We have a new sensation going on in the Netherlands, a growing number of girls that freeride and are GOOD at it too! A few of them (including me) have started this website www.freeride4girls.nl and we’ll be blogging en vlogging our asses of as much as our bike-pleasure allows us. We’re quite ambitious, so this could be the start of a very interesting new weblog. Go check it out, we’re still writing content and new posts will be added every day or so. And please, let us know what you think!

1. Strip Remedy and equip with spanking new cool parts, update to SRAM (finally!),
2. Get into shape (“hello roadbike”) to shred trails this summer,
3. Make more video footage!
4. Have TFT tune shock and fork,
5. Get new tires that’ll survice Bike Attack-types of rides,
6. Ride Freeraid Classic and …?
7. Testride Trek Scratch!
8. Oh, RIDE MORE!
9. and, BLOG MORE!

img: http://www.flickr.com/photos/reggio/36187400/

Known fenomenal

We started in Morzine and by the time we drove past Les Lindarets, we both where so stoked that we ‘forgot’ to rest and carried on for five hours! Took mini-breaks and kept pedaling like idiots. Obviously we didn’t take the optional xc route, we’re not (that) crazy. But we got on top of the nasty tarmac climb near Morgins thinking we where xc-racers. So that’s how much fun an enduro bike can be… never knew that.

We agreed to take a real break in Champoussin, but seeming that that’s only a small refill station, we pushed on to Champéry. At least, tried to.

Past the four-cross trail is a downhill that finishes near the Mosettes uplift and we didn’t have a clue how to get to Champéry. The nice guys at the lift suggested we took the uplift to Champéry and the big bus later downward, but arriving near the Planachaux, we changed our minds. Turned around and agreed to take our break in Les Lindarets. (only 10 km’s from the finish in Morzine, not counting the small loop near Les Gets).

The stuff that broke

When you’ve been near Champéry, you know that it’s lovely up there. Awesome trails, and high altitude. But… when your break is a few hours overdue, it’s hard to enjoy it. Boy, where we  suffering.

Kept pushing and pushing (not wanting to slow down) and Ilja crashed over one silly rock. Without breaking anything thankfully, only pain. So we took our time in Les Lindarettes to recover.

There we finally could enjoy the wonderful catering the PPdS is famous for. And we decided to queue for the uplift around 15.30. While waiting, I casually checked my rear wheel. Only to discover that my hub had plenty play sideways. Awesome… just awesome with some of the nicest downhills to come.

So I tried to take it easy. Untill Ilja’s shockmount started squealing. Like a girl!

Tried to fix that, without success and that was more awesomeness (sigh) for us in the last few kilometres. And finally my gear-cable gave in, 4-star awesomeness: turning my Remedy into a 3-speed and still we didn’t give up! Kept smiling and pushing till the end. Finished the lap in a stunning 7,5 hours, with 2/3 of the time feeling like a rockstar on wheels!

Graduation time

The Remedy felt like home in the Alpes, and I can honestly say that I now will not to buy a Session. If a Remedy rips like that… a Session would rip me to pieces! That said, keep in mind dear Remedy-owner: if and when you ride the Alpes and have a momentary feeling that is similar to “OMG if a Remedy is this fast… a Session must carry on with the speed of light…” you are wrecking your rearhub!

Continental graduates too

Lastly: a very important experiment. The Mountain Kings, yes my favorites, did not flat once! Even with the superduper  Continental Supersonic innertubes weighing a stunning 100 grams a piece! I was going near light speed on 100 grams innertubes! That kept me going and smiling the whole time!

This weekend I went for two rides! Yes, you heard it right, got the steed out of the garage two times in two days. Almost make you think I got my mojo back again. I’m getting there btw, lovely weather like these days certainly help. If the pollen are done, I’ll be the happiest I can be.

Next weekend another darling will be added to the family, as my friend Ilja decided to get a Banshee Wildcard. What a nice ride! We’re going to build it on Friday (watch this space) and put it to the test on Saturday, probably somewhere Limburg or Belgium. Can’t wait… love springtime, life is good!

#9 Take more pictures!

Unfortunately, eighter I’m loosing my touch (I did forget the whitebalance thingie!) or my cam is slowly loosing it’s touch (I’m always gain for new gadgets, just not when I need one). Yesterday’s secret trail-ride has given me more blurry (no pun) shots, than sharp ones. I hope this doesn’t become an epidemic, I remember my friend R’s camera is slowly dying too…

But not all is lost…

“Team Director Markus Stöckl commented; “MS-Racing has been working on building of our vision of a mountain bike team for almost 5 years and we have worked with a couple of partners in the past. After we won the 4X team overall and women’s 4X overall title in 2008 we felt stagnant somehow and knew it was time for a change“

Beerten has been let go, but I’m sure a rider with that much potential soon gets swept away by some very smart team-manager. Markus Stöckl has immortalized himself with this thoughtless quote. If you want change, if you want different riders, whatever: don’t put it on feeling STAGNENT over the two biggest accomplishments: winning the overall and the world title. When you say that, you degrade the effort of a rider that has worked her ass of for you and your team.

1. Ride in Switzerland (= august Bike Attack),
2. See if I like (I like!) my new Inbred frame (harhar) and paint it purple (thank the Remedy: the Inbred has been sold because it was gathering too much dust),
3. Go to Belgium or Germany once a month (at least, or anywhere else abroad),
4. Buy a new helmet (or two: xc (=check) and dh(-check)),
5. While at it, get new riding gear too (ride my own fashion),
6. Do bi-weekly trainingride with Isil (and anyone who’ll join),
7. Pickup BMX’ing again,
8. Ride PPdS in 8hrs or less (workout harder or suffer!),
9. Take more pictures!

The Remedy 7 on the otherhand, has the basic setup I wanted: Lyrik U-turn and Fox Float RP2. The rest of the setup is somewhat basic (Shimano SLX: but I don’t really prefer Shimano), Avid Juicy 5 brakes (owned then: just fine) and a bunch of Bontrager stuff.

I’m not going to change everything at first: just the two things I think I need:

MRP XCG GUARDS: chainguide for triple setup: 120 gram!

Crank Brothers Joplin: mechanic seatpost

Within the next 3 to 4 weeks I should have a new ride!

But okay, the Switch is going back to the sponsor sometime next year, ending what has been 2 excellent years of sponsoring by Stappenbelt.com. The best LBS if you ask me, and I’m still gonna support them, whenever I can. Leaves me without a bike however, so I’ve been thinking about what would make the best bike for me. And I know what that is: A Rocky Mountain Switch on a superdiet with a little less travel. It has the best geometry, especially when I run the forks at 140 mm (almost always) and it’s even fun on and xc ride. In my own pace that is ;-)

So my shortlist:

• Trek Remedy 7
• Lapierre Spicy 316
• Cube Fritzz
• Canyon Torque ES 7.0

Allmost made the cut: Specialized Enduro SL (boring), SC Nomad (Hot, expensive and doubtfull about VPP for me), Scott Ransom: too many horror stories, Norco Fluid: dunno, Mongoose Teocali/Khyber: LOVE ‘EM. Poorly distributed here (often no mailorder in foreign online shops). Khyber seems a bit to heavy, Teocali skinny on the travel-side. Slayer: wheelbase is too long, plus a bit heavy.

So what constitudes THE All Mountain Long Travel bike for me?

• Around 14 kg,
• Travel 150-160 mm,
• Geometry: Short wheelbase and chainstain. Rather steep stering- and seatangle,
• Adjustable fork; preferbly Rockshox Lyrik U-turn(coil),
• A good/smart setup, parts can be upgraded,
• All day ride, once for Alpes/Ardennes and for Bikepark-flow and fun.

Breaking it down

Trek Remedy 7

Cost: 2599 euro
Pro:

• Lyrik U-turn (coil) with Fox Float RP23: excellent setup. Good enough specs.
• Rave reviews, can’t find a bad one.
• Good distribution and warrenty network.

Con:

• Did a short testride on a previous model, not sure about the rockerlink, direct feel.
• Rave reviews, can’t find a bad one.

Lapierre Spicy 316

Cost: 2299 euro (could pick up a 2008 one for 2000 euro)
Pro:

• Hothothot + Vouilloz,
• Light, 160 mm

Con:

• Float R shock (checking if it’s upgradable)
• FOX 36 VAN R fork, not adjustable
• Rather basic parts, however, could upgrade some parts along the way and end up with dreamy bike.

Cube Fritzz

Cost: 2599 euro
Pro:

• Rock Shox Lyrik 2StepAir (eventhough I’d prefer the U-turn with coil),
• Good specs for the cash,
• Goed reviews.

Con:

• It’s a CUBE…

Canyon Torque ES 7.0

Cost: 2399 euro
Pro:

• RockShox Monarch 4.2 (very curious about that one) TALAS RC fork (adjustable at least)
• Horstlink,
• Good reviews,
• Rob J rides for Canyon (ex-Rocky Mountain),
• Great specs for the cash

Con:

• Not sexy!
• Sounds good on paper, but is it really…
• Long estimate delivery.

So what do you think? Can you help me out? Comment below.

I can’t figure it out any more. They all seem like great bikes and my preference switches (no pun) daily. Would they all cost the same, with the same basic spec? I might choose the Lapierre Spicy…