Good morning dear Singletrack readers!
We have reason to celebrate today, for it is still – believe it or not – sunny outside! Yes it is, and the weekend was full of the yellow stuff, which decided to make an appearance for the first time in 2018. Along with a small break in the blanket of wintery wetness, the weekend turned out to be just the antidote we all needed for the January Blues.
Pretty much all of the Singletrack crew got out over the weekend to enjoy the brisk bluebird conditions, because let’s face it – you never know when you’re going to get another one of those!
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bdm1lPzBq-h/?taken-by=singletrackmag
Our weekend started out with some deliberating. Which would you choose? The Whyte 909, or the Pace RC127+? Both hardtails are on currently on test, and we’ll have full reviews coming for each one in the very near future – stay tuned…
Our Art Director Amanda is feeling a little worse for wear this morning after a weekend chocked-full of test riding on that new Whyte 909 hardtail in the photo up above:
“Saturday I went for a play around Rivington to get myself used to the Whyte 909 on some familiar trails. Sunday I got taken on a tour of Grizedale to give the hardtail a good test, and although I rode some of the steepest most technical tracks I ever have, I only have a riding shot from this nice section through the woods!” – Amanda.
Don’t let the sunshine in the above photo fool any of you – it was hella cold over the weekend in Calderdale! Chipps and his partner Beate managed to get out for a long ride out in the valley on a couple of test bikes that are due to be featured in the new issue of Singletrack Magazine. Then on Sunday, Chipps, James and a couple of extra models travelled over to the Yorkshire Dales to make use of the glorious conditions to nab some sweet riding photos.
“My weekend was a record-breaking (for this year) two rides in two days. Well, a ride and a photo shoot, both in lovely sunshine, complete with biting wind and numb extremities. But, hey, no horizontal rain, so I’ll take that any day. Saturday was a late afternoon jaunt up a local monster hill. And Sunday was a trip to the Dales, to shoot pics for next issue’s bike test. Lots of rigid rad (and frigid waiting in the cold) going on” – Chipps.
Here are some snaps from today’s ride that I have titled ‘Mates, bikes & sun’. First time in 2018 I have managed to get all three in the same place at the same time. Admittedly the sun was more luck! The peak is a summit called the Three Brethren, Scottish Borders, where lots of mint trails run off from; if you know where they are 🙂 Nae trail centre here 🙂
Our Ad Manager, and all-round trail destroyer, Rossco, also made the most of the glorious conditions and went riding with a buddy on his local trails. Apparently this section was a ‘super steep roll-in’, which given it’s Rossco, means it’s probably vertical.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BdqLepeB73k/?taken-by=andisykes
While Social Media Main-Man, Andi, went over to the new Leeds Urban Bikepark to cut some turns on the pump track.
I was lucky enough to get out on both days over the weekend, though yesterday was jam-packed with a solid test session over at Llangdegla. Managed three laps, just shy of 50km and nearly 1200m of climbing over about 3.5 hours of ride time. I took along two test bikes, three test tyres, one groupset, three sets of pedals, one pair of winter boots, a winter jacket, and thankfully, some heavy duty Sealskinz gloves that were much appreciated in the sub-zero conditions! Wrapping up with the right gear made it all pleasant enough though, and I was treated to a magic Welsh sunset on my 3rd lap. Shame about the last 20min I rode in the dark…
So what about you team? Did you bask in the winter sunshine this weekend?
