llama – Member
Was going to go on friday but to cheddar gorge. You think Wells would be better? Anyone reckon its possible to see the climb up the gorge then pedal over to wells for the finish too?

I don’t reckon Wells will be a bunch finish

Big group of us riding down (from Bath), plan is ride down through the gorge, up and down a few times, coffee, find a prime spot, chalk a few names up, shout abuse at them as they come through and they charge after them, turn left where they go straight on toward Shepton Mallet and head for the climb out of Wells (Old Bristol Hill), see them up that and then head down into Wells for the finish and autograph and bidon hunting, something to eat and ride home 😆

Last time it’ll be coming to Somerset for a while – they’ve sadly ended their sponsorship 🙁

fourbanger – you’re Bristol way aren’t you?

Which club was it? (Apologies if it’s mentioned above and I’ve missed it).

Appreciate you could just answer ‘it’s my choice’ but why didn’t you wear a lid?

(FWIW I’m pro helmet anti compulsion but would never consider not wearing a lid for most of the riding I do – Sat morning chain-gang rides included).

I’ve no idea..

Does that help at all?

Done 🙂

The Gatorskins are good, Spesh Armadillo similar.

Not tempted to go down to 25’s?

Ok not as forgiving but surprisingly far more lively and fast – you’ll immediately feel the difference..

AnalogueAndy – Member
Has anyone got Di2 (or tried it?)

Answering my own question – awesome review Here from a guy in states who ran 2 groups on lots of bikes including CX..

Has anyone got Di2 (or tried it?)

I borrowed a Trek fitted with it. Not a completely fair test as the bike was new to me (I ride a Colnago which I chose to stick Dura Ace on instead of Campag after years of problems getting spares for old and not so old campag kit).

The Di2 was easy to get used to (more intuitive than any other ‘conventional’ shifter) and worked great.. if money was no object I’d have bought it.

There was an interview with one of the pro team riders (or was it a mechanic possibly?) that hinted at some reliability issues.. I guess the fact that I can’t find it and the fact that they’re bringing out an Ultegra version means if there was an issue they’ve ironed it out.

Lots of talk above about the numbers of people using the trails.. an amazing 30,146 passes clocked up since mid June

http://www.1sw.org.uk/experience/a-measure-of-success-for-ashton-court/

The cycle counter at Ashton Court Estate near Bristol has been doing overtime since it was installed in mid June.

In just six weeks it clocked up a staggering 30,146 passes – that’s an average of 412 cyclists per day using the trail. When you consider the previous average was around 160 cyclists per day, we believe it’s proof that the trail is succeeding in attracting lots of new people into off-road cycling, despite the glorious British summer! The busiest day so far has been Sunday 10 July, when 969 passes were recorded.

All this use is fantastic, but all the images we have so far are lacking people! If you have a favourite photo of yourself or friends riding the new trail and don’t mind sharing it with us, please e-mail it to jonathan.fairhurst@forestry.gsi.gov.uk .

Yawn, can I be bothered? 😉

PP, you mention ‘IAM training’ – what training? Have you done the test?

BTW it’s hard shoulder, then lane 1,2,3,4 from left to right, not inside, outside, middle, slow, fast, overtaking, lorry etc etc etc. 👿

Nobody’s mentioned the Ghost or Comedy Walks yet..

http://www.ghostwalksofbath.co.uk/

http://www.bizarrebath.co.uk/

As well as the Raven, make sure you get in The Star and The Old Green Tree.

Home

As well as the river based stuff how about a walk up one of the hills to Beckfords Tower (you could get the park and ride back)

Bath Preservation Trust

Or there’s the ‘tower’ tour of Bath Abbey

http://www.bathabbey.org/tower_tours1.htm

At the other end of the market – I’m sure you won’t be interested 🙂 -a couple of ladies turned up at a rugby club / 50th party I went to recently to put on a ‘show’ – they even gave out their cards at the end (didn’t keep one but could give you the www ad!!)(I must live a sheltered life, I never knew such ‘services’ were available in Bath)

The Bath MTB Weds Night lot headed over for (a mostly) first time ride on the new trails last night.

Not a good start, torrential downpour and got absolutely soaked riding over from Bath (on the Railway path).

Rain had stopped tho’ by the time we met up with the others at the car park.

Headed into the woods and my glasses steamed up! Things improved when I also remembered to let some of the 65psi I’d put in my tyres for the ride over..!

Local John took us on a guided tour of the new stuff plus a couple of diversions. Trails wet (puddles in places).

Impressions?? “like a long version of the BMX track” “flows amazingly well” “needs to be ridden at speed” “surprisingly hard work” “not a lot of space for overtaking” “where did they get the grippy rock from?” “should be fun at Oktoberfest” “great idea, mini version of the big trail centres close to the City, a great way of introducing newbies” etc. etc.

So positive really 🙂

Saw loads of other riders / groups. All seemed to be enjoying themselves. Passed one tutting dog walker noted the vandalised signs 🙁 already. Saw the police checking the car park (which was good to note).

Anyone know if thee attempts are still happening?

None in Bath this week, but as posted on here somewhere at least one address in Bristol was done this week.. and the Bike Fest organiser had his MX bikes taken 🙂

Oh go on then 🙂

A bit more info. Locals will gather those addresses are all close to the end of the Bristol Bath Railway Path, as mentioned in the police press release there was a suggestion people may have been tailed back to their home addresses (sound familiar? – same tactic used in Bristol).

You might be thinking, ‘ahh but there are lots of routes off the end of the path where a car can’t follow’ – correct but be aware there is a suggestion they are tailing people on a motorbike / moped.

Also as in Bristol, they are going equipped with equipment to overcome security measures.

Someone called 🙂

There is a group that rides out of Keynsham but you don’t want to ride with them (allegedly) 😉

As llama said there’s plenty on the hills around Lansdown or also within reach are the trails around Newton St Loe, Inglesbatch, Englishcombe.

Someone posted recently looking for downhill / freeride stuff specifically.

If you’re more after XC then we ride out of Bath every Wed night (6.30 Widcombe) and could head over that way..

I’ll keep a close eye on my bath then

They’re only after posh cast iron ones on legs apparently, not the nasty cheap plastic ones 🙂

Was there last week (Woodyhyde), some fantastic riding. Don’t miss the singletrack to Agglestone Rock.

http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/purbecks-swanage-campsites

Say ‘hello’ to Mr Grumpyman 🙂

Following this one up in case anyone comes back to it.. we used Woodyhyde in the end. 3 fields, one huge, loads of space, not specified pitches (another field with electric hook-ups if required).

New shower block in the process of being built, existing one will then become loos – it is currently ‘past it’s best’! (only 3 mens showers which led to queues).

Found the ‘ace rocky downhill’ referred to by RichPenny above – drops right into the campsite!! And directly opposite is another BW that leads up to the Corfe to Studland ridge so a perfect base to explore the trails (we did a 20 mile off-road loop as a family one day).

..rode into Corfe for fresh bread and beer from the new local shop there each day too. Nice bottled beer / cider selection from local breweries 🙂

Ouch!

Googling reveal these guys –

http://www.carboncyclerepairs.co.uk/index.html

Also depends upon the grips..

.. have currently got Scott Contessa (Womens) grips fitted on two of the girls bikes – both are alipping despite trying hairspray and 3M spraymount, (cleaned bars first with sticky stuff remover).

Am now trying super glue but realise that’ll probably mean cutting them off if I need to remove them..

Whatever you think of the sentence* the judge has once again proved the system stinks.

She is the same woman who recently dealt with the case of another judge who beat up his wife – she gave him a community order. She is also the judge who cleared TSG riot cop Delroy Smellie of assault after he slapped a female protester in the face and hit her in the legs with his baton.

I know not many of them bother with them generally but she completely ignored sentencing guidelines.

And refused him bail whilst he appeals the sentence.

The judge has clearly taken into account the location and the status of the target (and the fact they will be reported on the tele) as aggravating factors when she shouldn’t have.

*Personal view – a fine not custodial.

Vilnius mayor crushes car parked in cycle lane

Lithuania The mayor of Lithuania’s capital, Vilnius, has been filmed using an armoured vehicle to crush a car parked illegally in a cycle lane.

“That’s what will happen if you park your car illegally,” Mayor Arturas Zuokas, an avid cyclist, says in a clip posted on the Vilnius City website.

The apparent owner then arrives to see his wrecked Mercedes being towed.

The stunt was shot over the weekend for a popular Swedish TV series, 99 Things You Should Do Before You Die.

You have to have a sense of humour in my line of work”
Arturas Zuokas

Mayor of Vilnius
“Vilnius seemed friendly, modern and full of surprises – like the town mayor,” the Vilnius City website quotes Swedish TV host Macka Edlund as saying.

In the video, Mr Zuokas ticks off the car’s owner, sweeps up the broken glass from the wreckage and then hops on a bicycle and rides off – a scenario many cyclists would relish.

“You have to have a sense of humour in my line of work and I thought this would be a way of drawing attention to the fact that the city intends to be proactive in its fight against illegal parking,” the mayor was quoted as saying by the Small World News Service.

The BBC’s Russian Service reporter in Vilnius, Aushra Radzeviciute, says illegal parking is not a big problem in the city, but in its central streets it is strictly prohibited.

Mr Zuokas has long urged city resident to take up cycling, introducing various bicycle schemes and cycle lanes in his time in office.

Got one in similar circumstances. Tell him to post a reply and wear the Neg with pride, if anyone looks they’ll see it says “I’m honest and open and unfortunately dealt with a p…k”

Another vote for refurb, I think mine must be older than 7 years even, have been on 3 bikes and been refurbd twice.

Take the opportunity to replace the hoses for a braided one if you’ve not already

Raining so

15 in

Hopefully dry later

17 home

Total 32

I’m not quite as slim-hipped as AnalogueAndy

You charmer 🙂

I did once try botching a pair of ‘extra long’ bibs by stitching some extra ‘bib’ in – my stitching lasted less than one ride!

Cheers for the recommendations, 5l Jizer ordered

tranaspp – ygm

Yep, Bath. Twice now. They actually chose a shorter loop this year based on feedback from last year.

It poured with rain though so numbers were well down – still a great event – lots going on as well as the ride.

Like you say, a great way of getting families and ‘non-cyclists’ to get it out from the back of the shed/garage.

Know what you mean!

How tall and skinny? 6’6 here, 37 arms, 34 waist, 44 chest.

Have tried all those and more, I found the top of the range Pearl Izumi the best – the bibs are a bit longer but also stretch more.

A mate swears by North Wave but I don’t like their chamois.

Can’t really help with arm warmers – I got Santini to make some long ones when they did our team kit.

Great thread!

Re the ‘you need to be used to riding in a group first’ argument, I’ve been racing on and off for 20years and it’s definitely got crazy in the last 2 or 3.

Too many peole coming to road racing from with no experience whatsoever of riding with a club.

There’s even talk about BC issuing a ‘provisional’ license – you need to do at least say 4 club runs and be assessed as ‘safe’ before you are allowed to enter a race.

..that said, nothing properly prepares you for racing.

Have fun, don’t go mad, aim to stay with the bunch and come back to tell us how you get on 😆

Might be worth sticking a copy of the map in this thread to refer to:

From the link:

Workshop Address: Hamilton House (Connolly & Callaghan Building), City Rd, St Pauls.

If you are coming down to see us, the access is at the rear of Hamilton House on City Road near the junction with Stokes Croft. Hamilton House is the five-storey office block set back from the road next to an outdoor car-valeting business. There is a small car park in which to park whilst dropping off bikes.

richc – Member
I got a puncture on the Bristol to Bath last week on my commute, 4 people stopped to ask if they could help, which was nice and reaffirmed my believe in people are generally pretty nice given half a chance

Which day? Near Bitton? I think one of them was me.

Although these days I normally only stop for attractive young ladies 😉

http://www.kelynackholidays.co.uk/

Highly recommended – close to Sennen walk down through the valley to the local bay, safe play area for the kids and currently an orphaned calf to feed (we were there 2 weeks ago).

the-muffin-man – Member

Don’t know any yet, I’ll start looking properly tonight – can you recommend any?

We’d need leccy hook-up, and not too far from the coast.

Best of the bunch

http://www.nicholastonfarm.co.uk/

Sloping pitches mostly but great facilities, walk down through the dunes to the beach and trails on your doorstep 🙂

Its ‘Gower’ like ‘Wales’ not ‘The Wales’ but we’ll let you off 🙂

And better than bearable, recommended

We go most years, these days more for long weekends.

Surprisingly beautiful given proximity to Swansea 🙂 Fabulous beaches large and small with surprisingly tons of space, surfing too. Some great riding (family and ownsome) (come back for routes if you need them).

Plenty to do on wet days (eg L2), nice restaurants for days out.

Which camp site were you looking at?

I misread the thread title as ‘Polish’ 🙂

If you’re after quiet and romantic try this new French place. Doing a deal on free bottle of wine at the moment too apparently.

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g186370-d2175098-r114326734-Cote_Brasserie_Bath-Bath_Somerset_England.html

Jamies on a Saturday – still great service and food but very ‘lively’ – waiting in the bar can be part of the experience if that’s what you after but ‘quiet and romantic’ it ain’t 🙂

Wot molgrips said ^

From what you say it’s your stregnth and speed that is getting you dropped rather than your endurance / stamina.

Have you read any Friel?

http://www.google.co.uk/products?q=friel+cyclist%27s+training+bible&hl=en

<Yawn>

It’s all cycling, it’s all good. Get back under your bridge / flyover.

Re the comment about STWs ‘core audience’, we’ve done numerous polls before, most of us ride both road and off-road, we’re the core audience. Not those who make a special effort to exclude either.

oldfart – Member

Analogue Andy spot on with the I.D.

Thought so 8)