10th October 2004

The Prince Albert has been given a good thrashing for the past couple of months so it's time for a proper ride report.

My initial fears about missing my full susser have been totally allayed. The ride from the steel frame is really smooth and I find that the majority of trail buzz is filtered out.

Now is this down to the frame or is it partly due to the 2.3 conti vert pro's that I am running plus the narrow 27.2 mm seat post?

I unintentionally tested this theory out on our recent visit to Coed-y-Brenin.

In the morning I had really been going for it and suffered from numerous pinch flats. This is a common feature on the rocky trails of Coed as attested to by Sian in the cafe. In an effort to change my luck at lunchtime, I swapped the PA for a spare bike that dialled mike had with him.

This just happened to be a ti Morning Glory which has the same geometry as the Prince Albert and also runs the same 2.3 conti vert pro's. I also swapped the seatpost and saddle over as sitting in another man's saddle is like your mum buying you new underwear - it look the same as your usuals but it never seems to fit right.

So back to the ti frame. It was noticeable that there was less flex than the steel and gave a harsher ride.

So that settles the trail buzz question, what about the chuckability?

I am having trouble lifting the front off the ground on small drop-off's but I feel this is due to me still running the 4 inch travel Marzocchi Bomber Z5's. The PA is really built for 5 inches of lush travel and my current set-up leaves me too far forward over the front of the bike. It's not the greatest issue but I look forward to solving it with some new forks.

In the rough stuff however, the PA is sweet and eats up climbs and singletrack descents. I can throw it into corners and come out the other side successfully. It really encourages you to ride it hard and doesn't let you down.

Other things to note, that's right, the frame has enough clearance for a 2.3 tyre and still gives good mud clearance. Oh and did I mention those full length cable outers? They're luvverly in all this wet autumnal weather we are experiencing keeping shifting smooth and sweet and far easier to clean.

It's not the lightest of frames but hey, we all know that doesn't really count in the kind of stuff we ride.

And what's more, it's great value at the price. Go on, these are still rare enough and have that unique look that gains admiring and inquisitive looks.

17th October 2004 Richard and Mark - Leith Hill and Holmbury Hill

The winter is well and truly here. After a week of rain even the free-draining, sandy soil of Leith Hill and Holmbury Hill is showing signs of wear.

Mark and I set out up Regurgitator and Summer Lightning, pausing to review the new downhill section of SL. This looks interesting but I would class it as more of an alternative line than a true downhill section. Still, fair play to Jon and the team at Redlands who built it all. No complaints from this area and I look forward to it being opened.

Up to Leith Hill tower where we bumped in to Sooty and Jim (that's just one person) before heading off to Holmbury Hill and tea at Peaslake Stores.

Back up the hill and past the tower where we see Mr Smith, Rob and Hora plus Sooty & Jim again (are you sure you weren't there all day eating cake?) before heading back to Coldharbour.

There are loads of people with huuuge map boards fixed to their handlebars following a trailbreak event and we are constantly harangued by shouts of "checkpoint 4 is back there" and "do you know where we are?". We help a few on their way but soon lose patience with the sheer number of them preferring to smile and ride past quickly.

I escape with just the one snakebite today, on that rocky section on the descent towards Holmbury. I am struggling to keep up with the self-styled XC king Mark not having been out for the last 3 weeks and my legs are heavy as we make our way back to the car.

23rd October 2004 Richard and Mike - Leith Hill

The forecast is rain all day as I kit up for a Saturday ride and it's time to dig out the sealskinz and altura altitude long trousers.

Mike and I meet a large group of North Downs regulars at the Leith Hill car park and head off after our tour guide Mike W.

The going is heavy with the trails really boggy in places. Comedy slides are everywhere with Mike being flicked off the bike as he catches his shoulder on a solid branch. Dango later decides to nut a branch in revenge but finds himself a bit groggy on the seat of his pants with a crack in his lid. 2-0 to the trees then.

The biggest laugh of the day happens as Jason leads a trio of riders into a puddle so huge it should be logged on an OS map. As Jason flounders, Ratboy, eager not to be outdone, powers past him only to endo spectacularly as his front wheel dives into the mud and he ends up fully submersed in the muddy puddle.

As usual, clicky piccy to enlarge.

24th October

I bought some DMR V8's recently and have just fitted them to the PA. They will replace my trusty Shimano PDM 515 SPD's. At 520g for the pair they are a reasonable weight too.

I hadn't fitted them immediately as I was waiting to get some decent flat riding shoes. However I have been unable to find anything suitable so will be using an old pair of Nike trainers until I spot something better.

31st October 2004 Richard and the cast of uponthedowns - North Downs and Surrey Hills

The clocks went back at 2 a.m. this morning and to celebrate the fact that I had enjoyed an extra hour in bed I went on a real leg burner with Mark, other Mark, Dave and James those XC whippets from uponthedowns. Oh, and Marcello was there as well.

They set off at a pace usually reserved for the Trailbreak events, with lots of checking of average miles per hour and heart rates. However we all calmed down a bit as the mud bit in hard to our energy reserves.

Starting from Horsley, we took a circuitous route that took in the sawmill, the chute, Pitch, Holmbury and Leith Hills and then along the North Downs Way back to Horsley. 26 miles of XC action with a smattering of singletrack thrown in for good measure.

For the time of the year the weather was fantastic - bright winter sun and mild temperatures made it a great day to be in the saddle.

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