Mountain Biking for Beginners

Last Nights Ride

2011-08-23T10:12:00.002+01:00

Finally found some time to get out on my bike last night! Full details are on my Sports Tracker profile, which you can access directly or via the new widget I have added to this blog.
Due to a later than planned start and an overcast early evening, I decided on a shorter ride to beat the fast darkening light.
Decided to head out of Merley and down into Wimborne to then ride up as many hills as I could find. Riding with my heart rate monitor I endevoured to keep my heart rate above 72% and below 90%.
The route was all on-road, so traffic was a bit of a concern, but rode hard as I could muster.
Final stats were:

7 miles total ride length
Max speed 33mph
Average speed 10.2mph
Time 36 mins

Heart rate stats were a little disappointing

Average 64%
Max 97%

New Race Face Respond Handlebars

2011-08-03T14:49:00.001+01:00

Impulse purchase from Chain Reactions Cycles this week! A set of Race Face Respond low raiser bars!

Race Face Respond

As per previous blogs I have an issue with my left hand, during longer rides (numbness). I have tried a variety of options (Specialised BG grips, Specialised BG gel gloves, variety of handlebar positions etc) all with small improvements but not a total solution.
Additionally I have wanted to try re-positioning my brake levers and gear shifters further down my bars, as advised by many forums, articles etc. But as I have the standard factory fit GT riser bar, this is not really an option and only allows a small amount of adjust due the design of the bar rise and thickness.
Therefore I decided I needed a wider bar with a shallow rise. So when I saw the Race Face Respond low riser bar on offer for £20 at CRC then it was simple impulse decision!
The spec of the bars is:

Dimensions: 710mm width, 9° rearward, 4° upward
Rise:.5"
Bar Diameter: 31.8mm
Weight: 335g (.5" rise)

The Respond bar is engineered to offer an optimal combination of strength, stiffness, and weight at an attractive price point. Manufactured from cold drawn, seamless Air Alloy material. Butted for an optimal strength to weight ratio. Wider construction and re-designed taper offers more width (710mm) and increased stiffness.

Arrived very promptly in a well packaged box. Then it was outside to remove the old set of bars and fit the new set. Very simple to fit due to helpful alignment and measurement markings. Within 15 minutes I had fitted and adjusted, then I was out on my bike enjoying the new cockpit set up.

Highly recommended, both Race Face bars and ChainReactionCycles

Crud Catcher Front Mudguard

2011-07-06T16:33:00.000+01:00

Up until now I have not been the biggest fan or advocate of mudguards, either front or rear on a mountain bike. Call me a traditionalist or dirt fiend, but coming back from a ride, a good measure of how much fun the ride was should be how muddy and dirty is my bike and more importantly how muddy am I!
Maybe my opinion is the minority or slightly niche, but until this week I have always dismissed considering buying mudguards for my bike. That changed on my last two rides!
The first incident on my ride was during a blast through Delph Woods near Broadstone (Dorset). Some great twisting single track was being enjoyed when I noticed a rather unpleasant smell radiating up and around me. After a couple of minutes I stopped to investigate and found to my disgust that my front tyre was "caked" in dog sh*t, which had then sprayed up on my forks, underside of the frame and all over my shoes and lower legs. I was livid cursing inconsiderate dog owners. I did my best to clear off the excess with sticks and clumps of leaves, but it did spoil the enjoyment of my ride. Once home it was lots of washing and extensive cleaning and scrubbing.
After my anger and frustration had passed I chalked the experience down to bad luck and thought little more of it.
That was until my next ride a couple of days later. A different route and location but a very similar incident. Dog sh*t everywhere, not as bad as the first but still not a pleasant experience.
Therefore it was into research mode, looking on-line and then visiting my local bike shop Primera in Poole. The choices or options seemed quite straightforward. Either a oval type front mudguard that attaches to the underside of the down-tube. Or a "fender" style contraption that is inspired by moto-cross bikes.
On style alone, I was considering the "fender" style from Topeak. A model called the Defender, at an acceptable cost that appeared to offer mud protection above the tyre under the fork and at the rear of the tyre. On visiting Primera and picking one up off the shelf and taking advice from the helpful assistant, I changed my mind. It was not the smallest and in my opinion was quite long and not very wide. Although one advantage was that it attached to the front fork, so would turn with the wheel, offering potentially better coverage from spray on corners etc.
But the man in the shop recommended the Crud Catcher. A simple classic design at a great price. It is made of a really good grade plastic that appears to be very tough and hard wearing. A nice feature is that the end nearest the fork is made of a softer rubber compound so it will not clip or catch on the front fork.

To fit and secure to the frame is again very straightforward. Using the two supplied rubber looped bungees you secure via a clip under the mudguard and then loop through a hole, around the frame and back to another fixing clip. Simple, fitted in seconds.
The cost was great at £7 and it comes in a choice of black, white, red and blue. I opted for the blue version to match my frame.
Last night it was very poor weather so didn't go out for a ride. Planning to go tonight, so will blog a review or opinion when I have used it in anger.

Cateye Vectra Wireless Computer

2011-06-10T09:11:00.002+01:00

Knowing and viewing attributes and elements when riding my bike is quite important to me. I have a need to know....

How fast am I travelling now?
How far have I ridden so far?
What was my fastest speed?

Therefore I invested in a very small, quite inexpensive piece of kit called a Cateye Vectra Wireless computer. First impressions when I opened the box was good.

The display unit was solidly made and appeared to be very high quality. The second part is the sensor unit that is fitted to your front fork. Again well made, robust and looked very sturdy. Read the instructions and fitted the unit is minutes. I decided to mount the display unit on my stem, to keep it central and easy to view, rather than locate on my handlebars. Fixings come included and consist of a mounting pad and two small zip ties for the display unit and the same for the sensor unit on the stem.

Set up and testing was again straight forward, as the display registers the sensor unit signal is being received using a pulsing symbol on the display.

The display itself is quite large and easy to read, although it doesn't have a back light, so nighttime or low light levels makes it a little difficult to see. But I would argue that in these conditions full attention should be in front of you anyway!

Operation of the display unit is via a single solid button at the bottom front edge. Clicking this button cycles the smaller display between various information. For example clock for time, maximum (or top) speed recorded, odometer for total miles travelled.

The speed is the large display that remains consistent and always displayed on the front screen. I have been more than happy and pleased with the reliability, build quality and functionality of this small and very good unit from Cateye.

I purchased the unit from my local bike shop after doing some initial research online to gauge opinions and feedback, plus I took advice from teh helpful man in the shop as well. Cost me less than £25 and has worked relaiably for about 3 years without (as yet) a need to replace the battery. The full specification from teh website is as follows:

Top Features of the Cateye Vectra Wireless Cycle Computer

Current speed

Trip distance

Odometer

Clock

Maximum speed

Auto start/stop

Universal Mount

Auto power saving

Sleep mode

Cordless transmission

Odometer set

Stem and handlebar mount

Cateye's new Vectra computer offers recreational riders cordless technology at a great price. Featuring five useful functions and seven features, the Vectra is easy to use and setup thanks its one-button operation.

Supplied with a multi mount bracket, the Vectra can be mounted to either the handle bars or the stem and is suitable for all types of bicycle.

Latest Ride 8th June 2011

2011-06-09T10:50:00.006+01:00

Took advantage of the great weather last night to go for an after work ride along the Castleman Trail-way with my friend Ashley.

Prepared my bike the night before. Mainly focused on cleaning, de-greasing and lubricating my chain, rear cassette and front mech. As I have blogged about previously I have started using Muc Off Degreaser. This stuff is fantastic, you just spray and watch the build up of grime, oil and grease just melt away; brilliant stuff that I can not recommend highly enough. I then tried a tip that I had read about on the Muc Off cleaning guide via their website of using Muc Off Bike Spray to help dry and remove moisture from your chain once you had cleaned, degreased and then wiped off any excess. This I tried and it worked really well. Then it was on with some chain lube. Recently I have purchased some Muc Off Dry Lube, so with a clean chain I dripped this thick gloppy lube on my chain as instructed. Again I would highly recommend this lube, chain glided really nicely all ride!

So my bike was fully prepped and I was ready for a high intensity fun ride. Met Ashley at 7:30pm and we joined the Castleman Trail-way at the top of Gravel Hill. This is fast becoming my favorite part of the route as it is a twisty, tight, downhill piece of single track that rolls really nicely and is a great way to get the legs turning. Within a few minutes we reached Broadstone and continued at a good pace through Creekmoor before descending off the trail-way for a quick blast along a straight section that brings us out near Upton Country House. Found a small short cut through that avoids crossing the fast paced roads where the dual carriageway exits, by taking a pathway used by the local farmer to move his cattle. A little overgrown, but fun to ride through at pace.
Then into Upton Country Park, hang a sharp left and then hit the pedals hard as we ride along the great gravel paths through the very picturesque country park. Soon we are out the other side onto Holes Bay. This is a little challenging at first as we are into a head wind. But side by side with good conversation we are soon at the end of Holes Bay and by Asda. Quick discussion of where too next, sees us heading towards Poole Quay and over the lifting bridge, through Hamworthy via Blandford Road. A quick glance at the development site of the new Twin Sails bridge and then on up the hill heading out of Hamworthy.
Finally reach the train arches and then back into Upton Country Park. Still maintaining a good pace, we are soon through and back out on to the Castleman Trail-way. Approaching the big short climb back up and onto the Creekmoor part of the trail-way is always good for a laugh, with granny ring selected we try and shift the body position to keep traction on both front and back wheels to reach the top, which we did!
Fast pace for last blast back to the end of trail-way at Merley by the Willet Arms pub then head for home. Great ride, excellent company and a fast pace.
As per previous blog I now ride with a Polar Heart Rate monitor. My stats were an average heart rate of 73% and maximum heart rate of 83%, so not too bad.
My route, speeds, altitude, distance and Google map of my route last night is on my public profile within Sports Tracker. Last night's route can be viewed by clicking here

Total route was 15.4 miles
Average speed was: 10.3 mph
Max speed was: 21.6 mph

Ride and Crash!!

2011-06-03T14:39:00.006+01:00

Last week I had my first significant "off" from my bike. I don't like to use the word or phrase crash, as this is a little over dramatic.
As you may be aware if you have read any of previous blog posts or the about me section within my profile or blog, then you will know that I am fairly new to the joys of all things mountain biking!

The details of my "off" are not that significant or in any way unusual but they did bring into focus the importance of good or proper riding wear and protection.
During my ride I saw an interesting looking path adjacent to my normal route. This twisting route looked a lot of fun and ran virtually parallel to the trail-way. I decided to check it and started to ride along it.
At the start it was really good fun and challenging. Some great twists and turns, little dips with the odd exposed tree root.
The surface was pretty solid and was a little worn, so I knew it was a used route for either riders, joggers or walkers. The track was strewn in places with pine cones and fir needles from the surrounding pine trees. This was due to the unseasonal windy weather we had had for the past couple of days, although I did not give this much thought at the time.
My confidence increasing I started to go faster and enjoy the sweeping elements of this fun single track route. Then I came to section that had more denser trees and I began to weave through them; so far all good! Then I took a section a little quicker around a sharper than expected sweep between the trees and was heading towards a large holly bush a few yards in front of me. Wrongly I hit my brakes and tried to steer away from it in one movement without really adjusting my body position. This is when my front wheel lost grip and slide away under me. Now I am leaning to my right trying to steer away from the holly bush and my front wheel has lost contact and I am heading downwards, when the sliding front wheel hits an exposed tree route and stops very suddenly sending me off my bike sideways.
Now this all happened very fast but my exit from my bike was at an angle towards the large pine trees I had moments before been happily traversing through! I could see the mighty wide tree trunk coming into close proximity and I hit it hard! First with my hip then knee and then shoulder, before finally as my body recoiled slightly my head gave a glancing blow against the mighty trunk!
Now I must say no real damage was done to me, aside from my very bruised ego, and a nice bruise on my hip. But after lying and then sitting for a few moments I did begin to realise and appreciate the importance and value of wearing the correct attire and protection.
My hands were all good due to my gloves; my head and face were all fine due to my helmet; my hip could have been a lot worse if I had not been wearing my padded protection under shorts.
After a few moments I retrieved my bike from under the holly bush and continued my ride, a little slower at first.
Like I said earlier no real damage done to me or my bike but it did refocus my attentions on always be dressed appropriately and the essential basic needs of wearing a helmet and gloves.
God bless my Bell helmet, Specialised gloves and Muddy Fox undershorts!

Riding With A Heart Rate Monitor

2011-06-02T10:37:00.002+01:00

Last night I decided to try riding whilst wearing my Polar heart rate monitor. I have owned a Polar model for a couple of years but never really used whilst out on my bike. So after reading an article on the Polar website about how cyclists are benefiting from training using a heart rate monitor I thought I would give it a go.

So I strapped on my heart rate monitor via the chest strap. This is quite simple, you initially wet or dampen the inside of the chest strap and then locate on your chest centrally below the chest muscle.

Then I put on my Polar F7 watch.

This displays your heart as bpm or as a percentage. My intentions was to ride at an intensity of 70% + at all times, but without exceeding 95%.
A better and fuller explanation from the Polar website is below:

INTRODUCTION TO HEART RATE BASED TRAINING

People often wonder how much and in which intensities they should train. The simplest means of determining this is to listen to your own body. Heart rate based training gives clear guidance on how to train to reach your individual goals, based on your personal heart rate and heart rate variability. Although there are many subjective clues as to how your body is doing during exercise – such as perceived exertion, breathing rate, and physical sensations – none is as reliable as measuring heart rate.Being an accurate measure for workout intensity, recovery level and long-term progress, heart rate is a window to your own fitness. Each person reacts to physical strain individually, depending on the size of the heart, fitness level, skills, and daily changes of stress level. This can be seen in heart rate variability, which measures the variations in the time between successive heart beats. Unlike common misconception, heart does not beat as regular as clockwork. On the contrary, the healthier the heart, the better it adapts to different situations and changing circumstances. Polar training computers can detect these slight changes in heart rate variability by measuring beat-to-beat intervals in milliseconds.With regular training, the heart muscle becomes stronger, so it does not have to contract that often – therefore decreasing heart rate both during exercise and in rest, and increasing heart rate variability, which is a sign of fitness and a healthy heart. Polar has introduced number of features based on heart rate and heart rate variability that help athletes and active people in fitness assessment, guide them in their training and give tools for training follow-up. This way heart rate monitoring enables you to accurately adjust your training program, helping you vary your training depending on your fitness level and the goals you want to achieve by training.

EXERCISE ZONES

Exercise zones are ranges between the lower and upper heart rate limits expressed as beats per minute (bpm) or as percentages of your maximum heart rate (HRmax). HRmax is the highest number of heartbeats per minute during maximum physical exertion.Heart Rate Target ZonesExercise can be divided into three different intensity zones. Each of these intensity levels corresponds to various health and fitness improving mechanisms in your body.

Light Intensity Zone

When your heart beats at 60-70% of your HRmax (HRmax %), you are in the Light Intensity Zone. Whether you have just started working out or you exercise fairly regularly, much of your workout will be in this zone. Fat is the body's main source of energy at this level of intensity; therefore this zone is also good for weight control. This intensity still feels fairly easy for most people and provides, for example, the following benefits:

Helps in weight control

Improves endurance

Improves aerobic fitness

Moderate Intensity ZonePush on to 70-80% of your HRmax, and you are in the Moderate Intensity Zone. This is especially good for people who are exercising regularly. For most people, this is often the fastest pace they can maintain and still remain comfortable and free of pain. Exercising in this zone is particularly effective for improving aerobic (i.e. cardiovascular) fitness. If you are out of shape, your muscles will use carbohydrates for fuel when you are exercising in this zone. As you get fitter, your body starts using a higher and higher percentage of fat for fuel, thus preserving its limited stores of muscle carbohydrate. Exercising in the moderate intensity zone results in some additional benefits:

Improves aerobic fitness

Improves endurance

Helps in weight control

Accustoms your body to exercising at a faster pace

Begins to raise the speed you can maintain without building up lactic acid

Hard Intensity ZoneAt 80-90% of your HRmax, you have moved into the Hard Intensity Zone. Exercise in the hard intensity zone definitely feels "hard". You will find yourself breathing heavily, having tired muscles and feeling fatigued. This intensity is recommended occasionally for fit people. Exercising in this zone is intensive, so it provides some unique benefits:

Increases muscles' tolerance to lactic acid

Improves hard, short effort ability

When you exercise in the correct intensity zones, it guarantees your enjoyment in your favorite sports. Alternate between intensity zones to improve your fitness and get variation in your exercise. Remember that the lower the intensity the longer you can comfortably exercise in it. Exercise in the higher intensity for shorter periods.Note: Polar target heart rate intensity definition is modified from international exercise science authorities' recommendations in which light intensity can reach lower than 60% of HRmax.

My results and experiences were quite enlightening! I managed to mainatain a 73% heart rate intensity average with a maximum heart rate of 91%.
The big thing for me was how it changes your riding pattern or style. At times I was ridding much harder on sections of trail-way where I would normally have taken it a little slower, plus it made the hill climbs a lot steadier as I tried to maintain the heart rate rather than big pushes and then recoveries.
Overall my ride was much more enjoyable and interesting as I was focusing on not just my route and immediate pathway ahead but also on what my heart rate, how I was feeling and what speed I was doing.
The biggest change to my ride was gear selection. It made me think about what gear I was in most off the time. Considering the terrain ahead and what gear I needed to be in to ensure my heart rate and work rate aligned to keep my heart rate above 70%.
This morning I feel like I had a great ride and feel physically much better for it.
Worth considering for your next ride maybe? I will defiantly be using my Polar heart rate monitor much for my training rides.

My ride details and route is available to view on my Sports-Tracker profile http://www.sports-tracker.com/#/workout/gtrudgett/in7qaov40kqkpo1v

Shimano M424 SPD Pedals

2011-05-20T14:42:00.001+01:00

ShThe pedals I invested in and upgraded too as my first venture in to the wonderful world of clip-less pedals was a pair of Shimano M424 spd pedals.

Costing less than £30 these pedals in my opinion are ideal for SPD newbies! The build quality is excellent, with a very well made and solid SPD mechanism in the centre of the pedal that pops up when in use, and can be pushed down when you chose not to use it.
For me this gives me the options I need to ride clipped in or not, dependent on where I am riding, circumstances and choice of footwear.
The Shimano M424 pedal transforms and works as the best-of-both-worlds clip-less or platform pedal. Exterior cage is made of a hard wearing plastic resin, which I have no issues with at all. So far I have ridden many hard miles and to date they have never let me down.
Full spec from Chain Reactions website is....

SPD Off-Road Sport Pedal
Features
• Dual-sided pop-up bindings that position the body at 12.5 degrees angle for easy and fast entry. • Large cages for non-cleated shoes for all around use. • Low maintenance sealed bearing cartridge axle. • Cleat tension adjustment for each rider preference.
Specifications:
• SPD Cleat Surfaces - both surfaces • Pop-up Floating Cage - Yes • Spindle Thread - BC 9/16” x 20T.P.I. • Spindle - chrome-moly • Cartridge Spindle - Yes • Cleat Retention Indicator - Yes • Cleat Retention Adjuster - Yes • Pedal Body - aluminum/ barrel • Cage - resin • Average Weight - 472g (pair)

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=7808

Muddy Fox Glasses from Sports Direct

2011-05-17T10:29:00.001+01:00

Sports Direct is not my favorite shopping destination, but I did manage to spot and purchase a real bargain a few weeks ago.
A pair of Muddy Fox bike glasses, complete with case, cleaning cloth and 4 x inter-changeable lenses.

All for the amazingly low price of just £7.49. Now at this price I wasn't expecting a great deal of quality of durability, but I have been more than pleasantly surprised!
The frames are well designed and fairly light-weight. The individual lenses are fully inter-changeable and come with four options:

Clear
Tinted (black)
Yellow
Orange

I have used the clear and yellow lenses so far. Both have performed excellently. The nose piece is fairly comfortable and the arms grip the side of my head well.All round vision is good with no interference from the frame and even in hot conditions have never had any real issues with the lenses misting up.

My only advice or concern would be in relation to build quality if you changed the lenses on a regular basis as the flex in the frame is not great and maybe after a few regular lens changes might be liable to snapping.

But at less than £8 you could always buy a second set and have the different lenses options. Well worth considering as a great starting set of cycle-specific glasses.

Alpkit Socks

2011-05-16T10:42:00.002+01:00

Quick product review for a great set of mountain bike socks I purchased a couple of months ago. The quality and specification is really good, but the price and value for money was exceptional.
The socks are made by Alpkit. I first became aware of them, via a review on the Bike Radar site. To see the original review just follow the link below:
http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/clothing/socks/product/review-alpkit-akdrenaline-socks-10-twin-pack-36973
As the review quotes:

Although cheap, these socks have already outlasted a couple of pairs of other cycling socks with no signs of going through at the heel or toe.
Now winter’s here, we’re using these warm socks on nearly every ride. They boast a veritable tootsie topography, with stretch, cushioned and tough bits.
With 80 percent Coolmax fabric, they wick well and dry quickly, but they also get the ‘cat pee’ stench far quicker than wool-mix socks.

As the picture above shows, the most attractive element for me was the price. Just £6.50 for two pairs of great specified socks.

Ordered on-line and the service was 1st class. Arrived well packaged, with a personalized note the next day. Great service.

On first ride, the socks felt really good, but really came into their own after a number of rides especially in wet weather. my feet stayed comfortable and mainly dry.

The styling and design are great. I have a white pair and a pale blue pair. Have worn off bike as well, when jogging and long walks.

Highly recommended. Just click the title of this blog to find the Alpkit shop and offers on these great socks.

Bike Ride on Saturday 14th May 2011

2011-05-14T17:33:00.001+01:00

Up this morning and weather looked much better than forecast. Quite windy, a bit cloudy but the occasional burst of sunshine, but most importantly dry.
Left home at just after 11:30am, heading towards the Castleman Trailway. Took a different route onto the trailway and found a great piece of single-track that runs adjacent to the main trailway, but is a little more twisting and has some little objects to avoid, such as tree roots, little rocks and twists in the pathway. Great fun and a faster more fun route to start with.
Once I reached Broadstone, it was back onto the main trailway. Trying to keep the pace high, I continued through Creekmoor and dropped down the very steep slope to then join the route up to Upton County Park.
Last week I discovered and overgrown path that links to a bridle path and an underpass that is used by the local farmer to move his cattle from fields either side of the road and traffic intersection by the dual carriageway and local roads. This not only saves a couple of minutes in time, it means that I don't have to try and cross some fast flowing roads of cars entering and exiting the dual carriageway.
Once in Upton County House it is a swift, sharp left hand turn and then through some really great single-track that twists and turns really nicely through the trees. Took a different path initially which was some great fun running alongside the fields.
Out the other side of Upton Country Park I exit onto the very picturesque Holes Bay part of Poole harbour. This pathway runs and twists around the harbour until you reach the large Asda supermarket on the outskirts of town.
Eight miles into my ride, I stop for a few minutes, take on some fluid and squeeze down a sachet of carbo gel from Hi5.
Then back on my bike, feeling good I decide to head further into Poole. Now at the quayside I decide to take a new route over the lifting bridge and along through Hamworthy. Traffic lights and road works make the first bit of the journey a little scary at times with cars getting a little frustrated and not allowing a great deal of room for bikes, but after this I was out onto the open road and heading through Hamworthy.
In-between the two railway bridges is an entrance back into Upton Country Park. again a great route that is mainly flat with some great twists and turns.
Then I followed the same route back onto the Castleman Trailway and headed home.
Total ride was about 16 miles with average speed of 10.6mph.

My full route on Google maps, time averages and stats can be viewed on my Sports Tracker profile, just click the link below
http://www.sports-tracker.com/#/workout/gtrudgett/e66bqq1h00p57kgq

Muc Off Degreaser

2011-05-10T15:11:00.002+01:00

Purchased and used some Muc Off De-greaser at the weekend. And what fantastic results I have seen!. Initially just sprayed on my rear cassette and left (as instructed for 5 mins). The build-up of grease just melted away!

A brilliant product, that I can not recommend highly enough. Have also used on other areas of my bike that either my bike cleaner and brushes either missed or could not clean off due to it be oil or grease based.
Additionally I also used the degreaser on my brushes and cleaning tools to remove the build of grease and oil on them, this worked really well too.
A large can of Muc Off De-greaser cost me £6.29 from my local bike shop. Like all Muc Off products it is easy to use, gives great results and is very eco friendly, washing off any excesses by simply spraying with water or wiping with a cloth.
More details can be found on Muc Off website http://www.muc-off.com/shop/product.php?id=6

Sports Tracker Results & Stats for w/end 7th & 8th May 2011

2011-05-09T12:55:00.002+01:00

Managed to complete two rides over the weekend.

The first was cut a little short due to a small mechanical concern. My gears in low range keeping skipping and slipping, making up-hills a little challenging, so turned back after about 6 miles and had a slow and gentle ride home.

The second ride was my attempt to follow and find the routes on the Castleman Trailway.

All of my rides can be viewed at the brilliant Sports Tracker website. This is a free application that I run on my Nokia E72 smartphone, just click the URL below

http://www.sports-tracker.com/#/workout/gtrudgett/bdtdcsle1pvvsbfg

Castleman Trailway - Quest #1

2011-05-09T12:21:00.001+01:00

This weekend I took full advnatage of the weather and managed to get a ride in on both Saturday and Sunday.
On one of my previous blog posts, related to the Castleman Trailway. Now this is a regular route for me when I travel from Wimborne to Poole via Broadstone and Creekmoor.
But the Castleman Trailway also runs in the opposite direction, taking in Stapehill, Ferndown, West Moors; before ending at Moors Valley Country Park.
Having found a selection of maps, I endevoured to complete the Merley to Stapehill section along the River Stour.
The route started out very straight-foward and was really nice, initially taking in a quiet section adjacent to the river, along a tree lined avenue. This part of the trail-way appears to only be occasionally used, due to some parts being quite narrow and a little overgrown. I assume the footpath next to the river is the more popular route with walkers, joggers and dog walkers.
After a couple of miles, I then had to attempt to cross the foot-bridge. This wide bridge is designed for pedestrians and is very narrow with a large step at either end. Once on, I managed a slow wobbly crossing! On the other side I followed the grass path alongside the river, stopping at stiles between the fields, to lift my bike up and over.
The ride is quite pleasant and pretty flat. Eventually you come to a large final stile that leads to a footpath and onto a main road.
This is where I stopped and then retraced my route back into Wimborne before returning home. A trip of about 10 miles. Full details of my ride, route and stats can be viewed at my public profile (gtrudgett) at www.sports-tracker.com
The history of the Castleman Trail-way is documented and shown in the picture below

Specialised Tahoe Mountain Bike Shoe

2011-05-08T09:03:00.009+01:00

Specialised Mountain Bike Shoe
As I have blogged about previously, I have upgraded my pedals to a pair of Shimano SPD types with both a SPD clip-in mechanism and a pedal cage so I can ride "clipped in" or "clipped out". Sounds obvious but to ride clipped in you need a set of shoes with SPD cleats on.
Now I am no serious mountain biker and have viewed some of my peers off their bikes, gingerly teetering around pubs, cafes or car parks in their SPD shoes. This is due to the SPD cleat being prominent on the sole of the shoe, so it is not a flat sole. These type of shoes work really well on bike, but make walking off your bike on a hard or flat surface a little tricky, all though sometimes amusing to the ideal spectator!
Plus my requirements were initially a little different, as aside from riding alone, I do also go out for family rides, so I needed a shoe that allowed me to ride both "clipped-in" and "clipped-out", but also allowed me to walk around normally with my family or friends when we reached our destination.
That is why the Specialised Tahoe shoe ticked all the right boxes for me. My reasoning of why I choose these shoes were:

Styling & Looks: they look great and can be worn with shorts or jeans dependent on what attire is required for different types of rides
Fit & Comfort: using Body Geometery these Specialised shoes are fantastically comfortable and really do support the foot so well
Combination Sole: can be worn or used with or without a SPD cleat as the sole is designed to be multi-use
Price: less than £50 for a great set of highly specific, great quality shoes.

The Specialised website details and describes the shoe as follows:

Trail Traction rubber outsole combined with our midsole plate which is stiff for efficient cycling, but flexible enough for walking
Our most padded Body Geometry plush insole for on-the-bike support and off-the-bike comfort
Rubber sole inspired by an MTB tire tread pattern for reliable traction
Suede leather upper with breathable mesh panels
Top strap for secure closure also keeps laces safely out of chainrings
2-bolt SPD-style cleat pattern, compatible with all major MTB pedals
Approximate weight: 460g (1/2 pair #42)

Fitting of the SPD cleat is very simple. Just remove the square section from the middle of the sole and this exposes the SPD cleat fittings. Just add a little bit of grease to the fixing holes and bolts and then position in either the front or rear position. Easy.

I have worn these shoes on many occasions. When covered in mud the are easy to clean and quick drying. Plus it has nice feature of a Velcro top strap that helps conceal and keep the laces safe and away from chain rings.

The scientific bit about Specialised Body Geometery can be viewed as a PDF article at : http://www.specialized.com/gb/gb/bc/SBCTechPopup.jsp?pid=Shoes_KeyTech09

Summary:

These shoes in my opinion are highly recommended and ideal for first timers to SPD pedals and shoes. Being dual use and flat soled I think is a massive advantage over dedicated shoes. Giving you the confidence and option to ride clipped in or clipped out dependent on your pedal choice, plus the big advantage of being a normal shoe when off bike.

Family Cycle- Paths in Moors Valley Country Park

2011-05-07T10:00:00.028+01:00

A really nice family friendly cycle routes are within Moors Valley Country Park. Located on the Dorset/Hampshire county border.
I have previously posted a YouTube video of some of the routes. The official website http://www.moors-valley.co.uk/visit/cycle.asp details and describes the cycle routes as follows:

There are many miles of paths and tracks through Moors Valley Country Park and Forest so why not bring your own bikes or you can hire one from the Cycle Hire Centre.

You are welcome to cycle on any of the gravelled paths however the best paths for cycling are waymarked; there is a central 2-mile circuit with the option to take three additional loops to extend your ride to 6 miles. The routes are waymarked on the ground with round posts with the appropriate coloured band. A copy of the cycle trails map is available from the Visitor Centre at the beginning of your visit.

We can also offer orienteering by bike on our permanent orienteering course in the forest. Map packs are available from the Information Point in the Visitor Centre; priced £1.00 each.

Please Note: cycling is not permitted on the Play Trail or the Tree Top Trail, the Lookout, near the Visitor Centre or around Moors Lake. However the majority of the Nature Trail is flat and suitable for cycling. Cyclists are reminded that they should ring their bells when approaching pedestrians and slow down when passing.

Ranger-led Cycle Events

The Rangers organise many cycle rides throughout the year, from introductory courses for adults who want to get back in the saddle to more demanding off-road events for regular riders. They also run mountain bike events for children during the school holidays. Please look at the events page for details of forthcoming walks and cycle rides by date.

Cyclepaths & Cycle Routes in Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole, Dorset

2011-05-06T10:27:00.000+01:00

A really nice pdf of cycle-routes and cycle-paths across south Dorset, including Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.
Click on the URL below to view the PDFs that you can then view, save or print.
http://www.gettingabout.info/docs/2009_Cycle_Map_LowRes.pdf

Cyclepaths and Cycle Routes in Poole, Dorset

2011-05-05T16:58:00.000+01:00

A really great map that you can view, save or print for cycle routes and cycle paths across the Borough of Poole in Dorset.
Very picturesque countryside, incorporating the world famous Poole Harbour and Sandbanks peninsula. Great riding for all. Plus it is the pathway to arguably the best place for summer mountain biking; the Purbecks!
Just cluck on the URL to view the 2011 map

http://www.boroughofpoole.com/downloads/assets/Cycle_2011.pdf

Castleman Trailway

2011-05-05T16:48:00.002+01:00

I ride the Castleman Trailway regularly, here is the history and detail:

The Castleman Trailway is one of Dorset's gentlest way-marked routes. This 16.5 mile (27.9 kilometres) trailway follows much of the old Southampton to Dorchester railway line. The trailway takes you through some of East Dorset's stunning landscape whilst also connecting a string of settlements between Ringwood and Poole.

Whether you are using the route for recreation or commuting to work, the Castleman Trailway offers a beautiful and practical route to take you where you want to go. As you travel along the trail you will pass some of the county's internationally important heathland, cross rivers and pass through forestry plantations. The trailway in particular links with three country parks in the: Avon Heath Country Park; Moors Valley Country Park; and Upton Country Park.

The Trailway is named after Charles Castleman, a Wimborne Solicitor, who was responsible for building the original railway line and the first to connect Dorset to the wider rail network. The Southampton to Dorchester to railway line was nicknamed the Castleman Corkscrew, after its founder and the meandering route it took. It was closed by Dr. Beeching in 1964; however, it had been a secondary route once a coastal main line had been established between Christchurch, Bournemouth, and Poole. The Trailway is managed in partnership by Dorset Countryside, Borough of Poole and Hampshire County Council with the support from other organisations.

Maps for the individual parts can be clicked on, viewed and printed from the links below

Broadstone to Upton Country Park: http://www.dorsetforyou.com/media.jsp?mediaid=132051&filetype=pdf
Merley to Broadstone: http://www.dorsetforyou.com/media.jsp?mediaid=132050&filetype=pdf
River Stour to Broadstone: http://www.dorsetforyou.com/media.jsp?mediaid=132049&filetype=pdf
Stapehill to River Stour: http://www.dorsetforyou.com/media.jsp?mediaid=132048&filetype=pdf
Ameysford to Stapehill: http://www.dorsetforyou.com/media.jsp?mediaid=132047&filetype=pdf
West Moors to Ameysford: http://www.dorsetforyou.com/media.jsp?mediaid=132046&filetype=pdf
Ashley Heath to West Moors: http://www.dorsetforyou.com/media.jsp?mediaid=132045&filetype=pdf
Ringwood to Ashley Heath: http://www.dorsetforyou.com/media.jsp?mediaid=132044&filetype=pdf

I can't recommend this route highly enough, flat, safe and ideal for beginners or families

Moors Valley Country Park: Singletrack

2011-05-05T13:00:00.000+01:00

Single-Track @ Moors Valley Country Park
Found this great clip on YouTube of some single-track within Moors Valley Country park, which is only about 10 miles from where I live.

Might try and ride it this weekend.
Details of Moors Valley can be viewed at http://www.moors-valley.co.uk/visit/cycle.asp

Bar Ends or No Bar Ends! That is my question!!

2011-05-04T16:31:00.001+01:00

As I have blogged about previously, on longer rides I suffer some numbness and discomfort in my left hand when I go on longer cross country rides. This is due to the vibrations from the ride causing "cyclists palsy" on the ulcer nerve in the heel of the hand. This particularly affects the left hand due to the hand position being more static when compared to the right hand which changes position regularly due to gift shifts and braking.

Specialised BG Contour Grips

Endeavoring to eliminate this I have already invested in a pair of Specialised Body Geometry Contour Locking Grips (see previous blogs).
For shorter or medium length rides, these work really well, allowing the palm of hand a position to rest, but it does not 100% eliminate the numbness.
So after some more research and consideration, the question related to bar-ends is raised?
The positives are........

Allows an alternative hand position during rides, ensuring the vibration from a static hand position is minimalised.
Makes hill climbs easier due to the out of seat riding position and hand gripping the bars better

The negatives are......

The ecstatics on my bike, as I have a riser bar rather than a traditional flat bar
Will a bar end fit, when I have to move the existing grip, gear shifters and brake levers further longer my over-sized bar

Plus do I choose a full size bar-end or a stumpy smaller version. My choices and preferences are to try bar-ends, with the following options as prime contenders!

Specialised P2 Bar Ends

Tioga Power Studs

So do I invest £16 to £20 on bar-ends that may or may not solve the left hand numbness issue? I'll make a decision soon as I will ensure I update the blog with my findings and conclusions

Bank Holiday Mountain Bike Ride

2011-05-03T10:43:00.001+01:00

Up early on a bank holiday Monday morning, the weather was ideal for a ride. No rain, a bit of cloud, not cold and the occasional bit of sun. The only threat was the wind, but still this was nothing too serious.
Meet up with my friend and neighbour Simon, and we set off. Initially we started on the Castleman  trail-way, an old disused railway line that has been converted into an idyllic local trail-way, used extensively by cyclists, dog walkers, joggers etc.
A good initial pace along this flattish stretch, saw us reach Broadstone in a very quick time. Conversation was good and we pushed on through Creekmoor, before dropping off the Castleman  trail-way and heading into Upton Country House and Park.
A quick dash through the winding paths and trails of Upton brought us out to the Holes Bays in Poole. This pathway hugs the beautiful and very picturesque part of Poole harbour. Wildlife was in abundance and the pace was still at a good level. Once we have traversed the Holes Bay pathways we headed on into Poole. Dodging a little traffic at the main intersection, we reached Poole Quay.
Taking advantage of the great weather, we stopped at Weatherspoons  and enjoyed a well earned coffee and bacon sandwich (thanks to Simon's generosity as I have left home with no money!!)
After a short break the weather clouded over a little and we decided to head home. Would we miss the fore-casted showers?
Pace and speed was fairly high on the way home. We took the same route back but upped the pace. The weather held and we made it home, dry but happy after a great ride.
Average speed according to Sports-Tracker app on my Nokia E72 was 10.2mph.
Total distance was 16.2 miles.

Full details, stats and route via Google maps is available via my public profile on Sports Tracker. Just click the link above.

Macmillan Charity Bike Ride

2011-04-28T10:30:00.000+01:00

Sunday 3rd July 2011 is the date for the Macmillian charity bike ride raising funds for cancer research. This event is really well promoted and supported. Patron is former England cricket captain David Gower.

2011 has a "100" theme For centenary year

1. 100 Days - launch our appeal for cyclists 100 days before 3rd July
2. 100 x 10 - 1,000 cyclists taking part
3. £100 - raised by each cyclist
4. 100+ Sponsor’s Challenge - our sponsors to recruit 100 cyclists
5. 100 miles - cycle 100 miles in Macmillan’s centenary year
6. 100+ Cycling Jerseys - to sell
7. £100 extra - appeal to all our supporters for an extra £100
8. 100 volunteers - to make this our best year ever
9. £100,000 - our target for 2011
10. 100 Days - reach our £100,000 target 100 days after the ride

The route choices or options include 10, 20, 38, 48, 60 and 100 miles.

Entry is just £10 for all the routes, with the exception of the 100 which is £20.

All raising funds for charity, you also have the option to purchase a cycling jersey or t-shirt. These are really nice items.

Sponsors and supporters include:

Sunseeker
Primera Sports
Daily Echo
Keightly Collins Carpet & Flooring
Testlink Services
Interface 247
Steve Barker Building Services
Mitie
PBW Construction
Honda of Bournemouth
Oakwood Independent Mortgage Consultants
Wessex Metal Stock Ltd

The rides will take in some really picturesque and beautiful parts of West and North Dorset. I am attending to enter at the Primera Sports event on Saturday at there Charminster branch. The dilemma I have is what distance, although my 7 year old daughter wants to do it, so maybe the 10 mile route with her will be really memorable and worthwhile!

Full details are available at http://www.macmillanbikeride.com/

Bike Maintenance & Repairs: Home Learning or Use a Professional

2011-04-27T11:10:00.000+01:00

A question more than an article today. I believe that I maintain my bike quite well. Endeavouring to keep it quite clean after each ride and using appropriate lubricants and maintenance products ensuring key components (chain, disc brake rotors, drive-chain etc) continue to work well.
But with hydraulic brakes, 24 gears and suspension front forks, I have very limited, maybe even non-existent, knowledge of how to maintain or repair these parts of my bike.
Therefore what is best for me? Do I read some bike maintenance books, watch the multitude of videos available on YouTube or try and find a local weekend course to give me a basic understand and knowledge. Or do I just defer to the professionals?
Part of me really wants to learn how to perform simple maintenance or repair jobs on my bike, but part of me says could I do more damage than good and I should just book my bike in for services and repairs with the professionals.
Locally I have a couple of professional options. A dedicated bike repair shop that I have visited and they are very passionate and dedicated, as their whole business is just bike repairs. Plus they have an extensive menu style repair options with jobs priced and defined clearly. They are called Cycle Fix http://www.cyclefix.co.uk/.
An alternative is a mobile repair service, which has been recommended to me by a couple of bikers. Have visited his website and exchanged emails with the owner. The big appeal is that he is mobile and will come to home or workplace to conduct and complete repairs. They will provide a quote before undertaking any work as well. The company is called Bike Fixed http://www.bike-fixed.com/index.html
My gears defiantly need adjusting, especially for low range, plus my rear hydraulic brake must need a bleed or new mineral oil as I have to pump the back brake quite hard to get any pressure for it then to work. Any comments or feedback would be greatly appreciated

Wiggle Super Series: New Forest Spring MTB (Video)

2011-04-26T09:47:00.000+01:00

Here is the video of the Wiggle Super Series New Forest MTB event I completed in just over 2hrs and 33mins