Just the two of us...

Well today was the day....

Time to get muddy...

It's been a long time coming....

I headed out to Learnie Red Rocks to get a feel for the new bike. It was damp and overcast but I thought that the forest trails on the Black Isle would be the perfect place to suss out Aila.

I've had my Trek for 8-9 years so its strange being on a different bike. Clearly things have moved on in that time and the new bike felt very next level.

So pretty

It kind of felt like a modified, souped up tractor, which doesn't sound flattering but it's strange coming from a 26" wheeled bike with 2.2" tires to a 27.5"/650b with 2.8" plus tires. Initially even though perfectly balanced she didn't seem to want to leave the ground and skip off the jumps...

An amazing amount of grip, and staggeringly smooth ride without feeling dull like 29er's can. The forest was beautiful and serene, a rich green full of mosses and lichens dripping off the trees. There was a constant sound of flocks of geese nearby which added to the atmosphere.

The bike was equally beautiful which meant some photo stops during the 2 x loops of the forest. Can't wait to get out again, once I've cleaned and polished.

Oh dear...