Let's offroad / mountain bike / mtb / ride dirt

Fucking hell that looks challenging, depending on my life situation I'd maybe go in for it. Better start training...

What sort of bike you riding?

Some new trails planned for Bike Park Wales.

Construction of 23 additional mountain bike trails to expand the existing mountain bike facility

"Received: Fri 13 Nov 2015 | Validated: Fri 13 Nov 2015 | Status: Pending Consideration"

Yeah - I read the book. Well jello.

Need a time machine.

Failing that need to get the book and ride moar.

Had a spin up mt. Tam last year - was a wet, misty and utterly deserted climb. Californians just don't go out when it rains.

(It was probably the first time it has rained in months, or even years)

1 Attachment

What sort of bike you riding?

Hopefully something comfortable that can cope with what is reputed to be bike killing gritty mud.

Yeah it's meant to be tough, plus I only MTN bike every so often, so not sure conditioned for it.

I'm riding a Genesis Latitude 30, steel frame hard tail, should be plenty comfy enough as long as I get the pressures right.

I'm also building my brother a bike as he's doing it too and with even less experience. He's training on the old 1987 Rockhopper but it will just be destroyed by the 'Puffer.

We're building him the following:

1. On-one 45650b
   
2. Rockshox 30 Gold TK Forks (120mm travel, tapered)
   
3. Deore M615 brakes (180mm up front, 160mm rear)
   
4. SLX M670 shifters with RD-M592 and XT-M786 mechs
   
5. FSA comet crank (38/24) - not sure what cassette to pair with this? and if it will need a 'chain device' I've never had a bike with a chain device.... what even is a chain device?
   
6. On-one heavily discounted stem, bars, seatpost and clamp
   
7. 650b wheels that I have in the garage (9mm QR but they're free)
   
8. Brooks All Terrain saddle
   
9. Continental x-king tyres
   
   

So need to get grips, cassette and SPD pedals. Any recommendations?

I plumped for XT cassette this time, whereas I usually save a few bob and go cheaper. It's SO much nicer made, bit lighter. Nice. Worth it.

XT or SLX are a good shout, they're similar weight (~20g difference), go for whichever is on sale. Deore is heavier (100-150g I think) but usually super cheap, that might be a plus for a winter 24h race as you'll probably need to replace the entire drive chain afterwards anyway.

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-dyna-sys-slx-10-speed-cassette/ 11-36 on sale.

My main remaining question is what is a 'chain device' and do I need one?

Holds your chain on your chainring.

Unless you are doing bat-shit-crazy downhill stuff, or using a single chaining ring with an older clutchless derailure you don't need one.

Thanks man, will be doing neither of those things.

Think a chain keeper would make much difference if you don't have much mud clearance out back? Or perhaps it's just another thing likely to get snapped off?

I ask out of curiosity because @spotter dropped his chain two or three times this weekend on totally flat ground, despite running a narrow-wide Superstar components chain ring and a clutched rear derailleur.

Granted it was super muddy and very leafy, but my Inbred was trouble free running the same rear Nobby Nic tyre, same Zee rear derailleur, Hope narrow-wide ring up front. The only difference seemed to be clearance; I have tons whereas the Cannondale doesn't.

2 Attachments

Anybody fancy doing a stupid race in July?

http://www.ucc-sportevent.com/megavalanche-alpe-dhuez-en/

Odd, I only dropped my chain once* running 1x11 with a narrow wide and no device and went through hellish mud.

How bad is the clearance on the cannondale?

*unless you count the multiple chain snaps...

I'm amazed that wheel was still turning.

Ahh...that kind of mud. Yes - if you don't have good clearance and tyres that will shed it then it's going to collect on the chainstays and work towards your chainring.

It gums up the ring so that the chain is pushed off the teeth. Narrow wide or not, your chain is coming off, at best, and at worst your derailure is going to be forcibly removed :)

Very much so. I'm doing the Etape in Morzine on the 10th, and then staying out for a week's mountain biking after. So it'd probably work. But I'd be murdered by Mrs Sparky: I'm already pushing my luck by taking ~10 days in the Alps cycling.

running 1x11 with a narrow wide and no device and went through hellish mud.

Depends on the type of mud. Never experienced sticky clay in Wales ( which I assume you're referring to).

How bad is the clearance on the cannondale? - @IR

Not sure, @spotter might be able to post up a photo now the bike's clean.

I'm amazed that wheel was still turning. - @BareNecessities

At that point I'm pretty sure both wheel and cranks were not moving!

Ahh...that kind of mud. - @Howard

That Kind of Mud™ indeed! Epping forest speciality. About 1.5 continuous miles of it on this particular route back to North London.

at worst your derailure is going to be forcibly removed

My thoughts exactly, presumably same applies for a chain keeper/device as well. I guess it's best to simply let the chain come off in this instance.

Winter = Singlespeed

It was that fucking clay mud that got me, never had a problem with any other mud.

it was so sticky, both +Dom and I had our tyres turn to slick balloon like things because of it.

Looks like some sticky icky icky for sure.