2012 Cube Fritzz Pro

The Cube Fritzz was the first bike that opened my mind to the potential of air shocks and proved that they’re not just for the reserve of cross country bikes. I wanted a bike with playful nature, but that I’d also be able to cover some distance on for trail riding. That’s exactly what I got from the Fritzz!

Whilst my Fritzz Pro, might be the lower equipped model, the spec list throws up some rather impressive kit; Deore XT rear shifter, Race Face Respond cranks, Formula brakes, Easton Wheels and a Fox RP23 rear shock. It’s the Rock Shox Lyric RC2P fork that’s really impressed me though. This was my first time using a Rock Shox for other than the Boxxer’s. They’ve been fantastic straight out of the box, and I’m yet to find a single fault with them. 780mm wide bars from Syntace might look a lot written down, but feel great on the trail.

Even in this pitiful weather we’ve been having the Fritzz has been such a joy to ride. The Scwahlbe Fat Alberts just bulldoze through all the mud and sludge on the trail, although once summer finally shows up I’ll be looking for a narrower and faster rolling tyre. That said, as it is the Fritzz still picks up speed pretty quickly, and with a low centre of gravity is great at cornering.

At 14.6 kilos the Fritzz is hardly the lightest bike out there, but with a few little tweaks that weight can easily be shed.

For now though, I’m having too much fun riding the bike to worry about things like that!

This bike is screaming out to be ridden up high in the mountains, so I’m going to focus on that instead…

Transition TR250

I've got this on loan from Surf Sales for a few weeks as a 'first ride' test bike. Only been out on it a few times but it's as good as it looks! Plenty more riding planned for as long as I've got it. Check out the 'first ride' review here.

Blag and Swag

Somehow I've ended up with this beautiful Giant Glory 1 to test for the next issue of IMB. Today was the first time I've been able to ride it and even in the grim conditions up at Aston Hill it was so fun to ride.

Also in for testing are the sinner knee pads from O'Neal with Sas-tec padding, some more knee pads from Fox and a ton of winter riding kit from them. It's going to be a warm winter!

Foxy

A big thanks goes to Fox for sending over some kit for the trail guide at Laggan Wolftrax. I got soaked and covered in mud but it's somehow come out the washing machine looking clean and fresh.

Also check out the 'V3R' carbon helmet and 'The Main' goggles below. Look out for the reviews in a future issue of IMB.

New Tyres, Bearings and Spring!

I'd been wanting some new tyres for months so with the massive sale on at Chain Reaction Cycles it would've been pretty dumb not to get some. Everyone raves about High Rollers and after trying some over the summer it was easy to see why.

For Christmas Pete got me some Pedros tyre levers and they make getting tyres on and off rims ridiculously easy. I'd seriously recommend them to anyone who's fed up off snapping flimsy plastic levers.

After buying the tyres I had enough Christmas money left to get the bearings in my rear wheel replaced. Broadribbs in Bicester had the old ones out and new ones in before lunchtime.

And finally the spring is the one that originally came on my bike. As one of my neighbors pointed out I've "filled out a bit" and the lighter spring I fitted a few years ago just doesn't feel right anymore so I've gone back to the 600lbs spring.

Chicksands is hardly the best place to test new kit but my bike rode so much better. I really wish I sorted everything out earlier.

E.Thirteen SS chain guide

The SS is a new model this year from chain guide giants E.thirteen. It's very similar in design to the old SRS although it comes with a new look supercharger bashplate matched with a steel backplate, making it a bargain price at only £89.99.

You might think this would make for a weighty chain device, but the backplate is made from a thin sheet with curved lips making it torsionally very stiff and keeps the weight at just over 450g.

It also has a very shiny chrome finish, with the guides and bashplate available in a black or white colourway. The SS is available in both ISCG (old) or ISCG '05, the latter coming with an adapter to allow bb mounting.

After some initial fitting confusion (I was trying to fit the chainring on the wrong way round) the setup was very simple and the device fits my frame so much better than the MRP I had been using previously because the small top guide fits under the swingarm allowing me to mount the bottom roller higher, which gives ample ground clearance.

In riding the guide works faultlessly. The chain is held on very securely and runs smoothly on the jockey wheel. It's been pedalled hard through rough rooty sections and has given me that all important ground clearance.

There is no sign of any rubbing from shoes on the bashplate, which I have experienced with other examples, usually with embossed logos, and my bike is now even lighter too. You couldn't ask for more from a chain device.

Reviewed by Mark Smedley

Pump it up in Morzine

There's now just a month till myself, Pete and Mark join hundreds of other British riders making the pilgrimage to the usually quiet French towns of Morzine and Les Gets to ride some of the best downhill tracks in the world.

This rider's haven has one major draw back. Arm pump. For most riders it only affects their hands, but for others it affects their whole forearm. At the top of a trail they may be fine, but by the end every bump, rock or root that they ride over leaves them in agony.

Long downhill trails are great and nothing beats the feeling you get when you reach the end of one. Your eyes are still shaking in their sockets, your legs are twitching from the adrenaline, and you can't help but smile. So why let arm pump ruin things?

Arm pump is caused by a reaction from a build up of lactic acids in the muscles in your forearms, wrists, hands and fingers. Heavy and frequent braking makes your muscles swell up which constricts and hinders blood flow making it even harder for your body to get rid of the acid.

Arm pump isn't just something that affects the weekend riders as Chain Reaction Cycles, Intense Bikes team manager Nigel Page recalls: "I got the worst arm pump at Champery in Switzerland. 

"The track was very steep and my brakes were not working very well so I had to be on the brakes more than I should have. I was also not racing much so my fitness and conditioning was not very good.

"The steeper and rougher the tracks with the most braking are the worst for arm pump. I find that the better your brakes work, the less arm pump you get. Plus the faster and more confident you are the less braking you have to do".

As anyone who has ever ridden in the Alps will tell you, the tracks out there are far steeper and rougher than your typical British track. The lack of beginner trails forces riders who are new to the sport onto tracks designed for much more experienced riders.

This means there's a huge volume of riders braking and skidding down entire runs which creates the worst feature a track can have; braking bumps. These are the last thing that anyone wants to ride, especially if your hands are already starting to seize up.

One of the best ways to beat arm pump is to get your bike set up for how you ride. Make it match your geometry. Different size bars and stems can make a huge difference, as can where you position your controls on the bar.

Wider bars give you more control but if you go too wide for your body size then it'll feel like you're doing a press up every time you go over a bump. A shorter stem will stop you from overstretching your arms. Alternatively a longer stem will give you a bit more space.


Don't be afraid to try new things. Experimenting with the position of your brake levers is one of the easiest ways to make a change. Having your lever's stop closer to the bars is meant to make the biggest change but this style isn't for everybody. Many people run their levers so that their hands follow the natural line of their arms.

The better your brakes work the easier you stop. It's that simple. But not all of us can afford the best brakes so just make sure they're working as well as they can. Clean the pads and discs with either disc break cleaner or some warm soapy water.


Mountain biking is a fitness sport so another way to beat arm pump is to get fitter, specifically improve hand strength. After all it's your hands that grip the bars and your fingers that pull the brake lever. The stronger your hands are the easier to hold on and the easier it is to pull on the brakes.

Handgrips are the easiest accessory to get hold of as they've been around for years. Even supermarkets sell them. Handgrips are easy to use and available in different strengths. Some of the best out there are made by the company Captains Of Crush. See www.londonkettlebells.com

Motogrips are much more than just brightly coloured doughnuts. They work in a similar motion to handgrips but are comfier to grip. The great thing is you can use them anywhere. Like handgrips they're available in different strengths. Check out www.motogriptrainer.com

Powerballs are the undisputed daddy of training tools. Powerballs exercise more than just your hands and wrists. They're great fun to use and the best part is that they're available with a rev counter so you can compete with your friends. If you've never tried one before then you're missing on. Visit www.nsdpowerballs.com

Unfortunately the final way to beat arm pump is also the hardest. As riders get more confident they brake less and loosen their grip on the bars. A looser grip and less braking mean that your muscles have less work to do and are less likely to pump up. 

Different people have different ways of boosting their confidence levels. Find yours and you'll be smiling.

So there you have it. Now get outside and don't let some little chemical reaction in your body ruin your ride, day or Summer.

Solid Bikes Mission 9

Today Peter returned from a holiday to Herrenberg, Germany. Whilst out there he went to a beerfest but more importantly hired out a Solid Bikes Mission 9 and rode the small, but fun little bike park at Bad Wildbad. 

 

The bike park at Bad Wildbad is hidden away in the hills above the quiet little German town. Riders are carried to the park by a funicular, then a T-bar ski lift. There's a choice of two downhill tracks, two freeride tracks, a dual slalom track, a mountain cross track and there's probably some xc loops too. 

When asked about the Mission 9 Pete replied: "Yeah it's really good. I didn't notice riding over any rocks or anything". Luckily a picture paints a 1,000 words so here's 4,000 words worth of photo's. 

O'Neal Generator shorts

Being just over six foot tall means that getting a decent pair of riding shorts that fit has always been a bit tricky, but the generator's from O'neal are the perfect length. Unfortunately they don't have any waist adjustments so instead of flashing some leg I'm now flashing some bum. 

Luckily though a mistake at Chain Reaction Cycles meant that I only paid around £30 for them rather than the £64.99 RRP. For my full review check out issue 49 of Singletrack, out next month.

Wellgo MG1 Pedals

Weighing only 377 grams for a pair, the MG1'a are some of the lightest pedals available. With a retail price of only £39.99, and featuring sealed bearings, they are also extremely good value for money. 

I'm a big fan of slim pedals and the Wellgo's didn't disappoint as they feature a very thin profile. Before I tried the pedals out I was thinking about ordering some longer pins, but the standard replaceable ones provide more than enough grip.   

These are the nicest pedals that I've ever ridden and are seriously good value for money. If you're looking for a new set of pedals or trying to shed some of your bikes weight then the MG1's should be at the top of your list. 

Outland Freeride Upgrade Kit

Forty pounds for handlebars, stem and grips is dirt cheap. And they're good pieces of kit as well. Made by Outland this short stem, wide bar combination is brilliant. The grips are lock ons which makes the asking price even better. For more details and my full review check out issue 49 of Singletrack, out next month.

Polaris Outlaw jersey

The Outlaw Jersey from Polaris is a three quarter length offering made from a clever breathable fabrics. It features subtle styling but is a little bit too slim for me. For my full review check out Issue 49 of Singletrack, available next month.

Shimano AM40 Shoes

In a change from the usual diary style entries I've written a product review. I've been using my AM40's for a few months now. At £59.99 they cost about the same as a pair of skate shoes, but come with a lot more features.

The 'Vibran' sole provides plenty of grip when riding but it's when you're off the bike and pushing back up that you really notice it, making them great for UK trails where uplifts are a rarity.

Shimano provides you with different sole inserts so you can adjust the stiffness of the shoes but I found the standard inserts to be fine. The shoes certainly feel more secure on your feet than regular shoes.

The lace shield set the AM40's apart from other flat pedal shoes, until 5-10 launched the Chris Kovarik signature shoes. The shield stops the laces from getting snagged on the pedals, thorns, and any other sharp objects waiting for you when out on the trails.

The styling definitely gets a mixed reaction. Some people have laughed at me for wearing them and others have been too polite to. Personally I think they look great and are better than any skate shoes out there.

Club Jerseys

The Staffordshire University Cycling Club jersey's have finally arrived. Like a number of club members I paid for mine way back in October, so it's fair to say I've been waiting a while. With the BUCS MTB races this weekend it's a bit of a relief to finally have them.

Also I found at that my race number is 467 and one of my friends from another university is number 469 which is great news as it means we'll be able to wind each other up on the uplift and shout abuse at the other as they cross the after. Apologies to Alex in advance.

Muc-Off

Put simply; Muc-Off is brilliant. It's been a few years since I've used it and I'd forgotten just how good it is. My bike is now so clean that it looks new and is no longer dropping mud on the carpet. It even managed to get my impractical white grips and saddle clean. All for four quid. Bargain.

New parts Feb 11th

To cheer myself up for riding so badly I decided to buy some new parts for my p1. I put a new tyre on the back wheel, as well as a new saddle and some new grips to match. I doubt they'll affect the performance of the bike at all but a bit of retail therapy might help to improve my riding.

Spring Clean, Jan 24th

The last time I got to ride my Kona was in September. It was freshers week and a friend from Liverpool drove to Stoke, picked me up, drove to my house, packed up my bike and riding gear and took me to ride Woburn Sands with him. 

Everything on my bike was running smoothly and it was happily taking all the abuse I threw at it. After lunch we packed up and headed over to ride Chicksands. Sprinting towards the first jump on the duel track I heard a horrible crunch sound and saw a chunk of plastic fly past.

I'd somehow bent my mech hanger and mangled my rear derailleur beyond repair, which stopped me from riding for the rest of the afternoon. Once I was back at uni I brought a new mech hanger and a new derailleur with the intention of fitting them when I returned home at Christmas. 

Having my hand in a cast over the Christmas holidays put a stop to my plans but as I was home to get my hand fixed I decided to sort out my bike as well. I washed both my Kona and GT outside and then turned the kitchen into a workshop to fit everything and give my Kona a quick service. 

Everything went on fine and both bikes are now pretty much race ready. I've just got to sort myself out now.

New Year Resolutions, Jan 3rd

I've never made any New Year Resolutions before. I don't smoke and I don't need to lose weight so I've never had anything to aim for. Or maybe I've just never wanted to set myself up to fail. 

This year is different. This year I'm going to ride my bike even if it's raining. This might not sound like much to most people but anyone who has ever ridden with me will know how much I hate riding in the rain. 

I'm perfectly happy to go biking in the cold; I've done it countless times, but riding in the wet s completely different. In the past if I saw so much as a puddle outside I would give up on riding and go back to bed. 

To help me keep my resolution I've brought some new kit. A pair of waterproof socks were essential, as were a a pair of decent waterproof trousers. A Rapid Racer Product (RRP) Neoguard should keep the mud and water out my eyes and can easily come off if the weather improves. 

Apparently the key to keeping warm when riding in the cold and wet is to wear lots of layers. So I brought a set of Helly Hansen base layers. These are designed to keep you warm when it's cold and cool when it's warm so they should be perfect for biking. 

I'd been planning on getting my old riding shoes re-soled with five ten rubber for quite some time, but then I saw the new Shimano AM 40s. Like five tens they have a sticky rubber compound sole but feature a lace guard, which should help to keep my feet dry. They ended up costing a little more than a resole but look much better than the worn out vans I'm currently using. 

All that's left now is for my hand to heal and the heavens to open and I'll put everything to test. So long as I can drag myself out of bed.