2026 Bikes, rides and pictures.

[formula400]

That could be loads of fun @Mingthemerciless

[weeksy]

So yesterday I took the lad and BMX to the skate park, bloody hell, that was terrifying,

I had put a new rear brake on it and new grips, I did’t tighten the grip enough so they were spinning as well which added to the fun.

Very brave being the "grown up" on a BMX at the skate park. Last time I rode a BMX it got so cross that an "adult" was on it that it threw me into the floor for no apparent reason and I couldn't move properly for two weeks.

@formula400 you are more than welcome to come for a tour of Friston singletrack now its dried out (@Mr Moofo @crust @mboy @weeksy are also welcome).

Friston is about 3.5 miles from Polegate Station if coming by train.

Train? What's that ?

[MingtheMerciless]

Ok I’ll post some dates up tomorrow

[mboy]

Well talk about feast or famine... Barely ridden a bike this year (been too scared with my shoulder until recently), then this week alone ridden 5 times (4 MTB and 1 road), done more than 120 miles (half of which off road) and a combined 5km (15,000ft) of climbing (4km of which off road)...

Great weather and conditions for it though!

Back out again tomorrow too... Can't get enough right now!

[formula400]

Bit late but Saturday me and my mate (on his gravel bike) went for a decent ride over Epsom and ashstead common.
Did a nice little 27km ride, found a good drop, found a wicked little pub, had 1 fake beer and 1/2 pint real beer….. proper hardcore Saturday night that was.


Loads of fun,

Untitled by lewis wilson, on Flickr

[formula400]

[cvilla]

Managed a gravel ride along the canal and back via the coast.

[formula400]

I had a rare free Saturday, so got my mate out on his bike with gravel tyres and we rode, we did 47km give or take, we rode from Epsom to Esther, Esther common was brilliant, found some cool XC stuff, and there is plenty more to explore. Found some great bits to play on, even managed to to crash, going over the handles bars in slow motion laughing,

Got home 47km, 495m climbed, 68% batter left.


Well happy.

Untitled by lewis wilson, on Flickr

Untitled by lewis wilson, on Flickr

Untitled by lewis wilson, on Flickr

Yep we saw a Camel

Untitled by lewis wilson, on Flickr

[formula400]

[MingtheMerciless]

IMG_6703.jpeg (3.15 MiB) Viewed 1996 times

Eeb to work this morning, evil bloody head wind meant pedalling downhill was required!

[mboy]

Proper old school ride this evening... Up a mountain, down the other side, then back up and down to where I started... Not done something so simple in a long time, but just enjoyed it for what it was... Getting out and about in some epic scenery, and smashing a good 42km and 1200m+ climbing on the eBike in a little over 2hrs...

[mboy]

IMG_6703.jpeg

Eeb to work this morning, evil bloody head wind meant pedalling downhill was required!

Staying in a cottage next door to your castle right now as it happens... https://www.castlemenzies.org

[weeksy]

Proper old school ride this evening... Up a mountain, down the other side, then back up and down to where I started... Not done something so simple in a long time, but just enjoyed it for what it was... Getting out and about in some epic scenery, and smashing a good 42km and 1200m+ climbing on the eBike in a little over 2hrs...

Love it... that's the essence of MTBing for me... I love a 'trail' or i guess they're more 'tracks' but MTBing is about being outside in the middle of nowhere with a sense of "how the heck did i get up there" and then having to get back home again. Nice job.

[MingtheMerciless]

[MingtheMerciless]

IMG_6738.jpeg (2.88 MiB) Viewed 1853 times

IMG_6739.jpeg (5.86 MiB) Viewed 1853 times

Glorious day for a ride. “Created” a new segment, which is a loop of my two favourite trails and their associated climbs, OBS had to try and set a benchmark so my legs and lungs are not happy now.

[weeksy]

I took out the Speacialized Status 160 of @crust today as mine has been sold and the new bike not here yet.

20260520_115338 by steveweeks59, on Flickr

First observations, when i owned one i should have bought the size S3 not S4.

the next observations are a little scathing of his bike in honesty... (Sorry mate).. First thing i noticed was the pedals are barely attached to the bike, the locking nuts on the pedal body were barely touching the thread. Once they were tightened the 10mm of play was gone

Next up was that the riding position is massively bizarre, it's SOOOO slack it's insane. The front end is pretty wandery on any trails. Going downhill it kinda makes sense as you are putting your riding position over the front end more, but on pedally trails it's all over the place.
It's also an exceptionally inefficient pedaller, like really really... wowsers. Admittedly it is VERY windy out there today, but even when out of the wind, things are just hard work on it. A low BB and a set back riding position with a really short chainstay means it's just not a good pedaller.

It feel like a pretty harsh review of someone elses bike, but i just simply didn't get on with it (sorry again)

I will say the suspension platform is lovely... like SOOOO plush and nice, smooth, lovely... it goes over things and smooths things out beautifully.

[crust]

Its the bike you need for going downhill fast. Wandery thats why you have handlebars, it goes where you steer it.

You loved it really

Admittedly it did need some love

[weeksy]

Its the bike you need for going downhill fast. Wandery thats why you have handlebars, it goes where you steer it.

You loved it really

Admittedly it did need some love

It's got a very small creak, i thought it was the saddle (which is creaky actually) but i think one of the pivots needs a little clean.

Dropper isn't great as i've extended the post so cable is tight, but the lever itself is lovely.

[crust]

"Dropper isn't great as i've extended the post so cable is tight, but the lever itself is lovely."

At least the bike isn't a total nightmare

[weeksy]

"Dropper isn't great as i've extended the post so cable is tight, but the lever itself is lovely."

At least the bike isn't a total nightmare

LOL i told you i was being harsh, i REALLY appreciate it man, honestly.... but i can't say i'm in love