About a week ago I popped the Saracen into the back of the car and headed over to Richard's house for a blast around the Downs. Richard is a mate who I usually go riding with. When I got there, another friend of ours, Matt, had also arrived with his "mountain bike" -- a full suspension, aluminium Apollo (are these from Halfords?).
Now to give the whole picture, Matt wasn't expecting to go riding with us; he had gone to Richard's to continue a project that they were both working on. This meant that he hadn't brought a water bottle (I volunteered one of mine) and he'd already ridden about 15 miles on roads that day, so his legs weren't as fresh as mine and Richard's.
But even so -- that bloody bike of his.... :roll:
We set out and rode the 3 or 4 miles of country lanes (tarmac) that led to the start of the XC trails. Matt had to stop because his front mech wouldn't change gears. Richard had a play with the cable tension and sorted it out. But after a short ride through a wood and around the edge of a farm field, Matt had had enough; he said that riding was tough going and that he felt sick. He turned back and we went on. It was probably a blessing -- from then on, the bridleways just climb and climb and climb.
But from what I saw that day, those Apollo so-called "mountain bikes" seem little more than chunky commuter bikes that can handle a deep puddle or two.
Now to give the whole picture, Matt wasn't expecting to go riding with us; he had gone to Richard's to continue a project that they were both working on. This meant that he hadn't brought a water bottle (I volunteered one of mine) and he'd already ridden about 15 miles on roads that day, so his legs weren't as fresh as mine and Richard's.
But even so -- that bloody bike of his.... :roll:
We set out and rode the 3 or 4 miles of country lanes (tarmac) that led to the start of the XC trails. Matt had to stop because his front mech wouldn't change gears. Richard had a play with the cable tension and sorted it out. But after a short ride through a wood and around the edge of a farm field, Matt had had enough; he said that riding was tough going and that he felt sick. He turned back and we went on. It was probably a blessing -- from then on, the bridleways just climb and climb and climb.
But from what I saw that day, those Apollo so-called "mountain bikes" seem little more than chunky commuter bikes that can handle a deep puddle or two.
