Hopefully there will be a replay available, like the Pumptrack challenge is available at the moment. http://www.crankworx.com/videos/215

I’d look further south. Brilliant biking at that time of the year in southern Spain but also Italy – Tuscany or Sardinia are great. Could also look at Morocco too for guaranteed sunshine and the same travel time as Andalucia!

As a Kiwi I’ve ridden loads around there. Rent a cheap car and do a few trips out of Rotorua. Just buy a copy of the Kiwi MTB bible and it will see your right! http://www.kennett.co.nz/product/classic-nz-mtb-rides-north-island/

Some great rides are (google them):
Waihaha Hut
W2K or Kinlock to Kawakawa Bay
Moerangi
Whirinaki

For riding buddies just ask on http://www.vorb.org.nz!

In Spanish the word for Wife and Handcuffs is the same: Esposa/Esposas!

Some might say apt!!

German for glove is Handschuh… as in hand-shoe!!

Using Bonty RL MTBs at the moment. I got a good deal on them and have been pretty happy actually. Well one of the ratchets broke early on which I think is a weakpoint but the guys at the LBS took one off a shoe on the wall to get it fixed straight away (Cycle Centre in Newcastle). Fit and stiffness is good and off-bike grip is fine for an XC shoe.

Not necessarily, the lower level Trances came with a straight steerer fork so you would need to change the lower headset cup/bearing. You can get just the lower unit from some people like Nukeproof.

If the fork you take out is tapered you will just need to swap the crown race from the old to new fork and you are away!

Looks like 2011 frames were a standard 1″1/8th to 1″1/2 tapered steerer.

Overdrive = Standard tapered steerer
Overdrive2 (OD2) = Stupid Giant proprietary size!

So you should just need a normal tapered headset assuming fork has a tapered steerer tube.

Lomo Waterproof Rucksac

Not tried one but look good and for £25 I’m very tempted…

Intrepid Apparel
Broken Riders
Trail 42
Whackjob…

No experience of any of them, other than Intrepid shorts though!

I’ve got a Photosport 200, and its great. Comfortable and stable. Room for DSLR and two lenses or zoom lens and a few accessories.

The Pro model you can remove the camera module which makes it better for ‘normal’ use.

The only thing is that the only organisation pocket is in the lid and I’ve cracked filter cases ducking under branches and resting the bike on top during hike-a-bikes!!

Oh, and the aluminium frame rod is great when hiking but the pack is far more comfortable/stable on the bike if you take it out, which is a matter of opening the velcro and sliding it out.

I have the fluro orange and tempted to get a black one for travel/everyday use.

Hi ninjaj,

Given my current role I can’t go putting you in touch with any of the guides directly, sorry! I can reassure you that the trips with Skedaddle or Amazonas will be very good value for money! I could recommend some operators that are better placed for shorter one or two day trips however! Let me know!

I guided the ‘worlds most dangerous road’ in Bolivia with Gravity for a couple of years too. It is good fun but not technical by any means. Once again the singletrack around La Paz is insanely good and a group of 4 could easily organise a day or two with Gravity Bolivia. Others on here have done it from a customer’s perspective..

squaremonkey – Member
I did a ride with these guys when I was out there, http://www.gravityperu.com/index.php?mod=rides

Admittedly it was about 5 years ago now but they were decent at the time and offered proper mountain biking compared to what a lot of the other companies seemed to.

Interesting! I was one of Gravity’s main guides in Peru in 2009, I might have been showing you around!

OP, there is loads of very, very good riding in the area but extremely difficult to find without a guide. Also decent bikes very difficult to find if you want to rent. If you can get out though you will have some of the best days you will ever have on a bike!

I’m now working for another company which offers challenging MTB holidays out there, have a look here for some inspiration…
Skedaddle in Peru

Or if you are just looking for on or two days of riding I have some other contacts, sent me a message if you want any info!

Cheers,
Matt

Two tips from flying with bike lots and guiding lots of international bike trips.

1. take rotors of 100%
2. if you want to still have tubeless wheels in the alps DO NOT fully deflate them! You’ll just end up with a bag full of sticky latex and spend an hour trying to get them to seal with a trackpump …before giving up and putting tubes in!!!

Yep, the pistons are nice and clean/lubed and advance out easily and evenly. Think I might need a lever service kit…

Hiya,
Matt from Saddle Skedaddle here. There are plenty of great options that you can get to from Nice, Malaga, Verona, Pisa etc. If you want any help/advice feel free to drop me a line at matt@skedaddle.co.uk.
Cheers, M

Have you tried logging in to http://my.viewranger.com/ and exporting the GPX file from there? I’ve taken several routes/tracks from Viewranger and used them on a Garmin Dakota/Oregon no problem.

I’ve just had one of the best weekends on a bike that I’ve had for a while. The weather was great, the trails were dry and I had two days of challenging riding. I threw some overnight gear in my rucksac and headed for the hills. The route was great, classic dales riding with long climbs, some great technical descents and wonderful views. A highlight had to be being woken by an amazing pink and orange sunrise and brewing up hot coffee while still in the sleeping bag watching the Dales warm up.
However… biviing always gives me loads of time to think and I couldn’t believe how few other mountain bikers I’d seen. In 120km of off-road riding on a warm, dry and sunny weekend I saw just 2 other bikers and these were both locals out for short blasts. I can only imagine the chaos that would be the carpark at Dalby or Glentress over the weekend, so why aren’t people out exploring the great natural trails in places like the dales as well. There were loads of walkers (all were happy to see a rider on the trails) and on the few km of tarmac I saw loads of roadies out and about. Maybe I’m just too old-school (I’m 31!) or my riding style isn’t cool enough these days. Then again my 140mm trailbike was the perfect bike, I rode all the ups and enjoyed descents, surely that’s #enduro enough?
Rant over!

Classic two day route off MTB the dales. New Alpkit Hunka to try out. Should be nice and warm overnight in the hills.

http://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/outandabout/gettingactive/cycling/mtb/mtb-findaroute/mtb-route-two-day-tour

FYI, if anyone cares the end caps actually unscrew off the axle. Easy once you know how. You need two large wrenches to fit the vague flat sections on the outside of the end caps!

Actually, I missed that you are after DH results. The Gravity team is one of the most active DH teams in the country so just give them a shout. I don’t think the ‘national’ DH races have an umbrella organisation, just a rough agreement between ‘clubs’ in various areas!

I worked for Gravity Bolivia for several years, and a few of the local staff are ex-national level racers so definitely worth contacting them (eljefe@gravitybolivia.com will get you to the boss, say Matt sent you).

Though a quick google in Spanish gets: http://federacionbolivianadeciclismo.blogspot.co.uk/
Its a bit rough but we’re not talking about first world budgets here!

Hope that helps.

I’m assuming that the end caps pull off then you knock through the axle to remove the bearings. I need to pop them off to check the bearing codes, so just trying to get the non-disc side off at the moment. Sound like I just need to persevere. Starting to scratch up the caps though from all the trying!

Had a similar problem on a Merida frame. With a Hayes brake on that frame it squeeled like a demon. Tried lots of different combinations of rotors, brakes, frames, pads and all solutions including facing the disc tabs. In the end it was simply that particular frame and caliper wouldn’t play nicely.

Same brake on any other frame, fine. Same frame with any other brake, fine. Just not together!

Some things are just a mystery!

Two options really…

1. Find a bike shop in the city you intend to depart from and organise to get a cardboard box from them before departing.
2. Plan one night in a decent hotel before you depart and forward them you bike bag after you arrive and build your bike.

Not sure which is less faff to be honest!

ES it is then! Will give it a go!

I’m considering doing this route as a Bivvy trip later this year. Lots of other routes on the Yorkshire Dales NP site too…

http://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/outandabout/gettingactive/cycling/mtb/mtb-findaroute/mtb-route-two-day-tour

+1 for http://prorideguides.com/

I work for Saddle Skedaddle, almost every one of our trips will have a few solo travellers on, often far more. No single supplements to be paid unless you specifically request a single room. If you want any advice about destinations or which trip would suit you drop us an email or give us a call, I pick up any MTB enquiries that we recieve.
Cheers, Matt
SS

I used to get like that in all sorts of ‘sterilised’ locations… doctors, dentists, optometrists (even just trying on glasses)… something to do with the disinfectant in the air!
Seems to have got better after I started mtb guiding and had to deal with broken/bleeding people on a weekly basis!

http://www.skedaddle.co.uk/biking

Loads of ideas…

Yep, can be pricey! If you look outside the box there are a few other options such as these…
http://www.spaceshipsrentals.co.nz/
http://www.wickedcampers.co.nz
http://www.jucy.co.nz/vehicles/jucy-condo.aspx

A proper big camper will limit your access to some spots and aren’t very fun to drive, but a small van or a car-style camper gives you tons of flexibility!

Ardent Race looks like a half-worn normal Ardent….

Wouldn’t you just be better off with the normal one? Ardents are a great all-round tyre IMO. 2.4 front and 2.25 rear for hooning…

I’m from NZ and have worked in biking tourism both there and in the UK. My advice was that if you have less than a month then stick to one island or the other. My pick is the South (I’m a born and bred ‘mainlander’, ie from the South Island) for big scenery, wilderness hiking, biking etc. But the North is perhaps better for cultural highlights, beaches, islands and still has heaps of A-plus riding.
If you want to ride, just buy this book and rent a bike from these guys and you’re away. You’ll be able to do 95% of the best riding using the book and getting around in a camper. Whatever you do you’ll have a great time.
http://www.kennett.co.nz/product/classic-new-zealand-mountain-bike-rides/
http://www.naturalhigh.co.nz/biking/mountain-bike-rentals/
Feel free to message me for any advice!