Gusset New Nitro Pedals

We snatched some time away on the beach recently and tried out some of the new Gusset Nitro Pedals on our fatbikes. Up and down the dunes and thru the singletrack we never lost our footing once. Big platform and only 380g these surprised us. Super shiny silver to match Mr Whirly - also in anodised blue, black and red.

Valve holes and logos, just right.

new trails in the sunshine

last weekend we went out riding some new trails an hour or so's riding away in and South of Todmorden. Here's hoping we'll see some of those dry dusty trails again soon...

all welcome

Ti bikes, carbon bikes, aluminium bikes, gears, fixed, pie eaters, ice cream eaters and even people with funny hats - just riding bikes isn't it?

Take a look at the AudaxUK website. If you like riding classic routes punctuated with coffee stops then you might enjoy it. Loads of events to choose from, short 50 or 60k rides right up to 1200k if you fancy it.

This is a random pic from Sundays ride to Market Drayton from Bredbury, good weather for it, little wind and even a smattering of sunshine!

a few days away

 we took a few days away recently. The early train from Manchester got us to Alnwick at breakfast time. We'd planned a route on quiet roads, tracks and bridleways that would get us home to Oldham four days later.

 We tried to travel relatively light. We carried a North Face Tadpole  tent as the poles fit snugly in the little Revelate frame bag. Using just the half frame bag allowed the use of water bottles keeping everything on the bike. Pretty chilly up on Cross Fell with light weight sleeping bags but they fitted in the handlebar harness great - kept them dry with an 8l Alpkit bag that has handy loops on to stop it sliding sideways on the bars. For cooking duties we used a couple of Jetboil Sol's - these boil water for tea or noodles unbelievably fast compared to the original model they replaced. We used our Carradice Barley and Pendle saddlebags for stashing stuff we needed to get to quick, like waterproofs and food. A single change of clothes kept us going for the four days - merino is your friend here!

Brooks, Ortleib, Tubus, Carradice, Surly and SKS guards - essential equipment.

Route was a combination of quiet roads and forest tracks. Including Sustrans routes on old railway lines, like the South Tyne Trail - an easy way to get some miles in.  Cross Fell was a challenge, coming at the end of the day with a push up into the rain and mist - plenty of snow on the ground up there too and not much shelter.  We've had more settled wild camp spots!

We used our Long Haul Truckers - at times we wished for something more like a mountain bike and other times something more like a road bike but in the end with their chunky semi slick tyres and comfy  upright riding position they are a great do it all machine, we wouldn't change them.

Old dog, new tricks, twentysix50b content

pinched the front wheel off Shona's Soma B-Side this morning for a couple of hours around the local tracks and woods. The old Surly 1x1 rode nice, if the front end was wandery due to the bigger wheel I didn't notice - too busy honking on the bars. We were surprised the 650b wheel fitted in the forks at all - these old SID's must have a higher crown than the modern ones. Dusty trails, eh? Make the most of it, they don't last long.

the new EarlyRider Spherovelo - new for 2012