Some routes here. Click "all sizes" above the pic to make readable.

Whats that route back up from Belmont like on Rivi easy? I've not tried San Marino yet, and from looking at maps, that looks the most sensible way to get back across..

Oh you do spoil yourself :D

http://flattyresmtbroutes.com/RivingtonPike.html

Thats quite a nice route, Healey Nab and Rivi including Ice Cream Run and Wildeswood, as well as the Pike and the Pigeon Tower. Also passes through the gardens and by the bungalow if you're interested in that.

San Marino goes from the mast to Belmont. Ice Cream Run goes from the Pigeon Tower to the carpark below, and comes out next to the track that goes up through the gardens.

Good luck, I've started doing something about my fitness, and its amazing how quickly you see results when you work at it. I've always struggled with motivation in the evenings though, so I'm going for mornings, less time to talk yourself out of it!

Personal opinion isn't it really. In my opinion, if your changing the fork, I'd always go for the QR15, but I don't think the cost of upgrading your current fork is worth it, no.

£250 is a lot of cash you could spend elsewhere.

My remmington cordless is fine too, better than the corded one I had before, in fact. And you can use it plugged in too, if the battery dies midcut.

Ordered twice from them, once for the VP Dark Peak guide and once for their own route maps. Both times the service was fantastic.

<stw>Tell her to MTFU</stw>

Ignore, ignore, ignore.

I got one, and my biggest mistake was replying to them, they wouldn't leave me alone then. Eventually got the message when my solicitor gave them a ring.

I like my 710mm Fatboys.

There is a bridge at Rivi thats about 715mm wide though, which requires nerves of steel :D

Was it this one:

http://www.stewartpratt.com/?p=88 ?

Since the begining of this month, I've been getting up an hour earlier and either going on the exercise bike in the garage, or out for a ride for half an hour or so. It was tough the first week or so getting out of the habit of sleeping in late, but now I just set the alarm same as always and get up in the morning and get on with it.

The biggest motivation for me is that I already notice the difference when I go out for a proper ride. I've always only done 1 ride a week, and not particularly pushed hard then, so to change to riding most days has meant a leap forward in my fitness. I'm riding where before I was pushing, and getting real pleasure out of climbs now, rather than just struggling my way up in order to ride back down.

There's nothing at all hardly to ride around here, so I can only really do a quick loop on tarmac cycle lanes and road, but every moment your heart rate is up and you're sweating is a benefit. I'm timing myself too now, and noticing the times start to fall. Hopefully soon I'll be able to stretch the rides out a few miles and make it a bit more interesting.

So get out and do it. I also feel far more awake at work, so its win all round really.

Thanks for the link, very useful tool, can plug some gaps in my maps now :)

Andi – hubs are pro2s (have the qr15 and 20mm adapters)
The revs are 20mm maxle and the talas qr15

These ones?

The picture shows maxle, but the description says..

Quick release only (not maxle).

What are your hubs?

No experience of either, but the fact the Fox is 15QR and the Rock Shox is QR would be the deal clincher for me. I really like the 15QR system, but if you haven't got 15QR hubs, its may mean extra expense to change.

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6'3ish, Large frame, 80mm stem. The stock stem that came with it was a bit long for my liking. It's a great bike, far more capable than I am.

I think we should get some Team Brant and Team Mark t-shirts printed :D

I used my Dakota 20 for the first time today, and I'm made up with it. Perfect size for the stem, nice and clear, and easy to follow a route on.

Not even opened my copy yet, its only just arrived..

But when the first response to criticism is to offer a refund and rant about customers on twitter, its a bit dissapointing..

Poke her on facebook.

The bloke behind the tree laughing at you for falling for it.

Didn't help the poor fella that someone was recording his potential **** up on camera.

Steep drops scare the crap out of me, I think I'd of bottled it too. It really is just a mental block, you get to the edge and can't force yourself to go over, you just want to hit the brakes.

One you like the taste of.

Important factor that a lot of people forget about and just look at the contents. It can be the best drink ever, but its no use sat in your bag because you can't stand the taste.

And for that reason, and for ease of buying, I stick with Lucozade Sport.

Tow bar for me too. I reckon I could get the rack on the car and the bike on the rack in less than 2 minutes if I tried.

Expensive, especially if you've not got a tow bar fitted already, but worth it.

MX bikes are definetly banned. I think there's a number on the information boards that you can call and report anything like that on.

Thats what I want to avoid! I dont mind riding the same over again even if it was only say 2miles but it flowed and I could pick/experiment with lines etc.

Do as I said then, you'll miss out on the last two sections (the section with the two big jumps and the singletrack bit back to the gate) but cut out the big climb. You can then do the new climb if you want or cut that out (you'll be missing some good stuff that way though) and carry on with the original red loop.

You mean within the quarry?

You could play on the skills area for a while, theres not too much height drop there. Or you can turn right instead of going over the cattle grid/bridge and join the fireroad at the top of the first climb and cut the big climb out. There will always be some height drop though.

In the new first section, signposted black, you go left and the red goes straight on.

From Ed O's Flickr..

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It's pant wettingly steep when you stand next to it :D

All the closed signs are gone, and there are signs directing you on to it. Someone asked Ed on twitter and he told them it was ok to ride, straight from the horse's mouth so to speak ;)

The guys from ST were riding it the other day too.

Went again yesterday, and conditions have improved loads in the last week, it was really good fun.

All the new stuff is now waymarked up and the closed signs gone, and I can confirm, its bloody superb :D

Some really, really brilliant work done, spent a good few hours just playing on the new skills area, those berms are excellent :D

The slab scared the pants off me though, I'll be keeping well clear of that for now :D

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Nice 8)

(you were using the page URL rather than the image)

You need a / in the end tag

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Good to see it was just me having a bad day :D

So when do we officialy get a green light to start riding the new skills sections?

Keep us updated on the volunteer group Tony, we spoke the other week, and as I said, I'd definetly be interested :D

Was a bit of ice left on Friday, but mainly just very wet. Especially where the new stuff is going in and the machinery has churned it up. The trail is starting to suffer a bit in places too, theres some definete braking bumps forming around the jumps near the end. Might just have been me feeling negative though, I'd just crashed over the bars and was feeling a bit pee'd off.

Still good though, and can only improve with this dry spell. And once all the new stuff is up and running.

If theres an advantage for me (be it price, convenience, service etc) then I'll use an LBS, but I feel no loyality otherwise.

Why should I be out of pocket to fill someone else's pockets?

An LBS is a business run for profit for the shop owner.

Try http://themightyraygun.co.uk/

The Calender says Cwmcarn this weekend.

I think he was talking about people making cartoons, but don't let that stop you.

Tried it, didn't like it, switched back.

I personally couldn't find any confidence while clipped in, was constantly thinking about the pedals instead of the riding. Switched back to flats and bought some 5.10s instead.

I like my Thule, but I fear it may be out of your reasonably priced criteria (personally, I think its worth it, but you might not).

They also do a high level brake light as an accessory if you're that worried, but I find the light bar to be the same height as a lot of vans and trucks.