** MTB ride Sunday 2nd Nov from Croydon **

[Sylv]

There will be a mtb ride this Sunday, leaving East Croydon train station at 10am as usual. This will be the infamous Wall of Death Loop which is just over 25miles. All welcome!

[Sylv]

Meet @ 10am at East Croydon station by the taxi rank (turn left as exiting the station, towards "50p" NLA tower) near ID photo booth,

returning around 1.30-2pm

[Marky Mark]

Can't make it but have a good ride ride who ever goes with you. Rain jackets at the ready.

[kieran]

this still on tomorrow?

[Sylv]

yes

[kieran]

well, my second ever 'proper' off-road ride finished. Great fun and certainly challenging in different ways than to the road. Anyway, the night before I fixed my brakes, took off the mudguards and put on my saddlebag. The next morning I left at the respectable time of 9:20 for East Croydon and was first there, eventually 7 (Me, Sylv, Marco, Bob, Karel, and 2 others whose names I forget already! Sorry) of us headed off at around 10:30 (Waiting fro later starter Marco, but his waffles made up for it).

We headed off on some roundabout route to the Wall of Death, which Sylv, Karel and Marco did (maybe I will someday!). This seems to be just off the ROFLs route near Wallingham? The first steep hill by the railway station and just prior to the descent to the M25 on the steep lane. We cycled through that golf course in the valley that runs parallel to the route as well. I got home, a bit past the promised time of 2pm, at 4:30 just as it was getting dark. Luckily my family weren't too cross! Cleaned my bike later at 10pm, looks like new now.

The course was dry at first but then later we hit a lot of mud, the leaves were very slick and there were some horrible stoney bits which I found the hardest. Some hairy descents (for me anyway, luckily the bike seemed to know the way and I just held on tightly) but I managed to keep upright throughout. A nice varied course so thanks Sylv. Next time I will bring more food and drink!

Questions for experienced MTBers:

Would proper tyres help?
What are proper tyres?
What pressure should the tyres be at? Does it make much difference?
Does front suspension make much difference?
Any tips for riding slick bits?
Any tips for riding (big loose) stoney bits?
Any tips for steep downhill bits?

Maybe see you on Dec 7th ride?

[Sylv]

Yes a really good ride, I couldn't believe the rain didn't stop all afternoon Saturday, yet the trails were ok - yes muddy in some bits, but all very rideable.

The other two were Olesya (who would have thought that Marco would find his match on word count?) and Pasquale, who was getting increasingly nervous at the thought of missing the start of the Brasil Grand Prix where he was hoping Hamilton would stall.

Karel Mr Half&Half said he hadn't done a mtb ride in 8-9 years but managed fine on our 25+ ride, despite a bout of hypoglycemia on the home run in Addington (chocolate bar for breakfast ...) and Olesya managed to ride the second steepest climb of the day whilst holding a phone conversation, with trainer shoes and basic pedals!

The weather held up nicely with some beautiful light as the sun was setting - but then it got really cold!

Cheers to all there will be more of these


Aver. HR: LBP - 60!!



Would proper tyres help?
Yes definitely. Yours are about half-way between slicks and mtb tires - wide with a few side knobs, but with an uninterrupted central strip, which is good for the road, not so good off road! I wouldn't dare venture out in the wet myself on such tires ...

What are proper tyres?
I'd say most tires on the market should be ok - look at Schwalbe, Maxxi, Continental etc. with knobs, try to stay around 1.9 - 2.0" wide and around 500gm as you are light.

What pressure should the tyres be at? Does it make much difference?
Depending on volume (a larger/wider/taller tire can handle lower pressures) try experiment between 2.0 and 3.5 bars. Around 2 bars it's meant to roll better on technical terrain as it absorbs the bumps, but can feel a bit sluggish on some sections. It will be more comfortable though.

Does front suspension make much difference?
Yes - it will make you faster - otherwise world-class athlete wouldn't bother with about 1kg extra weight at the front of their bike. But on a ride like yesterday, there were only a few places where I wished I had suspension on the bike I was riding. And, I've never had super cheap forks, but according to Pasquale the ones he had were so heavy/harsh that it was hardly worth having them on!

Any tips for riding slick bits?
That's where your tires must have been holding you back! I'd say on a climb try use a not-too low gear to avoid slipping (like starting a car in second gear on snow) and alter the balance of your weight on front/rear wheel accordingly (especially if your rear wheel starts slipping).

Any tips for riding (big loose) stoney bits?
Same kind of thing, try not to keep a too tight grip on the bars, relaxing arms and legs to absorb the bumps and not let them throw you off course.

Any tips for steep downhill bits?
Try and just float above the saddle on downhills to avoid pinch flats, and if you need to pedal put it in the biggest gear possible which will make you pedal slowly and hover above the saddle, letting your legs act as suspension. If freewheeling you can keep balance by grabbing the saddle between your thighs. If it gets really steep pull your weight backwards and low (behind the saddle on super steep bits).

Maybe see you on Dec 7th ride?
Of course

[Andrew G]

I was recommended [url=http://www.addiscombe.org/members/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=7991]Panaracer Fire XC Pro[/url] tyres Kieran. I can honestly say that after one ride (off-road CR with Aodan) they have been excellent. Clearly not the most long-term of test run so far but that's the best I can do. I don't do bar (not that sort anyway), but was told (can't remember who by though) about 30psi in the tyres, maybe 28 up front for extra traction.

[kieran]

[quote]Does front suspension make much difference?
Yes - it will make you faster - otherwise world-class athlete wouldn't bother with about 1kg extra weight at the front of their bike. But on a ride like yesterday, there were only a few places where I wished I had suspension on the bike I was riding. And, I've never had super cheap forks, but according to Pasquale the ones he had were so heavy/harsh that it was hardly worth having them on!

[Sylv]

There's a good chance that your steerer is 1" not 1-1/8" on your steel frame then - do you know?

V. hard to find 1" suspension forks these days

[kieran]

not sure, would have to measure it, can you get 1 inch sus forks?

[Grahame]

Yes you can.

Marzocchi still do their MX Pro with a 1" steerer. see [url=http://www.tredz.co.uk/.Marzocchi-MX-Pro-ETA-1-Inch-2009-Suspension-Fork_19735.htm]here[/url] for an online shop selling them. Any Marzocchi dealer should be able to get them for you.

They are such good forks that I have had a pair (of the previous model - the MX Comp) on my singlespeed for about 9 years now and they work as well as, or better than, the £450 Fox forks on some of my other bikes. So much so, that I'm considering selling the Fox Float RLC forks on my full suss bike (the one I use for guiding in Colorado each summer), and replacing them with Marzocchi MX Pros.

[kieran]

Great thanks guys, I might now know what Santa is getting me this Christmas, though would be nice if Christmas came before Dec 7th.