XC in kent- Any willing volunteers!!!

Papa Smurf

I started out on some Ammaco T-Frame type thing, in which the frame was pretty solid right the way down to the rear end, but somehow the suspension operated inside the solid side arms.
Then came one of these.. With a front disk.. Which was very high tech at the time..

Then I had some Claud Butler hardtail but that was a complete right off after a crash. All I did was slip and it came out as a mangled mess, got 9 scars to prove it.
Then I was riding some Rigid road bike for abit while I repaired my Banshee..
But after that fell apart, again.. The Hardrock was born...

Since then it's had 3 BB's, 1 set of shifters, countless brake pads aswell and new mechanical disks, new front wheel and a complete chain set and 2 front rings, Race Face cranks and some MG1's.. Oh and some nice Tora's
After nearly 5 years of throwing it around like a madman.. The GT I-Drive was the next step...
But after a crankbolt sheering off mid (first ride) that was in for repair.. Now it's back and well, handles great, comfy as hell and boy is it good on the jumps!
At first it looked like this:

But now it's this:

And when I get paid, I will finally be able to afford the mods I want... Then it'll be lighter and even better...

andyturner28

pittpony wrote:

impished wrote:

RussAlf wrote:

Andy did you do the change to 20mm adapters yourself on the hopes? Is it just a case of pull the old ones out and put the new ones in?

I think there's vids on the Hope webbie and Youtube showing exactly how to do it. Although the fella on the vid has got a REALLY annoying voice!!!

I like the guy who does the Fox shock servicing video (link just next to where it says "don't do this - get a proffesional to do it")... He could send me to sleep after a gallon of Red Bull

I will once i get the internet back on my pc. I took loads of my old Carrera.

pittpony

OK so post tricycle I had a fully rigid British Eagle bike that served me well for short commutes. It spent a lot of time hanging in my shed gathering dust though. I sold it for a tenner and saw it locked (!) outside Sainsbury's last year

Then came my Scott Yecora which i inherited from Emma when she got her EX8



She served me well for the commute to Sandwich but was heavy and a bit battered so i treated her to new wheels and brakes. I sold her to a mate and think she's barely been ridden since

Then came my biggest ever impulse buy - my Giant XTC Comp 3. I went out with a budget of £700 but I've always liked carbon :oops:



She got a lot of new kit - XT shifters, cassette, deraileur. New chain, Superstar crankset (v good btw), carbon seatpost and bars, new grips, Ritchey stem, new cables and saddle. I don't have a good photo of her 'in her prime' though Most of the upgraded components then went on my Trance frame which i love to bits



Leaving me to build up the XTC comp frame with some of the original components and finishing off with some fairly basic kit for the commute - Suntour forks and cable disks but it does have some decent components on it and as time goes by i'll upgrade until i have a good spec hardtail and full sus 8)

So there it is in a nutshell!

deadpool2e

Will try and do mine tomorrow if i get a spare 5 mins.

My first bike was also a british eagle fully rigid in a nice purple. sold on ebay so will see if i still have the pics of her and i will post my 3 bikes.

breezer

My current bikes below. Some older ones are here

1992 Breezer Lightning Pro (go read up on the history of mtb's if you have never heard of Breezers heh)

2008 Inbred 456

2005 Turner 5 Spot





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andyturner28

breezer wrote:

My current bikes below. Some older ones are here

1992 Breezer Lightning Pro (go read up on the history of mtb's if you have never heard of Breezers heh)

2008 Inbred 456

2005 Turner 5 Spot





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Nice bikes, especially the 5 spot. I'm always drooling over Michaels every time i do a Kent Trails ride. What wheel have you got on the front of the Inbred. I'm after something a little stronger than my Sun Singletracks as i keep buckleing them lately! Also is there much benefit from running a short cage rear mech with a double and bash? I have just about killed mine and am thinking about a short or medium cage this time.

breezer

Ta. I had a 4" Azonic before, proper four bar which was great but I wanted more travel. I then got a 2nd hand Blur LT frame which I tried for a bit but the pedal kickback in the granny ring was just a joke and I refused to buy a single pivot as well, whats the point in having rear suspension if it doesnt work all the time? So I got the 5 spot frame really cheap somehow on ebay and its brilliant, doesnt bob at all, give endless travel, let a friend with a Orange ride it and he had a fit over how good the back end was heh. Its 27lbs so not a bad weight considering its 135mm rear and 140mm front and a large frame!

The front wheel is an old mavic 321 I think on a Hope Bulb, nice and wide to take big tyres and been fine for a few years. The rear mech spring is pretty shot but works ok as well. I dont have a granny ring on the Inbred at the moment as it was all on an old Dmr I had which had a chain device. With the inbred though I fitted a front mech and mounted a right hand thumbshifter upside down to operate it so no chain rub! When the ring and cassette etc wear out I will replace with a granny ring and a slightly larger 2nd ring as I find 32 a bit low sometimes but then will need a different bash guard. Short mech is good, ive hit a couple before. Bashguard again can be useful but dont think ive ever hit it other than when trying to ride over fallen trees at slow speed, was a great value Hone chainset which attracted me to it.

RussAlf

Ohhh Turner Five Spot, loverlyyyyyyyyy

You have the classic Pace Carbon forks on your Breezer to.

breezer

Past tense sadly! As I only use it for commuting I decided to sell them and now wish I hadnt as tiny slicks make my wrists hurt with rigid forks and being so old, the Pace forks made it a bit higher and more comfortable that way as well. Got about £80 for them as they were immaculate. I bought them new in 96 or something for £400! On the plus side its about 22lbs with slicks and rigid lol, its outrageously quick on the road!

Way to many photos of the 5 Spot here lol

andyturner28

breezer wrote:

Ta. I had a 4" Azonic before, proper four bar which was great but I wanted more travel. I then got a 2nd hand Blur LT frame which I tried for a bit but the pedal kickback in the granny ring was just a joke and I refused to buy a single pivot as well, whats the point in having rear suspension if it doesnt work all the time? So I got the 5 spot frame really cheap somehow on ebay and its brilliant, doesnt bob at all, give endless travel, let a friend with a Orange ride it and he had a fit over how good the back end was heh. Its 27lbs so not a bad weight considering its 135mm rear and 140mm front and a large frame!

The front wheel is an old mavic 321 I think on a Hope Bulb, nice and wide to take big tyres and been fine for a few years. The rear mech spring is pretty shot but works ok as well. I dont have a granny ring on the Inbred at the moment as it was all on an old Dmr I had which had a chain device. With the inbred though I fitted a front mech and mounted a right hand thumbshifter upside down to operate it so no chain rub! When the ring and cassette etc wear out I will replace with a granny ring and a slightly larger 2nd ring as I find 32 a bit low sometimes but then will need a different bash guard. Short mech is good, ive hit a couple before. Bashguard again can be useful but dont think ive ever hit it other than when trying to ride over fallen trees at slow speed, was a great value Hone chainset which attracted me to it.

How much did you get the 5 spot for? I saw one on fleebay a while ago which was at £250 with one day to in cutofues found out how much it went for. Is it a strong frame which can take a lot of abuse? I had thought about getting one at thought it might be a bit fragile....

Did the old Blur LT have the same VPP rear end as the current model? Hope the new one is a lot better as it's on my short (or long) list.

breezer

£510 with a chris king headset, gravity dropper seatpost (£150 new), longer rockers which I sold for £50, new fox coil shock that I sold for £100 so quite a bargain! All others ive seen recently including another 2005 horst link model (2006 and newer are faux bar rocker actuated single pivots like modern Kona's) went for £680 frame alone! and others have gone for similar price. They are strong, can take up to a 150mm at the front, I find 140 about right and I drop the nose down for climbs if needed

They have modified the linkage a bit on the new LT and Intense have as well on their VPP bikes. Don't get me wrong, it was a nice bike but compared to the Turners four bar, well there is no comparison! It was nice and active and didnt bob really but it was a bit wallowy in the mid stroke. Pedalling was fine except when in the granny ring and you hit a bump. Due to the S shaped rear wheel path the wheel initially moves backwards and therefore the mech has to extend and you feel that tension through the pedals and its like you put the rear brake on. I could have lived with it as a comprimise but I decided to get the Turner and try all my bits on that then keep which one I liked the best, the Turner won. It did look good though (brighter in the flesh) and would have been even better with my new white manitous on, not that how a bike looks is the most important thing in the world!

Blackrat

Hi guys,

I'm staying at West Malling for a week from Monday 15th - anyone able to give me some ideas for decent evening rides in the area?

Thanks

Nick

deadpool2e

Well as said before started with a british eagle fully Ridged (no pic sorry)

then got this bad girl


She sadly died with a cracked BB but she was rebuild bigger and better from a SPECIALIZED company ....see what i did there..... and some small part still live on in this even badder girl... i like bad girls



Next upgrade will be a new frame at some point if i can get it passed her in doors.

andyturner28

breezer wrote:

£510 with a chris king headset, gravity dropper seatpost (£150 new), longer rockers which I sold for £50, new fox coil shock that I sold for £100 so quite a bargain! All others ive seen recently including another 2005 horst link model (2006 and newer are faux bar rocker actuated single pivots like modern Kona's) went for £680 frame alone! and others have gone for similar price. They are strong, can take up to a 150mm at the front, I find 140 about right and I drop the nose down for climbs if needed

They have modified the linkage a bit on the new LT and Intense have as well on their VPP bikes. Don't get me wrong, it was a nice bike but compared to the Turners four bar, well there is no comparison! It was nice and active and didnt bob really but it was a bit wallowy in the mid stroke. Pedalling was fine except when in the granny ring and you hit a bump. Due to the S shaped rear wheel path the wheel initially moves backwards and therefore the mech has to extend and you feel that tension through the pedals and its like you put the rear brake on. I could have lived with it as a comprimise but I decided to get the Turner and try all my bits on that then keep which one I liked the best, the Turner won. It did look good though (brighter in the flesh) and would have been even better with my new white manitous on, not that how a bike looks is the most important thing in the world!

Well it sounds like a test ride is in order before making a decision on that one. Do you know of any Santa Cruz dealers in Kent?

pittpony

Blackrat wrote:

Hi guys,

I'm staying at West Malling for a week from Monday 15th - anyone able to give me some ideas for decent evening rides in the area?

Thanks

Nick

You're not far from Bedgebury but if i were you i'd be heading towards the Surrey Hills, places like Leith Hill, Pitch Hill, Holmbury Hill, Box Hill etc. Awesome riding to be had there

impished

Blackrat wrote:

Hi guys,
I'm staying at West Malling for a week from Monday 15th - anyone able to give me some ideas for decent evening rides in the area?

Have a read of some of the previous pages of this thread. There are some pointers to rides in West Malling woods and the surrounding areas. There's maps and routes posted for Surrey hills.
Nick mentioned Bedgebury. Don't forget their carpark is £7.50 :shock:
Oh, and have fun whereever you go

pcsplace

I am heading to bedgebury for the 1st time next week and was wondering if it is easy to know where to go or if anyone has a gps route or a map of the best trail?

deadpool2e

pcsplace wrote:

I am heading to bedgebury for the 1st time next week and was wondering if it is easy to know where to go or if anyone has a gps route or a map of the best trail?

Hi mate if you go to the car park its fairly well sign posted to the singletrack (Red Bike symbol) and is easy to follow, hope you have fun let us know how you get on.


BTW anyone up for a Ride Sunday morning somewhere??

RussAlf

Working this weekend

Afan on weds?

deadpool2e

love to

rl7

Hi Blackrat

West Malling pretty good place. its about 2km from big woods Mereworth - loads of bridleways and other trails. You'd need Maidstone & medway Towns no 148 explorer map. West side of woods best & great DH out towards Plaxtol spout and Broadfield Farm.

Also there North Downs N of M20 about 4kms away - bridleway south of Ryarsh by church has good ford crossiing, Can thne go through Ryarsh on lane up to North Downs Way/Pilgrims way and lots vof bridleways and other tracks.

Bedgebury wpuld be 50 mins plus drive, wet and carpark closed etc and Leith Hills also a way for evening ride. WOuld need lights if going to Mereworth after about 6pm.

Not around next week as off on hols and don't have any map software sorry

Mudhound

rl7

Hi Blackrat

West Malling pretty good place. its about 2km from big woods Mereworth - loads of bridleways and other trails. You'd need Maidstone & medway Towns no 148 explorer map. West side of woods best & great DH out towards Plaxtol spout and Broadfield Farm.

Also there North Downs N of M20 about 4kms away - bridleway south of Ryarsh by church has good ford crossiing, Can thne go through Ryarsh on lane up to North Downs Way/Pilgrims way and lots vof bridleways and other tracks.

Bedgebury wpuld be 50 mins plus drive, wet and carpark closed etc and Leith Hills also a way for evening ride. WOuld need lights if going to Mereworth after about 6pm.

Not around next week as off on hols and don't have any map software sorry

Mudhound

rl7

Hi Blackrat

West Malling pretty good place. its about 2km from big woods Mereworth - loads of bridleways and other trails. You'd need Maidstone & medway Towns no 148 explorer map. West side of woods best & great DH out towards Plaxtol spout and Broadfield Farm.

Also there North Downs N of M20 about 4kms away - bridleway south of Ryarsh by church has good ford crossiing, Can thne go through Ryarsh on lane up to North Downs Way/Pilgrims way and lots vof bridleways and other tracks.

Bedgebury wpuld be 50 mins plus drive, wet and carpark closed etc and Leith Hills also a way for evening ride. WOuld need lights if going to Mereworth after about 6pm.

Not around next week as off on hols and don't have any map software sorry

Mudhound

RussAlf

its 208 miles away from gfs place, so 416miles round trip. I can get 500miles to a £45 tank. So it would be £22.50 each plus the toll.

Thats pretty far to go for a day trip though lol oh well.

deadpool2e

RussAlf wrote:

its 208 miles away from gfs place, so 416miles round trip. I can get 500miles to a £45 tank. So it would be £22.50 each plus the toll.

Thats pretty far to go for a day trip though lol oh well.

hhmmm 1 day im sure

andyturner28

deadpool2e wrote:

RussAlf wrote:

its 208 miles away from gfs place, so 416miles round trip. I can get 500miles to a £45 tank. So it would be £22.50 each plus the toll.

Thats pretty far to go for a day trip though lol oh well.

hhmmm 1 day im sure

Seariousely though, we must be able to fit in another weekend at Afan before the end of the year. How about it guys? But having said that, it is hard enough for us to arrange a ride in Swinley. It's tough being the only one without a social life!:)

At the risk of taking this thread even more off topic than it usually is, dose anyone know if it is possible to save Windows Service pack 2 onto a DVD that i can then install onto my PC. I'm trying to install my Orange broadband Livebox so i can finally get back on line, but i have only got the basic 05 Windows install and the set up disc requires SP 1 minimum. I hate computers!

deadpool2e

anyone up for a sunday ride then (early)

impished

deadpool2e wrote:

anyone up for a sunday ride then (early)

I can't do Sunday. My back seems to be better so I'm gonna give it a few days to make sure. Damn near climbing the walls here :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:

RussAlf

I got a bargain! 07 454 Dual Air pikes for £200, they are mint, not a scratch on them. Only thing was that the guy had taken off the decals because they got rubbed off on his car rack. So i bought some new but old style ones of ebay for £7, new stlye decals from tf tuned are £20, i can live with the old design.

deadpool2e

impished wrote:

deadpool2e wrote:

anyone up for a sunday ride then (early)

I can't do Sunday. My back seems to be better so I'm gonna give it a few days to make sure. Damn near climbing the walls here :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:

What you done to your Back then?? and how?


Russ the pikes look mighty fine.