My mtb story so far

ST Colin

Hi all,

I just thought i'd stick together a little story of how I got back into biking after riding a lot in my teens. I hope some of you will feel the same feelings you had when you got your first bike, or got back into it like me after a long absence.

First off, about 6 months ago I decided I wanted to get my own bike after almost 10 years after my last one, a Raleigh Activator. I messed around on my mates spare bikes and in the end we parted ways and he went off to pursue his downhill career and I, well, didnt do anything!

My first job was to find me a bike. Being the impatient soul that I am, I rushed onto the first bargain I could find, in the shape of an 07 BeOne Aspire 1.0 from CRC. I didn't do a lot of research and bought the frame in 17" thinking that I liked the look of small frames and a 'medium' would be fine for me! Initially I was wrong, and I know if i'd been patient, I could have probably bought a better bike and got to actually try bikes out at my lbs for correct sizing. A lesson learnt for next time. But all was not lost. Soon the upgrade bug bit me....

Here is the BeOne only a day after a got it



The first change I set out to make was the stem length, bar width, and seat post height. After exchanging advice with many people in the know, including people on here of course, I decided against getting a new frame, and stuck with my first plan. Off to CRC again to sort all that out. Whilst there I stumbled across a realy nice pair of silver RS Recon Race Air Solo forks, and I added those to my basket. The upgrading bug really had got hold of me......

Next issue, fitting the forks! Time to get my hands dirty. With the help of a mate we managed eveyrthing but the star nut fitting which I conceeded to my lbs......






So after getting that sorted, next problem. An adaptor for my front brake was an odd fir and I managed to talk my wonderful girlfriend around to buying me my Christmas present early.... A set of 08 Deore LX hydros......




I left the fitting of my brakes up to my lbs, who have done a great job and also helped elimate, for now, the slightly didgy front hub bearings.

All in all I'm really glad I've got back into biking, and I've even talked my mate into getting a bike, a really rather nice Genesis Core 20. It's a blast on my own or with a mate, and it's a great way to get out and really enjoy yourself. Hitting the old drop-offs that I used to chicken out of, discovering new trails, setting up the bike, fitting an wrecking new parts, it's all part of the mtb experience and next year I'm hoping to compete in a few XC races.

So for now, the bike is as I want it, unless I get bored, and this is how it looked on Sunday, after another 3 blast!



Hope you enjoyed the read

Cheers

Colin

nicklouse

please get some bar end plugs.
thanks and welcome.

Dr S

Nice bike, but as the man says you need to lose the cookie cutters!

Its nice to be back out on the dirt again

GT Destroyer

Good posts and pictures. I like the bike, very smooth and the colour all seem to fit nicely together, nothing stands out too much.

Oh and get it muddy!!!

and welcome!

ST Colin

Thanks all. Yes, I know I need to tidy up the bar ends.

And for those who think I don't get it muddy, it's been much much worse than the above photos