Thanks all, bike park is OK, but looking for more natural stuff that i can access from chairs or without a 1000m pedal up.

Stayed in Val last year in the van for 10 days, its fine.  Val is pretty nice, trails were a mix of bike park berm-roller-berm type stuff and then some pretty good marked enduro type track, some pretty techy sections.  There are some walking paths which are OK too.  I quite liked the more natural techy stuff.  Tignes was def less easy on the eye (snow covers a lot of sins), the trails were pretty good though.  Similar bike park, marked enduro stuff.

Just to calibrate my preferences, im not a massive fan of endless smooth, berm/roller/berm type tracks, they are fine, but repetitive.  I prefer the more techy, natural and steep type stuff.  Id go back though, and as other have said, you can get around on the buses with bikes, and Val and Tignes are linked with the lifts (its a long way from one end to the other though).

I didn’t think Val was that expensive, we ate out a lot, and it was more than UK, but not much more.  Supermarket in Val was comparable to our local M&S.  Its def not Zermatt expensive.

It all started with Sick! bikes.

If you get the chance, El Chorro is really fun, Malaga can generally be pretty intense.  El Chorro is more flowy and not as techy.  The main trials are the ones on Trialforks.

looks familiar!  Montes De Malaga is one of the more mellow bits around that area, El Chorro is mellower still.

White Room in Bourg would be good, Switchbacks in Bubion (Spain) is also good for what you describe.  Theres also Basque MTB in Northern Spain which is a great place to ride, I think they also do trips to Ainsa too.

El Chorro is worth staying at, lots of vans up there due to the climbing.  Trails are pretty good too.  La Zubia near Granada is also worth a drive if youre going up that way.

Roost DH is a blast from the past.

If you mean you’re actually in Malaga itself, then the trials to the North are the Montes De Malaga (the post above calls it Malaga Bike Park), its like a large, wooded area, fire roads up and then loads of trails down.  Its not especially rocky, more dry and dusty soil with some roots and rocks.  Worth checking out, and depending on where you are in Malaga, you can likely ride there from your door.

The larger collection of trails to the Southwest, near to Torremolinos are also good, but its a lot of climbing if you don’t have an uplift.  It’s also not ridable from Malaga unless you’re on a very XC type bike.  The trails are great, rocky and loose.  Best way to access is probably via the cable car in Benalmadena.

Good spot @honourablegeorge ill give that a try.

I own several acres of woodland, and can attest that if you want to use it/have it for a purpose then you need to put a surprising amount of effort in.  As mention, species like Holly can take over very quickly and needs regular management, if the woodland is old growth then regular tree management is needed.

You’ll also need insurance, which will require a tree survey and management plan every 2 years to remain valid.  Any work you do will likely need authorisation by the local authority and some trees maybe subject to TPOs.

Unless you leave it alone (which would beg the question, why buy it?), you should expect £2000 to £5000 as a minimum to manage it (depending on size/condition).

My experience of Orange, was with the Alpine.  It rode really well, modern geo for the time, price was great.  Sadly, the quality was awful.  Welds looked untidy and I cracked 3 swing arms and 2 front triangles.  Orange did honour warranty, but when you compare to brands like Nicolai who also make hand built aluminum bikes, it’s like night and day.

I don’t think frame material is an issue for Orange carbon and aluminum both are relevant and have different benefits.  The folded nature of the frames requires a significant amount of welding though, and anecdotally, Orange do seem to suffer a lot of failures.

Single pivots might be good for ease of maintenance, but the suspension action under braking becomes inactive and that’s not a very desirable characteristic.  So many others have moved on to refine designs and offer them at a lower price point.

It’s tough for everyone, but Orange are now a high priced option in a very competitive market, with (in my opinion) a product that isn’t as good. I’m not sure what differentiates them positively anymore?  

It’s super sad for them and everyone connected with them, but beyond the geo changes, it appears nothing has changed but the price. 

 

Anyone confirm if the Buzz Rack works with a van tailgate, especially with bikes on?

Thanks for that, appreciate it.  Looking for a campsite thats reasonably central to the resort/lifts, and Val looked like it fitted the bill (have to accommodate my wife as she wont really be riding).

Only really been to Morzine & Bourg area in the Summer on the bike in France.  She needs a gym she can walk to daily, so camp site needs to be reasonably close.

bump in case anyone can help

I need an XL frame sadly.

Thanks for all the suggestions, its was between the Genesis Brixton and the Giant Toughroad. My local had a Toughroad in so i think that’ll be the one.

Going to swap the d-fuse seatpost for a carbon one as my back isnt currently liking much in the way of bumps.

Prolapsed = herniated, i.e. the disc has burst and the inner gel has leaked into the spinal cavity. Bulging is usually associated with a disc protruding into he spinal cavity, but not yet leaked.

I built a SWB transit custom into a camper. Van was new. Aim was to able to live off grid for a week, bikes stored inside, but separate and contained away from living area. Also have ability to store the bike with both wheels on if just going for a local trip or day out.

Double bed, fridge, table, sink and two burners, heater, two opening side windows.

Specifically didn’t want it to look like a campervan so can park anywhere.

Full lithium solar and b2b system. Toilet inside, shower outside, proper one not a hand pump. Jet wash for bikes.

All achieved but no-one builds anything close commercially.

I gave up on single crowns, the Fox 38 was the shark jumping moment. Boxxer ultimate is stiffer and lighter, no CSU to creak and can be set at 180, 190 or 200mm. All at a lower AC height than a single crown fork. Boxxer at 180 is same ac as Lyrik at 170.

Offset for 29 wheel is 46mm. If your hubs can be swapped to 20mm end caps then I can definitely recommend a Boxxer.

They have redesigned the MK3 flow recently, and I haven’t used that version, it’s a very recent revision. The previous MK3 flow 29″ rims were poor in my experience. Never had cracking at spoke holes but even with cush core, I dented 3 rims on the rear and 1 on the front, that’s with DH casing maxxis tyres too.

I do ride rocky trails reasonably quickly, but I got sick of rebuilding my wheels. Unless you’re getting them super cheap I wouldn’t bother.

Just built up some DT Swiss ex511 rims, the quality is night and day over Stan’s, finish is excellent, too early to tell about durability though.

Yeh id heard to avoid VanTrim in Otley! I was looking at Crystal Custom Campers in Leeds too.

I had the locks changed as soon as i got it, the standard Ford lock is awful.

Im very tempted to do it myself, but i also need windows putting in it and probably would need to buy a few tools etc, then when you add in the time it would take me, it might be best to at least understand what a talent professional could do before i have a go!

You could try Bike Adventure based about 10 mins north of Alicante. I don’t think they have a website but Lumbert is on Facebook under Bike Adventure Costa Blanca.

Alicante has some awesome trails and Lumbert does uplifts with a BPW esq trailer.

I’ve ridden in Malaga and Sierra Nevada alot, Alicante is just as good with alot of variety. There is also Fenasosa Bike Park about 40 mins north of Alicante too, which is a proper techy bike park.

I’ve looked at Basque MTB alot but flights from my park of the UK are only on Sunday to Barcelona :(, Malaga and Alicante are easy to get to

It’s a great place to ride, most people who ride there haven’t experienced much like it, not in the UK at least.

They also do a full 3 course Spanish meal at lunch, and if approached with enthusiasm the afternoon’s riding begins with extreme ‘cafe legs’.

La Fenasosa bike park in Alicante is open all year. It’s definitely not a typical bike park though. Rocky, tech and jumps, not your usual motorway smooth tracks. It’s awesome though.

Just adding my own, similarly depressing experience, of Manchester Airport. It’s hateful. I can understand the poor layout and crap experience of the actual buildings due to age and older designs. The attitude of staff has been consistently poor, which is much harder to understand.

I’ve travelled to and from many different airports across the world and check in and security at Manchester are the bottom of the barrel by a long way. Newark airport in the 90s was better!

Every time I have been through security I’ve had the rude and obnoxious treatment.

Bike has been ok, except for outsize baggage queues. I have my figures crossed for a trip I’m doing in September from Manchester. I only use it now if there’s no other option. Often I’ll go from Leeds to Schiphol or Heathrow and connect from there just to avoid Manchester.

Yeh, 8 weeks wait if you order from Fisher’s. RSF can do them apparently. I may also buy a new set so will have a RC2 damper for sale……

I’ve been with Switchbacks a few times in Malaga and Bubion. It’s more focused on the riding than the accomodation (although the accomodation is fine). The upside for me was the amount of riding, lots of runs and not much faffing. Trails are good in Malaga and Bubion.

If you’re looking for a “Chalet” type experience and to be waited on, then it’s probably not what you want. If you want to ride as much as possible on varied tracks, then its very good.

@MC don’t suppose you’re near Leeds are you? Looking for a garage to service my facelift Custom.

Thanks!

@benpinnic – Broadly, where might “the trails that cannot be named” be located?

We’re heading to Hamsterley as not done it before, ride Stainburn all the time so wanted to ride somewhere different, but not too “groomed”.

Anyone know what the conditions are like at Hamsterley atm?

Thanks

More tech than 911?! 🙂 Any have a gpx file for it, also where did you park?

I set off for a ride at 8.30am yesterday for a ride traversing Derwent/Ladybower valley, 25 miles the only people I saw were the usual waddlers around Fairholmes (necessary evil to ride through it). The tops were empty of people.

I think if you did the usual “MBR” route type stuff you’d encounter more people, but theres so much better stuff that people don’t tend to ride/walk.

As a rule, ride early.

25 mins to do 500m of climbing over 8 miles? Are you sure? Thats just over 19mph. You’re either mistaken or very very fast.

Im 176lbs, but have two springs for the set up, one softer and a firmer spring, both Rockshox springs, sag can be adjusted with 2 inserts, but i ran it at around 15 – 20%

If anyone is interested i have a Yari/Lyrik CRConception coil kit for 160mm conversion. I hadnt planned on selling it, but this thread made me think i probably should as its sat in a drawer since changing forks.

I found changing to a 44mm from a 51mm made a significant difference. With a 35m stem and 800mm bars, the 51mm offset made the steering too light, especially at slower speeds. The move to 44mm made the steering more stable and less prone to flopping at the slightest knock on the trail. I wouldn’t go back to 51mm.

Incidentally, I have my G16 set up as a 29er with a 216x64mm shock in the ‘high’ position and the BB is 346mm running a 2.5 Minion and a 2.4 DHR 2. I’m not sure if want it much lower as with 30% sag it feels low enough without too many pedal strikes.

It’ll mostly be longer runs with the occasional short journey. Im not VAT registered or anything so it’ll purely be for personal use. With that in mind, how have people bought vans when VAT needs to be included? Private sales or dealers? No sure how it works when a dealer sells a van, lots of prices seem to be ex VAT.

Some of those Razzle editions might be worth something, maybe they are on the balance sheet?

The quality issues aside, they are still significantly made of folded sheet metal which results in lots of additional welds when compared to more traditionally tube based construction. This results in the frame being subjected to more heat and potential distortion during the extra welding.

They also seem to weld by hand, which might be an attractive, artisan approach if they welding looked like it had been done with care and skill. They look to be built by guys who weld for a job, not as a passion. Robotic welding would give more control and consistency to the process, especially considering the frame/swingarm construction.

They’ve had their day, they just look like dated designs, built poorly with aspirational pricing. I suppose the price reflects the level of aftercare support you need post purchase.

Despite being from Yorkshire, I’d much rather buy a Nicolai or Pole if I wanted to pay top end pricing for an alloy bike.

It’s a shame but Orange seem to be pricing high, and I can’t see where the money goes, other than having a huge stock of warranty replacements and profit. It can’t be R & D, it doesn’t appear to be automation or quality. I can’t imagine the staff are paid highly.

Out of all the bikes available to buy direct, online or from a shop, why anyone would choose an Orange is baffling.

They are a relic in terms of design and manufacturing.  The geometry is often a strong point but the execution via folded sheet metal which is at best welded inconsistently, paired with a basic suspension design is poor, more so when the cost is accounted for.

The failures of frames is so common and documented on forums and Facebook with photos im surprised anyone buys them.

My experience was multiple failures of an Alpine 160.  Not worth the risk with so many good bikes around now.