There is a mile long stretch of road that runs alongside the seafront, where im sure i could KOM today.

I should really drive my car down, have a 5 minute warm up and blast it.

But its too cold. So i cant be arsed.

Select ‘high pdf’ for download, after its downloaded dont open from the top left of screen but go to downloads on the desktop, it should open from there.

If it still doesnt work, re-install adobe, or dowload kindle free from google play, it should give you an option to read the magazine on kindle from the download screen.

It is but…

The goverment needs to do more than paint a picture of a bike on an old roman road, which seems to happen a great deal round here in Essex. We need a dedicated cycle path network. DEDICATED, the roads arent wide enough in the UK for us to cycle safely and for cars, lorries and whatever else to use the same patch.

I know we are improving, but you only have to cross the channel to see we are still about 20 years behind most of Mainland Europe.

26 to 27.5 isnt worth an upgrade

29 to 27.5 is a downgrade

26 to 29 is an upgrade

29 to 26 is madness

Not sure if its available in the UK yet, but a stages power meter would be the best way to train.

It may seem overkill but its transferable on Shimano cranks and garmin and smartphone compatible.

Power monitoring will make you a better and smoother rider, which you can measure accurately and see real progress without HR spikes.

Nice one. I rode one once, it was one of the single most unpleasant experiences of my life!

Spain has a huge problem with Roma gypsies. Aggressive little b*tards they are. Most Spanish cities have ‘gypsy’ zones where even the police won’t go.

They are completely fearless on a level that has to be witnessed to be belived, they make our own ‘ travelling communities’ look like tibetan monks by comparison.

That said while i was living in Eastern Europe i practically lived on the communities doorstep, and i never heard of any problem there. All they did all day long was collect scrap metal and drink booze, oh and claim benefits.

I think western cultutes are too soft, they know it and take advantage. In Eastern Europe the indiginous wouldnt think twice about ‘getting rid of Roma’ and im not talking about polite conversation either

i also place much lower than expected and am wondering if this is part if what I need to improve for the next rounds to carry more speed or just bring my HT instead.

Is this the first time you raced at Thetford?

The terrain is quite unique in the way that it looks easy, but because the forest is sand based its actually pretty tough esp if you arent used to riding constantly ‘power on’,i would say the bogging down is probably the stodgy condition of the trail this time of year as much as anything else. Its just sapping away at your legs.

A hardtail might be partial soloution on the next round as Brandon is much smoother and there are more climbs, but for the other sides of the forest stick with the full suss, unless its pouring with rain you can get away with racing ralphs quite happliy, high tyre pressures, make sure your shock pressures and re-bound are set correctly.

Most importantly try to train at Thetford, Tunstall or even Rendalsham which mimic Thetfords sandy stodgy conditions.

Good luck

push and pull, no really.

Specialized tricross – had it a week before selling it, a bike that half ticks every box but does nothing well.

XTC composite 29- Couldnt get comfy, bike either felt cramped or a stretch no matter what set-up i used, and for a carbon frame it didnt climb well but was still uncomfortably stiff. Broke it and sold it, luckily didnt loose too much money. The only Giant bike ive bought i regretted.

Guys with the exception of the leafy surly, these cross bikes look way too clean!

He is alot more chilled than i would have been, bet he started wearing a helmet after that too.

[quotesometimes, cyclists deserve all the shit they get.[/quote]

Some do, what they dont realise is groups like this a effing it up for everybody else.

How long would that driver have to sit behind them at 15mph before somebody moved their fat ass out of the way. The driver did that out of fustration.

You are about to get bombarded with boutique brands..

But not from me.

The two bikes you picked are brilliant, the Anthem is far more speed and race focused than the Trance, which you already found out but i would never describe the newer Anthems as twitchy, but they are responsive bikes. Did you ride the older Anthem model or the Anthem X (the Anthem X didnt have such steep angles)

The Trance is far more laid back in terms of its nature, and with more travel it will be better at more techy and steeper terrain. I havent ridden the Trance but initial reviews are very favourable, i rode the 26 inch trance and it came across as a bike you would probably never need to replace as it ticks so many boxes.

Dont buy a CX bike if you want to ride on anything other than very smooth fireroads or grass tracks. As it will probably do you head in after a while, they simply arent anywhere near as good or capable as Mtb’s off road, and unless you spend alot of money arent really any lighter than an 27.5 hardtail either, and therefore not much quicker on road either.

An Anthem or Trance for off-road and a cheapish road bike like a Giant Defy, Spech Allez would make a great team. :-)

Give it another 10 yrs and i think these will be worth a fortune

What a bunch of cocks

Long low intensity rides always in the morning for me, short fast stuff inc turbo after work.

no need for rattly MTB cleats on the road.

I must admit, I have never known SPD’s to rattle. That’s a new one on me.

+1 on the rattling cleats

Is there a huge difference between mtb and road cleats? Ive always used mtb shoes even on my road bike, used road cleats for about a week and e-bay’d em… never noticed a huge difference , except when i get off the bike and end up waddling like a duck at the coffee stop.

Cyclocross bikes, hybrids and fatbikes are a waste of garage space in my op, bearing in mind this is a mtb forum and most people on here own at least one hardtail, i dont see a point in expanding on that..

ill wait for the pitchforks. :o

edit : if you genuinely race cyclocross you are excused

The plan for my fleet is to stay with the full sus 29er and go 27.5 hardtail, i just put a deposit on a XTC advanced 2, based on my test ride, it definately brought the LBS carpark to life! :-)

But seriously, i did really like the ride and the bike did feel more sprightly than my 29 XTC

English is introduced at pre-school level in Eastern Europe in my experience, by the time they are 16, the students can speak English at an intermediate level. Out of hours English lessons are also very popular indeed.

So most 16 year olds could travel to the UK alone and get by, how many British 16 year olds could do the same in France and Germany?

Another thing that winds me up is hearing on the news that everybody wants to come to the UK because its paved in gold and benefits. In reality most people come here because English is their 2nd language and its the easiest English language speaking country to access. America and Australia are normally the end goal.

Flats on a CX bike, to be honest this sounds like a bike you just dont need.

Put some skinnys on your hardtail, whats the difference really?

There is no doubt Brad is the man on the bike, and i deeply admire what he does. But off the bike? Make your own mind up..

Get a tricross if you want a multi purpose bike,they seem to be evolving into a commuter bike with the latest editions. There are lighter and quicker cross bikes out there. Best one ive ridden is the Giant TCX SL, which would keep up with many so called fast road bikes with the right tyres.

Andy Murray will win it, because in the majoritys eyes Tennis is drug free sport, wheras Cycling and Athletics has the Microscope on them big time.

To me however, i think Tennis will be exposed. Its just a matter of time.Prepare to be shocked.

Just got back from a road ride and got badly cut up by a Driving Instructor (on her own), pointed to my head to indicate she was’nt thinking, she winded the window down and told me to F*ck off. I would very much like to name the company.

+1 on Merida, seriously underrated bikes in my humble op, gping from a mtb to road i would definately go down the cyclocross route. One thing i found when out on my road bike is covering big miles, finding paths and bridleways i didnt know existed, and therfore dying to check them out, but with the road bike not having the tool for the job. Ive got a cross bike now and just finding i can explore more, just call it reconissence for the mtb :-)

If i have something important to do computer wise i go to the Library, treat it as an office and leave your mobile phone or any other distractions at home.

Looking forward to seeing a very long prison term for this woman, make an example of her. RIP.

Give half the winnings to a selection of animal charities, and leave the country for somewhere hot and sunny, with mountains.

Just read all of that, and I’m afraid I still think “I’m dyslexic” is used as a catch all for any form of inability to write properly. From reading all of that I don’t see how saying “should of” or “your going to have to do something” (both of which are common, and personally I find infuriating) is anything to do with dyslexia, it’s either laziness or poor education.

Come again?

Well if they are so similar we dont need 650b. There, solved.

[quoteHe says ” let me speak to my Manager ” as he walks off let him get to the office and then follow him and give him your phone number on a piece of paper and say” here’s my number I’ve got to go , let me know if we can agree my deal “
And walk out……….[/quote]

Hmm, that could work two ways. Ive had three clients in the showroom at the same time wanting to buy the same car. The deal is very much dependent on how long the car has been in stock, if its been more than 30 days you are likely to get a good deal, its also very dependent on how well the month is going for the dealer, which you wont really know. But i would ask them how long they have had it.

But apart from anything else, be prepared to compromise, if the car is really nice and you really want it, dont loose out over a couple of hundred quid. Especially when it,s gonna give you years of service and cost you many thousands to buy.

Going out running or cycling normally raises some eyebrows, ive had comments like ‘ i dont know how you do it’ , i say its quite simple and involves getting up off your arse and walking further that to the car in the drive. :wink:

richP, but isnt pivot your sponsor? If it wasnt your sponsor, would the Anthem be built up?

went out for a 5 mile run. And ended up running 14 :-) :-)

another +1 for Anthem 29er, best bike ive ever owned defo.