All Canadian drive...

I can't believe I've only just had to replace the original Raceface chain rings on my 2004 vintage Evolve forged cranks... So what to go for?

Something Japanese, British or Canadian? The Blackspire Super-pro set were the right price performance compromise for me.

April showers...

Or should that be monsoons?

We've had rain now for virtually all of April - apart from the first week or so it seems to have been damp non-stop. In fact I was wishing no one else could come so I could jack the ride in but then the clock struck four and the clouds parted and I drove up to the forest in a brief glimpse of sunshine. It didn't last long though...

Tony, Ryan and I got soaked as we set off after a breather at Walker Barn, and the road climb up to Charity Lane with a head on wind, full on BIG droplet rain and only in a short sleeve jersey was certainly a test of your commitment. With this much water Charity itself was awash, though surprisingly quick if you could blink away the mud and water.

So a good ride, and nice to start to get used to the Five now, I'm finding my feet in the corners now too, and want to start pushing up my speed. I've ordered a new set of chain rings as I'm getting a little chain suck (they are the originals!), and I've replaced the Kona saddle with a slim Charge Spoon. I plan to fit a chain device (the Gamut I had on the BFe for a while) when I remove the crank arm for the chain rings too, as the Five drops it's chain a lot more than the Coiler ever did. I guess that was because the Coiler's rear wheel part kept the chain fairly taught and the wheel sort of pivoted around roughly the bottom bracket area whereas the Five is a high pivot, though I've not looked to see what the axle path would be I expect under load the suspension slackens the chain a touch?

After the ride Ryan inspected his brake pads (see the photo) to find there was pretty much nothing left... I looked at mine when I got home to find a similar situation! Anyhow they've lasted a year or so not bad. Just add it to the list...

Lost for words...

With a week off for Easter, tonight was only the second week night ride of 2012, and they're now in everyone's diaries for the rest of the year. Mixed weather in the last fortnight, snow and lots of rain so Jon, Tony and I didn't know what to expect... Well Charity Lane was quite messed up and with patches of snow at the top, but it was very quick, if you could see through the spray in the wet bits! Bottom of the Oven was insanely quick, the damp conditions hold the sand and stones together so it just doesn't move around the same. We did the whole loop, and coming down the old push up track was mint as well, a little slippery but a big smile on our faces.

Macclesfield 12/4/2012

And what of the Orange this week? Well, I've topped up air pressure in the RP23 and set sag without pro-pedal one (school boy mistake last time out). I slowed it down a touch on rebound and only ran it in '3' for the climbs, and fully off '0' on the descents. The front forks were also tweaked a touch on rebound and BOY OH BOY what a transformation. It's a machine, so quick! Great fun. The whole bike eats up the terrain at terrific speed, accelerates pretty well, and in the corners, my word, I'm lost for them...

Way back when I remember comparing FiveTen trainers to the change from old fashioned Tioga DH tyres to Maxxis 42a sticky rubber. I'm going to compare the Orange as going from a 1.1 Peugeot 106 to the Citroen Saxo 1.6 VTR - My first car, the 106 handled really nicely, reasonably stable, enough grip to put a smile on your face but the suspension tweaks on the Saxo VTR (basically the same chassis, god it was incredible. I started really driving that VTR hard back in the day... Anyway, that's what the Five felt like tonight, absolutely on rails...

And so it begins...

Welcome to 2012... well kind of, it always feels like the start of the year when the clocks change and the bikes are refurbed and everyone joins in for the regular weeknight rides!

So in the last few months has anything changed?



Well I've a new bike (the Five - more on that later), Jon's a new bike and rebuilt and old one - plus he's got a van, and Kev, well Kev is crazy, about to spend mega-dollar on a carbon Specialized S-works Enduro! Very fly!

How about the trails? Well not really! But hey, it felt good to be out, doing some exercise, getting some chat and enjoying the bikes. Charity Lane was dry and loose, lots of marbly rocks. Bottom of the Oven was faster today, the singletrack was like lightning...



And how about the Orange? Well, it climbed well, comfortable and felt stable on the descent, quick, but the suspension needs tuning in, it all felt a little chattery today - but as the forks bed back in after a winter of no use and the new RP23 finds it feet, and I work out my settings, it's going to be a mega quick bike. Definitely going to get a lot of use this summer!

29/3/12 - Weeknight Ride 1

Five finished at last...

Brakes bled, gear cables fitted and tweaked, test ride successful! I can't wait to try her out in anger!

Only thing missing is the Fearingout stickers!

Springing and sprucing...

I'm slowly getting the bikes ready for 2012. I've finally fitted the rear brake to the Orange, but it needs bleeding. Just a gear cable and a new seat and it's ready!

Also fresh in are a pair of Maxxis Ardent tyres, which I've fitted to the Cotic... Less aggressive than the old Minions, a more rounded profile, apparently they are fast rolling but with the grip in the corners, so I look forward to trying them out soon!

The build has begun...

My new Hope tapered headset and adaptor has arrived so the Five build has begun... Forks and wheelset now in!

Five is the magic number...

It's arrived!!!! My custom 2012 Orange 5 with Fox Factory RP23... Handmade in Halifax and she looks awesome, I'll be building her over Christmas depending on time, Wideopen Issue 17 and parts arriving in time...

Llandegla la la la la la...

Well it's a few days ago now but Jon and I visited Llandegla on Saturday for a morning ride. It's always strange visiting the trail centre near Wrexham. ALWAYS busy but it holds some strange memories as the first time we visited it had only been open a couple of weeks and we were NOT impressed... but how things have changes and like a fine wine it has matured and improved with age.


This time we found a few 'new bits' and rode a section described as Dirt Jumps - over in the black singletrack. Great fun but why is it so far from the car! Perhaps they need a second car park!

Anyway we had a great ride, until Jon was riding along fire road between singletrack sections when we heard an all mighty crack and his seat post snapped!!! An ancient Orange one that came with his Subzero many years ago - luckily the snapped bit could be removed and although it was too low to ride up hills he got around with no arse injuries.

So what's up next... I wondered maybe Gwydwr for old times sake?

On-board

Fearingout 'onboard' from James Hilton on Vimeo.