Middle Pack

I have the go ahead to buy a new bike! I have done my time on a heavy old bike and spend the last 3 years on a £30 hardtail. This has stopped me wanting to enter some adventure races, trailquests or even enduros.

After much internet searching I have narrowed my search down to a few bikes.

First up is the Merlin Malt 4. A sexy bike, race ready and UK specific i.e it can handle mud! If you have been out on some of the trails recently round Yorkshire you will realise the importance of this.  I am really struggling to see any cons to this bike at all? Great reviews, cool white looking and would also be a reasonable all dayer.

Second choice is from the same company, much the same kit but a different frame. The Rock Lobster Tig Team. A hardtail with great reviews. Slightly heavier than the Malt but maybe a  bit more robust and more leaning towards an all dayer than you can rag around than a racing steed. Initially I was looking at the steel frame but with none in current stock, the  smooth look of the black frame and the comments on forums then the Easton frame it is.

Now these are my two favorites, but there is more in contention.

The Edinburgh Cycles Shadow Mountain is another keen choice. They are bringing oput an 09 model shortly and the kit cannot be sniffed at and it is a keen looking lightweight bike. It would probably not hold value well but with the kit spec then the possibility of just swapping out frames is a possibility. A lot of bike for your money but can I wait?

Others I thought of but I think I have now discarded are the Scott Scale 50. I feel the spec ain’t great and I am paying for name. GT Zaskar is another that is a sexy bike but I cannot help feel that I prefer some of the others I have mentioned.

Can anyone else think of other options for a speedy xc bike that is suitable for racing, but also suitable for speedy trail riding?

This weekend I had the chance to get up to Dalby Forest and play on a real bike! Thanks Dave for lending me your full suss trek bike! It was a real revelation to have working brakes, suspension and gears. An eye opener of the difference between a cheap bike and a good bike and the confidence it installs in your riding. Note that the video is not me.

The day didn’t start off well! I had been to an ABBA themed party the night before and managed to get in apparently around 4.30am. Slept through my alarm and the subsequent 7 phone calls from Dave telling me he is outside and I need to get up. Eventually roused from my slumber (all 4 hours of it) I was still pissed but that wasn’t going to stop me. I was looking forward to this.

So we finally arrived at Dalby and got the bikes fettled (well I went for a bacon sandwich and caffine, thanks again Dave!) and we were off round the red route.

Last time I came to Dalby it was for the Open 5 Adventure race. I have to admit I just didn’t quite get the attraction over the natural trails of Calderdale and the Dales. I now understand we didn’t even scratch the surface of what Dalby has to offer. Great singletrack for mile upon mile of twisty turning terrain. All the hills are short and sharp on the way up and loads of long swooping downhills. The red route was not that technical, which encourages you to really give it a blast (well as much as you can with a stinking hangover and 4 hours sleep) and it was fun to rag the bike around a bit.

One of the main attractions is the all weather riding. After a few night rides during the week on local trails I knew that there was a lot of mud but Dalby didn’t seem to suffer such problems. There was a lot of mud but not he sticky soul destroying stuff that stops you in your tracks. More just loads of puddles and the odd soft patch. I managed to come back from my ride, tired, aching very muddy but grinning and with no hangover!

Cannot wait to get out again, who knows I may even go twice round? But I think I have my eye on the Mary Townley Loop next.

show on map

Here is an area in all honesty I am struggling to fill. I do not manage to race on the mountain bike much as it is a heap of sh*te.

This should hopefully change in the spring/summer as I will get a new bike and be all giddy to race it. I will mainly be focussed on Trailquest and the odd enduro oh and enduro trailquests! Now we are talking!