^ This.

My Whyte 29C fouls when set up with the right saddle-bar drop. I’ve put a Skean on the TT secured with self amalgamating tape as they slip when wet which is also when you’re most likely to stack it and need the protection in the right place.

Glad to see 2nd generation Stages in XTR M980 – but at nearly double the price of Merlin’s 1st generation. I think if mine start to play up again I’ll be knocking on Saddleback’s door!

CoB tech ftw

?

Flare was waterlogged in about 3 rides. Went back, fixed but never reliable with frequent turning off mid ride. Angled down, not secure – moved laterally. Not a great light imho.

Had hoped Turner might do some Czar deals but only weird sizes for Burners and Sultans ie clearance

Just waiting for Xtr to drop to closer to 350ish. Got to be on the cards

I bought when the stock level of the 175mm was down to 3. That left 2 about 2-3 weeks ago. I wouldn’t leave it too long!

I’m wedded to XTR M980 for about the next decade (multiple chainsets and spare rings) so having another Stages made sense.

The difference between the ‘Burt and the Ralph is so small it doesn’t seem worth it given the braking performance

SID rct3

^ maybe on day 1 and 2. Currently the stairs are a challenge!

It’s not free time, it’s sleep time.

I’d like to achieve 275W (3.8w/kg) at Z2 to help me perform better at 12hr events and do the Ridgeway Double in under 14hrs. Currently at 250W (3.4w/kg)so a tough ask.

I’m not sure that chart takes account of training the different fat burning energy pathway?

thought that’s what sweet spot base was for. IMO if you have 8 hours free to sit on a turbo you should be outdoors.

I’m willing to put the time in for trad and solid base. I can do this if I’m efficient with time. 0530 start for 1.5hrs then an hour when back from work. In this weather that does not mean screwing arounf with lights and winter clothing. The aim is quality time in zone – surely how it’s achieved is utterly immaterial?

^Diametric opposite. I’m hoping to do 8hrs quality Z2 base this week. No time to get out on the road until the weekend and no point (for me) in doing HIT at this stage so turbo and Netflix it is.

Last winter I got through all of Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul, and Homeland. This winter Prison Break and about to start Game of Thrones. Put Stages on phone and prop against screen. Have been known to do longer workouts to

Checkendon is 5 miles from me but I’d pulled out due to my heart murmour which has now cleared up. If anyone has an entry I could use I might be interested!

Regarding tyres and what the course is like – rooty and slippery. Robert Jackson who generally wins or podiums Grand Vets suggests Nobby Nic front at least and to straight line the corners as much as possible.

Why is everyone doing intervals/anaerobic in the middle of winter?

Stages XT (Gen 1) on my MTB. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh! On my second one, since June, the first one never worked when I really needed it to and probably about to warranty my second one as the tabs broke and water got into it on my Sunday ride. Only realized the tab was broken after my ride. Had gotten a low pm battery warning towards the end of the ride. I also duct tape up around the cover to be safe. It did not look wet/damp so just swapped battery and calibrated. Had got a new cover from the local Evans
It stopped working on my way to work the next day. Left it to dry at home with cover off and it seems to have come back to life. For how long?
There service is great, by the way cant fault that.
But for peace of mind and knowing that it will work every time I climb on the bike, 0 confidence. Its always a ‘Ah look its working today moment!

I’ve had my XTR M980 Stages for a year. Initial issues were broken tab related. Latest firmware seemed to make a big difference. Have had occasional issues with batteries needing to be reseated (wonder how many good batteries I threw away) which makes me wonder if there are size tolerances at play in battery brands

I’ve just bought a second one at clearance to avoid so much swapping. I have 4 XTR M980 cranksets, don’t plan on changing and find the Stages solution the neatest way to train and race with power. Most of the other solutions involve chainsets I don’t want to use.

36-32 would be a VERY low gear on a road bike. I’m 100kg and incredibly unfit and even I don’t see the need,

I’m 73kg and very fit. I repeatedly use my 30-29.

Is this for road or off road riding?

Both – was considering some steel full length with p clips etc but the consequences of something coming adrift and jamming have made me think otherwise.

^^Love the infographic.

I look at all these sources and at my Allen and Coggan book and then go out and do 4 months of Z2 followed by 2 months of intervals plus some technical XC and some long rides. Maybe I should start doing some of these complicated workouts.

Does heart rate actually relate to performance?

Yup. If you have a power meter, note your HR at a given wattage, Train hard and after a (variable) period of time you will note you achieve the same power at a lower heart rate. This assumes power is related to performance.

Enjoy your health while you have it. Had a month off then restarted. At the end of my first 3 week block suffered really bad heart arrhythmia (a missed beat every 3-5 beats). Something I’ve had for 20years but never exercised induced and never so bad.

ECG normal again but borderline low thyroid function which can be a contributory factor. Referred to cardiologist as a precaution but also signed off for Z2 training. Withdrawn from Brass Monkeys (which I had great plans for) but things seem to be settling with 3 days Z2 and back to normal.

I felt completely drained after Torq in your Sleep, did a low intensity week and decided I might as well break early with nothing to train for for the rest of the season. I’ve done my 4 weeks off to recharge and get my life back. Thing is I rather like having life back and am not exactly champing at the bit to ride.

Restarted this week with some Z2 and Z3 turbo work. Nice to do some exercise, also nice to do hour long sessions and still see the family.

Hopefully I’ll start feeling more competitive and selfish shortly………

Not daily – 2 occasionally 3 times a week for winter base training

I have these ^ and I don’t like them because they seem to eat pads in the wet. Almost like they chop through them or something.

Maybe given my past health, time contraints for getting out training. I just need to accept that I have done well to complete such a tough event.

You need to accept you did well to enter and complete such a tough event despite severe pain – kudos.

Having taken part and seen what is involved you can now make an informed decision if you want to go on to the next step ie competing for places.

If you do then there are sacrifices (in my case no alchohol, no junk food and 15hrs training a week) but no pain no gain.

Also be aware that directly after such a tough event you enter a ‘trough of fatigue’ where you might feel pretty down. It’s taken me 4 weeks to recover from Torq in your Sleep.

Pete – on holiday on the 19th thank god!

I think I’m going to just ride for fun. May try an assault on some local Strava, get to Wales etc before a complete rest in October and restarting the winter training in November.

Must be pretty muddy there judging by the tread on that back tyre!

Still nothing to match the convenience of Stages if you want to run decent Shimano (eg XTR). Left only, some moisture ingress issues that are generally fixable but light and innocuous.

There’s not much point – just get it from whoever is cheapest whose aftersales you trust.

Deep breath – is there proper clearance on the 29er rear wheels?

If he’s serving this is likely to go further. I would imagine at the very least he will charged and in front of his CO for issues of integrity and bringing the army into disrepute. Various sanctions such as fine of up to one months pay, demotion and regimental jail are available.

Family life allows me a race once a month. I’ll travel up to a couple of hours for a 6hr race and I’ll do local XC (Banjo Rampage is 10minutes away). That means I’d do the Southern XC at Checkendon but I doubt I’ll do the others whatever you do.

Would love a marathon round

^^^ Amended post – Kryton why on earth would you start saying that – plain wrong in my opinion

Bit of a strange day for me, gave me some clarity – whilst I loved riding the trails and could have ridden there for hours on end (oh I did) I didn’t really enjoy the racing, despite getting my best ever result for the event

Does anyone truly enjoys XC racing apart from the first and last laps plus some mental victories in keeping going when your body screams stop? During it I swear never ever again. Then the brain reformats the experience and I start to wonder how I can improve and it starts all over again…….

Conti raceking protection? Mind you I punctured yesterday but they seem a bit stronger

Split, clean all the bits, take good photos, give them a proper write up with all the specs and condition and stick them on E bay at 99p with no reserve.

That will get you market value.

The value for the frame may not be much – my 2 year old immaculate Merida 96 carbon team frame went for £350 – painful but it’s money not a frame sitting doing nothing.

adsh – was yours a green one? I saw you if so, if I’d have known I would have said hello.

Indeed twas me. I did look out for an anthem but didn’t see you. Did you overtake me?

Spearfish looks interesting, but also expensive to get under 25lbs….

Spearfish is great. I’ve got one and it’s equally at home doing 175miles in one hit on the Ridgeway Double as it is on XC (8hrs yesterday) The suspension is very good indeed.

Weight – my alloy is 24.1 pounds with XTR 1×10, 1400g wheels, heavy tyres and the usual light but not boutique kit. The carbon is 0.5lb lighter but will leave you less money for the kit.

Key for me was a suspension that didn’t need fiddling with but could be left fully open. Only criticism is that it has only one set of bottle mounts.

If I had the cash I’d love an Epic but the cheaper ones are notthat light.