Today I found a downside to EMTB's

Went for a proper off road ride today with offspring on a route that turned out to be almost impassable, but to go back was impossible so we had to continue with impassable..

A clue we missed at the turn off was no other bike tracks, but offspring said he had been before and it was rough but passable.

Rain had soaked the land, all the gates were under a foot of water with just a few stones to balance on, and the gullies were oozing.. at one such gully that was 6ft deep I had to manhandle my bike down it, through the mud at its bottom and up the other side with no purchase for my mud caked shoes with offspring pulling and me pushing we got it up, but it was unbelievably difficult, whereas his lightweight bike was no problem. Of course he remarked on this unalterable fact, but later admitted that apart from the weight it did a good job.

Eventually the Bridleway became completely impassable so we had to go off- offload if that makes any sense.. making our way through the soggy bracken which hid many a hole full of water..

Still, an enjoyable 4 hours out on a Sunday Morning..

Just running through the vids and thought I would try taking some stills off and am surprised by how easy it was using windows, and how good they are... Considering what they are.

I Think bad terrain is a bit like steep hills, they never look as bad in the vids.. is a bit like steep hills, they never look as bad in the vids..

..

Oh! I can see why you were complaining about the conditions now.

Is it a very expensive thermal cycling suit and boots?

Oh! I can see why you were complaining about the conditions now.

 

Is it a very expensive thermal cycling suit and boots?

Thats not me, its my guide I am behind the Camera

Nothing you can say will now change my mind, you are both professional road racers thrown in to Mountain biking by accident, the shock must be terrible for you.

Trainers, jeans and a fleece, that's me.

When it's very cold I wear a Balaclava, (on my head, editorial note).

Your sons riding pants and boots do look lovely and clean though (new) and there seems to be a reluctance to change that (roadie)?

Nothing to do with advantage in my dress code, it's a fashion statement that I like to make.

I do not dress for the conditions I dress to impress, it's fashion, function over form every time!

Just popping through on other business.. Gubbins, that just looks like a normal winter ride to me.

Your sons riding pants and boots do look lovely and clean though (new) and there seems to be a reluctance to change that (roadie)?

 

Nothing to do with advantage in my dress code, it's a fashion statement that I like to make.

 

I do not dress for the conditions I dress to impress, it's fashion, function over form every time!

I got to say that I'm with Gubbins son on this one, and spend pretty much the whole of winter wearing exactly the same kit, right down to the red and black top.

On colder days, I wouldn't swap my Rose thermal bib tights, and BBB overshoes for anything else. The bib tights are now three years old, and haven't even begun to show any sign of wear and tear. They shrug of dirt really well, keep the cold off, and dry out really quickly when they get wet.

The overshoes, are a recent purchase, but have already become a 'must use' on every ride. They are by far the best method that I have tried, in respect of keeping feet warm as toast, and for shrugging off mud and water. The extra bit of time that it takes taking them on and off is a slight pain, but I can live with that.

https://www.rosebikes.co.uk/article/rose-design-iii-thermal-bib-tights/aid:558812

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/bbb-arcticduty-overshoes-aw16/rp-prod127773?gs=1&gclid=CMmQ77ijqdACFRHgGwodcNQA_Q&gclsrc=aw.ds

I went for a £100 bike fit a while back and fully expected him to slate my aldi leggings (I just can't bring myself to calling them tights) aldi bike shoes and shorts.. with recommendations... but he didint!

The only comment he made on was a good pair of bib tights is the best thing for comfort that you can buy

Just popping through on other business.. Gubbins, that just looks like a normal winter ride to me.

 

 

There's nothing normal about Barden moor in the winter...it's FULL ON!

The worst was over Sharphaw.... apparently it's a good ride in summer...[emoji41]

The only comment he made on was a good pair of bib tights is the best thing for comfort that you can buy

He isn't wrong.

I can certainly vouch for the Rose bib tights, and they really have had to endure a lot of punishment. Continually being wet and muddy with pretty much every winter ride, being washed several times a week, and yet they are still as comfy as they were on day one, have lost no colour, and have remained perfect in shape with no deterioration.

They have also proved to be surprisingly resilient to thorn and bramble attack, and frustratingly gained their first hole last weekend when I fell on flint.

I still often wear lycra shorts as well at this time of year, as washing your legs with a hose pipe after a ride only takes seconds to do, but as time goes by, I'm slowly becoming reluctant with that one.

My biggest problem area is my feet and am thinking of going for a more boot orientated shoe that is fully sealed against water ingress.

But for the price I am fancying something like these..

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-xm9-spd-shoe/

My biggest problem area is my feet and am thinking of going for a more boot orientated shoe that is fully sealed against water ingress.

But for the price I am fancying something like these..

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-xm9-spd-shoe/

I have the same problem....I've gone through 2 pairs of overshoes in 3 months.

I would happily pay the extra for some decent waterproof boots but have yet to find any that appear to justify the price.

If you get those please report back....

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My shoes and overshoes haven't dried out yet from Sunday an when I peeled of the overshoes the mud in between them was more than impressive!!

With the cleat holes underneath all in needs is 2 inches of water and your feet are wet. I supose that flats and a decent pair of hiking boots would do it, but I like the spd's.

Have opened a chat with Wiggles and they assure me the cleat holes are full sealed..

Still cringing on the price tho (Aldi Shopper)

Have to plead ignorance here....I don't know the difference between spd and mtb....I just want to get to work with dry feet after ploughing through big trail puddles...

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He isn't wrong.

 

I can certainly vouch for the Rose bib tights, and they really have had to endure a lot of punishment. Continually being wet and muddy with pretty much every winter ride, being washed several times a week, and yet they are still as comfy as they were on day one, have lost no colour, and have remained perfect in shape with no deterioration.

They have also proved to be surprisingly resilient to thorn and bramble attack, and frustratingly gained their first hole last weekend when I fell on flint.

 

I still often wear lycra shorts as well at this time of year, as washing your legs with a hose pipe after a ride only takes seconds to do, but as time goes by, I'm slowly becoming reluctant with that one.

Hot tap in the garage... Luxury

Have to plead ignorance here....I don't know the difference between spd and mtb....I just want to get to work with dry feet after ploughing through big trail puddles...

 

 

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Sorry. I like my feet clipped on to the pedals

My biggest problem area is my feet and am thinking of going for a more boot orientated shoe that is fully sealed against water ingress.

But for the price I am fancying something like these..

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/shimano-xm9-spd-shoe/

Wow! They look mega and ideal for when you need to push your bike through impassable conditions. The only problem I can foresee is that if you wear them with Lycra tights the water on your legs will run down your legs into your boot's, so you need suitable trousers to fit over your boot's But if you do get a pair I would be interested to know if their any good.

I have found that Shimano shoes are small fitting and I have normally bought them one size bigger.

Sorry. I like my feet clipped on to the pedals

Roadie!!!!!!

Roadie!!!!!!

Nah,

Roadies dont use SPD's.. They have them silly ones that wont clip out, and when they do you cant walk in em!!

Wow! They look mega and ideal for when you need to push your bike through impassable conditions. The only problem I can foresee is that if you wear them with Lycra tights the water on your legs will run down your legs into your boot's, so you need suitable trousers to fit over your boot's But if you do get a pair I would be interested to know if their any good.

 

I have found that Shimano shoes are small fitting and I have normally bought them one size bigger.

Reading the reviews suggests not the case with these, but looking at the size chart I can go 1/2 a size up..

Anyway, I still haven't spent my birthday money.. so its..

1/ Suspension seat post for the road bike (something else a Roadie wouldn't have..)

2/ New boots,

3/ Purion Display (assuming LBS will fit it.)

4/ Some means of fitting the Garmin on the bars ..

The Boots would definitely be a STEP in the right direction .

Ordered...

£10 off code SAVE10-NEW. at Wiggle. Use it before you log in..

Izzy, sadly just cold water from a hose pipe, although I am in the process of fitting a hot water heater to the outside loo, so perhaps I should extend it to having another outside tap with hot water. There wouldn't be much water pressure, but at least the water would be warm.

Gubbins, Izzy has hit the nail on the head, as the only way of having relatively dry feet, is to cover the top of the boot/shoes to stop the water running down the leg and inside.

I bought a pair of Gore-Tex Shimano winter boots about two years ago for about £130.00 and in truth, I might just as well have flushed the money down the drain. The first ride the water ran down my leg and inside the boot, and despite removing the insoles, they took a week to dry out and stunk! This was a weekly ritual with them, and in the end I just used a plastic bag over my feet when using them.

Luckily they fell apart after a year, and I received a full refund from Wiggle.

If you can find a means of stopping the water from entering, they will be a brilliant boot.

Sealskinz socks are just the same. The water runs down your leg, and straight inside the sock, filling it with water that can't escape. At least the water becomes warm after a while though!

With the refund on the original boots, I bought three pairs of Shimano summer boots, and now just rotate wearing them. The BBB thermal overshoes do a brilliant job of keeping feet toasty warm, and because the boots are summer ones, they dry out very quickly.

As an aside, I'm another that wears spd's. I much prefer being clipped in.

Hard to believe that you can get pleasure from returning from a ride looking like this.

Shimano Gore-Tex boots.

And the overshoes, taken during tonight's ride.

edit...Just remembered another clothing method that keeps the legs fairly warm when conditions turn. Cycling shorts, with a pair of Lidl thermal long Johns underneath. They cost a couple of pounds a pair, so it is no big deal if you only use them a few times, before discarding them. Not that I have yet, but they do end up going a bit on the baggy side after a while. looking at the ankles, I suspect I am wearing them in the second photo. Ankles like Norah Batty!!!

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Edited November 15, 20169 yr by EddiePJ