The mission for the year was to get back to riding and I really enjoyed it. 2,500km target for the year was rather smashed, I managed quite a bit more than double that in the end.
The bikes had a good year too, managed to get out on all of them to varying degrees of mileage.
Indy Fab Ti Crown Jewel
The fast road bike was treated to some new rims. I swapped out the Mavic Ksyrium SLs for some Cosmic Carbon and went tubeless back in April. I have never had as much trauma trying to get tyres onto rims as fitting GP5000s onto those carbon rims. Had lots of problems trying to get them to not leak, involving new rims tapes and going through the whole ‘let’s break some tyre levers’ again.
Yeti ARC
Hardtail of choice was trouble free all year. Did some good rides, including riding Cannock Chase for the first time. Cracking ride around the forest and heathland. Towards the end of the summer I decided that the Yeti ownership box was ticked and it was time to move it on after a very enjoyable 12 months.
Canyon Dude
The fat bike has been very low maintenance over the last few years. This year it received some attention, ending up with some Race Face Next carbon bars, a Turbine stem and a new chain. I left the chain a bit too long, so the new one isn’t the perfect fit on the cassette it should be. Lesson learned. I also has a puncture and decided I should take the opportunity to switch to tubeless. Bought a couple of Surly kits and set about the heck of a job on converting massive tyres to tubeless. It’s a thankless task. I did one wheel and left the other one. Probably until I get another puncture.
Indy Fab Ti Cross Deluxe
The cross bike has been great for years, but the 105 STI shifters are knackered. I’ve tried cleaning, stripping and generally servicing them, but the righthand shifter is not shifting properly. As part of getting back into riding I bought a Wahoo Kickr and that means you basically just leave it in gear and the trainer auto regulates the resistance. Perfect, the Ti Cross has spent most of the year on the trainer. Chris King rear hub hyper glide cassette body is a bit tired, cassette sprockets have eaten it a bit. Spares are unobtainium.
Scott Addict Gravel
New bike time. Modern bike, AXS gears, carbon frame and end of year deal. Unfortunately the original frame I wanted wasn’t available, so I ended up getting a different colour, but I am really happy with it. Full SRAM Force groups and upgraded to ZIPP 303 Firecrest rims. It has been the go to bike for most of the year and riding it has been like going back to the 1990s and riding a rigid hardtail. Epic bike. After 2,350km it’s needed new rear brake pads and really needs a new tyre. The Schwalbe G-One Bites have been brilliant – try getting some replacements – hen’s teeth. Didn’t come with a power meter, so added one on.
Scott Spark World Cup Evo
The replacement for the Yeti. Top drawer cross country race bike. Won everything worth winning. Nino Schurter’s ride and the one Nick Craig won the national championship in his age group. More AXS gears, but most critically Flight Attendant Rock Show wizardry. Added a mount for the Wahoo Roam and had the power meter swapped from an axle to spider based unit and it’s been amazing. Slashed the rear tyre at Llandegla, plugged it, but it’s still leaking. So needs a new tyre and the brakes over heat, so getting some floating rotors for the New Year. 376km.
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