tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149063512024-03-13T14:53:08.660+00:00dRj0n's wanderingsdRjONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365819296812190132noreply@blogger.comBlogger987125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14906351.post-42743612905109922532012-09-10T16:37:00.002+01:002012-09-10T16:37:50.738+01:00A move may be in order...<a href="http://drj0nswanderings.wordpress.com">dRj0nswanderings v2</a>.dRjONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365819296812190132noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14906351.post-64725791743370272532012-09-09T20:31:00.001+01:002012-09-10T08:29:03.482+01:00A roadie, i am not.I am too heavy to climb well and i mash the cranks rather than dance on the pedals. I'm too scared of descending on rough roads on 25c tyres on a 17lb bike to be fast. I can roll along but i get fed up if there is too much of a head wind.<br />
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So it goes.<br />
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But sometimes, if the trails are too soggy or i need to burn some miles into the legs, i grab the Spooky and head out on the asphalt.<br />
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So it was today.<br />
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Fat, slow and unfit, with the Tour de Ben coming up, i needed to at least pretend i can gain some form. Hmmmm...<br />
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Sometimes, if i hit a good gradient and move at a decent clip in a highish gear, i end up smiling anyway. So it was round Carron valley reservoir. A slight tail wind earned by a drop off the Tak ma doon road and i got to Killearn with an average speed of 18mph. Thats ok given my fitness, i s'pose. Home after 44 miles in 2 hours 30 min.<br />
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Heres the bikehike.co.uk map of where i was and what i did. 2 hours and 30 minutes of grovelling. A good wee bit of computer route planning geekery.<br />
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dRjONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365819296812190132noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14906351.post-87762770114905666172012-09-07T07:38:00.000+01:002012-09-07T07:38:44.114+01:00Stoke.Yesterday the rain stopped and I immediately grabbed the Jones and headed for the local trails. I’m sure you can imagine the conditions given that it has been the wettest ‘summer’ for a hundred years here: of the 90 days of summer, it has rained for 60. I would add that I certainly can’t remember there being 30 days without rain, but I don’t mean to quibble.<br />
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With blue skies, warmth in the air and a gentle breeze it took me 10 minutes to get to a spot I really like. The ground was hard going, but it was still good fun. The bridges were slightly drier and as such, didn’t cause the front wheel to skate off alarmingly if approached at any angle other than perfectly upright and perpendicular. I could throw some shapes which felt good.<br />
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Still the stoke was missing.<br />
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Soon enough, with a window of a little over an hour possible, I turned tail and headed home. On the way, there is a small section of trail behind a wide, all-conditions path that is typically pretty muddy in several spots. For some reason I decided to give it a go despite the fact I might have ended up hub deep. It winds, dives, ducks and rattles over complexes of slick, grasping roots. Rhododendrons and gnarly old trees are close to you and there are several tree stumps that need to be avoided. It feels like an obstacle course in a corridor of greenery.<br />
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In order to make it through any potential deep mud baths I decided to absolutely batter into the trail, full steam ahead. In doing so, I came to realise how seldom I let it all hang out and give the trail everything I have. The risk of crashing is too great I suspect. But for that 50 odd meters of trail I gave it some proper sausage.<br />
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Near the exit point back onto the wider trail there is a sharp left straight into a hard right hand carve around a tree stump before exiting over some roots and taking a far right line around a mud pit and over some more roots. The move feels kind of like a slingshot. As I made the transition from the initial left hand into the carve around the stump it became apparent that I was leaning so far over and the tyres were sliding out to the degree that my knee was going to impact the stump. I adjusted, unclipped and stamped on the stump with my right foot before careening into the mud pit section and at the last split second hauling the bars up and slamming the bike into the roots and then onwards. The Jones responds to these inputs ridiculously well. The harder you go the more it excels. As I joined the main path I did indeed whoop. Stoke achieved. Mission accomplished. <br />
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<br />dRjONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365819296812190132noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14906351.post-44188125331803465482012-08-26T21:57:00.002+01:002012-08-26T22:09:46.349+01:00The Long Way Round.I have always been fascinated with joining the dots in the highlands. Routing several amazing sections of trail into a big loop can be deeply satisfying as well as a significant challenge. The challenge comes from the mapwork, the altitude lost and gained, the qualities of the terrain covered and the sheer distance.<br />
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This time i decided to loop to the east of the Cairngorm. Aviemore-Ryvoan-Larig an Laoigh-Linn of Dee-Mar-Invercauld-Loch Builg-Tomintoul-Dorback and the Braes of Abernethy.<br />
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And back. Hopefully.<br />
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It is a long way, not so much in terms of absolute distance, more that the trails can be tough and the climbs relatively big.
Maul was the steed of choice. This pure xc rig is such a profound pleasure to ride and it just eats up miles.<br />
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I had planned to leave late, bivi somewhere near the start of the loop and hit the trails early. However, the weather once again decided to throw a curve ball. The deluge that spread up from the south was moving north at a rate that would have me arrive in rain, spend an uncomfortable night hoping i didnt body-bag down a water run off and resurface no doubt sodden and sleepless.
That would be if i made the A9 after a long day and in bad conditions.<br />
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Hmmm.
Decision made: i stalled and left early the next day, which went well, but it meant my ride started at nearly 11am. My calculations and hairy eyeballing of the map led me to believe i would be looking at 10 and a half to 11 hours of riding. If the weather was ok.
At about hour 7, i realised i had made a mistake. I had followed dubious sign posting from Invercauld, rather than my out of date map and my nose and what i could see didnt marry up to the mental image i had from the map. After looking at the map and not really recognising the terrain and repeating this several times over a solid half hour i accepted that i had a problem.<br />
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I was lost.<br />
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The trails i was on were not on my map and if i spent any serious time trying to look at said map i was literally being digested where i squatted by midge. No good. No good at all.
So i made the call. The call i had hoped i would never make.<br />
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I like to think that my mountain craft is reasonable. If that doesnt get me through, i'm pretty damn pertinacious. This time however, i had at least 3 hours to go, 2 hours of daylight max, a small head torch and 'issues' with stopping to route find.
When i came into a mobile phone window i called trina and let her know that i was lost, my last known location was Auchtaven and although i pretty much knew where i was i couldnt find the link to the drove road to Loch Builg i wanted to take. As such, i wasnt going to be home any time soon, but i was in one piece, had food, warm clothing and....<br />
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....then the signal went. Trina has known me forever and is very sensible. I knew she wouldnt worry, but i still disliked the fact i had felt the need to call and cause some anxiety.
Midge be damned, i stopped, orientated my map properly and worked out that i needed to cross some farm land to join the trail i needed. So be it. In my mind, i scanned backwards and realised that a signpost i had followed had not been a right of way path sign to Loch Builg, but an estate walking route sign. This had flipped me through 45 degrees and led to me going east of a hill, rather than west and as the miles went by the size of the error magnified. This had been compounded because my map was old and didnt have these trails marked. This resulted in my thinking i was on the correct route until i was a good way off course.
Ah well.<br />
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I had plenty of time to ponder the mistake as i struggled up the trail on the flank of Carn Liath. Right after i sped out of Tomintoul and joined the trail to Dorback Lodge, the night fell. I had some trails to find to get back to Ryvoan and then onto Aviemore. However, my willingness to stop and be ravaged by the noseeums had gone. I was literally breathing the midge in if i dropped my pace and any error of route finding would have caused a serious tantrum.<br />
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I bailed and took the road towards Nethy Bridge and then back via Coylumbridge. The estimated 20 ish miles of road in the dark after a long day in the saddle was harsh, but closing the loop and finishing a great day in the hills was worth it.<br />
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Photos: i struggled with camera settings. The light was flat and the day overcast. However, i did escape any precipitation. The trail down the Larig an Laoigh was washed out - a great trail diminished. The bike got a shoeing. The grit is phenomenal in that area and as it built up it wore a notch in the back of the fork - small but annoying. The drive chain needs a full strip and clean. But overall it was a potent machine to travel on.
If i had time id mess around with these photos and try to bring out some of the fine views, but i'm not even sure i have the skills to salvage anything. Still, enjoy and dream of big days in open, wild land.
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Early start. Glenmore lodge. Lairig an Laoigh. Linn of Dee. Mar, Invercauld then Loch Builg. Tomintoul. Dorback. A story there, but for when i have time. Back to Aviemore.<br />
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Eleven and a half hours and this ride *did* go to eleven.<br />
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More shortly.<br />
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<br />dRjONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365819296812190132noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14906351.post-34745979513987156842012-08-15T21:12:00.000+01:002012-08-15T21:17:48.708+01:00Perfect timing.Sort of.<br />
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I'm sitting in the kitchen, looking out the window at the tail end of a passing front that is creeping over Scotland from south west to north east. It is moving at roughly 40 kph i'd estimate. Today i packed various bits and bobs into the car and was going to leave for Aviemore area about 30 minutes ago. The idea was a bivi or rough camp, up early and hit the trails. come back late thursday.<br />
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As i was about to get in the car the skies literally opened and anything wet that was up there fell through. Hmm. Quick look at MWIS and met office. Estimate timescales. I'd hit Aviemore right before the front did. That would mean i'd have to get into a bivi sack wet and spend the night sweating as the humidity is high plus plus. Probably not such a comfortable way to spend the night. So, needelss to say, the weather wins again; i'm grounded. Boosh. It's been challenging to keep my sense of humour with this 'summer', it really has.<br />
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So: perfect timing to reflect on a trip (in sunshine, mostly, no less) into the hills a wee while ago. Torridon.<br />
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Odd how things cluster, right? Recently some friends, some magazines and some videos have popped up displaying this highland area's ample attractions. Big mountains, stunning lochs, ferocious midge and the rest.<br />
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I've never spent much time there, afterall it is a whole hell of a long way from anywhere. But with a couple of days off work i hit the road. Itinerary: Glen Affric in the afternoon, head round the classic loop, but lollipop it out to Alltbeithe YHA hut and see what the trail out to the back of the five sisters of Kintail would be like for a possible bike packing mission. Glen Affric was a little disappointing. Easy trail, heavy rain, clegg bites a-plenty. But the trail to Alltbeithe was good and would be no problem lightly loaded. Hmmm. My off road path to Plockton plan gathers steam.<br />
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I headed back to the car and then past a very exposed Cluanie dam to Plockton, where i spent a very pleasant evening with<a href="http://www.theplocktonbrewery.com/"> Plockton Brewery's</a> Starboard ale and devouring an amazing smoked seafood platter at the <a href="http://plocktoninn.co.uk/">Plockton Inn</a>.<br />
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After a later night than planned, on account of the outstanding local musicicians, i made an early start and drove up to Achnashellach Station. The route from here had been born of pouring over the maps the night before and a wee bit of beta from guide books and forums.<br />
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I rode down to Coulags and took the trail up to Loch Fionnaraich, to Bealach na Lice, sped down the nearly peerless descent to Annat, pedaled up the tarmac to Loch Claire, under the watchful gaze of Beinn Eighe and took the forest track to Coulin. At a split, i ascended amazing singletrack to the shoulder of Beinn Liath Mhor and Coire Lair. It was too much to gaze upon this glorious ribbon of trail, so despite tired legs i climbed to the Bealach Ban and turned tail dropping what i think IS peerless trail all the way to Achnashellach.<br />
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On the way home i stopped off for a loop of the Badaguish trail we used for the Singlespeed worlds. It still rocks. then i came home spent but a deeply satisfied man. Here are some photos.<br />
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<br />dRjONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365819296812190132noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14906351.post-47852631240421262512012-08-10T19:28:00.000+01:002012-08-10T19:28:20.848+01:00Mocked...Mocked up. Thanks to Jason Plum who has been much help with sorting out clearances etc.<br />
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Pretty much everything here will be changed except the basic xtracycle frame and Kelly frame, but this gives me the rough outline and i have more clearance at the rear than i thought i might. This is good!....<br />
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Ok. Marty and Sue are getting married, which is making me very happy indeed...more after the celebrations.dRjONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365819296812190132noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14906351.post-32250660533382149222012-08-07T20:23:00.001+01:002012-08-07T20:23:18.120+01:00Doing sums....<br />
So: rumour is a 35c 700c tyre will work in the rear of an Xtracycle...thats about 692mm overall diameter. But 35c is no good for rough roads and a load. So what to do? On the one hand 26" is strongest (of the viable alternatives). But, 650b rolls betterer and gives me better gears with the cassettes i can use (this build will be last issue Saint mech and 1x9).<br />
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I have cross tyres that are nominally 35c as well that go about 695mm diameter on Stans 355 rims. I have a quasi moto on an arch that is 697mm diameter and a neo moto on a P35 that is 699mm diameter.<br />
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At present the build is: old school Kelly RoShamBo with a Moonlander fork, Xtracycle, GMG Yepp seat for the bairn, and a rear DT 350 centrelock/DT comp/DT prolock/Pacenti DL31 rim and quasimoto wheel build...front is going to be a Paul Comp rear hub, and i'll probably pull the A317 rim in favour of something beefier.....we'll see.<br />
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I will (of course) report back. Should be good.<br />
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1x9, old style saint mech and an old man huffing and puffing his daughter to nursery....<br />
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On a side note, once you get looking at bikes that are there to do more than just be fun to ride, you could get pretty hooked. Check this out:<br />
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<a href="http://www.core77.com/oregonmanifest/">Core 77 coverage of Oregon Manifest</a>.<br />dRjONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365819296812190132noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14906351.post-77528684221236475862012-08-06T18:07:00.000+01:002012-08-06T18:07:04.358+01:00Xtra...I have become one of them.
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(pic pinched from xtracycle blog)
I've been struggling with how to commute by bike with Daisy and get supplies and deal with the rubbish condition of roads, poor or aggressive driving and the possibility to take the path less travelled.
I'll report back once it is together. At present, we will be moonlander forked in order to run a wide ub for strength and stiffness. I'll run race kings on 700c rims and will use gears and disc brakes. I may fit a front rack. I may not.
The beard *is* longer and fuller.dRjONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365819296812190132noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14906351.post-17680467765967593832012-08-01T19:32:00.002+01:002012-08-01T19:35:35.143+01:00Joker...Ok. Desperate weather calls for desperate measures: i went to the gym.<br />
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We joined so we could take Daisy swimming. Really...i'm not a closet bicep curler. Daisy has chicken pox, but is cheery despite the itch. Tough wee chick.<br />
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I went for a 50 mile spin on the road bike the other day and suffered like a dog. Two and a half hours of pain, anguish and self loathing. Well, maybe not *that* bad, but not good either.<br />
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I need to face up to the fact that i am not at all fit and the only way to<a href="http://youtu.be/9c2grFBKkgw"> deal with that</a> (as Ice Cube would say) is to hit the ergo.
So, a quick warm up with some 16 kg kettle bells - swings, presses, punching and press ups - and i got down to business.
I usually combine distance (say 5 or 10k) with some intervals if i'm using an ergo, but it has been a loooong time.
Today i kept it simple: 5 sets of 1.40 minute 500 meter rows with 1.40 minute recovery inbetween. I made it through just under the times, but damn, i hurt.<br />
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My hands have the tell tale red areas just at the base of my fingers that will become callouses before too long and the quads and lower back are feeling it. This is good though. You dont change your physical condition without some pain. Bring it on.<br />
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What else? Bradley Wiggins. So impressed.<br />
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Parts being messed around with: Saint clutch rear mech. Initial impression: RAD.<br />
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King Cage top cap bottle cage holder. Initial impression: useful if awkward looking.<br />
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Chris King greasing and fitting tools for the bottom bracket. Initial impression: work a treat. Super smooth servicing for the first and better fit than a Pedro's cup tool for the latter.<br />
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Ok: my dad's 70th today. Happy Birthday dad!dRjONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365819296812190132noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14906351.post-32953844321865182012-07-24T20:14:00.000+01:002012-07-24T20:14:45.511+01:00Krampus.<p>In a world where everyone seems to be trying to make the same carbon 29er look different to their competitors, <a href="http://www.surlybikes.com">Surly</a> are living large and innovating.</p>
<p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/vmOWd92TiLk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<p>Awesome. And it's been too long since i had a beer with the surly lot.</p>
<p>Is 29+ for me....maybe we'll see. The fact they just released 2 very knobbly 4.8 tyres is kinda interesting too as the Nate is a beast.</p>
<p>What else?</p>
Back from a wee road trip. When i have time i'll get a write up done. It was *so* good.
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In between will be Seafood and beer and most likely chips.
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I have had a lot of help with route planning. It's all good.dRjONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365819296812190132noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14906351.post-82397469428352386752012-07-16T20:41:00.000+01:002012-07-22T20:11:51.242+01:0094 minus 27 percent.A 27 percent decrease in humidity is a good thing when there is water sloshing around your flip flops and your flip flops are in your house not on the beach. So it goes.
<p>Edinburgh has had a rumoured one and a half hours of sunshine. In June. As in the last 12 days. (<i>This was originally typed 4 days ago. Again, so it goes</i>).</p>
<p>Summer. Again.</p>
<p>Not been riding much. Not been doing much of anything except mopping and drying, but i know friends who are dealing with much larger volumes of flood water in their lives so no more on that.</p>
<p>Instead i've been reflecting, sorting through things. Thinking and scheming. There has been a little trail building and overall i'm pleased with the results. A master plan calls for some more. We'll see.</p>
<p>Been messing around in a non-serious fashion with less swept bars. The things that strike me at this early stage are:</p>
<p>1) you get crossed up pretty easily in slow speed, high body english scenarios. i think this is because of 2).</p>
<p>2) you ride with elbows locked out (or semi locked out, absorbtion coming from the shoulders) far more.</p>
<p>3) you cant move your weight as easily to and fro - you *can* do it, but not as easy. </p>
<p>4) they do look more normal.</p>
<p>5) you can brace against impacts more - sort of pushing the bars away from you as they rush inwards. I'm not sure if this is good or bad. </p>
<p>6) you can resist high speed trail inputs on the steering more easily i think.</p>
<p>7) your arms are bent through bigger ranges of motion with your wrists at odds with your elbows. Hard to explain...but it feels awkward when you come to lower your body mass over the bike.</p>
<p>In short, for higher speed/short ride/DH type applications i think wider, flatter bars are probably a good thing. For low speed, woodsy riding where you are moving all over the bike, i think there is something to be gained with high sweep bars.</p>
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<p>BUT... More work needs done.</p>
<p>I have been following the introduction of the XX1 group with interest. There is a lot to like there, for me at least. I'm skeptical that no front chain guide is needed SRAM claim the alternating thick/thin teeth profiles on the chainring should keep everything ship shape, but particularly for suspension systems that lead to a lot of 'chain growth' i'm not so sure. The clutch mech will mitigate some bounce and the 'only-horizontally' movement should mean less system noise from terrain, but I'd be for belt and braces. CEN also seems to require a guide for sale of bikes in europe so we'll see how that goes. But overall, larger range cassettes are a pretty good idea.</p>
<p>I'm also interested in the 'new' path of movement of the rear derailleur. What i have not read about is whether this is allowed due to limited chain length variation (because there is no front derailleur) or <i>necessary</i> because of the geometry of the enlarged cassette. Would it be useful for all derailleur based systems? </p>
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<p>Image is Steph's: apologies for previous lack of credit.</p>
<p>It will also be interesting to see Shimano's response - if any. The above cassette body is the DT swiss version. Not sure it will fit capreo (unmodified). I would not use SRAM gears: Shimano have always been better in my experience, function and longevity and im fine with my 34 or 35 - 11-34 at the moment, in the UK at least. But Shimano already has Capreo (as i mentioned in a previous post) and various folk are offering disc hubs or in the case of Canfield Bros, options to run the group as a 10 speed system.</p>
<p>We'll see.</p>
<p>2013 bikes are beginning to crop up. Refinement is the name of the game, but 650b/27.5 is throwing a spanner in the works: some companies (Scott) are <a href="http://singletrackworld.com/2012/07/2013-scott-genius-launch-650b-and-29-but-no-26/">not offering 26" in some models anymore</a>. A bold move for sure but one that in my opinion will pay dividends - i cant see any reason to keep 26" wheels except for DH. Even then, if wider bracing angles could offset the inherent weakness of a bigger rim, i think it would be worth the slight increase in diameter.
<p>I also made myself a new tool. It works very well indeed and will save a few moments of frustration every time i fit a new chain.</p>
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<p>That's it for now. Singletrack weekender this (last...) weekend. Hoping for blue skies for it all to go down as it should.</p>dRjONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365819296812190132noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14906351.post-1741711851670528302012-06-21T21:24:00.000+01:002012-06-21T21:38:12.045+01:00INFORMATION!"INFORMATION: the facts and the evidence".<br />
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Name that tune? <br />
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Anyway, stuff thats been going through my mind. The <a href="http://www.jonesbikes.com/">Jones</a> needs a little messing with. The ebb is currently run in pretty much the lowest position. Bottom bracket height is 290mm. Low. Great for stability and cornering. As i have become used to riding the <a href="http://www.vertigocycles.com/">Vertigo</a>-s i've become used to a slightly higher bb. In addition, riding <a href="http://www.yesweareontheweb.com/jones/">Jones-uk-man</a> biff's 69er (which has a higher bb) reminded me that de-stabilising handling can be a lot of fun in the woods. So, a 420mm <a href="http://www.kenteriksen.com/">Eriksen</a> post is on the way. <a href="http://www.bushnelltandems.com/">Bushnell ebb</a>'s have a maximum 12.7mm throw, and as i am at curent maximum height on a 400mm Eriksen seat post (not due to the post - it has a minimum insertion of 70mm - but to get below the large diameter top tube, it needs to be more like 95mm) i need a bit more post. Should be interesting to try - iirc i've been riding the Jones in this configuration for at least 3 years....the thing i'm not sure about is how the weight distribution change will affect where i want the bars (at the moment i have the loop bars flipped, so i get the 13mm drop and run a 100mm -6 dgeree stem. Flipping the stem will raise me about 16mm, or i could flip the bars? we'll see...). Taking some measurements of the front centre, centre axle to centre bar at stem etc reveal some surprising results that i'm not sure how to interpret in terms of how they affect handling. There is only so much number crunching before you need to try it out. I will maintain my saddle tip/bb distance of 83mm not raising the bars will give me a little more reach...but one of the beautiful things about the Jones handling is the ability to weight or unweight the front wheel when you need control or to minimise shock transmission. i'd kind of like to try a slightly shorter (90mm zero rise) stem on there...<br />
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What else? more new tyers on the way. Rubber Queen 29x2.2 to be exact. Rubber Queens are the burly big sister of the Mountain king II i'm running at present. Rumor is that a 2.4 will be along soon enough, but if the 29er tyres follow the sizing regimen of the 26" tyre, the RQ 2.2 will be considerably bigger than the 2.2 of the old mountain king. We'll see.<br />
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Meanwhile a quick review: Continental Mountain King II 2.4. Absolutely the best tyre for all off road conditions i have used it in. Short and sweet, eh? At 780g it isnt going to win any light weight awards. It is a big tyre, wide and tall. The high volume and square profile mean getting clearance on some frames may be an issue, but if you can and aren't a gram counter above all else, it rolls superbly, is durable, offers amazing cornering grip, excellent braking and dependable traction. The sidewalls are supportive of low pressures. I haven't used it in clay soil yet. I'll update if i do, but so far i'm extremely happy. These were the tyres i was waiting for.<br />
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I received a 710mm 20 degree bend flat bar from <a href="http://www.sevencycles.com/">Seven</a> recently. The aim is to re-examine what bar i prefer. I've been messing with a 30 degree <a href="http://www.watsoncycles.com/">Watson cycles</a> parkarino as well, but this will be the least swept bar i have used for many years. It is on BA at present, the thought being that low sweep bars are probably more useful in the type of riding that this bike is aimed at. I'll need to give it some time so that i can get used to it - the immediate feeling is of having my elbows stuck out at very odd angles...but perseverance is required!...i would never like to consider myself as a blinkered zealot. An open mind and informed choice is key. Oddly, some <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/bikecentric/">others</a> are looking at very similar things...<br />
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At some point i need to get round to doing a comparo of 'then and now' bikepacking kit. I was looking through some old photos recently and cannot believe how much stuff i used to take along. No doubt as confidence grows you can take less. Also some of the kit i have now is considerably better and smaller than previously - i'm mostly thinking of the full length thermarest neoAir xlite that replaced the old 3/4 length prolite and is smaller and lighter and warmer and more comfortable. Hmm. Yes, it was more expensive. But there are other parts that have helped me minimise my packed volume.<br />
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I also have to get round to thinking about what the fat bike i have in the pipeline is going to be like. At present i have no real thoughts other than i want to be able to ride on mushy ground (winter in scotland). Will this be a full-on expedition bike? shorter stays and livelier handling - more like the Maul with fat wheels? Surly have something brewing with 29x3" it seems, is this worth considering? <br />
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Dunno. But i guess i need to get the thinking cap on.<br />
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Not been riding much, but i did re-discover the old DH course at a local woods. Was kinda fun to slip, slither and thread the trees...definitely scope for some opening up i'd say, if time allows. <br />
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More shortly...<br />
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<br />dRjONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365819296812190132noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14906351.post-83653256935155206602012-06-21T21:19:00.000+01:002012-06-21T21:19:16.265+01:00Industrial Action.Today i took part in the industrial action NHS doctors voted to instigate as a response to the persistent refusal of the government to negotiate, in the true sense of the word, the current pension reform they intend to force upon us.<br />
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To be clear, no one was striking. Striking is when you do not work in any capacity. Doctors were seeing all emergencies (which means anything defined by a patient as an emergency) and many were in fact performing routine work in addition. No one wants to see patients suffer.<br />
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The level of misinformation Lansley and others are willing to distribute is superficially shocking: efforts are being made to suggest that if we don't pay more, nurses pay will need to be reduced, for example. This is not true, of course.
However, anyone who pays any attention to the methods of politicians in general will have no trouble seeing though this: it is typical of the machinations of the untrustworthy and Machiavellian group we currently have in government.<br />
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In 2008 an increase in retirement age was agreed (retirement age greater than politicians btw) and an increase of over 40% in pension contributions was agreed with pathways to deal with any increased need that might arise thereafter. Yes, the world has been going through tough times recently but the NHS pension takes in £2 billion annually more than it pays out, and this excess goes to the treasury. The best predictions suggest this £2 billion excess will be the case for the next 5 years. As an aside, politicians still contribute at a level similar to the pre 2008 reform we agreed to, let alone the new level which is another 40% higher again.<br />
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So i am a doctor: what do i think about it?<br />
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1) the politicians have for too long used the Hippocratic Oath as leverage in order to push through action that weakens and degrades the NHS.<br />
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2) as relatively high earners, there is always going to be negative connotations to complaining about action that affects our pay. If NHS doctors (indeed, all staff) were primarily or even significantly driven by their take home salary, there would not *be* an NHS. The pension has been one of the few features of working in the NHS that helps retention other than personal satisfaction in helping others.<br />
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3) the industrial action is indicative of the point we have come to in the funding and organisation of the NHS. Yes, it is about pension reforms and the lack of rational discussion that has been unilaterally disallowed by the government, but it cannot be seen without a back drop of staffing issues, NHS reform issues and the overall funding level of a service under increasing pressure.<br />
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Will the industrial action damage the trust the public have for us? i dont know. To be honest, i sometiems feel that the NHS is taken for granted. Perhaps a little bit of damage to the perectpion that NHS staff will always provide whatever is asked of them is a good thing?
We shall see how this plays out, but my suspicion is that there will be more industrial action in time.dRjONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365819296812190132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14906351.post-19935116631926410232012-06-20T20:59:00.000+01:002012-06-20T20:59:28.958+01:00The Talented Mr Vernor.<a href="http://brianvernor.com/home.html">Brian Vernor</a>'s film about the <a href="http://www.transandeschallenge.com/">Trans Andes Challenge</a>. Looks like a lot of fun.
<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/31181364?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="400" height="300" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe>dRjONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365819296812190132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14906351.post-57524924597846587332012-06-05T19:34:00.001+01:002012-06-05T20:00:33.718+01:00Refried.<p>Moving on.</p>
<p>Plan: Daisy's bath & bed time, pack car, drive to Aviemore, ride, bivi, ride, meet chris and marty and more riding then home.</p>
<p>Route: Aviemore, Glenmore Lodge, Coire Cas, Miaden Creag an Leth-choin at the gaping mouth of the Lairig Ghru, up Ben Macdui, drop down to Glen Derry via Loch Etchachan/Coire Etchachan and (once i'd met up with chris and marty at the Linn of Dee) head up Beinn a' Bhuird and Ben Avon, before dropping down to the River Avon and following this to Tomintoul and back to Aviemore via the Braes of Abernethy.</p>
<p>Bivi site was hopefully somewhere near Lochan Buidhe.</p>
<p>How it went: Started riding at 10pm and despite knowing some fine folks who were taking a wee dram at Glenmore Lodge, i pedaled past and up to Coire Cas. The moon rose over Cairn Gorm and i headed across below Coire an Lochain and began to climb. It was cold but the efforts kept me warm. The forecast was generally good with some precip due in around 1-2am. My plan was to keep going until then and bivi down, get moving by 6am and meet up with the boys at 9am at Linn of Dee.</p>
<p>By 12.30am i was being chased by tumorous clouds. Short of my predicted bivi site, i kept an eye out for some receptive ground, found some and bedded down. Knowing the route allowed me to pack plenty of food and fluid as the initial climbs are not onerous. I had also elected to bring a couple of cans of Red Stripe and i supped a cold one back while i laid out the bed-stuff and manged a turkey, cheddar and mayo roll as the moon was enveloped by cloud. Sometime around 5.15am i woke to rain and wind buffeting my bivi sack. A quick pee led me to the conclusion that the rain had come in later than anticipated and i should head back to sleep for half an hour or so, which i duly did. The next time i awoke, the cloud gave me about 6 meters of visibility and it was wet with a fine drizzle. Nuts. Ah well, i needed to move. The coffee i had looked forward to would have to wait as it was too cold to sit outside my sleeping bag and i again assumed the uphill walk until i could start riding again past Lochan Buidhe. From here it is a steady climb over alternating beautiful plateau singletrack and sack-of-coal-size boulder fields to the base of the summit cone of Macdui. The ground was frozen; the grass petrified in a layer of frost. The wind was rising and i wasn't too surprised when the precipitation thickened to snow. As i made quick time over the last boulder field before the climb up to the summit of Macdui, the wind rose again and the snow turned to hail. Visibility was low, 5 meters max and the hail was stinging any exposed flesh. I felt sure that it would clear: the weather system had generally been very stable with relatively high pressure and good, clear skies, sunshine and moderate wind only. There was no reason to expect this pattern to change, other than it was the Cairngorm.</p>
<p>The top of Macdui is like a giant pile of sack-sized boulders. There is no real chance to pedal and the risk of a sprained ankle is high. Care is needed. There are several cairns leading those who are travelling in poor weather on and there are also many small weather/wind breaks. As i reached the familiar trig point, the weather again worsened. It was hard to keep the bike on the ground due to the wind and it was almost impossible to see if i faced into this fierce, freezing banshee from the north. The hail built up ice on my glasses making them worse than useless and i was slowly becoming hypothermic despite the physical activity. I knew the path down to Loch Etchachan was vague at first. The last time i rode down it i noted how it sort of coalesced as i passed the ruin that is just east of the summit and headed off to the north east. I followed this same route and came to the cliffs south of the desired location. Damn, it was bad weather to make an error, and the ground was hard going. Rather than chance my luck traverisng too far at a lower level, especially as there was a fractured cornice on the edge, i went back up to the summit and followed a new line via the ruin. Again, i came to the cornice, though there was no fracture at this point. There was no sign of any way down although for a fraction of a second i could see the tiny lochan that is en route through the swirling cloud and hail. Back up to the ruin again as i could not believe that the trail was wiped out by the snow and sheltered enough to recheck the map.</p>
<p>In retrospect this was clearly an error of judgement. I wasn't thinking straight at all. I descended again, desperate to get out of the furious weather. Again, the cornice. This time i dropped the bike and kicked a few steps and went to the edge. Again, i saw the tiny lochan and then realised i *was* in the right place but there was no way i could get down safely in this weather with a loaded bike. That realisaton led to some despair as it meant i had to not only turn back, but get back through the ferocious weather. I also could tell my right hand especially was far from functional, the brakes on the bike had become solid and i was in big trouble if i stopped moving or took a wrong turn.</p>
<p>This of course i did almost immediately. Rather than head back up to the summit again, i decided to try and circumnavigate the summit cone and rejoin the path at a snow field that would allow me to drop down again.</p>
<p>About half way round on featureless ground, with extremely poor visibility and a degree of disorientation i lost my grip a little. Several 45 degree turns, looking for a way out or a trail and then i stopped dead, closed my eyes and had a chat with myself. It was time to make a good decision and stick with it. Turn round, back the way i had come following tyre tracks in the snow and back to the ruin and then the summit. From here, rejoin the cairn route down and get out of the weather.</p>
<p>To cut a long story short, i made it down. A significant amount of arm wind-milling restored some function to my hands and so i ate all i could as i moved. I hummed and talked to myself and kept my baby girl in my mind's eye and just kept moving. On one of the snow fields, i encountered a total white out. My previous tracks had been obliterated by the weather and it was a little like wandering through a dream. It was only after i dropped again below Coire an Lochain that the snow and hail stopped and i knew i was out of danger. The ride down to Coire Cas is always a hoot and BA brought a smile to my stiffened face as i popped water bars and roosted the fine shale. Back via Loch Morlich and the sun came out as i rode peacefully through Rothiemurchas. I could see the cloud lift off the summits and it was possible that if i had timed things differently i might have been able to kick steps into the snow and get down to Glen Derry, but it was a chance too far for this day.</p>
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Set:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/drj0n/sets/72157630046128978/with/7336114110/"> on flickr</a>.
<p>Ride on.</p>dRjONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365819296812190132noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14906351.post-3250649905548765012012-05-31T19:37:00.000+01:002012-05-31T19:37:01.029+01:00Indulgence.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<p>Whining is pretty self indulgent, isn't it? A lot of the thoughts i typed above are real, but things are not catastrophic, i'm not about to give Daisy away (afterall, she did a most excellent "MOOOOOO!" today and she's my ultimate partner in mischief) and i'm not going to go all Kaczynski. I *might* have to go and hide in the woods for a while though. Anyway, this is all most likely because i haven't had any coffee or beer for 3 days....</p>
<p>I want to say thank you for all the kind words and supportive (and elbow in the ribs/ttfu) comments and emails. Not expected/very grateful.</p>
<p>Ok. As you were.</p>dRjONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365819296812190132noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14906351.post-64628550444231953872012-05-31T08:36:00.002+01:002012-05-31T12:28:02.880+01:00Raging against circumstance.<p>Circumstance: we've been on holiday this week. It has been beautifully warm and sunny - relatively rare in Scotland. We desperately needed a break. Work has been busy for us both and i know i was burnt out. The situation wasn't being helped by being ill for the last few weeks. Then Daisy started vomiting. Dramatically. Every 30 minutes or so for about a day. Then it started the other way. Needless to say, the last few days before we left for our planned break to Aviemore was messy and tiring. Still, after a slight delay we figured Daisy was well enough to travel - and one of the reasons we had decided on a wee lodge in Aviemore was that it was very much a known entity. Easy to get to and easy to get things we might need, which meant we didn't have to pack the kitchen sink.</p>
<p>The game plan was a few walks in the stunning forrest. Perhaps a steam train ride. The lodge is affiliated to the Hilton hotel so had access to a swimming pool, soft play and various other activities that we know Daisy loves. It should have been a good break - time to enjoy our own company and recharge the batteries.</p>
<p>After almost no sleep on the first night, i woke in the morning and promptly vomited. Unusual for me. Trina didn't feel great either. Daisy was rallying so we tried to entertain her as best we could. Then the floodgates opened for me. That was Monday and nothing very much has changed as i sit here on Thursday morning, except Trina is just as bad.</p>
<p>Why am i telling you all this, dear blog? Well, in truth it is because i am bitter and angry. Raging, if you will. I desperately needed a break. Desperately. Instead i have been chained to a porcelain prison. I had grand plans of managing a ride in the Cairngorm while we were away, to take advantage of the unprecedented fine run of weather. The conditions were amazing. Instead we drove home with our hearts (or stomachs, i couldn't tell) in our mouths on monday evening. With us both being so unwell, it was too hard to deal with everything and keep Daisy entertained without being at home.</p>
<p>This has been a bit of a pattern the last few months. Any time off or window of opportunity has been thwarted by circumstance. Illness, exhaustion, house stuff whatever. I've tried to be Zen about it. Keep in mind the long game.</p>
<p>But at the moment i'm just sad. Fed up. My will is broken.</p>
<p>I dont do 'wanderings' anymore. One of the aspects of my life that i felt defined me seems to have evaporated. My head is full of white noise and i don't see much light at the end of the tunnel. There it is.</p>
<p>I cant remember how many posts i have made now that i look back on, shake my head and consign to the misery pile. But it is far too many. Maybe the sign is that this blog is dead. The blogger certainly isn't fit for purpose.</p>
<p>Who knows?</p>dRjONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365819296812190132noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14906351.post-73046544924809077632012-05-19T11:04:00.001+01:002012-05-19T11:04:50.882+01:00Getting me down.I can't shake this cough. The last couple days i feel like i'm going to pop out a hernia or an eyeball every time i cough. Been fevered overnight for 3 nights and i ache. Damn, i'm tired of it.
Anyways. New rubber arrived. Spent an hour out before my energy gave out and, despite the limited time, it reminds me of how i felt way back in the day when i ran Marin Rockstar tyres. Fast rolling, good wide centre bar (siped no less) and an amazing edge that in contrast to a lot of modern tyres does not induce blood curdling terror as you lean the bike, waiting, before it digs in: throw some shapes and the bike smoothly transitions into a confidence inspiring, rail-around-the-corner feel that lasts even through shearing, wet mud with an undercurrent of slick roots.
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Finally, after many, many years of 29ers (when i started with the RoShamBo there was the wtb nano, and the mythos to choose from) i have the tyre of my dreams. These tyres will need to be prised from my cold, dead fingers.dRjONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365819296812190132noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14906351.post-42804663362187454952012-05-13T20:04:00.000+01:002012-05-13T20:14:30.997+01:00Detail orientated.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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AHHHhhhhh! acai berry juice!....that and goji berry juice are a first class way to get some anti oxidants into a pretty oxidised body after recovering from a bit of a cold.
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I thought id better get some updates done.
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It is no secret i am big proponent of <a href="http://www.jonesbikes.com/">Jeff Jones</a> designs - both bikes and components. I have been using Jones bars - H and loops - for so long now most other bars feel weird to me. I really like them. Comfort factor is high and the ability to distribute weight fore and aft is unparalleled. However, riding different bikes sometimes benefits from a slightly different set up. B.A (my <a href="http://www.vertigocycles.com/">Vertigo cycles</a> all-mountain - though i'm beginning to dislike that term - hardtail) is slowly evolving, as is my style of riding that bike. When the fox doss is released, it will be added and i have some tyres in the post and there are some due later in the year that i think will complement the hard riding nature of this bike. I have already talked about my thoughts on forks that may or may not end up on B.A. My ponderings have also turned to handlebar and cockpit set up. No surprises that i have tried 5 different stem lengths and 3 different styles of bar on the bike already. But all have fallen short of perceived ideal. I *do* agree that shorter and wider has an advantage in steeper, nastier terrain and it is here that i wonder if somethign a little wider than the Jones' 27" could be beneficial. Of course, to achieve this and still allow comfort on long ride in and ups, a wider 45 degree sweep may not be the best, indeed, after using a 28" wide 31 degree sweep <a href="http://www.watsoncycles.com/">Watson cycles</a> Parkarino on my 'cross bike, i think this may be a useful set up.
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As good as the Parkarino is, there would be somethings i would change. Firstly, it would be slightly wider - ideally 29"/740mm. It would be made out of ti, because so far ti bars in my experience have been peerless at soaking up trail vibration, but it would have a bigger diameter centre section to mitigate ti's suppleness that can become a little flexy as the length increases - this is a bar for mid-gnarly riding after all!
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The usable grip section would be longer too. One of the truly great things about the Jones loop bar is the huge 195mm length of usable grip. You can place your levers wherever they feel best but have huge swathes of real estate along which to place your hands. This translates to a huge range of weight distribution with little effort and no contorted arm positions and also eases the efforts demanded of you hands and wrists during prolonged rides.
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So where am i up to? This is a sort of second draft of the concept. A fair amount of thinkering around how it will be made to come. But i think it might be pretty damn good.
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What else? did you know that one of my favourite breweries - New Belgium - and one of my favourite bands - Clutch - have produced a collaboration? <a href="http://www.newbelgium.com/beer/detail.aspx?id=2776aec8-790e-4f38-a53e-8a42d914ab81">Clutch beer</a>, no less. Would like the try that.
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I've been garage nerding about tubes again. With the fresh and voluminous Continental rubber now at hand, the volume of tubes and how to best get good feel, puncture resistance and low rolling weight with appropriate durability has been raised for me again. Enve rims make this slightly problematic as they are deep (31mm iirc) compared to an aluminium rim.<br />
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I have started using tufo and token '<a href="http://www.vittoria.com/product/accessories/">Vittoria</a> style' valve extenders. These allow you to increase the valve length of removable core presta tubes, whilst retaining the valve's ability to be closed - a boon in muddy wet conditions.
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At present the lite 26 and supersonic 26 tubes are 130g and 100g respectively and are made in taiwan, whereas the heavier tubes both 26 and 28x2.5 are made in china and come in at 200 and 230g respectively. Is it true that simply more rubber makes a tube more durable and for a system that can be run at lower pressure? i doubt it, but im coming to the conclusion that it may be somewhat practically associated.
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The tube on the left is also new. It is a Michelin DH presta tube. It is ridiculously thick, and regrettably the valve core is not removable, so i will have to fit an alternative extender (in which, the valve core stays open) in order to use it with the enve rims. It will be fitted to B.A when i am going to plough through rockfuck. I have no idea how much it weighs: that is so far from being the point of this tube.
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It is also probably no secret that i have very wide feet. VERY. Short and square, knowwhatimean?
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Anyway, this limits me for decent cycling shoes that arent in the downhill style...yup: i aint the skinny racer boy type. Still, i do relish a performance shoe...but i *dont* like carbon soles, becuase the riding i do tends to need a fair old bit of portage. So, when my last pair of sidi's lost their souls, i decided to try some other brands. Problem: the mega dominator has been the only shoe that has bloated around my paddles for years. Still, with shimano's new large volume toe box, and the arrival of the giro high volume shoe, i thought i might have an option. So i did what any self respecting but limited cycling shoe fetishist would do: i bought them both. Interestingly, the correct size for me (43, i'm a 42.5 but my toes are so square i need the half size extra) was on the money for both of these brands - certainly not always the case.
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The <a href="http://www.giro.com/us_en/products/cycling-shoes/privateertm-hv.html">privateer</a> is slipper like to say the least, and fits really, really well. The quality of the shoe seems high, and it is both supportive and stiff enough, whilst giving in a way that allows comfortable walking even on concrete surfaces. High hopes there then. It has a thin sole, and as such you dont feel like your pedals have turned into wooden blocks.
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The shimano shoe i chose is the <a href="http://singletrackworld.com/2011/10/fresh-goods-friday-12/">M162</a> - there's that phrase again - all mountain shoe. It is very snug accross the toe box for me, but roomy compared to so many shoes. In addition, there is no constant loop of fabric accross the whole toe box, so my reckoning is it should give a little (by the by, the privateer also is split in terms of fabric in a similar way so the mesh sections will allow give and movement.
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Neither of these shoes are a winter shoe, or even a scottish autumn shoe, but both show promise. The shimano is robust and has a different 'set' on the pedal. It is firm, but again allows walking and carrying with no heal lift. The sole is thicker than the giro and seemingly allows a little less rotational movement on the pedal before what i think must be the fins of the sole force disengagement. its a little sooner than i would like, but the robust and lugged sole may pay dividends in certain terrain. Certainly both shoes provide excellent grip, even on slimey smooth stone.
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So: we'll see. All i can say is im stoked to have 2 different pairs of shoes that might fit.
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All in all, keeping out of mischief. And i have an incendiary green chile for tea. Aces.dRjONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365819296812190132noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14906351.post-68762096594462107462012-05-07T15:20:00.001+01:002012-05-07T15:20:08.066+01:00A wee log hop.<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/41702452" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe><br />
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It has been dry and time has allowed, so i've been out in the woods. Solo, early exploratory rides. Rides with old friends. Rides with new friends. It's been good.dRjONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365819296812190132noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14906351.post-29754938021895379752012-04-25T16:21:00.003+01:002012-04-25T16:26:46.773+01:00Front end.Been rolling along, you know? I think the last few months have taken a bit of a chunk of the available energies and i feel tired. Tired and sore. My back is crunched up and i'm in desperate need of getting back to some regular exercise. This was highlighted in some ways when i was called for a medical for an insurance policy. Nothing out of kilter, but just a point in time that made me think. I'm not getting any younger and this time last year i was back from a big race and getting my head round doing another. At this time my bike racing calendar is entirely empty and i wouldn't say i have either the motivation or the chance of gaining the fitness that might make it happen.
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Yes, i have been riding a bit more - pushing it through the woods has been fun. The trails there are challenging and nearby which is a bonus. I even enjoyed a road ride the other day. A new route took me over an unfamiliar ridge and afforded good views of the snow capped mountains north of here. Part of me wanted to enjoy a big day in the hills, but part of me is shying away from the commitment it takes. Who knows why?
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Sea Otter happened and a few product intro's i found interesting. <a href="http://www.ridesaint.com/">Saint</a> for one: the brakes and drive chain are coming my way for sure. I'm also interested in the smorgasbord of 650b (or is that 27.5" now?) stuff. I've had a few 650b wheels on the go for a few years and i like them. It has always been my feeling that with an open mind, this will be the wheel size for many. Of course, having an open mind (and an open wallet!) is like common sense: not particularly common. But we'll see. I think there is a lot to be gained from it. As well as the mid travel bikes that the industry seem to be preparing initially, i think a 29" front/suspension forked/650b rear woodsy bike is a winner. It's much easier to get the short stays than with a rear 29 and visually the clang of the dissimilar wheels is gone and functionally it works well. We'll see.<br />
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Personally i'll stick to 29" wheels. For me and my type of riding it fits. Another thing that has been churning around my mind recently are the new breeds of 29" forks and particularly the 34mm stanchions. There are times when im pushing at the upper end of my spectrum of riding that the fork on BA feels a little twangy. Not bad, but you know it's moving. This is one of the aspects of my early mag 20s that made me move over to Manitou and once i realised they were pretty useless, back to rigid!. Fox were first with the 34mm size (i think Rock Shox use 35mm for some of their bigger travel 26" forks) but 2013 will see <a href="http://www.xfusionshox.com/en/">X fusion</a>, who have enlisted the help of a certain Paul Turner (though seemingly primarily for rear shock and dropper post consultation) bring a 34mm stanchion fork to the market - the Trace. It looks good on paper.<br />
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Of course, ever since Fox introduced their 34mm stanchion fork i've been wondering if it might be good on the front of B.A. But there are negatives to consider: notwithstanding the change in geometry the 140mm stock travel length would cause, the increased leverage imparted might be an issue for a frame designed for a 120mm/32mm stanchion fork.<br />
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So, there is a lot to consider. This weekend, i finally sat down and tried to work out whether the Fox 34 is something i want to try or not. After briefly looking at the TALAS option (a feature i really like for prolonged climbing) i found that the internals were not adjustable in terms of total travel. 140/110mm is the option: Fox's way or the highway. In addition, the offset of the 34 fork line is apparently 51mm rather than the standard 46mm of the 32 forks. That will lessen trail for all other numbers being controlled, 'quickening' steering. It would also marginally increase front centre.<br />
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The Fox 34 forks are also longer for a given travel than the 32 forks: around 12 or 13mm. In other words, even if i committed to a Float fork and reduced the travel, the fork is going to be longer than the 32 it would replace.<br />
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All in all, i would have to accept 10mm less travel, and end up with a non-TALAS fork that would potentially feel like it was a little quicker steering, but would be stiffer. All on a back ground of concern that it could potentially damage the frame.<br />
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Overall, it doesn't sound like a good idea does it?<br />
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Maybe we'll see how the X fusion stacks up in time.<br />dRjONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365819296812190132noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14906351.post-36730380910027031612012-04-25T15:54:00.001+01:002012-04-25T16:29:45.128+01:00Rock n' road.<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/pjN3XZIzs7c" width="560"></iframe><br />
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<a href="http://www.bgcycles.com/">Bruce Gordon</a> rocks. And roads.dRjONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365819296812190132noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14906351.post-154077236453459702012-04-15T13:46:00.002+01:002012-04-15T13:58:08.787+01:00It is time."A process cannot be understood by stopping it. Understanding must move with the flow of the process, must join it and flow with it."<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5336/6933722676_362ce9ded0_b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 500px; height: 425px;" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5336/6933722676_362ce9ded0_b.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Yeah. What he said. So i dug out the bikepacking bags and remembered how to strap them up.<br /><br />A plan is afoot. Sometime soon. Maybe the train. Maybe the <a href="http://www.easthighlandway.com/">East Highland Way</a>. Maybe something closer. Who knows? it's all part of the process...dRjONhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18365819296812190132noreply@blogger.com2