Just got home from grizedale, and last years stage 3 is included, although not all the way down to the shop.
Dry today, rain was moving in as I left, and there is quite a bit of surface water still on the trails I rode, mud guard now fitted.
It’s worth a practise of the black run as there is some new features up top, which cought a couple of riders out today. If you like jumps, your going to enjoy this!

Having just seen the forecast, I’ll now be having Thursday off work to go ride! Friday looks very wet! Showers for Sunday.

I’ll Be Having a day off work Friday to go and have a ride around grizedale, mainly to get used to my new bike. Busy elsewhere on Saturday, and back Sunday for the racing, only live 25 mins away so nice and handy for me.
Also riding solo, on a black Commencal meta v4. See you all there.

Pikes for sure. Just brilliant!

Eagle and child is a great pub, with rooms, in Staveley, that’s near Kendal.

I think single pivot with a linkage is a fair description.

You can get from Ambleside to grasmere by using the back road towards rydal caves. When you go through the gate at rydal water stay close to the lake shore, and the track will now take you all the way to the bottom of red bank, and from there it’s a quick spin on the road to grasmere. It’s a new bridleway that’s just been put in and is very kid friendly.
Another option is to park at skelwith bridge hotel, and follow the river up to Elterwater and back. Again kid friendly and flat.

So, first ride today,a quick spin around Kentmere.
Size feels spot on, but i’m coming from a 15″ orange blood, that was very small, so if your taller than 5’9″ i’d be looking at the large frame.
It’s my first time on 27.5 wheels, and to be honest i found them hard to get going, but once they’re up to speed it was fine.
Now I’m not fit at the moment, so climbing was a grind, hopefully not the bike, but just me!
Descending was solid and planted, grip in corners was excellent, but I need to work on the shocks a bit, the rear especially feeling a little dead.
Overall, I’m happy, but it needs some tweaking to get the best out of it.

Pushing’s fine, and what we expect. It sounds worth it for the decent!
So how long we looking to get from Ambleside, over loughrigg, and do the route gavgas sugested? We’ll be a group of about 10, aged from 35 to 65, and all fairly fit, regular riders.

Thanks for the replies. We’re looking at doing the ride may or June time so hopefully the weather will be better, and the days longer.
Bit ashamed to say, but most of us live in Staveley, but have never ridden much on this side of the lakes, so advice is appreciated

Bump, for more advice, cheers.

I’ve got mine set up, and I’ll be out tomorow afternoon for a ride so I can report back on size better then. But it feels spot on up and down the road. ( medium frame, 5’9″ rider).

Thanks for replies. We were hoping to miss Helvelin, as we’ve all done it before. So that’s why we wanted to try the routes further west.
We want a track with as much riding as possible/ less carrying.
Any other thoughts?

Torque? Erm just nipped it up a bit!!

It was very tight, it does go, but had to force the link a little to get it to slide in.

Must admit, it took me a while to figure it out!!

Yeah it was already fited, ready to bolt in.

Yeah there not quick in getting back to you. I’ve been sent the wrong seat post, emailed last Wednesday and Thursday, and heard nothing back.
Try letting all the air out of the shock and you can spin the shock shaft to where you need it. Worked for me on my monarch.

Cane creak headset pushed in no problem. No prep needed.
To be honest, it built up quite nice. It takes a little time to thread the cables through the frame and bleed the rear brake, but its fairly easy to do.
As mentioned earlier in the thread, heli tape and mastic tape is well worth it to protect the frame.
The chainstay protector was a bit of a pain to put on,but there’s a video on the commencal website to show how its done.
Just waiting for the right dropper post to arrive, so ill stick with the old thompson elite for now.

Still no seat post, but when I get one I’ll post a picture of it fully built, and you might be able to tell what size you’ll need a little better.

Here’s my new commencal meta v4, 150 rear, 160 front. not ridden it yet, as i’m still building it up. But i reckon it’s gonna be a flyer.

Shock size is 200 x 57.
I’m 5’9″ and it’s a medium frame. I was surprised how short the seat tube was, now thinking I may need a longer seat post. I’ll hopefully find out today if the shim I need arrives in the post.

Well its finally arrived, i hope it is good. here’s the build progress so far.

Just waiting for a brake mount for the rear, and I’ve been sent the wrong dropper post, so putting my old thompson post in for now.

I’m currently building up a medium, should be rideable next week.
Based in South lakes, if that’s any help to you?

Chatting to a mate who lives up the road from the works, he was saying it’s all to do with a beck being re routed around a new house that was built. It’s caused a lot of flooding and water is having to be pumped from up stream to avoid more floods, there also having issues with silt build up. That’s what he reacons anyway.

Just got in and put this on, :-) indeed!

I’ve just ordered a Commencal meta v4, buy direct, and get brand new for under 2 grand.

Thanks rickos, that’s ok don’t want to put you out, pressed go on one as my current frame has just sold, so it’s coming anyway! :)

Looked at the yt, but I’m getting the commencal on finance, (through a shop, not direct)as I haven’t got 2 grand spare at the moment.
Still really happy with the spec per £ on the meta though.
Another question rickos, (sorry ) how’s the tyre clearance on the back? Might want to put a 2.4 high roller 2 in there at some point.

Cheers rickos, that’s great to know, heals could be a problem, but I’ll tape up where I need to.
The amount of rocks we have here, I’ll defo be protecting the downtube.

Thanks for the feedback, think I’m going to have get one, can’t see any negatives really.

Yep there great value!

I’m looking at the essential model, and just kind of need reassurance that it’s not going to be a dog, and will handle the lakes rocky trails without any trouble.
Is the own brand kit any good?

Any one else got any info?

Yep, even though there great value, it’s still a lot of money without a demo.

No problem cheers.

Oops, double post!

Thanks steveh, but I’m mulling over an offer of new ones for a similar price.

If you could post the pics up here that would be good, cheers.

Not this year for me! Got other things I want to do this year.
Might go Again next year for my 40th!
Met quite a few doing it solo last year, so you’ll be fine, always plenty of people to ride with.
Good thread over on pink bike with loads of good info on the mega.