Cycling UK Forum

Thanks for the discount recommendation - I have signed up!

Quick update. Visited Halfords last weekend and test rode the Vengeance (along with a Voodoo Soukri which was very cool but sadly out of budget).

I was really impressed with the Vengeance. Seemed a solid entry level option, components all upgraded to Shimano and the mechanical discs I was querying were probably sharp enough to throw me over the bars in to a rack of cut price Apollo bikes. Hopefully picking it up this weekend - my wife is excited to get out on it.

I should probably get some fenders for it given the weather we’ve had in Leeds for the last few days…

Thanks, this is really helpful.

The components seem okay to my unpracticed eye. Gearing is Shimano Altus and the forks are not dissimilar the those I’m running on my Cannondale. I haven’t been able to get any details on the brakes - my only minor concern is that they’re mechanical rather than hydraulic (which are available on the next model up). Either way I expect they will be superior to the V-brakes on the next model down.

In terms of use, I doubt we’ll be doing anything more adventurous than easy gravel trails for the foreseeable future so we’re looking for something entry level but still good enough not to be hard work. Carrera seems a sensible option.

Thanks again.

Hi everyone

My wife (currently a non-cyclist) has asked me to find her an entry level mountain bike so she can come out with me on a weekend. Availability in the more “specialist” shops is still a bit patchy and local second hand options are limited but I’ve seen Halfords have some stock and I can get a Carrera Vengeance for sub £400 including the cost for the build (unfortunately I lack the skills to do this myself!).

I’ve read the Vengeance is Halford’s best seller and it seems to have halfway decent features (disc brakes, acceptable forks etc - although I’m still a novice myself and can’t claim any expertise) but I’ve not considered Carrera previously and wondered what experience people have with this range?

Is there anything about Carrera (or buying from Halfords) that I should be aware of? The price is inviting but I’m wary of it being a false economy…

Any advice welcome!

Cheers
Tom

Thanks both for your advice!

I’ll reduce the pressures in both and see how I get on. As I said I’m still pretty green when it comes to off road (and cycling in general if I’m honest) so I’m sure there’ll be some trial and error but it’s good to have a base line to work from.

Hi everyone

This question has probably been asked 100 times, but what pressures do people run on their MTB tyres?

I came back to cycling after a long break just a couple of years ago and have only been riding off road since February so I’m still learning.

I’m riding a Cannondale Trail 4 hard tail with 29” WTB tyres with tubes. The tyres recommend between 35 and 65 psi. I initially opted for around 45-50 psi on each which was a pretty firm ride.

I’ve read of people running fairly low pressures in their tyres - below 20 psi - although they may be using tubeless tyres.

I imagine it would be more comfortable to reduce the pressures but I obviously don’t want the wheels to bottom out if I hit something. I’m mostly riding gravel trails and some forest paths.

On the off chance there are any Loiners still following this thread, I tracked down Temple Newsam trail this afternoon.

It’s accessible from the small gravel car park near the north entrance and runs the length of the woods, but unfortunately it seems to be largely derelict these days. I couldn’t find the jumps which I suspect have become overgrown and are hidden behind dense patches of nettles. There is still a fairly fast downhill section which is accessible, although I think it’s technically closed to bikes…

Unless you’re passing in that direction, it isn’t really worth the trip. There are a few other trails dotted around Temple Newsam though, especially on the Bullerthorpe Lane side where you’re probably less likely to run in to pedestrians.

Paulatic wrote: ↑27 Jun 2021, 9:13pm Have you looked at the YouTube video of it?
Should help you identify it, if you live near, as it’s all fairly wide tracks.

Thanks, good idea. I’ve checked a couple of them out and may recognise one of the entrances, but a lot of the forest areas do look similar. I usually see a few people out on mountain bikes around there, but no one was around yesterday. Hopefully I’ll spot some next time I’m up there.

thirdcrank wrote: ↑27 Jun 2021, 8:55pm If nobody on here knows, there are two places you might ask

https://en-gb.facebook.com/groups/SecretLeeds2/about

https://www.secretleeds.com/

Both "Secret Leeds" but AIUI the facebook was set up following some sort of dispute on the internet forum.

I'm a Leeds Loiner but I don't really know anything about riding off road. If you don't already know, before the A1/M1 Link was built and more recently the new route of the A63 was developed, the land between the Temple Newsam estate and the river was occupied by the old Skelton Grange power station, Knostrop sewage works and a lot of waste land.

(With apologies if you knew all this already.)

Great idea, I’ll give both of these a try. I’m a relatively new arrival to Leeds so don’t know much about the local history. I cycle the canal past that site weekly and have caught sight of it from a distance. I hope they make use of it. A lot of the old coal pits in the area have been turned in to park land or sanctuaries (St Aidans for one which is a lovely ride) although I imagine there may be quite a clean up required first.

Hi everyone.

Legend tells of an ancient (2005) off road trail running somewhere through Temple Newsam in Leeds. I walk my dog there quite often so I’m familiar with the area, but after spending an hour riding in circles this afternoon I couldn’t find it (or any evidence of it) anywhere.

On the off chance that anyone is familiar with this trail, can anyone tell me if it still exists and where it can be accessed from?

Equally it may not be up to much these days, in which case I just need to brave up and head to the trail centre (I’m still a bit of a novice so have been working up to it).

Have you looked at the Trek FX hybrid range? Should be within your budget and still come with alright spec, although not drop bar I’m afraid. I have the 2019 FX3 (18 speed with discs) - smooth on the road and can easily handle gravel trails, although anything rougher than gravel gets a bit uncomfortable. The flat bars suit me but if drops are a deal breaker I believe Marin do some gravel bikes which may be within or just over budget, although I haven’t tested any.

That’s great thanks! The trail through the scrap yard ended in an awkward looking style but I guess I gave up too early. I may try the trail from the Alston end tomorrow which I believe picks up round the back of the youth hostel and see where I end up.

I’ve just done the other side of it this morning from Haltwhistle to Alston which was great! The trail maps need updating though as some party pooper has put a big fence across the end of Lambley Viaduct. Not the end of the world mind as you can pick the NCN 68 up close by and fly down a steep descent before the climb back up to Lambley village

Hi everyone.

I’ve brought my MTB away on holiday for the first time to the North Pennines, staying near Alston. I’ve been out on a couple of local trails already but I’ve read that it’s possible to cycle the length of the South Tyne Trail from the river source in the south all the way up to Haltwhistle.

This afternoon I tried to ride the trail south from Alston but couldn’t find where it started so instead took NCR 7 off the A686 hoping to pick the trail up at Garragil but again it was nowhere to be found!

I did find a footpath on to Pennine Way which suggested it joined up with South Tyne Trail but when I took that path I ended up in the middle of a junk yard facing off with an angry looking ram and there seemed to be no clear route through.

This is a pretty specific question and I realise it’s a long shot but I wondered if anyone was familiar with this area of the North Pennines and had any idea if it’s even possible to ride the whole of the South Tyne Trail end to end?

Cheers
Tom

I should have mentioned that both are fitted with Suntour forks, but the Trail 6 has the XCT 100mm travel whereas the 4 has XCR with 120mm. Neither have drop posts but both are compatible.

https://www.cannondale.com/en-gb/bikes/mountain/trail-bikes/trail/trail-se-4?sku=c26401m10sm

https://www.cannondale.com/en-gb/bikes/mountain/trail-bikes/trail/trail-6?sku=c26601m10sm

I'm still leaning toward the Trail 6, but I think that's largely due to its garish orange option.

Hi everyone

I'm hoping to buy my first hard tail MTB as a winter commuter - my journey to work takes me through some fairly rough paths that my Trek FX3 hybrid is struggling with now everything is getting damp.

Naturally everywhere is struggling for stock but an opportunity has come up to acquire either a Cannondale Trail 6 or a Trail SE 4 coming in at £550 and £780 respectively. The 4 is about £200 outside of my budget but I'm aware it carries an extra 20mm travel in the front forks and a Deore derailleur which I'm told is something I want (I am still a bit of a noob when it comes to spec - sorry!) as opposed to the Acera on the Trail 6.

From what I've read, the Trail 6 should be OKAY for what I need, but might not cut the mustard if I find I want to start riding trails more regularly on weekends etc. I guess I could upgrade the forks if I wanted which wouldn't be cost efficient. So I guess my question is, does anyone have any experience riding either of these two bikes and would I be wasting my money in the long term if I compromised with the Trail 6 rather than splashing out on the SE 4?

Thanks in advance!
Tom

Great thanks everyone, some good options there. A couple of locals have suggested there is a path on the west side but no one I’ve spoken to has actually cycled it. I’m hoping to get out this weekend and work it out - hopefully it’s been gravelled if not surfaced as I am without suspension on my bike so might be an uncomfortable ride. Thanks again.