 |
| Chris, Kev, Ryan and Tony atop Charity Lane. |
There's got to be something about getting old, as the years tick by (10 years of Fearingout for god sake!), I do find myself nostalgic more often. I was chatting with Jon the other week about the 'good old days' when the week night ride regularly gathered 5 or 6 riders, the banter and the pace more relaxed, take a few snaps on the descents but nothing heavy, just a good ride...
For the last few years the weeknight ride has been a fantastic way to escape and un-wind from the stresses and strains of life, but the numbers have dwindled down, even to just a pair of us for weeks at a time.
But there are a lot of people on the distribution list, and there are a lot of people more stressed than usual - so this week we saw 6, and there is promise of more... Jon C, Tony, Chris, Kev, Ryan and myself made the usual route last over 30 minutes longer with the increased level of talking and enjoying the ride. Good times. At the end Chris was on about bringing his video camera, and I talked about getting a new compact for photography... so Fearingout is alive and kicking.
On a more technical note - first night for me out on the Maxxix Ardent, 2.25", 60a compound EXO side wall protection tyres fitted to the Cotic. They've a much rounder profile than my usual 2.3" Maxxis Minions and smaller knobs. Initial discussion with Jon suggested they'd actually be a decent tyre around the forest, but I was not impressed last night. There is literally no grip in them at all on the rocky singletrack and double track, and my confidence was washed out with my front end on several occasions. As a back tyre though, it cuts the deal so next week I'll try a Minion F, 2.3" 42a on the front to find the front end stick again and give them another try, but a warning, not a worthy front tyre if your trails are loose and rocky.