I thought I'd just draw a line under this thread with a proper first ride report, bearing in mind I'm very much more a road rider.
During a ten hour ale fueled bar-b-que bender on Saturday, one of my usual Tues/Thurs evening road crew (the one with the Lapierre) suggested taking the MTBs out on Sunday morning to clear our heads. Embiggened with purified grain juice and a hint of port - taken with the late evening cheese board, natch - the uncomprehending n00b that is me, agreed and the wife was too far gone to put up resistance. An unscheduled ride-out was on.
Now, I wouldn't call him vindictive, but he said he'd take me out and show me a good 30k route off-road on Sunday. The lying b***tard dragged me round 38
miles, only about 7 of which were on road and 4 of those were at the end. I was breathing out of my mouth, nose, ears and arse at points and even gave up and walked up one climb. Average speed for the trip was 11.1mph. Fastest down hill descent was 32mph. Strava
here, for those who want to know.
Having done a couple of shorter less physically testing rides, I'd used that time to get setup closer to what I think of as comfortable. Indeed a bit of burning thigh a few miles in convinced me to move the seat up a couple of centimetres and all was well. All other problems, were down to my lack of fitness.
On road, despite 2" knobblies pedaling like treacle, it was easy to keep up a steady 14-15mph. It was hiding it's weight well. What really impressed me was how much feel there was feeding back in the corners, whilst the innate maneuverability wasn't off-set by a bike that felt twitchy. In the completely alien world of down hill off road descents where I'm completely out of my depth, the feedback I was getting through the front end was real comfort. I expected it to feel loose and vague, but it was tracking solidly and damping out tree root hits, soothing my beginners nerves by letting me know I was still in control and keeping me off the brakes.
Talking of which, I've never had disks on a cycle before and obviously the tyre footprint goes a long way to helping, but I have had Brembo Goldline pad-per-piston anchors on 1000cc Superbikes and so I know what really good brakes feel like and how to modulate braking. These Avids are an absolute hoot and given that the forks (correctly pressurized for my weight) refuse to bottom out under braking alone. I was never in fear of locking up through over application. The feel being transmitted through the forks and sensation at the lever told me everything I need to know. Hell, I even tried a bit of an endo and I haven't pulled one of those for yonks!
With the forks locked out, the 560 is surprisingly spritely at picking up speed and keeping it on, so I'd judge the frame and drive train to be at least rigid enough and there were no creaks or complaints, even with me deliberately launching off jumps (launch is perhaps a bit generous) or landing crap wheelies badly. The Shimano Deore/SLX groupo never drew attention to itself, until a little later on in the ride, when a single click didn't shift between cogs, the next causing it to change two. I'll put that down to running in, but it isn't quite as slick and instant as the SRAM Rival of my road bike which still doesn't need tweaking after 500, admittedly less jarring, road miles.
I'm actually feeling slightly more benign toward the standard seat, as my arse didn't complain on, or once off, the bike. The tyres will stay put as this blend of green field edge tracks, forest trails, shingle paths and tarmac seemed to leave them unfazed. It was a bone dry day, so wet conditions have yet to have their say. The grips have clearly marched toward the ends of the bars slightly, so that is one definite upgrade to be had, but beyond some crud catchers and a pair of MTB shoes (it came with SPD pedals I've replaced with platforms to get me going) I can't see me really wanting to change anything.
I'm glad I went for the bike with the air fork, to cope with my weight, but if this bike is a reflection of the best of the £4-500 state of the MTB hardtail art, then we are living in rich times indeed. Happy days.
Russell
