Highside43

Hi James, you have almost the same bike as me and like you I love mine (mine's the Sduro Nduro Pro) - I also compete in the Mini Enduro / Downhill series on it. I tend to ride more Middle Wales as it's closer for me, but have done FoD and BPW (albeit once each and that was for a race each time). Both areas I liked and would return to again soon. I tend to haunt Llandegla, Cord Y Brenin, Canncok Chase and Marin trail / Snowdonia area. Maybe see you at one of the above one day?

Hi Rob, I'm a structural engineer too and enjoy my e-bike to the max. My only advise would be to test ride lots of different models once you have whittled it down to the type of riding you want to do (I know you said on and off road, but my downhill bike will do on road, just...) - they're not cheap so you need to find one that feel best for your needs.

48mph so far - like SW down a forest track, puddles were to be avoided after making the mistake of going through (albeit a shallow) one....:eek: MT07 huge brakes anchored me up fine though. The gauntlet is well and truly thrown now then.... I need to find a steeper hill.

Apologies, I was getting mixed up with the Nyon display... I have the Intuvia on my bike, but when I eventually smash it to bits I will change to the Purion as like the simple look and less likely to get damaaged. I have cartwheeled my bike several times now and so far the Intuvia has held up apart from being scratched all across it and the plastic case now held on with race tape...it's more functional now than aesthetic... I don't really look at the power assistance level - the only info I (personally) want is what mode I'm in, speed (mph) and how much battery is left.

As far as I'm aware you can exchange the two (bike shop may have to do some funny electrical wizzardry that's beyond my 3 pin plug wiring capabilities), but I'd be aware if you use it off road to it's full extent as it can be costly to replace if you damage it. If you're using it off road then you'll be concentrating more on avoiding trees than power levels, but it's horses for courses - only you know to what extent you'll be using the bike in an off road capacity.

Welcome to the forum, as others have said, you have an awesome playground there. Have you done the Marin trail yet?

Lots of interest, there are always the slaters in any group of people, but more and more are becoming interested in them - especially as we are lining up alongside them and covered in just as much mud...I tend to give a few strugglers a push on the fire tracks if I'm coming past and they all are surprised at how it picks two of us up with ease. The class is growing in numbers each year, and some very quick boys are entering now. I'm now seeing more and more electric bikes out on the trails the times I'm out there myself, but that could be that I'm more acute to them and look more?

No uplift - they were running there for the day, but not for race entrants. I just wasn't feeling it so turbo mode most of the way up and down.... As I had a spare battery I wasn't worried about running out. You could do the practice in the morning on Eco / Tour and then top up for a couple of hours while you wait for e-bike category to start (all the other entrants went first, we were the last category to go, so sat around for a couple of hours late lunch / mid afternoon).

That's exactly what I did with the Magic Mary's - got LBS (Race Co Cycles....) to fit them as I struggled in the garage with screwdrivers, tyre levers and all sorts before spitting dummy out and giving in. I dread getting a puncture out in the open now...will cross that bridge when I come to it.

Most of the bikes were Cube or Haibike, there was a Reise and MulLeroy Delivery (the one I passed on the third stage as he was struggling with lack of travel, but he still completed the course on it so they are capable bikes). Thanks SW, but the ones I need are model specific, I had some in the MX bag of goodies, just didn't pick them up.

Well, I survived but true to form I lobbed the bike on the second stage... Got there at about half nine and had to park almost by the roundabout as it was so full. Got togged up and it started to drizzle a little. Met up with a few others, mostly on e-bikes, and pushed the ones without a motor up the hill. Did the second stage first as it was at the top, not realising that it was also the black run... Set off down it without any drama but a few of the drop offs were (to me) quite knarly and high. Due to the sleet and mud, my MX goggles were not performing so half way down had to stop and take them off as I couldn't see where I was going, then I got mud in my eye so did half the run with one eye closed... I then did the e-bike stage (easy really, just uphill single track stuff), and the second stage. We stopped half way down and another e-bike came past us, pretty rapidly to boot - he was shredding the corners and was fast. Gulp. The competition had obviously upped it's game this year... By now it was lunchtime and the race was due to start at 1pm. Into the cafe and after purchasing some clear glasses, a burger, hot chocolate, nachos and chocolate cake ensured that I was fully race fit and mentally prepared...not. Last time I had been on the bike was 3 months ago at the beginning of the year (work commitments precluded any time on it). I just wasn't feeling it, maybe the film (Logan) at midnight beforehand didn't mix with the early start...Anyway, it was now start of the race and sleeting...deep joy. I could just go to sleep in the warm cafe, especially as the e-bike category was the last one and we were due to line up at stage 1 at 15:45. :rolleyes: Of we set at half past, sleet now stopped but it made the course very gloopy. Did the first stage and I believe I was in 5th place out of a respectable 19 that were racing - I had caught the rider in front but red mist got the better of me again and I started messing corners up by diving in too fast and running wide into the scrub instead of staying on the (faster) track. The second stage was next, and I set off well, getting through the tricky stuff without too much hassle but as I came out of the forest and onto the very muddy section I was carrying far, far too much speed (for my ability anyway) and you know when you're beyond that point of no return and it all starts going Pete Tong...I was there and it was only a matter of time before it all turned to snot. One foot had come off, another drop off later and both feet were off, sat on the saddle being a victim of circumstance, the next dip nose dived me over the bars and I slid gracefully face first down the track. Everything was now covered in sticky mud, and after picking myself and the bike back up, I carried on - only to fall off immediately after getting back on...oh the shame of it. The wind was now knocked out of my sails though as I rolled everything to the finish line, what didn't help was the mud - my hands just kept slipping off the handlebars and I couldn't grip the bike properly. I cleaned up in a stream and with now clean but wet hands, I set off for the third stage. I had not practiced this section but others had said that it was arm pump city. The rider in front set off, the beeps indicated my turn and off I set. Nice single track all the way down, and again I caught the rider in front - he pulled over to let me past, but at the end saw that he only had about 120mm of suspension...the benefits of 180mm travel came into its own on that stage with just letting the brakes off and rolling it. Back at the car, tired, elated and very, very muddy.... Next one is end of April it FoD, I recommend everyone have a go at a round at least once, they really are good fun. See you all at the start line for that one then...:):) Some photos below, note my "oh sh1t, lift you bu88er.." face as I heave on the handlebars...that was the time in practice where I land on the up of the next jump, and feeling like I snapped the bike in half...video to follow shortly. Bike performed flawlessly and stood up to the abuse again. Can't fault my Haibike and really enjoying throwing it about. In the end, I finished 11th as the crash on the second stage cost me, plus the up hill section drained me and my legs were like lead half way up, despite being on turbo mode...2 x batteries used throughout the day, each were down to one bar.

The Ice of Aspen looks like Aliens mouth...

A bike make / model would help - it's like saying I need a battery for my car...then I'm sure someone can advise.

Plus one on race Co Cycles in Stourbridge, very helpful staff there. Glad you're enjoying the Cube, some good trails round Holmfirth - I've cycled round Ladybower a few times, not quite as far north as you but in the same park.

I may struggle for that one - I hand over the contract that I'm currently working on on May 2nd, so will probably be working that weekend . I'll do my best to get there though. Definitely for the October one though.

Predator??? The first film with Arnie was the best.

Copied from their website:- 4th March 17: Bike Park Wales 30th April 17: Forest of Dean 22nd October 17: Forest of Dean 18 November 17: Coed Llandegla I'm going to enter all events this year if I can. Be good if you can join for the banter.

I've not checked the website for future dates - if that's the next one then I'll see you there. I thought they only ran a couple a year? I'll have a look now then and sign up. They are really good fun and I highly recommend them.

I did the FoD October last year - that's where the photo above is from. It was my first enduro (and first ever pushbike event) - can't recommend them enough. See you on the starting line up in a few months time then...:)

I have Magic Mary's on mine, but it's only a 27.5. Can't fault them and I have tried most sorts of tyres. I'll be buying these again such was the transformation in the bike. Have gone tubeless also, running 24psi.

I'll be there, riding the Haibike in the E-Bike category. If anyone is there, please come and watch me part company at some point with the bike (my usual position on it...) and slide gracefully down the course. I'll try and do it in front of the camera... Grey and yellow Haibike Pro, yellow full face helmet, grey top. Don't know what my race number is yet. Sponsored by Cube Engineering Ltd. Mike.

Wibble wibble. Now that I like...

I've entered the BPW run on March 4th. I've never done BPW before, so my first time there will be on the practice on the Saturday of race day... Having had a taste of it at FoD last October, I can confirm that they are bloody good fun, yet still maintain the competition aspect / nerves - wait until you do your first start with the timing beeps... I plan on doing as many of the enduro rounds as possible this year - work and motorcycle commitments aside.

I prefer the snow parks - board is a short park one as I enjoy the jumps and tend to stick to pistes when coming down from the top of the mountain. It sinks in the powder and is hard work keeping the nose up so stay out of it usually (apart from the usual 20m or so off the side of the piste following the run down)

Thanks Chris, I'll bear that in mind. Onxy Snowboard do schools there middle of the year, so was looking at doing a week with them and assumed it would be open. I'm at L2A this weekend for a weeks boarding, first time there so will have a look. T-Bars I'm ok with on the board.