Best winter tyre for Stanmer

Posted by mtbnomad

Update

Baron is fitted and rolling and tried in differing conditions from liquid to super-sticky and it is an improvement. The tread is similar to the Bonty but larger size seems to reduce tendency to dig below the surface so it rolls easier. It does not slide much into corners even when front loaded with lots of weight and lots of braking but you can force it to break away if you push the brave/foolish button.

Surprisingly the root grip is excellent with only the side angle kickers forcing it offline. Rock grip seems good and even chalk sections grab a little. It will slide on steeper off camber stuff, e.g. tank trap, but even then it is predictable on both the slide and the grab back. This can be important to a taller rider as it reduces the likliehood of high siding yourself. Rolling resistance is medium so it may be worth trying it as a rear tyre too; need to consider this.

So overall my preferred choice for winter and maybe even a muddy August afternoon in the rain…….

Continue reading →

Thinking of joining a Thursday ride?

Posted by mtbnomad

Happy New Year!

2014 is welcomed in with strong winds, torrential rain and a slight hangover! The dry, fast rolling trails of summer 2013 are now just a distant memory. Instead, this seasonal weather has blessed Brighton with saturated ground and fallen trees.

All this does not sound particularly enticing, but the first rides back after Christmas have proved to be most entertaining. The slick ground conditions have truly tested the cornering ability of even the cockiest riders. In fact, the slick ground conditions have tested most people’s ability to keep the bike upright in a straight line. But not to worry; the mud provides a soft landing. Fallen trees have diverted trials or provided new obstacles to tackle. Strong tailwinds have led to some record times on the climbs, while strong headwinds have surprised us all with unusually exhausting descents.

The empty promise of the next trail been dry has amused some, but the genuine promise of jelly babies has been well received by all. As fun as these first rides of 2014 have been, as one Brighton MTB member put it, things can only get better from here!

Steve A

riding in sympathy

Posted by mtbnomad

When you have been off the bike for a while getting back to any level of fitness is a considerable effort. A holiday or a a short break is normally a couple of weeks of struggling towards the back of the pack and then slowly getting faster and fitter.

A longer time off due to injury seems to take twice as long to regain lost pace as the time off so will-power seems to be the key. A planned program can help or even returning to old habits may be enough but if you are trying to re-gain Tuesday pace then life can be a little harder. Continue reading →

Trail pixies and trail gremlins

Posted by mtbnomad

If you have stored your bike safely on the garage wall for the duration of the winter you may not be familiar with the current trail conditions. You may have opted for the black stuff and lycra or even joined a gym but if you still are out riding the non-quiche stuff then you know the dry trails of summer and autumn have been lost to memory. Continue reading →

Off the bike

Posted by mtbnomad

It’s really about motivation. This year several riders have had a fall that has forced time off the bike but most are back in the saddle – except me. Collapsed lungs, broken ribs, broken wrists and Alex and his famous attempt of head landing are all much more serious than me hurting a little finger but it takes ages to heal, even a little.

I have sat about a bit, looked at some bike bits and sort of waited. I have become an expert at dropping things including phones, lights, tools, cups and sugar jars. I am rubbish with a set of tyre levers. Rubbish at removing tyres that is but brilliant at random firings in all directions so you have been warned. Continue reading →

Dog Bite

Posted by mtbnomad

A backward course, a long spell of dry weather, less singletrack and an early climb – a change for better or worse?

Tuesday prior Tom was lead on a rough guide to the course. Dry, slippery in places due to the dust and riding up nice downhills raised a few complaints. Thursday night ran part of the course again with different faces, a slower pace and the lack of fun seemed apparent. Friday was a trundle with Chris Noble in greasy conditions on Michelin Dry 2 tyres. Flick and slip and slide and trouble. Down Coldean some damp roots and a tree produced a bad dislocation. Adding to all the other injured riders this year I could not even claim a speed or bravery badge as compensation. Continue reading →

Lady of the evening

Posted by mtbnomad

Having only ever joined Brighton MTB on weekend rides I thought it was about time I made the effort to get out on one of their weekday evening rides. I decided to join their Thursday night ride as it was billed as a more relaxed pace and not being the quickest on climbs this suited me fine. Continue reading →

UK bike park

Posted by mtbnomad

There is a myth whispered quietly between mountain bikers of a prize often looked for but rarely found. What it is isn’t entirely clear, the biggest rush, the smoothest jump, the longest – maybe never ending – trail, no one really knows. You don’t win the prize by entering a lottery or answering a question. To win you must first search for and find a thing esoteric and known only in a mountain bikers heart; all that is known is that it can be ridden and once found you must ride it like the world is ending behind you. The thing has a name, it’s called the Gnarr, and to ride it like the world is ending just behind your back wheel? That’s less complicated, you shred it. (apparently). Continue reading →

Culture for mountain bikers

Posted by mtbnomad

Art for Art’s sake and money for God’s sake goes the tune but this art is free. John rides Tuesday and Thursday and finds time to be creative in between cleaning the mud from the bike.

He has an exhibition on at Ropetackle in Shoreham (ropetacklecentre.com) until June. His website is john-north.com.

I chose this painting as it is titled the Art of Falling which is a subject well known to all of us. I have only reached craft level of falling which is roughly GCSE but with extra practice during summer I expect to improve towards journeyman. This is falling and jumping back on quickly and hoping nobody notices.

Obviously if John falls now we expect full on grace and elegance and he is not allowed to fall on his own as we need to be nearby to appreciate the art.

There are lots of other paintings on the website including more that are bike related but may be quite difficult to spot.

Amazingly we have a rider with talent…

Facts about Fat

Posted by mtbnomad

You can ride a bike fast, chase people up hills so by default you are healthy – maybe carrying a few extra pounds but you can ride so you must be in better shape than your average Jo.

Not necessarily – If your diet has a lot of the ‘bad’ stuff and not so much of the good, your insides might not be in as good a shape as you think. Continue reading →