Get exploring!

This took me 75minutes this morning at a hard pace. Add in some walkers and fettling and I’d say it’s 2hrs

Mix of road, single track, vaguely rooty climbing and some descending. All could be done on a rigid SS but that is this part of the Chilterns for you!

Check out my cycling activity on Garmin Connect. #beatyesterday
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1700610181?share_unique_id=3

Super Nova on my new rigid single speed gave me the biggest grin I’ve had from riding an MTB period.

A bit like Swinley not a place to crash but great for a blast

There’s no prizes. If you enjoy it or can make some minor changes to enjoy it great. If you don’t enjoy it, want to chill in the car to the radio crack on.

I’d not take the risk of hating cycling for ever lightly.

You may be doing it the wrong way round by using protein immediately and carbs as part of your food.

The carb requirement is immediate (ie within 20minutes there is an increased uptake rate) the protein longer term.

So it makes sense to use the recovery drink for carbs and the food for protein.

Can of coke and a lean meat sandwich for me.

Also if you keep on repeating that you are a crap climber it will become a self fulfilling prophecy.

I think the next round is basically the Ridgeway plus trails off it. As such it may have some dried horse hoof and vehicle ruts. If you’re fast it can get a little jarring on a HT.

I did 4hrs on the ridgeway yesterday near the forthcoming Scott event.

I’d say your anthem would be faster – I was spinning out on 32/12 and grateful for the rear suspension on the Spearfish allowing me to sit for the most part.

I thought front slide out at speed crashes were very likely to result in wheel damage?

Slow down to a level you know you’re not going to crash, look ahead and concentrate on technique. After a while start to try to carry speed but not to a level you feel you’re in danger of crashing.

69.5 is not steep for an XC bike.

The next Scott is largely on the Ridgeway. How do the race contingent treat horses and walkers with dogs? I was on it yesterday. To be polite and safe I had to stop or slow to walking pace innumerable times.

^I’m not sure any of the categories are ‘fun’? More like less experienced? There are some mighty fast less experienced riders.

Anyone nearly endo on the log jump?

whether i’ll be looking for that 22T about 150 miles into the double, hmmmmm maybe.

I’d say if you’re mortal you’ll be using it repeatedly for long sections once you’re past Amberly heading east ie about 50miles in.

Don’t underestimate it – some biig looong hills that keep on coming.

Do people really believe 40mm of rise will slow them down significantly? Or even measurably?

Kryton’s HT has risers……….Let’s hope he reads this! :lol:.

I did the whole of Grims Ditch yesterday, i wasn’t quick as i don’t know the trail so was taking it easy and it being rooty didn’t really suit my HT much, but i was a very enjoyable trail

FWIW I think that’s the right way to ride Grims Ditch.

1. It’s a right of way – walkers and possibly a Strava wannabee round a blind bend

2. It’s banked with no run off – overcook it and it can really hurt.

Likewise, they also accelerate faster / easier downhill and less chance of a stall in a rebound situations fork setup given.

When I shoot myself will it be suicide or will this count as manslaughter

I asked by e mail a couple of months ago and was told it wasn’t happening this year.

On an early morning away from walkers it’s probably the footpath section of Grims Ditch – personally I avoid.

Grims Ditch bridleway’s reasonably twisty, Aston XC loop has more roots and turns than you can shake a stick at but take your climbing legs (I race XC and still use 28/42 on it)

^ agreed but I meant for a marathon bike where pinpoint steering accuracy and megastiffness aren’t really top of the tree.

That’s my neck of the woods. Some great routes can be put together. I’m really hacked off with XC and intervals atm so will be putting some distance in over the next few weeks.

https://www.actionsports.de/en/dt-swiss-240s-disc-is-custom-wheelset-mtb-29er-4051?c=398

1453g (I was out by 3g must try harder) and 649Euros which is about £550

I am impressed – arrived in less than a week and build quality is really good. Better hubs than ACs I think (even though I like ACs I think the DTs are possibly better sealed and also don’t suffer from redishing issues if you move to SRAM XD which my older ACs did)

What wheels were they? Also if your current wheels are as you said (not that I’m stalking you) 1900g and these are 349g lighter then the resultant 1551g is not a good weight for that money.

That is a huge amount of money for anything other than top drawer components.
Alex may be great but you’ll take a substantial hit on resale value because of their perceived quality.

FWIW I bought a pair of handbuilt wheels from ActionSports for £649:-
Crests
DT240 6 bolt
CXrays

1450g I think. The new MK3 Crests make carbon rims on such a bike redundant.

When I compare my Flux with my Epic it’s not the geo that’s limiting it’s the wheel size (kittens!). Stuff at Aston that I blast over on the Epic has the Flux tied in all sorts of knots because the wheels fit in the gaps between the roots.

I’d prefer a 100mm/120mm 29er to a 120mm/140mm 27.5.

Not a bad race at Checkendon. Not seeded so about 20th on the grid. Failed to clip on the start about 4 times so nearly dead last. Got up to 18th, beat a few people who normally beat me and closer to some others. More fitness required.

I have this strange feeling of deja vu……

STW did test the Anthem about 3 years ago, Issue 89 page 120.

Even on high speed rocky and rooty trails it feels far less challenged than most other 100mm travel bikes, which can be a surprise to many riders who initially think the 71° head angle may be challenging on steep technical downs. It’s not – or at least not until things start to get really steep!

Compared to a carbon Canyon and a Spearfish split pivot

Of the three bikes here, the Giant was the fastest overall

For Marathon all you want is something comfortable, reasonably light and efficient. You have it, don’t ask again.

I only ride the xc course but it was bone dry last week and very fast.

There’s a split pivot version for sale on here

If it was a large I’d buy it for a spare. Cheap.

Aha mine is a Split Pivot 69.3HA. Absolutely love it.

I rode the builth marathon too on a 80mm travel spearfish, and although it is comfy and fast on lots of trails, it’s a pretty nervous descender.

I’m surprised at the ‘fish feeling nervous, I find mine noticeably more relaxed than my Epic and other XC bikes. In fact I’d do so far as to say it’s probably the perfect bike for these sorts of events.

720 Mt Zooms

You’ve a better or less selective memory than me adsh, thanks for the apt reminders. Yes my anthem clogged badly which was why I decide to get the HT. I have a Kcnc Scandium seatpost on the HT from XCracer but I’m not sure if the “pro lite” is a different post?

My pressures were 25psi for the Marathon ron/ralph 2.1 snakeskins. It has been noted by others I run them high…

The next round is really HT territory IMHO
Wantage/Chiterns – is it? I was going to test the Anthem…?

I think you’re good with the one from XC racer – if you try to bend the saddle back you should see quite a deflection if you’ve got a decent amount of post showing. I have the expensive and comfortable Syntace on my HT and fitted the KCNC to my Epic. To my surprise it seems to bend as much as the Syntace.

2.1s and 25psi is where your problem lies I’d say. 2.25s and approx. 20 front 22 rear for me at the most.

I think the next round is basically the Ridgeway plus trails off it. As such it may have some dried horse hoof and vehicle ruts. If you’re fast it can get a little jarring on a HT.

I don’t think a single XC bike is wise. Do you really want to wreck a carbon FS on a wet muddy Merida Brass Monkey for no gain? Don’t forget the mud clearance issues almost all FS will have and that plagued you.

You can make your carbon HT comfier – Syntace P6 hiflex seat post or a lighter weight and nearly as bendy KCNC prolite. Both make a big difference. Bigger tyres at lower pressure and in extreme cases 2 pairs of shorts. If I can do 14hrs on the Manx 100 (and that is ROUGH) in comfort on a HT I’d say it’s setup not the fact it’s a HT per se).

The next round is really HT territory IMHO. Biggest issue will be avoiding grass covered ruts at speed (which is why I didn’t enter last year as I had a big off training on the course)

8hrs a week of true quality is a solid plan.

Unless you repeatedly climb/ride flats at threshold before recovering on single track you are probably better off with tempo and sweetspot.

True sweetspot is very tough. Torq (coached) had me doing 5x 15minutes at 90-93% of FTP. That nightmare session is enough to give good gains by itself. I proved this by racing well having only done that one quality session for over a month. One more interval session and some tempo (or base if you’re too knackered) and you’re good.

The critical thing is to make that key session the highest quality – you need to be well rested, well fed, feed on the bike and truly dread it. It should take every ounce of self discipline to complete.

I love them for long distance but have managed to wean myself off them for XC and 12hrs where despite the comfort they are a liability.

Crashing with bar ends on lightweight carbon bars generally wrecks the bars.

For long distance they are so much more comfortable.

If you’ve got it use it but adjust your braking accordingly. I know at least one podium dweller who tried them and didn’t get on.

The depths of the woods will still have some mud but anywhere else is bone dry.

S’pose it was my first foray away from Gorricks etc. I just wasn’t expecting to have to have both wheels off the ground. The big drop B line is fairly hard core.

I ride a Whyte 29c which is great. If I had to replace I’d get a Trek Procalibre. Test somewhere on here – very good.

Wasing if absolutely terrifying.

I don’t think you could choose a worse course to race without a pre ride.

Finished hard 3 week block took 4 days off to recover and despite cramp most nights (always on recovery) managed a very good ftp test today with a 10w increase on best and more on end of last season. Vindicates the pain of more intervals.

Not ill just a lot of fatigue in legs. Week 3, last interval and a day off hasn’t cut it. Will retry tomorrow – joy.

Can’t manage threshold 8O