The Art of Megafying - The Saracen Ariel Evolves....

The Saracen Ariel 143 outside NWMTB

As many of you know I like a good challenge and this year is no different with the focus being on racing in the MEGAVALANCHE at the beginning of the Summer in the French Alps. ( check out YouTube for videos of what madness goes down ).

Along with getting my body in condition, I needed to get the trusty Saracen Ariel in shape to get me down that crazy mountain.

So with the help of the insanely good crew at The North West Mountain Bike Centre ( support your local bike shop folks, your bike will thank you! ) the bike has had some loving...

First off, I've finally caught up with the world of 1x10 and had fitted out back a Shimano SLX 10-Speed cassette and Zee Rear Shadow Derailleur ( Clutch Mechs rule! )

1x10 Courtesy of Shimano Out back

Taking care of business out front I have opted to keep the chaps in Barnoldswick happy and gone for the 32 tooth Narrow Wide Hope Retainer Ring.

Hope Narrow Wide Retainer Ring 32T

Along with a new chain, some new cables and outers, this tidies the Burgtec cockpit up nicely ( Enduro Stem and RideWider Bars ).

Tidy Burgtec Cockpit

NB: I should probably be running a Chain Guide, so this is next on the list of kit to sort out.

That means the current build is as follows:

FRAME: 2012 Ariel custom butted tubeset featuring signature Tuned Ride Link (TRL) suspension /CNC Taper 1 1/8" to 1.5" headtube / 140mm travel running on 30mm main pivot cartridge bearings and 15mm NorglideTM linkage bushings

FORK: Fox 32 Float RL FIT / Taper steerer / QR15 / 150mm travel ( just serviced by NWMTB )

REAR SHOCK: Fox RP23 BV XV ( just serviced by NWMTB )

HEADSET: FSA Gravity XX - ( this will need some love pretty soon.)

SHIFTERS: Shimano SLX M660 Rapid Fire

REAR DERAILLEUR: Shimano Zee Shadow+ 10sp M640

CHAINSET: Hope Narrow Wide 32 Retainer Ring ( will need chain guide at some point )

BOTTOM BRACKET: Shimano SM-BB70 HT2

CHAIN: SRAM PC1031 10sp Chain

CASSETTE: Shimano SLX CS-HG81 10sp Cassette

RIMS: Sun Inferno 27 Black 32 hole ( still rocking the 26"! )

HUBS:  Formula Sealed bearing Black 32 hole front for 15mm axle / Formula Sealed bearing Black 32 hole for 12 x 142mm axle rear

SPOKES: Double butted stainless steel 14g with alloy nipples.

TYRES: Schwalbe Hans Dampf 26x2.35 Snakeskin Trailstar ( definitely will need something dual ply for the race )

BRAKES: Shimano SLX M666 180/160 mm rotors

LEVERS: Shimano SLX M666

HANDLEBARS: Burgtec RideWider Bars 780mm 15mm Rise

GRIPS: Saracen Lock-on dual-density grip.

STEM: Burgtec Enduro Stem 50mm AM

SADDLE: Charge Spoon

SEATPOST: Kind Shock 125mm with remote

PEDALS: Shimano XT Trail M785

MUDGUARD: NWMTB Custom Pro Model

Support your Local Bike Shop

So next thing I have to do is ride it!

I'm reporting on the Mega for Ride.io - expect some epic GoPro footage!

Thanks to the crew at NWMTB

Endurance DH at Fort Bill - the lo-fi review.

The Orange 224 Evo - my toy for the weekend

10 days after the event and I can still remember pretty much every rock on the Fort William World Cup Downhill track, after all I did get 6 hours to get to know it personally.

It's their fault...

So, the short story is that after a phone call from one of the main men at Orange Bikes I ran out of excuses and found myself driving up to Fort William ( with one of the other main men from Orange as co-pilot ) to compete in the World famous No-Fuss events Endurance DH Mountain Bike Race.

Here is the rest of story in Polaroids:

Yes, I burnt the porridge...( an omen? )

Trusty little tent hidden in the woods next to the trail.

One of these was going to be mine ( yes like a sweet shop )

The Orange Factory Team ( David and Vaughan )
( Dave won the in-house comp on an Orange 5, the crazy fool )

Stu from MTBcut was on hand for filming duties.

The pits were set up with spare wheels a plenty

The course is world famous, but it was still my first time on it.

Yes it rained.

Yes it was muddy.

Yes I hurt my handYes it was the an amazing course and stupid amounts of fun.

Yes, I do want to do it all again ( after doing 10 laps in 6 hours )

In conclusion:

If you don't race mountain bikes - this race is for you.
If you do race mountain bikes - this race is for you.
If you just want to do one race for the hell of it - this race is for you.
If you want to have a bloody good laugh - this race is for you.

Check out the Orange Bikes report here

Check out more events by the team at No Fuss ( including the MacAvalanche!? ) here

Check out the MTBcut video here ( pay close attention to 1:05 as well as the load screen )

Additional Photos courtesy John Chennels at Orange Bikes.