Provant la Hekler.

Aquesta tarda-nit, com acostuma a ésser habitual el divendres hem sortit a rodar, però per mi no ha estat un divendres qualsevol, per diferents raons, roda XTR posterior amb raid trencat, Rock Shox Lyric amb el two step espatllat, i fox talas amb pèrdues d'oli a la botella esquerra, han fet que hagi pogut provar la SC heckler d'en Ratrasse.

Quina passada, desprès dels ajustaments oportuns, pressions d'amortidors, forquilla i pneumàtics, així con l'alçada del seient, hem començat a rodar, les primeres sensacions bones, però les cames volien i no podien, no se si era jo, la bici, el terreny que estava molt moll i s'agafava d'allo més o els meus companys de ruta que imprimien com és habitual un ritme alt, però tenia els quàdriceps a punt de rebentar, seguint els consells d'en Ratrasse he pujat un xic més el seient i la cosa ha canviat per millor, les cames ja no les sentia tant pesades i fins hi tot podia permetrem intentar algun atac als companys, que ràpidament contrarestaven.

Vull dir que al final de la ruta fent una mica de valoració de la heckler comparant-la amb la meva intense tracer VP, puc dir que el quadre de la SC és tant o més rígid que la intense, que la sensibilitat de la suspensió posterior de la SC no arriba a la de la intense però deu ni do, i comparant la Fox Talas 36 amb la Lyric, tot i que no he jugat amb les regulacions, la Fox és molt mes sensible a les petites irregularitats el terreny, però la Lyric menja molt més.

Amb una mica de sort, si al fet de tenir les meves dues bicis parades per averies es pot dir sort, el diumenge, potser, abusant de la generositat d'en Ratrasse, tornaré a sortir amb la heckler i podré treure més conclusions

Un cop rentades les bicis i veient la meva Tracer VP desmuntada, recordant el cost del quadre, ens ha sortit la pregunta, val la pena una inversió tant gran per un disseny de pivot virtual, quan un mono pivot pràcticament a meitat de cost aporta gairebé les mateixes prestacions. Indubtablement amb la relació rendiment preu la intense no té res a fer.

Com tota bona sortida de biker hi ha agut temps per parlar de nous projectes, 29, rígides de 140m, 24h i m'ha fet pensar que havia vist un vídeo de 24h moab 2009, a veure si es veu l'enllaç...

www.superhumanmag.com/content/view/1632/48

A disfrutar amb la bici.

A visual of Irish Riders and local Trails

Break The Cycle Film: This video has been filmed, directed and produced by a local rider Andy Yoong. Andy has got some of Irelands elite riders together to ride some of the best trails in the country. Irelands Pro Downhill Rider Ben Reid is featured riding. The full version video is really amazing and great to see our local trails in there full glory. The Full DVD video is available from Chainreactioncycles.

Here is a clip:

Break the Cycle Trailer from Andy Yoong on Vimeo.

My local Downhill trail

Cavehill Belfast: This video shows my local and favourite Downhill trail. The rider featured is Colin Ross a rider at the top of his game in Ireland. The video was taken to be used as part of Break The Cycle Film.

Colin Ross rides Cave Hill from Andy Yoong on Vimeo.

Work on the Trail

When I try to explain you how the people of this country live the trails, how they work every single area, I never have the feeling you can understand what I rally mean on his fully sense. This video will show you all the real American MTB, enjoy.

National Trails Day on Heil Ranch from Bikes Belong on Vimeo.

From SC, Xavi Paricio

Boulder

Why some cities became a Bicycle Friendly place, enjoy the video

Boulder Bike Story from Bikes Belong on Vimeo.

From SC, Xavi Paricio

I'm back on the Bike

Hola – Hello
I have been off the bike for over 2 months due to training for the Marathon. I completed the marathon in 4hrs32:33. You can see my Blog http://causewaymarathon.blogspot.com/

The Night Ride (29.3Km)
Last night and only three days after completing the marathon I decided to hook up the lights and go for a night ride. I checked the lights only to find they weren’t charged. At this stage I had already changed into my riding gear. The sky was clear and the Moon was giving a bit of light so I decided to put on the head torch and head out anyway. I started on roads through the city warming up. I headed down to the River Lagan that flows through Belfast. There is a series of walking paths and a tow path that runs along the banks of the river. I stick to the gravel paths as there is a nice section of climbs and descents. Nothing major just bumps really, followed by a steep set of steps. Across the a footbridge and into the forest and single track trails. I turned on the head torch and realised just how little light it provided. I followed this trail in reverse and climbed it. The ground surface through this forest trail is mainly wet earth topped with pine needles. The majority of the trails surface has been eroded away leaving the roots from the trees as a slippy technical part of climbing this short trail. After the short climb I got to the start of a small technical decent. Very narrow trail starting with a hard gravel top changing to forest surface very wet and slippery. The trail isn’t very long but a mix of bumps, berms and roots keep you in concentration. I turn a corner were there was a very wet section only to find a small bit of north shore built by the trail fairy’s. This is a much needed addition to this trail as it keeps things flowing. Down a few tight corners and onto the “LOG” (Pictured above) this is a skinny made from about three large pine trees. It only sits about 1 foot off the ground but in the dark it seemed a lot higher. The center bounces so a mixture of balance and composure is needed to make it to the end. I come to the end of the forest and back onto the tow path. The night sky is bright and I am well warmed at this stage. A drink of water from the hydration pack and off I go again. A short wood with a very dry bumpy surface. This trail surface is mainly roots soft pine needles. This follows along the side of the River Lagan. I cross the tow path and follow this for about 1km. Turning back onto single track and through a wood. This trail is long but very smooth and not technical. I pick up the speed and feel the adrenaline of not knowing what is in front of me. At the end of this trail I am back onto the tow path and follow this to a footbridge that takes me across the Lagan and onto a road. The road is a country road with no street lighting so I pick up the pace to get off it with my limited lighting. Turning right onto a single track through some farmland I am glad to be off a small but busy road. The next section is a mix of grass surface followed by a hard packed earth. The trail follows the outside of some fields to the Giants Ring. (Pictured above) Around this grassy fort I am back onto roads for a short blast before turning back onto a dirt track. This track leads to an off camber bit of single track through a wood. A fast decent through the trees back to the road. Straight across the road and onto a gravel trail that follows the river back on the opposite side I came on the outward ride. I back track along some trails from earlier. Riding them a faster this time as I have more confidence in the surface and my eyes are starting to adapt to the darkness. I follow a gravel forest trail for about 4km until I reach the footbridge again. After the footbridge I turn right and follow a grassy trail along the banks of the river before joining the tow path. From here it is tow path back into the city. A nice ride along the street lights and a calm river. I get back onto the road and follow it through the city centre to home.

El futur de la bike?.

Ti2.

Pivot: Colorado-bike?.

CHUMBA.

Big wheels.

HammerSchmidt Truvativ.

Merida UK.

Titus Eleven.

SANTANA.

Orange.

Look, chez nous?.

GAVÀ-MSC: Lightnes's King.

HOPE.

Salsa-Surly...

Rewell=Ti.

Nuclear Pesto, Orange aren't Ibis.

GT-GT-GT.

City MTB.