So, after the excitement of buying a new bike Wales was hit buy some of the worst weather in years.
Torrential Rain and High Winds meant I wasn't able to get out for a sneeky mid week ride on the new bike other than a ride up to my parents farm and back, which is uphill all the way. So it was another long weeks wait until I could properly try this bike out on the trails at Forest of Dean (FOD).
Valentines days was a romantic afternoon listening to Darrel cursing as he swapped my Muddy Marys over on to the Jedi. I have a fair bit of confidence in these tyres and they would act as a control to see how the bike handled.
Sunday came and for the first time in ages the sun was shining, as I very excitedly arrived at FOD, Darrel had to put up with me clicking at him as I was eager to get up on the trails and see what this bike could do.
First thing I have noticed about the Jedi is it's easier to push uphill than my old DH bike, it just rolls way better. This is a massive positive as most of our DH days are push ups.
First runs of the day were down the top section of Corkscrew, this is a nice trail with a couple of jumps and some rooty drops. Yet again, my first 2 runs the bike felt so strange, I over braked and was pulling it to the side on the jumps, I was doing the equivalent to driving a new car and stalling it at each junction.
As I settled on it I then started to notice the speed, the fact the brakes worked (1 finger braking is a whole new world for me) and that I could move around on the bike. Once settled I wanted to try Ski run, the track I normally avoid. Darrel decided to follow me as I rolled off the forestry road and headed down. I really didn't know how the bike would act on the rooty & rocky drops of this track, which had cut up a lot more than when I last rode it. Going slowly to make sure I could judge what the bike was doing I rolled down. It was so uneventful, no that's the wrong way to describe it, I'm not sure how to...
Basically, I was in control... no bike trying to run away with me, no being forced into taking a line I didn't want to, where I pointed the bike it went. But the biggest difference (other than lack of noise, lack of me screaming and lack of brakes) was I could move around. I could put weight over the front wheel and over the back where needed. This bike also loves the rough stuff, it's nimble and just seems to love roots...
After lunch, James seemed rather keen to take me down one of the unmarked trails, it's a techy little number, not as well marked as the others. I didn't settle well on this track, still not 100% sure of the bikes reactions, I had a stupid moment on a root step, after which you have to take a sharp left on roots. I rolled over it and panicked a little as the bike came down, using a bit to much front brake the bike noised dived through all it's travel. I rolled back up but this time couldn't see how to do the turn and on the advice of everyone (unanimous decision) left this bit be. Both James and Darrel felt my forks not being set up for me hadn't helped, and to try once I'd got the right spring in them. I personally feel I just need to get used to a bike that's more capable than I currently give it credit for.
By now I was tired, but determined to finish on a high, I suggested a push up and come down the lower 1/2 of Sheep Skull, the track was still very fresh in my mind from the last race, and I wanted to compare how Jed responded to the track. I started of cautiously, normally Granddad tries to ping me off into the woods on the drop down off the road, Jed however held the line like a tightrope walker. I over braked as I approached the first roots, again expecting to be thrown around, again Jed just rolled over them smooth as chocolate. I was now loving it as I pedalled on to make up for my over caution. The little rooty bits down here just disappeared, and as I got further into the track I was getting more confidence in the bike, even the flat pedally part in the middle was fun as the bike responded to me, the berms however were the scary highlight, I entered the first berm and before I knew it had run out of corner, not quite knowing how or when I made the switch to the 2nd berm I was hitting the jump into the 3rd corner. It had all happened too fast for me, as I turned down the rough straight (ish) heading out of the woods, the bike was flying, I was smiling and wondering why I'd not had this bad boy for the race 3 weeks ago. I know I was faster, and I wasn't even racing....
So next weekend it going to be a baptism of fire, as it's the 3rd round of the Mini DH.
I'm hoping my spring arrives as I really do need to firm the forks up. And I'm hoping for Cork Screw, firstly as it's a track I know and have raced on, secondly I think Jed will love it..
So for a 3rd week in a Row, I'm waiting for the weekend....
No comments:
Post a Comment