INCOMING !! New frame day... Bird Aether 7

[lostboy]

There's a local bike that's giving me some thoughts...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/165002951731?ul_noapp=true

I assume you bought it, then?

. Am i looking for/fixing a problem that doesn't exist. Am i trying to resolve something that's purely in my head. However i don't know of a simple way to answer that at the moment.

As long as we've all known you you've always been doing that with just about every aspect of your life. It's lucky for Welsh Muffin and the lad that they haven't been traded yet! (Or, more properly, you're lucky they haven't traded you in yet ) I know a lot of people from my competitive life sailing and also from other sports that I have done that there's no easy trade to get exactly what you want and, more often than not, it's simply getting the absolute best from the kit that gives you the most in the first instance. The best example for you of that is your XSR - even as recently as a couple of weeks ago you were raving about the Honda but came back with exactly the right reasons why the XSR was bang on for you. You're just not quite there with this bike or your MTBing generally YET.*

Have you spoken to Tom Reynolds or any of your coaches about where you feel the shortcomings are of the bike and whether there's a "ride-around"?

*Please don't think this is a criticism - we all love for you it!

[lostboy]

There's a local bike that's giving me some thoughts...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/165002951731?ul_noapp=true

I assume you bought it, then?

My local riding mates are riding 29ers, or XLs.

So what?! Are they you? Do they ride the same?

[weeksy]

I assume you bought it, then?

My local riding mates are riding 29ers, or XLs.

So what?! Are they you? Do they ride the same?

No, my point is, i can't borrow their bikes to do some testing.

[weeksy]

Have you spoken to Tom Reynolds or any of your coaches about where you feel the shortcomings are of the bike and whether there's a "ride-around"?

The only coaching i've had in this context was recently with Katy Curd, who also mentioned the LLS style of things on this frame, but we were working on cornering in the drills we were using, but not specificially to compensate for the frame, but for me as a rider

I do believe i have an option of a 2 hour training session with Tom/Ryan as part of my Summit membership, which i ought to take up, but haven't done so yet.

If i can ride something else on the same trails and still find myself having the same small issues, that's cool, i'm fine with that, it's then down to me to find the answer within myself as a rider. I love that... I'm more than happy trying to develop my skills as i've been doing in the last 18 months with jumps and drops for example, so working on me as a rider i'm 100% OK with.

[lostboy]

My local riding mates are riding 29ers, or XLs.

So what?! Are they you? Do they ride the same?

No, my point is, i can't borrow their bikes to do some testing.

Ah, that's me missing the point, apologies!!!

[weeksy]

So what?! Are they you? Do they ride the same?

No, my point is, i can't borrow their bikes to do some testing.

Ah, that's me missing the point, apologies!!!

no need for apologies at all

[weeksy]

Well that was really interesting... but didn't tell me much i don't already know either in some ways.

The Orbea is smaller.... (according to geomerty geeks it's actually 54mm shorter) The front and the wheelbase make it turn quickly.... it's also poppy and playful. All of which you'd expect.

According to my lad "it looks too small" however in reality it's very close to the T-130 i used to own in blue (the one Crust also has) which people also told me looks too small... but actually felt fine.

However that is with a 70mm stem fitted on the Orbea (standard fitment), bars are quite low rise too, almost flat... arguably too flat, but an easy swap and not an issue to do.

Overall condition was 9.5/10... there was barely a mark on the thing, nice...

So i'm all up in the air... i could buy it, back to back test it and if i buy at the right money it's a no lose as i can get out of it for the same money easily enough... Or... just keep the Bird.

[Mr Moofo]

off to organise the sweepstake ....

[weeksy]

off to organise the sweepstake ....

Well as it's a 2 horse race, i'm guessing 1 of them is quite short odds.

Reading more reviews and info on STW
https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topi ... y-with-it/

https://www.cyclesolutions.co.uk/bikes/ ... ack__34843

It certainly reads well.... PArt of me worries whether it's the right decision... but in many ways, is there ever a wrong decision as it's only a bike, it's not like it's offering to cut off a limb.

[Mr Moofo]

How much do you think the type of rear suspension affects your riding?

[weeksy]

How much do you think the type of rear suspension affects your riding?

Honestly don't think i'm good enough to notice between a specific mounting/style. I like a bike because i like a bike i don't think the linkage matters... probably.

[weeksy]

Interest in the Aether is minimal and i'm not prepared to let it go for crazy money, but i don't think i've over-priced it.

https://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/3128796/

https://www.pinkbike.com/buysell/3127713/

Considering the frame option with shock is £2000 from Bird... then i'd think that's a good price... ?

[Mr Moofo]

I'll give you 250 quid for it ...

[lostboy]

Damn, if I hadn't just changed a load of sails I'd have gone to £300.

[MingtheMerciless]

It's the wheel size for people that can't ride a proper sized wheel mountain bike so I'm out.

[weeksy]

Wankers

[weeksy]

Me and it had an excellent ride today. Swinley really is its home ground, both spiritually and actually. It never missed a beat and I even found a new trail called Berminator which is just bloody great, it's as it sounds, berm after berm after berm, banked lovely and grippy as heck.

I ran the lower bars today as a test and I think they'll stay on. Also ran thinner grips and had more feel from them.

I was also running higher pressure in the shock and faster rebound.

I could be that I was just on a good day, but me and it worked well together today.

2021-08-11_11-05-40 by Steve Weeks - Flickr2BBcode LITE


2021-08-11_06-39-34 by Steve Weeks - Flickr2BBcode LITE

[weeksy]

Another interesting day with the Aether7 at Swinley.

Summit day, so jumps, skills etc rather than trails.

Last time we were there, one of the parents was attempting a gap jump, which has now been named Dan's gap. The summit guys have built a shelf type thing which makes it a tabletop rather that a gap.
With the shelf in place Dan was just about clearing it, but he had a complete mental block when removing the shelf.
The gap isn't huge at about 5' edge to edge but as with all gaps it all in the head. It's designed so you need to set the entry and just not brake, bit you do have to set it yourself rather than having a roll in point to start from etc.

I did 3 runs with the shelf then pulled it away and did it first pop. Did another 3 runs at it without issue, clearing it nicely each time. Done, dusted, sorted.
Last night in bed I'd set myself the task of doing the gap and I am not ashamed to say it kept me awake.

I then had a play on the bigger tables and nailed it first pop too with arguably my best jump on the last one ever.

I had thought maybe today was the day for trying the bigger drop, it's about 5'6" of vertical but 7-8' drop to landing. However with Silverstone next Thursday and Pembrey Fri and Sat, I decided to call it there and just did some runs on the Enduro line which is a fun trail but rarely dangerous etc.

Once again the Aether7 was great and I think with the change in technique from Katy Curd and possibly even the minion dhf I fitted, we're becoming better and better friends out there.

Happy day!

[Crosshair]

Awesome! Well done

[weeksy]

i’ve just bought some https://www.merlincycles.com/magura-mt- ... 02037.html

MAgura MT Trail sport.

I’ve been running SRAM Guide R for ages now on various bikes but can never get the lever exactly how i’d like. If i try a bit more fluid in it, i get rubbing i can’t resolve, a bit less fluid, i get the lever too close to the bar. So in a moment of insanity I thought “lets try some of these”