Early Morning MTB Yarra Flats ride.

Cashed in the extra hour daylight savings gave me when we changed back this morning & took the Specialized Epic out to hit the trails along the Yarra.

Starting from just south of the pipe bridge on the west bank, then crossed over to the east bank & continue upstream past Chandler Hwy, to Dickies loop (between Bulleen Park & Bolin Bolin Billabong). Trails were well worn in & almost scary fast, with banked corners & a firm surface. Also noticed on my ride back home that some new singletrack has been gifted by the trail fairies all the way back down to the Guild Dogs home up against the freeway fence (from where it previously just crossed the sealed path to the riverbank trail which is big with walkers).

This ride was mostly a shakedown for the new groupset I just fitted (new Chainwheels 44/32/22 Shimano Deore XT, Durace chain & XT cassette 32~11), no shifting problems at all from the outset, although I did notice the rear squatting a lot on seated pedaling over really rough stuff, this did go away once I stood up out of the saddle, but I wasn’t entirely sure if that just compensated  by unloading the rear half of the bike. It was a problem only because the pace in some places this day, being a smooth and fast trail, highlighted some front end pushing out on corners. After the ride I checked the air pressure in the rear shock & dampening settings & everything ticked off OK. Hmm.