robguide

Nice to see some North Wales trails and steep, grippy Moelwynion slabs. The natural stuff is on Grey Mares hill in Gwydir forest. It would have been nice to get a credit for the trail builders and Trail Collective North Wales who look after these. Surely there comes a point when bike companies should support these organisations more, particularly when they create marketing content on our trails. Tools and qualifications cost money. Countless hours creating and maintaining trails, never mind working with landowners. We need support bike industry. Time to step up. Velduro ?

@corerider: Actually, here in North Wales lots of people building trails and involved in regular trail management have e-bikes and analog bikes. Nobody really judges.

@deadmeat25: Nope, my thumbs didn’t hurt as much and I could hang on for most of the day.

@Ryanmeader: It was fine. Jumped better than usual

Okay, here’s some actual thoughts on the thing’s performance rather than the usual PB waffle. I fitted a V1 to my Spesh Enduro before a Whistler trip last summer(Fox 38 Grip 2 and EXT coil) My motivation was that I have arthritis in my thumbs ( years of ice climbing and trail building) I was worried that 2 weeks of battering wouldn’t be possible. It definitely helped- a surprising amount TBH. The most benefit was as you would expect ; in the bike park, rough stuff , braking bumps etc. Full days, lots of laps. Everything felt more damped and comfortable- I survived! It felt less good on slow steep tech, out of the bike park. Made the front feel like it had that slack, floppiness you felt when you first rode a very slack bike. Most noticeable at the top of steep rolls & drops when you slowed to look where to go. It is somewhat galling to find that V2 is out already and is significantly different. Hadn’t thought that I might be part of a development process. I just hope that replacement springs for V1 will still be available when required.

My problem is arthritic thumb joints. Contrary to what some folk are saying, trail building has trashed my hands. I’ve found that One Up bars and Revgrips have helped a bit. Big brakes and discs, Hope, have helped even more. The thing that surprised me was a Rimpact TMD - 2 weeks in Whistler and I was fine, only took pain killers once. As for arm pump, climbing, hang boards etc. I have 50 years of climbing under my belt ( it’s my job) and I think the biggest help is wrist stability. It’s the same for ice axes and ice climbing. Grip strength is obviously important but I find wrist stability more so. Bottoms up kettlebell press is ideal.

@nicoenduro: Just come back from Whistler. I’d second Dark Crystal but would also add Million Dollar

This might help a few of you. We have just renewed our EE mobile contract. Once the haggling started they offered free Netflix for the year. Already got it we said. Can we have TNT Sport instead we asked. Yes they said! Winner!

@playah: Makita 18V for less than the pink Amazon copy from MucOff - so long as you’ve already got the battery.

@dotman: Apparently the wind blew the gate shut