Mountain Mayhem 09

The year has gone very quickly, it feels like only 3 or 4 months ago i was posting about Mountain Mayhem 08 , however next month Mountain Mayhem 09 rolls into Eastnor Deer park which is close to home, the Malvern Hills.

This Year MM is on from the 19th to the 21st of June. Sadly Giant is no longer the sponsors , therefore making the possibility of trying a new Giant Anthem out is very low. However there will still be other Mountain Bikes to try that people with mine and Uncle Wozzers budgets can only dream of owning.

There website is :http://www.osmountainmayhem.co.uk/index.html

Let me know if people are interested in going, might be able to arrange a group visit.

Benni

 

The Lost Art

Before I explain what art form I have re discovered today I will first give a quick overview of my day (relevant things only- not the most interesting post otherwise).

To start with ive had a cold recently , as many people i know have, and was to that extent struggling by the time i got to the top of my main climb this morning on the way to colledge. At this point I decided to raise the saddle a bit as i dont rid the apollo except when im going to colledge and this morning it felt a bit low. I must admit that it was user error, and the begining of my bad day, when i overtightened the seat post clamp -  thus snapping the bolt in half. Ive never liked the seat post clamp on the apollo as every thursday morning i have to raise the saddle , then every Friday morning lower it back down. This is because when im not riding it to colledge on thursdays smatt rides it too school, this would be fine except it takes a  while for me to get the high right on thursdays , and its not quick release which means i have to rummage throught my bag for the allen key adjust it, put the bags back on, then cycle on only to stop around the corner and adjust it again.

I decided while cycling back home down the hill ( it was much closer to home than colledge) that i would go to that Bicycle heaven , Halfords, after colledge as its just around the corner and would preferably get a quick release clamp.

I set off for colledge again this time on theGiant yukon, which i try not to ride to colledge. The ride to colledge on the yukon was uneventful, but actually quite fun.

After colledge some of my colleges didnt believe me that my airzound was LOUD (125DB -  more than a car)  so i let them have a go . Then set off for Halfords, however the route i chose made a rod for my back in two senses. The first senses was obvious at the time, the path was (and always has been) overgrown , and at the best challenging to ride on. The second was that after having been to halfords and descovering that they didnt have any sort of seat post clamp that was big enought i found half way home that i had a VERY flat tyre.

 

THUS THE LOST ART WAS DESCOVERED. This art form has not been lost. An self respectingly good Mountain Biker, or even cyclist, should  have the right tools  and knowledge to fix a puncture. The reason why i called it a lost art is because i dont believe that many people know how to, or atleast arnt confident or prepared enought, to do a Puncture repair on the side of a major road in a town.

This is what i had to do today. It wasnt much of a fuss for me, makes no diffrence if its a garage, roadside or hillside, however the looks I got from the passing general public were that of shock. They odviously were schocked to see a teenage boy with a mountain bike upside down on the pavement with the back tyre in his hands . I fixed the two punctures that i found, both about 10mm long -  probably from the thorns down the path to halfords. However the innertube has had a lot of punctures, and a lot of patches, so didnt like even more and decided to bulge in one spot, this i couldnt solve so gave in and managed to get a lift.

The final part of my slight rant, the most ranty part, is my slight shock at how many people walked, drove and even cycled past without even asked if i was alright, yet alone offering help. But hey, theyd probably never seen a roadside puncture repair beore , lol.

Benni

I have to say I agree

Before MyCycles closed down i visited a couple of times. Once was for some more patches, we were in the Link and i thought i’d have a look at least. Talking to the guy, he revealed that he coudl mend punctures in mere seconds now, so many people brought bike in with a flat tyre. Without the kit, skill, ‘time’ or all three, they preferred to let a shop do it.

Frankly, as Benni and I both know well, punctures can happen anywhere with anything. I’ve mended many a Red Riders puncture on the hills, the side of a road, in the forest, in the rain. To me it’s a basic skill if riding a bike. Like changing the trye on you car if that goes flat, it’s something eveyone should know. I leared from Dad, who learnt from Grandad, and so on. As i’ve said already, it seems such a basic skill. Half the problem is the lack of kit. The Red Riders always have tools with them when riding. We know it’s only a few miles back to cilivisation, rescue is a breif walk, phone call and ride in a car. Even so, we still carry enoguh basic kit to keep our bikes going out in the wild. Personally, a puncture is a less-than-five-minute job. Wheel out, tyre half off, bit of pressure in the tube, find the leak (takes the longest time), patch, let glue dry, tube in, tyre on, pump up (can also take a while depending on the size of the pump) wheel in and go. Simple.

It’s also typical no-one will stop to help a fellow human being (yes, cyclists are humans too). The worst is people staring, yes my bike is on its bars, yes the wheel is in my hand rather than the frome, so what? I’m obviously fixing it, sod off or offer a hand. Still, bike mechanincs need a job i suppose, besides the buliding, adjusting, replacing, overhauling, servicing and selling. Ah well, it’s been good to join a fellow Rider in a rant.

untill the next rant,

Uncle Austin Wozzer

 

Red Christmas Ride

It was cold, but we rode

Last year three of us hit the hills on the afternoon of the 21st of Dec. And it was misty and frozen at the top of the Beacon. This year two of us pedalled our way up the Beacon, it was on the 28th Dec, and it wasn’t as misty, but it was frozen!

We met in the usual place, at 10:30, and took some time to admire Bnnis new lights (very nice i must say). Then we hit the trail, we started the Wyche, then suddenly did a U-turn, raced back down for a few hundred yards, then took a left onto a path. Our speed catapulted us up the firt, steep rocky slope. We followed this path along to St Annes, I collected some water while we were there, then hacked up to the Knoll. We headed across Happy Valley and onto North Hill. We rattled along the lower north Hill route. Then took a left onto the zig-zags. We crawled our way up and round, Benni failed on some of the corners, which meant I failed because he was in front at this point. Anyway, we got to the top in decent time. We then raced along the higher north Hill route back toward the Beacon. We stopped for a breather next to the Dias before selecting a low gear and slogged our way up the Beacon using our usual path, we both made it over the Rock Patch without any troubles, and got to the summit.

Up here, in the freezng wind and possible could, it was bloody freeeeezing! Even thick skinned Wozzer had to give in and put his coat on! The wind howling over the ridge meant our light bikes were blown majorly to the right (facing the Toposcope) and I ended up riding leaning at a weird angle inot the wind. After looking briefly at the veiw (inside of cloud) we descended. We dropped down and ’round the back’. on the way we passed a group having some champane. Anoraked, hooded, gloved, scarfed, and drinking champane out of the wind. I said “cheers” as I passed. Originally Benni and i were planning to go down the ‘back route’ but with the amount of wind, numb hands and walkers we decided it’d be better to go down the tarmac path. which we did. we went slowly to avoid walking folk. at one point we hit the ridge quickly to get round a large group. The ridge up to the Beacon is incredably rough, and roucky as heck. Never the less, we bumped our way down, and ‘nut-cracker suite’ was experienced (i.e. when the saddle hits one in the groin).

We bidded each other “Happy New Year” as we rolled through the Wyche Cutting. Benni got out in front of me, and i couldn’t get past him through the corners (he pulls a wide line, so it’s hard to over take and undertaking is out of the question – not enough room) but i got him after the bends, i rocketed past him at 31mph!! From the Wyche Road he drops down Lower Wyche Road and rattles across Peachfeild to get home. I head all the way down the Wyche, join the Wells road, rocket through Belle View terrace, along the Worcester Road, left at Link Top and Home.

I made it 8.7 miles in the end, house to house. It was really fun, and good to get out on the hills with Benni. As always, I can’t see why I don’t go more! Anyway, maybe in the New Year we’ll get our game together again and go cycling more.

Until the next Ride!

Uncle Austin Wozzer

 

Giant Yukon 2008

Ive been looking at the search Results, search terms that bring people to the site, the most common are “Giant Yukon” or similar.

I therefore thought that id do a quick revue of the 2008 Giant Yukon, as i have had one since February.

It is a great bike, i have been thrashing it about up and down the hills for about 3 and a half months and it has been great fun. It looks great, like a proper mountain bike, with Topeak FX and Topeak RX mud guards.

The only problem ive had with it was that i didnt notice that the bolt holding the crank arm onto the crank on the right side was loose. This caused the crank arm to rotate slightly ruining the squareness of the hole the crank goes into. This was resolved by Back On Track, they replaced the crank arm with a second hand one (second hand due to a tiny scratch). Appart from that the Yukon has been great and will be a great frame to build my perfect mountain bike on over many years.

BENNI

Maybe Uncle wozzer would like to do a revue of the 2007 Giant XTC 4.5

 

29th May 2008 ( a detailed description)

Today Wozzie and I (Benni) went for a cycle. The initial plan decided on last night on MSN was to go along the Ridge, taking pictures from all the summits. This doesnt sound like much, except that we dont usually go over the top, we usually go around the main hills on the ridge.

This was a good plan and sounded fun, if not a bit challenging. However when i woke this morning i knew this plan was scuppered. THE HILLS WERE GONE!!!. No ,they werent stolen by aliens overnight, they were actually still there. However they had been swallowed by a big very white cloudy/wisty thing.

I set off anyway and met Wozzie at the fountain at 9. We decided that rather than scrapping the idea we would do it, just not take pictures, sort of see it as a practice run. We had till 11(ish) to do all the hills along he ridge and get back to malvern, due to work commitements.

So we set off, wizzed up the whyche road only stopping at the stairs onto the ridge.Then we went up the ridge, had a quick break to admire the whiteness of the cloud then set of along the ridge. It was  Unsuprisingly very empty, with us bumping into very few people. However we did bump into some farmers.

We carried along the ridge and got too are first proper accent, which we crawwled up, due to it being rather steep, however it was satisfying to get to the top and see absolutely nothing.However we did bump into two guys walking up, not literally bump into dont worry lol. They were interested to know about how we found cycling on the hills, they were especially interested to hear if we ever got harassed or haranged by other non cyclists on the hills. Anyway we rocketed down the other side, with me go “OWWWWWWWW STINKY BUMMS” (or similar, however maybe not repeatable) as i rocketed towards a big puddle without a front mud guard (That will be posted about soon). Luckily i managed to avoid it, then it was up the next hill.

However Wozzie and i stoppe half way up for a break. I told him about an idea i had to put a Lawn mower engine on top of a Pannier rack to power  a bike, then we came up with the idea of a trike with a steam engine.This made us laugh, as we then thought that we could use it to give  bikers lifts to top of hills or steep roads like Old Whyche or Happy Valley.

We then carried on up the hill. With hindsite we had only got half way, but thought that we were almost at the next summit, however it was actually a false summit and so we plodded on. After we’d reached the sumit we rocketed down a hill thinking that the next accent was quite a way down. However it wasnt it was just out of sight due to the misty stuff.

After that summit came the funnest, biggest and scariest decent. It was almost pure gravel so as we rocketed down we were sliding from side to side. Also there was a bench hidden half way down , unknowebn to Wozzie and me, which both of us almost hit. After this steep decent came almost instantly the accent of the next hill, which was the first and only one that we had to push up. This was due to the fact that the hill was very gravelly, but more importantly almost 45 degrees if not steeper. We then went down the other side and suddenly realised that we were right by Black Morse car park.

We decided it would take too long to go home across Brit camp and Castlemorton common (and would be very muddy). We then noticed a path heading down, and back the way wed come. We decided to go down this as we believed it would lead to a lower path we know which emerges at the top of old whych road. So we headed down and after me shouting at wozzie “MOVE, IM GOING TO RAM U!!” or similar due to poor braking on the gravel, we emerged on a small road, which lead to Hollywell road.

WE continued allong until we got to Hollywell, where we headed up onto a bridle way which after much mud and scratching of heads to remeber past cycles came out at the top of Old Whyche road. We then decided that having done about 6 miles in under an hour we would go home. To this extent we headed down Whyche road, with Wozzie rocketing ahead and me pealing off down the Wiggles, across the common and home.

 

This was great fun, and we plan to do a similar route again soon, inorder to take pictures from the sumit.

Thats all from Benni, and probably his longest write up yet, untill next time

BENNI

 

A loose pedal?? no more

I was cycling up and down the road i live on Friday evening, for exercise as MRR havent been out and about for a week or two. I noticed that as i pedalled the left pedal felt weird. I was worried that i had bent the cranck shaft, as i had been mucking about doing hops and the occasional jump on the common. I continued cycling up and down whilst thinking about what could be wrong. I stopped a couple of times, spun the pedal round by hand and couldnt see anything.

Then after doing about a mile/ mile and a half up and down the road i stopped and knocked the left pedal and it moved. Not backarwds or Forwards but side to side. I had a look at it and realised to my relief that it wasnt a bent crank shaft but a loose pedal.

So, i got out my allen keys, and low and behold they were all miles too small. At this point i was forced to go into diner, and then was out all evening.

Next day brings a 2.6 mile cycle with bag of Carpentry tools to my job at period Joinery and Furniture making, which is half way between 3 Counties and hanley swan, on my old Apollo. After 2 hours painting a Window frame, (which was ok ,even thought i ended up with paint all over my hands and even in my hair,lol) there was 2.6 miles back home, all up hill.

I then decided to phone Back on Track, at about 4.30pm (too late to cycle there before they close).I explained what was wrong and the guy asked, “have u riden it at all”, too which i replied, “not much”. He then went on too say “thats good, as thats when the damage happens”, too which i thought ‘fuew, glad i didnt ride it too work’.

I booked too take my bike there for 3.30 today (monday), and realised that was imposible as i would have to walk it just under 3 miles in 15 minuites. So i called back and they said that they were very busy, but i managed too book it in again at 3.30 on tuesday. This would have been fine as i finish sixth form at 2 on tuesdays.

That evening i went to a friends party and talked to uncle Wozzer (Austin to those who are not regular readers), who said he might have an allen key, and hed bring it in on Monday. This he did.

I used it too undo the bolt, i then took the pedal off and had a look at the hole, there was no damage (lukily) and i then put the pedal back on and did it up. Problem solved.

All i need to do know is phone Back on Track again, this time to cancel for good.

Benmatt912

 

Good Friday, 21th March

Apart from the hail before we went out, and the rain i got caught in on the way home, it really was good friday.

Starting at 10 instead of 9, as hail raked malvern, Benni and Uncle Wozzer set out from town towards the hills. But, we decided to explore! Instead of plodding up the wyche and racking the ridge, we hopped up to St Anns road, where we caught a path further up the hills. And we kept on the up, despite an option to go flat/down, and ended up in the middle of a valley. From this valley the path branched into 3, one path doubled back, another went down and a third looked interesting. this interesting path, however, is impossible on bikes. Huuuge roots, massive rock step and tiny path makes it really unfriendly to bikes, and walkers comming to think of it. anyway, we headed up the path that doubled back, which was ‘interesting’ and superb if you wish to train balance! Even crawling along in first it was still difficult. This path eventually revealed that it came out level with horse shoe bend. we wobbled along toward horse shoe bend, stopping to look at a nice little waterfall garden thingy, and scrambled up a downhill track and slogged up the last bit of horse shoe bend. After rattling aroung the side of the beacon we shot down the ‘back route’ from the beacon to the wyche.

Ans so we ended up at the bus shelter at the top of the wyche. Overall it took us over an hour to get from town to the top of the wyche! It was here that Ben piped up and suggested we could film the ‘back route’. Good idea! and so we climbed back up the beacon (via earnslaw) and got back to the top of the path we intended to film. Now, a breif bit of explination, those who keep up with this blog should know about the Red Riders plan to make some videos – ones more complex than we’ve alreay done, before we’ve just had a camera on a bike to film the routes. Crude but effective, but most other biking videos that can be found use different camera angles, so armed with Bens tripod we thought we could do the same.

And so started an afternoon of going up and down hill, for Wozzer at least as Ben was on camera. And the best way to describe the Video we managed to make is to watch it! It’s posted on the Video Page of this Blog, so watch it! And don’t forget to leave a comment! Ben and Wozzer think this video worked well and is cool. Any ideas on what, where and songs to use will be muchly appreciated!

Looking forward to doing another video, this is your authour of bloggy posts signing off!

Uncle Austin Wozzer

 

Sunday 9th March

Upon the 9th day of March, the three “regular” riders when out on the hills for a ride.

The usual route from town, up the wyche, up the wyche steps, along the ‘ridge’, black hills, round the “top path above Black Hils Carpark”, and dooown into British Camp Carpark. and this is where the route differed from normal;

First of all, stright up the shorter path from the carpark, then along to where the ‘main steps’ are. from here we doubled back onto a path that took us back along, and a bit further up, then crawled up a reeealy steep bit of path. Once at the top of said path, we kept our altitude, and followed the curve of the hill, before dropping down a tiny path (literally as big as a tyre) of which i had to convince my two fellow riders that they were NOT going to die! then following the gulley round we came to the top of the path that goes down from the top(ish) to the dias/cave. From this position, we hurtled down the side of the hill once again ~(see 17th Feb ride wirte up)~ but with more grace this time! i.e. not sideways!

Once we’d all made it down, we all rode along the ‘top’ then down into the valley bit, before going back up the other side of aforementioned valley part to carry along the ridge. We then found the path the Riders we’d met on the 17th showed us. Rattling through the woods, hopping over the style, down through more woods, emerging at Gullet Quarry preceded our arrival at Castlemorton Common. We absolutly flew across the common, mashed through Welland, explored a farm track/lane which led nowhere, and plodded back toward Malvern.

Aaand, as an interesting finish, comign past the showground; i spotted a Kestrel or possibly a Falcon (not too sure). this prompted a stop, during which i tried to call the bird of prey to my fist. It didn’t come down from it’s telegraph pole, much to my disappointment. Ben then said “well, if it had it’d probably rip your hand open like that falcon did to your arm!” (breif but of history: when i was younger, i did a bit of falcon-ing and one of the birds missed my fist and landed with one talon on my arm instead of the glove, and then as it took of it took a slice of me with it!)

IIIIIn conclusion this ride was intersting and definatly worth repeating, whether we’ll see that bird again may not happen, but otherwise the route was good and definatley worth riding again!

Ride Write Up brought to you by; Uncle Ausin Wozzer (unclewozzer.wordpress.com) 

 

17th Feb – Hills Ride

Sunday 17th feb, 9:30 ish, the three ‘regular riders’ (i.e. Austin, Adam, and Ben) went out for a ride upon the hills.

Starting at the Fountain, we peddled up the Wyche, up the Steps, and along the ridge, down before going round Jubilee Hill, keeping along that path round (and down!) several hills we ended up on a path above Black Hills car park, down a major slope, over to British Camp.

Here, things got interesting. Firstly, at the shack, we met another group of weekend cyclists of whom one member lives opposite my house. Then the Red Riders hit Brit Camp, but instead of going down and round past the reservoir, or along the ‘low’ path to Clutters Cave; we scrambled straight up the side of the hill and rode round the Camp in one of the gulley’s – which in the frost was brilliant fun! – and ended up above the stone Dias and the Cave, well above. Here we saw the riders from earlier, who got over the dilemma of getting down the hill by going straight down the side of the aformentioned hill! So, as stupid as we are, followed their lead. I, that is Austin, went first being the most mental with the best bike hacked it down the not-much-off-vertical slope. After some immense speed and being very thankful for my forks, i stopped just pass the Dias and watched my fellow Red Riders preform the same feat. Adam came first, sideways the begin with before straightening up and letting off the brakes came zooming down to stop next to me. Then it was Ben’s turn! He stared off sideways and wobbled slowly down, with all the assembled cyclists yelling “don’t brake!” and “leave off the brakes!”. which he did and came down at considerable speed.

From here near Clutters Cave we decided to join forces with the other riders we’d met. We all rattled along and over the hills right on the end, past Brit Camp. After one majorly immense route down through some woods, over a style, more woods, brambles, and large rocky slopes, we ended up at Gullet Quarry. Here the other riders went off further, but the Red Riders chose to cut off and go home. From Gullet Quarry the three of us ploughed across Castlemorton Common, through Welland, left at Hook Bank, and past the Showground, to Peachfeild Road, and to our respective homes from there.

Overall, this was a brilliant ride. The other riders were friendly and have now shown us a really cool route from Brit camp down to Gullet quarry/Castlemorton. Which the Red Riders will definitely do again!

This Ride Write Up was brough to you by Uncle Austin Wozzer (unclewozzer.wordpress.com)

 

Halfords can be alright (sometimes)

In malvern we are very limited in our choice or bicycle shops know that Mycycles has closed.

You have a choice between Halfords or Back on Track.

This is is probably actually a very good combination as Halfords is ideal for parts and Back on Track is a Giant (what Austin and i ride) retailer.

MRR have always thought that Halfords were alright, bit wimpy sometimes, “can u clean it next time u bring ure bike in please” Adam “NO, ive just come from the Hills, was at the top of North Hill ten mins ago”. However i know believe that whilst it might be part of a chain, the workers are still human.

I believe this as recently Adam bought some dirt3 front forks for £150. These then proceded to ruin his steering so had to go back. This hacked off Adam as halfords said they wouldnt refund him the  £150, which they are entitled to do.

However i have just heard form Adam and they have know decided to refund him all £150.

This is why Halfords can be alright, sometimes.