mentalalex.

Its slippy this time of year. Also a lot of the surface has worn over winter so there’s a lot of sharp/flinty rock/slate exposed in certain sections. I thought about light tyres but i think anytime gained will be lost going down and even more when your fixing the cut in the sidewall!!
Sticking with bigger tyres.

http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/whinlatter-trails-1

There’s actually more grip when its rains 😉

Its very slippery under certain conditions – if the surface is dewy or drying out after rain its very slick in certain areas. There’s strangely loads of grip when it’s raining or not so strangely when its dry.

Just seen article, Tiz Dent. 😉

Is it Dent then? Still haven’t see the said article but i know there’s a fare bit of trail building going on there. And yes setters v muddy when wet, should be fine sunday after the dry week.

Parkedtiger – Here’s a crude map of the trails in the area, your better parking Embleton side(see map). There’s more stuff in there and the map just shows the general direction of the trail and isn’t accurate in anyway 🙂 Once you know your all the trails there’s at least 2 hrs of trail in there with very little overlap. Hope this helps 🙂

Haven’t seen the article, but setters is definately worth a ride. Only trouble is you really need local knowledge to find most of the stuff other than the downhill. Its tight rooty and technical, does wonders for your bike handling. 😉

I’d go left at wasdale over styhead then back up honister(which has a offroad option). Black sail and Styhead are awesome descents.

NetherBeck-Haycock-Ennerdale will be boggy this time of year, lots of carrying up and not that great a descent into Ennerdale.

‘Red Pike loop’ is one of those done it once never again type rides if you get my drift 🙂

The bit closed on whinlatter ain’t that big, so you can still have a good ride there.

P.S You’d be far better off IMO doing the Borrowdale bash, better prep for Helvellyn, 2-3 hrs and I’ll get you used riding to the rock. Forecasts looking really good at the mo.

Very good route but we forget the descent into haweswater and head(cheaky) onto Harter Fell, it avoids the horrible carry up Nan Bield. Its Cracking descent off the top of Harter v technical.

Update your account preferences, you get a code every time.

markcdo

I think I might be wrong not sure now, if the ST’s can be converted between QR and 20mm like the old XL’s. You can then you can sort this, as a mate had his XL’s sorted to fit 15mm. I have the Sl’s and you can’t convert them. You can easily tell – pull the adaptors on the hub off and look inside if there’s a hexbolt in the hub it can’t be done.

He had the old 9mm adaptors milled/drilled out to 15mm. The lad that did it has some engineering experience and is a member on here ‘NorthCountryBoy’. Might be worth getting in touch for some info. Strangely Northcountryboy bought ridethelakes epiphany off him….small world 🙂

ST’s are either 20mm or QR not both, unlike the old XL or SX which could take converters. Hope this helps.

Schwable Fat Alberts roll well and offer excellent grip and durablity

From FC Whinlatter

“PLEASE NOTE : Saturday 7th March is the annual Malcolm Wilson Car rally and the whole Altura Trail will be closed for safety reasons.”

Second that, they’re really on the ball with their customer service.

I very much doubt there are rocky drop offs etc from what I saw.

Can think of 3 offhand, but they are all optional. One gets ridden very rarely, the dropoff right at the end of the second black grade section on the north loop. The other 2 are easy’ish, first section of black on the north side. Theres also a nice rock to jump off towards the end of the first section of the north downhill.

If you’ve bounced the fork and it hasn’t reduced it, I think you may have a faulty talas valve. Had mine replaced under warranty at mojo. Not sure if they honour warranties on second hand forks you’ll have to ask, oh and I think the warranty period is 2 years.

Its was particularly muddy last weekend as the frost had lifted the surface then thored. Its usually less muddy even when its wet.

Its ok very loose at the top with a long section of flowing singletrack after that. Then some steppy climb down bits at the end. Personally I prefer to go up it as its 70% rideable and the descents off Force Crag or Whiteless are far better IMO.

Theres lots of great stuff in the area, lot of its cheeky trails though. Climbing Gasgale gill to Coledale hause the head south and Descend off whiteless pike being a personal fav.

Ahh right?? Wasn’t sure what you’re saying cos the pins have a guide section and therefore can’t be prefitted.

I’ve always bought oem and they’ve always come with a pin(merlin also). XTR though so couldn’t comment on the other shimano chains

“If you are using a Shimano chain you can not push the same pin back through the inner and outer plates. Shimano rivets (pins) are beveled on each side for added strength. This is good in functionality until your chain breaks or you are sizing a new chain. Once the pin is pushed through it flattens out the bevel and weakens that link. For this reason your new Shimano chain will come with two chain pins. These pins include a guide portion and a replacement rivet. The image to the right shows a Shimano chain pin with the section having a rounded nose being the guide section. To use a Shimano pin insert the guide portion of the pin into the connected piece of the chain. You will now set this into the chain tool and press the replacement rivet into place. You can then snap off the guide portion of the pin with a pair of pliers. Shimano chain pins come in 8, 9, and 10-speed widths so be sure to purchase the correct on for your chain.”

Should be done with a pin 😉

Shimano say

‘Use the reinforced connecting pin only for connecting the narrow type of
chain.’

Using an existing link to join the chain will weaken it.

You should get one pin, you used to get two.

Complain they’ll send you some as the chain isn’t fit for purpose without the pin.

Yes, you new £Xk merlin rides like a Kona ;0)

Like a Ellsworth truth, as thats whats bolted onto the Merlin main frame. 😉

Very techy route, you’ll carry a lot of the way from Stockley Bridge to styhead except the last bit, most of the way to Angle tarn is rideable if your fit and are a good technical climber. Riding it the other way is superb a real rocky test(seem to remember a certain singletrack journo needing the keswick mountain rescue after a spill on the rocks). Super steep and rocky to the bridge but doable. I’d be tempted to do it the other way. Still a very tough route, not one to attempt in poor weather.

Greenup Edge has some great stuff on it but some of it is unrideable, nowt worst than carrying down!!

If they’re fox forks you won’t be able to punch it through as the steerer is tapered inside.

Yep a lot of young cyclists have died in their sleep in recent years, the suspicion is EPO usage.

should have elaborated, will be in the car going over to eskdale.

More than likely closed at the moment.

I think I am right in saying hes been pretty close on the Watendlath climb as well! (It has been cleaned!

Its definately dooable I know someone who’s one dabbed it. 😉

Its in the best condition its been for a bit at the mo, the loose section 3/4’s of the way up which gets ends most good attempts has packed down a bit over the winter.

Alternate them mate so know both very well. Max definately doesn’t go to frith woods.

Rode it last sunday and ride it at least 15 or so times a year its my local trail 😉

Max is on the bridleway to Hazel Bank, the other option to firth woods forks off at the hole in the wall 1.30’sh on the video. Thats where the bridleways split on the map. Do you mean the footpath section above Hazel bank??

Speeds your friend and the camera always makes it look less steep/technical than it actually is.

Max is on the section your photo shows at 1.15 defo.