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

I welcome the new runs, mountain biking is dangerous and thats why its fun. I just found it strange they got rid of the easier run and added some more difficult features.

Aston Hill was good today. Some runs were just downhill icerink-like rutted toboggan runs. Was slipping around like Bambi on the last section of Root Canal.
It was a fucking good day though. Definitely the best trails I have ridden in the south-east. Surface to Air was fucking great though the previously "all-weather" granite surface has been totally worn away to reveal the super slip-slidey chalky goodness beneath.

Impressed at anyone riding any of Aston in the damp let alone the DH runs. The chalk is pretty close to riding on ice.

I now work 15minutes away - plan is to train there once a week on the XC loop. The speed, proximity to trees gets a bit of getting used to.

The XC loop is fucking hard work - with some crazy descents and a hard slog back up the hill. We went there after it had been raining, and found a lot of it pretty unrideable.

Impressed at anyone riding any of Aston in the damp let alone the DH runs. The chalk is pretty close to riding on ice.

You wouldn't have been impressed if you saw me trying to ride Root Canal. :-D

My mate was just bombing down runs and I was struggling to keep up. Though even he found the last section of Root Canal difficult. His general solution when finding traction an issue like that is to go faster and not use the brake at all.

What are people's thoughts on this?

http://www.marinbikes.com/gb/bikes/description/2016-pine-mountain-1

Been discused in the 29er thread I think.

Looks like a shit of fun for the Money.

Is it the one bikesnob has? he has been very positive about his new marin.
http://bikesnobnyc.blogspot.co.uk/

on trend for SS 16

on trend for SS 16

Has @JB bought one yet?

@JB had a 27.5+ steel mtb like 2 years ago... #beforetheywerecool

Also a question, we built my brothers bike for the event (On-one 45650B) and he was having a lot of problems with the chain jumping off at the front when shifting down to the small ring (2X front setup).

We fitted the bike with this derailleur http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/shimano-xt-m786-conventional-2x10-front-mech/rp-prod67203

It seemed fine at the start of a lap but as it got muddy it just stopped working!

before i go on classified got to sell some bits if anyone is interested -
29er single speed or geared full suspension frame (L) by lenz sports (the milkmoney) £550
29er white industries single speed disc hubs built onto stans rims with tubeless tyres
cheap budget 29er disc wheels with tyres £40!
(http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2839/12104164943_9cb2bb053b_z.jpg)

project here.

PM'd re wheels

Found a new trail on Pitch today, is good. Apparently has only been there a couple of months. Quite reminiscent of MBR/Evian, but with bigger gap jumps and large human plus size drops at the end.
I found it quite fortuitously whilst about to have a piss before doing a trail next door. Almost wagged my pinor at two random guiz doing the jumps.

Kelly Mcgarry RIP

Shit. Sad news. Always looked forward to what this guy would do next at things like Rampage.

RIP.

Swinley is apparently getting a massive rebuild in the coming months according to some hardcore builders in the area. If true with what they say, it's gonna be mighty interesting.

Hardly massive, they're just finally starting the "freeride" area.

Shitting all over my rainbow like hopes....

Two of us riding Pitch tomorrow. If you're out let me know and we can show you the mentalist trail discussed previously, plus a lovely new one on the other side.

Epic weekend riding in wales, mbr at coed y brenin yesterday and the climachx trail today. The last descent on the climachx is immense, 2hrs to the top and 10 minutes back to the car.

Gorrick XC race at Crowthorn today - excellent course but alas I was destroyed.

Developing a sense of urgency to get out there and do some training now

last time i was at coed y brenin i had gardia and was barely able to ride, i really want to go and do some of the long loops there. really jealous

The mentalist trail we found on Pitch detailed previously now features in a new vid from Olly Wilkins, Sam Reynolds, and Ben Deakin.
Previous post on the trail can be found here:

https://www.lfgss.com/comments/12702289/

Many others are featured of the steeps on Pitch Hill but if you go to 38 seconds you can see the gap jump being done then Ben Deakin watching the other two flying down the mentally steep part.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0c0fWYFrxU

I had an amazing time, its such a great centre. The Afon Mawddach which the trail crosses a couple of times was absolutely raging because of all the rain, it was like being in the Alps (apart from the temperature). There is endless trails in the area, the Dyfi valley near machynlleth where the climachx trail is has loads of locally maintained trails as well, I'm tempted to spend a week there in the summer.