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Today marked the final ride of our six week trip to Italy, UK and Canada.
The brilliant @sweaman2 kindly offered me and the boys a tour of his favourite Calgary trails.
From the start it was clear things were going to be "interesting." The bike shop that I called yesterday and asked to set up the rental bikes brakes in UK/Australia configuration didn't open until 10am. They then proceeded to work slowly...and also replaced a calliper on my bike. It was 11.10 before we left! Then a drive to the trails, with our guide kindly providing the rack for the high spec Norco Sight bikes.
Trails were awesome. Some great features and long descents.
Sweaman2 informed us that having seen Black and Grizzly bears from the car "didn't count".
However that didn't mean we expected to run into two black bears. Reeksy1 was leading a charge down a fun blue track when he almost ran into one and another was close by. I'd hoped this trip would give the boys great memories - he is certain he'll never forget it!
Did they give all 3 of you identical bikes despite the size difference??
Looks great. I went to Canada 15 years ago and loved it, no biking though sadly. Would love to go back with a big bike.
Not sure if last night's ride should be on the midweek or weekend riding picture thread ... But I'll add them here.
50km gravel ride with a couple of mates last night, including @el_boufador from this parish pulling a much better wheelie on his gravel bike than any of us can manage on our MTBs!
Great fun - pushing/racing each other up the climbs and some long, fast, flat-to-down tailwind sections. Probably less than a couple of miles in total on tarmac. Mint!
Did they give all 3 of you identical bikes despite the size difference??
Looks great. I went to Canada 15 years ago and loved it, no biking though sadly. Would love to go back with a big bike.
Yeah. When I booked a few months back Reeksy1 was still a bit shorter than me so I got S,M,L. Now he's taller so should have been S,L,L really.
Lovely wee day off, riding with a buddy at Tollymore, Northern Ireland. My bike is getting a service, so I was on a loaner Merida E160SL. Superb bike. I think I prefer my TQ motor better, but the Bosch SX certainly has tons more power on tap. The Lyric is a great fork, and the Max Grip Assegai is an outstanding front tyre.
Last day for us in Italy.
Rode back over to France.
Managed to tempt an Italian Mountain Haggis out of its hiding place is the rocks with some Scottish biscuits. Almost like being back at home.
[3rd edit. FFS. Photos not uploading. ]
@reeksy - I used to ride with @sweaman2 back in the day. I remember a 2006 Moab trip was one of the highlights.
After 9 frustrating weeks, I finally got to ride a bike outside. Collarbone still not fully healed so this was a very low key 15km bimble around the family trail in the FoD. It was so good to be back on a bike tho, and my new "adventure" bike is pretty swift with those XC tyres... finished with a coffee not a beer. Shredding the min 🙂
Early morning spin round Comrie Croft for me today. Not been out on the bike much so was rather rusty but good to get out and remind myself with how much I enjoy it.
Beautiful afternoon, took some motivation after work but was well worth it. 
Did most of the Borrowdale Bash on the gavel bike late afternoon early evening today. Nice and quiet
Quick golden hour loop!
Another late ride for me. Got my beady back from repair and couldn't resist a ride.
Couple more riding position tweaks, and a slightly easier gear, and it'll be spot on.
Didn't see another soul again, really peaceful. Got greeted by a bird of prey (guessing some sort of hawk) upon entering the forest, so i stopped to watch it for a while. Other than that, just the odd squirrel and some baby frogs or toads making their way to a new spot.
I reckon it'll be lights on next week, it was getting dark towards the end!
27.5 hours travel later and a quick check over of bikes and I got out for a couple of hours to stage off the risk of jet lag.
Beautiful winter day, but tracks are still wetter than they should be at this time of year.
Bagged a KOM and a 3rd too.
How brilliant is mountain biking?! Two weeks ago was having a fabulous weekend of pootling around beauty spots with my partner, then yesterday joined desperateJr and his old Uni mtb club mates, back in Dorset, but this one at Okeford Hill bike park on an uplift day.
Amazing trails at the place, for such a small area on a Dorset hillside. We (much to my trepidation!) did a black run call Black Death, which was some of the steepest descents I’ve ridden (or attempted to ride! didn’t make it down all of it!).
Anyway, couple of pics
Promised myself a rest day. But then the sun was shining, the promised rain still hadn’t arrived, and I had a fully charged e-bike in the garage. So…..
Went out with some mates (a couple of whom I haven't ridden with in a while) yesterday and didn't get any pics. Had a fab time and ended up at the pub with more mates.
First pic is the aftermath of yesterday's scratch from a stick. Yay blood thinners
Solo jaunt this morning over Bakewell way, rode some new tracks that have been dug in above the golf course and had a couple of mid ride Peroni. The promised rain didn't happen which was a bonus
Spent Saturday afternoon exploring Cathkin Braes on my XC hardtail, which was a bit inadequate for some of the off-piste.
My first go on a posh pump track as well, good fun.