nice!
At Haldon if you haven't already it's worth exploring off-piste (or even looking on Strava) as there is quite a bit of official-unofficial stuff which I'm sure you've spotted doing the normal blue/red stuff.
I'm a Quantocks & Mendips local, but actually heading there this weekend if my mates not ill (otherwise i'll solo quantocks)
Yeah, the off piste stuff at Haldon is great. Still learning my way round it, though.
I grew up in Taunton, so know the Quantocks well, you’ll have a good ride whichever you go to 🙂
I'm from Taunton too, still work here but moved 20 mins up the m5 to BoS.
I'm Tralforks admin for the Quantocks and accidentally run the Quantock Trail Riders Group if you find that on fb. Less familiar with the mendips, but know my way around once up at the main trailheads. as a drive to ride type not found the ideal parking spot yet.
Haldon wise.. off piste favourites are
'traily mc trailface' which is near where the two blues start and goes a few routes through.. one just got closed after, but there are some steep trails that start up the hill with lots of off camber stuff.
Found the 'old red' which cross the normal red kind of 1/4 way in. really nice trali that you have to go down the road to find the entrance. (or climb back up just before the steppy bit that leads down to the black)
Some trails that start near the end of the kiddens (the longer blue) and cut down across the climb back up.. from up near some kind of lookout. Theres one there we've not found yet.
I think I know those ones. There’s the bits near the lookout too, which drop down towards Kennford.
The old red is called “Rat Run”.
Finally got to ride mine and get it a bit muddy. Love it! Climbs really well then great fun descending. Perfect conditions for the Forekasters in the drying slop.
hmm maybe i've got old red wrong.. went again and this week strava named that segment as "barking dog".. found a jump my mates had spotted that runs parallel to the well worn route through and played on that for a while. (i found it a good yearror so ago by walking back up, and we finally investigated properly on new years day where they noticed the jump)
quite funny. i'm stood just 100 ft inside barking dog about to have a run at the jump i move off to the side when saw riders coming off in the of road.
bloke and mate come riding in : everything ok?
me : yeah thanks we're just playing on the jump
bloke : theres no jump here!
me : yeah it's just down there where my mate is! off the left
so yeah, just into barking dog you can peel a left for 100ft and theres a nice little jump that brings you back on the trail as usual.
Nice! Thanks for the tip, I’ll look out for that.
Glad you like it @Richardthethird
I concur with that review. They copied me taking 4lbs of wheel weight off.
(Luckily we get the narrower Forekaster 2.6 tyres which fit nicely and are quite light)
I accidentally put a 140mm airshaft in the fork. It needed a lowers service anyway so why the hell not.
(my fork was sucking down 15mm from new and the foam rings were dry)
Off to Wales next month, can't wait!
Yeah, that review sounds spot on.
I'm waiting for another pay day or two to justify the new wheels.
Mulling over whether to go for Hunt Trail Wides or some Hope Po 4s on some DT XM481s...
Works really well with a 140mm fork upfront!
Finally finished my tubeless conversion for both wheels (fat fingers making the valve hole too big and running out of tape prolonged it).
It certainly makes a difference. Feels like it spins up a bit more easily.
Rode it from my front door up to the highest parts of Dartmoor today. Around 400 metres of climbing alll in. It coped well, once it got rolling, despite its weight, I found it climbed really well. Descending is always fun on it. There was quite a rocky bit of trail which I hit at a reasonable speed today. It certainly doesn’t like ploughing through rocks, but it’s great fun to try and flick through and around them instead.
Added some Hope grips which were a birthday present. Bit softer than the Norco ones. Only other planned change is an oval chainring.
Had mine since October 2018. Getting a clunking noise from drive train. Any suggestions?
I think it might be a year for a new bike. This looks like an option. How is the bottom bracket height. Could you run narrower tyres if needed and still not be pedal strike central
On XL the BB height is not too low. Narrower tires should not make a difference. I think the crank arms are 170mm anyway. I don't get pedal strikes that often.
I'm very tempted to buy one of these, mainly just for the frame as I have a pile of good quality bits I could stick on it.
I've read a review though saying the bb is higher. Than stated and that the head angle is 1.5 degrees steeper than stated. Can anyone confirm either way?
Sorry, i've not bothered to measure anything on it, i've just ridden it - i've not felt the need to check anything as it just rides well. I wouldn't be concerned about BB height or head angle. I used to get pedal strikes on my 2013 Specialized enduro all the time, not so many on this. So either i've learnt not to create them, or the bike is a bit taller, whatever it is i've not felt the need to question a few mm to work it out. Just enjoy and don't worry about the numbers.
Agree that the Norco fluid is an updated design that addresses issues from earlier generation fs bikes. For me it is noticeably more confidence inspiring compared to bikes from three years ago. Despite this is pedals better and does not have as many pedal strikes. On the other hand the bike is longer and heavier although this may be the ebike rated drivetrain. Either way it is a great package for the money. If you were to spend another grand on top of the selling price you will get similarly capable bikes with lighter groupsets.
Took my Fluid to Bike Park Wales on Friday (that was wet!). It’s ability outweighed my skill. I have to confess to being a bit nervy on the brakes in the wet, despite having loads of fun. Got loads of hand and arm pump, but that’s just me. I may invest in a set of Revgrips to see how they go. The bike coped with blue and red trails easily. It felt like just enough travel, and cruised through rocky sections well, whilst being flickable and easily changing direction on trails like Roller Disco.
