Rear disc upgrade.

Probably one of the most useful brake upgrades is to change a 160mm rear disc rotor to a 180mm disc rotor. For this you will need an adapter. All this unit does is move the brake caliper 20mm away from the mount to allow for a larger diameter disc rotor, and improved braking.

Shimano SM-MA-F180 PP post to post mount

Packet open showing all the parts.

Shimano XT-Saint Icetech RT86 6 bolt 180mm rotor.

New rotor attached to hub.

Brakes all replaced and adjusted.

Derailleur replacement

Having had the derailleur that came with the bike, just literally all apart,had to decide on want to do. As I wanted to go to a 1 x 11 gear train, do I buy another cheap derailleur, or go for the SRAM Eagle GX 12 speed derailleur.
One event that helped, was the Black Friday sales.This, significantly reduced the price, so I purchased the SRAM derailleur. Which, arrived from Pushys.

In the meantime, I had been researching shifters. On forums, it was suggested that the shifter does not know how many gears it is moving. Well, this did not turn out correct. Having set up the new derailleur, and a replacement SRAM narrow 11 speed chain, and using the seven speed shifter on the bike, it would move the derailleur, but only half way through my existing 7 speed cassette.
Problem. To replace the shifter with the new SRAM NX 11 speed shifter, I would have to replace the brakes as well, as the brake lever and shifters on the bike, were a combined unit.
This meant getting out the new Shimano  XT M8000 hydraulic disc brake units. These come ready to install.

SRAM GX Eagle derailleur fitted.

Shimano brake lever and new SRAM NX shifter fitted.

I had purchased the brakes, both left and right systems earlier in the 2018, at more than half price.(Though I notes that the current new price has risen by quite a bit).
Once I had set up the shifter, I now had a 1 x 7 gear train. The 11 speed shifter moves the chain up and down the gears, but sometimes requires a double click up or down, or sometimes a single click: but it works, till I have the new wheels built and add in the new 11 speed cassette. (This may change, as SRAM now have released a 1 x 12 cassette, the NX Eagle, to fit a Shimano freehub).

New GX-1000 cranket set, 32 t, 175mm crank.

To achieve the 1 x system, the three speed from crank set was removed, and replaced with a SRAM GX 1000 crankset. This included removing the cassette bottom bracket, replaced with a SRAM GXP bottom bracket. One thing that I did notice: on the three speed front crankset that was removed, the middle chain ring, which is the one I used the most, the teeth were quite worn.
The reason for heading to a 1 x system was that I was mainly using a single chain ring at the front.
The SRAM 32 tooth has changed the dynamics of ride the bike completely. Even though I am running a temporary 1 x 7 I have not missed any of the other gears, and still have reasonable hill climb capacity.

Derailleur hangers

Derailleur hangers, these are a small, but important piece of the bike, as it holds the derailleur to the frame.

I had the unfortunate experience to have the hanger snap on me, a piece of plastic got picked up by the chain, which then got jammed in the jockey wheels, and as I was peddling, the force, twisted the derailleur and finally the hanger snapped. This all took about a second. Thankfully I was not far from home and walked the return.
Additional luck, I recently purchased a spare hanger, so this was fitted, the derailleur sort of straightened and the chain untwisted. The only other problem, the rear wheel is now out of tension, so needs to trued so no wobble. Also, the cable may have been damaged, as the derailleur does not move freely.
Something important to note here, is to obtain a spare or two derailleur hangers. (Even if cost a bit). Most hangers are cast aluminum, so it is best to replace with a stronger CNC solid aluminum one.
Here comes another problem. Finding the right hanger, as there are hundreds of different ones, can be a bit of a task.

To avoid having to purchase another cast hanger, and after much searching, it seems that a number 96 could be close so I have ordered a CNC one from 925Enginnering in the USA (this was the cheapest one I could find to test the size and shape).

Do obtain a spare, as there are MTB trails that require you to have a spare, otherwise it might be a very long walk out.

Olearia Trail

Its referenced as the Olearia Trail in Monarto Woodland precinct. The best way to arrive at the trail if heading from Adealide, is to exit the freeway at Callington. Drive through and over the railway line to the old Princess Highway, turn right the up the hill to you arrive at  intersection with two road leading off to the left and one to the right. You have arrived There are no signs as this trail is relatively  new. Either park on the left, or do a U turn then turn left and park near the 'gate'.

Give the trail a run. I have ridden it three times now and it is very enjoyable. If you ride downhill, then maybe not for you, as it is a cross country circle, sort of, as there is a lead in and out. My Strava
recording measured the trail out a 7.3km.

This map is off the Riverhills MTB Trails Facebook page

 

Scenes along the trail.

 

Kinchina Conservation Park

A fabulous Sunday morning near the end of Winter, with many race followers heading to The Bend for the OTR Supersprint. I, instead headed to Kinchina Conservation Park, after dropping off my race goers at The Bend.
It took a bit of searching to find the entrance, which is off Tower Road. (Just be careful as when I entered Kinchina in Google Maps, it directed me to Ferries MacDonald). Not a great deal of parking here, or ou can park off the Old Princess Highway. See map.

https://www.environment.sa.gov.au/files/sharedassets/parks/parks/murray-river/kinchina-conservation-park/kinchina-conservation-park-map.pdf

The trail map is also available on Avenz map app.

You start off on Jailbreak trail, which crosses a sandy hill, then into a woodland area, to Maurice Road. I then headed back to Jailhouse Rocks loop, across the road, to Getaway Car loop, across Rocky Gully link (a bit more challenging), and back onto Jailbreak trail. Crossing Maurice Road again, then towards Jailhouse Rocks loop, before returning to the carpark. 13km and a hour and three quarters.

Park entrance gate.

Jailbreak Trail.

View towards Murray Bridge township.

More Jailbreak trail.

Jailhouse Rocks

Shepherd's Hill and Avenza Maps

Another fab morning for riding. Train from Mitcham to Eden Hills, then into the reserve. The main reason for today's outing was not just to ride, but to test out Avenza Maps (downloadable app). The South Australian department of Environment has all their park maps available for free on Avenza Maps, and using the app with GPS you can track where you are along the trails within the park you are visiting.
I used the app a couple of times (as long as the phone has GPS signal) and it showed my location along the trail been ridden. Sometimes you ride off down a trail, and at the end it is where the hell are you!
Today I undertook the intermediate downhill trail #1. Actually did this trail twice. Would have ridden it again, but of course, every time you go down, you have to go back up, and some of the hills are steep, and was loosing traction riding.

Looking back down 'River Red Gum Loop'

Intermediated downhill

My second ascent was up Grey Box loop, which was not quite as steep as my first ascent of River Red Gum loop.

Grey Box loop

An opps moment, hitting the dirt, actually grass thankfully, when my rear tyre clipped a small tree stump. Happened on a downhill link trail.
Need some knee protectors, but the ones I want are currently out of stock world wide! Other than that, had a great morning riding.

Mitcham Reserves

Headed out to ride some trails in the Mitcham hills Reserves. Caught the train from Mitcham station to Eden Hills, and what a day to go riding. A fine winters day, and sunny: the city was covered in fog this morning. Entering the Shepherds Hill Reserve, you travel down a steep slope with not too much spare room at the bottom to stop, or you will hit the reserve boundary fence and entrance. It was then along Boundary Track, onto Ridge track right upto the Ayliffes Road entrance. The track  was hard and dry, which was surprising since the rain we have had recently: then it was back UP towards the Saddle Hill Fire track. In te reseserve, then trails have different names, which made it confusing, with the route that I had planned off the maps.

Shepherds Hill is part of the Department of Enironment, then continuing on, the reserves are part of the Mitcham Councils recreation areas.

At the end of this track, there is a short connector through the houses to O'Dea's Reserve, onto Blue ridge track and O'Deas X Over (one of two routes which will cross the rail tunnels). One is a vehicle fire track, the other a single bike track through the bush land, with some rocky up and downs and a steepish decent.
From there it was into Lynton Reserve (after taking a wrong route, and having to back track). Also remember, that Watiparinga Reserve is in this area, where no bikes are allowed.
In Lynton Reserve, rode along Quarry Access track/Loop, then onto Lynton Connector, down to Lynton Railway Station.
From Lynton, it was a road trip back through Clapham to Mitcham Station.

Shepherds Hill Recreation Park map.
https://www.environment.sa.gov.au/files/sharedassets/parks/parks/adelaide/shepherds-hill-recreation-park/shepherds-hill-recreation-park-optimised-map.pdf

https://www.mitchamcouncil.sa.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/Mitcham%20Trails%20Zone%203%20-%20DEC%202015.pdf

https://www.mitchamcouncil.sa.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/Zone%202%20Map%202016.pdf

Along Boundary Track

Along Blue Ridge track.

Along O'Dea's X over

Along Lynton Connector.