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Post by hodgy on Sept 15, 2016 15:57:47 GMT
Another quickie ..well you've got to take advantage of this weather while you can ! The trails aren't much of a secret ..just that they are rarely ridden ..probably last used for The Bike Place Marathon series about 4 years ago ..which is when I rode some of these last ! What a surprise ..just about totally overgrown in places and riding them the way I did was a bit of a struggle as most of them were not gravity assisted ! There was a reason for doing it this way though as it meant I could include a section of blue / black downhill & twist & shout the last red section on the Deadwater trail to end it ..a cracking little ride ! Start of the blue trail    Turning off the Forest Drive onto some little used forest road Deadwater left of centre ..with its radar facilities  This bird hide was past its best ..the floor was rotted away  Things are starting to get lumpy ..  Then got better ...  Then got lumpy again ..lol   This looks great but heading up it there was no traction ..due to the slimy moss covering the track ..it was ice like !    Eventually got to this point so I had my lunch in case I didn't make it to the bottom ..no point dying on an empty stomach ..this is Northern Downhills creation ..and in case you think I've gone all hard core ..I haven't ...I body swerved the bigger jumps on the chicken runs to the side which were bad enough .haha !!  I walked the first part to have a looksee..it looked OK but got harier...   Another stiff climb ..and a nice red to finish ...perfect.  I have also tracked my route which I will try to post ..take no notice of the time though I was dawdling more than usual ! |
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Post by hodgy on Sept 15, 2016 16:04:10 GMT
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Post by ktmfiveforty on Sept 15, 2016 18:04:29 GMT
Great pics there .. and lovin the stealthy steed  |
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Post by hodgy on Sept 15, 2016 18:10:06 GMT
Cheers man ...
I've only had it for a couple of months but it's given me a new lease of life ..love it!
First new bike for 10 years and really highlights how much progress has been made in that time .
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Post by ktmfiveforty on Sept 15, 2016 19:58:12 GMT
Cheers man ... I've only had it for a couple of months but it's given me a new lease of life ..love it! First new bike for 10 years and really highlights how much progress has been made in that time . Yeah know what ya mean .. the first time out on my Mega after it landed with quality suspension, 1x11, and an AM frame stiffer than a stiff thing bolted to the stiffest thing in Stiffsville .. blew me away 
That Whyte is damn lovely lookin
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Post by hodgy on Sept 15, 2016 20:21:28 GMT
So it was slightly stiff then !?
Haha .
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Post by andy4d on Sept 15, 2016 22:40:40 GMT
Great pics as always. So any update on how you're getting on with the bike. How does the 'long' reach feel?
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Post by hodgy on Sept 16, 2016 5:21:23 GMT
Andy...I did a review under the section of the same name back on the 7th August ..which granted isn't exactly a long term review as I had only had the bike for a month ..but had probably done 3 months worth of riding !
Nothing much has changed ..it's a fantastic trail bike and handles pretty much everything bar full on downhill ..and as I don't have big enough cojones for that type of riding ..I will never find out !
I'm not really sure what you mean by "long reach" ..I have arms the length of a gibbon anyway ..but the bike "fits" perfectly and the modern geometry is a revelation..everything feels more responsive and quicker.
My initial doubts about the saddle have faded ..same for the grips ..and I will only be changing them out of necessity..in fact the saddle I would now rate as comfy as it has moulded to the shape of my arse...and I have tilted it slightly down .
The only niggle that I have is with the dropper ..fully extended this drops a few mm when putting my full weight back onto the bike ..not sure if bleeding it will rectify this or if it's a fault ?
Will maybe ask this question in " technical issues"
How is your own bike search going ?
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Post by hodgy on Sept 16, 2016 5:35:47 GMT
Just a little footnote ..
Should anyone follow the route be aware that you will probably doubt both mine and your own sanity on the section around White Knowe Sike / Greyhound Law as it's a bit overgrown !
It will probably get worse rather than better until the trees are harvested ...
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Post by andy4d on Sept 16, 2016 6:59:45 GMT
Hodgy, the long reach is just something I read ( long top tube or something) so just wondering how it was in the real world not a bike mag review.
As for my own search, still have a short list of 3 (maybe 4) but have to wait for the funds in November so I guess it will depend what's available etc then. Top of my list is disappearing fast in the 2016 guise and I have not seen 2017 version yet.
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Post by hodgy on Sept 16, 2016 7:10:52 GMT
Oh you man of mystery & suspense ...
With regard to the long reach ..I do find I'm more over the front of the bike ..but in a good way ..I don't feel overstretched in any way but more a part of the bike ..if that makes sense..
Hope you get what you want come November ..
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Post by kalli on Sept 16, 2016 17:17:20 GMT
Great photos hodgy, feeling a little jealous as I've not been able to get out in the lovely sunshine. Did manage a night ride over the wyre last night, and though it was warm night nothing beats be a ride on a lovely sunny day, especially as the good weather may not last much longer:-(
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Post by hodgy on Sept 16, 2016 17:29:15 GMT
As long as you are out and riding that's the main thing Kalli..I love night rides and enjoyed my first of the " season " on Tuesday with Graham .
I've knocked a ride on the head this weekend to spend some extra time with my son who has a slight fracture to his ankle bone from his first rugby training session of the season last Sunday ..it just didn't feel right going off to enjoy myself while he is feeling a bit down .
Probably do movies & a meal ..at least it doesn't have to go into plaster after being back at the hospital today ..moon boot for the next 4-6 weeks and all should be well.
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Post by kalli on Sept 16, 2016 21:10:13 GMT
Ouch, sorry about your son, hope he heals quick. Kids are resilient and bounce back quick. He'll be back chasing you down a bank in no time. Rugby is pretty popular at the moment, keeping my fingers crossed it will stay that way as my sister is teaching rugby tots at the moment and the classes are pretty full.
I did enjoy my night ride, the woods are so peaceful at night. I'm a lot slower in the dark though, as i haven't rode at night for a few months its like i have to learn all over again:-(
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Post by scott on Sept 16, 2016 21:17:24 GMT
I enjoy the dead water descent although most people don't bother. It has heaps of potential the forest though, one thing I havnt noticed or looked into is off piste? Like well ridden off piste.
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Post by hodgy on Sept 17, 2016 4:29:46 GMT
There's loads of it Scott..
We have been sitting on a full XC ride for over 2 years now..as the F.C.didnt want us to publish it ( was going to give it to Max Darkins at Mountain Biking UK..who wasn't very happy when I said that I had to pull it ! )..it's over 40miles in total ..all legal on bridleways, little used forest tracks and singletrack tarmac ..could even make it longer but it's tough enough!
It's a circular route starting in Bellingham..takes in both sides of the North Tyne Valley finishing with a moorland section of the Pennine Way before dropping back into Bellingham and could be split over two days using accomodation available at the northern spur Falstone / Stannersburn if folks wanted to take the sting out of it .
We keep having to do ninja trail clearance as some of the b/ways are getting overgrown with seedling trees ..maybe one day it will come to fruition..
I'm one of those who think that the climb to the very top of Deadwater on the doubletrack road just isn't worth the payback and would rather spend my time on other sections in the forest ..I only ever climb up on a clear sunny day when the view makes it worthwhile !
A better ride can be had by cobbling together sections of Lonesome Pine,Deadwater& The Osprey trails ( some of the best riding in the forest is on this blue trail...but don't tell everyone).
Any sign of your new bike on the horizon?
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Post by scott on Sept 17, 2016 10:53:36 GMT
well according to the rumours and word on the street is that all medium frames got shipped last week, so its large next and then hopefully the XLs. I'm on orange riders on Facebook and I am in the same position as everyone else, sitting waiting, a few people have posted up there new bikes and it doesn't help lol. I hope it's in the next 2 weeks though as I've been without a proper bike coming 2 month!
On the plus side all this sitting about researching new places to ride is exciting!
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