{"id":11862,"date":"2022-05-16T18:13:49","date_gmt":"2022-05-16T16:13:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/mbuk\/?post_type=purple_issue&p=11862"},"modified":"2022-05-16T18:13:49","modified_gmt":"2022-05-16T16:13:49","slug":"longterm-rides","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/mbuk\/2022\/05\/16\/longterm-rides\/","title":{"rendered":"Longterm rides"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
<\/h6>\n\n

Team bikes ridden hard for a year<\/span><\/h4>\n\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n
<\/div>
\n

My Month<\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
HIGHS<\/span><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Great fit from the get-go \u2013<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Decent stock components<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LOWS<\/span><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Pale paint jobs aren\u2019t my thing, but that\u2019s being picky!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n

KAT\u2019S CANYON SPECTRAL 125 CF 7<\/strong><\/strong> \u00a33,405.98 (shipped)<\/h4>\n\n

Tester Katherine Moore\u2019s relationship with the Spectral gets off to a good start<\/p>\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n

With a 140mm <\/strong>fork and 125mm of rear-wheel travel, this contender for our Trail Bike of the Year title bucks the trend for long-travel suspension and gnarlier tracks (there\u2019s always its 150mm-travel Spectral siblings for that), and is designed to be rowdy on the rougher stuff but still a joy to pedal up hills. I loved my first foray into \u2018downcountry\u2019 territory last year on the 115mm-travel Juliana Wilder, so I want to see how the concept works with a bit more squish.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

The fit is great, the small size proving perfect for my 5ft 5in (165cm) frame. A generous 150mm of seatpost drop means the saddle won\u2019t get in my way, and a bar pre-cut to 760mm feels about right for my build.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

One of my first rides was at Cwmcarn Forest in South Wales. After a long fireroad pedal, we rode the Pedalhounds DH track, sessioning our way down and tackling each technical feature in turn, including some of the biggest drops I\u2019ve hit yet and some tricky rooty corners. I was buzzing at the bottom \u2013 evidently the Spectral 125 wasn\u2019t holding me back!<\/p>\n\n

However, despite setting the sag correctly for my weight, it was clear that I wasn\u2019t using as much of the fork travel as I could. Besides being relatively light, I\u2019m also not very strong, so when I got home, I removed the single volume spacer from the RockShox Pike Select+ fork, to make it slightly less progressive. Putting this tweak into practice in the Forest of Dean, the difference was noticeable from the very first run, giving a plusher-feeling front end that gobbled up the braking bumps and roots.<\/p>\n\n

The Canyon\u2019s additional travel compared to the Juliana has been giving me confidence to tackle some of the more janky rock sections, helped no doubt by the slacker 64-degree head angle. I haven\u2019t been disappointed with its pedalling ability, either \u2013 it feels smooth and efficient, leading to me enjoying a couple more laps than usual!<\/p>\n\n

It\u2019s still early days, but I\u2019m excited to get to grips with the Spectral 125 over the coming months. I\u2019ll be doing my first enduro race (yikes!) and having a play with the geometry, using the flip-chip in the shock mount. If it continues to be as confidence-inspiring as it has been already, then my riding should come on in leaps and bounds. www.canyon.com<\/a> <\/em><\/p>\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n
<\/div>
\n

My Month<\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
HIGHS<\/span><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Bike parts seem to be more reliable these days <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I still get a thrill and a smile every time I ride the Insurgent<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LOWS<\/span><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

I really should have threadlocked my chainring bolts! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Triscombe will be sorely missed<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n

LUKE\u2019S EVIL INSURGENT <\/strong><\/strong>\u00a33,799 (frame only)<\/h4>\n\n

The Insurgent is riding high, in more ways than one<\/p>\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n

I had my <\/strong>first issues with the bike this month. While pedalling around some trails near Monmouth in South Wales, I heard some creaking from the drivetrain. The extra spacing needed to fit the OChain Active Spider isn\u2019t quite perfected (although I do have the correct spacers for it now), so I assumed the creak was down to that. But when I got home and was cleaning the chain, I realised one chainring bolt was missing and the other three were loose. A few dabs of threadlock and I\u2019m back in business. Well, 75 per cent back \u2013I still have to find another bolt!<\/span><\/p>\n\n

Another kick in the teeth this month was when I found out the hard way that the trails at Triscombe, a riding spot in the Quantock Hills, had been flattened by forestry works. This was one of my favourite places to shred so I hope it\u2019s not long until it\u2019s viable again.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

Otherwise, the Insurgent is holding up well. I was lucky enough to travel overseas for a couple of bike launches, so, again, it hasn\u2019t had as much use as I\u2019d have liked. After riding these new bikes, one of which had a very low bottom bracket, it was noticeable that the Insurgent MX isn\u2019t designed around its mixed-size wheels. Originally, it was a 650b bike (and is still available as one). The MX version adds a 29in front wheel, which lifts the BB. That, with the firmer mid-stroke support of the coil shock, does mean it sits quite high when riding.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

When hitting steeper trails, I\u2019d like to be able to sink a little deeper into the Evil\u2019s travel, to lower its dynamic geometry, reduce fork dive, and help with stability and braking. I think an air shock might help here, as they naturally have less mid-stoke support. Plus, it would also shave a little weight and be easier to set up.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

Spec-wise, the bike has remained the same, and the kit is holding up well \u2013 even the two-year-old SRAM X01 Eagle mech. The shifting is getting a little sloppy, though, so some fettling is required. After three years, my BikeYoke dropper post needs some attention, too. I reckon that\u2019s pretty good going, though, without any problems so far. From my perspective, at least, bike parts nowadays seem to be more reliable than they were just four or five years ago. <\/span>www.evil-bikes.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n
<\/div>
\n

My Month<\/span><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
HIGHS<\/span><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s great to have things set up properly again \u2013<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I feel like I\u2019ve narrowed the search for the creak\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LOWS<\/span><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

\u2026 although I still haven\u2019t found it, yet!<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n

WILL P\u2019S GIANT TRANCE X1 <\/strong><\/strong>\u00a34,199<\/h4>\n\n

Our workshop manager finds things a little off-kilter<\/p>\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n

As I\u2019ve been <\/strong>training for a gravel-bike event \u2013 which is now drawing worryingly close \u2013 I haven\u2019t spent as much time as I\u2019d like on the Trance. Life has a habit of putting obstacles between us and our preferred pastimes, and I count myself extremely fortunate that, in this instance at least, that obstacle is another bike! The rides I have done on the Trance, however, have been the meeting-new-people, party-laps kind of affair \u2013 not much care about speed, just sessioning features and getting some progression in along the way.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

I have found myself chasing another creak around the bike, though. I\u2019ve checked the rear axle, and the pivots I serviced previously are still greased and correctly torqued, so the next thing to check will be the headset. If it\u2019s not that, I fear my frustration with the bike industry entertaining press-fit BBs may grow even deeper.<\/p>\n\n

While noodling about, I found that all my controls were slightly out of position. It may have been that, during my tinkering, I left a lever-clamp loose and the simple pressure of my fingers in the general chucking-around of the bike moved one of them a little. It\u2019s also possible that one of the \u2018sit-downs\u2019 that happens once in a while over the course of pushing oneself knocked things out of kilter. I suspect that\u2019s why the bar was pointing an irritatingly small angle off to starboard. However, the stem is now pointing back where it should, the levers are level and the hand-guards can say the same.<\/p>\n\n

Balance has been restored. www.giant-bicycles.com<\/a> <\/em><\/p>\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n

TOM\u2019S REVEL RANGER<\/strong><\/strong> \u00a33,699 (frame only)<\/h4>\n\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n

When I originally <\/strong>reviewed the Ranger back in 2021, I noted that the rear suspension had a fairly narrow sweet spot. I thought I\u2019d found it, but during my last ride, it just felt like the rear suspension was a little too bobby on smoother climbs. While the RockShox SIDLuxe rear shock does have a compression lever, it only toggles from \u2018open\u2019 to \u2018firm\u2019, with no intermediate adjustments. As such, it\u2019s only really the rebound settings that I can play with to get the bike feeling good when the shock-damping is left open. Thankfully, adding just a couple of clicks of rebound damping does appear to have stopped that pogoing and made the Revel feel calmer on the climbs. <\/span>https:\/\/cyclorise.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n

ROB\u2019S TREK SLASH<\/strong><\/strong> \u00a34,050 (frame only)<\/h4>\n\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n

Part of the <\/strong>Slash\u2019s appeal for me is how easy I\u2019ve always found it to just jump on and ride \u2013 both this custom build and the Slash 8I had for the 2021 Bike of the Year test. Some of that is down to the balanced suspension feel, but the geometry plays a big part, too. The 450mm reach on the medium suits my 5ft 8in frame well, and I\u2019m more than at home with the 64-degree head angle. While the effective seat tube angle isn\u2019t the steepest (especially compared to some of this year\u2019s BotY contenders), the Flight Attendant suspension system keeps the back end propped up enough when climbing that it isn\u2019t an issue. With BotY 2022 complete, I\u2019m gagging to get back out it! www.trekbikes.com<\/a> <\/em><\/p>\n\n

<\/p>\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n
<\/div>
\n
HIGHS<\/span><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

An easy bike to just jump on and ride<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parts upgrades are exactly what i’d have gone for<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LOWS<\/span><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

I wish the power button were further up – a minor niggle<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

UPGRADES<\/span><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Topeak Ninja
Master+
SK+ bottle cage
\u00a39.99<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Free Strappack
\u00a312.99
www.extrauk.co.uk<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Topeak Alt-Position
cage mounts \u00a313.99
www.extrauk.co.uk<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n

JCW\u2019S ORBEA RISE H10 <\/strong><\/strong>\u00a36,623 (w\/ upgrades)<\/h4>\n\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n

Delayed by his obsession with neatness, our editor finally hits the trails <\/p>\n\n

Before hitting the <\/strong>trails on the H10, I did a fair bit of faffing with different tube-carrying solutions. What can I say, I\u2019m a perfectionist. The obvious place to store spares is at the junction of the seat tube and down tube, but that\u2019s also the location of the power button for the motor and some exposed cable outer. Strapping a tube to the top tube with a regular \u2018enduro\u2019 strap didn\u2019t do it for me, so I looked for other options.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

First, I tried a 76 Projects Piggy (https:\/\/76projects.com<\/a>). <\/em>This clever gadget attaches to your bottle bosses and lets you shunt the cage up several centimetres, making room for you to attach a tube to the integrated, strapequipped carrier. A neat solution (look out for a review soon) \u2013 but I failed to use the UK brand\u2019s clever print-out fit guide before calling it in, and the curve at the base of the Orbea\u2019s down tube meant I had to position it so far up that a full-size bottle fouled the shock dials.<\/p>\n\n

Falling back on the frame-strap approach, I tried a BOA-equipped Occam Apex<\/span> (www.silverfish-uk.com<\/a>), <\/em>which looked smarter than a standard strap and was quick and easy to fit, but that unused space down at the bottom of the frame still niggled. Finally, I spotted that Topeak offered a less bulky way to attach a tube to a cage than the Piggy, along with rails allowing 32mm of adjustment. Success!<\/p>\n\n

My anal side finally satisfied, I hit the woods. The reduced torque compared to my 2021 Whyte E-160 was immediately noticeable, but that\u2019s no bad thing \u2013 it\u2019s a cliche, but the Rise H does feel a lot \u2018more like a regular bike\u2019. Instead of rocketing you up the hills in a way that makes e-mountain biking feel like a whole different sport, the custom-tuned Shimano EP8 motor gives gentler, but welcome, assistance. <\/span>The reduced weight was immediately noticeable, too, giving a nimbler, more chuckable feel on flatter trails, but when I lofted the bike off a rooty drop, it felt just as capable as the longer-travel, slacker, burlier Whyte. I\u2019m looking forward to taking this thing to its limits. www.orbea.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n

JIMMER\u2019S SANTA CRUZ TALLBOY SC <\/strong><\/strong>\u00a35,599<\/h4>\n\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n

A small tear <\/strong>in the rear Maxxis Rekon tyre put the stoppers on what was looking to be a great local ride. It did highlight the importance of correct tyre pressure when running tubeless, though \u2013 it was a little low, and a bad line choice through the roots resulted in a rip. On the plus side, a creak that had developed at BikePark Wales magically disappeared, so I put it down to a bit of grit being caught somewhere. Apart from that, the Tallboy has been a blast to ride, especially now the trails are drying out and getting faster. I\u2019m looking forward to some adventurous rides and seeing how far I can push it. It has such a sorted spec that I haven\u2019t needed or wanted to change a thing apart from the grips so far \u2013 which is good, considering the price! www.santacruzbicycles.com<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n

MAX\u2019S WHYTE T-160 RS V2 <\/strong><\/strong>\u00a34,199<\/h4>\n\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n

As the trails <\/strong>dry up, I\u2019m getting to appreciate \u2013 or not, as it were \u2013 the weight of the T-160\u2019s Race Face AR 30 wheels. They\u2019re tough but quite heavy, so do dull the bike\u2019s acceleration. As I look to shave weight to gain speed, it\u2019d be good to investigate changes here. The seatstay bridge and wide main-pivot keep the bike\u2019s back end taut and efficient under force. I\u2019d been expecting to get airborne more, but actually, the long, low and slack geometry keeps the bike planted to the ground, however rough it gets. It doesn\u2019t feel adverse to being launched into the air and handles that with aplomb, but I\u2019ve been spending more time on the ground, where it gives a stable and confidence-inspiring ride. https:\/\/whyte.bike<\/a> <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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