The Buxton loop plan was put on hold as one of our number only had a short ride window. So a late afternoon ride from Hayfield to Lantern Pike via Snake Path was decided upon.
For the first time I cleared the start of the climb from the road at Hayfield towards the kissing gates (and Snake Path). It was not all that difficult actually, I think that the wet conditions helped as the dabbage usually stems from the scrabberly looseness and spinning out. Saying that surly I’ve attempted it the wet before!
Its been a while since I’ve ridden the Voodoo Bokor* (The Dalby forest brake destroying trip 6 weeks ago) and it felt really good, as well as the obvious advantages of gears, the fork (Rockshox Reba) felt much better since its air pressure tweaking. Had a couple of moments on the in places very boggy Snake Path descent stayed online and felt fast (surprising quicker than my full boinged Yeti 575 and Whyte E5 compadres) I think the only one shod with mud tyres** helped though.
*So what happened to the singlespeed - had enough already?!
Well I’m glad you asked, halfway through the last (very boggy Chinley Churn) Sunday’s ride the abrasive part of my rear one of the brake pads dropped off so it was metal on metal and/or no back brake for the rest of the ride. The offending brake pad was Superstar Components own cheaper brand (I had to file the metal backing plates down to get them to fit as well! Sending them back).
I fitted the (learnt my lesson official Magura) replacement pads yesterday, all well and good, pumped the lever a couple of times and nothing as I had lost all brake fluid lost due to the over extended piston - aggghh! So off to 18 bikes again to get a bleed*.
*I don’t have any Magura mineral oil and can’t face the faff of doing it myself.
**Bontrager Mud X 2.1 this pair have done the TransWales (without a puncture) + a lot more Peaks riding plus 24 hour races and are HIGHLY recommended as a great all rounder for our grey little island. They only feel pushed on VERY rocky stuff (think Edale Cross descent) but thats the only niggle. Defiantly the closest to the true all round tire I’ve tried (Halo Choir Master Lite takes the silver).
In other news I’ve entered the Hit The North 1.5 Winter Sprinter race (I seriously doubt a repeat of the 3rd place (team) finish of Hit the North 1.0 though! As one its a solo race, two I’m not that fit, three I’m planning on singlespeeding it.
Shark!