While there are no truly technical challenges its requires considerable commitment to carry speed. You have to let your suspension work very hard over roots, commit to what feels like otb sections and carry a lot of speed close to trees. 21m 57s – probably best ride Ive ever done.

Don’t listen to the naysayers, its a fantastic place to train. Its either vomit inducing climbing which while not technical needs concentration at max HR or fast descending with some lovely cornering. Do it under 22minutes on a short travel fs and you’ll have a grin on your face once youve stopped throwing up.

Definately not somewhere to fall – very flinty and you need to get used to speed through trees.  Might be hard to find route under autumn leaves although they do blow them off.

Yes its an issue. Most FS have clearance many HT not if you have a racy position.

I’ve put a protector on my HT and taped it in position. Going high enough to miss would be almost level with my saddle and no matter how loose controls, a pointy shifter will do some serious damage.

Smashed my face on a tree 8 weeks ago. Not raced since but enjoying riding. Considering not racing for a while and sticking to single speed/rigid to keep speed down.

Made  the decision to  manage speed on descents a couple of years ago – didn’t apply it to racing…

Aston XC loop is particularly good for a combined intervals and skills session. Very steep up and down.

Kryton – you’re not injured, you’ve identified weaknesses, you’re able to work on them.

Perseverance in the face of adversity takes work.

Ive recovered well from my accident at 24:12 have kept training but have no desire to race really. Gave TIYS a miss as was wifes birthday – thankful as appalling weather, tiny entry (7 GV – is tiys dying?) and a certain competitor meaning no possible improvement.

ATM the only thing I have any desire to do is try and improve my hill climbing and, rather sadly, get higher up the Strava standings. I imagine 5x 6minute hills a couple of times a week at near vomit inducing intensity might have some benefits when I finally get the mojo to ride more.

For me its a question of priorities. I gave up booze for nearly 4 years as part of my training. Total abstinence was pretty easy. Weight fell off (and i was already thin) and I felt good in the mornings and took enough pleasure in my fitness and performance to make it worthwhile

Racing mojo has slipped so I now drink a bit and take a view that it doesnt matter provided it doesn’t effect what I do the next day. If I plan a long ride at 5am I am really annoyed if I cant do it because I’ve drunk the night before.

Nope – face aches enough from Pivot 24:12 accident that I dare not sadly

Well I do get the WW bit

I train and race in the mud on 1×10 xtr and race on 1×11 xtr.

I love my M980 1×10 (11-36), hard wearing, great quality, changes faultlessly under load and lighter even with XT cassette.

The 1×11 xtr (11-40) is ok. It has more range but the quality esp the cassette doesnt seem so good and the changing is fussier. It’s heavier and although the  40 means I can use a 32t front more easily its not life changing.

I’ve not sold my 1×10 when I’ve ‘upgraded’ and suspect I’ll go back to it in the end.

Kryton – I think its false economy not to go for Crests – they are a known quantity and so much easier to sell on later. I’m still really pleased with my actionsports.de wheels

Couldnt get Squirt so tried Fenwicks professional and am really impressed. Probably wont go back

T’was me. Currently waiting  up for next paracetamol dose. Didnt see you but visions a bit sh1t atm

Thanks for keeping a space. I’m home (in NHS pyjamas) and very lucky. Stitches above and below eye, nose and inside lower lip. Nothing broken but oh so sore. Marshalls, fellow racers, paramedics, organisers and NHS were truly great.

Sadly I’m in A&E having faceplanted a tree. Tad too much speed and front pinged a rock. Much blood. Sttches to follow

How much rain overnight? Biblical in Launceston

Well I packed a wet weather front tyre and inflator so its not my fault!

12hr solo – if I can start as my wright wrist may be slightly fractured from fall in slippery rock pool

I almost never jump  reds. I did on Sunday – 15 minutes into my 20minute functional threshold power test were roadworks. Nothing coming the other way so through I go to avoid 15minutes of agony being wasted. Only to be shouted by another cyclist who was offended. Luckily I had no breath to shout back.

I don’t think its wise to RLJ but each event should be judged in its merits.

Ive got an xtr M985 chain which is quite narrow q factor. No problem with a 32 and looks like a 34 would fit easily. Might just get a 36 with a normal chain set but it would be close I think

Parody.

My views are my views – out of step with most but unlikely to change. Enjoy your bike whatever it is

I’ll just use them to increase the number of things i have to sneer/feel superior about.

I’m an old git who happens to think that good things are the result of hard work so I fundamentaly dislike the whole premise of e bikes for the abled.

I don’t view mtb as a vehicle for the fitness of the nation and I have no desire to see hoards of e bikers enjoying the trails.

I’m  perfectly happy with mtb as a niche sport requiring fitness that is going to be too tough/time consuming for some to do. There are many other sports to choose from.

Love Gobis but they’re quite variable.

Most flexible are the old kium rail version with fabric panels

The newer kium with shiny plastic panels is harder

The managanese rails are tougher again

The carbon rail version has the consistancy of a brick

Tepid not cold to bring the core temp down.

This is playing with fire. Only the tiniest increase in core is very dangerous.

https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/salsa-ala-carte-titanium-650b/

Bone dry, dusty and fast in the south. Northern section might have about one mudhole thats now dry

I did the southern half yesterday. Boy was I glad of a full suss

105 miles of Ridgeway. Tired.

Never so tired you cant do the  next session easily

Fundamental contradiction to the basic theory of overcompensation and so needlessly limiting.

I no longer have a coach but having done 4 coached years I know what works for me. The down side of remote coaching to a pre agreed plan is reduced flexibility.

I’m supposed to be doing a midweek race or intervals. I’m carrying a slight hamstring strain – i have notjing written down (other than block dates) so its easier to just do 3 weeks of less intense distance.

Adaptation is achieved by training load and hence tiredness is a byproduct. Only the individual knows hoe much is beneficial

Careful you don’t overdo it and get ill

Lupine rotlcht – expensive but very very good. Mine got clattered and stopped working. Replaced with a simpe photo as evidence without even having to send the old one back!

Don’t find it dull just painful to solo for 12hrs. Every year I say never again and most years I’m back.

Superb 4×4 higher output diesel manual. Big, capable, fast enough and utterly indistinct. Only fault is stupid 40 profile tyres

Mines 110k and swallow a 29er with wheels on. I practically live out of it.

Mine is a 2014 so pre the recent changes. There’s no washers anywhere I can see

Continental 2.2 raceking protections for me if it’s dry swapped to a 2.4 X king protection front if there is mud about.

Old school? about a decade?

Don’t forget to factor in the wait for the procedure. Depending on where you live there could be local protocols to overcome or just plain oversubscription.

Also worth asking who your consultant will be and what his/her revision rate is as well as what model hip you’ll get.

Well Wantage was interesting. Course directions  vandalised so many detours. It really would be sensible for the organisers to give a GPX file – can’t understand why they don’t.

Big day for me 22 miles ride there and back plus the event. Might have seen Kryton with kid?

Well good luck to Kryton tomorrow (presuming he’s doing Wantage) its not rained yet but there’s been some lightening.

I’m riding there and back so gently does it for me. HT with mudguards or FS to be decided tomorrow morning.

And at what point does this get so that you’d be betterer off with 11-32/4 and a double/triple……