Sticks

I need some sticks. So, out to the quarry this morning (and a lovely one it was) with bike and saws. I had an eye on a tree that was growing at an angle over a path, which would have been a problem if left. So, down it came, cut into sections, with two decent lengths attached to the toptube with electrical tape and a strap.

One thing to be aware of is the sticks pushing on the rear V brake slowing things down. Not a problem running discs, but I have no choice on this bike.

Paul.

And another set of bars...

Much as I liked the On-One OG bars that I recently fitted to the Inbred I still found the front end too low, so it now sports a pair of Ritchey Buzzard bars.

I had to lengthen the rear brake cable, a 5 minute job not including the time spent walking down to my local bike shop at the bottom of the hill.

The result is a higher, wider front end with a little more reach. It's got quite a different feel now, and it'll take a few rides before I know whether I like it or not.

I will say tho', they're really ugly!

Paul.

Quickie

I've been able to ride for a few weeks, other stuff getting in the way. So I went out for a short ride this morning on the Inbred, and I mean short, just through the quarry and round the fields. Took me less than an hour. But, in my defence I was tired after a day's dancing yesterday and today was hot, so I was out before 9. I met Dani in the quarry on the return leg, she'd just got out after a swim.

I have new bars on order, the front end is still too low for my liking.

Paul.

A quick shakedown

Out on the Inbred on Saturday, just to check the new set-up out, bars and stem. I like the swept back hand position, and a little more height is nice, but first impressions are that the front end is still too low. I'll ride it a few more times before I properly make my mind up.

I just did a short figure of eight, through the quarry and round the fields. One good thing about riding singlespeed is that you can get a good workout from a short ride, I've missed that.

Paul.

Sorting the Inbred

The front end of the Inbred is much too low. It's always been like that, for some reason the clowns* at On-One cut the steerer tube right down when they built the bike, probably to save 50p on spacers. This didn't matter so much 25+ years ago, but I'm older now and a low front end just gives me neck ache, which puts me off riding the thing. 

So, I've fitted a new riser stem and bars. The stem has a 70mm reach, and On-One OG (whatever that means) bars were chosen. These haven't got the amount of rise that I wanted, so they could end up being changed at some point. But, I do like the swept back hand position.

This has only given me another 15mm in height, but my weight is a bit further back so I should be a tad more upright.

Grips are Ergon lock on jobs, the same as on my fatbike.

I also fitted new brake cables, inner and outer with new noodles. The outers and noodles have never been changed before.

A quick ride around the block and up the golf course and all seems good so far. It will be a while before I know whether I'm happy with the set-up or need higher bars.

*When I bought the bike, straight from On-One mail order, back in 2000/1, it came with the wrong size seat post, one size too small. To go with that the clamp was also a size too small. I suspect that the parts bin was being cleared when the put the thing together. On-One made great bikes, but as a company they were crap.

Paul.

Minimalism

I didn't fancy a long ride today, and I also fancied something different so I pumped up the tyres on my ancient On-One Inbred and took that out for a short spin. I just did my figure-of-eight through the quarry and round the fields, and that was quite enough for me on a lazy Sunday morning.

It was nice to get out on this bike again, I don't think I've touched it for a couple of years. And it was good to get back to singlespeeding, something I used to really enjoy. The Mojito left a good few years ago, it was fun at the time but along came the fatty and so it was sold. The Inbred however is staying, if only for sentimental value. I know 26" wheels are outdated, V brakes are crap and the front end is too low (quite why the idiots at On-One cut the steerer tube that short is beyond me) but for short quick rides it's fun. I do plan to raise the front end, I'm going to try higher rise bars and a riser stem, which should help as the set-up at the moment gives me neck ache after a while.

I'll be out on it again before too long.

Paul.

Sherwood bloody Pines.

I've been riding at Sherwood Pines a couple of times recently. Trail centres aren't really my thing these days, but there was a time when I lived in Bedfordshire and myself and my regular riding partner Dave used to travel to Wales on a regular basis to ride either Coad-y-Brenin, Afon or Cym Carn. Nowadays, living in the Peaks means that I'm spoilt for good quality riding without having to travel far, or at all.

Gas van and Inbred.

There have been a couple of all-female rides over at Sherwood recently, which Dani was keen to join. So we packed the bikes in the van (an ex-Scottish Gas VW Caddy which has now replaced my aged Landy) and headed over. Of course, being all female rides I couldn't join in so I rode alone, not a problem to be honest even though I enjoy riding with my wife.

One fuckin' speed.

Both occasions coincided with my fatbike being off the road, the first time with a knackered rear wheel and today with a dead front brake (the lever piston has seized). So, I used my ancient (circa 2000/2001) fully rigid On-One Inbred. This was one of the first batch of Inbreds, when you had the choice of either one gear and V brakes or one gear and V brakes. I love this bike, and rode it all over Bedfordshire when I lived down there. Nowadays its looking a bit dated, with it narrow riser bars, 26" wheels and low front end (due to the steerer tube being cut right down). Having a low front means neck ache for me these days.

One thing that I have remembered from riding the Inbred recently is just how much I love riding singlespeed. Yes its hard work at times, but I love the simplicity of the set up, the lack of noise from gearshifts, the fact that you're concentrating on your line and not on your gear choice, and the directness. By directness I mean the way all of your power goes straight to the back wheel as soon as you crank the pedals, something which is hard to describe and is best experienced. I'm now thinking of building a new singlespeed bike, something in steel, fully rigid, plus sized wheels and with more up to date geometry.

And onto the trails. every trail centre has its own character. Sherwood's trails are mostly fairly flat singletrack, twisting through the trees, bermed here, flat there, nothing too technical (apart from one rocky man made drop off). There is a jump park and downhill course, but I have yet to explore them. The red trail takes about an hour to ride, depending on conditions, on my first visit the ground was hard and dry but today it was muddy. Very muddy in fact, which added to my time.

I have to say that I did enjoy my visits there. Trail centres aren't my favourite riding locations, but sometimes it is nice to just go out and hammer some singletrack, singletrack being a bit lacking in the Peaks. I'm sure that we'll be back soon, as the terrain is very similar to a typical cross country race course so riding there will be good practice for Dani to get her prepared for the race season.

Dani, in her race top.

Yours truly, with extra mud and winter beard.

Paul.

Swynnerton XC race.

As I'd enjoyed Battle on the Beach, and because Dani had already entered, I decided to have a crack at another mtb race and enter the 'fun' category. Part of the Midlands XC Series, this mountain bike race was on the 9th of April.

I took the Inbred, partly because the fatbike was awaiting attention after BotB and winter in general and partly to remind myself why I loved riding the thing. I had a feeling that the course would be suited to single-speedery, confirmed by pre-riding it before the race started.

The fun group was the last to set off in the morning, after the various age groupers etc. I decided to hang around the back as the day was all about seeing if I like this style of racing. Also, I was riding like a sack of spuds hung over the top tube.

I didn't really enjoy the first lap. The biggest problem with riding single-speed is climbs. Not the actual climbing but the fact that you need to get the power down through the legs and hammer up. If someone in front is going too slow and you can't pass then you're probably going to stall. This happened several times over the race, no fault of any other riders but annoying nonetheless. Rather more annoying is the rudeness displayed by other faster riders. As in shouting 'RIDERS' and expecting everyone else to move out of their way despite the fact that no-one is obliged to give up the racing line for anyone else. On the first lap some **** shouted from behind on tight singletrack (nowhere to move) then barged past me tangling our bars up. Then flew off without so much as an apology despite nearly putting us both in the dirt.

I didn't enjoy the second lap either. Again I tangled bars with another, this time on a climb. He did say "on your left" I gave him plenty of room and he still knocked into me. He did apologise though, but why try and take us both out for the sake of 2 seconds? Later on whilst pushing up a climb (stalled again...) a rider came up demanding that we all gave him room. Well sorry but you're not the only one here!

I crossed the finish line in foul mood, 15th out of 23 riders in my class. I dislike rudeness, when I overtake I wait until I feel that we both have enough room and  try to be as polite as possible. Maybe thats why I didn't enjoy today, I try to treat others with respect and perhaps its too much to expect that I'm treated the same. Or maybe the racing environment brings out the worst in people. Either way I shall think very carefully about enetering another race in this series. Perhaps I should just toughen up and ignore the ignorant. Good course though.

Paul.

Sunday morning spin with an old friend.

I've done very little riding this year, running has taken over somewhat, but just recently I've been missing the bike. So this morning I arose early, ate a banana, then headed out for a quick short spin. The old friend in the title refers not to a person but to my favourite ever bike, an On-One Inbred. Little used these days, due to the lack of disc brakes, this singlespeed lunatic device is one of the first Inbreds built, from the first batch made (of I think 60 bikes). The frame is Reynolds 853 and the forks rigid steel. I bought it back in I think 2000, direct off t'net on the strength of a magazine review. I'd been thinking of buying or building a s/s anyway, and had a hankering for a steel framed steed. Nowadays it resides in the loft, a shame because it rides well, has had a lot of upgrades, and always makes me smile.

I headed south down the A6, riding in the usual singlespeed style of spin/coast, listening to the purr of the White Industries freewheel (the Rolls Royce of freewheels), before turning off on the left to tackle a rather steep hill towards Cowdale;

Up there, on that?

Singlespeed specific 180mm cranks, Surly 32t chainring, fancy alloy chainring bolts.

Despite appearences the track doesn't go straight up, but zig-zags. Still damned steep though, I pushed most of it. I had to push last time I rode it as well, on my geared Kona, so quite why I thought that it was do-able on a s/s I don't know...

V brakes. How quaint...

Glamping comes to Buxton with luxury pods in beautifull locations...

The rest of the ride was on easier ground looping around to rejoin the A6 north of Buxton, mainly on tarmac with a couple of easy off-road sections, both byways, the last of which bisects a golf course. It was of course only a short ride, time and tired legs (I ran 14k yesterday) preventing anything more than a little loop, but it was just nice to get out and spin.

I wonder if any BASE jumpers have explored these quarries?

Surly hub, White Industries freewheel. A fine combination.

I love this bike! Note the USE carbon seatpost, the bars are also carbon.

Byway to, er, Buxton.

 I think that the Inbred will see more use this year.

Paul.