YOUR LETTERS
CONTACT US magazine, Future PLC, Unit 415, Eskdale Rd, Winnersh Triangle Business Park, Winnersh, Reading, RG41 5TU mbr@futurenet.com
★ STAR LETTER ★
ODE TO MOUNTAIN BIKING
This Sceptred Isle, these Glens and hills Can lift our spirits, cure our ills. So put feet to pedal, hands to bars Climb into the mountains, away from the cars. Improve your fitness, clear your mind Freewheel down singletrack, freedom you’ll find. There is no bad weather, only bad gear So go on, try it! Make it this year.
Our bikes are our passion, skills are the key So kit-up! Get out there and enjoy all you see…
Ed – Love that little verse, have a jacket. Drawings and ditties in homage to the mtb are also welcome
RAIL STRIKE
I read your review of best mtb saddles and the editor’s choice of the SDG Bel Air 3.0 sounded great. However when using your link to the Chain Reaction Cycles website I noted five reviews that initially rated the saddle highly but all complained that after two or three months the saddles ended up with terrible creaking whereas the old 2.0 version had never exhibited the problem.
Do you have any knowledge of this and how your testers fared with the saddle some months down the line?
Ed -Hi Martyn, thanks for the heads up, we’ve not experienced that despite running the saddle for upwards of a year on some of our personal bikes. Is the paint still in good nick on the rails? We’ve had other saddles where flaking paint causes creaking.
FLY IN THE OINTMENT
Having come back to riding after a near 25 year absence, I’ve loved seeing all the developments in gear and equipment. Carbon bikes, wireless shifting and remote tyre sensors to name a few.
Bikes got comfy and the riding got dirty. But what I can’t understand is the lack of a fly on bike short liners! Many have a zip on the outside, but leave you ‘fishing’ in the liner at the trailside. Can anyone explain this? If the designers are looking for inspiration I’ve got a couple of pairs of Y-fronts from the 80s that they’re welcome to borrow.
Ed -Reminds me of that book from the Yellow Pages ad: Fly Fishing by J RHartley.
