tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-219877042024-02-23T08:02:52.041+00:00MuddyBackRiders.blogspot.comWelcome fellow Mountain Biker to a Bristol and South West based blog containing local routes, rides and reviews. Brought to you by locals to the area with additional publishings from further afoot. Hope you enjoy.Hayden Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12721436573879402796noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21987704.post-11749889370060013012008-11-29T18:55:00.009+00:002010-04-11T07:40:54.774+01:00Back again<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoqmYt8mjVIALSw8-tpH5qhcR60TsCbMqad48xmugItvTSs9JmHQ83S8tsR5xy0Be7ZN6KpF4F-ewuqLrUeBgA8jwBAOVQOVva7ec9o6s-2lHv8PyqxJgH6bHqw4iqozV_e-Ltxw/s400/DSC00074.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274161407399343186" /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Well I'm back. <div>Hello!!!<br /><div>Lets first fill in the two and a half year gap and what's been happening shall we? No cocking around. And of course apologise for the pause. Sorry.Ok. Well the last post I did was of my nomad finally being built up. It was a lovely bike and I had many a fantastic time on it. Low down on that to come.<div>But after a while I fancied something a little lighter with 5" of bounce instead. Something more "UK friendly" as people say. I found it in the shape and form of a La Pierre zesty 314. The base model of their long travel range. 14 standing for 140mm of travel. They also do a 16 range. No prizes for guessing how much travel they have. The new ride is nimble and light and can go pretty much anywhere and do anything I demand it to. Truely awesome bike.</div><div>Of course I have treated it to some upgrades. This is it pictured below. My silver bullet. More pics to come.</div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyOCnMlm4nTVfmCa2BWTrSkN4SjMMiTyPBkkwU_tGyoorxmfuM6Sz9F8ZRe6zGR3NvtNUogapm90kaRVaAFvPI8cPBIbOCNCtt8_2btkofiKahknLjrY296BHMD3p3yN_Bwvhcjw/s400/DSC00471.JPG" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274164142946817458" /><div>Over the last few years I have been on many travels to many trails, some in the south and some in Wales. This was to be the year that I traveled further to explore Britain and find some sweet treasures. But life kinda got in the way and turned my world upside down and shook it until many things fell out and off. If I can be bothered I may try to use my memory to have </div><div>a few flashbacks now and then and dig up some pics of some rides that were done. Which may gain some interest and inspire others to ride there. I also will be testing some stuff out for you free of charge. Clothes and componentry and the like. Things like Hope hoops, howies long way home shorts, endura Strike waterproof gloves. Five Ten impacts.Monster energy drink to name a few. May even chuck in a few maintance tips to. Heck. Should you have any problems with your bike feel free to ask my advice in the comments box and I will do my upmost to help you out with your woe's.</div><div>Off to Dartmoor this week with some chums and some killer trail info from Ade at howies. Who looked half asleep when he was drawing sketches for me, as he and his staff have just opened up the howies store on Queen's road in Bristol. After a lot of hard work and late nights. Go check out their new shop and check back here soon......</div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
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Then we shall begin. Right here folks we have an one of Aireals newest hubs. Built completely by the boys down under to an amazing high CNC standard and quality level. The guys kindly sent me one over to test out and once it was built with the ever skill full hands of Kevin at Topshelf Components, That is what I did. Upon laying my eyes on the hub for the first time, the first thing to strike me was it's design.....by how close together the flanges were and how tiny it looked. But it's first impressions to me were pleasing because I liked it straight away. And built into a wheel it is a very pretty hub indeed. As the spokes are symetrical on each side. So when you look down the wheel there is an equal distance between the free hub body side and the disc mount side. Everything about it just ticked all the boxes.</span></strong> <span style="color:#33cc00;"><strong>The finish is superb, it's light and the built quality through CNC machining is second to none. I love the swooping curves and the abrupt flange stops. The laser etching. If you are a fan of machined metal yourself....you will love Aireal's handy work. </strong></span></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#33cc00;"><strong></strong></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#33cc00;"><strong>Fitting a cassette their own made stainless steel free hub body is as easy as any other hub I have tried. Once on you naturally spin the cassette and listen to the ratchet and paws inside. Beautiful. I cannot tell you that once I had fitted the wheel with the cassette and tube and tyre...just how excited I was to get it on the back of my steed and give it a spin. Everything went according to plan. Fitted in the dropouts perfectly. And there was no sign of play at this early stage....even after transport. I had to take a step back and have a gloat at it. Mmmnnnn. I got mine in Gold because I was running with the Black/Gold theme on my Colier and it suited and finished off my build completely. Gold hub....black spokes...and a black rim. SEXY and very light, even with a 9 spd cassette.</strong></span></div><br /><br /><div><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#33cc00;">Straight off the wheel ran true and smoothly as I took it for a good two mile run in. The engagement was faultless and quick and the noise of the free hub sang quality to me whilst also being quiet. Unlike a Hope hub (click overload) or a Chris King (being followed by a rather large Hornet). </span></strong></div><br /><br /><div><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#33cc00;">I have ran now this hub/wheel on the back of my bike for almost a year now. And I am impressed. It has probably done about five hundred miles and I haven't had to touch it. Apart from the occasional clean. Which by the way is easy with the amount of space you have on the disc mount side to get you fingers in there with a cloth. Always been a tricky bit to get at that without taking the wheel off of you bike and maybe taking the disc off too. Living in England as I do it has had it's fair share of mud and elements chucked at it which it's seals and bearings have shrugged off. I have led it off of big drops, jumps and it has been right behind me on many hard and foolish crashes. Yet there is no play in the axle. No change in it's appearance or smoothness. Kevin your wheel building is the bollocks mate. Beautiful and certainly robust. No dings, buckles or ovalization in the slightest. Good work fella. You have done it again guys.</span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#33cc00;"></span></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;color:#33cc00;">Honestly peeps if you fancy an alternative to the norm and you want quality dependable...fit and forget components look no further than the other side of the globe. I once again give you Aireal Australia. And their UK distributors Topshelf Components. Bravo chaps. I have just built up a new bike. My new Santa Cruz Nomad. Extra suspension and with a quality wheel like that. Extra confidence on the big stuff. I am totally confident that it will last me a couple of years yet. Peace. </span></strong></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXlxoOKdIq_x1f7WZKUy66ic_uDc6Quaj1Qj7OvEFwhfUeLXY9Vfw7XCYEA4i9b7bSuErc_z2ZD8HGLNZjOf7g4Xbw9mcMNNy_D1DDOmsFTeNaMneH9PDtrrqVQwAS7nXy3RotUA/s1600-h/aireal+hub+test+004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5081801970421456562" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXlxoOKdIq_x1f7WZKUy66ic_uDc6Quaj1Qj7OvEFwhfUeLXY9Vfw7XCYEA4i9b7bSuErc_z2ZD8HGLNZjOf7g4Xbw9mcMNNy_D1DDOmsFTeNaMneH9PDtrrqVQwAS7nXy3RotUA/s400/aireal+hub+test+004.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#33cc00;"><strong></strong></span></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;color:#999999;"><strong><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5081802241004396226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiST5pN7WV4p6rmokgsGb-3QeF8QV05zDqnruC_xDadLDKtysx2CDE58_cf_R0UPhgJ0OfKifx9oT1jH4k1L6X4ZK9egE0USPlNfV4sgIggDuznnsEcCJWhsCzPuN8kXYsNi98ZQQ/s400/aireal+hub+test+005.jpg" border="0" /></strong></span></div></div></div></div></div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqgpzUzN9RDiqYwkPnJ1TBdUcSS-qzt1-37_QhHuJv9_-wPgSbijLyMLtBiNbQKXFketkPIH-4Tovz5RbNYxbBVSMklNnkgqrQhnTVmcIrnNxVs_wnDjhi60Pn-bwbSMjFtW7xUQ/s1600-h/aireal+hub+test+006.jpg"><strong><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5081802498702434002" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqgpzUzN9RDiqYwkPnJ1TBdUcSS-qzt1-37_QhHuJv9_-wPgSbijLyMLtBiNbQKXFketkPIH-4Tovz5RbNYxbBVSMklNnkgqrQhnTVmcIrnNxVs_wnDjhi60Pn-bwbSMjFtW7xUQ/s400/aireal+hub+test+006.jpg" border="0" /></strong></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYujKOQn5-vYDxjXmRoyOqZge2z1Jxtb8IXEJHBB_ds99_Imu9z7b5B-WtrXuFE10wf41WVoYb7wh2APpNLLDO8SBz9xlcOf3CRURR3_sfD_jikgWS1hEp5-ftVR0NjbFgya98AQ/s1600-h/aireal+hub+test+007.jpg"><strong><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5081802962558901986" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYujKOQn5-vYDxjXmRoyOqZge2z1Jxtb8IXEJHBB_ds99_Imu9z7b5B-WtrXuFE10wf41WVoYb7wh2APpNLLDO8SBz9xlcOf3CRURR3_sfD_jikgWS1hEp5-ftVR0NjbFgya98AQ/s400/aireal+hub+test+007.jpg" border="0" /></strong></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6UmtmR1NaPDsg-jdoLfRQdjUPUU_qXUp1Qzy8r2shqYe1JTZ5pL1JiM5DmEnPVA05L4mRP7BrkqoRYZfZAnJVuEnnUD1g9_Psls-qXTQYZVlxKaUm8Mt_XEQpsxQc_E73yD-RTQ/s1600-h/aireal+hub+test+009.jpg"><strong><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5081803920336609010" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6UmtmR1NaPDsg-jdoLfRQdjUPUU_qXUp1Qzy8r2shqYe1JTZ5pL1JiM5DmEnPVA05L4mRP7BrkqoRYZfZAnJVuEnnUD1g9_Psls-qXTQYZVlxKaUm8Mt_XEQpsxQc_E73yD-RTQ/s400/aireal+hub+test+009.jpg" border="0" /></strong></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEGIywuJEODCyiIG0gi8NimshHPlbDGlfKjT6RtubgwihP-6agA9r2TC1AsktCX5ld_3XLVI8ekpigNr6wQzdXyMw7eI25H88r9P8k6TXgp2bze-uiS_M9BPQ2bo5K9QRpvbF1Zg/s1600-h/aireal+hub+test+002.jpg"><strong><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5081805097157648146" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEGIywuJEODCyiIG0gi8NimshHPlbDGlfKjT6RtubgwihP-6agA9r2TC1AsktCX5ld_3XLVI8ekpigNr6wQzdXyMw7eI25H88r9P8k6TXgp2bze-uiS_M9BPQ2bo5K9QRpvbF1Zg/s400/aireal+hub+test+002.jpg" border="0" /></strong></a><span style="color:#009900;"><strong>You will find links to Aireal and Topshelf in the links section below.</strong></span></div></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
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And if I must be completely honest. I've got to say that there must be something wrong with it. Nearly everything I have tested has had it's little niggles or flaws. Exept this brake so far. It's fantastic. It consists of a nicely machined classic mini lever, linked to a intergrated master cyclinder reservoir with a split clamp to fit it to your handlebar. </span></div><div><span style="color:#c0c0c0;">A one piece caliper, nicely machined a from solid billet of aluminium. Keeping it strong and light. Intergrated into the design of the caliper are 6 phenolic pistons.(Phenolic resin can include any of various synthetic thermosetting resins, obtained by the reaction of phenols with simple aldehydes and used to make molded products, including pool and snooker balls, and as coatings and adhesives).</span> <span style="color:#c0c0c0;">Phenolic is used in this case as it is one of the best insulating materials, to stopping heat transfer from the pads into the fluid. Steel braided hose is used between the resevoir and the caliper. And to top it off a two part floating disc, with an aluminium centre and hardened stainless steel braking area helps reduce weight and handles extremes in temperature on long descents. Looks damn cool to.</span></div><div><span style="color:#c0c0c0;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#c0c0c0;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#c0c0c0;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#c0c0c0;">Right that's the waffle out of the way. Down to the opinion. Give that these days there are international standards to disc mounts (and brackets out there to help with fitting) and a handlebar is pretty much just a tube. Any disc brake is simple to fit. The hardest part sometimes being guiding the hose around the parts of your bike, so as not to snag. I found fitting this brake easy, with the braided hose being a bit of a pain in that it can be picky about which direction it wants to go. Like a length of chain. That aside. The split clamp makes fitting the lever to the bar a doddle. The floating rotor (or the floater as I call it) is as hard to fit as a small square peg in a big round hole. Once fitted, it will of course need a slight tweek to get the disc running central to the pads. Helped all the more if your disc mounts on your drop-outs are faced (removed of paint). Apart from that. That's it, your off to enjoy slowing down. And boy do they. As you'd expect from the look of them, they would stop on a dime and give you change. Well they do. Some say too well. I say it's all down to tyre choice and condition. From using this brake with a slightly worn knobbly to a new knobbly the changes are very noticible. To lock the wheel is no mean task. Just pull the lever. And it does take a little while to get used to the power of these compared to single pot calipers. Adjustments are easily made with a little grub screw on the lever, to tow-in or out the pads. Which changes the levers biting point and how the lever feels (slack-solid). With a good tyre on the back and this brake the results are stunning. As with a slightly worn (6 months or so) tyre I found it would lock up to easily and made the sensitivity of the lever unpredictable after performing a slowing pull on it. This would cause to end to drift on loose soil and in the wet. But since using a better tyre, the traction it produces with the combined strength of the brake, makes it top notch for rear wheel controlability.</span></div><div><span style="color:#c0c0c0;">The pads are durable too. I have yet to change them in 10 or so months of long descents and wet riding. In the wet they are as good as they are in the dry.</span></div><div><span style="color:#c0c0c0;">Finished of in a nice shiney black and silver for the lever/resevoir and black and gold for the caliper. They grace the ends of any bike. And coming in all rotor sizes and patterns they are hugely adaptable.<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/1600/mm4discP2.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/320/mm4discP2.jpg" border="0" /></a> A trusty and hard working brake.</span></div><div><span style="font-size:100%;color:#000000;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#c0c0c0;">Hope also carry and sell all spare parts for their brakes seperately. So should something go wrong. Take the damaged or worn part out and pop the new one in.</span></div><div><span style="color:#c0c0c0;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#c0c0c0;">Spare levers and pots can also be bought in all of hope's many colours.</span></div><div><span style="font-size:100%;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-size:100%;"></span> </div></span><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
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So I went back on Bank Holiday monday and tried my best. A little worried but that's part of the fun isn't it. There's a few jump/drops around the upper section of the course that I thought I'd warm up on which were good fun. Being confident in myself (cos it helps) I blasted down to the drops at the bottom. The first is a little technical with a slight flat gap which when cleared chucks a loose berm straight at you. Not quite ready for that yet. A little further down where they have cleared all of the tree's is another. This is a group of logs with compacted mud on top which have been built up on a slope creating a drop of just over an estimated 2ft (accurate reading coming soon). With the berm's in the bag and the approach speed sorted I went for it and to my suprise landed smooth and carried on.</span><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/1600/PICT1312.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/320/PICT1312.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/1600/PICT1311.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/320/PICT1311.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><br /><p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/320/PICT1314.jpg" border="0" /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">After resting at the bottom and being delighted with completing what one week ago I was scared of I climbed back to the top, taking some other rider's which I met along the accent with me, to show them the route. The ride down was fine, missing the drop with the gap again but riding over the last drop and landing sucessfully again. The guys were impressed iwth the trail as much as I was when I first came to ride it. Then followed the usual bike chitchat. Upon looking at this guy Larry's Specialized I noticed that there was some play in the headest and somewhere in the rear.</span> <span style="font-size:130%;">I tried to sort out the headset and made it have less play but he had the wrong combo of spacers to make it work properly. On inspecting the rear, which I thought would be the normal rear wheel, it was actually the rear suspension linkage which was loose. It was a diferent design linkage to mine but had the same size bolt to tighten to secure the shock into the spacers. So I got out my allen key and turned it carefully ever so slightly and snap. Broke it. And broke the news to Larry and his mate's. Whopps. Felt bit silly. But in all honesty and he agreed (with no hard feelings and total relief that it hadn't snapped whilst riding it), that one, it shouldn't have been loose. Two, that because it was it had done some damage to the bolt which caused it to snap when I tightened it. Gave them all an excuse to go to the pub early apparently. So off they went. Larry on foot. Sorry Larry. </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Right on, with the show. NEXT. There is another drop on another DH trail which I was scared silly of so let's go have a look I thought. The drop itself is located between two tree's and again is made of logs and mud.</span> <span style="font-size:130%;">This one has a run in which must be done corectly to achieve a sucessfull drop. I didn't bother to do the whole run just the part up to the drop. So you start by coming out of a berm along a lenght of flat and right into a raised berm section then left out of the berm and down to the drop's lip. Make a wish and hope it comes true. <a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/1600/PICT1317.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/320/PICT1317.jpg" border="0" /></a><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/320/PICT1320.jpg" border="0" /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/320/PICT1319.jpg" border="0" /></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/320/PICT1316.jpg" border="0" /></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;">Made an approach twice and chickened out slightly and found myself walking back up to do it again, asking myself "why are you walking back up, your going to try again aren't you". But the other part of my is in deep concentration. I head off. Along the flat, fine. Up into the berm, steady and good speed (think "don't forget to keep your weight back"). Down to the lip, good line and focused. Shit I'm doing it. Wait I'm on the front wheel, lean back. I MADE IT, just, good old forks. Right lets do it again "are you crazy" a voice tell's me. "sssssshhhhhhhhhh". Flat good. Berm good. Focused. Over the lip. Perfect landing. KISS MY FACE. I made it. Sat down in glee and disbelief had a fag and went home.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;">Fastforward to wednesday and Mr Ben Wood is visiting Bristol so I booked a day off to show him some of the local trails. With only an afternoon to do this after some bike prep. and slow starting I thought a warm up on the Mendips would be nice. We did the first DH trail and once again I managed the bottom drop. It was drizzling a little and the ground was moist, but not to slippery. So next I thought I'd take him over and show him the drop that I managed two days earlier. Upon seeing it again and for my lust of doing drops and because my bike feet fantastic going over them it was time again to do the drop. Ben would stay near the drop and watch. I went to get a good run up. Syked myself up a bit and headed off. Slightly misty goggled. Flat, good speed and fine. Raised section and corner, ok. I can see the lip. All feels fine if a little slow but, off we go then. What happened next was just a blur. A painful blur. As I had forgotton one mental thought. "KEEP YOUR WEIGHT BACK". Ben says that the nose of the bike dipped and the bike dug itself with the handlebar into the ground. I was thrown off of it and rolled down the slope after landing on my left hand side. Smashing the helmet cam mount off of my full facer and my back into a pile of dead logs and wood. I can remember pain and rolling down the hill and more pain and then uncertain pain. As I thought I had fractured or worse, broken my left arm. Next uncomfortableness as I was told to stay still and lye down by Ben. However I wanted to move off of the now broken clump of dead logs. After a few minutes of getting the image straight and going through the dizzy stage I was able to walk. BALLS. I thought as this was only ment to be a warm up for the day. And YOU FOOL for doing it straight away and not remembering to tell yourself to lean back. Oh well. Not to phased by the whole thing and I will master it again some time soon. As for the rest of the day. Ben and I went back to the car, I managed to ride back on my sore arm. But no more riding for the day. Should have filmed it. So it's time out for now as my arm heals (stops hurting), but I'm itching to go back. Cheers for being there Ben and your advice is duely noted. Next time I promise to show you more and not fall off unless you are indeed cursed (see posting in achives Thwack Bash).</span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;">Can't stress this enough. Wear body armour (shin and knee, elbow and forearm and most of all a helmet, especially full-face) if you are going to try anything like this. Better to be safe than sorry. Glad I did.</span></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
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And headed straight over to the picnic table, which is the start of the technical decent. Composed myself for a few minutes and proceded to go down.<br />Not a bad run. The trail conditions were ok. The slope at the top is alot faster now. And alot less worrying. I'm sure that I getting faster each time. There are a couple of tightish turn which if you don't get right will throw you off course for the next section ahead. For instance. Near the top there is a chicane (is that how it's spelt?) which flows into a slight climb with 2 or 3 trees at either side leaning into the trail. You need to keep up your momentum along this and move your bodyweight around to keep on track for the gully ahead. The gully used to have a bridge across it but now it is gone I think it is better. So long as you have your approach dialed you can enter it and pop out over the root on the other side clean. I'm rambling again. Sorry.<br />After doing the run and finding myself at the bottom, I climbed the long way back up and tried another run which I saw from the bottom. It has potential but it was a little wet still and pretty much all of it was off-camber making it clumsy to ride. Hence why I fell off and messed up a whole bunch of times. Back down the bottom again. There's only one thing for it. Climb back up to the picnic table. On the way up I started to ntice some cunning lines and other routes which I had seen before but not had the time to explore. No time like the present. I dropped the bike and scouted around. It was quiet today so I wasn't going to be in anybody's way. MMMMnnnnnnnnnn. AAAAAAAAhhhhhhhhhaaaaaa. I found a drop off one of the berms. It was ample. Not too big not too small, about a ft and a quater. But it was right on a tight bend and you had to come into it nicely and go straight off of it and get on the brakes because as soon as you land on the 45 degree slope the soil is loose and you could quite easily go off of the trail which you need to pick up. So come in high on the bend, spot your take off point and go for it. Land by trying to avoid a tree on the right and logs on the left. On the brakes and kick the back of the bike out to the left behind you to pick up the trail below.<br />I climbed all of the way back up the top and had a run down and dropped off the berm through a shortcut ( a smaller drop), just to test what the speed would be like when I land. Big smile. Ok, climb back up access and do it.<br /><center><embed pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="http://www.dropshots.com/dropshotsplayer.swf" width="320" height="310" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="url=http://www.dropshots.com/photos/79611/20060415/083921.flv&post=1"></embed><br /><a href="http://www.dropshots.com/">Video Hosting</a> - <a href="http://www.dropshots.com/">Upload Video</a> - <a href="http://www.dropshots.com/">Photo Sharing</a></center><center><span style="font-size:78%;">Sorry the quality isn't very good and it doesn't do the trail/drop any justice</span></center><center></center><center></center><center>Bigger SMILE. Now I feel better. I love that feeling of doing something different. Be it trying a new line or a jump or a drop. Which makes you feel a bit scared. You know you can do it but.... . What if?. I'm not the best a jumps or drops but I'm getting better. To impove is an amazing sensation. Back when I was BMXing I'd try a trick for ages and ages and eventually bag it and that feeling was priceless. So if there is a jump or drop or a trail which freaks you out out there. Warm up to it. And take as much time as you need. Anything is possible. You just need to learn and teach your brain and your body how to tackle it. After that it's second nature, you will be able to do it without even flinching. And then it's on to the next........</center><center></center><br /><center><embed pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="http://www.dropshots.com/dropshotsplayer.swf" width="320" height="310" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="url=http://www.dropshots.com/photos/79611/20060415/100029.flv&post=1"></embed><br /><a href="http://www.dropshots.com/">Video Hosting</a> - <a href="http://www.dropshots.com/">Upload Video</a> - <a href="http://www.dropshots.com/">Photo Sharing</a></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
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Up and coming upgrades include new front brake, new rear wheel, new headset.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#666666;">I use this bike for aggressive XC, Freeride, DJ, and DH and it's a smooth dark demon.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#666666;">It rides beautifully and is a little heavy for long slogs but is nicely balanced front and rear.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#666666;">I know this bike like the back of my hand through servicing it myself religiously.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#666666;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#666666;">Here's the spec.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#666666;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#ffff33;">Frame: Kona Coiler Deluxe 2004 15" w/Fox Vanilla RC, 5" Travel, Black. Forks: Fox 36 Vanilla RC 2's 2006, 6.3" Travel, Black.<br />Headset: Cane Creek 1 1/8 Alloy, Black.<br />Btm Brkt: RaceFace Diabolus X-type cups in Gold.<br />Crankset: Shimano Saint 22-32t w/e.thirteen smoke bashguard.<br />Stem: Thomson Elite x4 50mm 0 degree rise, Black.<br />Spacers: Hope Black.<br />H-bar: Answer Protaper O/S, Black.<br />Seatpost: Thomson Elite 31.8mm, Black.<br />Seatclamp: Hope Q/R, 34.9mm, Gold.<br />Front Mech: Sram X-Gen 34.9, Black.<br />Rear Mech: Sram X-9 9spd, Long cage, Black/Silver.<br />Shifters: Sram X.0 Gripshift F+R.<br />Cassette: Sram PG-970 11-32t.<br />Chain: Shimano HG Glide.<br />Pedals: Woodman Spiky<br />Front Wheel: Aireal Australia Switch 2 20mm Hub, Gold on Mavic 729 Rim, Black w/black DT spokes and alloy nipples.<br />Rear Wheel: Top secret on Mavic 729 Rim Black w/Black DT spokes and alloy nipples.<br />Front Brake: Hayes HFX Mag 9 w/Hope 205mm Floating Rotor.<br />Rear Brake: Hope Technology Mono 6 Ti w/Braided Hose + 205mm Rotor.<br />Tyres: Continental Diesel 2.5 Front and WTB Timberwolf 2.5 40psi.<br />Saddle: Bodyfit Voyager Comfort (hey it's comfy like a sofa, all day ok).<br />Grips: ODI Ruffian Lock-On.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#ffff33;">Cables: Shimano XTR Front and Rear Gears.<br />Extra's: Hope Rear Q/R Gold.</span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#ffff33;">Bontrager InnerTubes. E.thirteen DRS chain device.<br /></span><span style="color:#3366ff;"></span></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br /><span style="color:#ff0000;"></span><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/1600/PICT1105.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/200/PICT1105.jpg" border="0" /></a> <div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#666666;"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/1600/PICT1103.jpg"></a></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#666666;"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/1600/PICT1103.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/200/PICT1103.jpg" border="0" /></a></span></div><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/200/PICT1104.0.jpg" border="0" /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/1600/PICT1111.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/200/PICT1111.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#666666;"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/1600/PICT1103.jpg"></a></span></div><div align="center"><br /><span style="color:#3366ff;"></span><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/1600/PICT1102.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/200/PICT1102.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/1600/PICT1101.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/200/PICT1101.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div align="center"><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/1600/PICT1106.1.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/200/PICT1106.1.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/1600/PICT1108.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/200/PICT1108.0.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/1600/PICT1107.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/200/PICT1107.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/1600/PICT1112.0.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/200/PICT1112.0.jpg" border="0" /></a><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/200/PICT1109.2.jpg" border="0" /> <p align="center"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/1600/PICT1113.0.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/200/PICT1113.0.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/200/PICT1110.1.jpg" border="0" /><br /><p></p><p></p><p></p><p align="center"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/1600/PICT1113.0.jpg"></a></p><br /><p align="center"><span style="font-size:78%;"></span></p><p align="center"><span style="font-family:times new roman;font-size:78%;"><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/400/PICT1115.1.jpg" border="0" />Justice</span></p><p></p><br /><center><embed pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="http://www.dropshots.com/dropshotsplayer.swf" width="320" height="310" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="url=http://www.dropshots.com/photos/79611/20060319/111103.flv&post=1"></embed><br /><a title="share video" href="http://www.dropshots.com/">Video Sharing at DropShots.com</a><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/400/PICT1144.jpg" border="0" /></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
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</script></div>Hayden Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12721436573879402796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21987704.post-1140986956589859712006-02-26T20:01:00.000+00:002006-03-02T20:41:49.660+00:00OT:Cheeky tunes<a href="<center"><br /></a><center></center><span style="color:#996633;">I heard a nice funky version of the Cut Chemist Suite I believe in Mr Bones's den, on a 12 'n' all. I was allowed exclusive access to the den so long as I danced and smiled. It was a bit small especially with Mr Angell bopping around the place and having to manuva (not Roderick) around the bed he made himself in there. Must have thought he'd be in there a while. It smelt strangely of rare musical nuggets and maltloaf. A once in a lifetime experience. Watch and listen.<br /></span><span style="color:#996633;"></span><br /><br /><center><embed pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="http://www.dropshots.com/dropshotsplayer.swf" width="320" height="310" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="url=http://www.dropshots.com/photos/79611/20060227/124742.flv&post=1"></embed><br /><a href="http://www.dropshots.com/">Video Sharing at DropShots.com</a></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
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</script></div>Hayden Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12721436573879402796noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21987704.post-1140723769662567842006-02-23T19:09:00.000+00:002006-02-24T01:02:54.526+00:00DartmoorMyself and Mr Angell ,a.k.a DirtCrab, darted off to Cornwall at the weekend to visit a good friend Mr Bones a.k.a Boney, a.k.a Flapjack, a.k.a Pinks. Check out the Root Down link in the link section for more info on the funky blonde wizard. Maybe he will guide you through the step to enlightenment through sliced malt loaf and techniques such as warm milk in coffee.<br />Anyway the three of us rose early saturday morning and set off towards Tavistock and onto Princetown, where the prison was on lockdown. No really it wasn't. But there was a prison there. And some pretty ugly weather. We quickly got our quip together and got on the trail. Which started as a slight climb with lots of granite drain gully's, plonked every 50 yards or so. Quite good fun hucking and riding over them as they looked a bit slippery and hard and sharp. At some point Boney turned off to the right and I had some fun doing the rock infested lane before me. Big rocks, small rocks, medium sized rocks, some as big as your head. All wet, spread randomly as far as I could tell, or my bike could tell me. Because at this point my glasses were fogged up covered in rain. All I could see was through a small clearing on each lens of my shades. I had to stop and quickly wiped them. And I was off again passing those two monkey's and loving the rocks. After a while we ended up at a river and took 5.<br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/1600/PICT1027.0.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/320/PICT1027.0.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/1600/PICT1029.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/320/PICT1029.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/1600/PICT1030.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/320/PICT1030.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/1600/PICT1034.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/320/PICT1034.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/1600/PICT1032.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/320/PICT1032.jpg" border="0" /></a>We then set off uphill for a mile or so to join onto the old railway line which used to transport granite from the mines in the hills to somewhere below. It was about a 4 mile gradule climb? I use the question mark because I don't know for sure, I think Boney said it was and it sure felt like it. I managed to keep a pace for a while with the big ring at the front and middle at the back proving to be most efficient, until I had burnt off the breakfast and maltloaf. And started to struggle uphill. Purely because of my choice of bike you know. It's the sacrafice one makes. Smooth, safe comfortable downhill's and rocky sections, painful grueling uphills.<br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/1600/PICT1035.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/320/PICT1035.jpg" border="0" /></a> Mr Angell having a maltloaf moment.<br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/1600/PICT1036.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/320/PICT1036.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/1600/PICT1037.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/320/PICT1037.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/1600/PICT1038.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/320/PICT1038.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The summit was in sight but my fellow riding companions weren't, the buggars. I had to stop for a while to take the view in. The whole area looked like one huge rock garden. Either that or some grass ice-cream with granite sprinkles. From rolling hills to rock gardens and boulder mountains it was quite stunning.<br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/1600/PICT1040.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/320/PICT1040.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/1600/PICT1041.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/320/PICT1041.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/320/PICT1042.jpg" border="0" /> Soaked to the bone and alone I flopped to the top and met the guys at the carpark from whence we came. After an Otter ale and a steak 'n' ale pie and chips from a remote pub some miles away we were all feeling dryer and more alive.<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/1600/PICT1043.0.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/320/PICT1043.0.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/1600/PICT1044.1.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/320/PICT1044.1.jpg" border="0" /></a> <p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>A nice circuit. Not enough down for my liking but enjoyable and pleasent on the eye, even in crud conditions. Although I'm told it doesn't get much better up there. Highlights of the day were the downhill, whiskey and maltloaf at the river and granite bridge. Watching Bones go over the bars on the last climb. Classic. Low points were getting a wet sock after ten minutes and realising at the end back at Bones abode that the helmet cam was pointing to high off the trail. </p><p>Cheers Boney for a fab weekend of filter coffee, maltloaf with butter, foggy night walking cave spotting (in his quaint village of Calstock), cullinary tips, cracking fire and fine music. <a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/1600/PICT0988.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/320/PICT0988.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/1600/PICT0995.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/320/PICT0995.jpg" border="0" /></a><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/1600/PICT1017.0.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/320/PICT1017.0.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p><br /><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/1600/PICT1018.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/320/PICT1018.jpg" border="0" /></a> </p><p><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/320/PICT1072.jpg" border="0" /></p><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
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</script></div>Hayden Davishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12721436573879402796noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21987704.post-1139938726216002042006-02-14T17:17:00.000+00:002006-02-27T23:26:25.793+00:00Sorted.Recieved the helmet cam in the post yesterday, along with the portable DVD player that I ordered off ebay. The reason for the DVD player was simple. It has an A/V in with a 7" LCD monitor and a rechargable battery. And it was cheap, complete with car stuff and films and more. Anyway, the idea was to record some footage on the camera and use the DVD player's A/V in to watch playback, instead of having to wait 'till I got to a T.V. Blah, blah, blah.<br />The reason. Well, say I did a short run that I wanted to film really well and I got home and it was rubbish. That's just a waste. "And waste my friends is a thief". So now I can check it just after to make sure it's ok. Simple.<br />And so is the camera to use. As long as you have enough light. 9am-5-6pm in England (weather permiting). You just pop in your 1GB memory card (no camcorder or digital hardrive, or battery pack to worry about), turn it on, press record and away you go. It can capture just over 1 hour on high resolution (15fps). And if you lessen the res. you can capture over 3 hours with 25fps. All the leads were included with the camera and DVD. It was just a matter of finding a tripple lesbien (as the sales blokey called it) adaptor. To connect my two male video composite (yellow) leads together along with the audio (red/white) ones. Maybe you can spot this in the pic below. I gave the camera a test whilst driving at work today and when home, I connected the leads together and plugged it all in and HURRAH!. It works. WOW. It work bloody well. A quick test with it on my helmet on my bike up and down the street confirmed this. Fantastic. The camera is from Oregon Scientific, check their website or link on "Head Films". The DVD player is made by Prism and I found it cheaply on ebay. Delivery on both items was super quick and I can recommend both of them as a system to capture and playback footage of whatever crazy stuff you want to film. Five stars. :) Note: The picutre quality of the LCD screenshots below look crap because it's hard to take a good picture of an image on a screen. In the flesh their amazing. <a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/1600/the%20kit.0.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/320/the%20kit.0.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/1600/screen1.0.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/320/screen1.0.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/1600/screen2.0.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8148/2230/320/screen2.0.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><p></p><p>Here's some footage from LeighWoods. Slightly poor quality was due to it being a gloomy day.</p><br /><center><embed pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="http://www.dropshots.com/dropshotsplayer.swf" width="320" height="310" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" flashvars="url=http://www.dropshots.com/photos/79611/20060227/152109.flv&post=1"></embed><br /><a href="http://www.dropshots.com/">Video Sharing at DropShots.com</a></center><div class="blogger-post-footer"><script type="text/javascript"><!--
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