I visited the Filthy Trails this Sunday with the Remedy (new bike not done yet) and it’s one of these places the Remedy feels right at home. It even jumps the gaps like it’s nothing and if I didn’t have half a brain, I’d attempt to two bigger ones too.

The Trek Scratch was one of the bikes that rode perfectly. The BB height , head angle options (yes options 66 or 66.5 degrees) and chain stay length lead to flawless handling. The model I rode was set with coil springs and in spite of the associated weight it just rolled up the loose gravel road at Bootleg Canyon like a 28 lb XC bike. In fact while riding in the middle ring Andrew Shandro (from Trek Design team) and I were able to have a decent conversation about the purpose of the bike. We both believe that for a bike to be truly considered a trail bike it must climb well

Source: nsmb.com/3320-trek-scratch-ridden

Last Sunday I went for another ride in Brunssum. The PPdS is just around the corner, and we haven’t been all that active with regular training rides (shame). When I left home (Brunssum is a 2 hrs ride for me) it was raining cats ‘n dogs, here and in Brunssum. But I had good hopes on a dry ride.

It was somewhat dry, I mean no rain! Some sun and a very comfortable temperature of 19º+, so shirts and shorts and two happy riders on their marry way. The not so dry bit came from the surface, I don’t think Brunssum can get any muddier then this. a thick layer of mud plastered over our gear, bike and any body part not covered. It’s never been this much fun and, most important, we never did the two laps in a faster time!

My friends new ride, Mythic Wildcard was finally fully blessed and approved, if we need new carreers, we can start a bikeshop together.

Oh, and NO-ONE ever gets to say anything bad about the Continental Mountain King tires. They rock! The review is coming up this week here at Bikeblog.nl. Stay tuned.

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…

It was one of those great rides. Raining cat’s & dogs, but we had to go! I had a score to settle with my new Remedy and my friend needed to say goodbye to his trusty steed, to make room for a new one. Last wednesday’s ride left me wondering: did I buy the damn thing to big?

I ordered a Raceface Atlas Am stem with a Raceface Dh 1.5″ riser. Thought I needed a tough more rise. The stem was spot-on, but the riser wasn’t. Thankfully I had an old banged up Hussefelt 2″ riser lying around and that did the trick. Felt just like home! Installed the Joplin (another *it fits/it works* relieve, and a question: “how did I get around without one for so long?“), some nasty white grips from Specialized and my trusted Continental Mountain King tires (I SHOULD write a review on these soon!).

This all and the dirtiest ride of the year makes my riding itch the worst I’ve had in years… I’m a lost cause…

So my new bike arrived today and, with only a tiny tune-up, I couldn’t help myself. I took the Remedy for a short ride near Apeldoorn, the sights where beautifull because of the snow and I was counting my blessings. My mates where hard at work, and I found myself enjoying my new bike.

The Lyrik is allready everything I hoped it would be: bloody awesome! The Fox RP2 also delivers and setting both up to my standards was a piece of cake. The SLX cranks look sexy sweet! And yes, the Remedy does pedal as well as promised! It’s light too.

I am, however, ordering some new stuff for the cockpit. Not at all pleased with the low-riser (1″) and (somewhat) long stem (80mm). I knew buying this bike, the toptube would be a bit on the long side. (A size smaller would have been too small). So I’m ordering some new goodies that make me more comfortable. Hopefully saturday this saturday a longer ride, with the new gear on board, along with my beloved Conti’s and the Joplin.

The stuff that didn’t break?!

After a long break in Chamery (near the air-lift because the festival area was noisy as hell) we got back up and after Les Lindarets I was getting somewhat tired. The last downhill to Morzine I kinda forgot the flip the switch of my rearshock and it was no wonder my forks got overheated and myself included from working unnessesarily hard. The aphalt pedal to the Morzine uplift to Les Gets was murder. Without the slightest bit of wind, the sun was burning and we where close to being toast. The uplift to Les Gets stopped 2 times along the way, one time close to 10 minutes. Without any fresh are (these bulb-like cabins have no ventilation or windows) and having finished all my water, we all needed to keep our heads cool and not freak out. We had just 50 meters of faint downhill to go and a steep asphalt walk before we could cruise down and finish in our cabine up the mountain near Les Gets. Dead tired, but super happy. Just one chainsuck! Ask the many many other riders with trouble along the way, that’s pretty awesome!

About the trails

We did the classic route (75km) and the types of trails differ between almost boring wide flat tracks with grit or the ultimate singletracks with all the roots and rocks you can handle. I’m inclined to say that anyone with MTB experience, basic fitness and a dureable bike (one that’s in good technical shape) can enter the PPdS. Or I should say: anyone SHOULD enter the PPdS at least once. It’s perfectly organized, there’s no competition element; all the riders give room to one and another, everyone is happy. XC riders can get their kick on the special XC challenge routes, if you’re not fit or have a heavy DH bike, you can rest and take the uplifts. For 35 euro’s, you can’t ask for a better day of fun than the PPdS!

After a great ride last sunday we returned today for seconds (and thirds I guess), we got to ride lap 1 two times and had good fun at it! It’s just about 14km’s and there’s two alternative routes to connect to if you wish, which we’ll do next time.

Somewhat technical lap, plenty roots and small drop-offs. It has some very nice fast sections that makes the drive up there more than worth it. The beginning of the lap is the best fun and get’s you in the good mood right away. And for me, the mood never changed. Not even for the few uphill sections that can somewhat erm… suck. But I suppose it’s not even that bad considering we rode with our big bikes and I didn’t feel butchered at all. I must be getting in shape!

» More info on the Brunsummerheide xc routes (fun xc from now on)