Squatch Diaries - Up On T'Moor | 14.10.22 | 17.11.22

On a drizzly October morning, we headed up to the local Moor with Stif team rider Toni aboard her custom Squatch for a day of hardtail riding, rain and trail dogs!

The Squatch is Stif’s do-it-all steel trail ripper and the perfect bike for when the weather turns grim. Rolling on full 29er wheels with clearance for big 2.6” tyres, the bike cuts through the slop with ease. The 64º head angle, short offset fork and stem combine to create a planted and responsive ride feel that inspires confidence and lets you push the bike way past your limits - the perfect rig for technical moorland riding.

Toni has built her custom bike with Fox 36’s upfront, full Sram GX drivetrain and I9 Reserve wheels with Filmore valves wrapped in Maxis DHF/Ardent Race rubber. A slick Burgtec finishing kit and flat pedals round out the build - the bike is built for fun! Toni uses her Squatch for local trails, commuting and everything in between - it’s such a versatile bike that is super easy to maintain and is a lot lighter than you would imagine.

Toni is well known for her success between the tapes, picking up a recent big win at Ard Moors and taking an impressive 3rd at British Champs in Glentress - however, her riding is not all about racing. Getting out for some weekend laps with her dogs Jess and Annie is equally as fun for Toni! Jess earned her trail dog stripes a while back, having been on Toni’s back wheel for a few years now letting herself be heard with her trademark squeaky bark - this however would be Annie’s very first mountain bike experience. She picks it up almost straight away, drifting around the turns like a seasoned trail dog pro!

The Moor is the perfect place to test the mettle of the Squatch. Flowy singletrack, natural berms and rock gardens, plus lots of steep climbing - a small but perfectly formed mountain bike haven with a wealth of stunning singletrack trails littered right across the moorland. Mountain bikers have been riding on the Moor for over 20 years and the local crew does an amazing job sympathetically maintaining these natural routes.

After a steady road climb we drop into the first trail, a short steep descent that snakes down the side of the hill with plenty of grin-inducing corners - the perfect warm-up for the day’s riding for both Toni and the dogs. After another short climb we head into the longest trail on the hill, a steepening gully of rock-filled goodness with a few signs of local riders’ hard work keeping the trail interesting.

A short off-camber traverse leads to the second half of the descent, and after a quick regroup of Jess and Annie we are off again down the twists and turns of the trail, with the wet conditions creating some corner drifting moments for both Toni and the dogs!

The final loamy descent drops us back down to the van, where we dry off with a well-deserved cuppa and some treats for Jess and Annie. Despite the weather the day has been grand - you can never have a bad day when the Squatch and dogs are involved!