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

Much disappoint.

was riding some of the trails yesterday
very narrow i couldn't imagine racing on them
how would people overtake

Well yeah, that's the problem.

They've been saying they are building an MTB course, but have actually built a trail centre it seems. Much fail.

Cotic / Stanton / Ragley / On-One et al?

Carbon can GTFO >>>>>>>>

But then again you like to do XC rather than trail, non? There are few 26er XC frames these days I'd have thought.

Alpine selling soon?

If you liked the Alpine, then there's always the Prince Albert? Still a strong and capable frame, but you're less likely to feel 'over-biked' on local trails.

http://www.dialledbikes.com/products/mtb/prince-albert.php

More XC than trail, but then again I really want / ought to get to Swinley etc and DEFINITELY want to make sure that that it is a fun bike that does not mind whatever I throw at it (not that I am some extreme rider who gets massive air).

Cotic Soul with a 120mm fork. If more XC inclined get the larger size that fits you. Bosh.

Or equiv from Ragley etc.

Swinley is doable on pretty much any bike you throw at it now though, so any OTP alu XC 29er would do the job leaving the Alpine for AM / Trail duties?

Help me choose a new 26er hardtail. I really like my Dialled Alpine but I could probably do with something a touch larger, and there is a strong argument that my Alpine is stronger and heavier than it needs to be for the use I give it. In many respects the best bike for me (money no object) would be a (carbon?) light as possible XC... but I'm not smooth or careful or light and would rather something a little over-engineered / heavy / steel as opposed to something that is light but might let me down. If in doubt I'd get something like my Alpine again, but is there anything else I should consider?

There's an On-One Inbred Summer Season (aka Slacker) SS in the classifieds... Light and slack enough for chunky stuff.

edit: Currenly £70 posted https://www.lfgss.com/thread121048.html
It's a bit unclear whether that frame is singlespeed or summerseason or both.

https://www.lfgss.com/thread121048.html
It's a bit unclear whether that frame is singlespeed or summerseason or both.

Pretty sure that turned out to be a singlespeed Inbred ( although it does have a derailleur hanger ).

Weren't the Summer Season 456 frames all in a raw finish?

My summer season was greener than Kermit's vomit.

Oh yeah, Orange too.

Slack to the max!

When you want your rear wheel to arrive three days after your front.

Which, on the twistiest sections at BPW, is how my slackline felt. Loooooong

What's the wheelbase on that beast, Howard?

Axle to axle is 110cm or thereabouts

So I was loitering up West Heath last week and got talking to one of the caretakers, who I thought was completely joking when he said someone had actually built a jump at a secluded section of it. Lo and behold! It is bigger then it looks.

Quick question: has anyone ridden either of the 2 XC loops at chicksands? What are they like and how would they compare to Swinley? I've ridden there loads but never strayed outside the bike park.

Quick question: has anyone ridden either of the 2 XC loops at chicksands? What are they like and how would they compare to Swinley? I've ridden there loads but never strayed outside the bike park.

Nope, but I'm there in two weeks time if that helps?

Rotten news for those planning on riding the Beastway series this summer, as the venue isn't (yet) fit for purpose;

http://beastwaymtb.wordpress.com/2014/03/31/velopark-unsuitable-for-beastway-2014/

Terrible news. I've discretely ridden sections of the trails at the Velopark, they are quite strange. I'm really hoping that's not the final surface too.

A little while back there was some interest in Aston Hill, here's a really good little vid of plenty of the best bits of Aston Hill, seemingly filmed by a mortal on a normal trail bike.

Aston Hill - Chiltern Hills on Vimeo

In other news, I'm off to Swinley on Sunday, hopefully it's all back open again.

In other news, I'm off to Swinley on Sunday, hopefully it's all back open again.

Might be there in the evening with JayBee, forum ride?

Swinley was v busy today, dread to think how many people will be there at the weekend.

Upsidedown - I'll be there early on Sunday as busy in pm. Have a good one though. I'm also gonna be with a friend who's not rode for some time following injury (threw herself off at Cannock) so we'll be taking it easy.

Just in case you were gonna make a 'sick edit' next time you're out on the trails...

Do it right

How to Make a Sick Mountain Bike Edit on Vimeo

Did anyone ride swinley yesterday? I spotted a dude in a LMNH top but i didn't say hi as you looked busy. Nice ride for me none the less, despite following a dude into the jump gulley and he had a massive accident right in front of me. Unconscious, gibbering, wobbly, bad news. Hospital for him.

Didn't make it this weekend. Anyone fancy Swinley Wednesday evening?