Garw? Where is that and how the hell do you pronounce it?

Funky lookin’ Kona. I want one.

White’s* sorry I thought it was sponsored by Whyte, but that’s the CwmCarn one 😉

Sounds perfect then -I’ll ride the wall, and then Whyte’s if he’s feeling up to it.

What about the XC loop at CwmCarn, surely they don’t expect you to take it with a DH bikAe 😉
Are some people willing to express an opinion on Afan?

I’d go for the marzocchi on reputation (in recent years anyway) alone.

Hilarious!!!

STATO: Yeah I think I’ll just cancel my order with tredz if the Sun one comes in stock. Thanks for the offer of hypothetically lending it to me 🙂
BRADLEY: Yeah, that might be a good idea, but with possibly only a week to wait, not sure if it’s worth it.

Hmm, yeah I may get the Sun Ringle axle. I’m reluctant to wait another week for the NP axle as I’ve been doing that for so long now, and it just gets delayed. I was really hoping someone might have one for sale, but obviously not. Thanks for the help anyway!

Bump

With any luck a much needed bike part should arrive on Thursday after nearly 3 months of waiting. Then I can build my bike at the weekend, and I plan to a bit of exploring over the Easter holidays, whatever the weather as it has been too long without riding.

There is a public bridleway next to the canal in Sapperton woods by the Daneway (really nice old fasioned pub), so maybe some of the wood is rideable.

Sorry, I assumed you were posting mid way through a ride when you said “I’m on top of the common”, I now see you were posting to simonjj.

Other places of interest look like Sapperton woods (not sure if any one has found anything rideable there) and North Nibley (the downhill is awesome, but having been there a few times, I can’t help but think there must be a few decent XC trails around there somewhere.

Yeah, a fair bit over £500 I’d reckon.

Flatfish, could you let me know how the ride is and where it goes? That would be amazing, thanks!

Ah wicked, that would be awesome.
I haven’t been out in ages, but should be back on the trails soon as I’m hoping to build my new bike next weekend.

BUMP – I guess this thread has a small catchment group but still……….

BUMP

Sounds like you need a trip to your lbs.
You’re 100% sure you were turning clockwise on the drive side to undo, as the non drive side is the other way round?
If you did it correctly, it sounds as though it’s seized up/rusted inside the frame, in which case, I have no idea how you’d get it out.
You could try removing the non drive side BB cup so you can have a look and see what is causing all the problem.

Complete bargain!

That is one hell of a nice reign!
Can’t really go wrong with a mega though (or so I’ve heard)

Continental Baron?

Grammar Nazi ^^^^ 🙄

Not sure about the bearing comment, mine is an ex demo bike and had since oct 08 and never touched/ serviced bearings as yet. Maybe I’ve been lucky?

I know the older ones had a tendency to collect grit and mud around the bearings, maybe they sorted it for the new ones.

I had that from Tredz cycles, I bought a Nukeproof Rear QR conversion kit back in January.
I got an email saying that they were in fact out of stock and wouldn’t be back in stock until early February.
I wait a month.
Get a phone call saying they now won’t be in stock till March the 8th.
I wait another month.
Got a call last Friday saying that it won’t be in stock until March the 15th.
Got a call yesterday, saying that it has now been delayed for the 4th time, and should be in stock next weds.
I have now been bike-less and waiting to build my new bike for 2 months, and every time I get excited to build I get another delay.
Grrrrrrrrrrr.

I really wanted a reign 🙁
I ended up buying an Orange five (don’t hate) after a well priced frame came on the market and I couldn’t find a suitable reign, I’ve heard that they are pretty much as good as each other, but the reign is far less popular, which is major plus for me.
I agree that they don’t seem to have the hype to match the bike, I think it’s because Giant doesn’t have the “wow” factor.
The only problem I can see other then not being the lightest, is that the bearings wear quickly (apparently).

Also, isn’t it kind of in the spirit of DofE for the kids to pack their own kit?
I did at least, and seemed to get along just fine.
No offense meant.

This sounds weird, but raw icing (the doughy type) is amazing to snack on to keep the energy levels up.
Also trail mix with or without m’nm s.
Pancake mix is also a good breakfast (just add milk/water I think).
Tortillas work well with Dolmio/some other sauce, as pasta can end up taking a while.
+1 chorizo and hot chocolate.

I’ve been running for 3 times a week for about 2-3 weeks now. Usually run in the evenings ,but in the mornings at weekends.
I run about 3.5 miles each session, but started at about 2.5, so pleased with the improvement.
I will be low on time when it starts getting dark again, so I’ll probably start doing interval training at shorter distances then.

Sorted. thanks.

toppers have you used one of these kits / know someone that has?

I don’t have a 12mm one

Also, I’m pretty sure it’s a 5mm hole, I’ll let you know after it has arrived.

Yes Spuddle, in hindsight that would have been a good idea, but I had no idea those step down axles existed 2 months ago when I ordered the kit.
I just hope the kit works as I think it should – if not 😈

Okay, I’ll just wait for it to arrive, and cross my fingers in the meantime.

Okay I think (hope) that I understand now.

I think the outer diameter is 12mm, then the diameter at the edges (where it steps down) is 9mm, and I’m assuming (hoping) it has a 5mm diameter hole through the middle for a standard QR.
The step down bit goes in the drop out and is 9mm wide.

That would make sense looking at the photo, and the standard QR just clamps this axle in place.

Spuddle, did you actually buy one in the end?

Okay, thanks, that would make sense, but where does the 9mm come into it?

toppers could you try please? 🙂

Okay, I think I may now be more confused then when I orginally asked the question.
It would make sense for a standard QR to fit, as I don’t understand why NP would make a hub converter that only fits with really obscure skewers?
Also toppers standard QR’s are not 9mm.
Maybe its the axle that’s 9mm and a standard QR fits inside? That would make sense.