Pretty sure it’s already been seaid, but TBH I think the main problem with Sunday is that although it’s supposedly more relaxed, the reality is it’s got some riders in who wanted that experience, but it’s also got a large number of people in it who wanted to race but couldn’t get tickets for the saturday.

Yeah exactly. If you were riding Sunday you just had to accept that I think, pretty much everyone is in the same boat. But equally I think there were some riders in the Saturday race that should have been in the Sunday Sport category, it seems.
All good fun though, I really enjoyed it.

Having not been previous years, do they just re-use the same trails with slight changes? How much is ride-able outside of the event, if any?

It’s timed, there are podiums, it’s a race in my opinion.
Perhaps they should just open the route to riders to ride at their leisure on another day?

Rode the Sunday sport early on and it was great. Passed riders on pretty much every stage, worst being stuck behind a group in the woods on S1 and someone stood on the top of a little chute on S5 – who then proceeded to try and gap the little drop and nearly snapped his bike in two. I was shouting to get by but the guy was clearly struggling so just hung back. I think these were the intro riders which we caught up to. Ended up losing a lot of time on that, ah well.

Didn’t find anything tricky on the stages, despite riding them with no practice. Though we had a mooch around stage 1 on the Saturday and there were lots walking sections – riders that shouldn’t have been in the main race imo.

Regardless it was a good weekend, think I’ll try for the main event next year.

(Arran, no?)

Yeah looks like it to me, noticed the Holy Isle straight away.
Wish I took my bike when I was there last..

Sweet video, the guy is just sprinting all the time!
I agree though, pretty much an XC bike. Are/Do CX bikes have dropper posts?

Why do people keep saying you have to take Sram shifters apart to remove cables?
Even the my current GX 11 speed has a top cover you just undo and feed the cable out. Just be careful not to start pulling at all the gubbins inside.

I think that’s what they are saying you need to remove. My NX has the rubber port, but it’s pretty crap. X1/GX etc have the little cover and it’s very easy to remove, you won’t break it OP.

I’d be interested in the ticket if you can swap it..

Hopes. I feel like I have spent years of my life re-bleeding the Zees. I’m scrapping them and getting some E4s. I have some near 10 year old M4s and they are awesome. Hope every-time from now on!

Deathgrips. Ride gloves in winter, no-gloves summer. Feel good to me. They have are pretty worn after a good years use. Got a bit more in them but they’re fairly cheap so happy to replace.

DMR Defy as above was the shortest I found when faced with this issue.

My Pace RC127 has rack-mounts, I think the RC127+ does too.
Might be a bit pricey to leave on the street though?

Just ordered some Fibrax pads for my Zee’s as I’ve been through enough cheapy eBay ones. Hopefully they’re decent.
Half price code ‘GOMAYHEM17’ made it seem worth it over the Shimano ones. Unsure if it’s still active..

I’ve teared EXO casing for fun on the rear. Not worth it for me.
I got a double down DHR for the rear and managed to put a slice in it with some Lake District slate, though I think it would have cut any tyre. It has plugged ok though so will be going back on.
If this doesn’t last I will be straying from Maxxis.

Anyone spotted the GX eagle on the US site too?? Interesting..

Click Nomad C and then the ‘s’ build..

here

Shoot, I better get rid of my current bike, a Nomad 3, it’s only 5mm less travel that the new one. It’s a total barge of a bike and I couldn’t possibly enjoy it on tame trails.. :wink:

The new one has grown on me, quite a bit. I’m intrigued by the direction it’s gone in – not quite dh not quite enduro. It’s 5mm more travel at the rear than the previous Nomad yet it should have better pedaling efficiency due to the shock change. A friend is on the look out to replace his Nomad 3 so hopefully get the chance to demo the SC range and see how they all compare.

Look forward to seeing the rumoured long travel Hightower too.

Heading up tomorrow, really excited. Hoping for decent enough weather (though nothing is going to top last year) at least the same for all on the Sunday. Danny Hart won the BDS there so can’t rule him out – would love to see Sam Hill back to form, he’s been flying at the EWS.

Rode the steeps in Grizedale, at the very East side of Coniston.
Steeper than it looks. Great day, need to get back sooner rather than later.

Speak to Hope. They back their products up with superb service.

Interesting, depends how you phrase the question I guess, and that it’s difficult to pin it down as above. Still flying the flag for Lancashire, though might be a bit biased. Cheers for the links.

Manchester birthplace of the Industrial Revolution?? Think you’ve got your history very wrong there

Hmm, I’d say Lancashire as a whole (which I include Manchester). For the inventors of the spinning jenny, waterframe and spinning mule where all from the Lancashire area. I think the first power-looms were supposedly installed in mills in Manchester too? Manchester is also credited with being the first ‘industrial city’ so to say very wrong is a bit of a stretch, unless there’s something I’ve missed?

The City of Manchester has various heraldic emblems, particularly the worker bee which symbolises industry.

Symbols of Manchester

Never seen anyone ride up, the access road off the main road is gated, would imagine that gets locked out of hours.
Go to Penmachno.

We locked ours together at the designated spot, I was apprehensive but all was fine. Was some very high spec bikes in the lock-up including our own. It was definitely worth riding in though, saves messing about with the traffic.

Warm them up and sand them down slightly. Least you’ll get a bit of use out of them.

I have used LHM on my SLX and Zee brakes. They worked OK for a period, but never really got the bleed perfect. I picked up the LHM stuff from Halfords, in the bargain bucket section when I was frantically looking for fluid. Was about £3 for a litre.
Assuming it’s related, but I also had pistons leaking and master cylinder sticking (when cleaned it was full of gunk).
Switched back to the proper stuff and been better, I do still get the wandering bite but only when pads are very low.

I’m tempted. How will the trails ride in the wet? Would probably just head up on the day so no practice..

Bought my Hope BB30 from Ubyk and the tool was included. Not sure if this has changed but worth contacting them. It is a different tool to the 24mm though.

Really like my Pace RC127, they do a RC127+ which takes 650+ or 29er wheels too. Orange/Cotic/Stanton worth a look as mentioned. Though I’d probably go for a BTR if I had the funds!

What is interesting is how uninterested Danny is in the hype around 29”. I asked him what he thinks about the fuss they’re creating … his answer? “Get a life, get off the internet and go ride your bike!”

– article

Danny is the man.

Whack an old torx bit in, slowly twist. I have done this way more often than I should, bit of a knack but you’ll get it – I have a box of torx bits that I use for this purpose.. Small hex heads are pretty poor imo, anything over hand tight can be a pain to remove, worthwhile greasing the threads.

Freehub bearings. Not even dispatched yet :(
Should have gone to Hope directly..

As said above it’s the freehub bearing. You will be cracking the bearing shell. Both my Hopes have gone this month.

I’m staying in Arran for a few days after visiting Fort Bill in June.. watching with interest..

Uniqlo, Dickies or (more expensive) Carhartt and Levis SB.

did a quick strava search for the super steep. -29% average gradient. Nice.

How about this.. thankfully not being raced, both are belting trails.

I’ve ridden super-steep before, might be obvious but it is bloody steep.
The first section is pretty tough, prepare to grab a tree if you come off. Such a good trail if you get it right though!
Hopefully it stays dry(ish) for the racers, good luck!

I would guess EGR valve. But as said get the codes read, could be one of many things.

This also applies to the Terrex trail shoes – here

Anyone use these? Bit fed up of my poor quality Five Tens.

One of the best days on the bike for a while on Sunday. Nan Bield.

Going to flood the pictures, you have been warned.

Heading towards Gatescarth pass.

Gatescarth.. Tom is not a fan of climbing.

Pace RC127 at Small Water Tarn. Hardtail took it all in it’s stride. Great bike.

Best get climbing then..

Looking down onto the tarn and Haweswater.

Almost there..

At the top, descent snakes out in front of us – what a great feeling.

Well earned!

Great ride out, looking forward to more!

Got two local rides book-ending the weekend. Would have liked to have gone further afield but the potential traffic put me off.

Where is it showing that??

Would a Bronson really offer much different to a Nomad? I test rode the older one and the Nomad felt a better climber and descender.

I have a hardtail and a Nomad and it’s a sweet combination, use the hardtail for most local/tamer riding and throughout winter, whilst the Nomad comes out for the bigger stuff incl. uplifts.

Though I think the Nomad is a very competent climber for a bike of its travel, I don’t really buy into the whole ‘overbiked’ thing with it, it’s been nothing but fun wherever I’ve taken mine.

If you’re getting rid of it, might be worth doing it before the new Nomad comes out!