ends (original version)
Original version of review
The latest mountain bike film from Freeride Entertainment and Red Bull Media has landed: Where The Trail Ends. Spread across a variety of locations across the globe ranging from Canada to China, this movie certainly has the locations, but does it meet the hype?
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| Kurt Sorge sending a huge superman, credit Where The Trail Ends |
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| Darren Berrecloth smashing a huge road gap, credit Where The Trail Ends |
Film review: Where The Trail Ends (re-edit)
Edited version based upon feedback from readers
Where The Trail Ends; a stunning mountain bike flick from Freeride Entertainment has landed, with locations across the world, from Canada to China, featuring mind-boggling riding coupled with breathtaking cinematography. With riders such as Berrecloth, Doerfling and Lacondeguy this movie is going to go off with a bang!
The riding is both breathtaking and bone crunching, keeping the audience captivated throughout, as stomach-flipping head cam shots are coupled with cinematic vistas shot by helicopter of incredible lines. At times the background of the culture can intrude upon the flow of the footage, however it breaks up the non-stop freeriding, a big plus for the less fervent viewer, acting as both a positive and a negative factor.
Where The Trail Ends; a stunning mountain bike flick from Freeride Entertainment has landed, with locations across the world, from Canada to China, featuring mind-boggling riding coupled with breathtaking cinematography. With riders such as Berrecloth, Doerfling and Lacondeguy this movie is going to go off with a bang!
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| Kurt Sorge sending a superman, credit Where The Trail Ends |
The riding is both breathtaking and bone crunching, keeping the audience captivated throughout, as stomach-flipping head cam shots are coupled with cinematic vistas shot by helicopter of incredible lines. At times the background of the culture can intrude upon the flow of the footage, however it breaks up the non-stop freeriding, a big plus for the less fervent viewer, acting as both a positive and a negative factor.
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| Darren Berrecloth smashing a huge road gap, credit Where The Trail Ends |
Friday, 18 January 2013
Product Review: DMR Brendog Vault pedals
Pedals are one of the most important parts of a bike; the major contact point and the only way to drive the bike. As a result, pedal choice is absolutely key in the ride quality of your bike, so it's worth investing in a decent set. Pedals come in two varieties, flat and clips, with different people opting for different styles. Personally I use flats as they better suit my riding style of "foot out, flat out". Over the past couple of years I've been using my tried and tested V12 pedals, but DMR have now updated them in the form of the DMR 'Brendog' Vaults and I couldn't resist giving them a go!
Initial impressions were very positive as I opened the box. They were nicely presented and well protected with a slip case with some info and a nice shot of Fairclough, capturing that understated, pure style he has on a bike. Once opened the box contained the pedals themselves (in separate compartments to avoid damage), some spare 'extra long DH/FR pins', a couple of spare standard pins and the spanner/allen key to fit both!
The pedals are very well built and have a large area on which to place your foot, something I found very handy on their virgin ride through some frankly horrible snow conditions. On one side of the pedal across the centre brace they are logo-ed 'Brendog' with the other bearing the brand name DMR Bikes, each finished in a classy gloss black typeface, however only time will tell how long the logos hold up. The rest of the pedal is finished in matte black which will hopefully prevent flaking of the paint, and Fairclough's twitter name, his signature and the motto S4P (sorry for partying) are printed on the inside edge of the pedal, viewable when seated upon the bike. Overall the pedal has top notch build quality, with a classy finish that will compliment most bikes. The Vaults come in at a claimed weight, and actual, of 410 grams, which is something of a rarity!
As far as fitting goes, the pedals were a doddle to fit, however the lack of labeling of left and right on the pedals may leave the less mechanically minded cyclists confused, however it's easy to work it out by orientating the logos, or just examining the threads. The actual fitment of the pedals was easy, just adding some grease and screwing them in, even the most cack-handed guys will have no trouble whatsoever!
I first got a chance to ride the pedals earlier today, on a short trail ride in some rather snowy conditions. Initial impressions were very pleasing, as I found the larger platform to give me significantly more support than I was used to, with the arrangement of pins being both comfortable and grippy, giving me immediate confidence to push my speed, even in the slippery conditions. When dabbing a foot in corners it was easy to get my foot back on the pedal in a comfortable position, and coupled with my rather battered 5:10 Freeriders I had no shortage of grip, more than can be said for my riding buddy who was slipping pedals left right and centre! On my current set up, the bike has a low bottom bracket, and as a result pedal strikes can often be an issue. Pleasingly the low profile design and tapered edges of the Vaults seems to have improved their rock dodging capabilities over the V12s, however a true test will be when I get to hit some rocky downhill tracks in a few weeks time, but I had no problems whatsoever on my initial ride!
Overall the Vault is a much needed upgrade over the traditional V12, which was beginning to look rather overweight and small in comparison to similarly priced pedals. The finish and build quality are spot on for the budget and the pedals are comfortable, grippy and confidence inspiring. At £109.99 RRP the DMR's are by no means cheap, but compared to offerings from Straitline, Twenty6, Kona and NukeProof the Vaults have more than proved they are value for money. If you are looking for a high end pedal, with high end features and a build to match then take a good, long look at these bad-boys, because they are well worthy of their namesake, the king of style.
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| Pre-box opening, expectations were high |
The pedals are very well built and have a large area on which to place your foot, something I found very handy on their virgin ride through some frankly horrible snow conditions. On one side of the pedal across the centre brace they are logo-ed 'Brendog' with the other bearing the brand name DMR Bikes, each finished in a classy gloss black typeface, however only time will tell how long the logos hold up. The rest of the pedal is finished in matte black which will hopefully prevent flaking of the paint, and Fairclough's twitter name, his signature and the motto S4P (sorry for partying) are printed on the inside edge of the pedal, viewable when seated upon the bike. Overall the pedal has top notch build quality, with a classy finish that will compliment most bikes. The Vaults come in at a claimed weight, and actual, of 410 grams, which is something of a rarity!
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| Pedals and box, impressive design and build |
I first got a chance to ride the pedals earlier today, on a short trail ride in some rather snowy conditions. Initial impressions were very pleasing, as I found the larger platform to give me significantly more support than I was used to, with the arrangement of pins being both comfortable and grippy, giving me immediate confidence to push my speed, even in the slippery conditions. When dabbing a foot in corners it was easy to get my foot back on the pedal in a comfortable position, and coupled with my rather battered 5:10 Freeriders I had no shortage of grip, more than can be said for my riding buddy who was slipping pedals left right and centre! On my current set up, the bike has a low bottom bracket, and as a result pedal strikes can often be an issue. Pleasingly the low profile design and tapered edges of the Vaults seems to have improved their rock dodging capabilities over the V12s, however a true test will be when I get to hit some rocky downhill tracks in a few weeks time, but I had no problems whatsoever on my initial ride!
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| Pedals on their own, works of engineering art |
Overall the Vault is a much needed upgrade over the traditional V12, which was beginning to look rather overweight and small in comparison to similarly priced pedals. The finish and build quality are spot on for the budget and the pedals are comfortable, grippy and confidence inspiring. At £109.99 RRP the DMR's are by no means cheap, but compared to offerings from Straitline, Twenty6, Kona and NukeProof the Vaults have more than proved they are value for money. If you are looking for a high end pedal, with high end features and a build to match then take a good, long look at these bad-boys, because they are well worthy of their namesake, the king of style.
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