Nukeproof Generator Rims

The new set of rims arrived today for Jon's Ragley Blue Pig build, look great quality and striking! Certainly look the part so we'll see if he can get them built up in time for testing at Llandegla on Saturday.

James
Producer / Wideopenmag.co.uk

Sent from my Three mobile

Old and new...

Tonight, the last weeknight ride of 2009 (clocks change Sunday) and a mix of old and new...

New'comer' Mark joined us for his first proper mountainbike ride after splashing the cash on the company bike to work scheme on a top line GT Aggressor. Some decent Marzocchi forks (rebound and a 15mm axle - 130mm travel) and Avid Juicy three brakes (in white!) being the high lights.

New'bike' Jon was out on the Blue Pig - first time I'd seen it built up and it looks amazing - lovely details and so bright in orange. Great design and great graphics, it looks a lot more expensive then it is - which you can tell when you try and adjust the seat, poor tolerances make it a bit stiff to say the least!

So old, yeah well that's me and Charity Lane - 6 years this winter, and what a fantastic 6 years! Tonight the weather was a little cold, wet and typically autumnal in Macclesfield Forest. The usual route and banter and climbs got us to Charity Lane. Dropping saddles we attacked hard, and the rain has washed off the loose surface leaving something wicked fast, absolutely insane - great great fun both Jon and I were 'on it' today - big smiles. Mark came into view pulling a jump over the bottom water bar - good man - he's already addicted talking about pedal upgrades and getting some wider bars from Jon!!

Onwards we headed to do the full loop and drifting in the leaves down the new bike only trail, careful braking points and flat out we got back down to the motorway tired, wet, muddy but happy. That's what autumn is all about. Great stuff...

Next ride Llandegla a week tomorrow. See you there!

Macclesfield Forest 23/10/09

Fast and Loose (FOFO2) trailer...

One word - incredible. I can't wait until November 23rd.

Foot Out Flat Out 2 - Fast and Loose Trailer 2009 from Aaron Bartlett on Vimeo.

Yours truly did the graphics and DVD box/disc design! :)

Mobile posting

Now I've got my new phone I can post on the go! Here's just a test post to see how things work!

James
Producer / Wideopenmag.co.uk

Sent from my Three mobile

First timers...

First time we've seen Kev's new Commencal tonight - lovely looking bike, and god is it orange!!! It's described as day-glo and photos don't do it justice!!

So fixed seatpost and no small ring up front yet Kev managed to ride 95% of the route tonight - amazing. Great commitment.

Charity Lane was wet - and slippy (too wet for grip). After a few weeks on the full susser I was probably over confident, and the head wind had me struggling with gears (trying to find one in which to make progress). I don't know quite what happened but I had an off, the bars twisted. Luckily I always carry some tools so onwards with a little bruise to the thigh and a big bruise to the pride.
We headed straight on at Standing Stone to find yet another motorway being cut through the forest by UU - it's amazing they find the money for all this but no real investment in biking trails!! Still the old push up track is now officially bike only, and a real gem flat out - although slightly hairy in the leaves and mud.

So a good ride tonight. Kev's keen to get out again once he sorts a few little niggles on the Absolut. I'm just itching for this Cotic now! Can I really wait three months!!!!

Kev's Commencal Absolut 4X

Wideopen Issue 10...

For those of you oblivious to Facebook and the 'Wideopen News' bit on the left of this site - Wideopen Issue 10 is here!!! (at last).

Yes it's been a long time coming - so I hope you all find it worth the wait. Jamie and I have had a hard summer outside of the work and the mag. We want to thank you all for sticking with us... 2010 is shaping up to be a super year.

Spent yesterday at the Cycleshow and it was great to meet a few new faces, put some faces to names, and visit a few friends. Some positive noises for more product tests, and possibly some advertising revenue to put back into the mag and race team. All good.

Personally the most exciting discovery is that the new Cotic BFe (which looks awesome - Jamie is putting some snaps up on Wideopen before Monday) will come in XS - 14.5" seat tube, 22" top tube, 16.5" back end. I.e. pretty much half way between my Chameleon and my Coiler in size - so perfect. We'll get one of the first ones for test in the new year!! :)

Out riding tonight - perhaps the last week night ride of 2010 :( See you at the forest!!

Autumn is on it's way...

Just Chris and myself tonight - and a good ride - it's been a few weeks.
It's been quite dry recently, mainly drizzle if anything. It brightened up nicely this afternoon and as we unloaded the cars in bright sunshine it was really quite pleasant.

The bite in the air told us it was autumn soon though, as did the leaves under wheel. Chris and I put the world to rights climbing up to Charity Lane - just like old times and really quite energising.

Charity Lane was dry and fast. Awesome fun today. Cumberland Brook a few weeks ago really paid off and I was loving the Pikes and new wheels. Really fast, pinned, and the whole run came together so well I was loving it. Chris however came down with ETA on - ooops!

Onto the singletrack and despite Charity Lane being dry, and not much rain, it was slippy. Front end going sideways in mud, finding grip on dry roots! Madness.

Good fun all round.
Will next week be the last weeknight ride of 2009?

Other news:
Kev has splashed out on a Commencal Absolut. Expect to see him out with us from next week. Reinstate!

Sunday 18th October is in the diary for the next weekend ride.