OFFICIAL Wideopen BDH Round 1 vid... WIN WIN WIN!!

Halo British Downhill Series Round 1 Rheola from Jamie Edwards on Vimeo.

Watch - then visit the site (address in the vid) for your chance to win a Diamondback Sabbath DH frame or a holiday at Riders Retreat. Banging!

Plus 3 (+1 week, +1 rider, +1 puncture)

From Macclesfield 8/4/2010

So lets do the numbers first... Week 2, Attendees 4, Punctures 1.

Great weather this evening for the 2nd Thursday night ride of 2010, and Kev, Chris and I were joined by Jon this week. The trails were dry, the sun was warm, perfect riding weather. Charity Lane was much faster this week, but as a result it became obvious that the cold weather has left the trail scattered with big rocks - perfect for snake bites if caught at speed! Whoops!

Next weekend ride is the 17th April. Until then I'll see you all next week!

Macclesfield 8/4/2010

Post date: Photos from February, Wideopen's hardtail test in Scotland

Now that Issue 12 is published I can share Dunc's awesome photos from Scotland. Looking back it was an awesome trip, a real release from the daily grind and winter blues. We're hoping to head back in May with better weather.

Scotland - Wideopen trip 26/2 to 27/2/2010

Read the article here:

April Fool?

From Macclesfield Forest 1/4/2010

In the hour before we went riding today we had heavy rain, sleet and hail. I wondered if I'd made a mistake with my 'whatever the weather' punt but as it turned out by 4.30pm it was wet underfoot but dry in the sky - and pretty typical Macclesfield weather!

So first week night ride of 2010 and with excuses of beer drinking from Tony and Jon, it was left to just Kev, Chris and myself to reinstate 2010 style. I feel I must mention at this point Chris was riding with a GIRLS saddle. We did wonder if he's end up pregnant or something but actually he reckoned it turned out marginally more comfortable than his old Specialized one! Despite this he's probably getting a brown Charge Spoon - good choice. It'll look good even if you find it uncomfortable Chris!

On the plus side though, Chris was bedding in his new brakes - a bargain set of Hayes Stroker Rydes... £70 for the pair (without discs). No bite point adjustment but firm feel and bags of power in the twin pot design - a huge upgrade from the Hayes Soles (single piston) he was running (forks next Chris!).

Usual route and no surprises. A little snow on the banks up top - mad for April - otherwise Charity Lane was very smooth with all the melt water. The gulley was rough and Chris and Kev caught me up (I was a bit of a wuss) but with that reinstatement kicked in and I dropped a few cogs and pedalled like a man possessed all the way to the bottom. I was really pleased with my flow and smoothness today. Then the singletrack which was slidy and muddy before ragging down the road to the cars.

Have a good easter guys and see you next Thursday! I think Lee Quarry (for a Wideopen Trailscene article) is on the cards in April so get your diaries out after Easter so we can sort something out!

Macclesfield Forest 1/4/2010

Cotic geek head angle calculator...

I'm a geek - yes I admit. I pour over bike specs, angles, weights,
tube specs and all that stuff. I like to think I know what it all
means but in reality it's just the Engineer in me playing with numbers.

Cotic have a cool geek tool on their site at the moment. Something
that let's you visualise the changes in frame geometry with fork
travel. So what? Well it's pretty interesting actually - as a degree
or two slacker head angle can transform the bike's downhill capability
- yet a slacker seat tube makes the front end wander on the climbs.
Finding that perfect balance is often trial and error with most riders
- but now at least you can pretend to understand the science with
Cotic's calculator!

Check it out:
http://www.cotic.co.uk/geek/

Wideopen Issue 12 is GO GO GO!!!

Lee Huskinson, Chris Akrigg, Racing in Poland, Adi Gilbert, the Mondraker Summum, Race Reports and more more more...

Llandeglaa laa laa la

Chris and I headed to Llandegla today - with the last few weeks at work being a bit rubbish for both of us it was great to be out on the bike again!

Llandegla was wet - very wet - and the snow had not been kind to the open top section, very rutted now and bouncy - as all those BMW driving, Specialized full sus riding yuppies have bounced their way round! The black singletrack sections were good though - some refurbs where it had worn heavily, and it flows flows flows. Loads of fun and I think Chris really enjoyed it too - despite a 'tired' bike.

Back to the car, cleaned up and then the big advantage of Llandegla - the cafe! A lovely coffee served by some pretty faces surrounded by bikes!

When are we out next!?!!
1st April sees the first week night ride - and Lee Quarry, Gisburn and some new trails at Blackburn are on the cards for 2010.

Llandegla 20/3/2010

Riding kids bikes... Again!

Well I'm in Chester with the family and I spent the afternoon playing outside with Elly on bikes. She was riding her Puky, and I borrowed Andy's (my little brother) old Trek TR20 BMX! Good fun, and remembering my old DK got me all nostalgic...

Anyway, hope to be back out on the bike next weekend, and weeknight rides start 1st April. See you out on the trails again soon.

James
Producer - Wideopenmag.co.uk

Sent from my Three mobile

Scotland... Snow... Smiles!

Sat cruising at 70 on the M74 heading home after two days riding hardtails at Glentress for an article in Issue 12. 3 riders, 3 hardcore steel long travel hardtails, and surprisingly 3 very different bikes! Throw in 4 in of snow and some sketchy singletrack and a photographer and you've the making of a classic Wideopen article. Good times. No bike snaps, they can wait until Dunc downloads them. See you all out on the trails.

Oh and special mention to the mechanic at the Hub bike shop, Glentress who let me have some gear cable outer and saved a weekend. Legend.

James
Producer - Wideopenmag.co.uk

Sent from my Three mobile

Like something out of the Arctic!

Macclesfield 7/2/10

The first ride of 2010 and it turns out to be a cold one!

Kev and I headed up this morning for a stretch of the legs pre-Scotland at the end of the month. Despite having 4 bikes in the garage only one was serviceable (the Genesis needs a shock pump to set up the forks) so out came the Chameleon for a play. Climbing was hard work in the cold and with all the pies and over-indulgence of Christmas hanging around my waist - but no longer than usual so yet again bike fitness seems to carry over Christmas.

We got to the foot of Charity Lane fully expecting snow patches and a lot of ice. What we didn't imagine was it FULL of ice and snow. Those who know the lane will understand how deep it was when I say it was level with the base of the stone walls at the side - that put it at over a 1m deep. Luckily fairly compact so easy to push up walking on it. Thinking it might ease over the top we pushed up... but it didn't. So for the steep section we jumped a fence and took the safer snow free farmers field which was wicked fast. After a short section of back on Charity Lane I jumped the fence again for a short section before Kev and I headed down the last section ski-style. Lots of sliding and a good laugh.

Back via the singletrack as we predicted there would be more snow on the biker descent the other side of the forest and then stopping by Kev's parents for a nice warm brew in Sutton.

A good ride - and I can't wait for the hardtail weekend in Scotland now... one thing is for sure - these new fangled steel long travel hardtails have a hard job of beating my aging Chameleon - awesome fun today, totally planted - light and sure footed. A brilliant bike.