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

Honestly very few people need to power of Mavens, but they're amazing for arm pump/fatigue and can get you out of a tight spot for sure.

Thank you! And good question - that's a Pademelon steering damper constructed right here in Maydena. It's being developed by a legend who used to work for Sram Black Box. I'd imagine they're going to be very popular once people work out how great they are!

That was the thing I noticed more from my Hope T4s, not the power as such, but the lack of arm pump because the power is easier to access with less effort
Interested to hear how you get on with the steering stabiliser too, I watched a video with Jack Moir trying one out. Seems like the Next Big Thing for MTBs

Exactly - good brakes are something you can ride without, but can make you faster and safer I suppose. I feel like the added power isn't overwhelming once you learn to modulate, but it can fuck you up pretty quickly if you grab a hand full of brake in a panic!

I've been running the damper for about six months now, and honestly can't imagine not having one on an MTB. Smooths out corners, helps you hold a line, tracks straighter, further eliminates arm pump. Only downside is a bit of faffing if your headset comes loose (and of course, the price).

What does it actually feel like though? In my head, it feels like the steering would feel slower overall, but I guess it's not

It's a free movement up to about 30 degrees, then the damping comes in at the amount you set it at (you just need to turn the dial), at which point it feels stiff to move, then the damping stops when your bars are past a certain point so that it doesn't affect tight cornering.

I suppose it sort of feels like an over-tightened headset when the damping is in effect, which is far less unpleasant than it sounds.

They seem to use them a lot for snowy, fat-biking at events like Iditarod.

I tried riding some real rocky technical flat terrain on my Honzo the other day and it was a shitemare. If you’d seen me riding you’d have been forgiven for thinking it was my first time on a mountain bike!

I put it down to the slack head angle and overall length of the bike.

I think I was over correcting and the front wheel was flopping around a lot so is this the kind of thing a damper would help with or are they really more for riding at speed?

That's absolutely the sort of scenario where a damper would help! For reference it is really good at stopping your arms fatiguing while climbing, basically you're not correcting a shit load of sideways, deflecting movements the whole time. It's the same for techy rock stuff.

It's also really good at saving your arse if you're overcommitted and leaning into a corner, then a wet root or loose rock hits the front wheel. It feels like it's catching you and your arms don't have that jolting movement to correct. Amazing once you get used to it..

That looks so incredibly mean.
Would be great to see a picture with round wheels...
What's the frame?

Cheers! It's super annoying how iPhone does that isn't it?

It's a Kavenz VHP 160. They're a German brand, and the frame can basically be anything from 140mm travel up to 200. I've got an older frame from them which is currently being built into a DH bike with a Boxxer. Will put up some pictures when it's done.

Ah, Germans! Guess MTBs is something we're good at.
Maydena must be incredible. Not exactly jealous, but to live somewhere with trails would be nice.

Good to know.

Think it might than a damper to make riding this kind of stuff enjoyable but it’s something to think about!

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Just spent the afternoon draining and refilling my Smashpot Zeb, because I didn't realise they'd changed the manual and now recommend 20ml less oil than I've had in it the whole time. Messy.
But now I've got 30mm of travel back that I absolutely could not use before, right before a week riding in Scotland, so thats useful 👍

Anyone used Pirelli XC tyres?

https://www.pirelli.com/tyres/en-gb/bike/tyres/catalogue/scorpion-xc-h

Nice, hope you enjoy it up here. Where are you going? I don't recommend the Lairig an Laoigh!

Tomorrow is my last day in the cairngorms and I'm going to go try the Glenlivet trails. I'd like to get to Laggan before I go home but riding there tomorrow too might be pushing it.

My mate swears by them. Haven't tried yet.

Tweed Valley, staying in Glentress and riding the usual round there. Uplift at Inners on the last day. I've barely ridden this year, so the first trail is always a terrifying affair, haha

Was thinking about using my MTB for a gravel event with something like these fitted.

When the top tube and the ‘seat-stay’ of the rear end are in line, I am generally in love. This looks so nice.

https://www.dawleybikes.com/t16

Not sure I buy the claim that he's developed this design completely independently and not cribbed off the Swarf Contour, but given Adrian no longer makes bikes I'm inclined to approve anyway.

Why these specifically? Are they proven fast? Something like a continental race king is super fast rolling.

It does look almost identical.

Dunno, someone must've mentioned them during a podcast or something and I took note. I've not really seen anyone using Pirelli on the MTB so, Pirelli curious I guess.

Was my first thoughts, before I saw your comment.