Something fishy...

Well the PIKEs arrived on Friday and today was the first chance to do anything bike related... progress has been quite swift so far...

The Chameleon is now 're-born' AGAIN - this time with the super smooth Z1s. No travel or stiffness increase over the AM3s but a big performance increase (plus handy ETA for climbing!) The look lush!
As the new Pike's are silver the white Wing-bars on the Coiler have also been swapped over onto the Chameleon - which is now quite 'white' but does look awesome... remaining tasks before my birthday ride are changing the front tube (slow flat - that's gotten worse) and replacing the chain.

The Pikes are amazing looking too and the black Wing-bars and them have found themselves temporarily setup whilst I source a 20mm front wheel, brake upgrade (pads and 180mm rotor for the rear) plus new chain.

Rock on.

Alpine preparation?

Just Jon and myself this fine evening after a week of torrential rain and the downpours had really changed the character of Charity Lane and it's approach. Funnily enough, without chatting before hand both Jon and I had taken full face again! This time Jon even took new goggles - true 'alpine prep'.

Charity Lane was light speed today. The forks must have known they've been replaced as they performed amazingly, a real transformation and with the full face I was spinning out. Halfway though knackered, so some work to do on general fitness I think...

After a quick pose (see above) the singletrack was sketchy as hell. Great fun.

So the Coiler is retired for a month or so now. As well as new forks, it needs a new rear brake setup, new wheels, new rear tyre, new cassette, new chain.

The Chameleon will be rebuilt this week with the white DMR wingbars and the Z1s, ready for a birthday raid to 75% certain Lee Quarry! See you there!

Whistle whilst you work?

Get the cryptic clue?

PPPPPP IIIIII KKKKKKK EEEEEEE!!!

Yeah I was offered deal of the decade from Col at Fli/MTB Direct on a set of 2009 Pike 426s in silver and succumbed to the 20mm front fork. I've been avoiding this for 2 years, saying it wasn't necessary on a 5" bike blah blah blah heavy blah not enough travel blah expensive blah!!!
Having ridden the Genesis for Wideopen earlier this year I've been swayed by the big axled monster.

The Z1s have served me VERY well and remain a truly awesome fork that marked a change in the riding I did, and my confidence to push on hard - eclipsing anything I'd ridden previously. These will find a new home on my SantaCruz Chameleon and the cheap(ish) AM3s currently on that bike will be temporarily retired - for re-use on Cathy's bike in the near future.

So tonight is the last ride on the Z1s, a fitting place to end the journey, back where it all began in Macclesfield on Charity Lane.

Goodbye old friend, I'll see you soon...

Full face... a difference?

So amongst the scattered rain storms and dark clouds Jon and I headed out this evening for the usual Macclesfield Forest jaunt, this time with a difference...

Full face.

Yeah Jon's had his for a while, and during Stinky ownership Mr Warnock sported a nice little number (including bling goggles) but it's taken me a while.
Now yeah I got it to review for Wideopen, so it hasn't cost me a penny, but why else did I want to try one?

Well both Scott and Jon talked about a feeling of invunerability, invincible if you like... and with talk of a trip to France (or Spain) for a gravity orietated holiday in 2010 to celebrate my 30th it seemed a good warm up to ride local trails I know with one...

So I didn't really know what to expect to be honest. A nice fit, and it looks great too (IMHO), but would it change my riding?

Hard to say is the short answer...

Unlike Maxxis super tacky tyres, or 5:10s it doesn't change the handling or contact points so the bike and your speed feel the same, but somehow I wasn't as worried about being thrown off course and found myself looking further down the trail. So yeah a gentle but growing feeling of invunerability.
But what held me back really I think is the 130mm forks, which don't do quite enough to keep my confidence up when the going gets rough and loose.

So, as planned, a 20mm setup is on the cards for next year - to be bought this year.
Pikes? 140mm, stiff and highly rated, but with only a 10mm increase in front travel - or Lyrics with 115-160mm (similar to Jon's All Mountain 1s) to give a similar performance but with increased flexibility... or is 160mm front, 130mm a bad idea... I don't know.

All good.

BIRTHDAY 2009
We're riding somewhere local-ish on the 1st August. Keep an eye on your email but current favourite is Lee Quarry. We'll have to see I guess... followed by a BBQ at Casa Del Hiltano.

See you next week!

Macclesfield Forest 16/7/09