Incoming! The blue bouncer. Whyte G-170

[weeksy]

I've taken all the bearing seals off and slipped in some new stuff, it'll help a tiny bit I hope, but just waiting for wheel now.

[Mr Moofo]

Horrible horrible noises today from the rear end, so took it apart to check bearings, oh lordy they're bad bad bad. It's almost a miracle the wheel moves lol.

Need a plan there. Whether it's new bearings or a new wheel and new bearings I dunno yet. Bit a plan will be devised.

So just change the bearings ….

[weeksy]

Horrible horrible noises today from the rear end, so took it apart to check bearings, oh lordy they're bad bad bad. It's almost a miracle the wheel moves lol.

Need a plan there. Whether it's new bearings or a new wheel and new bearings I dunno yet. Bit a plan will be devised.

So just change the bearings ….

Obscure sizes so don't have them in stock in the spares.

I've ordered bearings for now along with the wheel. Depends what we're doing this week as to how I play it. Don't forget we're racing enduro next weekend at Milland. So I need the bike 100% for that. It's likely the bearings will sort, but I like to have things covered. Worst case, I drive to Asda and send the wheel back. So nothing lost.

[weeksy]

Tested and seems silent this morning with new grease in there. Was only a 2 min test. So I'm hopeful it'll be sorted with new bearings when they arrive. Although I should really also get it trued and tensioned.

[weeksy]

Bearings arrived in the post today.

Had an hour after work so took the hub off and started trying to get the bearings out.

Jeez they were hard to get out. I was using one of the blind bearing tools.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/131982079526 ... 2749.l2649

Sone required multiple attempts to get out.
Took it all apart and I need 3*15267 in the freehub, I never even considered there'd be 3 of them in it.

Grrrr

Fitted with the best of the 3 so it's all ready to roll but I'll need to replace it again at some stage. It spins lovely now, I've ordered the 3rd bearing though and will get it replaced before the weekend assuming I have time.

[weeksy]

In the Racing thread i said i'd write a bit about how the G170 was. Before yesterday i'd not actually ridden it down a proper trail since purchasing, not ridden it around a proper corner, although i had done a few jumps on it.
So yesterday was a bit of a baptism of fire for it.

But, you know what, it was bloody brilliant. Despite the fact that the race results may not show i love it, i really do.

It went everywhere i asked, every single time, every line, every turn, every jump, drop, twist and root, it did perfectly.

I know as i say, the result may not show that, but yesterday was a bit of a survival thing rather than a race thing. The track was tough and tricky and i was very much aware that my riding mate Dan had binned it and i was looking after both my lad and his 2 kids out on the trails. Along with the fact i was just trying to hang on and make it down. So sections i could arguably have powered on another day, i really wasn't because, well, it was very daunting.

But i honestly can't find a single fault.

[Mr Moofo]

In the Racing thread i said i'd write a bit about how the G170 was. Before yesterday i'd not actually ridden it down a proper trail since purchasing, not ridden it around a proper corner, although i had done a few jumps on it.
So yesterday was a bit of a baptism of fire for it.

But, you know what, it was bloody brilliant. Despite the fact that the race results may not show i love it, i really do.

It went everywhere i asked, every single time, every line, every turn, every jump, drop, twist and root, it did perfectly.

I know as i say, the result may not show that, but yesterday was a bit of a survival thing rather than a race thing. The track was tough and tricky and i was very much aware that my riding mate Dan had binned it and i was looking after both my lad and his 2 kids out on the trails. Along with the fact i was just trying to hang on and make it down. So sections i could arguably have powered on another day, i really wasn't because, well, it was very daunting.

But i honestly can't find a single fault.

... yet !

[weeksy]

In the Racing thread i said i'd write a bit about how the G170 was. Before yesterday i'd not actually ridden it down a proper trail since purchasing, not ridden it around a proper corner, although i had done a few jumps on it.
So yesterday was a bit of a baptism of fire for it.

But, you know what, it was bloody brilliant. Despite the fact that the race results may not show i love it, i really do.

It went everywhere i asked, every single time, every line, every turn, every jump, drop, twist and root, it did perfectly.

I know as i say, the result may not show that, but yesterday was a bit of a survival thing rather than a race thing. The track was tough and tricky and i was very much aware that my riding mate Dan had binned it and i was looking after both my lad and his 2 kids out on the trails. Along with the fact i was just trying to hang on and make it down. So sections i could arguably have powered on another day, i really wasn't because, well, it was very daunting.

But i honestly can't find a single fault.

... yet !

Well, i arguably could if i were being picky. The bars needed more tightening that i'd have liked with the stem interface, it ended up spinning the bars sideways in practice.

The coil shock is a bit noisy/rattly at times....

But neither of them matter in the slightest

[weeksy]

Tested it today at Swinley, both at Summit jumpy stuff and at the old school trails and I can safely say I'm 100* happier than I ever reached on the Bird Aether7. Once again it went exactly where I wanted and when I wanted. Absolutely ace.

Still not quite 100% on the jumps as it seems a slightly different technique to pop it, but it's doing a fine job.

[weeksy]

Had the bike at forest of Dean today for the first time. The place was running lovely, not too wet but enough to keep you on the toes on the 2 dot and 3 dot downhill tracks.

One big thing I did do today was dumping Strava. It can kill the fun not beating your best, not being better, faster, stronger, whatevers, so I never bothered with it. It made the day a bucket load better, just riding for the joy of riding and enjoying

[Mr Moofo]

One big thing I did do today was dumping Strava.

[lostboy]

One big thing I did do today was dumping Strava. It can kill the fun not beating your best, not being better, faster, stronger, whatevers, so I never bothered with it. It made the day a bucket load better, just riding for the joy of riding and enjoying

Well done!! If you're not training or competing then there's really no need for it.

[weeksy]

One big thing I did do today was dumping Strava. It can kill the fun not beating your best, not being better, faster, stronger, whatevers, so I never bothered with it. It made the day a bucket load better, just riding for the joy of riding and enjoying

Well done!! If you're not training or competing then there's really no need for it.

Well I am next year in Southern Enduro but knowing if I'm 2s quicker or slower won't massively affect anything on how I ride or try. I'll still be bumbling my way down.

[weeksy]

Bit more garage time this morning and i'd noticed something not quite right on the pad alignment on the last few rides on the G170. So whipped the caliper off. First thing i noticed was 2 of the pistons were WAY out and 2 not so much, which meant that the caliper was aligned offset and rubbing.... But then noticed i've not next to no pad material on them too, so they were swapped for new Uberbike kevlar pads, then bled and calipers aligned correctly.
Have to admit at times over Autumn i've been a bit neglectful on the upkeep on the MTBs, basically they just work, so i mostly just ride, clean, ride, clean... .but i do need to give them both a bit more TLC now it's getting to slop season. Anyway, the G170 is rolling again and ready for, well, something.... but where and when, i'm not yet sure.

[weeksy]

Bike was absolutely epic this weekend. I thought it may struggle at Afan as it's a bit climby, but it did really well there and climbed fine and happy. THe on the flats and down was just great.

As i was the one with the best knowledge i was sent down all the trails first at Afan, these are techy, rocky, tricky, rooty trails and i reached the bottom of them without anyone hassling me or hanging onto my wheels, having to wait a couple of times
Only on the final descent down Zig Zags were 2 of the lads able to follow, with the logic of "we thought, if you're hitting it fast then so are we" it was brilliant.
Blue scar in the afternoon is sweepy swoopy trailcenter blues and the G170 was perfect there, although i'm not as good on this stuff as i am on the tech so i had the boys hassling my wheel all the way down with them ones and me laughing lots and chatting as we're flying down.

Bike Park Wales, was next up and yep, you guessed it "you've been here the most, you lead down" was brought up, the good thing is, it's actually my preference. I like having the trail to myself and i'm fine being hassled from the back, but don't like having riders in front of me. We started with Sixtapod and Willy Waver, your typical Blue, sweepy fun.

I then started getting a bit tech with Vicious Valley, Surfin Bird and finally Insufficient Funds. These are all proper Tech Reds and Red+, tricky tricky roots, techy rocks, drops and jumps. With the last one having BIG drops that honestly terrify me lol. I'm still unsure how i actually survived that one, it was touch and go i reckon.

a4FM8K7iaBKrBrVT4kgQT2ngfmh5vVoN3OvMfGj6-Ww-2048x1536 by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

eRNFTbHZQoIbMtRDKjy17kgEUiNxc2UD2dm-oLeu7Yc-2048x1536 by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

[weeksy]

[MingtheMerciless]

That's got some big solid drops on it!

[Mr Moofo]

For some reason everyone who goes to BPW has to post a picture of the sign at the top of Surfing' Bird. Where is it?

[weeksy]

For some reason everyone who goes to BPW has to post a picture of the sign at the top of Surfing' Bird. Where is it?

bottom of vicious valley.

[weeksy]

That's got some big solid drops on it!

My issue really is hitting them too slowly. I end up having a fear moment instead of powering into them.

In my defence, that trail really is pushing my boundaries so being cautious is all I can muster