Nicola on the proper dh tracks

James's Turner

Just go to the Dog & Partridge. Tim the landlord has built the DH tracks and he can point you in their direction.

http://www.dogandpartridgetosside.co.uk/

Easy to find.

Ragley Ti in Ragley Woods

Here's Nigel Page on the Black DH line yesterday. We were up there planning our skills weekend of 16-17th January click here for details

You want a small gap.

Nice.

But what is that yellow thing in the sky?

Great that so much interest is being generated about the trails and that so many people are choosing to come and ride there.

The next priority at Gisburn is to repair and maintain the areas that have eroded with the bad weather we've been having and with the numbers of riders coming along. This work as I understand it is currently being planned. The Rollercoaster section – Hully Gully needs repair particularly because the surfacing used, which is the natural substrate of that gully is a kind of shale which has turned to mud. It's a great section and with some work it will be back in a good state again.

It's a work in progress. More trails are being planned. it's good times for us mountain bikers and it's just going to get better. Keep the feedback coming but remember that we are all on the same side here.

Out both days running skills days at Gisburn Forest. You've got to love the slither. Out again tomorrow – Sleep, eat, ride, repeat……..

A good new bit of trail you trail building Hobbits have put in since I was there on Thursday.

ChatsworthMusters – I was working up there yesterday and today, hence the van at the D&P. Having a pint at the end of both days as well – well you do have to have a debrief 🙂

Coolhandluke – you knows it 🙂

Here's the pub. You couldn't hope for a warmer welcome and they've started selling Hope components and Kona clothing.

http://www.dogandpartridgetosside.co.uk/

There's a map linked in to their site.

Great to see some photos from the day. I got well into peeling the bark from that tree with the medieval weapon.

It was the first time I've done any proper trail building and I'd recommend it to anyone. It's really interesting to see how the trails are made from idea, to design to construction. I can't wait to bore everyone to death when we eventually ride that section and I can tell them about toppling a dry stone wall, barrowing gravel and doing the spade work.

Give trail building a go for a day. It makes you feel righteous to be doing something positive rather than just gassing on about bikes on the internet.

I'm doing this weekend along with with Nigel Page in January at Gisburn Forest

http://www.great-rock.co.uk/blog/?page_id=529

I wouldn't recommend one of those helmets they are just insubstantial.

You'd be better thinking about what you've done to send you over the bars. It's probably wrong body positioning or inappropriate braking. We all go over the bars now and again welcome to the club. 🙂

Adjustable seatposts have their place. Extra weight, extra maintenance and they remove that sociable moment of mountain biking when you all stop to drop and have a chat at the same time. They are the colostomy bags of mountain biking – best saved for race day IMO 🙂

I rode the Singletrack test Hemlock down all the Hebden Tech (and back up again) and it did just fine.

Blimey I look so young there Rich!

Conditions are perfect at the moment 🙂

Look ahead, slow in fast out, stand tall. Relax HARDER!

A skills day will give you a sense of what you're doing wrong which is massive progress over not knowing what you're doing. Hopefully you will then start the process of getting it right.

Good luck.

Does it have the Lopes link? You want this.

Mine has been ridden very hard and is going strong. It has plenty of scrapes and scars. I can't imagine anyone would pay much for it looking as it does, but it performs just as good as when I first started riding it.

A grand day out. Thanks for coming everyone.

There are a couple of photos here:

http://www.great-rock.co.uk/blog/?p=690

Occasionally screwing the Presta adaptor on can also close the Presta valve itself especially if the valve is bent.

Apart from that mine works a treat.

We'll be staying in the lower loop as there's tree shelter and lots of great options for skills training. Looks like the worst of the weather will be tonight with showers tomorrow. Ideal conditions then – you can't beat a bit of slither!

The group was 6 but we're down to 5 as an 'incident' last weekend meant that one person has deferred their place until the December 'Stop Crashing' date. There is therefore a spare place if someone fancies getting wet with us.

See you all tomorrow 🙂

Singletrack northern bike industry gathering today. The Chain Reaction Cycle's van belongs to Nigel Page, manager of the CRC / Intense downhill team. He's quite handy on his bike and luckily I didn't have to catch him today….

2nd Jules in Aviemore

Or Cyclewise at Whinlatter

http://www.cyclewise.co.uk/index.php/smbla-awards.html

Taught a guy how to ride the staircase today. That whole section is good for coaching on and it's sheltered.

Ideally you should be pumping it for speed to hit the berm! We'll concentrate on riding it smoothly first though chaps 🙂

The staircase is a much easier line than than the slithery mud hustle that the cheaters are taking. We'll own that on Saturday 🙂

Massive puddle after the main hip jump on the line that comes off the Slab today.

Didn't go down the Rollercoaster today, but the rest of the place is fine. Some parts of the climb up to the Crag are going to need some maintenance before too long as the sand is getting washed out and smaller rocks are being exposed rapidly.

Fork Juice is good. Nice and clean as mentioned above and does seem to last more than just one ride. Surprisingly made the Pikes I sprayed it on yesterday feel better straight away.

It's fun. I think some of it takes a few goes before it makes sense. When you get it, and start to get your lines right it is ace.

samcamsdad –

Park at the pub if you want to come back to a cafe / bar and the free bike wash. They can point you in the direction of the trails and have maps inside.

http://www.dogandpartridgetosside.co.uk/

Or go down to the Cocklet Hill car park

http://tinyurl.com/yzn427d

Getting a little play bike sounds like fun and it's through having fun that we progress. Playing around on a bike rather than just riding your usual loops will speed things up. This is why skills areas at trail centres are so good, if you take the time to have a few goes.

For your skills day take the bike that you like riding, rather than the one you think you should take. Any decent skills instructor will be able to chat to you about this and help you with your decision.

Good to see you guys, the new trails are looking really top notch.

The Virsa Decade is reviewed in the latest issue. It's Benji's long termer. The green is REAL. That's not the bike in the Norway feature though, that looks to be a Cove!

Worth a trip yes, especially if you repeat some of the sections to get your lines dialled!

Pub / cafe with parking and free bike wash here:

http://www.dogandpartridgetosside.co.uk/

Good work guys. Really liking the volunteer sections.

Plenty of grip right up to the top of the big berms today. Just don't be grabbing on the brakes and make sure you know about body positioning.

Sounds like you had an ace time anyway :0)

13thfloormonk – Member
Thanks for the review guys, had my eye on these shoes but wondered about sizing (no-one local has them on the shelf).

Cheers. I am a UK size 8 / Euro 42 and that is what the pair that I reviewed in the mag are. The Mavics fit me width wise and are slightly longer than I need. In Shimano I use a Euro 43 to get more width, but do get more length than I need (this could get smutty).

It all depends on your feet, so really buying from a shop is your best bet here.

HTH.

I've got my kids Davey. Have a good one.

Remember Monday is school half term so a sensible choice should be made as to where to ride if you catch my drift. Sounds like you are solo or maybe just a couple of riders which is ideal. Big groups hitting up the cheek at inappropriate times is not the best idea here, as anywhere.

Have fun, be nice to folk. There's tons of sweet riding and it's fun just to look at the map and explore, that's how most of it has been found. Hope I'm not being too preachy, but there is more and more pressure on our trails and some people take the piss 🙂

Email me will you Jon?