The Shiny New All-Purpose MTB Thread

and so it begins...

Indeed. I just went to buy a set of silver DMR V8s to match the new XT cranks so I can ride tomorrow. The local branch pf Evans only had blue V8s or else magnesium V12s in stock. So I bought some Truvativ Holzfellers instead.

Which obviously makes perfect sense.

I must admit, there's no way in hell I'd take on that double

Nor me. There is a medium sized one next to it that avoids jumping over the big hole and is much less scary. The idea is to get that dialed and then build up to the big one.

There's also another jump on the far side of big jump that is at an angle to the landing part and, if you are exceptionally brave, can form like a skatepark "hip" (the correct term I believe) so you not only have to jump the thing but steer through 45 degrees in mid air as well.

especially on the little bike

I think it's meant to be easier on the BMX as the jumps are sized and shaped for the shorter wheelbase. At least the taking off is easier -- not sure about the landing...

Matthew

I look forward to hearing how you get on with the XT Hollowtech II. Whatever I get, I will run with a bashguard and two rings so I can run a shortcage mech at the back.

The little bike is definitely easier for tight transitions. Give it a few weeks, and you'll be clearing them no problem.

My ride home from work resulted in me removing several lumps of my calf, and cutting what was hanging off with nail clippers. I tried a 3ft drop to a short, steep transition. Dunno what went wrong, but the bike popped out from under me, and the DXs bit me. I'm going to grab my shinpads at the weekend and hit it again.

It turns out I also bent the axles on both my pedals (DMR V8s) which makes me feel less guilty about buying the Holzfeller's (which has a presumably bombproff oversized CroMo spindle) in a moment of weakness.

The XTs cranks are one of those "just feels right" products (although the hollow axle is a bit odd).


Non-Wobbly Cranks

The TruVativ Holtzfellers certain look the part. And I like that the pins are hex-bolts that screw through from the far side you you can get them out with an allen key when they get trashed on rocks. And also the spindle has no nut on it and instaed the pedals are done up with an allen key from teh other side. This means they fit more or less flush with the crank which looks very neat.


Mmmmmmmm

Matthew

The TruVativ Holzfeller crankset seems highly rated as an alternative to XTs for the more abusive rider. They come in both triple and double + bash guard versions.

Details
Short, glowing review
£95 from Wiggle

Matthew

Cheers for the Holzfeller tipoff, I'd not seen them before.

I'm currently sporting a cluster of gammy holes in my leg that have seeped yellow goo through their third melolin dressing already. I believe that yellow and sticky is okay, but if it gets green and smelly, I ought to do something about them. Anyway, given my shinpads are 8 years old and have never been washed, I've invested in a new pair in an effort to avoid a repeat.

[img]http://www.mutation-clothing.com/products/img/prodimg/ASG_gr_2.jpg[img]

Cheers for the Holzfeller tipoff, I'd not seen them before.

I'm currently sporting a cluster of gammy holes in my leg that have seeped yellow goo through their third melolin dressing already. I believe that yellow and sticky is okay, but if it gets green and smelly, I ought to do something about them. Anyway, given my shinpads are 8 years old and have never been washed, I've invested in a new pair in an effort to avoid a repeat.

The pedals are ace and more grippy than the DMRs. They have a nice slight curve on them and the pins are very sharp. However, they don't like mud which they don't shed as well as the DMRs and, with the pins being relatively short, they lose grip quite quick.

The cranks are, well, cranks. They are light and stiff but then to be honest I've noticed a lack of stiffness in any cranks I've owned. Most importantly there is no sign of any wobble after a damn good thrashing (realtively speaking) in the woods.

Mekon -- The TruVativ stuff seems generally well regarded amongst the people who tend to break things and all their stuff seems great value at the budget end ("Hussfelt") and the not-so-budget ("Holzfeller") end. They make good bars and stems as well (sort of like Diablous but without the ricey flame graphics)

Matthew

That XT chainset looks very nice. It'll be interesting to see how long the chainrings last as they do have the reputation of being made of cheese - at least they can be replaced with something stronger though.

Steve -- You have PT.

Hey, do you guys ever find yourselves in an impromtu "race" with complete strangers on your way home from work ? I mean multiple changes of position, people "biting off more than they can chew", speeds slowly but surely increasing, deliberate slipstreaming, no one acknowledgeing any one else or whats happening ?

My wife says that it's childish. I find it a bit, well, masculine.

See you on the street........

Brian OReilly

All the time. There are *lots* of cyclists on my route to work and it's important to show them who's boss.

Today I was faced with a stiff headwind so I tucked in behind the main group before taking the Peloton on the descent from the Col d'Amwell into Colthorpe St. The motley collection of office workers, students and old ladies didn't know what had hit them and they had to eat my dust.

I then slipstreamed a fat bloke all the way past Russell Sq and across Tottenham Court Road before outmanouvering him at some roadworks and flying down Charlotte St and across Soho Sq. to take the applause of the Beautiful People taking their morning Lattes outside Bar Italia.

Matthew

Sorry. Has to be a peer group. Neither significantly faster or slower.

Fatties and old ladies are fair game only if they have a better bike than you. Mind you, you probably get that all the time.

Brian OReilly

Fortunately I rarely meet anyone going my way because the last time I tried to race someone I was profoundly trounced by a flip-flop wearing hippy on a rusty, cheapo rigid MTB while I was riding my shiny new racer. :-(

I caught and passed him downhill no problem but he pissed off and left me for dead uphill.

I road into a severe headwind today, and some bugger tried to slipstream me all the way. In the end I hopped up on the kerb, and booted off. I don't mind sharing the work, but I am not going to tow someone.

Last evening in Finsbury Park, my BMX and I successfully left the ground without the use of any form of inclined plane.

My brake gets fixed on Friday after I dispaired of ever sorting it out myself.

Matthew

Any good footage?

No amount of skill with the video camera and in the edit suite can disguise the fact that my repetiore currently consists of a 6" bunnyhop.

Matthew

Steve,

I am planning to take my Nephews out for a ride in August and was thinking about going to Glentress. So:

-- They are 13 and 14 respectively and would be described as "enthusiastic beginners" I guess. Would the Glentress Red Route be suitable do you think?

FYI Jake has a Merlin MALT1 plus the £150 Zoke fork (EXR Comp of something) and Josh has a Carerra Kraken with a siezed Suntour fork (he has a BMX (and Skate) background and seems to be able to cope with effectively having no suspenesion).

-- If not can sufficient fun be had on the Skills Loops and the Red and Blue "Freeride" loops? What sort of difficulty are they and can they be ridden repeatedly to make a day's cycling that would justify a day's driving.

-- I assume to get there you just drive up the M6 and then head via Moffat like going to Edinburgh via the scenic route. How long would it take to get there from Blackpool (where my nephews live) and would it be feasable to do a day trip? Is 2.5 hours each way optimistic?

-- If not Glentress, would any other of 7 Stanes areas be suitable? I note that Newcastleton is the closet to Ingerlund but it looks from the website as if there is not much there yet.

Thanks,
Matthew

GT would be fine. If you're there for the day I'd suggest taking them round the blue and the blue & red freeride areas in the morning then, after lunch at the excellent cafe, doing the red in the afternoon.

The red isn't difficult so they should be fine and I'm sure they'd enjoy it. I've seen all sorts of bikes being ridden round there (including rigid Halfords rubbish) and their bikes will be fine although they'll probably want decent forks after they've ridden there.

The only bit of the skills loop worth doing is the little baby north-shore stuff - the rest is very tame. The blue and red freeride areas are good fun though, with a few jumps, doubles and berms etc, but nothing big. Riding them and returning to the start is no problem, it just involves a short fire-road climb. BTW the red route gets very close to the north-shore Ewok Village and you can cut up to have a look if you like. Some of the bits aren't difficult.

Autoroute says 175 miles and 3 hours. I'm usually considerably quicker than that so 2.5 hours sounds reasonable. From Moffat to Peebles the roads are very nice indeed (A708 and B709) and usually quiet so good progress can be made.

Glentress is probably the best of the 7-stanes for your nephews first visit. Mabie is a good bit closer though and I'm told it's pretty good (though I've never ridden there) plus Dalbeattie is also nearby and can be done in the same day. Newcastleton isn't finished yet. Kirroughtree is about the same distance away as GT and again I haven't been but have heard good things about it from the few I know who have so far.

When in August were you planning to go as if it's after I'm back from my holidays (on the 14th) I could be available as a guide - as long as you don't mind my lesuirely climbing speed...

Thanks, Steve. Glentress sounds good and something with some small jumps and berms + a noot too difficult XC route would be perfect. Assuming they pass a basic proficiency test on some more local hills the day before.

Exact dates for my holidays are fairly fluid but it's likely to be either the week starting 7/8 or the week starting 14/15.

Matthew

Some stills from the set of my new production "Miracle Boy and The Dirt Master":



Matthew

Nice stills, showing textbook racing technique (sucking the bike up under you to keep it low). A bit more height and a lookback in the next set?

How much diference do the tyres make to the effort required to ride on road. I bought a 2nd hand Kona some time back, and want to start using it for riding to work, but on the few occasions I've tried, although I'm fairly fit, the effort required to ride on road seems out of proportion to the forward motion.
I live next to a large park with plenty of dirt tracks and gradients, and when riding there I'm not conscious of a problem, but on road I feel like the tyres are under inflated and they 'rumble' quite loudly, even though the pressures up around 50-60 psi.
The tyres are a 'Scratch Rear' and a 'Sniff Front' and are obviously quite a soft compound. Would there be much advantage to changing the tyres for something different.
I had also considered that the size/geometry of the bike did not suit me, but as I say, off road I don't seem to notice the problem
The odd tree root or rock on a dirt track is about as extreme as I get!

Cheers
Ade

Tires make a huge difference. I use WTB Mutano Raptor 2.4s, which given the large carcass, ought to be awful on the road. However, they are only a 100g heavier than the semi slicks they replaced, and have a near continuous centre block pattern, which makes them dead smooth. I really don't think the Tioga Factory semi slicks were any better. Wiggle have them in the sale at the mo'. Apparently the 2.4 is lighter than the 2.24. I do about 50km a week on road on them. That said, something like a Vredestein S-Lick would be hugely better if you were just using it on road, but I do more distance offroad.

"(sucking the bike up under you to keep it low)"

I am actually pulling it up to get more height. Or at least trying to -- if you can tell me how not to do this so I get more height I'd be very grateful.

I think mainly the problem is one of speed -- i cannot carry enough through the berm (the only way in) to get much height so I end up almost trying to wrestle the bike up in the air to get any sort of height. I need to find a more suitable jump spot really.

My bunnyhop technique -- as in my attempt to do "proper" BMX stlye hops -- is also stuck. I can lift the front pretty high and (separately) kick the back up a foot or so with my feet. I understand that you somehow put these two halfves together and before you know it dudes are giving slight nods of the head and chicks are tittering nervously behind their hands while glancing coyly and pointing.

However, if I pick the front up and then try to push the bars forward and lift the back up with my feet in the classic hopping, the usual motion I use to to do this immediately forces the front down so I barely take off. IYSWIM.

It's very frustrating.

Matthew