Cycling is used extensively by top fell runners for training – so cycling uses similar muscles to running uphill.

For proof see Rob Jebb!

No other way round. Running is used extensively by top fell runners for cycling training. Hence Rob Jebb is good at hilly rides up and down mountains as well as hilly runs up and down mountains.

I think that running is better training for cycling that cycling is for running. Of course best training for cycling is of course cycling but running must be a good close second.

I do climbing, running, mountain biking, want to start kayaking, and maybe get a road bike. Also class reading and fiddling with computers a hobby.

No such thing as too many hobbies but the ones you enjoy most, or fit in with your life best will rise to the surface and the ones that don’t fit in sink tot he bottom. Hence I hardly climb but run and bike loads. Its still a hobby though.

Don’t find it fustrating, quite the opposite, different mates for different sports. Depends on what you want to get out of it.

red finish is great! Went out for a ride with a guy on a red steel and me on my black aluminium.

Got to say that mine looked faster (black is always faster!) but his looked more pimp! The finish on the red paint is so much better.

Not sure how it rides, but if the alu one is anything to go by it will be a brilliant bike.

I believe a 15 hr service interval is totally unrealistic and is put in the spec purely to prevent warrenty claims.

Its not a service interval. A service is different and more indepth, This is a quick clean, wipe and lube.

But yes i agree that 15 hours is erring on the side of super cautious to prevent warrenty claims. Rockshox allows an extra 5 hours of riding before you have to do the same so it ain’t just Fox

but the enduros are blue??? otherwise a winner!

I am cack handed with a spanner and to do the Mojo thing. It is easier, cleaner and generally more fun than cleaning the chain and rear deraiiler and cassette. Takes roughly a beer and a half.

I still don’t get why people think forks should be fit and forget? They are usually the single most expensive piece of kit on your bike so should be treated accordingly. Follow the instructions for smooth feeling forks.

People tend to be finding the stanchion marks where ther stanchion is rubbing in the lowers. This suggests dirt has got in the seal and also it is bone dry (lack of oil) so it unsuprisingly scratches stanchions. Again follow the instructions for non scratch stanchions.

If someone who only just changed their first brake cable the other week on my commuter can do this then any monkey with a tool kit can do.

agreed that your long runs are key for endurance base! Although that doesn’t mean your weekday runs are not important. Miss them and you will struggle on your longer runs.

Ideally do tempo or hill work during the shorter sessions. Nothing too formulaic, just step up the pace for 20 minutes or run a hilly route. That will raise you aerobic threshold (the point that your body can convert oxegen) and will also help with your endurance without putting in all the miles. 3 good sessions, hill, tempo, long run plus whatever else you can do.

Good luck! Done a fair few marathons and marathon distance runs but never had the motivation for a road one. Takes more mental focus I reckon than off road or fells, I would even go to say it is harder on roads!!

Some people are just not morning people, the rest are bloody annoyingly perky and should be slapped whenever they smile in a morning! (I guess Keva is one of those perky ones :( )

Think everyone is different, I need a couple of cups of caffine and a couple of slices of toast before I think about leaving the house but then fine for the 4 miles of either running or biking ahead of me.

Without the caffine I wouldn’t leave the house, without the toast I would do reluctantly. I think it is a case of getting the metabolism fired up and working again??

2 years a 2 weeks married. She didn’t even ride bikes when we got married.

Packed a heavier more robust tent and put a rab primaloft smock so when wet It would still be warmer than a down jacket or a lightweigh fleece. Apart from that it was pretty much business as usual. Still all in a 20l bag.

not really answered own question?

I got my weight down but still carry the same items. It is just the items weigh less. Lost 400g from my sleeping bag when I got a Rab top bag, 100g from my mat when I dumped the OMM one for a ballon bed. Less food is 100g+, 100g from a different waterproof jacket (still a cheap one though), I wear leggings so don’t pack any others 250g (unless its the OMM where I am always cold at overnight so pack some fleece lined ones), no lid on cooking pot ?? grams. Weather depends on my top but another 100g+ possible there. Dropped another 100g+ by using a different bag. etc etc

Without these then my pack weight is 5kg ish+, with them it is just over 4kg

My only real pleasure is some warm dry socks for the overnight camp but I put the wet ones back on in the morning as the dry ones weigh less in the bag. I even take food out of the packaging and put in plastic bags as they weigh less and then pack smaller.

I may be a tad obsessive about things but found that with a bit of thought you can really drop the grams without shelling stupid cash on £200 waterproof jackets or titanium mugs and spoons. I prefer to enjoy my running by being light as opposed to the overnight camp.

If my partner is slower I will just carry some of their stuff or more of the shared stuff. Wouldn’t carry more as I don’t need any more.

Suppose some people obsess about weight of their bikes, I do it with my running gear.

I thought route choice would be critical. When you start do people just dive to the floor to work out the best route?

I usually work out the route to CP 1 if a point to point and then do the others on route. There will be enough hills that will give you chance to walk and have a look at the next CP and plan ahead.

Has anyone used the sleeping matt that is in the OMM rucksack? I dont think i can fit my rollmatt in.

yes, it insulates okay but ain’t as good as a balloon bed, or as light. You also can’t take novelty dogs out of the OMM one. http://www.balloonbed.com/

Oh and roll mats are far too heavy and cumbersome.

Finally shoes. I usually run in Inov8 mudclaws, would they be the best option?

Yep! Be no roads, hardly any paths so just wear your comfiest shoes that you would for a long fell race.

Can’t comment on the Lamm as never got my act together to travel so far north. I also think??? they are relooking at the distances in the LAMM as they were getting a bit long so you may be out for less time.

A pack weight should be around or slightly over 5kg with no fancy kit. Mine is nearer the 4kg but I am minimal, but still no fancy kit.

wilko’s car shampoo, hot water and a sponge for most of the bike. Wait to dry then buff with dry cloth (bloody matt finish, never again)

Rings/cassette get a good stiff brush and hot water.

If cleaned regular then its all you need.

Chain, bottle of boiling water and some washing up liquid and shake the bottle for a while. If really bad then some chain cleaner from lidl. Used to just use chain cleaner but heard that can damage chain as to strong.

If you’re doing a short course and/or not competitive take more stuff for comfort. If long/competitive take less stuff.

What more stuff do you need for comfort other than the mandatory list plus a balloon bed? Always baffles me what people pack into their 30l rucksacks with half a kitchen hanging off the straps.

The kit list is everything you could possibly need unless really bad weather is forecast.

+1 for early toilet stops!

Oh and it doesn’t matter how fast you run, if you are running in the wrong direction.

Nav is essential, route choice is the difference!

now we are talking proper sports! Sorry but MM’s are more fun that MTB!!!

Have a look at what I took for the OMM last year http://middlepack.co.uk/2008/10/kit-for-the-omm-2008/

My first ever win was a mountain marathon so I have to put that down as well! :wink: http://middlepack.co.uk/2008/10/rab-mountain-marathon-2008-reviewed/

Take as little as possible as you really do not need stupid things like lids (use foil). Look at your food and make sure it is calorie heavy. Don’t scrimp but don’t take too much.

Weigh everything!

There is a link on my omm kit list for the planet fear kit list which is also very good.

I would be interested! Be about time to swap my big lead acid battery lights 5/10w with something a bit more bling.

Is it possible to think about being able to attach the light to a headstrap to make a powerful headtorch? So a long battery wire for the pack to go in bumbag and some way to attach the light to a headstrap.

I do night time fell races during winter months and a guy from hope runs in them and has sold a load of hope headtorches to runners. If a guy is behind me with a hope light and I have my Petz, I just can’t see anything for my shadow. Be nice to fight lumen for lumen and not go with the crowd.

Would also open up your lights to a different market as they are lumen vs weight obsessed as well!

and Heather “I know where I would put my” Mitts – Footballer

http://www.heathermitts.com/images/modeling/athletes_1_665_jpg_orig.html

http://www.heathermitts.com/images/modeling/slides/athletes_1_573.html

we seem to get the same piccies every week. Maybe have more themed weeks? e.g track and field one week,football another, water sports (not like that 8O, real water, pool or sea) another?

In the meantime some new ones for the mix

Michelle Wie, professional golfer

Jennie Finch – Soft ball

and Heather “I know where I would put my” Mitts – Footballer

achillies tendinitis? You are r.i.ce’ing but one other thing that works is heel drops and raises off a step, focus more on the drop and stretch then raise and repeat (if it is tendinitis)

Other than that cross friction massage.

Can be caused by running (especially up hills) or any other repetitive motion that can strain the achillies. Also check your shoes, as the heel on them can often not help matters.

check out sportsinjuryclinic online can’t remember exact link and check out symptoms.

also follow the shimano instructions in the order of the instructions. They are literally a step by step. If you do the last stage first then it won’t work as well.

Also use 1/4 turns then check or possibly half turns of the screws. They are sensitive little buggers.

It is first mtb race so not expecting to be up there. I also don’t want a shoddy performance either. Not really sure what to expect either with the standard of rider, speed that people race etc so didn’t want to get blown away.

I know 100 isn’t too much as I was sometimes getting up to that milage when running in a week so would expect it to be at least double on a bike for decent performance.

I do have very good base fitness to build on, and have won two day fell race mountain marathons (like polaris but running over mountains) and often did ultra distance fell runs so endurance isn’t an issue. The main thing is converting running endurance and muscles to biking, hence the thought of intervals.

just put the years of the jobs you worked instead of the months. e.g. 1996 – 2000 xyz job, 2001 – 2008 abc job.

They may ask for clarification at interview but at least you got the foot in the door.

As an ex recruiter I saw loads of CVs like that and never thought anything of it but did ask at interview

Yep usually have a low after a lot of exercise. By this I am usually talking about ultra runs or 2 day mountain marathons. General training I am okay.

It usually takes a week to sort myself out.

I put it down to the highs of competition and the energy lows afterwards as the body repairs and refuels.

These are the ones I couldn’t avoid, I’ve had to brake sharply, swerve and generally evade numpties not paying attention quite a lot more.

Oh the amount of near misses are too many to keep count of.

London I felt safer than many other places (especially Leeds) as there seems to be slower cars and the drivers expect them to be there in London. Leeds they do not quite know what to do when they see a cyclist.

1. years have you been commuting by bike?

11 years

4 in harrogate for school, 3 in London for Uni, 4 for work in Leeds

2. times have you been badly injured (ie. hositalised) whilst commuting (let’s expand it to any road riding)

once, nothing to do with any other cars, chain snapped, slipped off pedals, cracked my babty makers on the frame lost control and smashed left leg into a parked car and spun right over it

3. times have you been knocked off or otherwise shunted by a vehicle with no injuries

3 times
car ran into the back of me at a roundabout. Stopped looked at me shouted out the window asking if I was okay then left before i even got up off the floor.

Car did a right turn across traffic from main road into a side street, turned out he was actually doing a u-turn and came straight back out of the side street onto the main road without looking or stopping and I luckily managed to swerve and he only glanced my back wheel (even luckier that there were no cars on the other side of the road), Managed to catch him at traffic lights and explain the error of his ways!

3rd was my own fault when I was a kid, no lights car pulled out of a side road and didn’t see me, clipped back wheel. Bad of me, but scared me enough to ensure I was like Blackpool lights from then on so did me some good.

arrghh, too short notice. I work at the Uni too Rikoshea!

Unless anyone wants to follow a mtb’er when he is fell running or going to his wedding anniversary?

I have one of these for fell running. Only really take if running a considerable distance or remote.

Sold on fact I needed a bag (as opposed to a blanket) for an event and this was the lightest on sale. Now take instead of a blanket as the weight and space difference is minimal.

Blanket is okay and sufficient but a bag is better, a bivi is better than that, then a tent etc……. so really depends on how you are measuring the risk.

I knew pacquiao was good, bu f*ck me he was fast!

End of career for Hatton? Great boxer and great guy but any other opponent will just come with a swinging right hand as it seems Hatton cannot see them coming.

silicon spray from lidl at 99p a can. Easy enough and cheap enough. that and frequent cleaning of the wipers equals smooth forks!

bloody horrid stuff! Got a fruity flavour and a milky texture to it which is just wrong in something that you want to taste refreshing.

Doesn’t make me puke, just makes me not drink.

take off and put in a small bucket and spray with lidl chain cleaner and a bit of degreaser (sorry environment). Shake bucket then wipe clean with rag or brush. Rinse then put back on and lube.

takes roughly 8 weeks for fitness to start noticeably suffering and then the decline is steady. 10 week is nothing. not been running properly for 6 months but gonna jump straight back in with a 20 mile fell race.

Reckon you are just wussing out coz your mates are faster :D

Is this the tool you got? http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/product.asp?pf_id=12923&src=froogle

There is no big kink but there is a mark on the rim of the rotor where a rock hit it. Will try with the fingers tomorrow but the rotor tool may be a worthy buy as cheaper than a new rotor and less faff than the vice/spanner option.

OMG loads of posts whilst I typed a response.

Such a small buckle that it is hard to notice with the wheel off but I will give it a shot if the only other option is to buy another rotor then no loss if i f*ck it up.

thought that may be the case. I think it was from a rock smashing into it but not 100% sure?

lowey, that is hardly a full strip down as you described. More like whipping the bottom of the forks off, cleaning a seal and topping oil.

Not difficult or a time consuming task. Forks feel like new afterwards and it is easier and cleaner than maintaining a fully clean and functional drivetrain.

currently watching on bbc2. Religiously setting the video (remember then?) and recording, then watching the next day. Oh how I dream of sky + :cry:

Best thing on TV at the moment and completely hooked! Can see the DVDs being bought soon

so none of my bikes are road legal then. No reflectors :oops:

washing up liquid? Also make sure your already mounted tyre is nearest the rim you are trying to squeeze the other tyre on to as it gives it a slight bit more slack.

Then it is strong fingers, swearing and beer that does it.

on my old bmx back in the days of old I used a hammer and a sharp implement to take chains on and off. I guess things have changed and they are a bit more brittle now.

Got an old powerlink on another bike I don’t use so will take that off one chain and slap in bag just in case.

If you see a guy struggling round the dales with a broken chain, please stop laugh then help him!