LONGTERM RIDES

Team bikes ridden hard for a year

WILL P’S GIANT TRANCE X1 £4,199

The Trance was in its element on an incredible trip to Madeira

my month

HIGHS

Finally getting the bike quiet again

Ticking off a bucket-list riding destination

LOWS

Falling foul of airline chaos

The many creaks I mentioned in my last update were found and rectified just in time for the Trance X1 to be packed up and taken off on another holiday. It turned out that the lower headset bearing, crown race, main pivot axle, rear axle and stem-to-steerer interface had all formed a choir, making the bike sound like I'd ridden it much harder than I had. With everything cleaned and greased, we were off.

Rebuilding the steed in Funchal, Madeira, revealed that almost all had gone well on the flight. I say almost because both brake rotors had been bent - the front one so much it wouldn't complete a full rotation. I managed to pull them back to a point where the rear one was about as straight as before and the front was barely catching, but they'll both need replacing soon. The rear brake also needs a new set of pads - they went from 'probably fine for several more weeks' to howling like banshees even when I wasn't braking, thanks to conditions being a little moist.

We managed to do a run of a trail that's usually off-limits as it's in a UNESCO World Heritage site. It was being used for the Trans Madeira enduro race, organised by our guides from Freeride Madeira Islands, who got us permission to ride it. I'm glad they did because it's one of the best trails I've ever ridden!