First ride

[Colin B]

So I thought I'd go test the beast to see if I'd put it together right and I think I did . Only did 3.5 miles testing the canal commute and it was so nice to be back in the saddle but boy am I unfit and stupid too cos I forgot to take water .
Bike runs very well shame the canal path isn't in such good shape

 

[ScotiaLass]

 

[Gravity Aided]

Well done. Is the" canal path not being in very good shape" a worldwide phenomenon? Because mine are not either, but you can cross almost the whole State of Illinois(57,915 sq mi)(roughly the size of England,((50,346 sq mi)) big city in North, highlands in South, tho,) using 2 canal trails, the Illinois and Michigan Canal and the Hennepin Canal.

 

[Colin B]

Well done. Is the" canal path not being in very good shape" a worldwide phenomenon? Because mine are not either, but you can cross almost the whole State of Illinois(57,915 sq mi)(roughly the size of England,((50,346 sq mi)) big city in North, highlands in South, tho,) using 2 canal trails, the Illinois and Michigan Canal and the Hennepin Canal.

Its mostly muddy right now but there's a few parts that look like someone has attacked them with a digger .Going down it was easy but up not so . They're supposed to be doing the canals so you can cycle them at some point though so hopefully they will improve soon

 

[Gravity Aided]

Illinois and Michigan anal is mostly pea gravel and better maintained than the Hennepin, which is larger rock, and running in a more sparsely populated area. They have been out of use since the 1920'-30's, when the paralleling Illinois River was dredged and made more navigable for tow barges.

 

[Gravity Aided]

Here are some barges on the Illinois River. http://www.pbase.com/salty_one/midwest_river_barges&page=all

 

[Cubist]

There are entire swathes of people who are up in arms because some of the most technically challenging trails are being sanitised. Canal towpaths are a bit of a middle ground, because they can be seen as easy or family trails. They aren't what a modern MTB is designed for, so embrace the gnaarrrrr, and get onto some bridle ways!

 

[Colin B]

Yeah I get what your saying cubist but the canals are supposed to be commuter runs so I don't mind smooth on these . Was funny though first drop brakes went on after that no brakes big smiles and covered in mud lmao

 

[Cubist]

Yeah I get what your saying cubist but the canals are supposed to be commuter runs so I don't mind smooth on these . Was funny though first drop brakes went on after that no brakes big smiles and covered in mud lmao

Great stuff!

 

[MikeW-71]

Good going

Now get some fitness back and head up here: http://pedalnorth.com/content/lake-district-mtb-routes for some proper mountain biking.

 

[Colin B]

Second ride was much nicer but not to the standard of the roadies still im pleased with it