Got the weekend off to an early start yesterday due to me now being a doley and Mrs Stu having a few days off.
Still exploring our new local area.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51071498632_291b80ef5d_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51071498632_291b80ef5d_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2kP1MeS ]Flowering Garlick[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/ ]multispeedstu[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51070709688_4a130dc4bf_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51070709688_4a130dc4bf_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2kNWJHo ]More exploring[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/ ]multispeedstu[/url], on Flickr
My weekend started last night with a windy hack out around the home patch of Rossendale



A bright and breezy start to the weekend with a quick trip to the hills and back to fish and chips for tea. Need to take some trail tools out this weekend, some pruning and weeding needing some in places.
Underestimated how much of a head wind there was so 45 miles seemingly directly into it was a chore the day after my second Covid jab
And the climbs didn't help either
But it was worth it for lunch
bike building this weekend - Lewis (16) has out grown his trannie scout so rebuilding my suppressor for him. Most of the parts will transfer over although I'll need some longer gear outer.

I think I am investing in a Fustle.
Staying indoors this weekend so no pictures from me. As Wales is allowing travel within all the trail centres and honeypots are reportedly rammed so going to wait until everyone has let of a little energy then go out midweek instead.
I managed a fairly big day at Pitfichie trying out a new shock. Pitfichie really is rocky, I put a couple of fairly hefty dents in my rims which somehow stayed seated, well, until I went down the old DH course, spaff everywhere 🙄😂
The shock is good.....well anything would outperform the DPX2.


[img]
[/img]
[url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/51076294771/ ]2021-03-27_04-15-56[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]Steve Weeks[/url] - [url= https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dariogf.flickr2BBcode_lite ]Flickr2BBcode LITE[/url]
[img]
[/img]
[url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/51076392032/ ]2021-03-27_04-15-46[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/152318156@N08/ ]Steve Weeks[/url] - [url= https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dariogf.flickr2BBcode_lite ]Flickr2BBcode LITE[/url]
Pitfichie really is rocky, I put a couple of fairly hefty dents in my rims which somehow stayed seated
what rims and pressure?
That dent is crazy. Yeah what psi?
I forgot my phone, so no pictures.
Mrs_oab and I headed out on a lamb hunt - 35km locally of lovely lanes and lambs in the field. Although fresh snow on the tops saw us bundled up and feeling the icy wind.
Back over Yair today.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/31337/51007264005_23fb0aa90f_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/31337/51007264005_23fb0aa90f_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2kHkywi ]Yair rocks.[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/ ]multispeedstu[/url], on Flickr
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51075760688_4702e2fd08_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51075760688_4702e2fd08_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2kPoCcA ]2021-03-27_05-31-14[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/ ]multispeedstu[/url], on Flickr
The rims are whatever came with the bike, a Specialized Status so probably nothing special. The rear also has a very similar and fresh dent as well 😳
Pressure was 19 psi in the front and 21 psi in the rear. Supergravity on the rear and supertrail on the front. I tried running a few psi more on Thursday on the same trails and the tyres felt a little skittery.
Looks like I’ll have to put the inserts back in......or try and be a little smoother. 😀
Demo on a Revel Ranger today.



Im 90kg and dent around 20 psi. For Scotland my limit is 22/25 in the wet and summer, say Ballater will go up to 23/27. No insert.
That ranger looks quick but the black and red bike. Sick.
Yair is fun. Ahhh April 26th 😛
Just a quick hour spin on the gravel bike but still had a great little ride today. Wanted to get out as forecast tomorrow is pretty shite. And had a few house tasks this morning to sort as well as a run to 18 Bikes to get a new headset on the fat bike fitted (and they’ve done it already, hurrah!).
Anyway, this is the best I could do from today’s ride.

Cyclocross bike today old railway line to Marlborough and through the Savernake and onto the canal to Wotton rivers and back over the Marlborough downs lovely ride change of scene after the full-suss in the Forest Of Dean Tue/Thurs.
Yair is fun. Ahhh April 26th
All the trails are trashed it's not worth coming. 😜
Yeah April 26th will make the 10 mile Journey to Yair!


a tale of two parts



Finally got to tackle Giro Cycles local loop The Lovelace Belgie - https://www.strava.com/routes/20627391
Packed a couple of cheese and pickle wraps and made an afternoon of it with the extended ride from home managed 99km. Best local ride by far so far.
What a fantastic route just what gravel bikes were invented for. I rode some Surrey Hills trails that were new to me. Still muddy in places so my choice to take the Vagabond with 2.1 ThunderBurts and mudgaurds was the correct one. I will have another go in a few weeks with the Arkose on 40mm and see if I can set a better time.


Warning there are a few footpaths but they were deserted unlike the heaving bridleways around Esher.
Out testing these "kitchen sink" bars & control grips for a review, not sure on the looks but they ride well so far
@lightfighter762 if the trails are only 10 miles away surely you are within the borders LA meaning you can go to them.
Stay at home order. Local laps only so far but April 2nd I guess stay at home is lifted.

Local lap up on the moors for me yesterday. Sunny, dry, windy, wet, boggy and dusty all in one ride.
Took a spin up to Skiddaw house and back.
Really enjoying the Scandal especially now Iv a dropper post fitted.
[url= https://i.postimg.cc/1X0fCBbW/0-DA9-DDD8-60-BD-49-E1-B2-F0-B779-F9391-D03.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.postimg.cc/1X0fCBbW/0-DA9-DDD8-60-BD-49-E1-B2-F0-B779-F9391-D03.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= https://i.postimg.cc/XJCZF4L6/2-AED98-E6-4-B1-D-431-A-96-C9-A294-AFAC983-C.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.postimg.cc/XJCZF4L6/2-AED98-E6-4-B1-D-431-A-96-C9-A294-AFAC983-C.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
Managed a triple bill this weekend, first in a while. No pics from Saturday but some interesting sites were spotted in my local woods which I try to keep on top of gardening wise, one you thing you can't stop is large groups gathering and drinking. Sadly spending more time shifting cans and broken glass bottles than fallen branches and brambles. Yesterday my rather loud chain slip gave a copulating teenage pair the shock of their lives.
Anyway today was hard work in a howling gale from the south west, I decided to visit the local steam railways and take in the old lines they left as a legacy. Quite fun but bloody hard work in the wind.
Love that photo looking up at the trees @jimmy748
Quick local spin for me yesterday on my Big Bro, was glad that the trail pixies had been out clearing the way for me.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51079522282_acefeb8bb3_k.jp g" target="_blank">
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51079522282_acefeb8bb3_k.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2kPHUoE ]IMG_5644[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/queenie2010/ ]Bindylou[/url], on Flickr" alt="null" />
Little rides with Harold.

@rocketdog how do you take your photos? It looks like you have a drone flying a little way in front of you 😀
A rare snap of me riding, from the other day.
You'll probably have to click as STW CBA fixing the Insta embed function. Sorry.
I always want to see a video of Rocketdog setting up his shot, pegging it back, riding it, pegging it back for the camera.. 😀
Fitted wider gears and chunkier tyres to the gravel bike so put together a loop near Aboyne that was only 30% on road.
[url= https://i.postimg.cc/yx90wL8w/2694-D8-E1-F1-F4-4-D5-D-8207-F53-E1-CEF5-AB2.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.postimg.cc/yx90wL8w/2694-D8-E1-F1-F4-4-D5-D-8207-F53-E1-CEF5-AB2.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= https://i.postimg.cc/xjbGJ13t/C5937979-28-EE-48-FE-925-A-2-E2835-BCD5-B2.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.postimg.cc/xjbGJ13t/C5937979-28-EE-48-FE-925-A-2-E2835-BCD5-B2.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
I always want to see a video of Rocketdog setting up his shot, pegging it back, riding it, pegging it back for the camera.. 😀
To the Benny hill theme tune 🤣
Being chased by saucy ladies and a policeman
Still fully local riding, with an urban explorer feel this time... A-Frame and inside the old abandoned power station (East Ayrshire's Chernobyl lol)...


Spent Saturday clearing trails ready for the reopening of Twisted Oaks this week, followed by a quick session to make sure it's running OK, and got Mrs Ready clearing gaps - in jeans!
[url= https://i.postimg.cc/BnXrmFcG/Log.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.postimg.cc/BnXrmFcG/Log.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= https://i.postimg.cc/gjz58LkQ/Boner.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.postimg.cc/gjz58LkQ/Boner.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
[url= https://i.postimg.cc/j2M1XqD5/K-Gap.jp g" target="_blank">https://i.postimg.cc/j2M1XqD5/K-Gap.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
If anyone hasn't visited yet, it's a really progressive, friendly bike park that's got something for everyone, from small beginner drops & tables, short but sweet DH runs to proper large gaps and woodwork features. Would recommend!
I always want to see a video of Rocketdog setting up his shot, pegging it back, riding it, pegging it back for the camera..
I had been wondering how on earth @rocketdog ever got his bike rides finished! Takes me long enough just to set up a still life of my bike....
Odd weather in Leicestershire over the weekend, big downpours, or snow or hail? Or all of the above?

Suspect Saturday was the last ride for the Chromag as new bike build starts tonight.

https://i.ibb.co/SsdDdVD/IMG-20210329-210538-879.jp g" target="_blank">
https://i.ibb.co/SsdDdVD/IMG-20210329-210538-879.jp g"/> [/img][/url]" alt="" />
I know its Monday but I was working the weekend.
100 mile training ride with fully loaded bike. Stopped off at hankley common, reminiscing about previous employment.
Monday Night ride count? 3,000 ft of Elevation in 28 miles over the Purbecks tonight, lovely evening but still only 3.5 degrees by the end of the ride.




Tuesday avo ride still counts as the weekend for me now i have no job to go to.
1300 metres of descending some fine hand cut trails today.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51084202771_cf95f7e8f6_c.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51084202771_cf95f7e8f6_c.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/2kQ8TJK ]2021-03-30_06-03-30[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/stu-b/ ]multispeedstu[/url], on Flickr
Tuesday evening counts, right?
First evening ride of year... The hottest day of the year (and hottest March day for 53 years down sarf), intentionally left it until late to miss the swarms of people, and was greeted by no more than 10 people in 9 miles, lots of bugs, a crazy German Shephard puppy (had a nice chat with the owners about bikes, as you do :D), and actual dust, yes DUST... on the fork stanchions. Jumper for goalposts, isn't it? Lovely.
[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51084524461_ae0de19a13_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51084524461_ae0de19a13_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url]
Time to get out for an hour or so 5 or more days a week to get the legs and lungs back up to speed again, and to try and lose some of this insulation I've gained over winter.





