There are some nice bridleways and singletrack between Drighlington and Pudsey, but some quite muddy sections. Generally quite good though even after all the rain of late. Not a huge area but plenty for a few hours riding. You’re
Welcome to join us next time we head out.

P7, from the likes of Trailblaze on eBay. Light, bracket, battery and charger for around £50. More than bright enough and lasts more than an hour.

Yes, I’m in. Never ridden more than about 70 miles before. It’s going to be a challenge (understatement of the year).

…then spray the other side of the wheel to bring it to a halt 🙂

Yes, as above just taking care around bottom bracket and fork/shock seals. Stand back a couple of metres until the pressure isn’t so high. Never had a problem with it myself.

A beautiful sunny and frosty day in Leeds.

Chopping board sounds like a good idea – I can eat my sarnies off it after the race 🙂

I suspect my map skills may be below par given this is specific orienteering event. My mate is slightly better, but not much. Are GPS units permitted (I have an iphone which I used when MTBing) ?

…go on.

Oh and SS-ing around there looks painful !

Aye some nice trails around there. Lots of horses on the main bridleways at weekends though. Oh and the little streams are not so little after several weeks of rain – great for cleaning all the mud and shit off your wheels though 🙂

I use the “UK Map” app with my iphone4. Cost £7.99 which includes a full road map of the GB. You can then download map tiles at 25,000:1 (and 10,000:1) giving OS-style mapping. Downloads are free, just use WiFi. I just carry my phone inside one of those plastic sandwich bags in my pocket. Works a treat. Battery life never a problem even on full day rides.

+1 for Way of the Roses. A lovely route on almost exclusively traffic-free roads. We did it over 3 days, staying in Malham and York (Youth Hostels). It’s possible in 2 days, but we found 3 days suited the route better, allowing time for a few beers each evening. Plus there are some decent hills in the first half of the route. Most of us were on hardtails and carried a small rucksack. Plenty room for 3 days kit.

Canyon:

http://www.canyon.com/_en/roadbikes/bike.html?b=2502

Personally can’t see the benefit unless you’re a racer looking for the lightest bike possible.

Nice review. Ignore the chap above who suggests that reviews can only be unbiased if you don’t own the bike.

I use my hardtail with a Tacx Satori and a thin Taxc turbo tyre. Fits without needing any of the adapters, just wound the mag unit all the way up.

Street hawk

Thanks for the comments guys, doesn’t seem much in it between Avid SD7 and Shimano XT. I’ll see what prices they come up at after Christmas. My Hardrock is currently in the LBS and will have its singlespeed conversion done next week (32×16, DMX conversion with chain tensioner).

Rather than starting a new thread, I’d also like to replace the stock RST Gilla forks. They are truly horrible forks and weight a bloody tonne. I’m not sure how heavy but I’ve heard reports of 7lbs. I’ve also become accustomed to the FOX FIT 32 forks on my full suss, so they feel even worse now!

I’ve seen these, any good for general XC riding?

RockShox Recon Gold TK Solo Air 100mm Fork With Poplock:

http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/FORSRECGLDAIR/rockshox_recon_gold_tk_solo_air_100mm_fork_with_poplock

Nice pics.

Those large rotors must come in handy….

Canyon gets the thumbs up from me. I own a 2011 XC7, and it’s an excellent bike.

As regards not being able to test ride one…yes that is true, although I’ve never been convinced that a 2 minute pootle around the bike shop’s car park can really tell you if it’s a good bike or not. Fair point if you can get a proper 1hr+ off-road test ride though.

Descending the Grande Conche on a rented Orange 224, with frankly very poor descending skills (me, not the bike).

Discs would require new hubs and a wheel rebuil too. I don’t want to spend loads.

MTB only, or would you consider a road ride? If the latter than how about the Fred Whitton Challenge. Entries open in first week of January.

http://www.canyon.com/_uk/mountainbikes/bike.html?b=2542

Canyon Nerve AM:

http://www.canyon.com/_en/mountainbikes/bike.html?b=2565

I am the same height as you and bought a 16.5 (XC7). With the standard seat post I run the saddle right on the limit (don’t do much downhill stuff). For me the size feels spot on. Like you I played around with the different size inputs and decided I would prefer to be nearer the upper limit of the 16.5 than the lower limit of the 18 frame.

Oh and may I compliment you on a fine choice of steed 😉

Had mine since May and done hundreds of miles on it so far with no problems at all. Changed the grips to some lock-on ones, and new pads/tyres etc, but it hasn’t missed a beat.

3k will get you a seriously nice bike. Have you looked at Canyon bikes? The following three are around your budget, in order of increasing travel. They’re gaining popularity here and doing very well in reviews. The main downside is that they are mail order only, so you can’t try before you buy. Although the online sizing tool is pretty good, as is the UK support who can help with sizing.

Nerve XC 9.0SL (£2579):
http://www.canyon.com/_uk/mountainbikes/bike.html?b=2562

Nerve AM 9.0X (£2759):
http://www.canyon.com/_uk/mountainbikes/bike.html?b=2567

Strive ESX 9.0SL (£3009):
http://www.canyon.com/_uk/mountainbikes/bike.html?b=2572

Hopefully the dustbin that it’s parked next to was its final resting place.

Just sent a bunch of images to your email address. I think I sent twice by mistake but had to send in seperate emails due to their size. Let me know if they are readable.

I do. I don’t have a scanner but could take decent res photos and email them to you?

The close up of the jacket on their site isn’t the most flattering. The water isn’t beading very well at all, which suggests poor waterproofing ability. Still for 40 quid what can you really expect. Probably OK for light rain.

Canyon Nerve AM? Buy a complete bike, sell the components and pretty much get the frame for free.

I recently bought a Tacx Satori and I am using my hardtail with a Tacx trainer tyre. It’s not silent but isn’t loud either, probably similar to a Hoover. Plenty of resistance – I can barely turn the cranks at its highest resistance and top gear.

Thanks for the comment guys. I am hoping to do the Fred Whitton next year too, so will be getting plenty of endurance training in. Riding for 24 hours at this stage sounds like a superhuman endeavour though!

Have you looked at Canyon? Nerve XC is pretty light for the money, although 120mm travel. They do more specific marathon bikes, e.g. the LUX MR, but they’re priced a lot higher.

I had a week in Morzine including the Passportes route and didn’t get a single puncture all week, except riding back the hostel one afternoon on the main road through town….BOOM blowout. Sounded like a bloody grenade going off !

Edit – if you stay in Morzine I can recommend the Chalet Sherpa. Very bike friendly, basic but comfortable rooms, tasty wholesome food and plentiful wine. About half a km from Morzine centre.

Brilliant tyre but absolutely useless in mud. Very shallow treads fill up easily and become useless.

Another vote for the Canyon. I’ve had my 2011 XC7 for about 6 months now and it’s been faultless. Used it for Mountain Mayhem, SITS, trail centres, proper XC and a week in Morzine, including the full Passportes route. I really can not fault it.

Slightly over budget, but as mentioned above, Canyon are hard to beat:

HT:
http://www.canyon.com/_uk/mountainbikes/bike.html?b=2540

FS:
http://www.canyon.com/_uk/mountainbikes/bike.html?b=2555

The general consensus is that rarely will people agree on tyre choice. Some people praise Nobby Nics, others slate them. Personally I find they vary massively depending on surface -very good in dry rocky terrain or hard pack, but bordering on useless in wet rooty sections. I disagrees they are weak though, I had a week in Morzine with 2.25 foldings and don’t pinch once – although I only weigh 70kg so maybe that helped.