Wheelbase MTB Demo Day at Hamsterley Forest

 

Start Cycles Demo Days at Hamsterley Forest

 

Fresh Goods Sunday - B Twin Mountain Bike Front Mudguard (Decathlon)

 

Following on from last weeks Fresh Goods Sunday Blog - B Twin rear mudguard, I also bought the front matching guard. It has the same rrp and comes with three reusable zip ties. The instructions are printed on the back / underside of the guard. In the past I have not had much success with front guards that fir under the bridge / crown area of forks as the clearance has been to tight. This guard is simple and basic with the cut outs preformed for the zip ties to pass through. I was not expecting much for the money but thought what the hell. I tried to fit it so it had the longer section to the rear but with the bridge on my Rockshox being to the the rear I had to turn it around so the longer part goes to the front and the shorter section to the rear. It only took about 5 minutes or so to get it sorted. I did not cut the zip ties too short just in case it needed some adjustment after a few rides. Well after a few rides it has not moved and has not clogged up with mud yet. With the Cube e mtb having a massive downtube I don't suffer from a lot of mud spray coming past the down tube anyway so the longer section to the front of the wheel works better for me. I haven't tested it on really wet mud yet but so far so good for the rrp. 

RRP £3.29 and I paid £3.29 from Decathlon, Gateshead. 

Manufacturers Blurb - 

This lightweight, 26" to 29" mudguard is designed to protect your eyes and face from muddy spray kicked up by your front wheel when doing XC mountain biking.

The mudguard is both compact and lightweight, protecting your face from any tyre spray coming off the front wheel. It is detachable, and can be easily fitted and removed.

LEVEL OF PROTECTION

This ultra-compact mudguard stops mud getting sprayed into mountain bikers' eyes and faces.
Its reduced dimensions meet the needs of cross-country mountain bike racers, who need a light, aerodynamic mudguard to protect them.

For better chest protection, opt for a rigid mountain bike mudguard.

Bike compatibility

This mudguard fits 26" to 29" mountain bikes with a suspension fork with an arch

BOX CONTENTS

The mudguard comes with 3 removable cable ties

Dimensions and weight - Blade length: 250 mm

Blade width (folded and in use): 70 to 100 mm
Total weight: 32 g

Warranty2 years

A steady away spin around Durham, Maiden Castle & Houghall Woods

 

Well the weather has been mainly crap all week again and any dry short spells between the rain I have been none stop with outside jobs on the house apart from a few hours out to Blanchland / Derwent Reservoir. 

Yesterday we had a spin through to Bishop Auckland for some shopping and fuel and it was freezing cold, windy and rain showers. Todays forecast is very similar but I had to get a ride in of some description so took the Cube E Mtb out for a steady away spin down to Durham, around Maiden Castle and Houghall Woods. Houghall is back to ankle deep mud in most places so will take a long dry spell to get it back to hard pack again. On the whole is was mainly a mud and puddle free ride. Again it was cold, Garmin was reading 3 degrees, it was also quiet windy and and spitting rain the whole ride. There was not that many others out and about, mainly dog walkers. Below are a few overcast, cloudy and cold looking snaps from the ride. All in just under 17 miles in 1he 29 mins with 900ft of climbing. Enjoy and hopefully more soon - 

Small plot of land for sale in NEwton Hall on the way home 

Edinburgh Bicycle Coop - Celebrating 20 Years at Byker Sat 25th March

 

A trip over to Derwent Water and Blanchland

 

Today we had a couple of hours off from doing jobs on the house and had a lovely drive on the back roads to Derwent Water and Blanchland for lunch. The reservoir is still no where near capacity but the water level is higher than last year in the drought! Driving around the res brought back fond memories of me in the younger years riding up there and then doing the Derwentside CC 10 mile time trial. 

On the way back via Crawleyside / Stanhope the heavens opened again but it was bone dry by Frosterley. Very strange weather of late here in Co Durham. 

A few goodies from last week - Genuine Innovations, Shimano. MBR, Findra, Hidden Scotland, Mountain Equipment

 

Here are a few things I bought when we were away last week - 

First up is Genuine Innovations AirChuck C02 Inflator kit £14.97 from Go Outdoors Penrith rrp £25

Next up - Shimano hydraulic brake hose brass olives - £3 for three - Bspoke Cycles Peebles 

A copy of MBR Magazine, I have not bought or read MBR for many years and thought what the hell £4.99 from WH Smiths Penrith 

Hidden Scotland Magazine Issue 05 Autumn / Winter 2022-23 £15 from Interesting Books + Zine, Berwick Upon Tweed 

Findra Raasay Mernino-Lite Endura Short Sleeve Top £27 from Findra Innerleithan

Mountain Equipment Kinesis Jacket £90 from George Fisher Keswick, RRP £180