Newbie from West Midlands!

Luke87

Hi all,

My name is Luke, just getting into this mountain bike lark! After many "mountain bikes" over the years I've saved up some money and recently bought a GT Aggressor (second hand) and am now looking forward to swapping up my car for the bike haha!! The bike I've bought comes from a guy who has had it for a few years and spent a lot of money on it so has a pretty good spec for the price I paid. Just need to find some trails now and ill be good to go!

The Rookie

Welcome to the madhouse...

Few West Mids riders around on here, I'm not far away, Cannnock is nice and close for you!

Luke87

So got a picture of the new bike this evening the spec is:

http://m1298.photobucket.com/albumview/albums/luke877/image_zps8527cbf7.jpg.html?o=0&newest=1


Marzocchi MX Comp air forks
Avid Elixr brakes
Shimano Deore groupset
Fsa bars
superstar 50 mm stem
DMR V8 Pedals
on one bignose saddle.
superstar wheelset with switch evo hubs
Schwalbe smart sam (off the bike)
Schwalbe City Jet hybrid tyre (on the bike)

Cheers for looking!

The Rookie

Rather pointless photo!

Otherwise looks like a reasonable starter bike.

Luke87

Probably is! I can't figure out how to put pictures into this forum from my phone!! Yer it rides nicer than any other "mountain bike" I've had so looking forward to getting mucky!

The Rookie

In normal photobucket you can get a link to paste in that inserts a pic (see links in my sig for some examples), you've pasted the mobile site page or I'd have done it for you...

brucie45

Bike seems good for general trail use.

I am based about 5 miles from Dudley town centre, my works office is just off Cinderbank. I normally ride Cannock most weekends, however an hour each way cuts down on riding time and the M6 is a right pig just lately. I have just started riding Wyre Forrest which isnt to far from you. Only one dedicated trail which is graded as a blue trail but is just a few fire roads up and down for 4.5 miles, quite boring tbh. Having started to explore the Wyre Forrest reveals fantastic natural trails, plenty of single track and some technical stuff thrown in, nothing your bike wouldn't handle. Plenty of locals there that will sort you out with routes and show you round.

Other than that just get out and explore. I have found brilliant rides all over, kinver, lawnswood, etc etc

Luke87

Yer mate! Just been up to stourbridge and come back via the back of wordsley and towpaths etc about 10 miles all in all! First proper ride in about 4 years. Need to build my stamina etc up so need to get cracking at general fitness methinks!!

Cheers

Woodmonkey

Is there any decent riding around kinver? My brother lives there and I keep meaning to take my bike

brucie45

Woodmonkey, moslty DH stuff, but there is a few natural trails around kinver edge. Just explore it, Kinver is not a big place.

Luke87, the towpaths at Wordsley are ten yards from my front door. Once your feel happy with your fitness etc you should go to Cannock or Wyre Forrest, cracking days riding.

trespasser66

It may be out of your reach but Sandwell valley / West Bromwich have a new purpose built MTB track in Jubilee woods, well they have 3 actually. I went to the official opening but managed to ride 2 of them the week before with my BOB trailer fully loaded (backpacks, toolkit, sandwiches, water) while it was quiet, if you dont like the tracks theres always the rest of the park to take your agression out on. Plenty of small offbeat side tracks .. good in the summer months, but they're certainly interesting during the winter when the green stuff dies back and you have uncluttered access to virgin snow, soft ground, and mud holes.

It's always a good ride when you bring most of the tracks back with you.

RidingSeed

Luke87 wrote:

So got a picture of the new bike this evening the spec is:

http://m1298.photobucket.com/albumview/ ... 0&newest=1


Marzocchi MX Comp air forks
Avid Elixr brakes
Shimano Deore groupset
Fsa bars
superstar 50 mm stem
DMR V8 Pedals
on one bignose saddle.
superstar wheelset with switch evo hubs
Schwalbe smart sam (off the bike)
Schwalbe City Jet hybrid tyre (on the bike)

Cheers for looking!

Welcome!

Would've gone for some Shimano brakes honestly - otherwise, it looks like a quite decent bike for a starter.

brucie45

trespasser66 wrote:

It may be out of your reach but Sandwell valley / West Bromwich have a new purpose built MTB track in Jubilee woods, well they have 3 actually. I went to the official opening but managed to ride 2 of them the week before with my BOB trailer fully loaded (backpacks, toolkit, sandwiches, water) while it was quiet, if you dont like the tracks theres always the rest of the park to take your agression out on. Plenty of small offbeat side tracks .. good in the summer months, but they're certainly interesting during the winter when the green stuff dies back and you have uncluttered access to virgin snow, soft ground, and mud holes.

It's always a good ride when you bring most of the tracks back with you.

I've heard that Sandwell Valley has opened some new trails and will popping over there in the coming weeks. I can just remember going there to watch the Mounting Bike Mayhem 24hr races with the old man. Will let you know how I get on.

Link for pics - http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic ... r-bad-news

LeeJay

Hi there, wyre forest is my local trail. The blue trail is utter cack to be honest. The best riding is the other side of the brook (button oak side) and your best off just riding around and exploring.

CanalRider

I am just up/down the road so I cycle to Sandwell Jubilee Park trail. Had a ride round the Valley to the cafe too. I like aday out that doesn't involve driving