The race season has well and truly kicked off for the Staff here at Mud Dock. Most of us have something lined up for the season ahead, whether it's a season racing at National or Interntional level, the odd race here or there or an epic ride like the Etape Du Tour...
Scot has been busiest with the racing so far, taking the combined forces National XC title (Scot used to be a Marine!) and coming 4th in the forces road race. Scot has also been racing the National XC series in the Expert category as well as hitting up the odd South West XC race and Castle Coombe evening Crit series.
Shop Manager Martin kicked off his season on 8th/9th of May at the Avalanche Enduro at Ae Forest in Scotland. It was a tough field of International riders including 9 times DH World Champ Nico Vouilloz. Martin ended up 16th overall with a puncture on special stage 6, not bad! Martin will be heading off to Europe mid June to race the Enduro Des Nations and Maxi Avalanche in Somoens.
Mechanic Andy has also been busy, he headed up to Whinlatter for the Enduro there and finished 67th on his 34llb Santa Cruz Hecklar with flat pedals! He also visited the SS European champs in the Forest of Dean and the Dyfii Enduro.
So, it's a good start to hopefully a great season. Shop owners Jerry and Beverly are off to ride the Etape as well as an organised bike ride with Clifton College from Bristol to Paris in June and July and there are mutterings about Mud Dock entering a couple of teams for Bristol Bikefest. Watch this space.......
10 May 2010
5 March 2010
Sunn Radical + Boss
Sunn Radical + Boss Frameset
We are always on the lookout for sexy new products here at Mud Dock. The new Sunn Radical with Boss fork and shock is the latest thing to reach the top of the wish list for a few of the staff members here. This is one seriously light downhill bike, full builds with sensible kit coming in at just 35llbs!! Add that to the dialled geometry and world renound suspension wizarardy of the guys at Boss and you can be sure this wil be one hell of a ride. Tempted? We are!!
26 January 2010
Felt F4 Arrives at Mud Dock
We have been awaiting the arrival of Felt road bikes for some time now. The first to arrive is the F4 demo bike in a 58cm. This bike is unreal, it has a beautifully crafted carbon frame and fork and a full Ultegra groupset (including wheels!) and it comes in at just £2000. We really don't know how they have managed that, but they have. Initial thoughts on the ride of the bike are that it is incredibly responsive and very stiff, all in it should be a very fast bike indeed. We are lucky enough to have this bike available to demo, so come on down and try it for yourself.
21 January 2010
Dan's Secret Affair
I have a confession, I can be a bit of a Luddite, I distinctly remember making muttered comments about who disc brakes on cross country bikes being over-kill during the late 1990's and it took me an age to get around to dropping a fully rigid bike. It took another implausibly lengthy period to get around to buying a full suspension bike and when I did went for a SCOTT GENIUS MC that rode more like an XC race bike.
So when I was asked to pick a demo bike for the Mud Dock fleet I decided it was time to break out of my mould and into something more...well..exciting! What did you get I hear you cry? Something exotic? Well in a way... something niche? Well not really... I almost can't believe it but I chose a Trek. As a brand they're not know for being out there left field somewhere (they leave left-field their Gary Fisher brand), rather, they have an understated confidence, and a sublime subtleness.
It's also quite shocking given the facts, that I chose the TREK EX9, complete with FOX DRCV custom shock with something called 'Boost valve' technology and a 15mm bolt through front hub. Although, admittedly I did get it in brown.
Unboxing it I was filled with nerves and butterflies....the bulbous extra chamber on the shock, and the crisp whiteness of the cast magnesium rear suspension link really struck me against the matt brown and Sram Tango decals and XO rear mech and matching anodised headset. The bolt though fork also looks like it means business and gives the bike a very balanced appearance.
A planned trip to Coed Y Brennin also provided the perfect opportunity to put the EX9 through it's paces, and when I got to the trail head after the inevitable preride faff, I was not disappointed. It's easy to make comments such as 'this bike corners like it's on rails' but in a very real sense this is a bike that does, and it inspires the same quiet confidence on the trail, that the Trek brand displays. It's not an unruly mate who's egging you on into situations that can only lead to disaster – it reassure you. The low stand-over height inspires confidence in a swift and safe dismount should you push yourself to far past your own limits , and the 'just right' over all feel of the EX frame-set and shock coupled with the awesome stiffness of the 15mm bolt thru front hub means that you can put your front wheel where you want and keep it there time after time. This is a bike that will flatter you, whether it's cross-rutted, weird lined or unexpectedly ploughed head-long into that compulsory fast corner exit rock, it's hard to make it feel really unsettled. It also climbs very well too!
If this bike was a girl – she'd be the girl next-door, affable, funny and curiously attractive and you could easily spend a load of time with her – but there is so so much more for you to uncover!
Cost: £2500
Available: Now (Demo avalible in store)
So when I was asked to pick a demo bike for the Mud Dock fleet I decided it was time to break out of my mould and into something more...well..exciting! What did you get I hear you cry? Something exotic? Well in a way... something niche? Well not really... I almost can't believe it but I chose a Trek. As a brand they're not know for being out there left field somewhere (they leave left-field their Gary Fisher brand), rather, they have an understated confidence, and a sublime subtleness.
It's also quite shocking given the facts, that I chose the TREK EX9, complete with FOX DRCV custom shock with something called 'Boost valve' technology and a 15mm bolt through front hub. Although, admittedly I did get it in brown.
Unboxing it I was filled with nerves and butterflies....the bulbous extra chamber on the shock, and the crisp whiteness of the cast magnesium rear suspension link really struck me against the matt brown and Sram Tango decals and XO rear mech and matching anodised headset. The bolt though fork also looks like it means business and gives the bike a very balanced appearance.
A planned trip to Coed Y Brennin also provided the perfect opportunity to put the EX9 through it's paces, and when I got to the trail head after the inevitable preride faff, I was not disappointed. It's easy to make comments such as 'this bike corners like it's on rails' but in a very real sense this is a bike that does, and it inspires the same quiet confidence on the trail, that the Trek brand displays. It's not an unruly mate who's egging you on into situations that can only lead to disaster – it reassure you. The low stand-over height inspires confidence in a swift and safe dismount should you push yourself to far past your own limits , and the 'just right' over all feel of the EX frame-set and shock coupled with the awesome stiffness of the 15mm bolt thru front hub means that you can put your front wheel where you want and keep it there time after time. This is a bike that will flatter you, whether it's cross-rutted, weird lined or unexpectedly ploughed head-long into that compulsory fast corner exit rock, it's hard to make it feel really unsettled. It also climbs very well too!
If this bike was a girl – she'd be the girl next-door, affable, funny and curiously attractive and you could easily spend a load of time with her – but there is so so much more for you to uncover!
Cost: £2500
Available: Now (Demo avalible in store)
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