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

Yeah, I get you. I just think he's done it all before. Too much exposure makes any weblebrity boring. He has amazing skill, and he rides bikes, so he's better than people who don't ride bikes.

Just riding bridleways in shitty winter conditions does not make good marketable videos though. Seems to work well in the states where they have endless single/double track and massive mountain ranges and endless views though.

Qualifiers

So at least all the bodies will collect in the one place

Mountain Mayhem is kinda similar - except it's all timed, obvs.

I like the idea of being able to kill yourself know timed sections then grab a beer inbetween!!

Also thay Danny video is pure enjoyment, much more enjoyable than watching a fixie skidded video.

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

Shit.. I thought Essex was bad enough!

MERICAW!

UK deer culling - safety based on only shooting with safe backstop ie ground you can see.
US deer hunting - 'safety' based on statistical chance - big woods, few people.

Took a day away from my desk and boarded an early morning train to Swindon for some Ridgeway rollicking fun. Using my Lapierre Zesty in anger it was a first opportunity to test the Ei electronic rear suspension. Investing in hitech is not my norm but this trickery appealed. Switched it to auto, dropped tyre pressure, drop of chain oil applied, munched a cheese n ham garage sandwich and climbed onto the Ridge. Uphill and pedalling the actuator buzzed and the rear suss locked. At the top on the rough stuff and freewheeling down a reasonable descent the actuator buzzed again and the rear suss slackened to medium. The buzz of the actuator became a signal that the bike was under control and all I had to do was hang on and pedal like f*ck. That was when I really appreciated how smart this technology is. Blasting a smooth section the suss is locked out. Spotting a series of potholes directly ahead I back off the pedalling and the suss slackened enough to enter the first hole under control. And then slackened off completely anticipating more rough stuff. The pickups from front fork, BB and front wheel combine to profile the surface conditions and the signalled actuator responds. Suspension is set....and reset...constantly as the surfaces change. After a while I work out how to signal my preference to the actuator, backing off the pedalling for a fraction and buzz....suss released....pedal again...buzz...suss locked. Awesome! Rattle freewheel down a rutty steep section and those front and rear pistons are pumping. Reach the bottom and spin the pedals into the immediate steep uphill and the rear locks. Solid progress and best of all never needing to take a hand from the bars to switch that RockShox Monarch. The whole package works beautifully. On the road I switch off Auto to Locked at the handlebar toggle switch and ride Streatley to Reading. Yuch. After 4 hours of my only company being buzzards, red kites and admirals, deer and a handful of dog walkers the only buzzing is the usual train of shit drivers who think close passing at 50mph plus is fine. It f*cking isn't. Reading Station and then Paddington. Ride home to E Finchley. I'm as white as a sheet. Bike too. Dry chalk! All I needed was a red nose and I'd be prime suspect in a clown scare!

Wowsers. MTBing has come on a bit since I last raced.

My 'suspension' then was a downhill tyre on the front of the GT for extra cush. :)

Went to Bedgebury at the weekend, rented a MTB and had a blast with @cake, now I need to buy one again.

My old Rock Lobster was way too big for me and I don't really know the size of it anyway, so treat me like the novice that I am.

I'm v small, 5'5", I ride a 50cm road bike, I want 1x10, hardtail, and hydraulic discs, preferable C2W or could go 2nd hand if cheap.

Any help?

Any help?

Cotic Soul / Stanton Switchback / On-One / Ragley / Orange etc

Also when you are a bit shit...I mean beginning there's little on a half decent modern bike that can hold you back even if you do accidentally get some racy XC thing

I bet @Chak could sell you something

There's some good shit in the Voodoo lineup I think

I'm not totally shit, I'm shit at going up hills, but I do have years and years of BMX behind me. They count for not much except a lack of fear I guess and a tiny amount of bike handling skills

then was a downhill tyre on the front of the GT for extra cush. :)

At least your tire couldn't get recalled

"the air sleeve can rupture under compression"

Can imagine that being rather unpleasant :-/

What bike ( and size of ) did you hire? Might be a good place to start looking?

They can: https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2010/Moser-Enterprises-Recalls-Schwalbe-Brand-Bicycle-Tires-Due-to-Fall-Hazard

The mountain bike DH range of tyres of that period from Schwalbe had QC issues with the beading.
Thankfully only my rear tyre fell off the rim while caning it down fort williams wc track.
Tyres where tight to fit as normal but the beading failed, it was like the tyre had grown/stretched and could not be reseated on the rim again...................... that taught me not to buy off casts from sponsered riders whom shit themselves as it turned out they where supposed to return the dicky tyres and not flog them off cheap at races......... Happy days :)

Bloody hell cycling - sort your QC out

Well, if we weren't all compulsive upgraders they'd have more time to test :)

Buy buy buy!

https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2017/Specialized-Recalls-Road-Bicycles

There is a mountain biking club based in Epping forest area! See this: http://www.eppingforestmtb.co.uk Epping Forest is ideal for mountain biking as it has got miles and miles of rough paths. It is a shame that mountain biking is banned on Hampstead Heath which is much closer to central London and cyclists are restricted to a couple of paths.

If anyone ever fancies a good day out I often take the train to Swindon from Padd - climb onto the Ridgeway and head back to Streatley and then Reading and train into London. register your interest here!

No idea on size, it was a diamondback with some changes to make it 1x