We soon developed our own way of riding, getting away from the main trails and going off following deer tracks. Before long Bush Whacking became our thing. Find a point in the distance, agree on it and simply ride straight to it with as few dabs as possible. Not such a problem on the open moor land but down in the woods it made for some interesting times. But to get to the woods you needed a bike you could ride from home. Step out the front door, ride to the woods, 10-20 miles away, ride the woods all day and then when your tired out ride home.
This new bike came out of those early days of riding. Penhale Bicycle Co. are an adventure brand, they want you to take your bike and go ride it anywhere, anytime, over anything and still be able to make it back for a pint and a pie at the pub on your way home.
So what have we got, Steel frame, old school is the new school. At the moment it's simply called the B'Stard, short for 650b standard.
Maybe this will be the new standard to judge the rest against?
What sets this bike apart is the 650b or 27.5" wheels. They don't stand out like a 29'er and make you look like a six year old riding your dads bike. It rolls well too, point it over rocky or rooty single track and it just soaks it up and asks for more. I had intended to be careful with this bike as it's the first prototype to be produced and the only other one is safe and sound in California where the riding is a little drier.
Well being careful didn't last long, I took it for a blast out through my local woods and onto Dartmoor where I pointed it up some nice big rocky climbs before heading for my favourite track "The Widowmaker", its a rocky descent from just outside Princetown down to Burrator reservoir. I've taken many bikes down this track but never had as much fun as I did on this bike.
I'm always a little nervous taking a new bike down the Widowmaker, if it ain't up to it its going to really hurt. the surface is granite rocks, from the size of your fist to blocks a foot across and all with nice pointy edges.Falling off at speed is not going to be pretty or something your likely to walk away from without a lot of bruising. I needn't have worried, the B'Stard just soaked it up. As your speed builds you feel the bike lift up and start skimming over the rocky surface. Kind of like a boat coming up onto the plane. At speed it gives confidence. I was able to corner on the rocky surface and never felt out of control, in fact the faster I went the more this bike seemed to love it.
It will love you if you take to any of the new bike parks springing up around the country, but it's equally at home doing the cross country slog. It climbs well too, I've pointed it up rocky stream beds and found it just loves it. Staying in the saddle works best keeping the traction on the real wheel.
The cockpit area is comfortable allowing plenty of room for moving around and changing centre of gravity whilst being snug enough to keep everything in control. Riding down steep rocky drops I was able to get off the back of the saddle and still have plenty of reach on the handlebars.
I ran it with the stock 2.4" Continental X-Kings that came with it, they are not great in the woods but really come into there own out on the Moors and over rocks.
It has a SR Suntour Epicon XC fork up front with a very nice quick release through axle.
Front and rear mechs are Shimano XT.
Chainset is also Shimano XT, 30 speeds taking care of all situations.
I popped in a Nukeproof seat post in and dropped an Evans own brand saddle on it.
Peddles are Nukeproof too, love the way they grip my 5Ten's and tear chunks out of my legs.
Brakes are Shimano SL hydraulic with 160mm rotors, loads of stopping power.
So now we have to wait for it to hit production If anyone out there is interested in stocking it/distributing it get in touch and I can pass you details on. I love this bike Penhale Bicycle Co. B'Stard Ride hard, ride long
