Bikes and Hikes

problems...................

2011-05-13T11:27:00.000-07:00

Is anyone else having any, with Blogger? I wrote a short post and a pretty long gear review the other night and both are gone.......?? Did anyone see my Rab Slipstream review? It was definitely published, but has vanished into the ether with a shorter post about an evening ride........

To say I'm confused is an understatement. Maybe the old marbles really are going!

Getting faster.....

2011-05-11T16:27:00.000-07:00

A run out on my twice weekly 13 mile loop this evening saw me hit a total average of 15mph, which considering the pretty grim headwind and the fact it was tonight really about focusing on cadence, was not too bad. But over 7 miles on the flattest part of the course and with the wind behind me a little, I was spinning a very nice average of 23mph, and it felt great!

Now, if only I can get the climbing to be as easy............

Rab Slipstream review

2011-05-11T15:18:00.000-07:00

Review time!

I was lucky enough to pick this jacket up last year at a Rab factory sale, and, along with my Rab Drillium, they have been my staple jackets right through autumn and winter last year.

The Slipstream is designed as a lightweight multi-sport jacket, aimed in particular at lightweight backpackers, trail runners and cyclists. I have used it for all three in the last months, hence I decided to give it a proper review.

Firstly, the all important weight - 340g claimed on the Rab website, and mine, a medium, weighs a tad under on the scales. Its made from Pertex Shield, a fabric with a face of Pertex bonded to a PU membrane to keep the rain out so think lightweight windproof on steroids!! Its designed to be pretty breathable of course, and compared to other fabrics I have used,like that in Berghaus RG1 jacket, it does pretty well, but once you crank up the spinning revs on the bike, it starts to get pretty warm inside, and on a cold day you'll soon be doing a pretty good impression of a mobile rain forest! In winter this isnt such a bad thing, but on those showery summer days where you are going light but still need rain protection, you can get very warm very quickly, and I found myself having to stop and vent through the main zip to prevent overheating. It has a waterproof DWR coating that keeps the water beading well provided you wash and reproof regularly, but on at least one occasion I got caught in an almighty downpour on the road bike and the jacket wet out and was damp inside, but maybe it was due a reproof to be fair. It is also very windproof as you'd expect, and I have found that when worn on cold winter mornings on the bike, it keeps the wind out well when your tearing up the trail.

Rabs Slipstream - lightweight waterproofing

Rab have used the fabric to good effect and constructed a lightweight jacket with an "athletic" cut, some folk dont like this sort of close fit, but from a bikers and runners point of view its perfect - no flappage. A simple hood with a wired peak, face and volume adjustment keeps the head dry, but is a little lacking when the rain is whipping in from the side - very noticeable on the bike. It doesnt have any way to secure it if you roll it down to a collar either, which is a shame. Also a bit of a let down in the bike department is the lack of a long drop tail to keep your backside dry on wet roads or trails, and also helps to keep your bits warm in winter. However the shorter length of the jacket is great on the bike, since it doesnt bunch up around your waist into uncomfortable and flappy mounds.

The zip is a full length affair which is slightly recessed and has a storm flap behind it - helps to keep the wind out bit in practice probably wont stop the rain. Its a normal zip, and not the "waterproof" type, and I prefer this - my experience with waterproof zips is that they are usually anything but! It has two large side pockets which are mesh lined - open these up and they work well as vents. Talking of venting, the cuffs are tightened with a velcroed tab (no big rubber cuff adjusters here, this is a lightweight jacket remember!!) and are big enough to roll up your sleeves for a bit of extra cooling. The whole jacket packs down into a small bag which has an elastic waist band and buckle,great for warm, showery days when you aren't carrying a pack. This also stuffs nicely into a corner or outside pocket of a backpacking or hydration pack very nicely, and you wont know you are carrying it

Improvements? Maybe a slightly better hood with a flap to secure it when rolled down, and an extra zipped pocket on the back would be nice for bikers and runners, but these little details all add up to extra weight, and its all about balance, something the Slipstream acheives pretty well. One thing that would be great, though, is more reflective details - there are a few reflective dots and logos, but a jacket for use on a bike and for running ought to have more.

All in all a great addition to your lightweight or bike kit for right through the year, and for around the £80 mark, represents pretty good value.

Endomondo, the end?

2011-05-10T16:45:00.000-07:00

As most of my friends and outdoor buddies know, I have been using Endomondo for some time to track my runs, rides and walks. Its been a fantastic tool, great for sharing what I'm up to on the likes of Facebook, and the live tracking is superb - my family know where I am, and if I'm not moving. Thats a real plus for anyone who goes out on their own a lot as I do.

But, the arrival of the road bike started the beginning of what may yet be the end of my love affair with Endo......

One thing you really need on a road bike to save you a load of messing about getting your phone in and out of pockets or arm wallets is Autopause. Now, if you have an Android phone, I hasten to point out you are fine, and autopause is very much supported, but if, like me, you are a Nokia fan and still on Symbian.....its not there. It's been promised a long time, and I'm constantly told its coming, but I've yet to see it.

So, what to do? Well I went and downloaded the latest version of Sports Tracker from Ovi. Ok, it has no live share, which is a bit of a downer, but it does have a very good autopause! Add to the fact the website is now much improved, the stats presentation in particular is excellent, its a better experience than previously. And of course they don't overlook Symbian, so a real plus for Nokia users. Heres an example of Sports Tracker workout presentation from a recent ride:

Tregynon Hilly Loop

and one from Endomondo:

Newtown to Llanidloes Loop

Another thing I have noticed is that it picks up a satellite lock almost instantly, whereas Endomondo can take an age.....and drain your battery. It also has an automatic geotag facility - take a picture on your run/walk/ride and it tags it and asks during upload of you want to also upload the pictures, then displays them on the route at the point they were taken - clever!

So, am I convinced to make the switch? Not really, at least not permanently. Both have good points, and I suspect I'll be swayed by whichever comes up with what the other has first - Sports Tracker with a live view facility, or Endomondo with that all important autopause. Maybe for now I can use them in tandem, something I have yet to try.

If you have never tried on of these, and you are a keen sports enthusiast, then you really should. I have tried many things from Nike+ to GPS unit to these on my mobile, and the phone apps are by far and away the easiest to use and most effective.

Oh, and if you are a runner with a decent music phone like my Nokia 5800, it works well with music too!

2011-05-09T16:19:00.000-07:00

Now Im back, best update everyone on my new steeds!! Most of my friends have already seen them, but just a few quick notes about them for anyone else who may be interested.

Kona Tanuki at Pole Bank, Long Mynd

MTB: Kona Tanuki 2011. I managed to blag this on the cycle to Work scheme last year, and for under a grand, its not a bad bike! The drivetrain leaves a bit to be desired, Deore rear derailler and Alivio front and shifters, but it gets the job done. The forks are Tora 302s, air sprung, and again good for the price point, but as you'd expect a tad heavy. Rear bounce is a Kona own brand shock, and is actually pretty good. It came with Avid Juicy 3 stoppers, more than adequate. Mine actually developed a leak in the rear brake reservoir, and lucky old me got them replaced with Avid Elixirs - thanks SRAM! Its billed as an "all mountain" bike, but what is it really? Well, as an XC bike, its grand, but a tad heavy, going up the climbs I sometimes yearn for a lightweight hardtail, but going down the other side, the rear suspension comes into its own and keeps the rear wheel on the ground, giving lots of traction, and a more assured ride. Its great for trail centres in the UK, which is what most mtbers want it for. Sturdy enough as a full downhill bike? I'm no crazy downhiller, but I'd say a firm no. Its built to last, but wont stand the sort of abuse a downhill bike gets daily. Marks out of ten, I'd give it a 7.

Giant Defy 3.5

Road bike: Giant Defy 3.5

I bought this only a few weeks ago for 425 notes off a guy who had too many bikes. Bough this as a winter bike, but built a fixie from an old frame and decided to use that as his work commute. After only 3 rides, this was surplus, and my lucky day. It was a perfect fit, too, which is unusal. Wheres the catch? Well Im happy to say there was none, just pure good fortune!

The Defy at Leighton Hall

I bought it as a fitness bike, a couple of 10-20 mile rides a week at "pootle" pace to keep the legs going and burn some calories...... but the road bug bit. Hard. I love it. Never saw the attraction before, but now I own and ride one, well, how wrong was I? I'm nor riding 60 miles or so in the week and 30-60 at weekends. The weight is dropping off me, I feel hugely fitter and most important of all, I can switch off. its my escape, my freedom that in the week I cant get any other way. Running did it for some time, but bad knees spoiled that to a degree. Lack of impact riding the bike means I can just spin the pedals and switch off from the daily grind - me time.

The 3.5 standard fit is Shimano 2300, but mine had been upgraded to Sora. Drivetrain and brakes. Carbon seatpost and stem lightened the load further, as did Shimano R500 wheels. Eventually, the drivetrain will be upgraded to Ultegra and the wheels..... undecided yet, but new tyres first!! The seat is a Madison Prime, Im not convinced so far, get numbum after 30 miles or so, but just bought Altura ProGel bibshorts, so we'll see. I've already added Ultegra clipless pedals and some very nice Specialized road shoes, upgrading is part of the fun for me.

Compared to the "carthorse" MTB, this is a thoroughbred. Flies along with seemingly minimal effort, shifts through the gears sweetly, and is simply a joy to ride.

More on the bikes and some of my rides to follow!

2011-05-09T15:36:00.000-07:00

Right, Im back!!

Been away a while, family stuff and work has prevented me from doing much in the way of outdoors stuff, and certainly from writing about it, but, things have improved, and so I hope to be a bit more regular.

I should start by saying thanks to those that have continued to follow me,so I will, thanks!! I should also say my "sporting" priorities have changed....... you know I was a keen mountain biker, and recently I took the plunge and bought a road bike, and I have to say I'm loving being a roadie!

Initially it was a means to an end, to keep up the excercise every day without running my already bad knees into the ground, but, since buying the bike, I find myself out on it every night, and more and more at weekends the road bike wins the "which one today" contest. Why? Simple really. I put the road bike out the door, and theres a world out there. No train fares, no idiots trying to fit five bikes into a rack designed for two, no running to change trains, no cancellations and platform changes........... just me, the bike, the road and follow my nose.

So, though the walking and wild camping has decreased, I still, I think, have plenty to offer and write about, so I'll carry on and see what the interest is like. I hope you enjoy reading, and once again, thanks for sticking with me.

Endomondo Running Workout

2010-07-04T13:47:00.000-07:00

Endomondo Running Workout: "was out running 4.22 km in 21m:56s using Endomondo."

Endomondo Running Workout

2010-06-30T14:24:00.000-07:00

Endomondo Running Workout: "was out running 4.39 km in 22m:30s using Endomondo."

More shiny things.....

2010-06-30T14:23:00.000-07:00

I'm amazed.gobsmacked, stunned blown away. I couldn't be more shocked even if England won a match!!!! Go Outdoors actually had something in their sale that I wanted IN STOCK!!!!!

And it arrived today!! I am now the proud owner of a Mountain Equipment Starlight Micro sleeping bag!! Get in! I needed a smaller and lighter bag for the summer...... my Alpkit Pipedream 800 is probably a tad extreme for the current summer conditions, so when I saw this in my inbox, I had to get one. It weighs in at under 900 grammes and packs a fair bit smaller than my PD800, but of course its summer use only.

So, now just need to get out and test it!!!! Watch this space for a review soon.

Endomondo Running Workout

2010-06-28T13:37:00.000-07:00

Endomondo Running Workout: "was out running 4.95 km in 25m:50s using Endomondo."

Endomondo

2010-06-23T15:15:00.000-07:00

Well, finally got phone sorted, couldnt fix mine, and was lucky enough to be given an N95 by a mate, so all good!

As I was setting up my new one, well, old new one, I was well miffed to disover that Nokia is no longer supporting Sports Tracker in its current form, they have released a new version of the software which is really geared to their touch screen phones, and have also canned the Sports Tracker website as of the end of June..
Great, thanks for that Nokia, there's me singing the praises of them recently on here, only to find their response is to say, "like Sports Tracker, but don't have a new S60 5th generation phone? UNLUCKY!!!!! But, as with most software, someone can come up with something at least as good and often better for free, and sure enough, I came across ENDOMONDO, a free, web based tracker of phone GPS logged or Garmin watch GPS devices. I installed it on the N95 to give it a blast, and took it out for a run again this evening. Last week, I had music on and it didn't log any GPS data, hmmmmmm....... but the N95 is a little lacking in memory, so tonight, music was provided by my iPod, and the phone was just tracking the GPS data...... worked a treat, instant lock with A-GPS, and tracked the run flawlessly all the way through. I checked the distance on Memory Map when I got back - bang on!!

As with Sports Tracker, you upload your data to the Endomondo web portal, and it has all the features of the Sports Tracker website and more! Bits like blog and social network sharing are there as you would expect, but the interface is more user friendly, and there is more information. The site is generally pleasing on the eye, and I enjoyed using it.

And I love this - live tracking - you can log in at any time and see where I am, so if I am late getting back, my family can see where I am and if I'm moving, so that's getting off with any cute female runners I meet out of the window!!! There are also settings for walking, mountain biking, and a whole host of other sports, so its a very useful tool, and if you are an outdoorsy person with GPS on their phone, it's definitely worth a look.

Endomondo Running Workout

2010-06-23T11:18:00.000-07:00

Endomondo Running Workout: "was out running 4.38 miles in 43m:23s using Endomondo."

Gutted.................!

2010-06-07T14:00:00.000-07:00

Last night, I decided to see my week off work out on style, and got the train to the nearest town, Welshpool, 14 miles up the A483, and ran home along the Shropshire Canal. A mix of grass, footpath, and a few muddy bits, but they were mostly dried up from the recent weather. I thought it would be a good test of the Salmon XA hydration pack too........

It was peeing down when I got there, and although I had my Rab Slipstream with me, the rain was quite refreshing and I ran without it. 8 miles in and I started to flag a little, but lobbed a gel in and felt good, and I ploughed on. At 13 miles, I have to admit I was running out of steam, so decided to walk/run the rest of the way. I reached the 13 mile mark in around 2 hours, which I'm fairly happy with.

Happy to say the XA performed really well, but, if you are one of these folks who loves their shiny new gear to stay, well, shiny, don't use this pack with a running top or base layer...... or fleece, or softshell....... the waist straps rub the material rather well!! Nothing a brief run over with a razor or FuzzBuster (do they still make those??!) wont cure though. Otherwise, it was great to run with. I wont say too much as after a couple more runs and a bike ride or two, I'll do a proper review.

Anyway, I digress. Why gutted? I got home, text the missus to say I was home safe, got in the bath after a stretch, and when I got out, the screen on my N95 was off. I though it must be the battery, so put it on charge.... nothing. Turned it on, it lit up but the screen stayed black. Took it apart, left in the airing cupboard (it hadn't got wet, but just in case) then tried it again this morning. Nothing, nada, kaput. B***locks.

Just at a time when I'm starting to save some money towards a new bike or upgrades for the current one, this happens, and I now have to buy another phone. Ain't it always the way............................ and I couldn't get the track off Sports Tracker either!!

Salomon XA20 Hydration pack - first look

2010-06-05T17:36:00.000-07:00

A trip to the nearest town with any decent shops today found me eyeing up shiny things, and another purchase, a Salomon XA20 hydration pack.

I recently bought a Quechua (that's Decathlons own brand stuff for those of you that dont know it) Diosaz Raid 10 hydration pack, in the main for use on the bike, but also for running. As it turned out, a few rides later, and I was wanting more space. By the time a full 2L bladder, tools, spare tube, pump, waterproof, guide book, camera etc had gone in, there was little room for food!!! 10L just wasn't going to be enough. The Diosaz was a tidy little pack, but the design of an outer pocket which is directly in front of the main compartment means only one or the other is realistically useable when the other is packed.

A nose through the new "Trail Running" magazine had me looking at 15-20L packs, and in particular I fancied the Inov8 Race Pro packs, and made a mental note to get one, at £40 for the 20L it offered pretty much what I wanted, but before I got round to ordering one, I spied this little beauty in the shop last week, and decided when I was up there again today to go and buy it. It's a truly cracking little pack. Heres the blurb from Salomon:

FEATURES

Adjustable sternum strap releives pressure on the shoulders.
LITE shoulder straps spread the weight whilst allowing for breathability.
Airvent LITE wicks moisture and allows cool air to percolate.
Quick fit belt allows for fast fitting, useful when running.
External bladder access means that you needn't empty the contents of your bag just to get to the bladder.
Zipped belt pocket for storing essentials.
Powermesh front pocket allows for quick stowage.
Salomon Custom System offers a greater level of comfort.
Waterproof zippers seal the internal space from the rain.
Water evacuation bottom eyelets allows any internal water to escape thus limiting the likelihood of getting wet gear.
Compression straps will shrink the pack to hold the contents more firmly.
Whistle included for emergencies.

SPECIFICATIONS

Weight: 465g (1 lb)
Dimensions: 48 x 24 x 18cm
Volume: 20 Litres

And it has customisable options like some of the OMM packs, my Mountain Mover included, and the option of a chest pouch is brilliant. If like me you have the OMM Trio chest pouch, it should be pretty straightforward getting it to fit.

These options mean you can customise this pack to suit whatever genre of outdoor sport you participate in, and for me, its biking and running. A full review will follow after half a dozen uses, and Im relishing getting outside to test it, check back for results soon!!

One thing though, Salomon, why do you need waterproof zips AND drainage holes........after all, we all know waterproof zips work ;0)

To upgrade, or not to upgrade, that is the question......

2010-06-05T16:37:00.000-07:00

So, me and my limited tech knowledge on bikes!!!! After recent rides, I decided I need to upgrade the forks and brakes on the bike to get the best out of it, and found a cracking set of Manitou air forks on eBay for £60. Bargain........ or so I thought.....
They arrived on Friday, and i unpacked them with the vigour of a kid with a free pass in the sweet shop. Looked good, and had everything I wanted, air damped instead of crappy springs, lockout for those uphill bits, adjustable everything.......... great. Then went to do a rough measure before starting to take the old forks off...... and they are too bloody short!!! Now, I asked th guy about the steerer tube on eBay, to make sure that was ok, and sure enough, perfect. Lose a spacer and they would fit perfect. But, the actual lower legs themselves...... about 40mm shorter than my current forks. 40mm you cry, thats nothing!!! But, those of you who know trigonometry will know that 40mm will alter the angle at the head, and the ride will be affected significantly.

So, back to the drawing board!! And thats not all. To upgrade my brakes was going to be a nightmare. Research showed that my Shimano (curse them!!) hubs were centrelock, and incompatible with just about 95% of hydraulic brakes on the aftermarket scene today because they all use a 6 bolt rotor. To go a rotor size or two bigger on the front required an adapter, thats fine, but, to bthen find out I was going to have to shell out for two centrelock to 6-bolt adapters....... that was nearly 50 quid in adapters before buying the new brakes!!!

So, a look on eBay revealed what I suspected. I could spend £200 on forks, brakes, adapters, all used as new would increase the cost by a factor of three minimum, or, I could shell out £250 for a bike, again used, that already had the bits I wanted on it! No brainer really!! And I have the option of selling the Hardrock, or whacking some semi-slick tyres on and using it on the road for some cross training, though, to be honest, I'd prefer to buy a cheap road bike.

So, if you know anyone who fancies a decent entry level Specialized MTB........ drop me a line!

Blood and sweat, but no tears.........

2010-06-03T01:45:00.000-07:00

What with having a week off, and the weather so good, it seemed rude not to get out for a ride this week. After Bics little scrape with a wall, we had to bin our planned trip to The Long Mynd and Cannock Chase, so I decided to have a blast on the Mynd on my own........

At Shrewsbury station, a nice lass with a nice bike came up, clearly waiting for the same train. We got talking on the train, and it turned out she was heading up there as well, and suggested we ride together. I had no problem with having company, so agreed, and found out her name was Lou.

We settled on climbing "the Pig" a route on which I did my final descent on my last visit, and it was still a fair climb, but nowhere near as bad as Carding Mill. At the top, we stopped and agreed a plan, Lou had never done Minton Batch and I was planning to do it again with the new helmet camera, so that was sorted, then back through the forestry, across the top to Pole Bank and descend finally down Carding Mill Valley.

After some nice riding across the top, we stopped at the top of Minton Batch for a breather. I was now drenched in sweat, it was a gorgeous day. A fair few walkers around, but nowhere near as bad as last time I was up here. And so we set off, camera rolling, me in front, but it wasnt long before Lou went belting past me, for a wee lass she rides bloody well!! Everything went off nicely at the top bar a quick pause for a chain-off, but about halfway down, I somehow lost grip on a muddy patch, and the bike went right and I went left. I picked myself up, a few grazes on shoulder, arm and leg, plus a bruised ego, but I was fine so I cracked on. A little further down I caught a rut - a sign of Minton Batches popularity - and came off again, but not badly. And just to add to the disgrace, almost at the bottom, there were two girls sunning themselves on the bank of the stream, rude not to have a look, and I lost my line completely and the bike headed over the grassy bank.I skipped off it rather gracefully, and ploughed on again. At the bottom, Lou was waiting, probably for ages, and had a good giggle about the last off! But it was then I realised I hadn't lowered my seat, so my centre of gravity was all wrong all the way down, and all those offs bar the last, probably could have been avoided.

Then onwards, and a lung busting climb up through the forestry, not very steep, but oh so long. Last time, I walked most of it. This time, I cleared it! I think Lou being there helped - I mean, you cant let a girlie beat you twice in one day! Across the top again, and finally a blast down Carding Mill and back to Church Stretton - at least it was a blast for me, poor Lou got a puncture right at the top. I waited ages halfway down, started to worry and legged it back up, left the bike, to see if she was ok, I really thought she had had an off. But round a few corners and here she came, pushing, and cursing her luck. At least she was ok.

So we walked back to Church Stretton together, and stopped for a much needed pint. Back on the train, and at Shrewsbury, we parted company having exchanged numbers and agreeing to try and get out together again. Thanks Lou for your company, it made a good day even better!

Sports Tracker

2010-05-26T12:41:00.000-07:00

Anyone else use it? Been using it along with other GPS tools on my N95 for a while now, and its very good. I use it mainly for running, but its good on the bike too, walking I tend to use the track function in UTM data - more of that later........

I'm training for the Cardiff Half Marathon in October, so I need to be able to track easily my exercise every week, especially my runs.Sports Tracker makes it simple. Turn on Sports Tracker, do the activity, view the log, upload it, view on Sports Tracker webpage - easy! You can view your runs as a diary, and as individual runs, share them on social sites.....all with a few clicks. It really is childs play. In the coming weeks I'll starts posting some of my runs as my training moves up a notch, and some of my rides too. I think its high time to buy a cheap road bike and do some road work now too. Id run every night, but these 40 year old knees wont take that sort of punishment.

Here's tonights run, its shared publicly so you should be able to view it. A sub-25 minute 5K for my fast run tonight, Im pretty pleased with that. Cardiff is a flat ad fast course, so running 13 miles should be straightforward, so my aim now has to be running a respectable time. I'd love to do under 1 hr 50 minutes, but I just cant see it at the moment........ I'll be happy with anywhere under 2 hours for now.

Chain Reaction Cycles

2010-05-25T05:31:00.000-07:00

For all you bikers I just want to give a big shout out to Chain Reaction Cyles - cool name for a bike shop, but, just about the best service I have received anywhere, ever!!

Another order placed yesterday morning arrived today from Northern Ireland where they are based, amazingly quick, and their customer support and advice is second to none. And the prices are excellent too, so well worth a look if you are after some new bike bits. gear, or even a bike...... those Ghost bikes featured on the front page dont half look tasty :0)

Bike epic on the Long Mynd

2010-05-23T14:05:00.000-07:00

The Long Mynd is not too far away from me, around an hour by train, and I’d read loads about the quality of MTB riding there, so I recently decided to take the bike for a blast there. Readers of Trail will know of Tom Hutton, and he has written many guide books on MTBing in Wales, and the Long Mynd was a “bonus” route in one of them – not in Wales, but so good it would be a travesty to omit it!

It stands proudly above the town of Church Stretton, a pretty little town just Southeast of Shrewsbury, and has some fantastic scenery nearby – Wenlock Edge guards the opposite flank of the town, and the Wrekin and Stiperstones are both fairly close by. Its well known for the gliding club on the summit, and is well used by paragliders and microlights too, but is less well known for its MTB routs, except perhaps amongst locals........

I caught the train from town on a dry Saturday morning that promised a good day,and the forecast looked good. The train was delayed by nearly an hour after it broke down near Machynlleth, and I nearly gave up and went for a spin elsewhere, but was glad I persisted. It duly came, and I got to Church Stretton by 11am. I was worried I would have to cut my ride short so as to be home at a sensible time, but set of thinking I’d cross that particular bridge when I came to it. Right now, I was focused on heading to Carding Mill Valley, and the first climb of the day – and what a climb!! Now, I may be new to this MTB malarkey, but I know what the granny ring is! So, granny ring selected, I tried to get going on the climb – no chance every time I pushed the pedals the front wheel lifted off the ground, all the bike wanted to do was wheelie! There were two nice young ladies watching and having a bit of a giggle by now, so in the end I gave up, got off and pushed most of that first climb!! More skills practice needed, Phil!

The picture above shows the view back down to Carding Mill Valley, and is a bit deceptive, it’s a lot steeper than it looks. With the first climb of the day out of the way, I set off acoss the top on some wonderful singletrack, heading for Pole Bank and the viewpoint there. The views were stunning. I could see Cader Idris in the distance, it’s massive bulk and the sinister outline of Cyfrwy Arete unmistakeable. The Clywidian Hills were prominent, as were the hills closer to my home, Plynlimon being the most obvious. All around the Long Mynd is flat, and this heightened the view to the distant hills and mountains.

I lingered a while to take some photos, and then headed off to my next waypoint, the marker post that marks the junction with the bridleway heading down to Stanbatch. This was a steep descent, and strewn with loose rocks and some tight switchbacks, but was a fun descent. For years, I had seen mountain bikers pushing, carrying or riding their steeds to the top of some big hills and could never understand the attraction – until today. When I got to the bottom of the Stanbatch descent, brake discs smoking, I knew. And I was grinning like a Cheshire cat, buzzing on adrenaline and glad that I had joined that particular band of outdoors folk.

Another bridleway linked to the next section and ran past a farm, the bridleway itself very muddy in places and with some deep puddles. I grit my teeth and went at them full pelt, mud and water flying everywhere and caking both me and the bike. I hadn’t been this muddy since I was about ten years old, and I was loving it. And so the the next climb, another very steep descent on road back up to the gliding club, and past the area that the paragliders use to get airborne. The sky was thick with them and bought some colourful contrast to the skies. At the top, after another push I’m afraid, I headed past the gliding club and over to the start of what I had really come for – the Minton Batch descent. I had read about it a lot, how good it was, but also how dangerous it could be if you were reckless, and had watched lots of helmet camera footage of it. A few offs on some of them, but nothing serious, and I was keen to get it under my belt. So, off I went, the bike bouncing over the rocky start, and weaving through the ruts that suggested it was fairly popular.

And then down, ever faster and with the brake

covered, I flew down the lovely flowing singletrack that is really narrow in places and has a steep drop to one side in parts – I didn’t look that way! I was too focused on the track ahead, and picking my line. Sheep on the track were scattering everywhere, and a few walkers stopped to watch my fly past, through fords on over a few short rocky drops. I was having a ball. I stopped very briefly to take a picture back up the trail, then screamed on past the farm, and down to the road, it was over all too soon.

A short ride along the road took me back into the forestry, and another long climb to do, but I knew it was the last climb so I attacked it. Near the top, I noticed a track coming down from the forest and a large puddle where it met the road....... time for some fun then!! So, I set the camera up on the mini tripod in the middle of the fire road, out the self timer on 30 secs and legged it up the track with the bike. Turned around and flew back down, and I was gutted to see it flash a split second before I hit the water. No way was I doing that again, so I packed up the camera and carried on. It was a good picture, but not really what I wanted!

Back across the top again, and a lunch stop at a lovely and quiet spot overlooking Wenlock Edge I fed my face and soaked up the views in the sunshine. And then came the last descent of the day, across the Northern end of the mountain, and then down into the valley that runs down to All Stretton. The top part of this descent was a fast flowing ride on wide grassy track, then steepening and some rocky parts interspersed with the grass that took me by surprise, so it was a case of lifting the front wheel up and jumping it. Fantastic! The next part was very narrow singletrack that cut down the contours in a straight line, and this proved to be the only time today I made a real mess of it. There were three lads waiting down the bottom to ride up the track I was coming down. And, as you do, I let the bike rip. I was doing really well too, till I hit a very narrow part of the track, barely wider than the wheels, and a rock in the path made me swerve – to much, and I could feel the bike heading towards the very steep drop to my left. I jammed the anchors on and the bike came to a sharpish halt, thanks heavens for disc brakes! I passed the lads with a knowing smile, and cracked on, down into All Sretton, and finally back to the station to wait for my train.

I sat waiting for the train, and with my MP3 player now blasting my eardrums, I started reliving the descents, my grin getting ever wider. Anyone looking at me must have thought I’d been let out on day release!

If you are ever stuck for a new place to get out and ride the MTB, don’t overlook the Long Mynd – its a full day out with some awesome riding, and I cant wait to go back.

New toys......

2010-05-23T10:14:00.000-07:00

Just blagged myself a Oregon Scientific ATC2K helmet camera on eBay, for the princely sum of £25!! I can start using it on bike trips now and record some clips of the fun descents, and link them to the blog via YouTube. You gotta love eBay ;0)

Tryfan, Bristly Ridge and Y Gribin

2010-05-23T08:06:00.000-07:00

One of my work colleagues has been asking me for ages to get him out on the hills with me, and, after discovering he was pretty keen on climbing and bouldering, I thought Tryfan would be a great starting point for him. So, yesterday, we set out in glorious blue skies for Ogwen Valley, and picked up another of my hill walking buddies, Bic, on the way.

We arrived at the foot of Tryfan around 9.30, and set off straight away. There were a lot of cars around, and with the scorching weather, I figured the hills would be busy today, and Tryfan likely top of the list for many, so it was a surprise when we saw relatively few people for quite some time.

We set off up the North Ridge, making a beeline for the Cannon, so Pete could get some pictures on it, and of course I had to have one or two on there myself, as you do!

We then cracked on, up to the summit. Bic did Adam and Eve about 15 times while I tried to get a dramatic shot (just one more mate!!) I had no desire to do it myself, so, after a quick bite to eat, we cracked on down the South Ridge, the plan being to do Bristly Ridge via on of the smaller side gulleys and then up on to Glyder Fawr. After the usual knee jarring descent, we got to Bwlch Tryfan, and Bic started looking at Sinister Gulley, and announced he fancied going up that way. Now, I have done it once before, or at least part of it, and wasn’t really fussed about doing it again, but as the other two lads wanted a bash, I thought I may as well throw my lot in with them.

Last time, about 2/3rds of the way up, there is a narrow ledge to be crossed, with a long drop behind, to allow you to continue on up the gulley – I bottled it last time, mainly due to my shoulder (recurrent dislocation) but this time, with shoulder newly fixed, I didn’t bat an eyelid and just went straight over it – what was all the fuss about last time??

After passing this bit, we were then nearly at the top – and that is where I nearly came unstuck. The last climb out of the gulley is a bit tricky, narrow, and though there are good holds, once you are on it, it is very difficult to see where your feet are going. I found it a bit unnerving on the first attempt, and decided to drop back down and go around the same way as when I bottled out last time. Two guys were coming up, and one of them asked if I was ok, I told him I was fine, just couldn’t manage the last bit, so was going to go around. I never did get the guys name, but, he told me “if you have got this far, you can do the last bit” I wasn’t convinced, but, after a few more words of gentle encouragement from him, I decided to give it another go. With BIc and Pete encouraging from above, and these two guys from below, I flew up it! So, I topped out of Sinister Gulley properly for the first time, and felt an amazing sense of achievement. I shook the two guys who had helped by the hand, then stopped for a breather, and reflected on what I’d just done.

On we went, over Great Pinnacle Gap and up on to the top of Bristly Ridge, sweating like mad in the scorching heat. A gentle breeze had blown up by now, and the cloud that had been forming all day over the Carneddau started to move over and shrouded the sun now and again to provide a little welcome relief from the heat.

We had lunch here, then headed over to the Cantilever again to get pics of Pete.

I didn’t bother, as there were a lot of people around, and we had bumped into a guy who looked like he was MRT, so we had a natter with him, and indeed he was a member of Ogwen MRT on his day off, but still carrying a pack full of ropes, helmet, radio, slings and harnesses...... dedication for you. He was a really nice chap, and turned out we had met him before – he was manning a checkpoint on the summit of Pen Yr Ole Wen lasyt year on the Oggie 8 - he took a picture for us. We walked a short way with him chatting all the while, and then said our farewells as we headed off down Y Gribin to make our way back to the car. Another knee shattering descent, but worth it, some of the views of Tryfan and Bristly Ridge from here are amongst the best.

So, back to the car, all very happy, we had all achieved a personal first that day, so it had been a cracking trip, and one worth celebrating, so we finished off the day with a pint in the beer garden next to Cotswolds in Betws Y Coed.

Brilliant. Id just like to say once again, thanks to the two guys who helped me in sSinister Gulley, and to Pete and Bic for all their encouragement, it was a huge help, and I achieved something I had never done before, so thanks guys.

And another trip to Tryfan has reinforced why it is my favourite mountain. No two days on Tryfan are ever the same, be it the weather, the route up you take, or the people you meet on the way. A truly iconic mountain.

Thanks also to Bic for the use of the photo with me in it, taken in Sinister Gulley

Trail meets..... in the beginning

2010-05-21T12:09:00.000-07:00

July 2007, Edale, the place where a lot of this really kicked off for me. I'd started to read "Trail" magazine, and joined their forum. We had some good times on there in the old days, and I decided one evening, "look, we all talk to each other, why not get together for a walk?" Which in hillwalkers parlez of course meant ""piss up"

So, I put a post on the forum, and before we knew it, 15 of us had arranged to meet at Edale for a walk around Kinder. I met a local, Derek aka Robbo, and travelled with him from Wrexham.

Meeting folk for the first time can be an experience, doing it in a Tesco car park with a weekends camping kit, doubly so! I had hardly any gear of my own, so I begged, borrowed and stole, and kitted myself out for a weekend of camping, walking and hangovers!

In Edale, after tents went up, it wasnt long before everyone was arriving and we were shaking hands with new people...... amazing, I felt like I'd known them for years. Terry and Eion turned up after an epic journey on the train, suitably pissed up already, and Terrys now famous video camera was out doing the business. We had some real laughs that night, Terry and Eion really were the stars of the show, how they ever got tents up and got into them to sleep I'll never know!

Mike, aka hiker9, had sorted us a route around Kinder, and it proved to be a fantastic day, The weather played ball, and it was dry all day, even blue skies! Still, it was hard work to start with, hangovers are not funny! Beer seemed like a great idea the night before, now, on the early climbs, my body was fighting for energy nd found only alcohol, and I was pissed all over again! Still, onwards and upwards, Claire Maxtead from Trail had turned up and we had to make an impression!

Onto Kinder, through the bog that was the summit, and then onwards for a much needed lunch break. Dave, aka cheers2u illustrating perfectly what a good night we'd had. We had already stopped for ice cream in Castleton, and now lunch was a much needed boost. I felt a lot better with food inside me, and off we set on the final leg, some of us electing to head down Jacobs ladder, the others taking the more sedate and scenic route. And of course, no decent walk is complete without a beer in the pub at then end, so we duly obliged!

Again to the pub on Saturday night, and another hangover to contend with on the journey home, but, I left with many fond memories, and many new found friends. The Trail forum got messed around with and turned into LFTO, and, in my opinion, has never been the same since, but, through it all, I still speak to, and walk with, most of those "founder 15". This post is a small tribute to all of them, you all know who you are guys!

I should of course mention the many others I met on meets after that first one, and people I have spoken to but have yet to meet - good folk one and all, and it has been a privilege to share my hill time with all of them.

Where it all began........

2010-05-21T05:57:00.000-07:00

Back in 2006, my youngest daughter asked me “Dad, why do you smoke…..?” And I couldn’t give her an answer, other than, “because I do………” And it got me thinking. I decided that at New Year, I was going to stop. I carried on as normal for a couple of months, and then, on New Years Eve, we were at a party at a mates house. At midnight, I went outside, lit my last cigarette, smoked it and said to myself “that’s my last one, ever”. I told no one, and it didn’t click with my family for nearly a week!

After that first week, I felt healthier, could taste my food better……. And I decided I needed an incentive to make sure I stayed off them. What? I didn’t know, but I wanted to regain some fitness too. One day in work, some friends asked me if I would take them up a mountain, they wanted to get into walking. They knew I had done a bit when I was younger, and that I was pretty nifty with a map and compass…… so, I dug out my maps of Snowdonia, and looked for a fairly easy walk to take them on as a starter. I settled on Y Garn, and on a fantastic morning in February, we set off, up the Devils Kitchen steps.

On reaching the top, I knew just how unfit I had become, and I thought to myself “this was a bad idea!!!” But, I ploughed on, as did the others, on the slog that is the path up to Y Garn. And when I got there…….. magical. The sky was so crystal clear, we could see the Lake District mountains, the Wicklows In Southern Ireland across the water, even Blackpool Tower!! Amazing, and I was awestruck. We were so blown away by the view no one spoke for a few minutes. And then, at that moment, I knew, I wanted to do this again!!!

And so I did. I went on a forum meet in Edale a couple of months later, and met a fine bunch of guys, most of whom I am still firm friends with today. We walked around Kinder, got pissed in the pub, and generally had a damn good time! And that meet, and the people I met there allowed me to branch out. Living as I do in Mid Wales, and not being a driver, transport to anywhere is very limited. But after this meet, I arranged to meet folk and get lifts and started getting out to new places, places I had never seen before. I climbed Snowdon, did Crib Goch (yay!!), Tryfan, the Brecon Beacons, even a trip or two to the Lakes. And with every trip, as my experience grew, my hunger to do more and more of it grew with it.

As I pointed out in my welcome post, I have diversified even more now. I was introduced by my now very good friend Terry to wild camping – more of that later. And in a bid to get fitter, I started running. Then I thought, why not combine the two? And so I did. I’m the worlds crappest fell runner for sure, but I try, and I like it! And then to cross train on my non running days I decided to buy a bike. Initially my thinking was a hybrid or road bike……. But then someone said “why not spend the money on a decent 2^nd hand MTB, then you can have some fun on it on the weekends….?” So I did. And got bitten by another bug! Im also the worlds crappest MTB rider, but in time, and with practice, I hope my skills will improve, but as one of the guys on the MTB forum told me – just get out there and ride!!

So, if you find yourself driving past a mountain, looking up and wondering what its like up there……. Then get a map and compass (and learn how to use them!!), and then get up there!! You don’t need soopa doopa expensive kit, just a few basics, and a lot of common sense, and a sense of adventure. Same with MTB. A decent second hand bike, and a few basic essentials will see you right, then its just a matter of getting out there and riding it! There are plenty of trail centres all over the UK with trails for a broad range of skills from newbie to hardcore, and similarly, you will find plenty of wilderness rides to suit all abilities.

So………..

Why are you still reading this……??? GET OUT THERE!!!!

Hi, and welcome!!

2010-05-20T13:09:00.000-07:00

Following some of my mates escapades in our wonderful great outdoors on their blogs has bought me a lot of joy, so I decided it was time I did one myself!!

As my friends will know, I've been hillwalking for around four years now, and after inspiration from a few mates (you know who you are!!) got into wild camping too!

In pursuit of much needed hill fitness, I started running last year, and Im currently training for a half marathon in Cardiff in October. I also recently bought myself a second hand mountain bike, and have been bitten by that particular bug too!!!

So, these pages are an attempt to share with my friends, and anyone else who cares to read, my time out in the hills be it walking, wild camping, MTBing or running. I hope it brings readers some joy and inspiration.