Same happened to me. What I did was to go into Garmin Connect and into the ride in question. Export original then delete them from Garmin. Then just manually import it into Garmin again. You may have to remove it from the zip file first.

I’ve been using a DHB Slice 25l for the last few years. It’s designed with commuting in mind and is incredibly well thought out with lots or compartments and pockets to organise and store. There’s a 30l version on the Wiggle web site which you should fit a laptop into. I especially like the hip belt pockets which you can access without removing the pack itself. It gives quick access to things like keys and my work pass so I don’t have to faff around when it’s raining. It’s fairly resistant to showers and light rain but there is built in rain cover for longer downpours. Considering mine is used 5 days a week and is getting on for 4 years old it shows no signs of wear and tear and is in very good condition.

The question was cheapest worth having so I also have to say a Joystick. I have had 2 of these and they are both still working well after years of use. I think the first one I bought was the Mk 3 or 4. I also have an Exposure Axis which although a little more expensive again is a great helmet light with lots of nice features like the tap technology.

Cup and cone bearings in a headset? I was referring to sealed headset bearings.

It’s usually the headset with me but it sounds like it’s coming from the wheel. Take the bearings out and clean them and the cups. Very lightly grease them and refit. It’s so annoying and usually happens after a wet spell when things have dried out.

Also this place up the road (don’t know if they have storage though)
Nant Ddu

Definitely won’t come under the cheap option but a very nice place 🙂

I’ve not seen that particular one before but from reading the description would seem as though it fit.

I don’t know too much about rigid forks sorry.

Just be clear when buying an adaptor the difference between BB30 42mm shell diameter and Pressfit PF30 46mm shell diameter.

Ah yeah the BB, I’d forgot about that 🙁 I bought a PressFit 30 to BSA Adaptor Kit so I could use my existing Hope BB and XT chainset on it. I think you may have to do something similar. They’re about £20 IIRC and need pressing in but my pikey threaded bar and 2 pieces of wood headset press did this easily. I considered this a better long term option that using PF30 bearings and it’s proved to be the case as I’ve not had to change the Hope BB.

If you’re riding isn’t overly technical as you suggest then the Mamatisa will handle it no problem. Mine’s being used for commuting at the moment actually as I bought a Cube Reaction GTC Race a few months back. I’m using a rigid fork as my commute is mainly on cycle paths but it’s great for that.

I’ve had one for 4 years and I’ve used it from general playing around use to 12 hour races. It’s quite capable of all XC duties but the one thing I would say is a must is to run it tubless with low tyre pressures. If you don’t you’ll find it’s a harsh ride compared to the High Latitude. Typically I’d be running 25psi or under on the back and around 18-19psi on the front.

If it’s just XC trail riding your doing then personally I’d stick with the High Latitude or look at the Salsa El Mariachi (do they still do it?) if it’s a Salsa you want. But if you’re looking for a race bike then the Mamasita certainly fits the bill.

Hmmm, it looks pretty full and they do tend to detach themselves once they’ve fed. When was the last time you inspected your leg as it may have been there for a few days? Speaking as someone who’s had Lyme disease you really want to keep an eye on it. When I found a tick on my leg after Bristol Bikefest 2 years ago it was on the Tuesday after and I’d had 2 showers before I even noticed it.

You can have a blood test but they aren’t that reliable until the antibody has formed as it’s that they test for. The sooner you catch it the more effective the antibiotics are so personally I would visit your doctor for advise. I had to go twice before they would test me. The first time he said it can’t be Lyme disease as there was no bull’s eye rash, which I found later to be not true. Two or three weeks later I started to feel like crap (a bit like having the flu) which lasted longer than it should have. The doctor then agreed to test me and it came back positive.

The first 3 week course of antibiotics eased the symptoms for a few weeks but I then needed a much stronger 3 week course as the symptoms returned.

But it’s a triathlon, so he’ll need to keep something back, right?

He’s only doing the cycling leg of it 😉

The gates normally open 8:30-8:45 to drive in but you can’t ride the trails officially until you’ve bought a pass when the centre opens at 9. Say hi if you see me 😉

I’ve been running tubeless with Stans for many years and have never had this problem until recently. Usually my bikes are kept in the shed but as it started to leak through the winter I moved my them into my son’s bedroom (it’s a big bedroom and he doesn’t mind). Now I get this issue on front and back. The front is a Nobby Nik which is getting on for over a year or so old and the rear a Racing Ralph about 6 months old. Also never heard of scrubbing the inside and have never had to in the past.

Yes that’s the one 🙂 That’s a good time fair play, I wouldn’t get anywhere near that 🙁 Although I don’t suppose you had to stop to open the gates with it being an event lol 😉

I’ve probably done that climb a 100 times being local, it never gets any easier you just end up riding it faster 😉

Crispo, which Strava segment are you referring to? I didn’t think the Beast used the Brinore Tramroad. But I’ve not done the event for a few years and certainly didn’t do it in 2014.

I gave the 500 miles a month a go during 2015. I sailed through the first 7 months of the year until August and the first 2 weeks being taken up with the family holiday. Fitting 500 miles into the second half of August was a bit of a challenge but I had expected it. September and October were ok but then it got really hard once the clocks went back. It wasn’t so much the dark mornings and evening of November and December more the constant rain and wind! The weather during these 2 months seriously tested my resolve!

Anyway, I managed to complete it but I won’t be actively trying to complete it again that’s for sure. November and December are seriously tough months to ride a 1000 miles in!

I’ve been doing the 500 miles per month challenge which I managed to complete. November and December were a real challenge with all the lovely weather we’ve been having and really tested my resolve. But August was the hardest month as I was on holidays for the first 2 weeks.

My stats are below in miles:-

Dec 2015….551.96
Nov 2015….515.64
Oct 2015….530.58
Sep 2015….704.34
Aug 2015….503.15
Jul 2015….776.86
Jun 2015….661.96
May 2015….804.23
Apr 2015….541.1
Mar 2015….537.89
Feb 2015….569.96
Jan 2015….622.49
Summary….7320.17

Another Cube Reaction GTC owner here who’s really happy with it. I’ve only raced once on it so far at Bristol Oktoberfest, so not the most forgiving terrain. But I found I was lapping a lot faster than previous races there even though the first 3 hours or so were rather slippery. I’ve always raced on hardtails though and the Cube replaced an Alu 29er. I find that tyre pressures are the key to comfort and tubeless are a must to achieve this. Typically I’m running around 24psi rear and 19psi front. Not sure how accurate my pump is though 😉

I’m looking forward to finishing my 2015 500 Miles a Month challenge by Christmas Eve and not having to even think about riding over Christmas 🙂

You certainly won’t need the 160mm Enduro bike! It’s a great place to ride but nothing technical enough to warrant 160mm. Some great flowing singletrack and some remote mostly natural double track if you do the long loop.

Can’t put a front mud guard on as I drive halfway and cycle halfway at the moment so wouldn’t get the bike in the back of the car with a fixed guard in place.

I have a fixed mudguards and also drive halfway. Not sure why you can’t do this just make sure the bars are kept straight.

The best combination for me are full length mudguards and overshoes. The most effective overshoes I’ve bought are Planet X neoprene. If I’m wearing tights then I make sure they go over the overshoes to help stop the water running inside. But with full length mudguards there’s no spray directly onto the overshoe so even if I’m wearing shorts there is minimal water running down my leg and inside the overshoe.

Yes I tried it too and couldn’t see anything to justify paying for it each month.

Those dogs are a menace! So much so that one mate stopped doing the Gap with us just because of them. You can do a very short detour though and completely avoid that farm. Simply turn left just after the short steep climb after the stone bridge. Then take the next right after about half a mile. If you stay on that road it takes you straight into Llanfrynach or, the next right after about half a mile brings you to the junction after the dreaded farm.

Hope the police can sort something out with the farmer so this detour isn’t necessary.

My flat commute can see me average around 18mph with very little climbing but my ride on Saturday saw me struggle to average 15mph, but it did have 2000m of climbing!

Comparisons of answers are going to be unrealistic.

You guys who are berating Dez for his supposed overreaction, do you actually commute on the roads?

I have every sympathy and would more than likely reacted in a similar manner. Overtaking a cyclist then causing them to brake obviously goes against the highway code. I commute by bike every day and must get at least 3 or 4 incidents a week.

One of the worse examples was being overtaken yards before a roundabout for the car to suddenly brake to give way to traffic already on the roundabout. This car had a blue light on the roof! I made a few gestures to show my displeasure and the car pulled off. A quarter of a mile down the road said Police car had stopped and the police woman pulled me over to ask what the problem was! After a brief discussion in which she seem totally oblivious to what she had done, I pointed to the light on my helmet said, “don’t worry it’s all on camera” and cycled off. She didn’t follow me. I hope she had a worrying few days wondering if I was going to report her and reflecting on her bad driving! 😉

What’s this, the post your excuses not to ride 500 miles a month thread! 😉

I have the Endura Luminite gloves which Cyclescheme sent me to review. My hands were cold yesterday morning at about -2 or -3 on a road bike averaging about 18mph. They did eventually warm up after 30 minutes or so but initially they were cold. I tried them with liners this morning which was much warmer obviously. I’ve not tried them in the rain yet so can’t say how waterproof they are. My only gripe with them is the cuff is a little short and if I don’t pull your base layer all the way down my wrists are cold.

I also have a pair of Sealskinz Winter gloves. You can buy them at various thermal ratings, mine are 4 with 5 being the warmest. These cope with -2 or -3 without the need of a liner and are 100% waterproof, as long as you make sure your jacket is over the cuff 😉 The cuffs are longer than the Luminite gloves and keep my wrists warm. These are the first “waterproof” gloves that I can honestly say are 100% waterproof and I’ve tried quite a few including older versions of Sealskinz.

I’ve tried Aldi gloves and while they are warm with a glove liner I’ve always found that prolonged riding in the rain has resulted in wet hands. Although they are warm wet hands.

Alex, that route up the Brinore Tramroad is correct until it gets to the junction to Dyffryn Crawnon. I would normally keep on heading up to the top then head right across Bryniau Gleision and descend to Dolygaer and Pontsticill Reservoir.

https://app.strava.com/activities/27514970

Strava segment

https://app.strava.com/segments/5256289?filter=overall

The Brinore Tramroad out of Talybont on Usk. 5 miles of rocky double track with some challenging sections and some of the best views in Welsh mountain biking when you get near the top.

There are some excellent suggestions and advice in this thread! But, at the end of the day you will also need a large dose of MTFU on long rides. Things hurt but if you can get through it they usually stop hurting when something else starts to hurt 😉 You’ll probably find that your shoulders will stop aching when your wrists start to hurt then your wrists stop hurting when you feet start to hurt an on an on.

Bought some last week for use on the winter commute bike as I was sick of having to change bearings every few hundred miles on the FSA Team 30 pile of crap I had. They seem perfectly fine for what I want to use them for, a bit heavier than the Team 30 but at least I don’t have to break 5 tyre levers every time I change a tyre.

In my experience no tyre will protect you fully against glass punctures. Some will be more resistant than others but eventually the shards of glass will work their way in.

You can help yourself though. Every evening I turn my bike upsidedown and slowly rotate the tyres inspecting them for embedded shards of glass and dig them out with a pointed knife. I’m not saying I don’t get punctures any more but probably had about 2 or 3 last year doing around 4500 commuting miles.

Quite surprised by that. I’d have spent the money upgrading around the CAAD8 frame. Not ridden one but they seem to be highly rated.

As far as climbing is concerned there’s not much in it, the PX is lighter so maybe just edges it. But it’s descending where I found the biggest difference. I didn’t realise how twitchy the CAAD 8 was until I rode the PX. Just point the PX and it goes there. I suppose it also helps that the Ultegra brakes on the PX are massively better than the Tiagra on the CAAD.

I bought the PX Pro Carbon back in February which came with FSA Team 30 Wheelset. The wheels weren’t good to be honest, flexed, slow to pick up and generally felt sluggish. I bought a set of Fulcrun Racing 5 wheels in June and there’s a massive difference. Slightly lighter, noticeably stiffer and more responsive. The other thing that made a difference was changing the San Marco Ponza saddle. That was one hell of an uncomfortable piece of rubbish. It’s only me second road bike but is far superior to the CAAD 8 Tiagra I replaced.

I got given a Roadhawk Ride camera as part of my involvement with Cycle Scheme. It does the job nicely and is much cheaper than a Go Pro.

To be honest it’s also made me a more careful rider as video evidence will work both ways.

I’ve had one confrontation since I’ve been using it when a driver took exception to my displeasure when he got too close. As he started to rant at me I informed him he was being videoed and the incident had been videoed. He got back in his car in a huff and drove off.

You got mail Stiggy

I’ll email it in the morning Stiggy

There’s no trail centre as such in Brecon.

The Gap is a nice natural loop that you can start from just north of Merthyr Tydfil. It takes you right through the Breacon Beacons to Talybont on Usk where’s there’s a lovely little cafe for a mid ride stop. Then climb back the other side of the Talybont valley and descend back to the start. It’s around 28 miles and is basically 2 long climbs and 2 long descents with some road linking them.

I can send you a GPX if you are interested?