Seems like a proper bargain for £800. Used to have a V1 Scandal back in the day and I have a hankering for a winter hardtail after not having one for a few years. This is really tempting me…!

I’ve got the Trail Wide’s on my 29er Rallon. I understand the first gen were a softer alloy so they beefed up the spec for the latest ones to the same alloy as the Enduro Wide to make them stronger.

That said,<span style=”font-size: 0.8rem;”> I quickly put some dings in mine, front and rear, riding my local rocky trails which I was a bit surprised at. They haven’t lost pressure and still run true but I’ve put some inserts in now to protect them.</span>

<span style=”font-size: 0.8rem;”>If you’re a hard or heavy rider, or both, I would go with the Enduro Wide if you want a tough Hunt build. Hubs are great though with the quick pick up and they are LOUD!</span>

BNES/WGES for me too next weekend. Think weather is looking good at the moment.

Final race of the season the week after that with the last round of the South West Kenda Enduro series at my local, Grogley Woods. Gonna be great having proper racing there again!

Was planning on doing the Eastridge round of WGES the week after that, but don’t think I’ll bother now as it’s too far for me to go for a one dayer!

No issues getting them serviced, plenty of suspension gurus such as RSF Suspension and J-Tech will happily do it.

Loved my Deville fork and fortunately never had any issues with them. I think it’s warranty work that’s always been the trickier prospect!

Mrs orena45 and I are Cornwall born and bred and have just signed up to National Trust Scotland.  Cheaper than NT membership and lots of NT places down here to take advantage of that, but the main reason being that the NT allows trail hunting (aka we’re-not-fox-hunting…honest!) on some of their land, whereas NTS doesn’t.

Window shopping this week and came across 140mm or 150mm Pike RCT3 29er forks at Merlin for £450.

Royal Racing Race Glove is nice and thin.  Currently on offer at CRC too.

If you’re on Faceache, join the ‘Penwith MTB’ group. They ride every Sunday…and like a good food stop on the way around. Good bunch to ride with. They’ll tell you where’s good to ride and where’s not as well if you ask nicely 😁

Take a look at Rad8 MTB Glasses

Kick Start

You Bet (maybe)

Some lovely dogging spots on the north coast road between Hayle and Portreath. Get there early for the sunset though and take a camera – you won’t regret it!

Dakine Hot Laps Gripper?

Check out  MTB Strap On . Hand made in Cornwall and available in your choice of colours and in different sizes 👍

I thought if Invisiframe don’t do your bike or size, they offer to do it for free if you send your bike to them.  They then use your bike to cut the template in order to sell the kit.  Have you contacted them?

Orbea unveil some new stuff later today.  I’m hearing rumours of a new Occam, new stock colours for the Rallon and possibly a new retro-fittable linkage for the Rallon to up the rear travel to 160mm (that’s one comment I’ve seen on FB so could be bollocks though!)

I’m sure if he wanted to Nino could be a very good enduro racer too 🙂

Nino did an EWS race in it’s first year IIRC and don’t think he did that well.

(*looks at Roots and Rain…167th of 293, his worst race result of his career!).

I’m sure he’d do better if he tried again though.

I’ve had an R4 Rallon for nearly 4 years now and have tested and raced an R5 a few times recently. I’m now selling my R4 to buy the R5.  Got a few thoughts up on my blog if you’re interested.

The Rallon has routinely come out as one of the best bikes out there since the R4 days, they’re excellent bikes and good specs. IMHO Santa Cruz bikes are way overpriced for the spec you get but that said, they do hold their value very well on the second hand market so something to consider if you are thinking long term.

The Rallon is meant to be an enduro race bike so if you got the descents worthy of it, then it’s a good all day bike. If it’s relatively tame your way, then the Occam would be better. The TR is a great  29er trail bike and the AM is pretty much a carbon version of the R4.

Had some unintended lie downs in practice on the Stage 2 A line coming out of the left-right kink whilst trying to get it right. Got through it fine on my race run but followed it up with another unintended lie down on Stage 3. Topped it off by dropping my chain half way down the final stage so final time wasn’t what I hoped for.

But, huge fun as always on those trails. Gotta love that loam!

Another vote for checking out Rad8 MTB Glasses

40c Resolutes are the tyre of choice in our grav group. Really like them.

View this post on Instagram

New rubber fitted to the 'hardtail' with some 42c @wildernesstrailbikes Resolute tyres added. Not really into tan walls, but they're growing on me. Definitely the tyre of choice in our WhatsApp gravel bike crew… literally every bugger now has them! #gravelbike #gravelcycling #gravelcyclist #wildernesstrailbikes #resolute #wtb #whytebikes #whytefriston #friston #mtb #mtblife #tanwalls #cycling #roadcycling #checkoutmygravelpit #drivewayneedsweeding #gravgrav #hardtail #hardtailhardface

A post shared by Andy Roberts (@kernduro) on Aug 26, 2018 at 1:01am PDT

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One suggestion, and I don’t know if it’s possible as I’m presuming the photographers set their prices, but it would be good if after a period of time, say 1 year or 2, the prices of older photos went down. I doubt anyone wants to pay £7 for a 3 year old photo, but if it dropped to something like £2, some people might buy it for old times sake.

Not a bad idea at all, I’ll add it to the list…!

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Awesome, cheers!

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I usually buy at least one from each race. They can be pretty expensive individually at times but I like the bulk buy option that was recently introduced… though they can be full of burst shot images.

I like to support the photographers seeing as they spend all day or all weekend standing about, sometimes in terrible conditions too!

One suggestion, and I don’t know if it’s possible as I’m presuming the photographers set their prices, but it would be good if after a period of time, say 1 year or 2, the prices of older photos went down. I doubt anyone wants to pay £7 for a 3 year old photo, but if it dropped to something like £2, some people might buy it for old times sake.

<div class=”bbp-reply-author”>kimbers
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Impressive seanr!

Oreana how did it compare to last year’s?

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Well that’s annoying – posted up a longish reply yesterday but seems it didn’t actually post (or I didn’t press ‘submit’)!

Summary – didn’t do last year but did Champs there two years ago; nice mix of flowy and fast vs tight and techy; as above, lots of polished roots and greasy corners in the woods; ‘only’ 15 miles and 1,100m of uppy/downy but still felt it at the end!; new stages were good fun; final stage is still very much a love/hate stage!

Great result @seanr!

@blackmountainsrider – take it easy with the concussion and don’t rush back.

@bigfoot – also a good result!  I’m in a similar position but in my last year of Masters this year.  Keeping an eye on Vets times to see where I might fit in next year 😀

Finished 80th in Masters which was a shade outside where I’d like to have finished (top 40% at nationals). Loved the stages, loved the free beer at the finish line. Didn’t love having a stupid OTB on the very first practice run though..bruising is coming up nicely now!

 I believe keV has cut out some of the less fun push ups too!

He’s kept that annoying one on the final stage in though by the sounds of it!  😂

Finally got around to putting up a race report on my blog from the first round of WGES/BNES. If anyone fancies a look, here it is!

Big road trip up to the Lakes tomorrow for BNES R2…who else is racing!? Looking forward to some new (to me anyway) stages and weather looks ok, if a little chilly.

Sorry to hear about the injury @pukeko, sounds painful! 😬

Looks like my post got deleted…fair enough! Posted up their offer last May and got several thanks from members who were looking to buy Hope at the time, so thought it’d be ok again…if quite borderline!

To confirm, I don’t work for them but I do race for them, as I had mentioned so was being open about it. 🙂

<div class=”bbp-reply-author”>benpinnick
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Ive got Exo+ (You can get them). They seem good. 50g or so weight penalty, no issues so far. Of course that could just be luck.

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Where can you get Exo+? Not seen them advertised for sale online anywhere? Can LBS’s get them yet?

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Cheers Scott. If that’s the case then I didn’t score any points at Afan 😔  but obviously would be good to know where to see them anyway 👍

https://www.instagram.com/p/BwjsnhLAqbZ/

Ha, I went for the glasses and full face combo at BNES round 1.  Normally go for goggles when racing but didn’t fancy it this time.  Basically, couldn’t give a chuff what anyone else thinks and neither should you!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BwRaYNIg5__/

@scottfitz – where will BNES Series points be available to view?  Will it be Roots and Rain or the BEMBA site?

Here’s mine – rides,reviews and race reports…

https://orena45blog.wordpress.com/

🙂

Great weekend also! Raced Mash Up and practiced for Sunday’s race on Saturday. Stormed 2 Mash Up stages but couldn’t get Stage 2 right in my two only attempts.

Felt a little tired on Sunday for the ‘big’ race and rode all stages clean but my stages times were down on the previous day by a reasonable and surprising amount!

Enjoyed having two races for the price of one but kinda feel like they were both a little compromised in the end…or I didn’t prioritise them effectively! Still massive fun though.

Congrats on the podiums @scottfitz and good to see you and @kimbers there 😀

Another vote for RSF Suspension. Give him a call if you do get in touch as he’s stacked with work and doesn’t get much time to answer messages or emails!

Cheers Scott. I’m there with a mate but will look out for you folks (and you Kimbers) and tag along if we see ya 👍🙂

Saturday to Practice the mash up stages in the morning then race the mash up then practice the 2 remaining BNES stages.
Sunday: try and survive after riding to much on Saturday.

Ha, no doubt I’ll be similar!

Ah good stuff @kimbers! Don’t think it’s a massive loop so you’ll be alright I’m sure!

What’s your strategy @scottfitz…hammer one race and go more relaxed on the other, or all out for both?!? Or, just cruise both?! 😁

I’m doing the two races…think my legs might regret it for BNES!

WGES + BNES first rounds are coming up this weekend at Afan.

Who’s doing one one, the other or both?!

I enquired late last year as I broke the screen on mine and they quoted £70 IIRC