SkipRatt mountain bike blog

Avid Elixir CR Carbon Disc Brake - 2009

2011-06-02T20:34:00.000+01:00

Avid 2009 Elixir CR Carbon front and Rear Disc Brake-Right Lever 1400mm hose

* Tapered Bore Lever with Integrated Reservoir
* Tools free contact adjust and reach adjust
* Two-piece calliper with adjustable banjo
* Carbon lever blade
* Top loading pads
* MatchMaker compatible
* DOT 5.1 standard
* G3 clean sweep rotor design
* 160, 185mm
* Weight: 369g

After dragging myself away from gaming and recovering from a really bad lower back strain I decided to get out and test the new brakes that I was so clearly forced to buy after my avid 5s front piston ceased up on me ^^ After some searching for a replacement brake I came across exactly what it was that would pimp my bike up, The Avid Elixir CR Carbon Disc Brake - 2009 from Chain Reaction Cycles at £69.00 each without rotors. Not getting any rotors posed no problem due to the fact that I already had some,,, bargain comes to mind.. :-)

The brakes took 2-3 short rides to bed in but when they do get well bedded in you know about it as I did today.. The bite these babies have is amazing, totally different compared to some of the other avid models.
What really stood out to me was the fact that once set up the brake had no signs of disk rub whatsoever! To sum things up I would say that the brakes feel good and they catch the eye (more than once) when fitted also the contact pad adjustment is a nice feature. But two things caused fitting problems for me.

1) The arrow on one of the contact pad adjuster units is pointing the wrong way..
2) The hose for the front brake is way too long (in my personal opinion).

For me these brakes rock though and I would have been prepared to pay a little more for them. Its a shame that they are discontinued at Chain Reaction Cycles because I know you would love them too!!

Skipratt mountain bikes a new lease of life

2011-05-25T12:06:00.000+01:00

Hello all I'm back from the dead with a short post. First off I would like to apologise for not posting for the last year or so, I found myself side tracked somewhat with gaming.
I realise that Skipratt has received a number of offers of link and review requests which I never followed up on, sorry to all for that.

I would like to give Skipratt mountain bikes a new lease of life in the way of content posted. With articles in the form of requested mountain bike related test reviews, please contact me if you have idea's for test reviews you would like done.

I received one such request which got deleted along with my junk email that was completely unintended. This was for carbon rotors which had no follow up web address.
If that person or company passes by this way again, please contact me so I can get my mailing address to you.

Know how important stretching is

2010-09-03T13:23:00.004+01:00

A while back I wrote about knee pain that was troubling me and a change in shoe may solve the problem, wrong!! For the last 12 months I have hit the trails 3, maybe 4 times and the odd road ride in between, (oh yeah I have a road bike now!), but that's another story....

The pain continued in my left knee until 1 night at work where I realised something.. Sports has always been in my life from an early age, consisting of running, weight training, Martial arts and boxing. So I must have a number of injuries, 1 being in my left thigh that gave me some grief when riding bikes.
When riding the injury would feel like a hot knife across my thigh and would tighten up as riding continued. I have also noticed that the muscle size and shape differ in each leg, more noticeably the "Vastus Medialis" that leads to my knee cap.
Whilst walking through the work shop I felt a sudden tightness in the rear of my knee,, "Semimembranosus". My first reaction was to bend over and touch my toes, to stretch, this relieved the tightness and my knee felt more relaxed.

I decided to start stretching before and after riding my bike. The stretches I do are just 2 basic for front and rear, so that's reach down and touch my toes for my hamstring muscle, then grab my ankle towards my buttocks in an upright position whilst using the wall for balance,(balance is one of those things that goes with age..lol), for my thigh muscle.
Since doing these stretches I no longer have knee pain if time is taken with stretching.
You would think that for someone who has been into sports for the best part of his life I would know how important stretching is before doing any exercise!

Winter Health Tip.

2009-12-13T08:27:00.005Z

Well winter is truly upon us and with the chill of winter comes the cough's, colds and runny noses of the season...and that's without thinking about the different Flu viruses that we need to avoid.

So what can we actually do for the common cough/cold that will help us without putting loads of artificial chemicals into our bodies which may not work and often have those nasty side effects??

Well one very good step to take is ginger and garlic...now I know this may not be to everyone's liking and it is possible to go into a shop and buy 'Odourless garlic capsules' or 'Essence of ginger', however I find that eating the natural stuff is actually a lot better as it has all of the nutrients there and nothing is lost in the processing.

I take one clove of garlic to the same amount of fresh root ginger..chop it finely and add a teaspoon of butter/marge and then it can be spread on bread, toast, crumpets...added to mash, put on jackets....or any way you fancy trying it. What I have given you are basic proportions but I do tend to make up a large batch in one go and then store it in the fridge (an airtight container is best....believe me on this one!!) It will keep for about 10-14 days no problem.

I have started taking this on a daily basis and I find that I am managing to ward off many of the cold viruses that are flying around the factory at work.

Another thing that you can do is, if you have a sore throat or feel a little chesty try honey and lemon juice in boiling water, It may sound not quite to your liking but it is basically lemsip without the chemicals. Honey and lemon steeped together in boiling water create natural anti-biotic properties which will help soothe the throat and chest. The benefits of making your own instead of drinking a lemsip, (or something similar) Is that you can drink it as often as you want without worrying about painkillers in it, and also you can take painkillers on top if you are feeling really bad. The quantities for the hot drink are roughly (and don't worry there is no exact science to it...some may want it a little sweeter, some a little tarter) about a teaspoon of honey, two teaspoons of lemon juice, one cup of boiling water...double the quantities for a mug. When you have had some...it will not matter if you adapt it slightly to your own taste.

One sure thing not to do when you have cold or coughs is to add alcohol to anything you drink...sure it may sound like a great idea but the alcohol actually destroys all vitamins, minerals, and nutrients on contact so you may as well have not bothered in the first place!!

Lapierre Zesty 714

2009-11-18T17:27:00.016Z

Are you ready for the all new Lapierre Zesty 714 all mountain bike? Lapierre claim the new carbon front triangle is 300g lighter than the aluminium version, as well as stiffer. Not a bad way to spend £3398.00! (at least if you can get it past the missus..lol!!)

Frame :
New Full Carbon / OST 140mm
Shock absorber :
Fox Float RP2 XV2 Boost Valve 200x57
Fork :
Fox 32FRL FIT 140mm 15mm
Headset :
Alloy Semi-Integrated Cartridge
Bottom Bracket :
Press fit
Crankset :
Shimano XT 22X32X44
Stem :
Lapierre XM 31.8X80mm
Seatpost :
Thomson Elite 31.6X367mm Black
Handlesbars :
Lapierre XC Pro Alu 31,8X680mm
Front derailleur :
Shimano Deore XT
Rear derailleur :
Shimano XTR
Brakes :
Formula RX1 180/180
Shifters :
Shimano XT
Saddle :
Fizik Gobi XM Mg
Wheel :
Shimano XT M778 UST 15mm Through-Axle
Sprocket :
Shimano HG80 9S 11X34
Tires :
Continental MKing Sport 26X2.4 / RKing 26x2.2UST
Weight :
11.7kg
Sizes :
42-46-50-54

Laid off from work

2009-10-07T08:54:00.000+01:00

Hello all, it's been a while since my last post due to me not being in the right mind set. Just recently I got laid off from work and I have been jumping through hoops ever since with the financial system!!

The viking challenge.........did I ride it???? Well yes and erm..... no! I rode it, but did not actually enter the event as I could not justify spending money on entry fee's with my current situation! So I joined in from the viking way and completed the 50k loop, only stopping once to take this photo. Due to not paying entry fee's I decided that I would not stop at refreshment points, (not like I ever would :)) but enjoyed flying past as others watched on! I surprised myself at how strong I felt, no knee pain in my left leg and at times riding felt fluid like. I mean I could go fast and smooth with little effort!

The whole day was very enjoyable, the weather was dry and sunny. The trails were dry and fast, I must admit though that the wind was a bugger gusting at 40mph at times heading west over the old air field!

One thing is for sure, even though I am laid off work I still have a hobby of riding mountain bikes, and now I have more time for it! (pity it does not pay the bills lol).

Specialized Stumpjumper FSR 210

2009-10-05T10:56:00.014+01:00

The Specialized Stumpjumper FSR is self proclaimed “the most well-rounded mountain bike available,” and for good reason. It utilizes a carbon frame with full suspension, and is very light and stiff. The Specialized/Fox AFR Brain rear shock with Brain Fade and adjustable rebound helps mash pedaling efficiency with bump compliance for the best ride possible. The Specialized FutureShock S140TA fork with 140-115mm adjustable travel takes care of the front end, and Roval Control SL XC wheels are lightweight but sturdy for maximum durability. DT Swiss Aerolite bladed spokes, along with the stiff and oversize axle means that the Specialized Stumpjumper FSR 2010 Mountain Bike is ready for any off road mission. Bike Reviews!!

Mountain Bikers Energy Tip.

2009-09-02T21:02:00.008+01:00

Well everyone who is seriously into exercise..be it mountain biking or anything else knows that it's important to stay in tip top condition and to replace energy after a serious bout of riding/exercise.
SkipRatt often uses the energy drink after a long trek to replace all that he has lost as I'm sure most of you do. However there is a more economical (and lets face it we all like that word at the moment) way to give yourselves a boost after a long ride.
After a bout of hard exercise try a bowl of cereal instead..recent research shows that a bowl of wholegrain cereal with milk can be just as effective for revitalising the body..it replenishes energy-releasing glyocen and blocks the lactate that can lead to stiff muscles.
It doesn't have to be any particular brand..as long as it's whole grain...and a bit of fruit or honey can be added to give extra flavour and a boost to your energy levels too.
So Mountain bikers..... there you have it...a quick cheap fix to aching muscles!!

Mountain Biking... not a solitary sport!!

2009-08-13T09:32:00.004+01:00

For quite some time I have been thinking about the amount of solo and pair mountain bikers in the Grantham area. To me mountain biking should not be about just going as fast as one can over rough terrain but to have fun, what better way to have fun than to share it with other like minded people. Road cyclists have a club called "The Witham Wheelers" where as mountain bikers do not.

I love to get out riding, sometimes thrashing the trails, sometimes just to get some air into my lungs... Problem is, if you're not thrashing the trails it can get a little monotonous on your own..... I think that's one of the hardest things I find in mountain bikes, finding someone to ride and have a laugh with around here! If Grantham had a club like the Wheelers for mountain bikers,(or even just a group of like minded people that exchanged mobile numbers!) finding people to ride with wouldn't be a problem, and best of all you would know first hand your fitness and abilities.

On Sunday I have arranged to meet 'ithinkyoulfindimperry' to do the viking challenge route. I'm kinda looking forward to it, but I am very apprehensive about it too, we haven't ridden together before or even spoken, he has the total advantage over me as he knows kind of what to expect from my fitness levels from reading my blog and also knows what I look like...I have no clue as to whether or not he is just going to wipe the floor with me and leave me for dead...'Please be kind Perry.. :-{'

I have ridden with quite a few people in the past from one end of the spectrum to the other. Such as, riding with someone with less fitness and ability than myself to riding with someone that I cannot in a month Sundays keep up with! Obviously this can be quite embarrassing depending on what end of the spectrum we are talking about!

One way to over come this scenario is to build a group of like minded people for a Sunday morning ride. Or for someone with a bit of clout to build a club like the wheelers. I'm more for keeping it casual as everyone has commitments of one form or another and also different riding techniques and pleasures but if there is anyone out there who fancies getting together then let me know and we could see about arranging something whether it be on a weekly, fortnightly or monthly basis depending on what each individual is after...I'm even up for the kids coming along at times too if you think they will enjoy it!!!

I need a picture of a group of mountain bikers for this post, and yet I have not got one!!

The annual viking challenge

2009-08-09T17:28:00.005+01:00

The annual viking challenge will soon be upon us and I am planning on riding the 50k loop, so some serious miles need to be done by me! As this blog has some, (maybe 1 local reader!) I am taking this opportunity to ask if you would like to join me as I am feeling very lonely when I do these events. :-) Seriously, if you are up for a laugh and don't mind stopping at all refreshment points let me know..

So what is the viking challenge? It's a 30 or 50k mountain bike event starting and finishing at Redmile primary school, Belvoir road, Redmile, Leicestershire.
The viking challenge is a sponsored event and the organizers choose the charity for the monies raised. Half of the monies go to the chosen charity and the other half goes to the Redmile school.

What I love about this event is it's open to all rider types, even children can and do ride it! You do get the racer's, but mostly it's family and the weekend warrior's such as myself who ride it. Everyone has their own reason for riding the viking challenge be it, breaking the land speed record for riding through mud, raising sponsor money for the event or other, or just for the sheer hell of it like me!

I find it to be a very long day in the saddle as I ride from home to Redmile, do the event then ride home again :-/ This is why I say some serious miles need to be done before Sunday 4th October arrives!
To find out more about the challenge, check out the viking challenge website

BLOODY WEATHER

2009-08-06T18:04:00.003+01:00

I have been away with the family, getting back last Saturday. So I would like to apologize to all those entrecarders dropping on me for the lack of return drops!

Mountain biking has been really slow since I got back, because as I understand it, the weather has done nothing but rain for almost 2 weeks now. And the sunshine that we have had, has been cut short by more sodding rain as it is right now!

This is my excuse for not posting anything on my blog, due to having nothing to say!!!

As I have had almost 2 weeks off work, the lack of riding has caused lack of sleep and aches and pains... So far in 2 weeks I have had 3 bike rides totaling 3 uncomfortable hours in the saddle. It's times like these that my weaknesses show up with inconsistent riding, and I feel the need to go back to basics!

I'm sat here right now thinking about my next sentence/paragraph, and cannot help but turn my attention to the living room window, BLOODY WEATHER!!!

Although I am moaning in this post, I did manage to get out today for 2 hours, so I should feel comfortable in bed tonight! It was a strange day... I woke up about 7-7:30am to a really dull threatening morning. By 10am, the sun was shining so strong my leg felt like it was burning by the rays through the living room window. I wanted to get out then but thought better off leaving it until the afternoon. At least I can have a drink outside the Rutland arms on my way back without having to rush back. Bugger that, I'll sit inside, "too many Wasps for my liking"!
Normally I would have a pint of Fosters or a coke, but as I have put myself on a more water diet. I decided on a can of Monster energy drink, "good start"! I must admit though, I felt a lot better on my way home!!!

As I got back onto the canal towpath, I started to crank those pedals hard and fast, into a face full of thunder flies, "cough, spit, snot" as the black clouds started to lurk above me. As I rode along the towpath I was forced to reduce my speed as lots of ramblers were ahead of me. I could feel the odd heavy drop of rain on me as I made my way through them. I just managed to get back into my village when, "it started to piss it down" this was at 3pm and it has not stopped since!

Mountain bike routes issue 2

2009-07-21T11:01:00.005+01:00

Mountain bike routes issue 2. This is an alternative to the viking challenge route in regards to the fact that it starts and finishes close to my home. The route includes all the area has to offer, which is not much compared to you Sheffield lot! But it gets me out riding and with a little thought I'm able to mix it up a bit to keep things interesting.

This route also includes a watering hole at the Rutland arms pub. I stop here frequently, it's about 3 or 4 mile towards the end of the route. So, if you drink too much ;-p don't worry, you will be home in no time at all and all the hard works done anyway!

30 + mile viking challenge alternative

Share your bike routes @ Bikely.com

Mountain bike routes issue 1

2009-07-18T18:52:00.003+01:00

Mountain bike routes issue 1 is the Barrowby, stenwith mountain bike loop of about 10 miles. A mixed bag of road and offroad and 2 major (A) road crossings as well as the train line crossing! A good quick 10 mile blast for mountain bikers, right on my doorstep!

This route takes you through 2 farms and surrounding farm land. With a nice offroad section which is quite fast but rough. A section that can be muddy at times, but when it is dry, it begs for more speed! This takes you along a small forest track, and it's all connected via back country roads.

Barrowby, stenwith, grantham loop

Share your bike routes @ Bikely.com

Mountain bike cleanliness

2009-07-13T20:18:00.004+01:00

Mountain bike cleanliness, is it needed after every ride? I was curious to see who does it and to what frequency. I refuse to clean my bikes unless it's absolutely necessary. I would however clean and re-lube the drive chain after every other ride. I used to clean my bike when it was new as often as possible.

Every so often I may go out and the trails are really muddy, so my bike will be caked in mud. Now I never ever hose it down after a muddy ride as in my experience I found this to be a bad thing to do. When using a jet spray or garden hose, water tends to get into bearings and seals. Which can work out quite costly when replacements are needed. I let any mud dry and then flake it off after.

When I have the worst of the mud off my bike I then remove the wheels and put the bike on a bike stand. With a bowl full of soapy hot water and some rags I start washing the bike down, then dry it off. With the wheels I make sure the the rag is semi wet, ie: I ring the thing out! The reason why I remove the wheels is so that no soapy water gets on the brake disks!

If I have to clean my bike this way, it gets a good going over! The cranks, chain, seat stem and jockey wheels on the rear mech gets a good degrease and re-lube. I find this is all a bike needs apart from the usual checks for ware and tear...

So how, or do you clean yours??

Buying children a mountain bike

2009-07-10T22:10:00.000+01:00

Buying children a mountain bike is something that makes me very angry, not at my child mind. But the quality and prices at which I buy them!. I know that I have no images with this post, but I thought that as my wife decided to write about buying children mountain bikes and used photo's of the bikes I'm writing about. You would get the idea!

Kids mountain bikes these days are a complete waste of money unless you spend ridiculous amounts of money for them. The reason I say this is because if you look at them you will see that the cranks are extremely weak, disk and v brakes do not work properly, ie: they rub or sieze up all together, and the levers are to damn difficult for any children to squeeze!

Manufactures make, and shops sell these bikes to the parents from £99 - £400 with the tag that it's a "Mountain Bike". It is not a mountain bike, mountain bikes do not fall apart at the sight of dirt! These so called mountain bikes for children are being sold to parents and the parents are being miss-led. Why? Because when parents take these bikes in for a service because something has gone wrong. The local bike store will ask, "has this bike been off-road"? When the parent replies "yes I think so!". The local bike store would say, "It's a road bike, not a mountain bike"!.

Manufactures should spend more time improving the quality of budget bikes as low as £99 for them to deserve the tag "mountain bike". And parents should be aware that full suspension bikes for £200-£300 are not going to make you or your child happy, when the bloody things fall apart quicker than ridged bikes would!
Why? because cheap ridged bikes have better components than one with a suspension, front or both!

What the manufacturers need to tag these bikes as is...'Novelty mountain bike'..at least this way you know exactly what you are buying!!!! Something cheap that is going to fall apart very quick just like the 'novelty' pocket money toys the kids can buy!

Climbing up hill offroad

2009-07-05T21:51:00.008+01:00

Well here we go again, climbing my local off road uphill trails with the helmet hero cam! This is the second installment and the focus this time is on choosing the right lines uphill. The trail is a 12% gradient climb over really rough technical ground.

In winter and on really wet days these trails get really bogged down with water and sludge, and riding them is damn near impossible! I'll show you some wet riding movies in future updates along with more audio. ;-)

Mountain bike trail reborn

2009-07-05T16:45:00.012+01:00

I've just spent the morning putting some footage together of my local trails with the helmet hero cam. I then spent the afternoon editing it. This is the first installment. The focus here is on a mountain biker choosing the right lines, and trying to keep the speed up going over really rough ground!

I hope you like it and I look forward to your comments...

More to come in future posts..

Buying a mountain bike....one for the kids!!!

2009-07-04T20:25:00.020+01:00

Ok..so the kids need a new bike...they want a mountain bike. I don't have a problem with this. After all they have gears and are a lot more practicle than those silly BMX things that you see so many of the kids on these days. Although if they told me they wanted a 'racer' I would be fine with that too!!

Well you think purchasing a childs mountain bike would be easy right?? You take the kids in a shop...you give them a price limit and they start looking. You'd think you would have nothing more to worry about than them trying to haggle the price a little if they see something extra cool,yeah?? See where I'm coming from?? I think you may and this is probably how it goes for most parents. Is this how buying a childs mountain bike goes for me?? Hell no...'cause I live with...'SkipRatt...THE mountain bike enthusiast'!!!

So all of you who read this blog are going to probably seriously pull me down because I'm sure you will see SkipRatts point of view (seens as how you're all bikers and will therefore be totally biased) and not the Moms!!The kids just need a new bike for christ sake...they will grow out of it in a few years...crash it countless amount of times...leave it out to the elements...never bother cleaning it and think that the rust growing on it is a cool new feature that keeps it held together in its old age!!

Ok so I don't let them get away with murder and I do make them pump up there own tyres and stuff..(at least those that are old enough) and maybe once in a while say to them...'If your bored why not clean your bike??' but they are not mountain bikers....they may become mountain bikers and get into the sport as they get older (much as my oldest nephew is doing now) but up until that point their bikes are purely a tool for them to get from A to B in a quicker way which is free!!
they aren't that interested in how effective and expensive the forks are...whether it is fitted with disc or v. brakes (oh look at that I used a technical term!!) and what the frame is made out of...to perfectly honest I can't say I'm particuarly bothered myself about all those things when buying a bike...as long as it fits and feels comfy surely that should be enough!!

For any normal people this is enough but if you live with a mountain bike enthusiast then trying to purchase a mountain bike off the rack is cause for whinging and whining and moaning and groaning..(and thats just from the hubby!!)

So what do I do?? Totally avoid the subject at ALL costs!! That is the easiest thing.....problem is the kids grow and so they grow out of their bikes and need a new mountain bike that they think is cool from the shop...and me I'm just trying to ignore the fact that they are growing out of their bikes!!

Does it really have to be such a chore to buy a childs mountain bike??? Am I just being the moaning wife?? Does any body else out there have have these problems???

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2009-07-04T14:28:00.011+01:00

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Mountain bike-specific clothing

2009-07-03T16:16:00.015+01:00

Mountain bike-specific clothing. Personally I wouldn't bother with mountain bike-specific clothing such as wind stopper jackets and shorts/bibs. Most of these high priced clothes are either not windproof/waterproof or have very hard double stitched detail around the crotch area (really not good for your sensitive parts)!
Depending on how much mountain biking you see yourself doing. £100 and upwards for a windproof/waterproof jacket is a complete waste of money, regardless of whether it's well made or not.

I have to admit that I have started to wear clothing from outdoor supply stores or cheap 3/4 length shorts from warehouse sport stores etc. You'll get the same thing for less money (without double stitched detailing!). The only mountain bike-specific clothing that I do use are mountain bike gloves, shoes and tops. To be honest though, bike tops are pointless too, if the only reason for them is the back pockets. (I where a camleback and I'm NOT a sponsored rider!)

"Trek-mates" have wicking t-shirts at very cheap prices and they are quite loose when your wearing them. (very good for layering up with other tops in colder weather). Also packable wind/waterproof jackets for about a tenner. Clima-cool is an excellent item to buy..it has the same wicking feature as the expensive gear but you can get it in a lot of sportswear and general wear clothing these days so when buying, it is a good thing to keep your eye out for the internal labels which state whether the item is 'clima-cool'. Regatta have some plain t-shirts with clima-cool which can be found in yeomans for just £5.99.

So I say "save your money for your new ride" and don't focus so much on brand names and the latest in thing. Having all the latest gear in the world won't make you a better and faster rider!

Mountain Bikers...stay healthy in the heatwave!!

2009-07-02T16:21:00.008+01:00

Well mountain biking season is well and truly upon us and every one is wanting to get their bikes out and get on those trails. Then it happens....strong sun and high temps that are bound to affect any riders performance no matter what level you are at.

What is essential to mountain biking is staying fit and healthy and in the heat of the last week it is even more important to stay on top of your game so I thought I would share a few hints and tips with you to help keep your energy levels up, your temperature down and stop you burning out too quickly.

The most essential thing in this heat is plenty of fluid...surely every fool knows that, but you would be surprised how many people don't take enough liquid down in this weather. The best form of hydrating liquid is of course clear water. It doesn't really matter whether you drink bottled water or tap water although if you live in the Lincolshire area of England you may be interested to know that our tap water is actually healthier for you than bottled water as it is specially treated and also has added fluoride which helps keep your teeth healthy and strong too.

When you are planning on going out for a ride it is a good to half fill the bottle you intend to use the night before with your drink and then put it in the freezer. Then just before you go out top it up...this will give you a cool refreshing drink your whole ride.

As I said previously water is the best quencher but if you are going mountain biking then obviously you are going to be using a lot of energy so adding something to your water to replenish what you are using isn't a bad idea. 'Go' is very good for this and comes in several different flavors...(you can even get a bottle for it to get the measurements right although this isn't essential) and is available in most bike stores and health shops although I have found you always get a better deal in the health shops.

Covering up and/or suncream are essential. If you wear a helmet don't presume that this will be enough as a lot of them are vented which although is great for letting the heat out is also great for letting the sun in. In this instant suncream could be worn or a skully. A skully is probably the better option as it will soak up the sweat and stop it running into your face. Also if you sweat with suncream on then it's going to run into your eyes...and that hurts like hell!!
You can go for long sleeve tops and 3/4 length trousers which will keep you covered and protected or you can use suncream. It is important to get a suncream that is waterproof so that you don't just sweat it of and that is suitable for your skin type. There is a lot to consider when buying suncreams so the best thing to do is ask at a pharmacy...Boots are very helpful with this!

So you're protected and you are ready to go out mountain biking...remember timing is important too. The hottest part of the day is going to be between 11am and 3pm so it is a good idea if possible to go out either before or after this. I know it isn't always possible to do that so if you do have to go out between those times just try to make your usual riding time a little shorter and take your speeds a little steadier.

Ok..you're home after riding some great trails on your bike..(and one good thing about the hot weather is the bike won't take very long to clean up!!) so what do you do now??
Well you have to again put more liquids inside your body. A hot cup of tea is great in the hot weather as it actually cools your core body temperature down so effectively cools you from the inside out!!

Have a tepid bath or shower...a hot one will rise your temerature firther and a cold one will drop your temerature to quick which can make you feel nauseous.
You will have used much more energy than usual so having an energy drink would also be a good idea...again you can get things such as 'Rego Recovery' from health shops and bike stores which do really work and aren't just a money spinner!!

Sit outside in the shade and let your body cool down naturally by being still, stay out of the sun for a while and give your body time to recover. Try to stay away from pop and sugary drinks until you feel your body is rehydrated......then be a kid and eat some ice lollies...they taste good...you can get the ones with no added sugar...and hey you have the perfect excuse!!

Well I hope this has helped all you mountain bikers out there and if you have any other tips you can add to stay cool in the heatwave then let us know.

Happy Riding!!

Buying a mountain bike

2009-06-23T10:49:00.014+01:00

Buying a mountain bike is a real pain in the ass and it can take some time to find one that you're happy and comfortable with. Let me help you avoid the pitfalls of buying a mountain bike before you spend all that hard earned cash and make the whole process that much sweeter.

Your maximum price?

The money you can spend on a new mountain bike is virtually limitless if you take too much notice of all pro level hype. To keep you from spending too much money, you have to decide on the maximum you are willing to spend on your new mountain bike. When you figure out what your willing to spend, stick to it!

What's your bike for?

What sort of riding do you want to do?. Mountain bikes can pretty much do anything these days, but you need a mountain bike for different riding styles and terrain. Figure out what sort of riding your going to do. Is it trail riding, XC/cross-country, racing, all mountain, or general on road commutes ? Make sure the bike you get fits in with what you want it for.

Do I need a suspension?

Do I need a suspension? At the very least I would recommend a front suspension mountain bike,, hard-tail. When pedalling, hard-tail mountain bikes can be more efficient than what a full suspension design is, but full suspension bikes can offer more comfort and more fun.

Places of purchase

There are basically three ways you can purchase your bike. On-line, pick out of a catalogue in a bike shop, or go to a large shop which has bikes in stock that you can actually look at.
I have bought bikes in all of these ways and although I am happy with my bikes I would recommend, (especially to new first time buyers) to choose the latter.
Going to a large store gives you the chance to get up close and personal with the bike before you buy it. You can check out all the parts, see how it feels when you sit on it and sometimes even take one out for a test ride so you know whether it is going to be comfortable for you on the move. Needles to say, buying on-line or picking out of a catalogue gives you none of these benefits. Although this way is fine if you know exactly what you are after.
Oh and there is a fourth option for the more experienced, buy parts you are familiar with and which you know you like, buy a frame and then just build your own!!

Research never goes amiss!!

Product reviews are a great way to find out about mountain bikes, how they perform and which ones are reliable. If you decide to buy on-line or through a catalogue you will be able to look your bike up before you buy it and make sure there isn’t some component on it that you weren't quite expecting and know you won't be happy with.

In all aspects of buying your bike...the more knowledge you have of your choice the better!

Mountain bikers ride follow the dog

2009-06-22T18:51:00.004+01:00

Finally I decided that mountain bikers should ride follow the dog. If Thetford Forest was anything to go by Joel would handle it well at Cannock! We spent 4 nights in a really nice b&b and ate in the Wolseley Arms (just 5-10 mins down the road, just off the Wolseley bridge). Wolseley is 3.1 mile from the Birches Valley Forest center in Cannock Forest!

We arrived at Wolseley about 12 o'clock and followed 'the dog' by 2 o'clock, (not by My choice mind as I like to chill out after travelling!) as Joel couldn't wait to ride the follow the dog trails. So who was I to stop him! I mean, I've seen it all before!

The first time around the trail Joel rode it really hard and fast, I was very surprised because he did not do any training before hand. The following day we rode the follow the dog (again!!) and Joel snapped his chain which I was not prepared for!
Luckily another rider coming up behind us gave us a hand by fitting a sram power link,, thanks chap!

As we got to the board walk section of the trail, Joels approach and balance was all wrong and he fell off, somehow snapping his seat clamp bolt! So I took the seat stem out and we made a beeline to the bike shop. Joel wanted to buy something from the bike shop anyway so he ended up buying a whole new seat stem because you cannot buy just a seat clamp and bolt,,(what a surprise!!) probably not what he wanted to stop and check the shop out for but guess that will teach him to take a little more care!!!

I wanted to explore some of the 'Cannock Chase' forest and maybe find the so called 'monkey trail', but alas we did not find it because no one knows where it is (or they just didn't want to tell us!) So we decided to go to the downhill section at Stile cop. Stile cop road, a bugger of a hill that Joel left me for dead on!! When we got to the start of the down hill section we decided on the red route down. After dropping our saddles and making sure our suspensions were not locked off we began our descent. Never again on a XC mountain bike, I'm surprised I didn't end up with whiplash. This trail had HUGE drop offs, jumps and very impressive berms. We both made it to the bottom safely although, my bloody lower back was in agony for the remainder of our time in Cannock chase!

How to ride trails fast

2009-06-21T12:05:00.012+01:00

How to ride trails fast is a question that crops up quite frequenly, so I'm going to try and give you my take on it and hopefuly make you a better, faster rider on the trails.

Pick your line

You should scan the trail a few seconds ahead of you, constantly surveying the terrain to make quick decisions. The faster you go, the further ahead you should look. At high speeds you need to be ready for sudden obstacles such as tree stumps, rocks, or the terrain may change and become rutty.

Assume the position

When you're descending, you want your feet to be level on either side of the bike. Shift your bum behind your seat and over your rear wheel. You want as much of your weight on your rear wheel as possible if the descent is steep. And you need to be as light and balanced as possible on the bike. Staying in the middle ring and going with the flow of the trail, plus weight shifts allows you to use every berm, descent and obstacle to generate more speed on the bike.

Get in gear

When you're climbing you need to get in the right gear before the foot of the climb. When the next climb arrives you should quickly shift into the middle or small ring. In most cases the small ring is the best choice because, if the terrain is loose stone and sand the bigger gears will cause your rear wheel to lose traction and you'll be pushing your bike up the hill.

Know your limits, and don't attempt something your not confident in doing.

Mountain Bikers perfect gift

2009-06-20T13:39:00.009+01:00

Hi All..This post will contain, Mountain Bikes, Helmet Cams, Chain reaction website, Birthdays, Gifts and pro's and con's of online shopping!!

( SkipRatt keeps moaning at me because I don't have the right keywords in my opening sentences which is why I have done the above in a list format, now I can just write it how I want too!!)

So this was actually supposed to be a happy post bragging about the great gift I bought SkipRatt for his birthday but that is just not to be.
After much consideration (and listening to him rave continually on about them) I decided to go for a helmet cam so that he can film the trails he rides. Now you all know by now I'm not a biker so I had to go looking and reading other peoples reviews as to what would be the best to buy.

After much research and some help from my Nephew I decided on the GoPro Digital Helmet Hero. It had some great reviews, could do still photos, succession photos and live video so seemed perfect for what he wanted. It is the smallest camera available, (or at least that's what the reviews said) and comes in a waterproof housing which is a major bonus if you live in the U.K.

Then I had to find the camera and as luck would have it I found exactly what I wanted on chainreactioncycles and so placed my order. 4 days after placing my order I received an e-mail from chainreactioncycles saying there was an error and they did not have any of my item in stock and would refund my money...this took me back to square one with time running out.

I had another look on there site and after much reading and re-reading decided to go for the GoPro Digital Hero 3 Camera in conjunction with the GoPro Grab Bag as these two items together gave me the camera and mounts...sorted...or so I thought until the morning of his birthday when the sealed plastic packing was finally opened!!

It turns out that the helmet cam has a totally different housing than the camera with the wrist strap making the mounts that I additionally purchased with this item a total waste of money. We have also found out that the strap that comes with the camera can NOT be mounted securely onto handle bars making my gift of no use what-so-ever to a mountain biker..or my Hubby!!

So there you have it...a perfect gift it was not. I have e-mailed chainreactioncycles letting them know all about this and I am waiting for a reply from them but I thought it was important that if there maybe was someone out there like me looking for a helmet cam that they should not end up making the same mistake.( on the other hand maybe I'm being totally dense and the mounts do fit..if there is anyone out there with a GoPro camera please help!!)..please feel free to go to chainreaction cycles and see if you think I have read the information wrong because if that is the case then I am prepared to eat my words however I have been and re-read all info. and cannot find anywhere that it says the housings are different or that the mounts are not suitable for all the housings.

I will let you know what chainreactioncycles say in there reply if I get one.

Comments always welcome.

Thanks.

Happy Birthday!!!!!!

2009-06-20T11:52:00.003+01:00

Hey just wanted to let all the readers know that it's Skipratts birthday...he will probably kill me and then delete this post but...never mind..:-)

Allergies and mountain biking

2009-06-05T12:12:00.009+01:00

Allergies and mountain biking, am I the only one suffering at this time of year? Or are you the kind of person that suffers from allergies all year round? Allergies have been a pain in the ass for the last 5 years or more for me and makes me feel unfit. Here is a list of issues caused by allergies when riding mountain bikes:

1) Sneezing
2) Watering and itchy eye's
3) Coughing up snot
4) Lack of breath
5) Nasal congestion
6) Headache's

What can be done to over come the above problems? Well most doctors prescribe "Antihistamines" in tablet or nasal spray form, or you can just buy these from most shops and chemists. I'm not sure how effective this is, but I do know that it does not work for me!
Antihistamine tablets alone do nothing at all for me, and I have tried almost all of them on the market, (quite a few of these were prescribed one's too)! Nasal spray works well for short periods, at minimizing sneezing fits. But I find that it adds to the crap already up my nose, and I never get any mountain biking done!

Last year I started using some antihistamines called "Telfast" 180mg with 168mg of Fexofenadine an active ingredient (as fexofenadine hydrochloride 180mg). Yes I'm reading it from the box!!!
As it felt like it was minimizing the symptoms for me however slight, I started taking 2 instead of the prescribed 1! This worked for a little while at controlling my allergy, but my system must have got use to them as they became ineffective.

This year has been quite promising with what I now take and it's effects at reducing or even curing my allergies and making mountain biking more pleasurable. I still take "Telfast" but also 400mg of ibuprofen twice a day. I take 1 "Telfast" and 400mg ibuprofen in the morning and the same in the evening. Depending on the severity I may take 400mg of ibuprofen 4 hours after the first and continue the cycle throughout the day.

I am however beginning to think that 400mg of ibuprofen alone will do the job just fine at making me feel normal,, as normal as can be anyway!

Obviously this is what is working for me at present and I'm not asking everyone to rush out and start taking Ibuprofen on a regular basis as this is not ideal but the only way that I have found I can manage my allergies and continue mountain biking.

I would love to hear some input from people, find out what you take, and possibly find something natural which will work as this would make me a lot happier. On the natural note I have just recently started drinking honey in warm water as this is supposed to help allergies so I will let you know how I get on with that!!

Mountain bikes...1...2...3????

2009-05-26T17:01:00.009+01:00

Well here I am back again writing.....The Hubby is actually away at the minute in Cannock Chase with the Nephew..(which I'm sure he'll tell you all about in great detail when he gets back!) so I thought this was the perfect opportunity to write a post without him being able to edit/delete it before anyone sees it!!!

You probably wonder from the title what I'm going to write...well it's about how many bikes can one person possibly need!!

You see I'm curious to know whether 1 single person needs multiple bikes?? I am one person and i have one bike...it's not great but it works and gets me from A to B no problems. I don't need any more bikes...i can't ride more than one at a time...i was only born with two legs!!

Then there's my hubby....he is normal..(well as normal as he can be for him) was only born with two legs...yet he has three bikes...that's SIX pedals!!!!

Ok..i guess I kind of understand why he would have a full susser and a hardtail..( ok so I don't REALLY understand but i get that there's a difference) but why on earth does he need two hardtails??? He would probably comment on this and say he only bought a new one so the Nephew could have his old one but that is only part truth...I know no matter what he says he would have bought that second hardtail...and I know for a FACT that he would go and buy another bike tomorrow if i said."Here you go Babe..take a couple grand to spend on a bike."...Now you're probably thinking...well who wouldn't...but he would then just add this to the collection in the shed and not dispose of one of the older bikes. At the rate we are going on..we'll be the ones living in the shed as the bikes won't fit!!

So avid followers of this blog who are into mountain bikes...please give me some feedback and help me understand the necessity of having to own multiple bikes or if it is in fact just my Hubby who is becoming a grave collector of anything that has two wheels, two pedals and is expensive???

Maybe also help me understand a little about why you would need a hardatail and a full susser, I mean, at the end of the day we still rode bikes in the victorian times and then they were ridicuously strange and impractable..and yet it worked for us....are we just becoming soft in this technology driven world??

Any feedback would be appreciated.....I'm sure my hubby would be happy if you made me stop moaning at him too!!!

Maybe it's just a man thing!!

Let me know.

Mountain bike knee pain

2009-05-16T08:53:00.005+01:00

Over the last few weeks I have been struggling with knee pain in my left leg associated with mountain biking. When I first started riding mountain bikes like any other newbie mountain bike rider, flat pedals was the way to go. As I got deeper into riding and pushed myself much harder I made the transition to clipped/cleats.
When I first started using cleats getting them set up for me was a pain in the butt. But however, when the set up job was complete my riding seamed to improve 100%.
I never suffered with knee pain for a least 2 years of using cleats. So when the pain struck, I was completely taken aback by it and I could not fathom out how and what would sort it!

After lots of cusses and tantrums I decided to go back to flat pedals, this was a bold move as I did not know how this would effect my riding. To my amazement my speed did not decline, but efficiency did. I found that my left foot would move outwards whilst road riding, and both feet would not stay on the pedals over rough ground. Again lots of cusses and tantrums followed,,,OMG, "I sound like a 5 year old!"

My pain in my left knee has gone since using flat pedals and now I find myself at a crossroads with which route to take,,, I could get a pair of "Five ten high shoes" As these would keep my feet glued to the pedals, so they say! The reason I say Five ten high is because they would give me some ankle support and stop me from rolling my feet.

The other route would be to go back to cleats, but with my DX shoe and pedal combi! So far I have tested the DX route due to the fact that I already have them in my possession and the Five tens cost £75. Not a route I'm prepared to take whilst I'm on a 3 day a week at work!
Yesterday I went out on my full susser with the DX combi fitted. I had the cleats all the way back on the shoe and my seat quite high. I spent about half an hour riding leisurely before feeling pain in my left knee again, so I stopped and went home!

When I got back home I decided to move the left cleat nose out which should result in my heel inward toward the chain stay. I found this relieved the pain whilst shifting my left foot inside the shoe, and when I was using flat pedals I found that my left foot would point toes outward naturally anyway. This felt weird as it feels like I am stomping on the left pedal and my right leg is just doing no work!

As things stand, my plan is to go out again today and see if any more pain occurs. If more pain occurs then I will ditch the cleats forever and buy a pair of Five ten high shoes instead! But then again it's my birthday in June so all the ear ache I have caused and dropping "Five ten high shoes" in there too, may get me a pair! We never really grow up do we?? ;-)

Mountain Biking...so what do I know??

2009-05-11T20:24:00.011+01:00

Hi..I'm Tanya and this is my first post here...so what do I know about mountain biking?? Honestly, not much...however as a wife of a mountain biker far more than I ever wanted to know...lol.

I'm not, nor am I ever going to be a biker but My hubby absolutely loves it and to be honest this is fine with me as it gets him out of the house and gives me a break too...:-)

I know all the basics of course and a few more things besides like the pro's and cons of disc versus v brakes and full susser against hardtail, (and that's without reading the content!).

However I'm not a person who rides for pleasure. Sure I have a bike, just a bog standard one that came off a shelf, it gets me from A to B and that's fine. Being a wife of a biker means that I understand my gears are out of allignment (which is apparently why I get the horrible clicky noise) and that my tyres never have enough air in (which is why I always find biking such hard work). I know these things but not how to fix them which is when I become so grateful that my hubby is.. (and these are my words) quite fanatical about biking!!
There is so much more to mountain biking than meets the eyes and I suppose I could write it all in this one first post but then I would never have anything to write again so for today I'm going to leave it here, but please know I will be back with my own views of living with a biker, the pro's and con's of that and what i think can personally benefit you from biking as I have seen it first hand...oh and I will prob tell you something about me and my hobbies too..(even if I was specifically asked not to mention my allotment!!!)

If you didn't get it by now...I am SkipRatts wife!!

Skatås in Sweden reviewed

2009-05-10T10:43:00.004+01:00

My wife has a life long pen friend in Sweden named Eva. And from time to time, either Eva will come over to the UK to visit, or my wife will go to Sweden. Eva invited my family to stay with her and now husband Mattias in Gottenbourg. Knowing that I like to ride mountain bikes and wanted to check out the trails. Mattias got in touch with his friend Nisse, also a mountain biker to ask if he would like to show me the Skatås trail. Mattias also hired out 2 mountain bikes for us.

We met Nisse in the Skatås trail car park and began to unload the bikes after all the introductions! The bikes were really heavy with v-brakes and a seat like a razor blade, but ride-able."Well my bike was ride-able" But then I picked the best of the two! Nisse's bike's chain kept coming off due to the gears being out of alignment. This made riding for Nisse more of a pain in the ass than my bike did for me!

The Skatås trail was quite wet and very technical which I found challenging and fun, it allowed me to ride aggressively and at some points leave Nisse way behind. But this was probably only due to that fact that Nisse had not ridden for some time and because of the condition of his bike!

The trail had huge slab like rocks in our path going up and down, but this did not deter me or slow me down. Even though my heart was racing so fast I thought it was going to plough through my chest! When Nisse caught up he asked me if I ride in competition, I was astounded by this question and answered with "No do I look like I do!" He looked at me with puzzled eyes and I returned the puzzled look.
Later I thought my response to Nisse maybe was confusing to him due to the tone I may have used (or maybe he just didn't get that I was fishing for a compliment...lol). Sorry mate, it wasn't meant to come out like that. Maybe I had nothing better to say with being taken aback a bit with your question!

Nisse forewarned me about some kind of bugs coming off of the shrubs on to my skin, and to make sure I check myself when showering up! I'm not sure if he was playing me but I was more concerned about the huge ants in the area! (however we did find that Mattias had picked up a tick in the forest when we all got back to the apartment...eugh..)
At one point I stopped on the trail where it was layered with bark, cut from the trees. As I looked at the bark, I noticed that the ground was moving. Upon closer inspection I realised that these huge ants that I had been worried about so much were riding the bloody trail with me. Needless to say, I did not hang around!! I'm NOT a bug person....hhhmmmm...why do I go out and ride a bike again?????!!!!

The Skatås trail was a tough loop that needed a lot of work on the maintenance side, but definitely got one's heart racing with it's slab/rock obstacles, crazy lines and "bloody HUGE ants!"

Thetford forest MTB trails

2009-05-03T16:35:00.004+01:00

The first time I went to Thetford Forest after reading reviews on it I found myself to be very disappointed, as the reviews described it as a place to go fast on flowing single track for hardtail bikes. When the trails were new the reviews would have rang true, but due to the weather we have had the trails have been ripped up to shit, creating very bumpy flat sections that used to be fast and flowing single track. One thing that I read to be true is that, "it is for fit bodies"!

My nephew Joel has just started to take an interest in mountain biking and asked me if I would take him to one my favorite haunts. I was astonished to hear what I was hearing due the gadget crisis with children these days! But quickly I got over my astonishment and said yes I would take him away with me! I wanted to take him to Cannock Chase but thought better of it due to the fact that Cannock is not for beginners in my opinion and a high level of fitness is required! So I said to him that I would take him to Thetford Forest instead to see how he would take to the journey and to the forest.

As I do not drive, I travel via train and the journey can be quite a slog and cumbersome, so Thetford was a perfect place to start Joel off. Brandon train station is 3.5 miles from Thetford Forest, a perfect warm up for things to come!

Joel really surprised me with the way he handled things, he rode a lot better on the trails than what he does back home, (maybe like me not being a lover of road riding!) He really thrives on the trails and in his surroundings, and his endurance really shine's through. He only planked it once and even after that still completed the trail. I thought that might be us done for the day then, but he was still raring to go so of we went again on another circuit much to my delight!!! What I enjoyed the most out of the day was seeing him smile all the time he was there.
In fact, the biggest of smiles was when we finished riding at the cafe. He saw a shiny new white 'Whyte full susser' parked up and he was completely engrossed in looking at it. I'm not sure what the owner of the bike was thinking, as he was glaring up at him, but it was funny to see and really made my day!

Associates shop

2009-05-01T15:42:00.002+01:00

Help support skipratt by visiting our associates.. All monies generated from your support will go toward hosting on a wordpress platform. I have many idea's for skipratt, one being a forum. But need your support to bring these idea's together!

Routine is key to a healthy mountain biker

2009-04-19T10:00:00.005+01:00

Routine is key to a healthy mountain biker, so much so that my fitness is maintained on a daily basis from the food I eat and the commutes to and from work I make. Most people who ride mountain bikes, road bikes or other are fair weather bike riders. So when the weather "is bad" the bike never gets used, and out comes the car instead! This creates an inconsistency in your fitness levels. The same applies with food. You can eat good quality, healthy food one day and the next day you eat crap. Again creating an inconsistency in your diet which has a knock on effect in your training, thus your fitness.

Although training needs to be done on regular days for an hour or more it's not always possible for whatever reason. But as you have to routinely go to work every day, why not ride your bike daily to and from work! It's not always nice riding to work but it maintains what you have gained on those training days. I for one don't see the point in riding one minute and getting the car out the next, for my riding and fitness to go stale!

The beauty about riding my mountain bike consistently is that I do not have to play catch up from last summer with my fitness. By riding my bike to and from work, eating good healthy meals and riding throughout the colder months whenever I feel I can, I'm able to maintain a balance through routine.

Racing Ralph tyre reviewed

2009-03-27T05:15:00.004Z

Racing Ralph tyres really disappointed me in terms of performance and quality. At first glance it was easy to say yes I should spend money on these tyres. But when you put the cosmetic aspect to one side and actually put the tyres to good use, you'll be disappointed too!

The first thing that struck me about the Racing Ralph tyres was it's lack of resilience to punctures. Not a good thing where I live! Unlike most tyres these were very light weight and quite fast on the go! The first time I took them out I ended up with 2 thorns in the front and 1 in the back! Here is what's said online about them:

Surprised how it has been possible to have so much grip with such low rolling resistance? The secret is: Hi-tech manufacture + an Evo-carcass + triple compound + U-blocks.

Whatever the hell that means!!!

Upon closer inspection of the Racing Ralph tyres I found them to be very thin which explains the light weight and the lack of resilience to punctures! Trust me when I say that, "if your not on man made trails, don't bother". Performance is one thing but when spending high amounts of money on tyres such as these, the last thing you want is punctures every time you bloody go out. It's annoying that manufactures don't listen to the average Joe blog that rides mountain bikes. As they would realize that more needs to be done to make "off road tyres" puncture proof or resilient to punctures, as they do with road tyres!

Marzocchi MX pro lo reviewed

2009-03-20T09:46:00.002Z

The Marzocchi MX pro LO suspension fork really disappointed me in terms of performance and quality. And found it to be a complete waste of time and money. The fork looks good, but when you put the cosmetic aspect to one side and actually put the fork to good use, you'll be disappointed too!

What struck me about the Marzocchi MX pro LO suspension fork was it's lock out adjuster. Unlike the SL lock out adjuster it's construction was poor and fiddly to fit. Due to the poor cable assembly and it's fitments being a pain for failing.
Some forks give when the seals bed in which makes the fork feel and sound clunky, but not a problem for this fork. Another thing I noticed about it was, that once engaged the fork was completely locked out, not good for rocky climbs!

Marzocchi have started to factory install those unsightly V-brake bosses with super strength lock-tight! Trust me when I say that, "you are not going to be able to remove them". If you intend on using disk brakes, you are going to kick yourself for buying Marzocchi MX pro LO (or any other Marzocchi product for that matter as all those I have looked at have been factory installed this way!)

Marzocchi is an affordable option for beginners but I would not recommend it to anyone with a bit of clout in the saddle!

Sram's Truvativ Firex reviewed

2009-03-06T09:45:00.015Z

Sram's Truvativ chain set, the stylo version really disappointed me in terms of performance and quality. At first glance it was easy to say hell no, I'm not spending money on that chain set. Look at it, it's jet black as with all versions of the truvativ line. It came as standard on the first full susser I bought and it constantly creaked and made terrible noises under pedal load. It drove me totally nuts and after having it in the shop a few times and several "things" done by the mechanic I decided it had got to go.

But the firex is different from it's counter part. Yes it's black but the performance and quality must be on par with XT. As with the XT, sram use external bottom brackets giving you a solid platform for those long grueling rides, (as long as all the spacers are fitted!) As I found out before!! Missing or loose spacers on your bottom bracket, behind the bearing cups cause creaking noises. So make sure all is present and tight before hitting the trails, you'll wish you had if you don't!

As I got the Truvativ firex chain set as standard on my new hard tail, I had no choice but to give it a go! (After all my missus told me after spending a grand and a half on the "bloody bike" I could live with it!!!)

The first thing that struck me about the Sram's Truvativ firex chain set was no creaking noises under pedal load. (and I really like to push those pedals :-) ) This made me smile as I know it's construction and quality is rock solid. As I like to push heavy gears, as I have said before, this is of the most importance to me!

Another thing I noticed about it was, that shifting was smooth and second to none! Sram's Truvativ chain sets are not the best chain sets to look at but the high end one's perform really well!
Truvativ chain sets are an affordable option for beginners, but if you can afford it go XT and above!! (When the missus has calmed down a little I know that's what I'll be going with!)

Rock shox reba SL suspension fork reviewed

2009-03-06T08:34:00.010Z

The rock shox reba SL suspension fork really amazed me in terms of performance and quality. At first glance it was hard to see any reason why I should spend money on this suspension fork. But when you put the cosmetic aspect to one side and actually put the fork to good use, you'll be amazed too!

The first thing that struck me about the rock shox reba SL suspension fork was it's lock out adjuster. Unlike some forks the SL lock out adjuster felt a little tight but solid as it should be considering the job it's doing!

Some forks give when the seals bed in and makes the fork feel and sound clunky, but this fork even after a fare few miles is still rock solid. Another thing I noticed about it was that, even when the lock out was engaged the fork still had the perfect amount of travel for those off-road climbs.

A lot of forks of this quality are on the heavy side so it's nice to find a fork light enough for XC and strong enough, all in one great package.

Yep, this is one hell of a suspension fork for XC and trail riding. Apart from the lack of flashy graphics, I would say that it's faultless and would recommend it to anyone!

Get your tweetergetter system in motion

2009-03-01T17:22:00.004Z

Hey check this out...

I just found this site that shows you a way of getting 1000's of new followers on twitter, I just started using it today and its starting to work already. Copy and paste the following URL or just click the title of this post, it will take you straight to it!

http://tweetergetter.com/skipratt

Thought it might be of interest to you.

skipratt

Mountain bike season is almost here

2009-02-25T17:02:00.012Z

The snow has cleared, (good riddance)! The roads are dry after a few months of constantly changing temperatures and enough cold and flu like viruses to send your body into complete meltdown! Things are looking brighter now, with clear skies and average temperatures of 10 degrees.
Although the anticipation and excitement of long off road epic bike rides in the evening sun enthralls me, I cannot help feeling the reluctance of going out riding my bike when the remains of nasty colds still haunt me with a stuffy nose and aching body parts!

At the whit week holidays I have a trip planned with my family to the peak district. We have booked ourselves into a holiday inn on the Lady bower reservoir for 4 days. I have a nice route planned out around the reservoir on my bike and as my wife and son are no mountain bikers I will be going it alone! The wife and son will be happy though as they enjoy walking, well my wife does anyway! But the photos will be coming thick and fast as a result.

I'll let you know how it goes as and when in a future post. My main focus right now is getting faster, fitter, over longer distances before whit week comes around!

I have some idea's for future posts that I intend working on soon, such as: Rock shox SL review, Sram's Truvativ Firex review, Racing Ralph tyre review, Marzocchi MX Pro Lo Review. Plus, a complete review on my trip to the peak district and lady bower reservoir with route and accommodation details. I am working on a list of .gpx files for download of places I have ridden, but as of yet failed to find any suitable free file hosting for .gpx files.

I have made a few minor changes to Fit directory for any sports related sites out there, by reducing the amount of personal info shown. Hopefully this will encourage more listings in the directory. Fit directory is very new and needs listings to increase content and then hopefully I'll be able to get listed in Entrecard to drive more traffic to it.......and to you!

Skipratt releases Fit directory

2009-02-22T12:01:00.003Z

Fit directory Submit sport, fitness, health related blogs or websites for FREE! Although fit directory is free it does need a link back for every site indexed to keep a good balance between inbound and outbound links. What is fit directory? Well it is a directory for sure, but included with your link you get a complete profiling of your site and you! You create and submit the profiling that you want shown on this blog so that I can post it. All that I ask is that the site you submit is a quality site and that my link you provide is no more than 1 click away from your homepage.

Click the title of this post, it will take you straight to the directory!

Disclosure policy

2009-02-14T08:37:00.001Z

This policy is valid from 14 March 2009

This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. For questions about this blog, please contact p.c.walton At btinternet Dot com.

This blog accepts forms of cash advertising, sponsorship, paid insertions or other forms of compensation.

This blog abides by word of mouth marketing standards. We believe in honesty of relationship, opinion and identity. The compensation received may influence the advertising content, topics or posts made in this blog. That content, advertising space or post will be clearly identified as paid or sponsored content.

The owner(s) of this blog is compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. Even though the owner(s) of this blog receives compensation for our posts or advertisements, we always give our honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those topics or products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the bloggers' own. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question.

This blog does not contain any content which might present a conflict of interest.

To get your own policy, go to http://www.disclosurepolicy.org

Scott scale 35 for the collection

2009-02-07T21:14:00.013Z

Remember my dilemma in which I could not choose between a new mountain bike or a new frame? Well I made a choice and would like to introduce you to my new ride as waiting until march to buy it proved too much for me to handle, I never was much for patience!

One thing that I did was to decide on a shop to do my buying, but not my local bike store as I thought I needed more choice and sizing up by a specialist. So with that in mind I headed to the city of Nottingham and took my business to Evens bike store.

I saw a bike online from Cannondale, their new turine 4. So my intention was to buy it, that is until I saw it in the shop! Basically the size of the headset barrel and length of the top tube put me off. Due to the fact that I had nothing other than that in mind, I was at a loss.

The choice of bikes on offer in the shop was very limited so I decided to find a bike that I felt comfortable with, and would therefore be happy with. Staff in the Nottingham branch were very helpful and very patient with me, so thanks to them for that and helping me walk away with the best piece of kit ever.

The Scott scale 35 is a sweet ride and impressed me from the moment I took it out for a test ride, (which Even's let you do before buying!). At first the bike felt twitchy, but very agile. What got my pulse really racing was how effortlessly each pedal stroke transferred into foreword motion. Apart from the irritating sound of rubbing disk brakes and numb hands on rough rides, the Scott scale 35 is a joy to ride and I find myself wanting to ride it at every opportunity.

Weekend warriors catching up

2009-02-04T14:22:00.004Z

It's been quite a while since I went out riding with my riding/drinking buddy as he is more focused on his music. On Saturday I went for a training ride on my lonesome and got on o.k. On the Sunday I felt quite fresh and decided to call on my buddy for a leisurely ride. At first he was quite reluctant and was very close to saying no, but as luck would have it I mentioned the word "beer". This was more than enough to entice my buddy out.

It was not the best of days to be out riding as the weather was rather cold and windy, but it was a bright day. I said to my bud that I intended to take some photo's of the area in which we ride for my blog. I think this made him feel a little better in the knowing that we would be stopping for a breather, poor baby!

I have to admit he really did need those regular breathers because he is so out of shape. That made the ride very cushy indeed, for me anyway! The photo taking didn't go to plan because the local trails are so bogged down and water logged. Walking through it was bad enough, let alone riding through it!

After a couple of shots we decided to head back, I think we had only done around 4.5 miles :-/ but anyway I was paranoid about the thorns everywhere as I was riding my full suspension bike without puncture proof tires like on my other mountain bike.
As we were on our way towards the pub, en-route as I promised my bud. I heard this rubbing/muffled sound coming from my front end. "Would you sodding believe it" My front tyre has gone down! As I said earlier, it was cold and windy so I didn't fancy sitting on the corner of a main road fixing a puncture, and continued riding nice and steady to the pub, as enough air was left in the tyre to get me pretty much closer to the pub. Unsurprisingly my bud was about 100-200 yards ahead of me all the way, about the only time he ever is!

We get the beers in. No get it right, I get the beers in! and then set about fixing my puncture, complaining all the time about the bloody thorns doing it. By the time I got finished and we supped our beers, a blanket of darkness awaited us.
I had no lights but my bud had a rear one only. Due to my crap night vision I was forced to hang back and follow the red light!

As we head south, the wind really got in our faces and my lead could not keep a pace. So reluctantly I took the lead and told him to stay on my back wheel, exclaiming that I would tow him along. His reply was that we needed a rope, so I said that we needed a tank to tow that great big ass along! Thankfully he saw the funny side of my remark, and we both laughed out loud. Although I could hear the distress in his voice caused by the lack of fitness and head wind, I think!

Since that day I have failed to encourage my buddy out for a weekend thrash, I cannot say that I am surprised really. He was in a little pain after the previous weekends tug of war. It's all good, weekend warriors catching up and all that. But things like this need to be done on a regular basis to keep the riding legs strong and keep the old lungs in good stead!

blogger SEO freindly title tags

2009-01-30T07:19:00.007Z

Just a quick post on the importance on having SEO friendly title tags in your blogs. My searches of the net have led me to dead ends and code unsuitable for blogger custom templates. Some code that I have used had caused my layout page elements to fall apart, by removing header content and my "add gadget" links disappearing. I have however managed to find a way around it with this method.

Step 2) edit all your posts title with a space and a - at the end of each. You now have SEO friendly titles that won't disrupt your template.

Clash of the 'Classes'

2009-01-29T13:36:00.016Z

Life of a mountain biker is always full of enjoyment and adventure. Especially out in the middle of nowhere or on a hillside, with no one around but you and your bike.
But sharing your route with horse riders, ramblers and general walkers can make life on the trails very irritating!

Mountain bikers got a lot of flack for their general disregard for the country side and tearing up the trails with the bikes. That's all changed now, "I hope" I just wish our respect for each other would change as-well!

The way people speak or don't speak really gets under my skin! Sometimes all it takes is a simple hello, thank you or sorry. But instead you get some high & mighty horse rider say to her horse, "it's OK, it's only a cyclist with mud in his face!". As she passes me and my stationary bike! Arr, if another person comes along with a comment like that I'll,,, With that another person approaches on horse back.

I stop to allow the horse and rider pass as I do not want to spook the horse, it's only a narrow trail and those animals are so big! As the horse and rider pass, the rider looks at me and said, "Ooh, that looks like hard work!". So with a bee in my bonnet I reply, "it wouldn't be if I didn't have to stop and start all the bloody time!".

Why are people like that? Is it because they think that money gives them the right to look down on people less fortunate than them? Or is it because they're just 'stuck up old money twits', for want of a better phrase!
Whatever the reason may be, horse riders are no better than the rest of us who use the trails. At least I can safely say that my bike bike won't leave shit everywhere!

Buy a new mountain bike or frame

2009-01-25T16:04:00.006Z

Not sure why but I have 2 mountain bikes, 1 is a full suspension and the other is a XC hard tail. My full suspension is my pride and joy. I love riding it because it feels comfortable on long rides, and allows me to rip up the trails at high speed. But mainly because it's still new and I'm still paying for it but anyway, that's another story! Since I have only 2 more payments to make and it'll be all paid for I am pondering with the idea of buying a new bike, or just a new frame!

Thing is, I have my hard tail that I'm unhappy with but it has a nice spec such as, XT chain set, Mavic 717 wheel set built on hope hubs, bomber MX lockout forks and EA 50 bar and stem.

I would like a carbon frame but more importantly a frame that I feel comfortable with. As my max-light is an XC race styled frame a more upright frame would suit me better, such as an all mountain frame. I have been looking at the Trek 6700 or the 800. But I am not sure if paying out all that cash is a waste when I have so many parts already. I could build a bike on a new frame like I did with my max-light and save myself a few hundred pounds or would I be better off (and in the long run happier) with a totally new toy/bike???

Help me decide, ("pleeeaaassse") as my mind is all over the place, a bit like this post!!!

running without pain

2009-01-12T17:14:00.013Z

I read somewhere about running when your unable to get out on your bike, I can understand why but would not take this up myself. Running can increase your fitness, increase your muscle mass and increase endurance. Problem is it can reek havoc on your joints such as your knees, hips and ankles.
On a personal note, apart from me not being able to walk without looking like I shit myself for a week, I think the con's out weigh the pro's of running.

Running is good but it does have a bad effect on your joints, and they say that impact on your joints can be minimized by running on softer ground. This is quite true, I have lots of fields to run across and around but don't fancy falling down rabbit holes or getting a sprained ankle through running on uneven ground. You don't see Olympic distance runners running across fields let alone pounding the concrete do you? No they run on stadium tracks that are sprung! something not easily accessible to the like of us.

I have found a much safer way of running without any impact on my joints, a "TRAMPET". It's a small round trampoline that my missus uses for "aerobic" work and to help with her trampolining, I kinda feel a right dick on it. But remind myself of my boxing days and shadow boxing, it's no different really. I can use ankle weights to work my muscle, a skipping rope for endurance/fitness and a combination of the both, my missus says there is more to it than just jogging but I will just stick with this for now!!! The best thing is it's free from the elements and pain!

it's a state of mind

2009-01-04T22:00:00.004Z

When it comes to any sort of exercise it's all in the state of your mind. And although mountain biking is just a hobby to me,, it is exercise and therefore no different to anything else. Get into the right state of mind for exercise with your bike and you will find yourself improving your speeds, distances and therefore get more enjoyment out of your riding.

The key thing to remember is not to give up because of the weather, just adapt to it and to what your doing. On cold miserable wet days get those hill climbs in so that in the good weather you don't find yourself struggling and giving up.
Fun has to to be the key element in all that you do. If you stop enjoying yourself then you'll simply give up. What's the point doing something you do not enjoy!

Make sure that whatever goals you set yourself are not impossible. Hard is good as it gets you working more, but keep it realistic. Make sure you do not set goals you cannot achieve, as you will become disheartened.
When you achieve a goal don't just leave it and move on to the next, there's always room for improvement, even if it's only knocking a second off your time.

Don't forget the pleasure when you're trying to better yourself and take time out every so often doing what's already been conquered, or just take the kids out with you. Leisure and pleasure is just as good as goals and achievements. So keep it balanced and your state of mind calm!

repeated hill climbs

2009-01-04T19:20:00.005Z

Mountain biking is all about having fun doing what you love, but if your not fast enough or strong enough both physically and mentally then it won't be as much fun as you would like it to be. It's amazing how easily a person can be put off by another rider around them that is faster, stronger, fitter and seemingly having much more fun than what they are. With a bit of hard work though, you can build the strength needed to perform in the same league, or as close as those better riders.

Repeated hill climbs is the fastest way to build strength, speed and stamina and it's one of the best ways to get in shape in time for riding season.
Lucky for me that I have a nice stretch of 12% gradient hills on my door step that I can burn rubber on at different intensities. The main reason for me picking this stretch of road is that in bad weather I can still train without any excuses.

How I go about it is basically down to how I feel and what I want to achieve on that particular day. Here are some things to take into account when hill climbing that works for me.

Strength - For leg strength I will select a gear that I can push steadily up hill whilst I'm out of the saddle, increasing the gear after every completed climb.

(Rest on the downhill)

Speed and stamina - To increase my speed and stamina I will select a gear 1 lower than the starting gear for strength and pedal faster whilst out of the saddle. The longer the hill the better, and increase the gear after every completed climb.

(Rest on the downhill)

Stamina - On long dragging hills, I will select a gear that I can push comfortably whilst seated, again increasing the gear after every completed climb.

(Rest on the downhill)

If you talk to the top riders they would probably explain the science into it. But I think the easiest way to look at it is, treat it like weight training.
If I was to increase my muscle size and strength, I would lift heavy weights. But if I was to lift light weights I'd be able to lift for longer.

Hydraulic vs cable disk brakes

2009-01-03T19:57:00.005Z

Over the years reading internet reviews and magazines I made the transition from cable disk brakes to hydraulics thinking that I needed them and they would improve bike performance, how wrong I was! Now don't get me wrong I'm not going to knock them because in the right situation they are a fantastic brake to have on your bike!

Considering the location in which I live, trails I have to ride, and the whole area is farm land with "GOD DAMN THORNS EVERYWHERE". The last thing I need is to be realigning my brake calliper every time I whip the wheel out!

Not so long back I went to Afan forest and at that time I'd be using Shimano Deore cable disk bakes with Avid speed dial 7 levers. omg, MY FINGERS ARE KILLING ME! What I wouldn't give for a set of hydraulics right now.

As I am an XC/trail rider on mostly natural terrain, I shouldn't have any need for hydraulics. But I got drawn into the hype and got some LX due to the fact they were the cheapest entry level hydraulic disk brake I could get my hands on. After about 3 rides I got rid of them because of the dreaded brake rub.

I purchased my first full susser you see on the right of this page. It came with Avid juicy 5s, peach of a brake until the piston sticks on the front, again causing brake rub. After some wasted time and £28 for Avid bleeding kit I binned them and bought some, "my pride and joy". Avid bb5 cable disk brakes, and some black graphite Avid 7 levers, these babies rock! OK their not hydraulic and don't initiate as well as hydraulic, but they come pretty damn close, and no brake rub!

SkipRatt gets a new domain name

2009-01-03T18:03:00.003Z

"SkipRatt gets a new domain name"! Yes, I have decided to grab a new domain name for my mountain bike blog. As most of you may well know, having your very own domain name can give your site a real boost all round.

Due to the fact that I have been focusing all my efforts on Skipratt, and will continue to do so! The good web guide blog suffered a tremendous drop both in readers and updates so I decided to delete it.

I wish to take this opportunity to introduce you to the other side of my mind and give you posts taken from that blog. I thought it would be a shame for them to go to waste!

Please check the archive for old posts related to internet, SEO, SERPS, and marketing!

Transition from flat pedals to cleats

2009-01-03T17:04:00.004Z

A lot of cyclists are still using flat pedals, and for good reason! The transition from flat pedals to cleats can cause beginners a lot of painful problems, and be dangerous for people who don't know what they are doing. Take some time practising clipping in and out whilst you lean against a wall sat on your bike.

My top tip 1 is to (back the tension adjustment screw off to starting point so you can clip in and out with less effort).

Give it a week or so before venturing out on your bike, and watch clipping in and out become second nature.

My top tip 2 is to (heel kick OUTWARDS).

One of the benefits of having cleats is that you are getting power through 360o as opposed to 180o on flats. When hill climbing, this can make a huge improvement in how efficiently and quickly you are able to climb. Because now your not only pushing down on the pedals, you are also pulling up on them too. Cleats are great for road use but require you to have a lot more self confidence off road. Which is why I think you should take more time out practising clipping in and out.

Whilst on trails, man made mainly! You need be able to ride like you are using flat pedals but still have the efficiency I mentioned earlier. A lot of man made trails have berms that require a free leg for balance to get around them.

My top tip 3 is to (back the tension adjustment screw off to starting point so you can clip in and out with less effort).

Best mountain bike tyres on the market

2009-01-03T16:58:00.012Z

The market for mountain bike tyres is huge and finding the one for you is very difficult. When starting out in mountain biking, it's important to ask yourself some questions.

1) What sort of riding you intend on doing?

2) Whats the area you ride in like?

Take a ride on the wild side! The Hurricane rolls fast and quietly and even offers enough traction for occasional off-road use. RaceGuard protects it optimally against penetration punctures" />As riding to me is just a hobby and something I just like to do, the answer to these questions is very simple.

I've already said in previous posts that I live in a farmland area and that it's relatively flat. Most of the trails are joined together by country roads and most of the area can be covered in thorns from farmers cutting back hedgerow.
As I do not ride XC or trail at a professional level and like to ride some man made trails, I need 2 sets of good all round tyres with very different properties.

I can honestly say that I have been through some really bad choices in my hunt for good all round tyres and wasted lots of money in the process. But at present I have almost completed my mission and found 1 of the 2 in the form of schwalbe. I have had the most luck with schwalbe so my hunt will continue with this brand! For my needs they need to be puncture proof. But also they need to have low rolling resistance, good grip in the wet, corner like it's on rails and ware well for the high prices I pay for Schwalbe.

I have schwalbe Jimmy on my full susser as I got these at a good price online and they perform quite well. But because they ware badly, I do not recommend them. On my hard tail that I use during the crap weather and when the roads are littered with thorns, I use schwalbe marathon plus ATB. These babies are puncture proof and roll very fast on the road, due to it's smart guard and uncut center tread. Although these suit my needs I have just seen another option that takes my fancy.
Schwalbe Hurricane
Take a ride on the wild side! The Hurricane rolls fast and quietly and even offers enough traction for occasional off-road use. RaceGuard protects it optimally against penetration punctures.

And for my full susser, well like I said I've got the Jimmy's but they aren't really up to what I want from a tyre and I have been looking into the 'Racing Ralph'...but honestly I don't really know which way to go with it so if anyone has any experiences with these or any other tyres I would be very pleased to hear about it!!!

Nutrition for a mountain biker

2009-01-03T16:33:00.005Z

What is nutrition for a mountain biker? I think that nutrition is a different case for each and every one of us. As it all depends on health, lifestyle, and tolerances to food. It could be a case that you have diabetes or you eat at different times, ie: if you work nights like me, or you like some foods but they do not agree with you and make you feel sick. All these things have to be taken into account when you create a nutrition plan.

I tend to stay clear of nutrition plans because I cannot stick to them and I'm hooked on too much junk food. Saying that, I can limit myself on certain types of foods and only eat them if I feel the need to.
All food is good in moderation, and so is fluid. By having nutrition plans you end up having too much of one thing and not enough of another causing an imbalance in your diet.

Some things I like to eat and drink are:

Crisps
chicken
wine gums/hard gums
spareribs
Beer
diet coke

4 things in that list have a bad effect on my digestive system and can ruin my riding. Crisps cause me to cramp up and give me constipation. Wine gums & hard gums, with them being sweets and high in sugar, make me irritable causing lack of sleep.
Beer and diet coke have the same effect, of bloating and cause lack of breath on the trails. As long as I stay clear/limit the amount of these things I consume, and eat/drink normally, ie: a good balanced meal and drink water,juices on a regular basis I'll be fine. In conjunction with my drinking and eating habits, I take supplements on a daily basis.
These include:

1 cod liver oil
1 multivitamin/mineral
1-2 amino acid for sports.

I hope this article has helped somehow and maybe give you some insight into your personal diet and highlight some problem area's,

Is back in training

2009-01-03T16:16:00.004Z

Yay it's almost bloody Christmas and finally I get out for some much needed mountain bike training. It's been a long hard few months suffering with colds and the lack of sleep through not being able to get out and ride!

The air is cold and so is my riding gear, so thought's of a warm fire and the television runs through my mind, before I even start! Preparation is key and the hardest part to mountain biking. But I gathered up all that I needed for the ride, put on my 'focus' head and set off on my first training ride of the season.

The first 2-300 yards up the road I found to be very hard going as my legs felt stiff and heavy. My whole body was not relaxed, with the cold seeping in through my layers of clothing. The air was sharp as I inhaled, but this did not deter me. I just covered over my mouth with a Buff scarf and focused on the ride ahead!

As the end of the village drew ever closer, I started to plan my route taking my first left turn of the day. The road ahead was to take me to my first downhill. Knowing that this hill was a 12% gradient and the descent would be super cold, I made damn sure that my mouth, ears and crown jewels was covered up well.
Not wanting to roll fast downhill blinded by fog, I decided to put my glasses on my head.

The whole ride my entire body remained tensed so I was unable to find my rhythm and I got a nice stitch to boot! My first 15% climb approached, the road not as dry as before but not too wet either. Just a nice stream of water running fast down the hill on the grass verge! Still suffering with a stitch I parked my arse on the saddle, dropped down from the big ring to the middle one and peddled it out nice and steady.

As I got to the top of the hill the scenery changed. It looked quite grim! The sky had poor visibility, the grass verge was covered in wet brown leaves and the tree's completely bare. Passing a field full of staring sheep I start to pick up the pace, as the stitch starts to fade and my legs start to relax. I jump back into the big ring and tried to put some short lived watts into those pedals.

Although the ride was hard, I enjoyed it, just being out in the fresh air! ("Those damn sheep keeping staring at me" So I give them a wink and they continue chomping on grass, whatever makes them happy!.... I'm just happy in the knowledge that I won't need to be counting them tonight to get a good nights kip!!)
At this point I'm over half way round my route that's covered road the whole way. I kinda decided to do that anyway, as I was giving my "shiny new full susser" a run out.

Along came my next descent of about 12%, again I felt myself tense all the way down. As I entered the village at the bottom of the hill and started to slow, again my muscles began to relax. I wanted to get angry with myself because I should be averaging about 14 mile an hour. Even without my GPS clocking me, I knew that I'd be only clocking about 12 mile an hour.
I relaxed in the knowledge that my hill climbing efforts were not effected all that much. But time would tell on my next approaching climb, but although my intention was their, my will was not.

As I got to the top at a junction with a busy main road. A car pulled up behind me clearly letting me know to get out of the fu####g way. By means of revving his/her engine and forward movement. I decided to ignore this by means of waiting a little longer at the junction, whilst a car 3-400 yards down the main road passed. This must have got the hackles of the car driver behind me right up!

I set off again straight across the main road down another descent, I pretty much just coasted down! I had 1 more hill in my way before 1 final descent home. Taking it easy on the approach, sipping my way through a bottle of lemon & lime "GO" I did just that. Just 2 clicks off maximum gear ratio I straddled my bike and went hell for leather, slowing at the final 20 or so yards from the brow of the hill.
Pushing the pedals harder, my calf's and thighs burning! I rolled over the brow and dropped down to some easier gears picking up the pace for the final cold descent.

As I entered the house my wife had some "Rego" ready for me, as I am crap at mixing it! With that I got into a "Radox" bath and soaked the afternoon away, dozing in the armchair a couple of hours later.

What? No helmet!

2009-01-03T15:40:00.005Z

They look so ridiculous don't they, a helmet I mean? I really do not understand why anyone would want to wear something so stupid on one's head! Safety does come into it to a certain extent, but generally they are restrictive, uncomfortable and pointless.
There are pro's and cons to helmets but are they really that safe to wear? If they are, why is it not compulsory to wear one like it is to have a stupid black bell on your bike?

To begin with I use to wear a helmet because most mountain bikers/cyclists were wearing one, the "in thing". But started to think after a few uncomfortable rides and falling off whilst going through my clipped in pedal stage. If your going to fall off a bike riding down a road the first thing you do is slam your front brake on, "instinctively". This will cause you to do an endo and you'll probably strangle yourself on impact because of the tight strap across your throat. But if you fall sideways, "instinctively" you put out your arm or hand.
You could always loosen the strap, I have seen people do this on the trails and done it myself! Have you seen the bmx programs on extreme sports with their helmets with loose straps, they go upside down doing flips? How stupid is that! and whats the point of that helmet?

If a helmet is to be something you should wear for safety, wouldn't it be better to have a full face helmet like a motor cyclist, than a stupid bit of uncomfortable plastic on top of your head?

Cannock Chase trails reviewed

2009-01-03T15:34:00.007Z

Cannock Chase trails is the most visited destination in Staffordshire. With 28 square miles of "outstanding natural beauty" and a popular destination for all mountain bike enthusiasts. Lets see why, and what the chase has to offer...

Getting to the Cannock Chase visitor center for the first time was a very frustrating task, due to it's location. It can be easily missed, depending on which way you come from. When I arrived at the 'Birches Valley Visitor Center' and see the amount of visitors, I became anxious to get on the trails and hopefully have some fun.

I had been reading a lot about the 'Follow The Dog' trail in magazines and online, so it was my intention to try it out and see what the fuss was about.
As I entered the trail under start banner next to the visitor center bike shop, it was apparent that it was going to be one hell of a ride that would kick my ass the following day.

The surface of certain area's of the trail was very hard so the going was good and encouraged me to go faster, catching a glimpse of the dog in the tree's.
As I raced on like a maniac, careful not to lose an elbow on a passing tree. I started to anticipate every little turn like a child waiting for their gifts on Christmas morning but I think my excitement and shouts of exclamation could even put them to shame!

Spending a few days on the chase I thought it only right to explore and venture further afield. Once I decided on a route to take and got my bearings sorted, I found myself exploring the family friendly parts of Cannock Chase trails. As you can see from the pictures, the terrain changes from hard packed stone, soil to loose sand and stone.

Cannock Chase has pretty much catered for all mountain bike enthusiasts, so you will never get bored riding here. The facilities are excellent too and all the amenities are faultless. They have a bike shop, bike wash, clean toilets and cafe. Don't expect more than a jacket potato or toasties though.
On bank holidays take a good pack up or have some other means of food because those jacket spuds & toasties sell fast.

Mountain bike newbie in the peak district

2009-01-03T15:17:00.005Z

4 years ago I went on a trip to the peak district and due to the fact that I had only just started riding, it ended in a disaster for me. This was going to be my first mountain bike adventure and I was going to enjoy every last minute of it, even though I was alone.

I spent several months of what I thought was planning my trip. Reading magazines to find the best places to go in the peaks, booking a b&b close by and buying a map.

Because I wanted to explore the best of the peaks I decided to go to the dark side and booked a b&b close to Hayfield, a place called Spinney Bottom Cottage. A very nice couple owned the b&b and the husband was an avid mtber himself when time allowed!

Because of the location in which the b&b was, I found it very difficult to find my bearings and get any good riding done. I asked for advice at the b&b and was told to stay clear of the Pennine Way as this was for walkers! I read a few bike books that they had, but the route maps in them did not make any sense to me, so I went out by chance.

For some reason I wanted to find 'Kinder Scout', (which I'd read up on in magazines) but found I could only access it via the Pennine Way (with my then limited map reading skills).
I made my way up towards Glossop, and the start of the Pennine Way. It struck me that I had 2 choices once there. 1 go back and 2 climb the peak, like a tit I climbed the peak with the bike on my back. No end of people passed me on their way down and I continued to climb!

Before I knew it I had lost the trail and the people had stopped passing me and all I could see when I looked up was heaps of peat all around me. Panic hit me immediately and I started to run like a headless chicken, to where I had no idea, as I had totally lost my bearings and no matter which way I seemed to turn I just hit a wire fence.
So I got my map out and realized it had no indication of where I was because now I know that it was the wrong bloody map and not an OS map! All I had was my mobile phone and a compass. The mobile was a waste of time to begin with because I could not get a signal! But as luck would have it I got just enough to contact the b&b to tell them I was lost. They told me I needed to head due south to find the nearest road. So out came my compass and headed due south like instructed. I came to a point where I could see a road but found that to get to it I needed to either follow as instructed, due south that led me over the moors or follow the what I now know to be snake pass. Because I was panicked and scared I continued on course, due south. Within seconds I was grabbing hold of my bike for dear life whilst falling down into a peat bog. The bog was big enough for me to fall into but not my bike so I managed get myself out and went back to the pass and headed towards the road.

As I got back to the road and started to ride I realized that I had nothing left in me and all my energy had been sapped from my system. With no reserves left in my backpack, (as I had used it climbing the peak!) I got as far as the Ladybower reservoir and stopped, getting out my mobile and ringing the b&b for some help.
Being a mountain bike newbie in the peaks is bad enough, but being a mountain bike newbie alone and unprepared in the peaks is just plain stupid!

Many thanks to Spinney Bottom cottage for all your help!

Padded shorts or a quality saddle

2009-01-03T14:25:00.006Z

Padded shorts or a quality saddle? I've been asking my self this question for some time now and until recently I could not make up my mind. It occurred to me that the only way to answer my question was to try different products. So off I went on my journey to find those padded shorts or that quality saddle.

My journey started with padded shorts. That ended up me being out of pocket, and with a sore arse!

Remember the post about me going on holiday with my family and riding out to Dalby Forest? Well that day I had a pair of brand new Lycra skinnies on and after 56 miles of torture, they left me the biggest horse shoe shaped sore on my backside you could ever imagine! Safe to say that it took some time for me to get my arse back in order.

I have been through quite a few pairs of different shorts since then, 1 of which was a pair of black with white covered double stitching 3/4 length Endura Lycra. Worst buy ever as I had to get my wife take to the pad out just so I could wear them.
After a whole host of others I decided to pursue a quality saddle and ditch padded shorts altogether.

My journey on saddles began with a bikehut crotchless saddle with thick padding. Not a bad saddle if you have a big arse, skinny legs, and need somewhere to cradle your crown jewels. So I started looking at the more expensive saddles and came across a selle itallia SLR, I got as far as sitting on it and sent the bloody thing back!

After a couple of the more expensive saddles I decided that enough was enough and went back down to the cheaper options at my local bike store. After 20 minutes looking up and down a wall I found the saddle that might fit the bill.(or in this case the arse!)
A Selle royal Dardo men's gel saddle at £15, sod it what have I got to lose? I'll take it! I now have 2 bikes and 2 of the same saddles that can be ridden in comfort for a fair few miles without the need of padded shorts. Sometimes it pays to look at the lower end of the market instead of looking at the new fan dangled options such as Chamois Cream.

Pump is my favourite piece of kit

2009-01-03T12:07:00.006Z

Have you got a favourite piece of kit that you never leave home without? Well I have. Every time I go out on my bike I never ever forget to take my pump, and I'm not talking about those stupid pocket sized pumps either! No, it's the old long thin type pumps with a valve connector.

I have 2 connectors, 1 Presta and 1 Schrader from bike hut. Most of you will probably be using the mini pumps, on cold wet days; good luck with that! I stay well clear of the bloody things as I feel that they are just another worthless space saver that does not work "good enough" when your out on epic rides.

Yeah I can hear those of you argue the fact that they are the best thing since sliced bread. But come on, you can get more air out of a good old fashioned, early morning bottom burp than what you can get out of one of those mini pumps!

Top 10 tips for that epic ride

2009-01-03T12:06:00.004Z

I am going to list a few things that every mountain biker should have in his/her possession when going out on epic rides. Packing your riding gear can be a real pain, and if your anything like me, you always forget something. Many a time I run back and forth getting things I had forgotten or get half way up the road to have to turn around and go back. Being in the middle of nowhere without the right gear can be a very dangerous place, and if the weather changes... It can really put a damper on your day, or even curse it.

1) A chocolate bar (For emergencies)
2) Make sure you have plenty of water, (You can never have enough).
3) As well as plain water take a supplement like "GO" (This stuff rocks on hot days!)
4) Take some sarnies.
5) An OS map and compass. (Don't solely rely on a GPS).
6) Layers of fast wick clothing ( Remember you can always take them off).
7) Water/wind proof jacket and survival blanket, (Even if the sun is shining ).
8) A good pump, Alan keys, Torque keys, Chain rivet, Puncture repair kit, inner tube.
9) Small first aid kit (Great for dressing wounds).
10) Mobile phone. (Getting a signal can be hit and miss)

Everything else is optional, ie: your bike, helmet, gloves, bell,,, ;-)

Shimano cranks and bottom brackets used and reviewed -

2009-01-03T05:10:00.004Z

Shimano cranks and bottom brackets I've used include Deore tapered and splined, XT, (currently in use). I'm going to review these items for you as follows.. Shimano Deore with a tapered bottom bracket was my first system and I found it to be a very poor crank indeed. The crank itself was very week and should not be used for more than canal towpaths. Frequently I would find rivets missing from the crank after every other ride, bearing in mind I took it trail riding. Also the tapered crank squeaked and creaked under pedal load, more so when the weather was hot and dry so lubing it was almost constant. So my next step was Deore splined unit as this was affordable.

The Deore splined cranks are very good and quiet under pedal load. As a very aggressive rider pushing big gears most of the time these cranks suited my needs. Allowing me to go harder and faster without the aggravation of pedal induced noise.

Due to the fact that I like a little air time whilst on the trails, (nothing big just small jumps, stumps, that sort of thing), problems started to arise! When I was out and hit a little mound on the trail, taking me a few inches off the ground,
I heard a loud creak (upon landing) coming from the cranks. Luckily I was homebound so ignored it and inspected the problem when I got back.
Upon inspection I found that the chainset rivets had worked loose, 2 of which had cracked and needed replacing. Needless to say that every time I went out the rivets would work loose.

Once money allowed I went out and got an XT chainset fitted and I never looked back as it is solid as a rock, coping with everything I've thrown at it.
The only bad thing I can say about it, is the bottom brackets are very poor from Shimano. Supposedly the bottom brackets have sealed bearings. Funny how after a couple of months the bearings seized up through water getting in.
What really griped me was having to replace the whole bottom bracket because the bearings alone could not be obtained, £30 repair bill! I was told to keep the bearings greased up after going out on wet rides, who the hell wants to take the chainset and bottom bracket apart all the time after going out on wet rides to grease the bearings up!
If the "sealed" bearings are that bad, wouldn't it be viable to have some kind of grease injection port like some more expensive full suspension bikes have?. Maybe I'll go out and buy a Hope bottom bracket thats compatible as their bearings are replaceable!

Tag Blogs R Us

2008-12-12T15:46:00.008Z

This is a game started by Jeff Pulver where you write 5 revealing things about yourself and tag/link to 5 other bloggers.Cycle Snack: tagged me so now I continue the game.

I have only been riding mountain bikes for 4 years. I am definitely hooked on biking as it's all I think about. My wife has no interest in it, but she is happy that I have something that makes me happy. I have 2 mountain bikes that I ride seasonally.
I left school early without any qualifications and got a full time job as soon as I was able. I have never been out of work or signed on the dole.
I bought my house and got married 10 years ago. I can go to work and come home to relax or go riding without having or being bothered to do anything around the house, my wife does the lot!
I have nothing to do with my so called family ie: mum, dad, brothers & sisters. As they are selfish and slag each other off. My step dad beat me up as a kid, sending me to school with black eyes while my mum stood by and watched. I spent most of my childhood in and out of children homes for my own protection. But my mother always got a conscience and dragged me back home for more beatings.
I am 36 years old and still listen to Heavy Metal. I love most of the new bands, but still listen to the likes of Iron Maiden, Metallica, Megadeth, Motley crue, and a lot more.

Tag Blogs R Us alex kopko, Matt Spak, Big ring, Big Dave Faster Jim

Avoid colds & flu and continue riding

2008-12-09T15:10:00.006Z

It's the beginning of December and all I can think of is getting back on the trails again. My full susser has not seen the light of day since the end of October, and I came down with the man flu. Due to the weather being so cold and wet, I have resulted to riding what's referred to as my ratt bike. I use it to commute to and from work, and training rides when I'm not dying!!

Recently I started to feel better and so went out for a leisurely ride. Upon returning home I started to feel like crap again, and my sneezing fits returned.

2 weeks have passed since then and now it's a case of stuffiness, but feel I fine within myself. It's a tough call as to whether or not I should go out and ride though, the urge is so great, it's driving me mad.

A question I have been asking myself every time I come down with the man flu is, how do I avoid colds & flu and continue riding like a pro through the cold season?

Partners

2008-12-01T14:39:00.050Z

Here is a list of my partners who have linked to this blog. If you wish to be added to this list or added to my blog roll, please submit your websites title and URL as a comment with the location of this blogs link on your website.

Mountain Bike Directory

Comedy Plus

Bike Tutor

Whistler mountain bike

BikeBlogs.com

Blogs That Follow

RssHugger.com provides two ways to get listed. Paying a small fee or getting listed for free - if you write a small review like this. Not sure on option 1 then go for option 2 like I did. This service has high reviews, so it should work well!

Viking way and Belvoir woods upgrade trails

2008-11-23T20:59:00.004Z

Wouldn't it be nice for the Lincolnshire area to be on the map for a mountain bike destination! It would if we had some good local trails and not just some old bridal way that gets ripped up to shit by motor crossers and 4x4s.
No that's not completely true because we do have some good trails, it's just that they are not looked after and mostly needs to be joined up by busy roads.

2 main trails that come to mind is Viking way and Jubilee way. What about some thought into redevelopment of these trails and making the whole area mountain bike friendly. Wouldn't it encourage more people to ride push bikes? Hell, have a mountain bike center close to the 'Rutland Arms' to generate some kind of local funding for the trails and maintenance.

The Rutland Arms do quite well financially with walkers in and around the area, they charge £1 for a can of coke! Over the last 2 years I have noticed some sort of improvement in the surface of the trails, but find it boring for mountain bikers and believe that more could be done to the area to make it more interesting.

Lately the viking way has been widened and the surface layered with the hedgerow. Would it be viable to create a purpose built surface for mountain bikers at one side of the trail and do something to minimize the straight up straight down of the route?.

Jubilee Ways forest never dries out from the rain and the whole area looks like a swamp. It's a very interesting place to liven things up, but again it's a straight through route. Why not involve the other parts of the forest too and layer the surface so it's more ridable, interesting, fun, dries out for all year riding, and make it walkable too because parents take their children on walks through the forest.

Too much of the surrounding area is off limits due to it being farm land or, what starts out as a public right of way, ends up blocked off further down the trail. Most of the farm land ends up unused, it has some nice forestry and it's off bloody limits!! If farmers opened up some of these area's, it would limit the amount of road used by cyclists because one trail would lead to another. I can understand that if they did open up land would it encourage motor vehicles too! Whilst in wales I noticed every so often they use gateways to squeeze mountain bikes through. Maybe this approach could be used in the area, it's better than sloppy un-ridable let alone un-walkable trails!

I don't know maybe I could attempt to do more instead of ranting about it, but where the hell would I start?. I know that the viking challenge is held here every year, maybe organizers of that could do something. Would they want to and who would fund it?

Joe blogs guide to mountain bike fitness

2008-11-23T14:41:00.005Z

Mountain biking and fitness is not as clear cut as people think for the average Joe Blog. The term used by what mountain bike UK "Just get out and ride" is true, but questions need to be addressed.

How much is too much?
Riding through illness? Is it a good thing?

I for one have been riding for 4 years and my fitness varies from season to season and year to year. This time last year I was out riding, not to my best but I was riding.

So far I have not been out for 4 weeks due to illness/cold viruses. Come spring, when the air clears, (and my nostrils!), will my fitness drop? Well I think for some people the answer would be yes. But for me it's not really a problem because although I don't get out riding, I do commute to and from work on my bike, and it's only a mile or so there and the same back.

They say activity is the road to recovery, but training can make things worse, or last longer. So taking this into account I should be OK then? lets hope!

When I started feeling a little better I slowly started using the commute to and from work as a training program, nothing to heavy though! I began working on my leg muscles. Getting to work I would select middle range gears to work on my lactic threshold in my legs. On the way home I would work on increasing my leg strength. Simply by selecting high gear ratio's to pedal all the way home. If I felt a little run down, I would have a steady ride in a gear that suited me. It's not just about gear ratio's though, I also think about the weather/wind resistance.

When I feel up to it and the roads dry up, I'll get out either at the weekend or midweek for a road ride and keep it in the 1 hour time frame, nice and steady. I will not start pushing myself until spring comes and the weather improves. By this time I will know what effect it had on me, if any!

Basically riding at high levels for too long...or on the other end of the scale not riding at all, is counter-productive to fitness levels!

Public transport for mountain bikers

2008-11-23T12:54:00.005Z

A while ago I went on holiday with my family in the Scarborough area, taking my bike with me. Knowing that Dalby Forest was down the road, actually a long way down the road! I thought I could kill 2 birds with 1 stone. Once arriving at my home for the next week I started to plan my day at Dalby Forest. I soon discovered that getting to the Dalby Forest trail center would be a long hard slog due to the fact their was no public transport for mountain bikers.

The day of my ride to Dalby Forest was a long hard 56 mile trip up Spikers Hill into Wykeham Forest and somehow onto the north to sea route towards Dalby Forest. When I finally got to the trail center I had nothing left for some fun riding so I freshened up and made a beeline back home which turned out to be an expedition of the area, never again!

The result of this ride led me to ranting about public transport and how not being able to get from Scarborough to Dalby or York to Dalby using public transport with a mountain bike. I know with all the car drivers these days the need for public transport has declined, and you can travel by bus! But what about with a bike? Not just a bloody fold up one!

I've heard reports about some area's having shuttle buses for bikes. Why not in all area's? Maybe people will be more inclined to leave their cars at home if public transport served bikers needs better. I also think that trains need to better serve bikes than what they do now.
Welsh trains are pretty good for bikes because they still use the old carriages with lots of space. All we get is a box or share with wheelchairs which, in some cases, take priority over the bikes.
Great, I pay my fair, get on the train, and at the next stop 2 or 3 wheelchairs get on. What am I suppose to do? Get off the damn train! It's crazy, not everyone has a car or wants to drive a car even if they do! So more needs to be done to better serve these peoples needs!

Bike radar and Bikley become one

2008-11-21T18:42:00.005Z

It’s been two years since Bikely launched and in that time it has become a massive hit with cyclists around the globe. It features the highest volume of user-generated routes on the web (a whopping 80,000 and growing) helping us all to find and share routes all over the planet.

Bikely is owned by the people behind BikeRadar.com, the world's best cycling website, and top cycling magazines Cycling Plus, Mountain Biking UK, Pro Cycling and What Mountain Bike. In merging the two sites together, they are creating one awesome site to serve all of your cycling needs in one easy place.

I love these 2 websites because it serves the most up-to-date news and race results from around the world, more product reviews than anywhere else on the web.
Top advice on fitness, training, nutrition and techniques from the team of experts, lively forums covering everything on and off-topic and more…

The transition will be taking place at the end of November and members accounts will automatically be transferred, so you won’t need to do a thing! They will send you a reminder once the switch has taken place but don’t worry if you forget, you’ll automatically be re-directed from Bikely to BikeRadar.com.

I, for one cannot wait for this to happen as it makes things so much easier.

The mountain bike enthusiast

2008-11-21T16:56:00.006Z

I've been riding bikes my whole life but only got a good mountain bike 4 years ago. Before that, spending more than 3-400 pounds on a bike was completely out of the question. What with commitments and dare I say it, "women". Yeah you know what I'm talking about, we're all in the same boat! Darling can I have, "no" well have we got, "no". Mountain biking is a very expensive hobby to get into and maintain, and once your in you would think nothing about spending a shit load of cash on the latest products/upgrades or a brand new bike. So having an understanding bank manager/wife is of the utmost importance to mountain biking.

I'm very much a fair weather rider because I like nothing more than to rip up the trails and sit in the shade with a nice ice cold Fosters afterwards. I ride alone most of the time so you could call me a solitary rider or socially impaired, Whatever! Riding alone can be boring at times as you have no one to chat to or be competitive with.

I live near a fairly large town called Grantham, located in the East Midlands, UK. The local trails around here are pretty flat and with it being part of the Sustrans network, it's beaten up too. To find any good trails I'd have to travel 2 hours in any direction on the train as I don't drive.

With the viking challenge and other events being held here every year, mountain biking/cycling has become quite popular over the years. Although the trails can be quite bad in places and more needs to be done to make them more suitable for both bikers and walkers alike.

It's very easy to put together varying different loops both on-road and off-road for a 1 hour ride or 3-4 hour ride depending on your level of fitness. I've managed to put together a peach of a loop that totals a good 50 mile and incorporates all the best the area has to offer, that I know of!

What do search engines really want??

2008-11-06T12:46:00.005Z

First off search engines are businesses and just like any business they have a product, and with all businesses with a good product comes competition from other businesses. So as a business, search engines want to be the best at what they do.
To be the best at what they do they need to deliver the information/results web surfers searched for. For a search engine to do that it needs quality content in its index/data centres.

That's where we the mere mortals come in.

Forget about the next big SEO thing and unethical SEO methods and get down to the real issue; content. Quality content is where it's at, all our focus, all our hard work should be placed upon writing and delivering quality content.
Do it for your readership, do it for the search engines', they'll love you for it, do it for naturally building links. Do it for yourself!

Quality content is king, always has been and always will be.

Title is key to online success (Rewritten)

2008-11-03T15:16:00.006Z

Although 'webmasters' have very different views on what is and what isn’t when it comes to SEO, in my humble opinion only the search engines themselves know what is. We have a full picture of what it takes to get to the top, but our information into what's most important is mixed up from webmaster to webmaster. The truth of it is that if every webmaster knew what it took to get there, we’d all be #1….. So its always going to be trial and error, good individual guess work and seeing what works best for other related sites.

Search engines are the bread and butter of all websites, so optimizing your site is a must if you want on-line success, higher rankings brings more clicks. With that said being listed in search engines alone is not enough to ensure your business gets the attention it deserves. Its very important for you to get your own domain name with the keywords you plan on using, as free domains are useless if you are serious about your on-line business, unless of course your website is a blog.

Keywords is an important factor of SEO as search engines use these to judge a sites relevance through textual content. If your website is image led, the best thing to do is add some text into your images, using ALT in your meta tag; for search engines to read.

The most important meta tag to get right is the title and description because search engines use these to judge a sites relevance to a search query from a possible visitor. So your choice of keywords in your title and description is what should make you stand out from the crowd of hundreds of thousands of related websites. Although the description is as important as the title; the title is key to on-line success.

Increase your inbound links and get your site listed with search engines all it takes is a link on some ones' listed and popular site and you get listed too, because active sites get crawled all the time, searching for new content. This is just the start of a long road to number 1 though; of which you may never achieve.

Do follow links vs no follow links

2008-11-01T21:50:00.004Z

Do follow links vs no follow links is a topic I have read about over and over again and still I come to the same conclusion.. The argument is that no follow links are a waste of time and you should focus all your efforts on do follow links instead.
Quite frankly I think this is a crock of shit because both have very different benefits to your website promotion needs!

Do follow links can help in your websites serps, and give you juice/PR from the blog/site linking to you. And no follow links can help increase your traffic, if the blog/site is popular.

Do a search on google for blogs related to your niche and post useful, on topic comments regardless of, "is it do follow or a no follow back link" forget it just post a comment because you want to. Make a point of doing it daily on lets say,, 15 different blogs and watch your traffic, serps/PR increase.

At the end of the day we are all looking to increase our popularity, traffic and serps/PR. So to me a mix of do follow links and no follow links will serve your promotional needs. Personally I think it's all good!

Get paid reading and writing articles

2008-11-01T21:29:00.004Z

Get paid reading and writing articles? Too good to be true? No it's true and I have been testing it for the couple of days. Over at Qassia you can be paid up to $100 for 1 article, but it has to be completely new if you wish to get $100.

They also pay you $5 - $9 for reading articles depending on the length of it. Basically if you read 5 articles per day your earnings would be on average $28 per day. Not bad for 5 - 10 mins reading, that is if you only skim the surface of the article. The credit/cash is added to your account when 12 people have read/screened that article, this includes your submissions too. You only get paid when 12 people screen your work/intel.

Qassia also pay you for referrals too. As long as the new user hits your user page first. You'll be credited with a commission of dollars. Plus for every article you submit successfully you get a free link back to your blog/website.

So all in all it's good and well worth the effort into joining. I will spend most of my time just screening other peoples work to earn cash as I spend so much time here, that is when I have something to say! What will you do with yours?

O.K
so it's not true. You only get Qassia dollors which only determines how high your website ranks in qassia. ;-P

Beginners understanding of is SEO

2008-10-30T15:58:00.005Z

Starting a new website can be an extremely difficult and daunting task to accomplish for beginners. Unless your paying for web design you’ll need to gain at least a basic grasp of HTML, CSS and even PHP dependent on what type of site you are building, this will also usually be the case if your using pre-designed templates as you will still have to add your content and you’ll often need to change things around to get your site looking just how you want it. But probably the most difficult thing that beginners find hardest to get an understanding of is SEO (Search Engine Optimization).

This is a subject that creates huge debate on the internet and with many authorities seemingly having differing views this can lead to some confusion to the newbie. In truth, SEO can give even the most experienced of webmasters a headache at times. Applying good SEO practice is not as difficult as it first seems, there are simple things that you can do to start off with that will give your website a good foundation for the future. Read post for 5 Simple SEO Tips For Beginners

Good article management for your blog

2008-10-30T15:45:00.008Z

For every article you write on your blog or website write two similar articles using the same keywords and submit them to article directories, have each article linking to your home page using your keyword in the anchor text and also the article.
This will get you important back links to your site with well optimized anchor text.

This method of building niche sites has been working well for many niche marketers, just how many articles you’ll need until you reach the 1st page of results in Google will depend on how competitive the keyword is. Start with 10 articles and then keep increasing the amount of content each month until your rankings improve.

What is niche marketing??

2008-10-30T15:39:00.005Z

There are many ways to make money on the internet by building and maintaining your own websites but there are generally two ways in which you can go, authority sites or niche sites. Building an authority site can take an incredible amount of hard work and dedication. It will also take you time, I would say as a general rule two to three years is pretty normal. You’ll likely find it hard to make money with these types of sites in the beginning but once they do hit there prime you can look forward to making a decent amount of passive income in the future. Not all of us have got either the time or the inclination to build an authority site which leads us to our other option, niche marketing.

Niche marketing is simply the process of homing in on narrower niches in order to build your sites around. Instead of having one large authority site niche marketers tend to have many small niche sites, some have hundreds of these types of sites. In order to build a successful niche site you need to find keywords or phrases that are reasonably well searched but have a pretty low level of competition. Once this type of site is set-up in general you’ll not be aiming to make big money from it but instead maybe $4-$5 dollars per day on average. Once it is built it is left alone and you move on to build your next niche site only going back to add content now and again. It is much easier to make $4-$5 dollars per day from a site than it is to make $100-$200 dollars per day and you can often expect to hit your target in a reasonable amount of time.

Is your blog search engine friendly??

2008-10-30T15:34:00.005Z

The most search engine friendly blog platform to use is WordPress which you can download from WordPress.org for free. If you get web hosting through Hostgator or Dreamhost you’ll be able to install WordPress using Fantastico’s one click install meaning you’ll be ready to go in seconds. Assuming you have taken my advice and set-up a WordPress blog on your own domain you’ll also need to install some plugins and change your permalink structure to make your site more search engine friendly. Changing your permalink structure is very simple, just go to options, then permalinks. From there add /%postname%/ into the “custom structure” field and select “Update Permalink Structure”.

The most important plugins to install to make your WordPress blog search engine friendly are the All In One SEO Pack (Generate search engine friendly page titles, adds keyword and descr i ption meta tags), Google XML Sitemaps (Generates an XML sitemap which is supported by Ask.com, Google, MSN Search and Yahoo), Dagon Design Sitemap Generator (Generates a fully customizable HTML sitemap) and Similar Posts (Adds similar posts to your posts pages helping spread link popularity).

Once your blog and has been set-up to be SEO friendly you’ll now be ready to start writing your posts. It’s important to decide what the main keywords are that you want to focus on targeting. Try not to focus on more than 2-3 general topics (keywords) and develop a list of more focused keywords or keyphrases related to your topics. You can use a keyword research tool such as Wordtracker to help you with this. Once you have developed a nice list of keywords that you want to target you can start writing posts incorporating these keywords, in the titles and within the posts body. Over time with more and more posts you will be building keyword authority for these keywords. It is also a good idea linking all your pages back to your home page using your blogs main keyword as the anchor text. I accomplish this by adding the link to my blogs footer.

5 Simple SEO Tips For Beginners

2008-10-29T16:18:00.005Z

Content Is King
This statement is banded about time and time again. This is for good reason, as search engines become more and more efficient at bringing the most relevant and resourceful web pages to the top of the SERPS it is becoming increasingly important to produce content for your websites that offer quality to readers. Also, by producing quality content from the start you’ll have a better chance of gaining links to your website naturally, as your reputation for producing high quality and relevant content within your niche increases other webmasters will be eager to link to you.

Stay On Topic
This is so important and a mistake made by many webmasters and especially bloggers. Take your time before you start your website to plan exactly what topic your website will be focused on. When you start writing articles for your website try and stay as on topic as possible. You don’t need to have tunnel vision but try to make sure that each article can at least be somewhat related to the main theme of your website.

On-Site Optimization
Optimizing your website is important but you need to take great care not to over do it. Keep things as simple as possible. Use relevant keywords in your page title and header tags. You will also need to use the keywords that your targeting within the body of your articles but don’t over do it or else your pages could get penalized for keyword stuffing. Adding your most important keyword or keyphrase in the first and last paragraph is in general all you need. Sprinkle various synonyms and related phrases or keywords through the rest of the article to ensure the search engines categorize your web pages correctly.

Off-Site Optimization
This generally covers link building and you’ll need to tackle this with care as over promoting your site can result in penalization by the search engines. They want websites who are building links naturally and will reward those that seem to be following their guidelines. There are many methods you can use to build link popularity such as web directory submissions and article marketing, just make sure to vary your anchor link text and try to be consistent with the number of links your obtaining as this will make your link building efforts look much more natural.

Check Out The Competition.
Keeping track of what your competition is up to in your chosen niche is a very worthwhile exercise. Take time to study them, if they are on top of the search results for the keywords your targeting you will want to know why. This can help you formulate a plan to help you compete with them, whatever they are doing good, you need to discover it and do it even better.

SEO Myths That Make Me Laugh

2008-10-29T16:17:00.011Z

If there is one thing we can count on in life it is where there are people involved there will also be myths. We humans have an inbuilt desire to find patterns in whatever we do. This skill has proven a great advantage to us over the course of time but unfortunately for us it can also create problems. The thing is with humans and patterns, if we can’t find a pattern that we recognize or that makes sense to us we are experts at creating our own. This is especially true in the case of SEO (Search Engine Optimization).

Our desires to find patterns to help us rank higher in the search engines knows no bounds, obviously in the past and the present this has helped us to learn methods to improve our performance in the search engines using both “Black Hat and “White Hat” methods. The spin off from this is that it has also helped us to create and invent SEO myths, some are more believable and others are just outright crazy. Whilst searching the webmaster forums and various SEO blogs you’ll often come across some mad ideas, some of them so stupid it makes me wonder if some people make up some of this rubbish just to gain the attention.

With the low cost of domain names and shared hosting anybody can set-up a website and claim their own piece of the internet real estate. You can optimize your site reasonably well yourself without a great deal of advanced knowledge just by getting the basic fundamentals right. Anybody can start there own website and build a successful online presence as long as they remember it takes time and effort. The first place most new webmasters will start there research in order to gain knowledge of how to get their sites ranking in the search engines for their specific keywords are popular webmaster forums and “how to” type SEO sites and blogs. A very popular breeding ground for SEO myths.

When you start trawling the forums it is very easy to start taking everything you read as the word of god, especially true if you’re an inexperienced webmaster just starting out. It’s important for you to understand that forums are a breeding ground for incorrect information and myths. Most of the time these inaccuracies will eventually be pointed out by someone more knowledgeable but if you’re the newbie that reads this information before the inaccuracies have been corrected then you could be absorbing information that is inaccurate and sometimes even laughable.

You’ll often come across stuff that is just down right hilarious such as, SEO is quick, SEO can only be mastered by highly intelligent people, SEO guarantees you’ll rank number one, Google has a vendetta against me, Google is the only search engine, you will not get caught for spamming, people on forums are SEO experts, hidden text is ok because it works, it is easy to distinguish Black Hat SEO from White Hat SEO. These are just examples that I came across recently. There are many SEO myths around the internet, some more believable than others. Just remember not to take everything you read as fact as this isn’t always the case.

How To Make Money with Niche Marketing

2008-10-29T16:17:00.010Z

Niche marketers have their own methods of building niche sites, some prefer static websites others prefer blogs. Personally I prefer blogs because the aim is to build these sites as quickly as possible and then set and forget them. When you need to update them you can do so very quickly and easily with blogs. To give you a better understanding of how this works I will tell you a method that is working great for many niche marketers at the moment.

First you need to choose a low competition but pretty well searched keyword. You can find possible keywords using keyword research tools. To check the competition type the keyword in Google search using quotes. For example if you wanted to check niche marketing you would type “niche marketing” into Google. I recommend you look for competition of less than 1,000,000 competing pages. The more competition the longer it will take you to rank on the first page of the search results.

Once you have chosen your keyword you’ll then need to set-up your blog using the keyword in the blog name. You can use Blogger.com to start off with to gain experience and confidence but once you get more confident move on and start building the rest of your niche sites with a self hosted WordPress blog, these offer more flexibility and also perform very well in the search engines. You need to add content to these niche blogs, each article will need to be closely related to your targeted keyword, try and use this keyword a couple of times in each article and link each article using your keyword in the anchor text to your homepage.

Free organic traffic from the search engines

2008-10-29T16:15:00.005Z

Search engine optimization for a blog is generally different from your normal run of the mill website but it is also very important that bloggers get the fundamentals of SEO right if they want to target free organic traffic from the search engines. Blogs are social in nature which enables them to build links more naturally than a static website. Writing one very popular post can create hundreds or even thousands of links for your site in a very short space of time, getting this kind of popularity is naturally more difficult with a static website. A large portion of people who read blogs also write them as well.

If you write quality unique content on your blog and are able to generate fresh ideas related to hot topics of the moment then the links you can obtain can help boost your sites SEO by itself. But like I said it is also important to get the fundamentals right as well. If you’re on a free hosted blog with the likes of Blogger.com or WordPress.com then I highly recommend you make the small investment of establishing you own self hosted blog with its own domain. You can purchase a domain name from GoDaddy.com for less than $10 and you can get shared web hosting for your blog for less than $10 per month from the like of hostgator.com or Dreamhost.com. If you haven’t got the option of hosting your own then stick with Blogger.com, at least then you’ll be able to make some money in the future as they allow Adsense and affiliate links.

Manufacturers

2008-10-29T07:44:00.005Z

Here is a list of mountain bike manufacturers in one place for easy reference. If you feel that I have missed a manufacturer that should be placed on this list, please contact me by leaving a comment.

Marzocchi
Fox
Mojo
AeroSpoke
Amp
Bianchi
Bontrager
Cannondale
Geax
GT
Gary Fisher
Hayes Disc Brakes
Head Shok
Intense

Kona
Litespeed
Marin
Mavic
Maxxis
Mongoose
Norco
Panaracer
Raceface
Ritchey
Rock Shox
Rocky Mountain

Schwinn
Shimano
Specialized
Spinergy
Sram
Sun/Ringle
Syncros
Ti Cycles
Tektro Systems
Trek
Topeak
Velocity
Wellgo
Zipp

Events and clubs in and around grantham

2008-10-26T14:31:00.004Z

The Grantham area host local bike rides, and charity events. We also have a local cycle club in the area too! In this post I am going to highlight these events and clubs in a form of a list, and give you their website for more details.
If you know of any other events or cycle clubs in the Grantham area that you think should be on the list. Please leave a comment with the details and a website URL, if available.

Charity events & bike rides

Hearts Vale of Belvoir, an event held in May.

The viking challenge, an event held in October.

Cycle/bike clubs

Witham Wheelers

Free directory submission services

2008-10-26T04:39:00.007Z

If your looking for a nice compiled list of free submission services then this might be what you need. I have included blog directory submission services, all of which are free but may require registration. Also included in the list is some free RSS submission services for you to submit to. If you know of any more free services like these, please leave a comment with the services URL so I can add it to the list asap..

Blog directories

1)www.blogexplosion.com
2) www.bloggernity.com
3) www.topblogarea.com
4) www.bloghub.com
5) www.blogrankings.com
6) www.lsblogs.com
7) www.weblogalot.com
8) www.blogdirs.com
9) www.bloggapedia.com
10)www.blogcatalog.com
11)www.blogpulse.com
12)www.blogged.com
13)dir.blogflux.com/
14)www.globeofblogs.com
15)www.bloghop.com
16)www.blogexplosion.com
17)www.bloggernity.com
18)www.topblogarea.com
19)portal.eatonweb.com
20)www.bloghub.com
21)www.blogrankings.com
22)www.lsblogs.com
23)www.weblogalot.com
24)www.blogs-collection.com
25)www.blog-directory.org
26)www.mynewblog.net
27)www.5starblogs.com
28)www.bloglinker.com
29)www.blogadr.com
30)www.blogdire.com
31)www.blogpoint.com
32)www.quickblogdirectory.com
33)www.blogbunch.com
34)www.wilsdomain.com

RSS submission

1)RSS feeds
2)GoldenFeed
3)RSSMicro
4)FeedDirectory
5)Octora RSS Feeds
6)FeedFury
7)RSSMotron
8)FindRSS
9)FeedBase
10)RSSMotron
11)Day Time News
12)RSSBuffet
13)SolarWarp
14)Feedest
15)RSSMicro
16)FeedBees.com
17)RSS Mountain
18)FeedSee

In loving memory

2008-07-08T22:12:00.001+01:00

I used to have a dog
living with me,
I used to have a boxer,
red and white, a pedigree.

I loved that boxer,
the way he used to play,
the love, attention,
that he used to display.

He used to be disobedient and boisterous
'I'm getting angry; I used to say,
I loved that dog,
but sadly he passed away.

This is in memory of that dog,
'the milky bar hero' was on the kennal's log,
but to me he was just plain old 'Ben',
my sunshine, my laughter, my little gem.

Midnight hour

2008-07-08T22:03:00.002+01:00

Here comes the rain,
here comes the snow,
here comes the thunder,
the night begins to glow.

I can hear the rumble
of the raging seas,
I can hear the screaming
of washed-away dreams.

I can see a tornado,
it brings me to my knees,
leaves terror and destruction,
and a smell in the breeze.

I can hear the torture
of people with no lights,
no warmth, hot water,
no heating, cold sleepless nights.
I guess, nature's showing her power
in the midnight hour.

Drugs

2008-07-07T20:16:00.003+01:00

I can't fight the drug,
I take it like a mug,

I can't take the pain,
it's all in vain,

It's taken it's toll,
it's in my soul,

blame it on society,
for always bleeding fighting me,

it's just not fair,
don't you even care,

I'm looking for some sympathy,
the lord, he's not forgiving me,

I'm dying for my grave,
and the money I'll save.

Young boy in me

2008-07-07T20:13:00.002+01:00

When I was a young boy, life was cruel to me,
when I was a young boy, my daddy hurt me.
When I was a young boy, my eyes were black,
I could not see.

when I was a young boy, an empty room I stay
when I was a young boy, bed springs where I lay.
when I was a young boy, I still remember today.

Life

2008-07-07T20:05:00.001+01:00

All god's creatures, his sons and daughters,
walk the earth with a purpose,
I don't know what it is, all I know is it's to live,
Just like those who walked the earth before us.

Some say you see a bright light at the
end of a tunnel, me, I just think that's a load of rubbish.

If you die slow, memories of your life grow.
If you die quick, then it's lights out, click.

Far away places

2008-07-07T19:58:00.001+01:00

where would I go from here,
where would I stay?,
will I live in fear?,
I'm telling you there's no way.

I could hitch a ride,
At the side of a road,
Ask if they mind to be so kind,
To lighten my load

I would catch the sun,
On a hot summer's day
Where buffalo run,
Dreamer, that's what they say.

I would sail the seas
To look for my future,
Do as I please
That's something I could get used to.

It would be a wonderful thing
To be getting around,
And hear gods creatures sing,
It's a beautiful sound.

I'm deep in thought
Of new friend's and faces,
A new life cannot be bought
So I'm off to my far away places.

© Paul C Walton 2000

Poetry

2008-07-07T19:51:00.007+01:00

This is some poetry that I wrote a few years ago that I had hanging around doing nothing. So I thought that I'd add it to this blog in case you felt like reading it. I no longer write poetry as this was just a faze that I was going through! I hope you enjoy reading it as I did writing it.

Crazy-world

Far-away-places

Life

Young-boy-in-me

Drugs

midnight-hour

in-loving-memory

Thankyou

2008-02-06T09:37:00.000Z

Thank you, your submission has been received and will be dealt with in a prompt and timely manner!

About

2008-01-07T16:26:00.002Z

This blog is all about my life… my life of mountain biking and ideas I’ve acquired through the years. As an average everyday mountain biker, the learning doesn’t stop. I try to feed my mind in my own little way by writing and promoting this blog. I would like to share what I have learned through this blog with you. Let this blog be an additional resource for your mountain bike needs, and maybe you'll find some much needed ideas you may not have given much thought to before.

My name is Paul Walton, an engineer slave and spare time mountain biker/blogger. Blogging about mountain bikes has become and undying passion, spending most weekends and afternoons on the internet blogging. As well as riding bikes, writing about it also is what I love to do.

Contact

2008-01-05T12:35:00.012Z

You can use this contact form to contact me to give general feedback or for "whatever it is you have in mind". I will read all emails and give you a prompt reply.

Look forward to hearing from you!! :-0

Crazy world

2000-07-07T20:00:00.001+01:00

People walking around with their heads
to the ground, sometimes they're lost sometimes
they're found.
It's a crazy world.
Anger, hatred, blood flying, people dying,
it's a crazy world, people are crying.
Living rough in the streets, hunger,
pain, social disease, it's a crazy world.