Well I’ve done the remote and nothing but problems with it. Running the KS950 and just found that it gummed up to a point of which it wasnt reliable.

Went back to the normal lever and it’s fine now.

Post is still shite though.

ps no need to have Servowave levers – all Shimano brake levers and calipers are interchangeable.

Servowave is nicer to use though and more powerful.

I ran XT Servowaves with Saint calipers on my Spicy and it was utterly reliable all the time – even at the Mega (x2).

If I wasnt such a tart, I’d keep using them, but the new M985 XTRs were too much of a tempting proposition, and I’ve just brought them.

The XT/Saint combo will go on my Charge I think…maybe

Mine managed to survive two weeks at the Mega (although my calves didnt, as they’re sharp after catching rocks!) and seem ok after a few months of riding…

I’ve owned both SIDs and Rebas – especially the carbon World Cup versions and noticed a significant difference between the SIDs and Rebas in riding.

The SIDs do not track as well as the Rebas and do oscillate more on the buzzier trails.

However, the SIDs used to be lighter, and this was the key reason for them. However Rebas are much lighter with the WC being as light. I still have a set and very much love them.

However, having now ridden several Megas and owned my Fox 36’s for several years, I understand stiffness up front (fnarr) and going back to the Rebas is a real eye opener – you really notice the difference.

I would happily trade off weight to ensure that the front end tracks truly to where I want the bike – I notice the Rebas being pushed around easily and that loses me grip – however my other bikes Fox 32’s less so on the same trail. With a set of 36’s they run true.

I’d say that a set of QR15’s Revelations in the lightest guise would be the best overall compromise…

You can but you’ll be stiffed for a hefty charge per cheque.

For smaller amounts, these guys are the cheapest: http://auctionchex.com/index.php

I’ve used them for a Canadian cheque from a relative and it was all very simple. Recommended.

Careful. I tried to use a road 10 spd rear mech with a 10 spd MTB cassette and couldn’t ever get the thing to index properly. So you will need to get a MTB mech (aside from the need to have a longer cage to manage the 36t).

Took my bike with this problem to my LBS (whom I trust – Psyclewerx) and they agreed and confirmed that 10spd Shimano road mechs won’t work with 10spd MTB Shimano stuff – they’ve also had awful problems trying to index road vs mtb.

Careful. I tried to use a road 10 spd rear mech with a 10 spd MTB cassette and couldn’t ever get the thing to index properly. So you will need to get a MTB mech (aside from the need to have a longer cage to manage the 36t).

Took my bike with this problem to my LBS (whom I trust – Psyclewerx) and they agreed and confirmed that 10spd Shimano road mechs won’t work with 10spd MTB Shimano stuff – they’ve also had awful problems trying to index road vs mtb.

I’ve often wondered.

You can get a lady/girl/woman with excellently pert breasticles that are both fullsome and also the correct shape.

But they would also fail the pencil test, namely because of the fullsome shape.

What goes there then? (apart from a pencil).

Oh god. Don’t get me started on the bloody pump track!

>makesmefeelmassivelyshitandnolongerthe18yearoldIoncewas<

Absolutely understood – I can see why you wouldn’t put them into a trail looking to attract new riders and if I’m honest, it wouldn’t suit the trail.

I’m looking forward to the trail maturing and it getting *slightly* less busy as the fair weather riders disappear. I’ve been banging the drum to all and sundry whom I ride with to pump the trails to learn how to maintain and gain speed (a well pumped roller and berm can slingshot you very nicely into the next) so the Quarry trail is very much a looked forward to trail after work – I should think it’ll be very fun at night!

Can you explain some of the trail features that perhaps we don’t see – someone mention two rocks either side of the trail as a crossing? Are there other things that some of us are not aware of?

Mr Agreeable: Re Mega. You’re right. I’m a participant of the Mega.

07, 08, 09 and 11.

I still can’t wheelie. And also overweight.

I can jump though. A bit*

*still mourn the loss of Still Woods

Mr Agreeable: I did wonder if some of them were doable – with the right run in and also knowledge they were there – I’ve probably ridden some of these sections a handful of times and am still learning the trails. Of course, some sections gel together better than others. Was there a concious decision to keep the lips and jumps minimal?

TheBunk: I tend to ride before or after work and often have little time to be ‘sessioning’ sections so, Bristol being Bristol, it’s a hilly place and I have to climb up into Ashton Court from home or work, so (being out of shape at the moment) I’m usually a bit knackered by the time I get onto the trail. With it being ‘straight into it’ type of trail, I’m usually a bit shellshocked from climbing and need a little rest. Hence, sometimes I like to just mosey around (this isn’t a criticism) the trail rather than attacking it.

The eldest part of the new trails is probably the one I know the best and I find that easiest to ride, with the different sections linking up neatly and being able to be pumped very nicely. The section from the Golf Course to the Quarry trail (cant remember the name) can be a sod though (and has caught me out before).

Mind you, there is hardly any rollers on that section.

When are we expecting Leigh Woods to open? Did I hear correctly it was uni-direction?

It’s not that I can’t technically handle them – however, in my case at least, I’ve done the best part of 5 miles before I’ve hit the trail and am hanging out of my hoop before I’ve even got to them.

Sometimes I just want to mooch smoothly sat down, and you can’t do that easily with them in the way, and likewise, if you try to manual or jump them, you’re generally not carrying enough speed or if you are, you waste a lot of energy doing so.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not grumbling and understand why they’re not proper doubles etc, but it can be a bit fustrating sometimes – never mind that it slows down the less skilled riders even more!

Oh yes. Very good point hehe ;)

That’s a really interesting project.

I’ve a Trek Y bike which I want to go silly with for a lightweight singlespeed, and being a URT would be perfect.

Where did you source the Gates Carbon Drive parts? Also, is it possible to do belt drive without a sliding dropout?

Well, if you need any more help, go here: http://cycledeal.co.uk/?p=301

Get the Zesty 214 for £1399!!! Bleeding nora!

Do you think they’ll rebate my 3 points on the motorway I got back in 2002?

I’ve got a 2011 medium, having run my Spicy for 2 years previously (at two Mega’s no less) and love it already.

The problem I found with the Spicy was that I needed bigger terrain to really get the most out of the bike – big rocks, big speed into berms, that sort of thing.

Add to that the weight and the sheer cumbersomeness of it in the UK (especially around Ashton Court), I decided that I wanted the same ‘bike’ but with less travel and less weight.

I was very glad I did. It’s a great bike to ride – still a little slow up the hills, but thats more likely my fault as a lard arse than anything. The ability of the Zesty is excellent and the travel perfect for ‘pushing’ harder on UK trails.

I can’t wait to take it up to Afan and Cwmcarn and really open the taps up on it – but in the meantime I’m very very pleased.

Press fit BB is not an issue, it’s a piece of p1ss when you know how to whip it out, and an XTR version is £40 – a bargain – or go for a ceramic Superstar one if needed.

The tapered headtub can be resolved, I believe, with an adaptor kit, enabling use of a normal steerer.

The only issues I’d say I have are the rear swingarms being pretty wide. Other than that, very happy.

I have no idea – I agree with you – it was a hoot to ride down and I saw some awesome slams in front of me down it on the Sunday at Bikefest.

Rode the trail again last night on my way home and once I got to the Upper Quarry I was pleased to see that some needed tweaks to the trail have been put in place – closing off the straight lines that had appeared and sorting out the first ‘hill’ into it (leveling it out, as you fell into the fence if you weren’t concentrating).

Top work whomever did that :)

Although, it is disappointing to watch riders STILL riding around the closed sections and on the new unopened parts of the trail.

However, I like what I see in some parts of the new trails, but also am sad to see the really rooty rocky short DH section to the bottom of the Quarry has been smoothed over :(

To be fair Mr Agreeable, that was all you had to say in the first place :?

If that’s the case, then great – if someone gets arsey, we can at least have some form of evidential way of saying “RTFM”

ETA also, Mr and Mrs Miggins and their young daughter don’t read this forum. Nor will they likely bother to read any website info or whatever – so it needs to be trailside info IMHO.

I did yes, and I do see what you’re saying.

However Mr and Mrs Miggins and their young daughter may not – and may well be pretty aggrieved when someone rounds one of the faster sections.

By increasing the traffic and accessibility to Ashton Court there is a bigger breadth of responsibility – by building man made purpose built trails and, indeed, a trail centre cafe, someone must be taking responsibility for the running and overseeing of the trails, and in turn they take on the public liability and H&S overhead. Look at what happened at Stil as an example.

Whereas before, all the trails were unofficial (to a degree) and they were VERY clearly ride at your own risk – which is very hard to enforce – and even harder when a trail becomes purpose built rather than naturally.

I’m happy with everybody using the trail – it’s great – but I’d hate to start having people shouting at me for razzing down it the right way because of their own ignorance.

It has to be handled somehow – Cwmcarn/Afan doesn’t suffer this because Mr and Mrs Miggins and their young daughter don’t ever consider riding it!

I’m not getting funny with anyone in particular – but I know it confuses the hell out of me when I start seeing two way traffic – am I going the wrong way or are they? Or is it free for all now?

If it’s free for all, then the speeds and visibility on the trail need to be considered as some nasty accidents could be occuring soon from some of the raceheads that have ALREADY decided that they’re going to use the Qaurry track as their own personal training ground:

We rode there the other day and were astounded by the lad who, after putting his saddle down to hit the trail (by which time we’d just ridden ahead of him whilst he did that), he skidded to a halt at the end of the trail (ripping up the good work already done on the trail), triggered his stop watch and then did that ‘Look at me, I’m cool, but I’m angry at myself that I didn’t better my best time’ shake of the head.

They, I’m sorry to say, are going to be the ones who clatter Mr and Mrs Miggins and their young daughter – not the majority of us here.

BBL? (sorry, I’ve been riding them for years and never been told the names).

Mr Agreeable: If the direction issue isn’t address, you may well end up with some public liability issues on your (I say yours, when I actually mean whoever is responsible) hands when someone clatters into someone else and then a smartarse lawyer picks up on it.

Adding to that, its bloody fustrating normally, but now its likely to be even worse, especially as the trail is ‘thinner’

That artice that poster above linked to is very good – thanks!

mug trail? Tbh some of these trail names are proper confuddling me…

The Y22 is actually very good around Ashton Court – even with the out of date shock – what were considered downsides are now considered ‘things that we like’.

Any bike that could be made into a 24lb full sus is good in my book.

I reckon a SS Y22 would tip in at 20lbs perhaps?

Clubber, you and TOTALLY need to get together for a mid 90’s geekfest.

I’ve 2, not 1, 2 Trek 1996 Y22 frames in the garage. I think I might well be building the medium up as a singlespeed now you’ve given me the idea.

Agreed Clubber, I’ve blasted through there and had to ‘check’ my speed (that tree on the right half way down on the left handed hip is a bit close too).

One thing that is a massive bonus (and one of the reasons why we are moving closer) is that I can now reasonably expect to ride it every morning and evening on my commute and not be ruined by the end of it, and that, for one, is a very very nice feeling.

Therefore I pronounce the new trails ‘a good thing’ in my book.

Its alright, you can thank me later. hehe.

Thanks to all those whom have worked on the trails – I owe you some pints in the Mall if I ever meet you.

Chaps, thanks for your posts – they make a lot of sense.

However, I do agree with what you’re saying, and I do see that the trail will naturally find its form.

However, is this issue of direction going to handled? I’d hate for the renewed speeds that are being found to take out a young family just getting into riding and end up in the local papers…

Additionally, the bikes shops will be loving this as all of those guys who brought the ‘perfect’ Ashton Court bike will now be looking to find that perfect bike for the smoother trails.

A short travel hardtail with semi slicks is all you need now – whether thats a good or a bad thing is subject to debate…

Agreed on all points above. However, as I mentioned – it will have a negative effect on the unofficial trails in Leigh Woods in that they’ll more than likely become more and more used.

And I know from riding them the other day after all the rain that although they drain better, they’re awful in places to ride due to the thin layer of topsoil meaning its a skid pan.

Can anyone with any knowledge of the plans comment on the difficulty and continuity of the Ashton Court trails – will they be the same as what has been developed so far?

I’ll add: I take on the comments about the meeting – I didn’t hear about it – and that’s nobodies fault really, and so I guess I can’t complain there. It’s a fair point whoever pointed that out.

Well then chaps.

We’ve had the benefit of the new trails on the quarry section for two weeks now – myself having ridden them more than enough times (Bikefest, twice after work) and at the risk of sounding like a ‘I told you so’ but:

I told you so.

I think.

My thoughts are this from what I’ve seen so far:

Positives:

-Seriously well built trails
-Fun, in a pump track way,
– It’s clearly going to be all weather
– Not going to wreck bikes/riders with mud all the time
– Getting more people into riding
– More accessible

Negatives:

– It’s a bit boring – as I think I commented before, sanitised
– At the moment, from what I can see, it’s just the same type of trail all the way around
– Berms and pumpy bits are great fun, but get a bit samey after a while
– Some serious need to educate the twits who STILL think its a bright idea to ride the oncoming way (opposite way) to the proper direction of the trail
– With the trail being faster, so are the riders. And now they’re REALLY pinning it which leads to:
– Slower riders getting in the way (I had this yesterday, and I don’t really mind, but some people do)
– Faster riders getting arsey or agressive and not being patient
– Families trying out the trails and presenting a problem to experienced arsey/irresponsible riders in various ways
– Sanitised (going on what we’ve seen
– As a result, the experienced riders will more frequently ride the unofficial trails putting more stress on the local environment and clashing with other Ashton Court users

There are plenty more pros and cons which I discussed with a fellow SingletrackWorld forum user yesterday – whom I took around the new bit for the first time.

I don’t want anyone to get me wrong, I’m very grateful for what we have been/are being given – I will ride it happily – incorporating it into my ‘loop’ of trails that I ride daily, however I’m interested to hear what others have to say about the now developing trails?

I can’t decide whether it is a good thing or a bad thing what is developing here – all I know is that it’s becoming very santised – and some of the most enjoyable parts of the Ashton Court trails are being wiped from the map which to me is a massive shame :(

The number one reason for changing over for me was the simplification of the front setup – less to go wrong/snap etc – and I could run a reliable chain device on my Spicy which I could trust not to jam or break half way down seriously testing DH.

I sure your right, but how fast are you legs going at 20mph on 32-11 ?

Absolutely.

Don’t forget also, many of us like the bigger gearing and may or may not be racing or riding the Alps.

Great post thehillsofsomerset, thanks for that link :)

I have 34t up front and 10 spd 11-36 at the rear on my Spicy.

It’s perfect.

Just do it, you’ll not regret it – I’m considering converting my other bike.

Whether or not ‘Pnuebes’ is the real name for the spiky bits on new tyres.