LONG"TERM RIDES
The Enduro’s unscathed after some adventures in the Arctic Circle
The latest on our team bikes – where we’ve ridden, what we’ve changed on them and what we’ve broken this month!
I’ve been far and wide with the Enduro this month. As far north as the Arctic Circle, in fact, where I explored a pretty much untapped trail bike paradise in Norway’s Lyngen Alps. Before I went, I was paranoid about breaking parts, because I’d be so far from any bike shops. Thankfully the Enduro made it through intact. It even survived the hardest test of all – being thrown around by airport baggage handlers. They did manage to lose it though, and leave it on the runway in a thunderstorm! Luckily I was reunited with it the next day, and the wait made me even more eager to get stuck in.
After deliberating about what bike to take on the trip, I was glad of my choice, because the bigwheeled Specialized proved perfect for the trails in Norway, which had everything from natural swooping singletrack to manmade rock drops. The 29in wheels helped me carry speed and made the savage technical climbs that little bit easier. Annoyingly, the lower shock bolt kept coming loose, but luckily I’d had the foresight to pack the requisite 5mm Allen key in the Enduro’s down tube SWAT box.
So far, the Ridge Components carbon wheels I fitted last month are going strong. The increase in stiffness over the stock Roval Traverses makes line choice noticeably more precise and means there’s less squirm when pushing hard into turns. To complement the wheels, I’ve treated myself to a new rear tyre – a Maxxis Minion DHF. It’s not the quickest-rolling tyre, but having run it both front and rear on my downhill bike for a while now, I’d have to say that the increased traction is worth the extra effort. I’ve gone for the harder dual-compound version, because Maxxis’s ‘3C’ tyres just don’t have a long enough lifespan on the rear for me.
The two weeks of solid riding in Norway was great for getting in tune with the bike and it’s inspired me to do some more exploration now that I’m back on home soil. Time to hunt out some big rides with equally big descents...