Ride the Pennines

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Gwydir bach trail ride

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Ride the Pennines - March2019

I’ve finally given up Hope. Not hope, but Hope. I’ve always liked the Lancashire brand who take bits of solid metal (billets they call them) and machine them into wonderful bike bits. Don’t get me wrong I still really like most of their offerings and my Orange Five is a tribute to British engineering with it’s Hope spec, but it’s underfoot where things have gone a bit wrong. I’ve been running the F20 flat pedals ever since I built up the bike as I wanted everything Hope. But over the last year of comparing them to the DMR pedals on my hardtail, I’ve come to the conclusion that they just don’t feel as good as the DMRs. They aren’t really concave (like the Vaults) and so with flat shoes don’t quite cut it. So, it’s goodbye Hope and hello DMR. Well on the pedals at least. And probably only there.

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Ride the Pennines - February 2019

Things seemed to be calming down and more rides looked a viable option. And then it was almost March! This month I’ve decided to install a tyre/rim protector in my full suspension bike, having been running one in my hardtail for a few months and been seriously impressed. Initially, I wanted something to protect the rim as running tubeless but with low pressures (to aid grip in the wet) and I was aware that I’m fairly heavy, so my rear wheel was taking some big hits. It proved easy to install (despite some horror stories online) and I’ve been impressed with how it has enough volume to protect the rim and stoop the tyre squirming so much in corners whilst still running at lower pressures. I chose the Vittoria airliner after reading many reviews of quite a few systems and have been really pleased with. Only drawback is the price.

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Ride the Pennines - January 2019

It’s been a month of not a lot of riding but the rides that I have managed have been mostly epic. One stands out as a ride over an area I ride a fair amount, but this time it had snowed. A lot. I’ll include the link to the video at in this post, but it was a fantastic adventure. Not great riding for most of the trip actually, but an adventure nonetheless. And that comes back to the heart of the RTP project really. Looking at adventure, adventure films and the key ingredients to both. Was there uncertainty of outcome on this most recent ride? Well probably not, but it was certainly an uncertain process of getting there. Which made it truly epic. The views (when the sky cleared) were pretty good too, although the wind driving snow sideways so hard that it hurt, not so much. Enjoy watching :-)

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Ride the Pennines - December 2018

Gear reviews. Can they be trusted? I’ve recently encountered some conflicting evidence. I’m not talking about differences of opinion between reviewers (which are interesting), as different people value different things in a product, but when the same reviewer in one edition rates something 9/1010 and then in a subsequent issue where the product is exactly the same (identical not even the colour has changed) it then scores 6/10. Then there are ‘group tests’ that miss out one of the big players. So, is this due to poor supply, poor relationship, or is there actually a payment to appear in the magazine? My LBS are more convinced of the latter.  Whilst a review can give you an idea of a products features, you have to make your own decision.

Or check out the Ride the Pennines YouTube channel for some impartial reviews as no one pays me anything to review gear!

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This morning’s sky. But met office says no rain forecast?! — view on Instagram https://ift.tt/2PCGxTM

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A day out heading up the Ysgethin valley from Talybont to some new and wild places. Soundtrack used by permission, and all were available at the Free Music Archive - but where that is now I don't know! Snowflake - Adaptation 1 CDK - Like this Texasradiofish - Power Music by Graham French

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Ride the Pennines - November 2018

After just over a year of running a SRAM Eagle X01/XX1 drivetrain, I’m confident enough to write a short review and am convinced of the quality of the product that I’ve upgraded my hardtail to a GX Eagle drive train now the tech is filtering down. It’s easy to install, but for the full range, you need the XD driver body which slots and then screws on. The shifting is smooth and I’ve had to perform very little maintenance; just the odd cable adjust with the barrel adjuster to keep things in tip-top condition. The bike has done uplift days as well as a lot of natural trails in all weathers and I’m only now needing to replace the chain. The cassette and front rung are hardly worn at all, so that keeps the expense down. Oh, and it’s brilliant to have that great big gear for hill climbs!

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Ride the Pennines - October 2018

Despite my best intentions this month has been a real washout in terms of filming or riding. I’m amazed at how time flies, and just writing this blog seems to have taken so long. So, what news? Well, it’s been a busy time with students back at college, and I’ve been away to a few conferences and learned a lot. Mainly that film projects take a lot of time and preparation, and that currently, the project is only one of several on the go. So, it’s ok that it’s taking a while. In the meantime, I’ve done a few reviews for the YouTube channel and there are more in the pipeline. These are fun to do but again take tie (more in the editing than the filming) and require some decent weather to film outside. I’ve some more kit reviews on the way too, in both video and blog.

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Epic fail of the mortar.... whilst crushing this year’s chilli crop! — view on Instagram https://ift.tt/2rhEIlr

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Beautiful Blaenau 👍 — view on Instagram https://ift.tt/2DS9UjC

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— view on Instagram https://ift.tt/2S7RI8B

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— view on Instagram https://ift.tt/2FEhD6z

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The end of a full day’s observations in two very different environments! Then my phone died from the cold! — view on Instagram https://ift.tt/2R3arST

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Heading into the gorge for the afternoon session! — view on Instagram https://ift.tt/2R1JrDl

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Moody skies over Conwy but great to be out on the hill. Lesson observation of #oda @bangor_university @ysgoladdysg trainees with cold fingers! — view on Instagram https://ift.tt/2FzM4uN