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

I think you'll be ok.
I remember a customer coming in and telling us he'd ridden most of swineley on a road bike, including rolling the infamous "jump gully" with no issues.

caveat: not my fault if you die trying.

I've ridden some pretty dumb shit on a road bike but I will definitely have an "RPM made me do this" note on my person for when they find the body.

Remdinds me, I plotted a route from mine to yours and it was 180km which is about 179km too far for a coffee, but one day it'll happen.

Latest Ride Companion podcast with Rob Warner
- my God the feels.

My seminal years riding bikes was around the time Rob was racing and destroying various hotel bedrooms in Europe. I'm really glad he's got some answers as to why he is like he is, but even as a kid I could tell he was autistic. The world's a bit better at accepting and helping now though. Looking forward to seeing his film, I suspect I'll get something in my eye at some point during it...

Those bits of Swinley are fine on a road bike. I used to commute along a few of those tracks on a hybrid.
Got some funny looks off the cool kids when I was riding the "downhill" trails on my trusty, slick shod, Boardman complete with pannier on the back on the way home from work.

I'm sure there is a totally logical, non-capitalist reason for this:

https://m.pinkbike.com/news/santa-cruz-ceo-joe-graney-out-at-pon-holdings.html

Wonderful listen, reminded me of Jonny May on the good, bad, rugby pod, equally free speaking and disjointed.
I really liked what Warner said about if you commentate on someone like Nino it’s a privilege and your comms should match his years of dedication and effort. Some rugby commentators could take a Warner coaching lesson.
Movie out Sunday

First time back on an MTB this morning since my alpine trip in July 2022 and probably shouldn't have lugged the YT Capra around Swinley forest as I was blowing at the end but it was great fun and great to be back.

Stunning day out there today! Got a relatively big ride in, some fresh(ish) Surrey loamers, didn't crash and stupidly tried to keep up with the 3 eeb riders so my legs are absolutely shot to pieces now

Anyone using Michelins on a trail bike? If so, which ones and what is your opinion?

I've been using Wild Enduros when riding trails. The rear Gum X one is awful, no grip but then also doesn't roll well either. Currently using Magi-X fronts on both ends and it's much better in terms of grip. Still a bit draggy but I'd rather that than no grip

I rode in there on Sunday on a CX bike. Bit muddy in places but generally all very rideable, some of our group were basically on slicks and didn't have any problems. I reckon you'll be fine.

Am I going to wanna kill people if I ride a road bike

Probably. Road bikes are a pretty miserable experience

I dunno, I love zipping along easily as opposed to walking everywhere while smashing pedals into my shins every 5mins :)

doingitwrong.gif

Anyone want some DMR VTwins? Coppery colour, only used about 3 times but I've lost the shims and pins of you wanted to adjust them. £45.

I plotted a route from mine to yours and it was 180km which is about 179km too far for a coffee, but one day it'll happen.

You might be able to get a bacon roll/sausage roll/bagel/panini/shit loads of cakes as well though.

Also it's 65/70k unless you are planning to ride back as well and not let the train take the strain?

It's 78km from mine, using RWGPS but with a lot of offroad. I've only got road bike currently.

My route is now 203km for tile bagging reasons but I didn't consider the train back option.

What's the nearest station? Biggleswade or Bedford or something?

St Pancras EMR (whatever that is) towards Corby, stopping at Bedford

Either station but Biggles is probably quieter and nicer, both go straight to KX

You must be a chicksands local?

I can't recall what this one was:

Are they only available in Gum-X?

I'm wondering about using a Wild Enduro on the front and then something better rolling on the back - but I don't know what.

I'd watch skiing if it was more like this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fF5dA5ta5hI

https://www.redbull.com/int-en/films/la-liste

Ok, fair. That looks mental. The climbing up more so. Going down, just looks like, well I guess it is just controlled falling :)

I thought they usually got helicoptered in for that shit.

You are pretty limited where you can get heli-dropped in the Alps. For any Guardian readers, they just published a long read about Jeremie Heitz which is quite a good insight into the freeride ski world.

It's a fantastic read huh.

And thankfully so on helicopters. There'd a good Venn diagram between POW membership and helicopter use.