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Enduro Wellies
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This week, while riding home from work, I caught up with a guy riding in wellies. I was wearing cowboy boots, but I was commuting by cargo bike in normal attire. He, however, was part way round a massive mountain bike ride - he told me he’d already done 60km, and with 30% battery left he was looking to do some more climbs and descents before heading home. A big day out, with plenty of tech trails and steeps. In wellies. Quite nice wellies - the sort of higher end full length soft rubber variety that have little buckled straps on the outside - but wellies nonetheless.
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‘How do you keep your feet on the pedals?’ I wondered.
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He had the hip pack, the lightweight waterproof jacket, a fancy GPS watch, a GoPro on his helmet, a good quality eMTB, and he’d travelled a fair way to ride our valley’s excellent trails. It’s not like he was just starting out, and didn’t seem short of the cash needed to get some sticky shoes. He simply chose to ride in wellies.
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There are a lot of ‘mountain bike’ or even ‘cycling’ specific items that can be ignored. Life without them would be no terrible hardship, though perhaps you might have to narrow your concept of acceptable riding weather. Shoes however… especially when it comes to the technical stuff, a pair of proper sticky MTB shoes are pretty high up the list of activity specific gear that I’d rather not live without. That said, the industry has largely failed to deliver truly great waterproof flat pedal options. Perhaps wellies are indeed the answer?
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Whatever you’ve got on your feet this weekend, I hope they take you to nice places.
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A Word From Our Sponsors: Glenmore Lodge
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Personalised MTB skills coaching & guiding in the Cairngorms National Park. Glenmore Lodge is the perfect place for a biking adventure; we’ve got a fully kitted out bike workshop, well-equipped Stores full of great gear (free to borrow for course customers!), a fleet of full-suspension bikes, and highly experienced coaches ready to help you develop your riding skills and confidence.
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We'll create a supportive and individualised experience so you can get the most out of our time with us, and leave ready for whatever new adventures the trails have in store for you.
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Our course offering includes options for all ability levels, and can help you learn to tackle techy features and find flow. All while exploring the epic natural trains of the Cairngorms, or while taking on the memorable descents of our awesome local trail centres, Laggan Wolftrax & Glenlivet. Prefer to ride an e-bike, and want to learn how to make the most of it and ride responsibly? No problem! All of our courses are also e-bike friendly, or you could try our 2-day E-bike Trail Riding course.
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Did you know that you can also book to stay at Glenmore Lodge? From secure bike storage facilities to a drying room and a well-stocked bar, we’ve got everything you need right here on site. We offer a range of comfortable accommodation and catering options to suit your needs, and with amazing trails right on our doorstep, what’s not to love?
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Fresh Goods Friday
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It is Friday. It is kind of lunchtime ish. It's almost the weekend. Which probably means it is almost time to ride bikes.
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The Carbon Wasp Compound-150 is a 150mm travel full-carbon trail bike made in Yorkshire. And we've been for a spin on one. Brand: Carbon Wasp Product: Compound-150 Price: £2,600 frame only From: Carbon Wasp Tested by: Benji for 2 weeks According to the bods from the Carbon Wasp Factory, the Compound-150 is "designed to get you quickly to the top of the …
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The latest generation Merida Big Trail takes the previous incarnation and runs with it. It runs all the way to the top of the hardcore hardtail heap.
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