Thought about organising the next nite out (food & drink £20 max) - As some of the guys cant make the middle of the week (as last time) how about a Monday night - Perhaps we can make it somewhere we can all ride to - suggestions if the 20th is OK?. By the way I have had my legs slapped - I will stop B***** about with the Blog - The powers of being the Administrator are going to my head,
Rich
I thought I’d contribute to the “Bikes’n'Bits” section with a few things I like and a few oddities for your perusal/amusement. I hope you all enjoy these goodies…
1. Momentum Bicycle Flypaper Pedals
Extra thin pedals for times when those a few more mm clearance is absolutely neccessary. Good idea but limited to only two types of crank arms at present.
2. Industry Nine Wheels & Hubs
These are my favourite wheels/hubs - if only I could afford them. Super-quick engagement & ideal for all you singlespeed guys. Up there with Chris King and Phil Wood in the hubs to die for category.
Checkout all Industry Nine goodies here
3. Delta 7 Sports Arantix bicycle frame
This is the radical Isotruss frame design with a very unique look to it. Sure it would fill with mud quickly on an OTT winter ride though…
Check out the Delta 7 Sports website for all the details
4. Onion Bikes Ogre downhill bike
Not quite up there in the style league - who’d have thought it was Italian? Beauty or the beast? I’ll let you decide for yourself.
5. KtraK bicycle conversion kit for snow riding
Turn your bike into an off-piste monster! Check out the videos on their website - it looks like great fun.
See the Flix & Pix on ktrakcycle.com
6. Christini AWD - The Landrover of the bicycle world
A fabulous all-wheel drive system for those slippery winter moments.
check out the full story at Christinibicycles
7. Hanebrink Extreme Terrain bicycle
A fat-tyre bike for sand & snow. Does that guy need a chain tensioner or what?
Winner or loser? Read the story here
8. Dynamic Bicycles chainless bike
Looks like a nice commuter option to prevent oil getting on your trousers. Where’s my chainring gone?
No MTB or serious kit but many options nevertheless.
9. Ghost Bikes RT Lector Worldcup
A very nice example of German quality - with stunning looks to match. Another bike for the wish list.
want a closer look? Click here
10. Titus X Exogrid
A simply gorgeous fusion of composites and titanium.
Read about Exogrid technology here
For all Titus bikes, check out the Titus website
Well that’s all for now folks -it’s way past my bedtime so I gotta go.  See you all soon.
Mark (Trance 3)
A few weeks ago I punctured in Nomansland in the snow, in the dark. James and Simon helped with a speed tube change and Simon’s CO2 worked a treat when we were all getting cold and needed to get moving again. I’ve since converted to the world of CO2, picking up my pump today. James mentioned he needed a few more cannisters and mine only came with two so I’m looking to stock up. He also directed me to tyreinflators.co.uk. If James can confirm that these http://www.tyreinflators.co.uk/co2-cartridges-16gm/mosa-16gm-threaded-co2-box-of-30/prod_256.html are the correct ones then I don’t mind ordering some and we can split them amongst us. They come in box’s of 10, 30 or 300. I don’t think we’ll be up to 300 but maybe a box or two of 30? I’d personally like to stock up with a minimum of 10 and up to 20 as a max. Rough workings make it around £6.50 for 10 or around £12.50 for 20. If you fancy any post a comment below, I’m looking to order early next week.
Richard
To expand a little on what Rich has written below…….
Tuesday evening spin was I believe about the best turnout we’ve had for a midweek night ride, 6 of us including my guest from Shropshire, Andy. (more…)
I’m sure one of the gps guys can post the route but just wanted to say what a great ride tonight. 6 of us in total for an 1hr 45ish out from Sandridge. Perfect in terms of time and distance for a mid week ride. Now the ground has dried a little it was like a new route. Thanks to James and Simon for guiding us. It was nice to not be slogging through mud for 90% of the ride and made for an enjoyable evening. As a bonus for me just as I was putting the bike in the car in Sandridge the rain came. Hope those cycling back to James’ place didn’t get too wet!
Rich A
Well not quite yet but its starting to come together. I got the LBS to fit the headset for me as I don’t have the tools for fitting the SFN etc to the forks and didn’t want an expensive bodge! The postman must wonder what is going on as various bits keep arriving. Some new where I see a bargain, some from ebay (more…)
After all the riding I’d done in the last 10 days, I was unsure if I’d be up to this one especially as I thought it was just going to be Tim & I. As you know, Tim has been in Spain and i’m sure his fitness level is way above mine.  Fortunately James and ‘Aussie’ Mick came along too - mind you, James equipped with bionic legs AND gears this time could be kinda scarey!
We started by going up the singletrack and on to Gustard Wood then through to Ayot St. Lawrence then onto the Ayot Greenway. After two previous failures, I actually managed to get up the steep embankment onto the Ayot Greenway. Well chuffed!  We looped round back to Ayot and down the fast section to Kimpton Mill. In a repeat of yesterday’s run, we got held up in the singletrack through the woods going into Codicote Bottom. We cycled up to the Whitwell turning and went through the woods where ‘the other Richard’ stood his bike on end going over the log. I’m certain that there has been some more earth placed in front of it since last time as I actually cleared the log with ease. Yahoo! Two firsts for me on this ride. (more…)
OK - So I rant about roadies every week, well I gave it a try after a 25 year break and I actually enjoyed myself. 45k return journey to Whipsnade with another “roadie” -Bob. I managed (just) to keep up with him on the long stretch back and reached 52kph. The gently slopes/hills were eaten up by the gear ratio on the TREK. but where the hell had the brakes gone, after years of hydraulic discs I found I had to send a postcard to the “old fashioned”calipers before they actually did anything!. It will be a little while before I catch up on the fitness of the singlespeed crew, but after 2hrs on Friday (on my own-Pete!) and this - who knows!
Rich
Fantastic week in Spain. From the first day’s guided tour (see Craig’s blog)
to beautiful coastal riding. It felt a little like a pioneering expedition, just starting to uncover some of the endless biking potential in this stunning part of Spain. Some mighty big hills but we didn’t let OTT down and held our own. First climb was a shock.
Second climb was dreamt up by the inquisition.
Espuna was vast, guide or better map needed to get the most out of it.
The coastal rides were briliant if a bit scary at times (ledges with precipitous drops),
the sea was sparkling but only Craig was mental enough to swim
It was the first time I’d cycled for a whole week and found myself learning by talking to and watching the others - Hertfordshire hills hold no fears for me now.
We made sure the OTT presence was felt.
Only a Ryanair jaunt away, could be a regular long weekend expedition? Thanks to Craig for organising, Craig’s mum for accomodation, everyone for good company and to the great architect for the weather, scenery, trails and injury free adventure.
Tim W
There are a couple of great things about working shifts:- one is never getting caught in the rush hour traffic and the other is finishing at 2pm on a sunny day like today. Despite being tired, the thought of a lovely afternoon ride thoroughly rejuvenated my lazy body. I headed out through the woods at the edge of WGC (old childhood haunts) to exit at the airfield. My target was a quick blast through Bramfield Park Wood. After checking out from there, I unusually decided to ride up to Queen Hoo Hall and on to Bramfield Woods blasting out to Perrywood Farm and on to Watton-at-Stone.  Down Mill Lane, across the bypass and left at the top and through the farm. I love the fast farm dirt track which didn’t disappoint - the Garmin recorded 33.4mph here - fastest section of the day. (more…)
Just to expand a little on Mark’s blog below………..
Tuesday night had the potential for a resonable turn out, however due to “man-flu” and work committments, only Mark and I managed to make it, and what a glorious evening it was, as near to a perfect evening spin as I have had in months.
Temperature was about right (got colder as the evening drew on), and the trails were a revelation, smooth and flowy, with a couple of exceptions and I think a 6 months drought would be needed to dry those out! And in my head at least I was on fire!!!!! Myself and the bike were as one……………(wf???)
Anyway the route, nothing really unusual, from Sandridge to Symonshyde via Rifle Butt Woods, (not so) secret single track through the woods, across to the John Bunyan, over to Wheathapstead, through Nomansland, up Mudd Lane, and back down to Sandridge over the railway line, and through Sandridgebury Farm.
I didn’t take my GPS with me, here’s an approximation of the route (different route into Sandridge at the end tho’ - if this note disappears, I’ve uploaded the proper one!)
Simon
Just Simon & I with our lights for company. A lovely dry evening for a 1.5 hour ride. Was bit muddy in the usual places but great fun. Not quite sure of the exact route - it was dark! Cheers for a most enjoyable time.
Mark (Trance 3)
Hi All Me,Tim,Matt & Pete had a great mtbing and walking holiday in sunny Murcia.
We met up with www.rutasmtbmurcia.com for a sunday ride 3 Englishmen 1 Italian and 19 Spaniards + 1 fast Mexican(they said before that we where going to be tested).So we cycled up to Sierra de Pila at 1250m (with views to Sierra Nevada)unfortunately due to jetlag pete didn’t make it and also 3 spaniards!. Matt due too far to many cigars back home,walked most of it.Tim and I where left to battle with the Spanish to the top. 3rd and 6th respectivly -The Mexican first up!-he even turned round and came back at one stage,i no how it feels now! Awesome downhill back.    Went to some small restaurant in Fortuna had a 10 course meal which included pigs ears at the amusement of the spanish. then we started drinking shots of something which tasted of medicine. I was driving so only had a couple until we realised 3 of the Spanish mtb’ers were policeman and they forced me to drink more. Day one over. day two tomorrow work to do.
Craig (moved from message board to Blog by Rich-Pics to follow from Tim)
Here’s the map for the Sunday ride undertaken by Rich and I. Using Memory Map as a rough guide, I think it was about 21 miles in total.  Was a glorious day and I enjoyed every minute of it - so much so, that I went out again immediately after getting back to Welwyn Garden. Loverly!
click thumbnail for full detailed map (link now fixed)
Thought I’d better put a quick blog up, Mark has been doing more than his fair share!
Anyway, Rich and I met around James’ place around 6:30 for a ride in the dark around NW and W St. Albans. Quick spin up Harpenden Road and through the PYO into Batchwood woods, none of us know these woods particularly well, but we did manage to do most of the trails in there, with approx 3 complete loops, then out in the Batchwood Hall carpark and down the road to Batchwood roundabout, across, up Bluehouse Hill, cutting into the Verulamium park at the top. Down the secret singletrack, which we don’t do enough IMHO, gets better everytime I do it, really rooty with lots of off camber turns to catch you out, horrible in the wet, but this time really nice. Rich’s FS stood him proud with me struggling for speed on the SS, James with his bionic legs disappeared off into the distance!!!
Through the park, following the River, across the road and continued along the river, eventually coming out in The Cottonmill Estate. Changed the batteries on the lights just to be sure, and then along the road past Sopwell House and through the golf course, with the intention of joining the Alban way, after some pushing through hedges decided against that and rode through town towards James’.
Rich was on a mission, while James and I had a play on the tracks opposite the old fire station. James light mount gave up, and he was left holding his light, not really a problem as we were less than half a mile away from home. Back to James’ and a swift beer sitting on the step outside, before making our way back home.
Simon
Here’s the route:
