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

Bruntwood Park BMX Track - Get Involved

Yesterday I popped along to my local park in Cheadle to check on the progress of a project to re-build a derelict BMX track back up to a serious standard. I've ridden this bit of gravel loads of times and was going to be taking the girls there in the summer ( especially after Immy enjoyed the Strider Sessions at the British Cycling Track ), but it has certainly seen much better days.

It was a low key affair with a very keen council representative selling the idea to the locals and a rather impressive representative from North West Mountain Bikes, none-other than Rick 'Ricky Bobby' Clarkson ( him of Steve Peat's mechanic fame ). There was even a random appearance by Syndicate rider ( and local hero ) Josh 'Ratboy' Bryceland , who gave the plans his (unofficial) approval. To be honest the support from the local riders was rather thin on the ground, but big things grow from small starts and hopefully as word spreads the riders will come out of the woodwork ( and those chaps at NWMTB are perfectly placed to get people involved )

So what is planned? Well from the drawings it looks pretty impressive, a proper race ready BMX track, with plenty of whoops, bumps, berms and whippy tops. I'm a little concerned that due to those lovely Local Government cuts there is no money for a warden, but if built correctly it should be relatively easy to keep clean and tidy ( and hopefully the local skids will realise it is better to have a track which you can ride, rather than something you trash because you haven't got the latest XBox game )

This is before:

And this is what is proposed:

Whilst I am not the biggest BMX race fan, two wheels is still two wheels and look at how much fun this track could be!

So I signed up to be a volunteer. Not sure what that means yet ( and the organising team/person doesn't yet either! ), but I am one of the many guilty bikers out there who have ridden trails all over the UK and not spent enough time building/maintaining them.

Oh and if it does go ahead then I think I can justify another bike?

NB: It was raining/snowing so used Polaroin for the images....just 'cos they look like token retro shots.The originals and some panoramics are up on my Flickr.