The "Photos From Today's Ride" thread...
Discussion
yellowjack said:
Ooh! A Bird Zero. Nice!
I very much want one of those, but I've just bought a new road bike (Trek Emonda), so the MTB buying will be going on the back burner. As much because the garage is a mess and I cannot fit any more bikes in there as anything else. For now, I'll have to be content with road riding, and a bit of mild 'cross' stuff on my old tourer when I slap some fatter tyres onto it.
The Zero is my mate's bike and he absolutely loves it. I've had a go on it over the downhill section at Sherwood Pines, I absolutely love my Zesty but the Zero, even as a hardtail is a whole new level. Really secure and with the 650 wheels it's a fast thing too. Absolutely lovely bike.I very much want one of those, but I've just bought a new road bike (Trek Emonda), so the MTB buying will be going on the back burner. As much because the garage is a mess and I cannot fit any more bikes in there as anything else. For now, I'll have to be content with road riding, and a bit of mild 'cross' stuff on my old tourer when I slap some fatter tyres onto it.
Did my short urban loop today, stopped for a quick breather by a handy log to lean my bike against:
Taking a quick breather in Plants Hill Wood by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
Taking a quick breather in Plants Hill Wood by Lewis Craik, on FlickrRacing in Dorset again yesterday, pretty dry conditions, load of fun. 11th place, 6th overall in the series
And the first lap on video if you are really bored.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5vmC4044bc
And the first lap on video if you are really bored.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5vmC4044bc
I didn't get any photos this weekend as I was too busy playing race the rain home! Yes I did mutter, Weather god if you hold off on the rain I will do the full 50 and not wimp out, as the first spots started to fall. No I didn't get wet.
I'll tell ya one thing, it needs to start warming up, my feet were like blocks of ice at 15kms in, and I still had another 35kms to go!
I'll tell ya one thing, it needs to start warming up, my feet were like blocks of ice at 15kms in, and I still had another 35kms to go!
Was down at Bike park Wales on friday, Afan on sat, brilliant weekend, think I ate my own weight in low quality takeaways and beer.
A run down the jumpy a470 line...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQj5r33veDw
A run down the jumpy a470 line...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQj5r33veDw
^ Nicely done.
I've learned that on the first line of jumps to the first berm you have to take the big senders on the left of the last 2 (3?) jumps to clear the tables and maintain momentum down the rest of the track - otherwise you grind to a halt and fall down the banking like your mate did!
I love that line - I've only ever ridden it when it's wet - I'm hoping that it's a lot faster (and therefore easier) when its dry.
I've learned that on the first line of jumps to the first berm you have to take the big senders on the left of the last 2 (3?) jumps to clear the tables and maintain momentum down the rest of the track - otherwise you grind to a halt and fall down the banking like your mate did!
I love that line - I've only ever ridden it when it's wet - I'm hoping that it's a lot faster (and therefore easier) when its dry.
Loved it, we got to it later in the day so only had 2 proper runs, im no good at jumps to be honest, but John the lad I was following is a bit of a trailboss dirt jumper, so im sure he could've done better with another run. fair old trek from the north east, but will definitely be back again soon (spaces allowing...)
I went to the Leisure Lakes demo day at Cannock Chase, to keep in with the topic I made a triptych of the bikes I rode:
Demo day triptych by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
Demo day triptych by Lewis Craik, on FlickrNot a happy bunny, inconsiderate trail/path users, low speed tip off ..... Thought I'd bent the mech hanger which subsequently broke in hand.
Effected trailside single speed conversion to get home, to get a further 30m climbing out of the trail for the seat stay to reveal it'd cracked, drivetrain locks up and its an SOS to Mrs Johno to come and fetch me.
Finally was getting a run of time on the bike and the PR's are coming without too much effort to achieve and I'm feeling like I'm getting somewhere after a series of health, niggly issues and travel getting in the way. Having just splashed out on a road bike not coming until May I'm now bikeless until the man maths has finished and I've upgraded the MTB to a Niner Air Carbon.
Totally fed up as although new shiny thing will come, I'm without bike for 2 weeks and then I'm away for 3 weeks to NZ and New Caledonia, so my mileage/fitness is really going to suffer. I had a nice 4 week run currently to get some decent mileage in and now its borked by two donkeys not looking where they're riding. (plus a little bit of me not looking, thinking, ploughing on)
Excuse sweat smeared rubbish BB pics of frame break after I'd reached the collection point.
Effected trailside single speed conversion to get home, to get a further 30m climbing out of the trail for the seat stay to reveal it'd cracked, drivetrain locks up and its an SOS to Mrs Johno to come and fetch me.
Finally was getting a run of time on the bike and the PR's are coming without too much effort to achieve and I'm feeling like I'm getting somewhere after a series of health, niggly issues and travel getting in the way. Having just splashed out on a road bike not coming until May I'm now bikeless until the man maths has finished and I've upgraded the MTB to a Niner Air Carbon.
Totally fed up as although new shiny thing will come, I'm without bike for 2 weeks and then I'm away for 3 weeks to NZ and New Caledonia, so my mileage/fitness is really going to suffer. I had a nice 4 week run currently to get some decent mileage in and now its borked by two donkeys not looking where they're riding. (plus a little bit of me not looking, thinking, ploughing on)
Excuse sweat smeared rubbish BB pics of frame break after I'd reached the collection point.
Craikeybaby said:
I went to the Leisure Lakes demo day at Cannock Chase, to keep in with the topic I made a triptych of the bikes I rode:
Demo day triptych by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
And? What did you reckon to what look like 3 quite different bikes? Demo day triptych by Lewis Craik, on FlickrI went out on the Orange 5 first - awesome bike, way more capable than me though. Loved the dropper post & XT set up. I found it hardwork on the climbs, even with the shock in climbing mode.
The Cube Reaction GTC was the real surprise for me, only took it as there wasn't a queue, but it rode really well, probably a lot to do with it only weighing 10.5Kg! It was the first time I've ridden a 29er, and I struggled on the tighter sections, but I've since seen they do a 27.5" version too. I'm really glad I took it out, as it wasn't a bike that was on my radar at all.
The Orange Crush was fun, but let down by cheap drive train. The Crush with the 5's components would be perfect for me, but that's a lot of money to spend on a bike.
The outcome is that I prefered the hardtails everywhere except the braking bumps, so sorted the hardtail/full sus dilemma I was having. I also realised that my Vitus Nucleus is a lot better than I gave it credit for - I think a shorter stem and some better wheels will do me for now, rather than a new bike.
The Cube Reaction GTC was the real surprise for me, only took it as there wasn't a queue, but it rode really well, probably a lot to do with it only weighing 10.5Kg! It was the first time I've ridden a 29er, and I struggled on the tighter sections, but I've since seen they do a 27.5" version too. I'm really glad I took it out, as it wasn't a bike that was on my radar at all.
The Orange Crush was fun, but let down by cheap drive train. The Crush with the 5's components would be perfect for me, but that's a lot of money to spend on a bike.
The outcome is that I prefered the hardtails everywhere except the braking bumps, so sorted the hardtail/full sus dilemma I was having. I also realised that my Vitus Nucleus is a lot better than I gave it credit for - I think a shorter stem and some better wheels will do me for now, rather than a new bike.
Craikeybaby said:
I went out on the Orange 5 first - awesome bike, way more capable than me though. Loved the dropper post & XT set up. I found it hardwork on the climbs, even with the shock in climbing mode.
The Cube Reaction GTC was the real surprise for me, only took it as there wasn't a queue, but it rode really well, probably a lot to do with it only weighing 10.5Kg! It was the first time I've ridden a 29er, and I struggled on the tighter sections, but I've since seen they do a 27.5" version too. I'm really glad I took it out, as it wasn't a bike that was on my radar at all.
The Orange Crush was fun, but let down by cheap drive train. The Crush with the 5's components would be perfect for me, but that's a lot of money to spend on a bike.
The outcome is that I prefered the hardtails everywhere except the braking bumps, so sorted the hardtail/full sus dilemma I was having. I also realised that my Vitus Nucleus is a lot better than I gave it credit for - I think a shorter stem and some better wheels will do me for now, rather than a new bike.
The Cube Reaction GTC was the real surprise for me, only took it as there wasn't a queue, but it rode really well, probably a lot to do with it only weighing 10.5Kg! It was the first time I've ridden a 29er, and I struggled on the tighter sections, but I've since seen they do a 27.5" version too. I'm really glad I took it out, as it wasn't a bike that was on my radar at all.
The Orange Crush was fun, but let down by cheap drive train. The Crush with the 5's components would be perfect for me, but that's a lot of money to spend on a bike.
The outcome is that I prefered the hardtails everywhere except the braking bumps, so sorted the hardtail/full sus dilemma I was having. I also realised that my Vitus Nucleus is a lot better than I gave it credit for - I think a shorter stem and some better wheels will do me for now, rather than a new bike.
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