Originally, the plan this Sunday was to race the Rogate Resurgence event (now postponed until next weekend) with Haven Distribution/Devinci team rider Brad Sheehan, customer Joe and his son, Alfie. Unfortunately, the inclement weather put paid to that. So rather than go back to bed,  plan B was implemented: head over to Pitch and meet up with the Sunday morning shop ride.  Having wheel spun are way up the hill past the snow weighted trees to car park 3, we found Paul, George and Matt waiting for us…

Following my most amazing Tour de Mont Blanc trip in the summer on my Truth, with a seatpost that wouldn’t drop more than 2 inches and balls bashed to bits, I decided that the time had arrived to look properly at seat dropper posts. I do so much varied riding on that beloved bike – from racing to trail riding at Pitch to mountain riding in Wales and now the Alps, that I’ve been convinced by others that I NEEDED one.
Due to the 27.2 diameter that Ellsworth have stuck with for so long my options were a bit limited, but Father Christmas was feeling generous and sourced me a lovely new X-Fusion Hi-Lo post for Christmas, complete with remote lever.

I’ve ridden the bike a few times since with it and although it took a while to remember to use it, it was about time I did a techy ride and reviewed it properly.

So, with some precious time off work, I headed out onto my favourite local route over Reigate Hill and across the North Downs.

After the first couple of rides I found the post wouldn’t reliably return to its fully extended position, but a quick top up of air pressure soon sorted this. I headed up the hill and got stuck into the first singletrack section, which I dropped the post just a smidge for. I found this option really useful for these trails – not fully down, but just enough to not get hooked up.

Once I’d played about a bit with the lever position it was really easy to use – although being of small brain I did get some ‘finger confusion’ whilst trying to brake, change gear and raise the post all at the same time, leading to an emergency dismount!

It was a beautiful day for a ride, trails mostly dry and air mild, with the sun shining brightly, all things were well and good in my world. The post has won me over totally as ‘a good thing’ and definitely one of those items I’ll wonder how I managed without!
Big Daddy

Here’s a couple of videos from the FreebornTV helmet cam to give you taste of our Sunday morning rides. Give the shop a call if you’re interested in joining us and we can give you more specific directions.

I’d been looking forward to this event for a while – I’ve grown to love off-road duathlons over the last couple of years and seem to do pretty well. They’re also fun as a mountain biker first and runner second, as most are runners first and bikers second, meaning you get to make major progress on the bike leg.

My race was a support race to the British Off-road Triathlon championships, so there were a few people in team GB strips floating about the place plus others with their name on their kit – you know they’re going to be fast! Fortunately for me they were all in the various triathlon races and not the Duathlon Sprint I’d entered. You won’t catch me clambering into a freezing lake for an open water swim anytime soon, especially in late September! 

The weather was awesome come Saturday morning, a bit of a chill in the air, but sunshine and blue skies. We rolled up to Hawley Lake in Hampshire early doors to a packed car park; blimey this event was bigger than I’d anticipated! Having got my stuff sorted in the transition area and bike parked in the right spot I was ready to go. The format was to be a 5k run, followed by a 12k bike lap and a further 5k run, all off-road.

I bagged myself a front row start position, and right from the off there were three of us that broke away from the pack. The 1^st km was on relatively flat fireroads and we settled into a comfortable quick pace. Before too long though, the other 2 guys began to pull away, particularly as we climbed for a short time and so I ran alone for a while, then was caught by another guy. We ran together most of the rest of the lap, and into transition for the first time. 

I felt I’d run a good time and felt strong, and was keen to get on the bike and get pedalling as I knew I had to maximise this leg. Despite getting lost for around 20 seconds or so due to an errant course marker, I quickly passed and pulled away from the guy in front and found myself in a comfortable 3^rd place. Having said comfortable, I soon realised I’d made a mistake by not putting my riding gloves on at transition! I NEVER ride without gloves and I was finding out why – I was soon having trouble hanging on with sweaty hands and missing the lovely ulna padding on Specialized’s gloves that were sitting unused in my transition basket.

 Despite this, I rode well on a pretty good course. There was a mix of fast open tracks and reasonably techy wooded singletrack. I had thought that the two leaders were long gone, and with a large gap behind me I was pretty happy with a 3^rd place, but around the 9km marker I caught a glimpse of the two leaders, riding together, up ahead. This was all the motivation I needed to step on it! It only took a few minutes to catch up and I caught them napping, riding straight past into a ‘Swinley forest’ type of swoopy singletrack descent and into the lead. I got very excitable at this point, as leading was a new experience for me, and only just avoided running into a photographer lurking in the bushes! I knew I had to ride my lungs off to get as bigger lead as I could in the remaining 2kms, as I was well aware that both those guys were better runners than me and I gave it my best shot, arriving into the arena and transition in good shape and a fair way ahead, shouting like an excited 6 year old that “I’m winning!” to my family of supporters!

I managed a pretty quick transition back into running shoes (nearly coming a cropper with the ‘helmet on whilst touching your bike rules’ in my enthusiasm to take it off before I’d reached my slot), and set off out on the final 5km run. Straight away my calves protested at the stretch, giving shots of cramp pain, but this passed after a few minutes and I started to run more fluidly. I got to about 3kms in, before I heard the inevitable breathing and footprints of the two guys catching me. It was disheartening, but I stuck with them for a further km, before they started to ease away from me. As the track dropped downhill, they pulled away and I had nothing left to challenge. Despite this I really enjoyed the last km, knowing I was going to finish on the podium for the first time in a few years. I managed to keep the other two in sight at least as they finished, and put in a big sprint finish and celebrated like I’d won as I crossed the line.

It was great fun to be at or near the front for the whole race, and actually know what position you are in. It gives you much more opportunity to think tactically too. Analysis of the results showed that my ride was nearly a minute and a half faster than anyone else in that race, and my runs were pretty fast for me at 20.54 and 22.00. I need to work on a faster transition (and wear gloves) and get the organisers to make the bike leg longer, and then I might get a couple of steps higher up that podium for the first time ever! 

Big Daddy

Day 1 of the show and losts happening this year with 29er bikes being one of the main attractions. Banshee’s Prime looks to be one to watch and takes a slightly more aggressive approach to things compared to some. Details to be fully updated on the Freeborn website soon.

Ellsworths always look good and among their show bikes were a couple of new offerings including a limited edition Ellsworth Specialist Randy Spangler Edition! The Specialist is a rare frame to find these days after it was discontinued so a cromo re-birth is most welcome – again details will follow asap.

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Also among Ellsworths Fleet was the long awaited 180mm travel Method freeride bike. Ellsworth took the Rogue and completely re-designed for front end to accomodate modern geometry suited to real freeriders. Going on the performance of the original Rogue this is definately one to watch, we can't wait to see one in the flesh (and hopefully ride one!)

Better pics sent of the Wilson showing the carbon rear end. Not sure if they are going to come painted like this or raw – to be confirmed!

Also on show was Stevie Smiths race bike – very nice !

The atlas rides incredible. It has the same wheel base as a 26″ by tucking the wheel in close and bending the seat tube, feels incredible, can’t wait to get the Atlas and Wooky 29er added to our growing demo fleet !

It’s already that time of year where the bike industry turns its head towards the lights of Las Vegas and Interbike. Here’s a brief report from the first couple of days at the Dirt Demo, the outside part of the show where industry people can try new bikes and see what’s coming up for the following season.

First day at dirt demo. First look at the new Devinci Wooky carbon hardtail 29er and Atlas 29er full-suss.

The wooky carbon has to be the best 29er hardtail I have ever ridden. Super light, super stiff and the Atlas just takes the already awesome 26″ Dexter to its next level. All the test riders that have ridden it said its one of the best 29ers they have ever ridden.

Next, a look at the new and improved wilson and it looks awsome with a new powder coat finish for durabiity and a longer top tube. Carbon rear stays 300% stiffer to increase lateral stiffness when the bike is landed. How this bike can be made any stiffer is unreal, it’s already probably the stiffest DH rig in existence!

We also rode the new leo sl road bikes – simply stunning and coming to the UK for 2012 !

We had torrential rain for the second day at dirt demo. Lots of people crashing in the slippery conditions. The Devinci maple syrup lollies which were made at the booth were delicious and went down well with the dirt demo crowd.

More to follow !

Our friends at NSMB.com magazine were guests of SRAM at their recent press camp to launch the new XO groupset, which features DH specific rear derailleur and crankset / chain guide

“What does a featherweight 29er, a burly six incher and a full bore downhill bike have in common? What do all day backcountry epics, climbs that are counted in hours not minutes, downhills that are technically demanding but are interspersed with challenging up and overs, and weekend podium places on three minute downhill charges have in common? As mountain biking becomes ever more infinitely divided and recategorized into ever increasing sub-genres there are very few threads that comfortably and effortlessly weave between them all. There are few riders who are comfortable in any and all camps, there are very few media outlets that juggle all the tastes and fancies, and there is almost no bike that can be enjoyed equally in all these domains. However, the SRAM XO groupset is the most versatile and perhaps genre defying element in mountain biking.”

“On day two we were released into the Bike Park with brand new Devinci Wilson downhill sleds.”

More info and the full article found here: http://nsmb.com/4573-sram-xo-camp/

Check out this awesome video feature from our friends at Pinkbike showing an insiders view of the Devinci factory in Quebec, Canada

For more than 20 years, Devinci has designed and built bikes that exceed the highest industry standards. This commitment to craftsmanship is a byproduct of rigorous training and Devinci’s dedicated staff of bike pros, skilled engineers, and visionary designers. The Devinci team has logged countless hours of researching, testing, integrating, analyzing, inventing, designing, producing, welding, double-checking, machining, calculating, assembling, painting, riding, discussing, anticipating, influencing, partying, growing, helping, recycling, laughing, smiling and, most important, believing. We are all this and more. This is what the Devinci brand is all about.

Some great comments from Pinkbike viewers of the article:

“Makes me want to buy a new bike from Devinci.”

“Not to mention they stand behind their product 100%. Hooked me up for a warranty frame no problem, and seemed very eager to help out another rider.”

“i’m so glad to live nearby, i’ve been there and they are just a bunch of nice people wich love to ride. Support your local/dedicated brand!!”

“Very impressed that Devinci do everything in house. I know of only one other bike manufacturer that does this and that’s Nicolai. Any others?”

“This video shows some of the reasons my last two bikes have been devinci’s. Keep up the awesome work guys!”

“Devinci is one legit company!”

“This is why I love my 2011 Wilson so much.”

“seeing this video makes me want to own a devinci.”

More info, and the video itself, found here: http://www.pinkbike.com/news/Devinci-factory-tour-2011.html

Freeborn Friend Phil S has recently written this comprehensive and flattering review on his experiences with his Devinci Dixon Split-Pivot mountain bike

If I had to describe the Dixon in one word, that word would be “balanced”. It’s not so heavy that it feels like anything more than a 5″ trail bike, yet it feels burly and slack enough to ride in the Alps without having to worry about breaking your bike. The tapered head tube and bolt-thru rear end make everything feel really sitff and responsive, and pedalling the bike (even standing up) is truly mond-boggling. The Dixon just shoots forward with little or no discernable pedal bob – it’s one of the best pedalling full suspension bikes I’ve ever ridden. There is no evidence of brake jack when riding the rough stuff either. Whatever Dave Weagle is having for breakfast, it’s working. The best way I can describe the suspension feel of the Dixon is ‘taut’.

More here: http://www.pinkbike.com/forum/listcomments/?threadid=121576

Freeborn friend Phil Steinhardt has just returned from a 2 week break to Laxx, Switzerland, where he rode the hell out of his Devinci Wilson SP and Devinci Dixon SP bikes

“Riding the Never End trail in Laax, Switzerland on my Devinci Wilson SP. Starting at 2,216 metres above sea level, the trail descends more than 1100 metres over a total of 7.4 kilometres”

Phil is a professional photographer http://www.steinhardtphotography.com/2011/index.html and very keen mountain biker, and has put together this great video for your enjoyment!

Check it out here: http://www.pinkbike.com/video/207623