yeti frame build

Decided on a new mtb the other week and went with a Yeti ASR-5 frame after a test ride really impressed me.
Unboxing revealed a surprise of a new 2012 RP23 shock

Unboxing revealed a surprise of a new 2012 RP23 shock

As funds are a bit short ive stripped down my hardtail for now to use the parts until i decide on a dedicated groupset, also would like to use Chris King at the headset, BB, and wheel hubs.

So as the build continues i will add more pics.

Bored !! What to do ??

When you look at moving house you realise how much junk you collect over the years, and while gathering all the boxes together with bike parts in I realised how many spares there were and decided to find a new storage idea. Looking also for a workstand I decided to combine the two after looking for ideas on the net.
For storage and the base to the stand I wanted a tool chest so the larger draws could hold spares and the smaller, of course tools.

For the actual work stand I took one of the ideas from the net and set too at work to fashion my own design.
The basic principal is that you remove the front wheel and rest the bottom bracket shell on the stand secured with a strap and QR skewer.

So having completed the tool chest stand I took at look at what tools I had or didn't have. The first obvious answer to me was a headset press, but wasn't going to pay for a Park one and to be honest could probably do a better job and use better materials. With all the measurements readily available on the net and a CNC lathe to hand I set to.

With the turning work done next was a bit of milling to set the handles at 20 degrees to clear the top tube. Thrust bearing installed along with handles and another addition to the tool store.

So still thinking of tools i can make for the chest which would otherwise cost a fortune. A wheel truing stand is on the cards as I have some dial test indicators spare but for now I'm sticking to the small stuff.

February Blues

So January has been and gone, you just about survived it off the high of Christmas and the memories of the snowy rides. Then February comes, and although the last month of winter, probably the worst as the cold gives way to plus temps and of course rain.

I was hoping to move house this month and get a fresh start for spring, but that for now is on hold, so I knuckle down to the evening rides and begin to extended my weekend rides. The plan was for 60 milers on Saturdays in Feb, but so far only managed one with a few others coming up short.

Looking back at last years diary I'm on a par with my mileage so all's going well, except the extra i was going to do has gone out the window since i didn't get in the Whitton. Part of the motivation for winter training has gone, although I still have the etape du dales and want a good fitness level for summer road and MTB rides. So you push on in the knowledge that all the slow, hard, cold, wet miles will build a strong base
.
Only today as i rode through the dales the signs of spring are here, lambs newly born, still too weak to run around yet. Snowdrops bursting through in ever larger bunches, and March just a week away.

So before long the shorts will be out and the summer bike too, and the friendly group rides will again be back on the cards.

Sizergh Castle CX

Sunday morning started with a trip to wilfs for brekie, me and Jen both had bacon, egg, beans to fuel us for the cx ride ahead. Staveley mill yard was filling fast with people venturing off into kentmere on the MTB. However this was not to be our destination today.
Back in Burneside we kitted up and hopped on the bikes to climb over past ratherheath tarn and start the cx ride down capplerigg lane. This was only Jens second ride and was to be a lot harder going than kielder at the start of the month. The lane was a mixture of sharp loose stone, mud, and grass with plenty of water splashes. Probably the hardest section of the ride and out of the way first while still feeling fresh. Crossing a cattle grid to leave the lane led us to fields full of cows and sheep and a trail that was mainly mud and grass, eventually dropping into underbarrow.
A short road section to brigsteer got us to an access lane for farmers fields, quite fast going but heavily rutted. The same surface leads all the way to Sizergh castle where we stopped for a coffee and cake.

The stop was more than welcome as it gave me a chance to warm my toes, and was a popular place for cyclists this afternoon as a dozen bikes were parked up alongside ours. We headed off down to the river and a bridleway that led to Kendals canal path, which goes right to the heart of Kendal and the last leg of the circuit. With time to spare we decided to do a lap of the river bank where Kendals rivers meet, ideal terrain for circuits on the cx. Only 2 miles from burneside a few off road sections along the river get us back to our start point and a well deserved cup of tea.
sizergh castle cx at EveryTrail

Kielder Waterside Way

After a week of heavy rain and it being quite warm we had hoped Sunday would be a nice day. We weren't disappointed, the day began with a light frost on the ground but was burning off as the sun rose without a cloud in the sky.
The plan was to head for kielder water to ride the waterside way on the cx bikes. Jen had just completed the build of her bike and was keen to give it a test ride. With a fairly fast and even flowing surface and a distance of 25 mile this would be just the ticket for a shake down ride.

Most car parks are pay and display at £3 and two really stand out as a start and finish point, kielder castle which is the main mtb centre and leaplish park which has a great cafe and is a water sports area.
We set off from kielder castle just after 1pm and in winter gear, thinking we may be shedding layers as we went, but with a brisk breeze whipping across the water we ended up adding a hat and I wished I had more socks.
We were going around anti-clockwise and reached leaplish after about an hour where we took a break, but not long enough for cake, although I was sorely tempted.
At the far end of kielder water we had reached the dam and covered 15 mile, the turn back up the waters edge brought the wind onto our front so meant the ride back would need a little more effort.

The last 10 mile revealed a lot of art along the shore, and one piece that stood out were the janus chairs, three large wooden seats ideal for a chance to take in the view, and fix a puncture we picked up.
Now with just 5 mile left to ride and the sun setting we made a quicker pace to the car as the temperature was dropping fast.
So after wanting to ride round kielder water we weren't disappointed, and said we would definitely come again.
kielder lakeside way at EveryTrail

Good Times

Another blustery day and another chance to get out on the mountain bike, not before breakfast at tebay north services. Today was the ideal opportunity to ride newcastleton now that the logging has finished, only when we got there it hasn’t. So we sacked the blue off all together and concentrated on the red. This time around I was on the hardtail as it seemed that was all people rode here.
Me and Jen set off and again had the trail all to ourselves so had time to redo lines and talk over certain sections, body position etc.
After 1 1/2 laps Jen was getting confident with the descents and drops.
So a good day in all, oh and topped off with cake at tebay south this time.
On to Sunday then for the girls twitter ride which actually grew into a who ever wanted to come ride. Starting from wilfs with choc brownie for brekie the ride was to be 40 miles round killington lake, with a another stop for cake. (I am now on a break from cake). The group numbered 8 coming from as far as skipton and manchester with a wide range of ability and cycling background, but judging by the constant chat all got along well.
None of us had been to the hideaway cafe before and was pleasantly surprised with it’s setting.
On from there brought the lake where it always seems to rain, and then a fairly easy downhill run back to staveley and wilfs for post ride cake and route dissection.
Killington at EveryTrail



Not the most classic of routes but quiet roads and gentle rolling hills that allowed the group to stay together and enjoy the riding.
Although a slightly chilly day it was good to chat in person with twitter friends and be invited to their neck of the woods.

The Long Way Round

Now that cross season is upon us, for the past few weeks I've been commuting home on the cyclocross bike. The route is a mixed bag of asphalt, gravel trails, stony bridleways and well just mud. At just over an hour to do the loop of the limestone scar its a chance to ride it as hard as you can.

The route in part doubles as our MTB night ride throughout winter but in reverse. Now as the nights draw in i will be using the MTB lights for the cross ride, which should make things more interesting and as it gets wetter i can too see the ride stretching to an hour and a half.

Sizergh at EveryTrail