So there are no 24mm axle crankset power meters? P2M 30mm, Rotor 30mm, Quark 30mm. I now remember why Stages was so attractive even if it does require a precautionary battery change before every important event…….

I do a 60mile training loop and depending on how close it is to racing/how tight I’m feeling it’ll be one of 2 choices

tightwad version
2x750ml bottles with torq energy plus a refill of the powder
4x bannanas
1x maltloaf cut into cubes or a pack of jelly babies or mixture
3x gels which I try to not use

serious money version
2x750ml bottles with torq energy plus a refill of the powder
10 gels or 5 gels and 5 bars

I have more energy and feel better with the serious money version. A 3rd hybrid version has me eating bannanas for the first 90mins as I’ve already had a large breakfast.

Why don’t P2M do an Stype for shimano MTB 🙁

This is why I gave up road riding and only ride MTB off road or on minor roads and use the turbo instead.

I wonder what the punishment pass rate is like in US states where concealed carry of a firearm is allowed?

A very impressive 0.1mph over 7.6miles………….. on my turbo trainer since January. This is proper GPS distance (oxymoron) as measured by my Edge 800 and does rather put Strava timing into perspective.

Just take care it’s not a deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Much more likely to be a calf strain but google the symptoms of DVT and keep an eye on it.

Assuming it’s a calf strain then rest, stretching and later on gentle massage.

As far as I can see Shimano pedals are disposable items.

I have worn out 3 pairs of XTR race pedals (massive play) in the time it’s taken to wear 12 chains to 0.75 during which time the associated chain rings and cassettes are still going strong.

Yes just cycling. Was on a 7day TSS of 940 yesterday but dropped a session for fear of not being able to train off road today. I enjoy long XC rides which seem to ramp up TSS a lot more than intervals. Rest week next week so want to end this 3 week block feeling wrecked.

So it’s OK to talk about weight in micro fractions ie a wheelset that is 3% lighter or a 50g lighter seatpost that makes the bike 0.2% lighter but it’s not OK to talk about percentages of suspension movement/grip etc.

Seems to me the OPs post is considered, well crafted and intelligent which is more than can be said for some of the answers.

I bought a pair of 29er wheels from them for training on the road. DT 350 6 bolt hubs, decent spokes and nipples and some DT rims for £150. The parts appear genuine, the wheels are well built and I was really pleased. Cheaper but better than a pair of shimano’s hand built from Merlin. I would recommend.

Last really hard weeks training. Might be knocking on 1,000TSS for the week. FTP etc all gone way better than planned but absolutely dreading the pain to come. Trying to get onto XC courses whenever possible and off to Porridgepot tomorrow to see if I can knock out some laps of last years Kawasaki 100. Done enough off road miles that I’m sore and taking the Spearfish for inagural ride.

Weight weenie Nicolai is pretty much an oxymoron

Yeah sad that. Was hoping they’d do a 29er version of the RC with slacker HA and long TT.

What’s really scary is how quickly the compromises add up…… Take njee20s build and start to make it a little more comfortable/faster rolling 29er etc

You’re adding a pound to the frame, half a pound to the forks, nearly a pound to the wheels (don’t think revs and crests works except for the lightest of riders) and tyres plus moving away from boutique hubs, stem and seatpost and pedals with more support and a more comfortable saddle (for me that is) nearly another pound. Whoops you’re atleast at 24lb.

Would love to do a WW Nicolai TB build but will Liteville produce a ‘proper’ 29er soon?

Nick – sorry to hear about your transmission issues. I am very close to going 1×11 with XTR M9000/XX1 hybrid as you have. Do you think your old 10x would have had such issues?

How do they compare to a Ralph?

I paid the postage to give away 3x XTR chains at 0.75 wear. Next time I tried to get £3 or £5 for Help 4 Heroes. Big fat zero so now have about 6 I’ll throw away 🙁

Just ordinary ones.

I use them for my long off road training rides. Just occasionally a great track coincides with a great piece of track when I’m feeling strong and it gives me a feeling that life really is worth living.

I’m really allergic to sudden shocks so I have to be able to hear background noise – non sealing ordinary headphones work fine but I’d not wear them on the road.

less money too.

109th overall and 8th in grand vets. Some practice needed on fast starting to avoid first lap bottlenecks.

Very nice atmosphere and some great chaingangs on the beach. Not a clue how I did but the beach gave me a new 5minute power figure. Also got lost on second lap.

Nice racy looking build.

I think a flipped stem and small spacer stack with flat bars is good despite being against the rules.

What are your aims this year adsh? I know eyou do some 12 hour races as I was parked next to you at Erlestoke and torq Are you doing these again or anything else.

Pete – same events just hoping to be quicker :D. Thanks to your wife for helping at Torq – I was wobbling at 10hrs but her encouragement really helped!

I’ve 2 bikes that have done over 1,000 and 1,400miles respectively on XTR 10sp cassettes. Used in filthy weather/conditions just cleaned well and chains changed at .75. I probably produce half the power of Gee.

I had massive accident this January (32mph on sheet ice which luckily was a proper sheet and extended a long way thus minimising road rash)

I have a limit of 3c on dry roads and 4c on wet roads and only in daylight.I set out at 3c on dry roads but the temperature was about 1c in hollows and field run off had frozen. I couldn’t see it in the dark.

Which is a 2.1 in measurement. I know I run the same on my Curtis! Great tyre for mud clearance in a tightish frame

Nice looking build!

Ummmed and aahed about a Ti milemuncher and ended up gong custom steel. 1lb difference to most Ti frames but with someone like Curtis you get exactly what you want in the UK with great back up if you crack or bend it.

Other than that Sync looks great but also look at the Clee Bikes Torus Ti 29er.

Only run Hopes so can’t be objective but I love my race X2s. Pros are the ease of pad changing, great back up from the factory, spares for years and wonderful progressive feel. Con is they are quite pad wear sensitive so the lever can gain a fair bit of movement which unlike the tech x2 you can’t dial out.

Umming and aahhing myself over moving from XTR M980 triple and 11-36 to M9000 right shifter, with XX1 cassette and M9000 mech.

Any idea of the weight saving from ditching a shifter, full length cable, XTR front mech and moving to this set up? Will keep the M980 cranks but with NW as I have Stages.

Toe studs help stop me slipping

would not want any metal bolts anywhere near my skull.

Ran my 1×10 with Hope one up from an XTR race double with no spacers. Chain worked fine, tiny bit meshy on the 40 but perfectly workable. By the time I get onto the 40 I’m wrecked and don’t care what it sounds like as long as it’s there!

Bucks off road sportive goes near there. Lots of nice Chilterns bridleways

I’m having second thoughts – an injury for someone planning to become an infantry soldier would be really catastrophic. Already shaky judgement would be made worse by race day atmosphere.

Great – thanks! Watch out for an Orange Cotic single speed on sunday then! 😀

I’m a bit confused with your winter bike, cross bike, 50th Ti bike thing.

If you’re not going to race cross then there’s not much point in a race frame? The pro6 was viewed as quite harsh and twitchy on berkradar.

A ti roadframe is great and discs would be good on a winter bike that gets used on lanes etc (2nd pair of open sports to replace). I currently run an Etape, love it and would like it cloned with discs and clearance for bigger tyres for comfort =>Kinesis Tripster ATR Ti but I can’t help feel the one road bike I have should be a road bike and not a CX bike I will never use on trails.

Also although it’s great to wait for a treat I’d say live life while you can – you never know what’s around the corner.

Nah – megablock of base miles nearly done and ice receding. The end is in sight!

I had exactly this on an XT crank after someone undid it the wrong way – Stilsons ain’t going to touch that mutha!

-Remove crank from bike

-Remove pedal body so you just have the seized spindle left in the crank

-Fire up an angle grinder and grind 2x flats on the spindle.

-Put flats in big vice

-Rotate crank in correct direction if you can’t add padding and put pipe over it.

Worked for me – couple of bits of swarf but fine.

Each to their own I s’pose. I must be a spinner by nature – I’ve got my fair share of top 10 stravas on these S.Oxon hills and am sometimes not a million miles away from Pedalhead and I’m still faster spinning on gears than putting max into single speed gearing.

Anyhoo that’s not the point it’s hard work and it’s fun!

why’d it take you so long to see the light

Worried about knees

surely if it’s harder than normal, you’re not normally riding hard enough?…

It’s hard to make yourself nearly vomit when you have the bail out of gears

Really makes you think about your lines and technique more

This!

32:16 in mud on Chilterns climbs = walking. I’d rather spin out on the flats and just get up most of the climbs (eg Hill Road, Wormesly etc). No beard, ale or sandals yet 🙂