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

 

The calm before the storm

“Monday
A stormy day for much of the UK, with severe gales expected, especially across southern parts of England and Wales. Heavy rain for a time in all areas, hill snow in the north. ” (BBC weather)

Today, sunday 9th march, Austin, Adam and  i went for a cycle. Today all across the news and weather is warnings of a massive strorm tomorrow. For this reason while out and about we ended up saying that today was the calm before the storm. The weather was so nice that all three of us were all wearing T-shirt’s, however as Austin commented i looked rather funny with my short sleeve t-shirt and bike gloves.

The ride was very fun, with plenty of fun at British camp.

 

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. 

 

Anticipation over

WHoop whoop. In case you cant guess i really like my new bike, Giant Yukon. Its really good. Its not much longer than my old bike which is good, just taller. It also has many other great points, such as more gears and better brakes. However i am really looking forward to tommorrow, my Actual birthday, coz were going out on the hills which will be Great!!

 

Cycle on 3rd Feb – all welcome

MRR are doing a cycle this Sunday (3rd Feb) and are opening it to anyone and everyone. The only conditions are:

1. Must be willing to go offroad

2. must be at the fountain at the top of Church street for 9am

3. Must not have anything planned for the rest of the morning.

If anyone whos not part of MRR is interested please email me at Benmatt912@hotmail.com with the subject as “Malvern Red Cycle”

 

Cycle on the 27th Jan

The route that i had predicted was Partially correct. The part that was correct was the bit from The clock tower to the dias between North Hill and The Beacon. However due to the swarms of Pedestrians and cute Dogs we decided it would be best to take “the back door route”, as Austin calls it, around the beacon. This included a steep path only just big enought for a wheel,luckely. The Funnest Bit was yet to come though.

 After getting to the other side of the beacon and back onto the main path we then decided the main path which goes down to the whyche on the Hereford side of the hills was too busy, Peds and Dogs again. So we took the back path, on the Malvern side. We should however of knowen that this path was MAD when after 10 yards we weregoing down what felt like a 50 degree gravel path, Brakes on full trying to stop before hitting some Peds. After the Peds had gone Smatt and Austin rocketed on and where not seen by me until the dias at the bottom. This is because i stopped to wait for Adam who was taking it easy and to warn him to BRAKE. Anyway we rocketed down this path which to start with was clear of Peds. However at one point two had stopped at probably the narrowest bit around and were inspecting a tree. This forced both Add and I to go past half way up a bank, about a foot of the ground,hehe. Anyway after causing a weeks erosing to Brake pads, back rubbers and the path we made it to the dias were we were united with Austin and Smatt who had had a similar experience.

We then carried onto the carpark via the main path which was fast in parts but Very Busy.We had to come to a complete stop at one point, which Adam couldnt do quietly, sliding for ages and almost ramming me, however this did get peoples attention. 

We then crossed the main road through stationary traffic and carried the bikes up the whyche stairs back onto the hills.

We carried on along the ridge at which point we bumped into (not literally) some other young guys doing the same as us, they set of after having a brake while we had a brake. We then decided to go along the top of the ridge rather than our normal route around the side, as i was emptier. This looked to be BORING and flat to start with, however we then went “OW YER” and rocketed down a nice empty down hill stretch, cathching up with the other guys again who thn procided to go up the next hill, where as we went down our normal route which goes around the hill and is faster. After this we went through a gate,past some sheep and allong to the end of the ridge. At this point Austin got his map out and showed us the route we were about to go through, which was through a wood. This was fun as there were only about 4 Peds on the whole route. There were a couple of insidednts, the one i know best was when i was going to fast toards a right hand corner and didnt brake enough. Still in control (ofcourse) i around the first bit of the corner up the outside bank, through some nettles then down onto the path, at which point Smatt asks “u alright Ben”,hehe. Anyway this path was very good as there was nearly no Peds and plenty of tight corners,etc. Anyway,this path eventually lead to the top of Old Whyche Road.

At this point there wa a quick discusion which ended with us going down Old Whyche road. Which for those of you who dont know it, is a very strait road. The only problem is that it is at about 75 Degrees BELOW Horizontal.

This was FUN. Smatts speedo said that he’d maxed about 36 Mile an Hour, I was going slower, as i have a very high sense of self presicvaion. Unlike Adam and Austin. Adam got 48 on his speedo and we therefore believe that Austin got nearer 50 as he was well head of Smatt and Adam.

We then went across common back to my house were we had a cake each and talked about future routes.

 

Next Cycle

The next cycle is on sunday (27th January), meeting at the Clock Tower at 2 or at the fountain in Great Malvern at 1.45. Were planning to go the length of the hills, from the Clock Tower to whyche Cutting, up Whyche stairs to black hills car park then back either along the hills, via Jubilee Drive or via Castlemorton Common.

 

NEW BIKE

I have recently ordered my new bike, a Giant Yukon.

I am really lookoing forward to getting it as it will be a welcome upgrade from my 4 year old Apollo Excel.

The Yukon has 24 gears where as my Excel only has 18.Also the Yukon has mechanical disc brakes whilst the Excel only has V Brakes.

should be getting it on or just before my birthday 13/14th Feb.

YAY, Ben

 

Maps

I have today (16 th January) received 7 cycle maps free from the council, andthey all look really useful (except the one of malvern), especially the map of the Wyre Forest.

I will endever to bring these with me on our next cycle for viewing.

Ben