Mountain Bike Rider — March 2018

CANYON

SESSIONS

APR 07–08

MBR DEMO,

FOREST OF DEAN

APR 21

BIKE LIVE,

CANNOCK CHASE

APR 28

MBR DEMO,

DALBY FOREST

MAY 12-13

REVOLUTION BIKE PARK

JUN 08–10

TWEEDLOVE,

PEEBLES

JUL 01

PENSHURST

(WMN BIKES)

AUG 03–05

ARD ROCK FESTIVAL,

YORKSHIRE DALES

FOR MORE INFO VISIT

CANYON.COM/EVENTS

Thereissomuchenergyand
determination from eastern riders
to ride whatever they can find in all
weathers—ifthatcouldbeharnessed
byadecenttrailcentreofourown,
imagine what could happen to the
scene over here.
Nick Read

Ed—Challengedulylaiddown.Thisis
onethatneedstobecommunitydriven
though,wethink,soputforwardyour
suggestions for where to build, come
togetherandgetworkingonit.

HANGINGBYATHREAD
Allreadytosetoffonmyreconlapof
theGorrickBrassMonkeys,Christmas
CrackeratFrithHill.Ijumpedonmy
bike... and no rear gears. The rear
shifterwaskaputandunfixableso
I botched it together with the string
fromasparesnood.
Using the string to hold the derailleur
inachosengear,Ididabitoftestingas
Iwasgoingtoberidingforfourhours
with this one rear gear, and two up
front.Isettledforthesixthsprocket,it
seemedthebestgearinthecarpark!
So with my ‘two speed’ full-sus
XCbike,Iwasreadytorace,withfive
minutestosparetofillmybottles,grab
gelsatthefeedstationthenheadtothe
start line. Into the woods of Deepcut, I

soongotintotheflowofusingthetwo

gears. Two hours in it started to rain,

turning from a crisp December morning

intoaslipperymudfest.Ridingtothe

feed zone for the fourth time I realised

I probably would make it round again

before the four hour cut-off. So I thought,

‘wellithasheldforthislong,let’stry

another lap’. I did have a few spills, due to

the super-muddy conditions, but that’s

mtb.Soafterfourandabithours,me

andmybitofstringcompletedfivelaps

andsecured20thplaceinmycategory.

My new essential spare has to be a piece

of string about 10cm long; it’s adjustable

andstrongerthanacable-tie.

If you can’t fi x it, botch itand carry on.

Stee Flair

NEXT MONTH

COIL-SPRUNG ENDURO

BIKESONTEST

SantaCruzNomadVsGiantReign Vs

Mondraker Dune XR

ISSUE ON SALE WEDNESDAY MARCH 7

One gear, big ideas...

PLUS

YT’s new

Capra

ridden