First Ride Of The Year! It Was Humbling

[@leisurek8ngwhistler74]

GREAT VIDEO NICE TO SEE SOME REAL RIDING WHEN WE ARE UNDER 4 FEET OF SNOW IN wHISTLER VALLEY

[@McTrailRider]

At least you can go skiing?!

[@stuartmoseley]

Ooo, like the pump mount! Wish my frame had the mounting points 👍🏼

[@McTrailRider]

It’s pretty neat, but it’s true that not all frames have the space for it.

[@matthewgottlieb9438]

You make it look so fun and easy

[@McTrailRider]

As long as it looks that way 😜

[@BikingVikingMTB]

Yes pure entertainment all the way! Lovely bike Andy thanks for showing it again! I had exactly the same problem with the Xt’s needed bleeding all the time no proper bite and for the bigger rider I didn’t have much confidence on the dh’s. Now have HOPE E4’s never looked back! Cracking vid as usual and great to see James back 👍 looking forward to 2022’s content 👊🏻

[@McTrailRider]

Thanks Jon, I had the E4’s for a very long time and loved them. Only changed them because of the subtle but consistent high pitch squeal. That was only really a problem for the videos and not an issue in real life.

[@andrewnorris5415]

Always enjoy your videos. Appreciate the advice on it being a nice town to bike right out of. And great to have the Strava and TrailForks links

[@McTrailRider]

Good to hear that your taking full advantage of the info Andrew 👍

[@mattpark253]

I’ ordered the inline pump holder.. definitely keeps things looking smart 👌

[@McTrailRider]

Nice! It’s super neat👍

[@ianscott1812]

Been a subscriber for a few years but have not watched any videos of late. I must say the video quality is amazing 👌 some difference since i last watched. Dunkeld an awesome place it seems🤟

[@McTrailRider]

Good to have you back then 👍 and glad that there has been a notable improvement in the quality too 👍

[@markking8274]

Fun ride. I would love to be in the Scottish woods.

[@McTrailRider]

Great place to be 😜

[@FiretrailMtbAdeventures]

I was watching the last video of the new DJI camara and I was going to ask were James has been😂😂 and there he is 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🔥

[@McTrailRider]

It’s been a while right enough.

[@ninolenherr6516]

Brilliant vid as ever Andrew!

[@McTrailRider]

Thanks Nino

[@wayneemslie8904]

Pure entertainment as always especially with the ice. Been meaning to do those trails over Birnam way so thanks for posting. Also good to see James back. Never thought I'd say this after moving back to NZ but I do miss the light you get on clear Scottish winter days.

[@McTrailRider]

Those Birnam trails are excellent, but I need to get to them when it’s still light for next time.

[@frasermullen1838]

I was on Atholl Hill that very day (now considering my car a minor celebrity after featuring in your shot of the very overcrowded car park) and weirdly appear to have done almost exactly the same route as you after I hit Deuchary first. Humbled or not these are my local trails and I have to admit that I walked a few of those icy sections, so hats off for going baws oot!

[@McTrailRider]

Haha, celebrity car 😜 It was definitely quick awkward on some bits for sure, and what made it more annoying for me was that it didn’t look difficult.

[@A_AAA232]

great video Andrew and what a sweet collection of trails to smash for the first ride - big skill guys, those icy rocky sections looked well sketchy - top work

[@McTrailRider]

Such a great selection of trails 👌

[@mikejones420]

Andrew, mate they were amazing trails, great first ride video this year, your off for a great year.

[@McTrailRider]

Thanks Mike, here’s hoping it’s a good one.

[@sja9836]

I really enjoy watching your content. Glad to see the bike and what you guys are riding, upgrades and so on. Great insight. Have a Great 2022!!

[@McTrailRider]

Thanks buddy, glad you liked the extra info 👍

[@peterbeer4746]

Some nice trails to start the new year off and you got good with the weather 👍👍

[@McTrailRider]

Weather turned out pretty good all things considered.

[@01FozzyS]

Great ride as always,Andrew! Nice to see James back! It's been a long while.

[@McTrailRider]

Should be seeing more of James this year 👍

[@DizRidesMtb]

Fantastic ridin lads great start vid. Brilliant mate. See ya soon

[@McTrailRider]

Thanks buddy

[@chrisallsoppmtb8452]

Nice riding mate and some nice trails it looked very dark in the trees 👍

[@McTrailRider]

Thanks Chris, it was too dark in the trees later on unfortunately.

[@rhettetherington1351]

As always a great video and top notch riding. Your footage is always so crisp and clear. Looking forward to more in 2022. 🍻

[@McTrailRider]

Thanks as always dude 👍

[@Mark_Page_MTB]

Stunning trails in that winter light. Looks amazing

[@McTrailRider]

The couple of trails had stunning light 👌

[@themadscot34]

Nice day for them, the only 2 days so far in Glasgow were I think the 4th &5th of Jan and I was stuck in the office back to the grind stone those days. Damm , Looked really tricky conditions with the ice and the mix of harder trail patches with the mud too , that decent at 8.00. , didn’t fancy my chances , you both did great, Dunkeld added to the list of destinations for 2022 that I want to explore on the bike for sure ….. glad you got out for the first blast of the year , don’t be so hard on yourself for your performance, it still comes across as a great one for the viewers I can assure you , I really enjoyed it, and your thousands of followers no doubt will too. :). They call me the madscot, but I think your fast earning that title for the ice runs. Hahah. Take care for now mate.

[@McTrailRider]

The weather has certainly been hit or miss so far this year. Conditions looked great but didn’t ride that way. That’s to be expected at this time of year I suppose. Thanks for the words of encouragement 👍

[@davidcooper8804]

Thank you for sharing. Looked a great day out. Max use of the limited daylight.

[@McTrailRider]

Thanks David

[@robwgriffith]

Great video and good skills. Thanks for posting. These always remind me of how bad I 'am at mountain bilking :-)

[@McTrailRider]

Thanks Rob. It’s all relative I suppose, I watch plenty of others and feel the same way as you do when watching them.

[@mtb-mania]

Highlanders represent! I absolutely love mine.

[@McTrailRider]

Can’t not them 👍

[@PeteDevlinootnaboot]

DJI footage still sickness inducing! Wind noise bad too if that's what you did your bike changed bit with. Great vid.

[@McTrailRider]

The little mic cover has fallen off at that point, but the audio isn’t quite as good as the GoPro anyway.

[@muzzmacc6411]

And a happy new year, Andy. Fwiw, I think that playing badminton/ squash, etc during the winter might pay off for enduro rides. There should be an improvement in hand/ eye coordination. And you’ve got a fantastic rounders/ cricket pitch at Lochgilphead (when the tides out;)

[@McTrailRider]

Another coordination demanding sorry would definitely be a benefit. There’s got to be some use for those sand flats😜

[@davidmain8696]

I had a similar problem with my Shimano XT 4 cylinder brakes. Bite wandered. Then a piston went out of the front without any apparent cause. Back brake was always fine. I got a warrantee replacement on the front and it bites well for now.

[@McTrailRider]

Ha, mine was the opposite, front worked well throughout but I was constantly having to mess about with the rear one. I’ve spoken to plenty of people who have had similar problems to us.

[@NBMBC40]

Great video looks amazing need to get there for a ride.

[@McTrailRider]

Worth the trip for sure 👍

[@ToddNZMTB]

Yeah that camera hates the dark aye. Decent video nonetheless. The icy off camber rocks were a highlight :o

[@McTrailRider]

It doesn’t, but it doesn’t help that I forgot to change the settings to suit.

[@cb6866]

Thank you Andrew...looked a bit hairy....Peace

[@McTrailRider]

Thanks buddy

[@davidm2843]

Interesting to see you admitting to feeling nervous and it's negative impact on your riding. It's nice to see higher profile riders admitting to sometimes not feeling it. Whats your approach for dealing with those nerves?

[@McTrailRider]

It’s all perfectly natural and part of riding so it’s only right to include it. A lot of the time I will just avoid doing something that I’m not comfortable with. Other times I’ll assess it fully and know if it’s within my ability or not. I’ve got experience if nothing else 👍

[@connordevine4556]

I had my first ride yesterday and landed in a nice big puddle of sludgy mud 😂 brand new 5/10’s went from prime blue to brown 😂

[@McTrailRider]

Oh dear 😬 could have been worse though

[@Mugtree]

Looked amazing and it looked like you rode them really well 👍. Somewhere else to visit as I alway drive past there on the way north

[@McTrailRider]

Well worth the stop mate, you’ll be kicking yourself for not doing it sooner once you ride there.

[@Mugtree]

@@McTrailRider Thank you Andrew. We drive past it ever year this time (to the Strathpuffer) and most summers to 🤦‍♂️. Your videos do make it look amazing. I’m hoping to have a couple of weeks in the spring to basically do a McTrail rider trip of Scotland 👍

[@iloveloam276]

Exactly the same problem with XT's. Nothing gets them consistent for that long.

[@McTrailRider]

There’s loads of people in the same boat, it’s quite frustrating.

[@alanwalker8171]

Good video, also good to hear someone admit to not being on their A game but still enjoying the trails. Curious about the Honda, can you get any of your bikes in upright with a fork mount arrangement? Looking at the Civic Tourer but don't want to lay 2 bikes on top of each other.

[@McTrailRider]

We all get that on the back foot sometimes, and it would be rude not to admit that. I was hoping to do that setup with the Honda but unfortunately it didn’t quite work. It will easily take one bike on its side though. I’ve got a SeaSucker mount for the back window that works really well for taking a second bike on the back 👍

[@SecretSpots]

Nice!!!

[@McTrailRider]

Cheers

[@jasenswick]

What’s the name of that inline one up pump holder?. Love the videos

[@McTrailRider]

This is what your after right here 20twentystore.com/collections/gear-straps/products/in-line-pump-mount

[@simeonfletcherdrums6981]

good vid man

[@McTrailRider]

Thanks buddy

[@ltrtg13]

I managed to get a new bike a few months ago. After years of riding 26 inch wheel bikes A few years ago I got a 27.5 inch wheel bike. I had a major hatred of 29ers. So much so I had commented on GMBN and GMBN Tech I didn't see them as anything other than a gravel bike with flat bar, suspension and wide knobbly tyres. I did a ride about 18 months ago with a family group I'm a ride leader for. I wasn't very hard or long. But I felt like crap. so I thought a 29er might be better. September I got a hardtail Orbea Laufey. Which is a 29er. Which might have people wonder what has happened to me. Or I couldn't get a 27.5 inch wheel bike due to COVID. I did look at only 29ers while looking for my new bike. One my first ride in it. I found out it was faster than I was expecting. I have also found out. On my Laufey I notice it fells smother than my 27.5 bike which has 130mm from and rear suspension. I think I may have been somewhat inaccurate about 29ers. Just need a 29er full bounce.

[@McTrailRider]

I too was against 29’ ers at the beginning. I tried a couple of bikes and they just felt cumbersome and difficult to throw around. The newer crop of bikes are completely different though, in a good way 👍

[@petermaidment1175]

What camera did you have on the chest mount? the quality was poor compared to the Gopro or did you have the settings wrong? Great video as always.

[@McTrailRider]

The chest shots were from the dji action 2, which just isn’t quite there yet compared to the GoPro.

[@jesmtb]

Happy New Year Andrew and welcome back! I'm running a Hero 10 now and loving it, and have just added a max lens which seems to be working in lower light setting, wider fov i guess, have you tried the max lens yet? Currently it restricts footage to 2.7k but i believe there is a firmware update coming soon...

[@McTrailRider]

I’ve had a Max Len’s pretty much since they first came out, but I’m not overly impressed with it tbh. I think I’ve done two videos in total using it. It shoots at 2.7k because it’s ultimately a crop of the censor. They won’t be able to up the resolution with firmware as it’s a physical limitation.

[@jesmtb]

@@McTrailRider ahhh ok, that makes sense, thanks for the heads up!

[@Goodthings81]

Wow that first trail was a challenge! What would that be rated as at a bike park?

[@McTrailRider]

I guess it would be a black, but I’m not sure exactly what criteria it needs to meet different grades.

[@yetti423]

The descent you walked up looked a little steep. Deviate looks jizzy. Ive not been having issue with my shimanos, then have not been giving it the same beating as you.

[@McTrailRider]

Just the rear brake I’ve had the problems with to be fair.

[@cybereye2]

What are you filming with Andrew? Your video has incredible clarity even in the fading winter light. I'm watching in 1080p/60

[@McTrailRider]

GoPro hero 10 as the main camera on this one. I’m super happy with what it can do👌

[@cybereye2]

@@McTrailRider thanks Andrew. I’ve noticed more crisp video and less speed blur. Il get one!

[@McTrailRider]

@@cybereye2 I feel I’m finally getting the results I’ve been after with the hero 10👍

[@cybereye2]

@@McTrailRider your videos have convinced me to buy a ten. Ty Andrew 😁

[@eph8334]

Is there anywhere the deviate can be demo’d?

[@McTrailRider]

Yes, you can contact Deviate directly from their website and get a demo in Stirling. If not, 20twenty bikes may be able to hook you up 👍 20twentystore.com

[@eph8334]

@@McTrailRider a banchory demo would be ideal, do they loan you the bike free or reduced? Do you get more wear on the drive chain ring since theres less contact? Im leaning towards a santa cruz as its well tried and tested and the same santa cruz dealer keeps the forbidden, the forbidden bikes are tidy looking aswell. The high pivot design said to be an upgrade to how a bike reacts. I know my chain must be bouncing about crazy on my capra and with a 2.6 tyre im sure it gets stuck between the chain stay and tyre sometimes but frees itself soon after, cant be a good thing tho.

[@McTrailRider]

@@eph8334 I are you talking about me personally when you say “free or reduced”? Santa Cruz it’s a solid and safe choice, but in my opinion, a bit of a boring choice. Deviate order the same warranty as Santa Cruz minus the beating replacements, so there’s not much actually in it really. As for Forbidden, it depends what your after. Their two models are at worrier end of the Highlander’s performance range, whereas the Hollander is more of an all rounder. Drivetrain and frame wise, I’ve not had a single issue with either after 18 months usage👍

[@eph8334]

@@McTrailRider yeah i meant you personally, i thought u said back when you first got a deviate a year or two ago that you had been kind of loaned it for a while to try out or something like that. Im gettin a bit long in the tooth so the next bike will prob be the last sort of dh capable bike so thats partly why consider getting something like the sc. Just a bit unsure with newer brands. I think the deviate is a scottish company? I suppose the might actually be equal or less chain ring wear since the idle makes it 3 chain rings instead of two. Food for thought so dont know if ive gained or now more confused of choice 🥴cheers

[@McTrailRider]

@@eph8334 so I got loaned the first bike (Guide) and then I was given the frame for the HIghander and I bought the parts for the build. Deviate are relatively new for sure, but they do stand by their products and support you with a very good warranty which should put you at ease. They are indeed a Scottish company, based in Stirling. You could always pop in and visit them, maybe even get a demo. Ben (co owner) is super helpful and knowledgable and should have an answer for any of your questions 👍

[@didzy9349]

tell hi to watch for the stupidly thin downtube on the stumpjumper evo (assuming its the carbon one?) he might want to put some extra protection on/around bb where the useless protector is

[@McTrailRider]

He’s got the alloy one 👍 Thin didn’t necessarily mean weak though? Or is there a known issue with the carbon one?

[@didzy9349]

@@McTrailRider thin as in scary thin like paper thin! Yep known on mtbr forum a few have had it crack just riding along with a simple flick up of a small rock etc myself included 🤣 if he’s gone alloy he’ll be all good!

[@MacRaceyMTB]

First 👌😅

[@McTrailRider]

Well in

[@MTBScotland]

My day of housework was way better :P

[@McTrailRider]

Keep telling yourself that 😜