I had a great ride through a place, although local, I haven't spent any time in, preferring the logging roads proper. What a mistake. The Lantzville foothills are packed with great trails - Andy has been telling me for eons, but I have never really got round to trying them. Since the Logging Co. have shut all access to the back roads recently, new pastures have to be tried. Here is the map of today's route...(Ignore the dates on the images, the camera powered down and reverted to the default date...these were taken in June, 2014)
The typical access to Canada's back-country has been blocked by TW recently: both the tank traps and alternative routes from Dumount Road have been seriously messed with...
Above:A good use of timber? This is the usual access to Domount from the Kidney - Boomerang connector. Not now...no way through. Below...tank traps, logs and rocks...but some kind souls have decorated them...access is possible a km further on in the Boomerang direction here...
There are some challenging sections, but most of the trails in the foothills are easy, rewarding and allow for good speed. Pics below...
Above: Don't try to leave through Vipond Road...It's Gated...and shut (June 2014 - ignore the date above...) Below: a selection of shots from the trails...A good mix of woodsy, twisty, open, grades and vistas... Well worth a ride.
The Husaberg's suspension has been a revelation compared to what I was used to. But if had one complaint, it was that unless I was travelling at light speed warp nine, it was too hard. The 390 liked to do everything quickly. Hit a rough patch, and the cure is to peg the throttle and make the suspension work - it smooths stuff out. But come the end of the ride, legs burning, arms noodled, brain addled, it's nice to slow down. And there was the rub. It got harder to ride the bike. From a magic a carpet ride it would turn into a mechanical bull.
So I looked at at the comprehensive user manual that came with the bike (it looked like it had never been opened). On the Husaberg FE 390 there are 3 adjustments that can be made to the front suspension: the compression damping, rebound damping and spring preload. There are three settings for each of these: Comfort, Standard and Sport. So on setting these (which is remarkably easy) the compression damping and the spring preload were set to the "Standard" setting. But what the previous owner did with the rebound damping was ridiculous - it was set way too hard. I wanted the rebound damping to be set to 22 clicks (comfort); with Standard being 20 clicks and Sport being 18 clicks. The previous owner (we'll call him numb-nuts for short because that is what he must have by now) had dialed in the rebound damping to a masochistic 10 clicks. Extreme.
Anyway, on resetting the forks to comfort for all three settings, the bike is transformed! The rear, while still on the firm side, is tamed by my added riding gear weight, is great, but the front is fabulous. You can steer and lean this bike on all sorts of gravel, rock and loose surface and it is so stable as to be unreal. It's taken a few days for me to trust the grip levels, but best of all, the forks are soaking up everything and remaining amazingly composed. Its a revelation for me.
On another note, I explored a whole bunch of local routes today and found some amazing trails, technical and just perfect to test the bike out. I really feel I am wearing this bike now, rather than holding on. I am tackling stuff I would have never tried with the big Siouxsie. Am I a better rider? No. But the bike gives you confidence to pull it off...
I found some great single track trails in upper Lantzville (top of the map) that I had ridden past on the way to Sundew for a few years. Scenic, technical and exciting, they really tested the suspension out today. Great stuff.
Below, some of the other trails that I tried today...and the mystery Husqvarna rider again...I keep seeing this guy either at the tank traps or leaving as I enter. That's three times in a row now...
.PNG)
