[Closed] Going for a ride with Geoff Apps and....

....having your perceptions changed.

I went for a ride with Geoff a few days ago, something we'd been planning on doing for ages, but kept missing each other. It was a good afternoon's ride, and definitely opened my eyes to how things could be different in MTB design.

Here's the latest incarnation of Geoff's bike:

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Now, if you were to show this to most MTBers they'd probably dismiss it out of hand. High BB, short wheelbase, zero length stem, very high, relatively narrow bars. Start looking at the details though and it makes a lot of sense for your average (whatever that is!) UK rider - especially if you enjoy hacking along bridleways in the kind of conditions that are typical to a British winter (and sometimes summer 😉 )

Having had a go on it the enclosed drivetrain makes huge sense - even after going through axle deep slop the chain was clean.
The hub/roller brakes give excellent modulation, and work even after total immersion in mud.
The extreme upright position is akin to riding a horse. The high centre of gravity means that little movements of your body can shift your weight around easily and make it easy to ride over really rough and steep ground.
The elliptical chainrings added to the the low gearing (and hub gears so you can change whilst putting on the power) feel odd, but means you have power in the pedal stroke exactly when it's needed. I rode up a hill on this that I would never manage on any geared bike I've owned. Probably a 30/35% gradient on rutted, wet grass.
It even goes downhill amazingly well. The closest analogy I can give is that it 'floats' over stuff. very low tyre pressures - 4-6 psi - in 2.5" 29er tyres mean that you have to get used to the tyre squirm. But it never feels unbalanced, or unplanted.
You can go probably go faster on a 'normal' bike, but this has to be the most comfortable bike that I've ever ridden. And one that is capable of covering the most varied terrain possible without dismounting. I imagine my wife who loves riding horses, but doesn't (even though I've tried!) enjoy MTBing, would feel at home on this bike.

I went on the ride expecting to be interested, but maybe not convinced by Geoff's ideas. But I've come away with my perceptions entirely changed as to what this type of bike can be and do. I'm not going to go out and sell all my other bikes, but if I had the opportunity to add a Cleland to my rides I would like a shot.