Where is a good place to get practice for it? Somewhere near Edinburgh?

There is a killer of a climb from Strontian to Loch Shiel if you do the road out to there. The track along the loch From Polloch to Glenfinnian is up and down, quite easy, bit rough in places, just large stones though, easy overall, very wide dirt track.

Rule 1 is don’t ask peoples opinions in a forum…

molgrips – Lol – once? So now you know what ALL FS are like?

Not only are there hundreds of FS out there all completely different, but it takes a loong time to understand what you’ve got and learn to get the most out of it.

Bike evaluating FAIL.

Yes I know :-) Still, at least I tried!

taxi25 – Come on7hz your trolling now surely

Just trying to balance out the thread. The sun does not shine out of FS pivot points ;-)

DezB – Obviously on7hz was riding the wrong full-sus, wrongly set-up and didn’t know how to ride it!

Probably. Just didn’t get on with it, and didn’t like how it felt. I’ll take my hardtail ‘fitness compensator’ any day :-)

I tried a full suss once.

Felt like I was winching myself up the north face of the Eiger on a trampoline on the way up a normally easy (on a HT) hill, and may as well have been on a hovercraft on the way down.

Bum over the seat on a HT seems to do everything a FS does on the way up, I don’t believe all that ‘traction’ talk, that’s just fat lads with no skill trying to bump over everything!

Don’t see the point in FS at all really :-) Not unless you are a DH racer.

What full suss would be faster than an XC hardtail up hills?

molgrips – An XC full sus like this maybe:

Really? Why would that be? All that extra weight and bounce, what is that doing for climbing ability?

mtbfix – Over most terrain an FS bike will be faster, more comfortable and more accurate.

Really?

What full suss would be faster than an XC hardtail up hills?

How is a full suss ‘more accurate’ than a hardtail?

None of you were any oil paintings anyway, so no loss to the world.

>-)

It’s like riding about with a big sticker “My other bikes a Range Rover, har har har har whatto”.

Yes, because a razor sharp road bike is EXACTLY synonymous with a Range Rover!

Car branded bikes are always lame as heck, that is just an extreme example. One for the yahoos that have much more money than clue…

Nino is well known over at the MTBR forum – http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=625165

Standard-Version: 160 Euro
SL-Version: 180 Euro

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=23963

How do I get in touch with Wildcat?

I’m more of an aggressive all-hill rider, although I do venture into free-down-country at times.

http://www.clikelite.com/shop/

Scroll down.

EG combine http://www.clikelite.com/shop/compact-sport/ with http://www.clikelite.com/shop/medium-slr-chestpack/

simonralli2 – interesting info, I know that corruption in a lot of Latin American countries is deep, but the point about trains and car companies I didn’t know about. It is the same in Mexico, cars are a nightmare. I respect that people have the right to protest, and it is good in a way, but I’m not sure how effective it is when you are up against ingrained corruption.

I’d love to go to Brazil though, just some of the stories make it seem it may be a bit dodgy in places!

aracer – I bet he does get off. I also think it unlikely that any of the cyclists will do him in.

100% agree with convert.

FWIW I have always disliked groups of people taking over a road to make a point. It is mildly confrontational, annoying, and IMHO not likely to persuade anyone.

That Brazil one looked peaceful and chilled, but then there were reports of an argument with the driver moments before he went nuts and ploughed through the cyclists.

I am in no way at all condoning or excusing what he did. Attempted mass murder is a horrible thing, watching it is very upsetting and made me very angry.

I’ve heard nothing but horror stories on here about Mountain Kings, particularly if used on the front. The word ‘treacherous’ comes to mind.

Can’t see any threads saying that?

Running the ‘expensive version’ MKs 2.4 front and back, no problems. Feel planted.

Maybe it’s the cheap versions that aren’t as good?

Tyres are a funny thing, opinions get handed about and become ‘fact’ too easily. The Nobby Nicks get a bad press over at MTBR for wet rocks and roots, but again, is this based on fact or on someone falling over on a wet root one day, then moaning about it in a forum? What tyre won’t skip on a wet root! Studded?!?!?

the Schwalbe tyres will be lighter than the Mountain Kings too!

A little, but not much, tyre to tyre variation will be greater:

Mountain King 2.4 ProTection – 670g
Nobby Nic 2.40 TRIPLE B-SK – 645g

Awful.

But might is right in Brazil. Any sociopath can get a car, do something horrendous, and by the sounds of it, get away scot free.

I wouldn’t do a Critical Mass thing, and certainly not in Brazil, the likelihood of an angry driver shooting you or doing something like this is too high. Don’t want to say that the Critical Mass things are right or wrong, or that people shouldn’t do them, but IMHO they are not conducive to whatever end they are supposed to be for.

This is also a good reason for wearing a backpack – http://www.mountainbikebill.com/milescrash.htm

There is of course some practicality in not having water bottles rattling about in cages when you are doing drops / jumps / roots, and also not having hard objects in a thin jersey right next to your spine could be seen as a good idea if there is a likelihood that you may land full weight on said back.

For me, I feel naked without a backpack now. I like to carry the extra clothing, tools, and drink. Sometimes a camera when it is nice weather.

You could look at it in much the same way as why rodies _don’t_ carry them, it is just the done thing, call it fashion if you want. But there has to be some practicality involved.

At the end of the day, why worry about it? Use what you want, carry what you like.

Wow, that is great riding and what a wild course!

* Spare tube
* Puncture kit
* Small pump
* Spare top / waterproof
* Phone
* Wallet
* Allen keys
* Chain tool
* Spare brake pads
* Spare chain link
* Spare dérailleur hanger
* Lucozade
* Water
* Food

Out of all of that, the spare top is the bulkiest.

I prefer cycling with a backpack, it helps keep my temperature correct, is good in an over-the-handlebars fall, and can be expanded to take things like cameras, radios, glasses, more spare parts etc etc.

If the UCI did ban them for road races, then that is your answer right there. A lot of cycling ‘fashion’ is driven by racing (see – no mudguards on mountain bikes).

Yeh I have done a lot of these places before, been up there on yearly holidays since I was a kid ( a long time ago now) and love the place, always something new to explore!

The beaches, on a nice day, are like nothing in the world. Feels like a desert island :-)

Of course, the payback is a) midges, and b) less than clement weather, but if it was easy, everyone would do it , and it would be like Costa Del Sol etc etc…

Plan is to do the Ardnamurchan ride July 9th / 10th, hope to overnight at Sanna or Kilchoan, so a day out, and a day back, leaving from Arivegaig. You or anyone else would be welcome to join! Also planning a trip 6th to 8th up Loch Shiel, Loch Morar etc…

Fascadale to Sanna does sound boggy ‘in places’ going by limited walker reports, but depending on time and weather, may be worth it to feel the full ’round Ardnamurchan’ experience.

Apparently, they were performing a version of “Can’t Stand Losing You” for the Hub.

Thanks, I found it… OS map helps with these things, doesn’t it!

Turning off is here http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&q=ardnamurchan&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Ardnamurchan&t=h&ll=56.756828,-5.939934&spn=0.005246,0.011716&z=17

I see the track Fascadale to Sanna on the map as well. Hmm, rough you say…

http://explore.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/search?routeEditor_search_location=fascadale&x=19&y=12

:-)

Hey islander, thanks for the reply, that pic makes me yearn for some West Coast singletrack n sunshine! Wow!

So on the track from Arivegaig past the singing sands I take it the single track comes off where it stops? Just I can’t see it on the satellite – looks like a dead end at the building http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&q=ardnamurchan&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Ardnamurchan&ll=56.781311,-5.956655&spn=0.002621,0.005858&t=h&z=18

Don’t suppose there is a track from Fascadale to Sanna? That would join up the whole top end of the peninsula, and make a wonderful ride I think!

ziggy – where is the proof that warranty replacement of frames had anything whatsoever to do with this? That is the first time I have ever heard this being cited as a ‘contributing factor’ to Cannondales financial woes.

I know that are severe issues with Cannondale warranty, mostly steming back from Cannondale offering lifetime warrantys in the past. We are talking 20 year old frames! On a material (alloy) that will eventually fatigue and break. From what I understand it’s what bankrupted them.

Bankrupted them when?

In 2003 they filled for bankruptcy protection due to a bad business decision to try to get into motorbikes / ATVs. This had bugger all to do with aluminium bike frame warranties.

Bumping this old thread.

What route did you guys do from Kentra Bay to Ockle? The track that goes past the singing sands looks to finish at a small settlement near the top of the map, and the pass looks like there are no tracks, and very rugged.

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&q=ardnamurchan&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Ardnamurchan&ll=56.775562,-5.957208&spn=0.021657,0.055232&t=h&z=15

Mincing / refusing

Doing at least three rides a week ATM:

Leith to Juniper Green and back, via Union Canal.
Pentlands Flotterstone circuit (1/2 hr drive)
Glentress – usually red route (1 hr drive)

Want the Pentlands to dry up so I can do more of them. Heading out on a 5 or 6 hour XC ramble over the Pentlands always feels great. Glentress is a good option when the Pentlands are too wet. Other, wider afield, excursions are being planned…

The best design for meths stove is http://www.jureystudio.com/pennystove/ IMHO

So are Red Bull going to show the whole documentary tonight? Says something about that at the end of the vid…

Ditch the front derailleur, go 1×9 or 1×10.

I have been running 1×9 (not using my 44 or 22 chainrings) for a few months now, and TBH I don’t really miss either extreme. Some hills are a bit harder, but I don’t think that is a bad thing, spinning in granny isn’t really that efficient anyway. Going flat on the road with the wind behind me, it is possible to spin out doing I would guess 24mph or thereabouts, but it doesn’t bother me. I’m not in this to race, just to enjoy myself, and TBH I can’t wait to ditch my front derailleur!

If I was replacing drivechaon, I’d be tempted by 10 speed only because the extended range of the available cassettes (11 to 36) and the promise of trick new 9 tooth cogs sometime down the line (hope and DT Swiss / Specialised FWICR).

I totally agree with Nainosliw

Wet and hot sucks.
Wet and cold can damage your health.
Wet and an OK temperature with merino is ok.

I wear a Gore windstopper jacket and a merino long sleeve base layer, and that keeps me right come rain or minus temps, for hours or even a day ride, as long as the stops aren’t too long and there is warmth (car, house) at the end of it all. The jacket has zip off arms so I can use it as a gilet when needed. Have fallen onto tarmac on it, no rips. Have worn heavy backpacks with it, no wear. 3 years old now with a fair amount of use, and looks like new.

If I was camping at the end of the day, I’d be thinking of trying to keep dry more, probably by using a waterproof and slowing down, but I don’t have experience of that yet.

Y fronts?

Get some cycling shorts for a start.

Also, your ass will be out of condition (in more ways than one). MTFU and get more riding in, it’ll get reconditioned again.

Or, more likely: “Whilst breaking the U lock with a car jack, I buckled the back wheel”.

Someone call them / ask a question on ebay / buy the bike / go round their house with 10 heavies / call the cops.

I spotted it three days ago http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/suspicious-sale-anyone-lost-a-cannondale-hardtail-lefty

The joys of having a non-segmented busy forum, eh :-)