You wont get lost on the DH tracks, there’s a basic map and some signs, just head down! The uplift is all on a proper road so is super fast and you get loads of runs done.

I stayed with BearBack for my season! Amazing people and chalet!

I agree with the above, I managed a full season in Whistler and September was the best part of it. Quieter in the park, nice temperature and optimum trail conditions.

No advice really needed, turn up and have fun! I think a DH bike is best as the sheer amount of riding you cram in is a tole on any bike, but if you do take a trail bike there’s some outstanding trail riding away from the park.

Stainburn is good fun for a half dayer. Best thing to do is ride the red or the black all the way down then pedal back up the main road.

Thanks for the suggestions guys, ended up going to Kelburn. I was really impressed with the trails there, exceptionally well built and good fun. Nothing big enough to require a DH bike but certainly enough of a gradient to use one if it’s your only option. I emailed Jared about their plans and they’re considering an uplift which would be great.

Wildings was great for seafood as well!

We’re strying in Maybole so Ae us about 1.40 and Kelburn under an hour. Also psychologically it’does be back the way I drive up the night before. Cheers will check out Wildings!

ah that’s a shame we’re staying close to Maidens. According to their website Kelburn might have a new half decent track so might be worth a look.

Cheers. Seen a place called EVR bike Park in Newmilns but all posts seem quite old, has anyone heard of it?

I’m on the YT owners page on Facebook and general consensus for people between sizes is go for the bigger one.

mattkkitch – Member
I went to a cracker called Bootleggers Belfast, has a good craft beer and burger selection.

They were fined £1000 after dead rats were found in their kitchen iirc

Burgers were still good, I’m ok with it

I went to a cracker called Bootleggers Belfast, has a good craft beer and burger selection.

I’ve got a carbon Capra and one of my mates has a Spectral. Choice would depend on usage or priority. The Canyon would be better uphill and the Capra better downhill. If you’re only going to ride trails/xc then the Spectral would be the best choice. If you want to be able to do some hairy descents the Capra would be better.

My favourite angle is wearing the chesty backwards, I find if you position the camera as far back as it goes it generally captures the rider behind if they maintain a fairly close but comfortable distance. It’s really good for getting photos too if you set it to take one every some many seconds.

Mattkkitch – mostly biking pics and 15 second go pro vids. Does anyone know if there is a way to post longer vids?

I’m sure if there’s a red flag you stop and speak to the marshal waving it. It’ll depend where you are on the run how you get back to the top. Tire choice just use what you’d normally use.

Hi John,

You’re in for a treat, the PMBAs are great races, really well ran and ideal for first time racers.

They give out detailed instructions for each round as they can be slightly different. In general, when you sign in you pick a start time, they recommend the faster you are the later to start. Around your start time you hover around the start point and they call you out in groups of 10 and are given final instructions. You then ride over to the start of the first stage in a group. At the start of the stage you are released individually in 30 second intervals. At the end of each stage you go past the finishing timer and then just get yourself to the start of the next stage, with no time pressure. After the last stage you just ride back to the start and hand your timer in. Its really straight forward.

The most important thing to think about is practice. Not sure about the 2 day event but for the single dayers you can practice on the Sat if you want and HAVE to complete a practice lap Sunday before the race starts. Personally I don’t go on the Sat, but the best advice is probably to practice Sat and then have an easy lap Sunday morning before your race.

Catering options are usually limited so make sure you take enough food to keep you fueled for the race lap!

Troy Lee Skyline are doing it for me. Very comfortable and tick all the boxes you mentioned. Helps that they were half price too! Only thing they lack is a zip on one of the pockets but they are deep and I’ve never lost anything from them.

My dad has one that I think is older than me and still looks mint!

Compared to other uplift accessed tracks I’d say its very flat. Dai Hard for example, its really fun from half way through the woods and out into the open but the first half is flat and pedally. The faculties are amazing and the tracks are well made, but its not a proper downhill venue.

I had two Sundays back in the day.

They’re excellent bikes to ride, especially for cornering and are ideal if you want to ride proper lift assisted downhill. You could use an angle set to slacken the front a bit but its not really necessary.

Maintenance would be the only issue. I never experienced a serious problem like the one mentioned above but bearings are always going to wear out. Whilst you can no longer purchase a bearing set from Ironhorse as they no longer exist, there are plenty available on ebay or from Pearce Cycles. I actually managed to bend a linkage and BETD were able to make me a replacement. The shock is a nightmare to remove, think you have to remove the cranks to get at it.

So in summary, you wont find a better feeling bike to use on proper downhill tracks for that money. However it will be a bit of a ball ache when the inevitable maintenance is required.

If you can increase your budget I’d suggest looking at a YT Tues or the Canyon DH bikes that on sale at the moment, DH bikes take a lot of punishment so I personally prefer a lower end new bike rather than an old top of the range bike.

Totally agree with Deviant – last year I rode BPW and FoD over a weekend. BPW is flat and smooth, FoD is a fun downhill track!

I’ve got the 5.10 freerider elements, I’m pleased with their water resistance and theyou don’t get anywhere near as soggy as Impacts. However no shoe can be totally dry when you get back from a really wet ride and they still take ages to dry. I’ve had bad experiences with other 5.10s when drying them too quickly on a radiator or in an airing cupboard.

I guess their point is you can change the tyres so don’t judge the overall performance of the bike on them, just factor in another £100 to get some better ones.

I’m not a keen mechanic, in fact I’ve been heard to say I hate bikes but love biking, so it’s when maintenance becomes a hassle! Hopefully moving to a house with a garage soon though so that might improve. I’ve been lucky its last so long!

Lost at Sea: The Jon Ronson Mysteries

Short stories from the gonzo journalist, hilarious!

I’ve always thought it’s a design flaw that the battery door and port cover aren’t tethered on – everything else is designed for rugged use but its so easy to loose them!

Answer – don’t know, sure some tape would do, the case protects it from the elements and it still couldn’t move around.

If your wife accepts the job and the company don’t pay the agency, if the agency can prove that the interview was arranged by them, they would attempt to sue the company.

Find yourself an old Sunday and you’ll corner like a boss! I sold one for £600 last year and there was a few about on Pinkbike

I’d highly recommend the Marin Trail

I’ve just started using Evoc, so far I’ve been well impressed with the comfort and how little you notice it for the amount you can store. I got a 10cc team for big rides and it holds more than enough kit, and a 6cc for shorter rides and racing.

Those are some great websites, sure I’ll find something suitable.

Ha show me somewhere dry!

I can see better when I wear my goggles

One extra bit of advice, don’t buy any new kit before you go! I went in the last week in August last year and everything was 40% off, on top of it already being tax free.

Is driving an option? Its do able in one go if you have two drivers, only 5 hours further than Morzine and the riding kicks its ass!

Give me a shout if you want some ideas on non-biking activities, we did Via Ferrata and canyoning which were both amazing!

Cheers Dienamic, I’ll check our that Facebook group. I work in Manchester and quite unpredictable hours but I’ll give you a shout if I can be in Hebden Bridge for a reasonable time soon!

I’ve heard the same about Mavic spares, you can’t just pop into a shop for a new spoke it has to be done by a certified Mavic mechanic or sent back to France…for a spoke!

Advice on the wheel choice, you don’t want skinny lightweight wheels if your planning on abusing them but don’t forget rotational weight has more impact so getting heavier wheels can be a shock when a previously small hill on a regular ride starts to resemble K2.

There is no ideal tyre for the mega as no tyre is designed for snow, rock, grass, loose soil, mud, wet single track, dry single track and road (it comes in approx that order).

An aggressive all rounder would seem the best choice, so the biggest Magic Mary’s you can fit in your frame and forks would make sense.

Oh and even if you normally don’t, please wear shin pads!

My old Ironhorse Sunday. Felt like you were in it rather than on it!

They’ve been very helpful to me marking the start of some the off the map trails within the red loop. Some serious tracks hidden there from the Tweedlove Enduro!

Thanks for the advice guys, good to know there’s plenty of stuff around.
I’m on New Hey Road just down from the Sainsburys. If anyone knows a loop from Outlane that would great for after work.
Hora, Sandwicheater, well up for meeting some fellow riders. Heard Hebden Bridge has plenty of steep stuff! I’m away next weekend but should be free the first weekend in March.