Good god!!!! Think I might have just been inspired for a new winter project…….. :-)

Whole front page of the Guardian was a vodaphone ad last week, which can’t have pleased the core readership much.

Hahahaha brilliant! Must have a look on the website and see if there is any comment anywhere….. :-)

What will happen if you turn up late? Just slotted in wherever? Which then leads me on to what happens at the next stage – start time adjusted or you’ve got to make it back into your original place?

Hopefully we’ll see something like the SuperEnduro approach, where you have an alloted start time for each stage, so if you are late, effectively that adds to your run time, thus ensuring the best overall rider wins.

Not sure how much of it you kept from the original ad, but this starts alarm bells ringing. It isn’t the Financial Times, but normally editorial want nothing to do with Ad Sales, to avoid turning it into advertorial…

I tweaked that bit!

But based on personal experience from working on 3 major publications (not bike industry) and their associated websites, I can tell you 100% this is EXACTLY how it works in the majority of magazine publishing enterprises.

As a publishing/advertising industry insider, I’d suggest that ST seem to be less directly influenced than the average.

The polar opposite is of course magazines like Rouleur and the MTB equivalent which carry next to no ads (if any) but have a cover price of almost £10. So less a bike mag, more a “lifestyle publication”, destined not to be read, but to be left on glass coffee tables at jaunty angles to show how cool you are……… ;-)

What does distance and climbing have to do with it?

As in “amount of time on a bike lugging a full face helmet on your back tortoise style” because I have seen lots of whinging about that on other forums and FB ;-)

What I’d like to see, at the very least, is an entrant survey for a few representative events, with 3 simple questions-

Will you wear a full face?
Do you own a full face?
Would you still race if full faces were mandatory?

That’s not a bad idea.

And if they do make it compulsory, then there would be good cause to get a helmet sponsor onboard like Mega have with Bluegrass. Sell a cut price helmet through the event’s website, helping riders get a good deal on something they need, while also generating revenue for the organiser and gaining market share for the helmet sponsor. Win/win/win :-)

Shotsaway and Killforchips – I worked in ad sales for many years in various publications including some that you would think would be too left-leaning to bow to commercial pressures…….

“editorial support” was always the clincher when closing a deal!

End of the day, ads pay for publication and wages. Sales director of corporate advertiser with £150k annual budget can swing his d*ck pretty fearlessly when banding that kind of potential spend around – and no ad sales exec (likely to be on a £15-18k basic and reliant on commission to make a decent living, and to hit target to survive to next month) is going to let some perceived moral objection get in the way of that.

It’s what has always made Future’s policy so laughable for me, because I know exactly how it works in the real world………

*Not quite* the original advert……… ;-)

Department:Online Editorial
Location:Bath
Contract Type:Permanent
Job Ref:FP00170
Closing Date:13/11/2012

Do you want to write breaking news for the world’s number one bike website? BikeRadar.com is looking for a passionate News Writer to join the team, to cover anything from the latest Specialized Roubaix to rumours about SRAM’s new 12 x 1 drivetrain system.

As news writer you’ll write daily news and features for BikeRadar.com and upload these to the website. Working closely with the Advertising Sales Director you will generate ideas and follow up on leads to produce engaging and original news pieces that will drive traffic to BikeRadar.com, based on projected ad spend from a range of product suppliers and manufacturers. You will attend press events and trade shows, build strong contacts with the industry as well as conducting interviews to secure exclusive content for the website and free items for yourself to “test” on a “long term” basis before selling them on Ebay or Pinkbike.

You’ll possess excellent writing and research skills and have experience of writing copy quickly and accurately for websites. A journalism qualification or equivalent is needed alongside a sympathetic approach to “editorial support” for key advertising clients, regardless of our advertised “Honest testing policy”. A passion for bikes and the industry is essential, as is a keen interest in the internet.

If this sounds like the perfect role for you we want to hear from you. To apply you’ll need to submit your CV and a covering letter telling us why you would be great for the role. As part of your application please submit a 300-word news story about something current in cycling and also a cheque for £1000 to ensure your application is viewed favourably.

Job Description – News Writer – BikeRadar

Receive product – check annual advertising income from the products manufacturer – review accordingly, sounds like a pretty simple job to me .

You missed “make sure you get to keep said product as a long term test (honest guv)”.

Re: the full face thing – if you had seen the state of the guy I stopped to help at the Mondraker Enduro (he had used his face as a brake on a timed stage), you’d see the sense in it.

Speeds and technicality are not far from a normal UK DH race, but factor in smaller bikes and tiredness leading to mistakes, and it is a recipe for bad things happening. Remember that landowners/FC etc are typically pretty risk averse, so it’s not just the organisers being cautious, it is them thinking about making sure next year has somewhere to host the rounds.

Had no problem at all with 2 helmets in Italy for SuperEnduro. And that was over 50k with 2000m of climbing, so a UK enduro will be no worries.

Done quite a few of these now – including some rounds of Steve Parr’s series, the Enduro1 series and several internationals including SuperEnduro.

For me, the beauty is that it truly is a test of the best all round rider – transition cutoffs mean you have to be fit enough to get round with enough in the tank to then gun it on the downs, so it doesn’t favour a pure DH racer who might not have tons of stamina. By the opposite count, the DH focus means that unlike XC or marathon racing, you’re unlikely to find a roadie or CX racer with zero technical skill dominating just on the basis of legs & lungs.

I like the fact it is a bit of a tactical format too – finding the balance with energy management, bike preservation etc takes some calculation…….

I think it’s something that everyone turned a blind eye to from competitors right up to sponsors. I also think the situation will now improve if it hasn’t already, and that the UCI could yet implode off the back of it. I think the LA thing was a bit of a witch hunt, regardless of guilt, and I think it is likely to be politically motivated rather than for any love of clean competition.

But most of all it astounds me just how angry people seem to be. If the biggest worry in your life and the thing that gets you so riled up is a guy with shaved legs that you have never met being faster than another guy with shaved legs that you also have never met, then life must have dealt you a pretty kind hand………

My programme for this winter is very focused on enduro racing so I am going to be building on the areas I need to develop – namely speed training on my 29er, cardio with running and swimming, strength work using bodyweight & in the gym and then riding on my bigger bike to sharpen technical skills further.

I’ll also be doing as many of the 661 mini DH series and similar as possible on my 6″ bike to develop handling further in a range of conditions.

All about mixing it up and using multiple things to get the most out of any programme.

It’s also well worth checking out James Wilson’s site – he trained Aaron Gwin among many other top riders. http://www.bikejames.com

:-)

Wavejumper – I live about 15 mins ride from LW/AC and try to get up there a couple of evenings a week for a spin. My email is in my profile, drop me a line if you’d like to arrange something.

Generally can’t get out for the BMBC/CR ones as they start about 6:30 which is a bit too early for me to get home from work and then back out – 7:30 onwards is a bit more realistic.

:-)

Beta is another damn good brand.

Got a full Beta socket set with screwdrivers and hex keys in it. Not cheap, but really nice to use and seemingly pretty indestructible.

http://www.bikeradar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=10002&t=12860517&p=17685573&hilit=bfpo#p17683207

Race King

That tyre is like having Jedi’s nemesis constantly on your shoulder…… How to instantly turn a capable rider into an absolute Joey!!!

Good choices there Neil – I’m now running a pair of Minions on my Edison with a Crossmark for the rear on smoother/faster races.

Pretty much that was the standard config out at SuperEnduro – with either a RQ or Minion up front and a Crossmark or Small Block 8 out back.

I was running a WTB Moto up front and a Weirwolf out back which also has nice slidey characteristics.

Embrace the drift…….

Check on Bikeradar – there was a thread from some squaddies after them for Camp Bastion.

You even get a BFPO post thing so it’s free to send up to 2kg per parcel.

:-)

Or a replacement frame from one of the many other nice brands which Silverfish bring into the UK?

Silverfish are damn good at looking after people. I know someone who wanted an SB66 frame, but Yeti were running sloooooooooow on production/global supply and he was offered something else instead, in fact quite a significant upgrade.

I’d suggest a polite and pleasant call to Silverfish to ask what they can do to help. They’re all riders there so understand what it must be like to not have a bike, and if you are nice rather than being all ranty (which IMO nobody ever has an excuse to be), you’ll probably find them able to sort you out.

:-)

Yup you need SLX or one of the others – Zee, like Saint is 1×10 only due to the very short cage.

:-)

XT Trail for me too – got them on all my bikes.

Beauty is that they just work, and removing the bearing cartridge to regrease just needs a 17mm spanner, not that stupid plastic tool thing you need for the cheaper ones……..

I recently saw about a pilot “Bad Lads Army” bootcamp style parole system for what the system would term persistent but minor offenders. Instead of being put on tag and having to report once a day to a social worker for a chat about their feelings, a cup of tea and a biscuit, they have to go out with a group of ex Marines every morning at 7am and get properly beasted.

Net result is they a: are too knackered to go causing trouble afterwards, b: have some discipline forced upon them and c: probably for the first time in their life have a positive male role model rather than some waster (if present at all).

If they don’t attend every day, it’s back to court with a view to proper jail.

I reckon that’s not only a good way to knock them into shape, but also would create opportunities to help employ ex-servicemen in something valuable and where they can make good use of their skills.

I think as has been said here (and this is not a stab at the OP or anyone else for that matter before we have any tears), there needs to be some personal responsibility. Pay properly via Paypal, including paying the seller for recorded postage. And “paying” the seller for recorded means offering the extra £2 or whatever it is, not some stupid negotiation to try and get it for free.

If you are so tight that you don’t put a price on not getting ripped off, then you only have yourself to blame for leaving yourself exposed.

As I say, it’s not a stab at anyone, and it’s not in any way condoning dodgy sellers, but if there are precautions you can take as a buyer and you choose not to take them to save £2-3 or whatever, you should be looking closer to home as to why things went wrong.

Having just come back from there, the trails around Finale Ligure are incredible. Plus the town and region itself is fantastic & unspoilt by hordes of tourists, so cheap good food, nice people etc. :-)

Future tried it with Deal Zippy running the operation for a while. Uptake wasn’t amazing, and manufacturers were understandably a little reticent to take part and potentially alienate their target customers (online and B&M retailers) by cutting them out of the loop.

Remember that as much as cycling is growing in popularity, it’s still pretty niche, so the financial incentive is pretty low for any company getting into this arena.

:-)

Andy – that’s the combo that is floating my boat at the moment as i like the idea of a short cage rear mech given i’m never going to run a big ring at the front. Saint seems a little pricey in comparison even though it does have the bling effect.

Shifting is surprisingly SRAM like, in as much as it has a nice positive clunk into gear (I guess this is the clutch & extra tension), but requires lots less effort to shift. And the Zee mech is massively more substantial than the X9 with only a very small weight penalty (something like 70g on my scales).

I think it would be very hard to justify Saint now – Zee really is spot on, and for sensible money too. Going to put the entire group on my bigger bike.

Shimano Zee. Massive power, I reckon more modulation than the XT/XTR ones, cheap as chips and easy to fit, bleed and then not have to ever think about again.

I’ve just switched from X9 to Zee rear, XT shifter – much smoother shifting, definitely seems more substantial build too – and the shadow design keeps the mech just that little bit more out of the way…… Recommended.

Just go to your local bearing supplier with one of the old ones.

You’ll be amazed at the markup placed on a standard 2RS bearing the minute it is branded as a “special, top notch, sealed cartridge” MTB bearing.

Expect to pay no more than £4-5 a piece max for something at least as good if not better, if you follow the bearing supplier route.

:-)

get all the thieves off the streets and locked up in a big box

…….which is then slowly filled with water.

Seriously though – some very good points re: the “blind eye” sometimes turned by people when they see ridiculously low second hand prices.

Shame there’s not a local copper like that one on the South coast (was it MBR that ran the feature?) who took in on himself to really go in and investigate, and smashed that massive theft ring.

Got one both sides, been advised it’s fine to carry on with (by 3 different medical professionals) and had no significant issues in over 4 years.

Rumour has it the keyhole and mesh procedure is better and lasts longer than the traditional slice and stitch, as the muscle has something to “knit” onto.

Guess it’s a case by case thing – I was told that if it hurts or becomes a problem, then to get it done, but if not, to leave it for now.

Finale Ligure.

Loads of biking tour companies out there and it’s still 30c upwards as we speak. Trails are incredible but many are on the more extreme end of natural.

I’d say run a set of Shimanos, maybe look at the Zee or Saint as the 4 pot will mean you have less effective lever pull for a given amount of bite.

As has been said, the smart move is to trick the caliper by bleeding as per the standard instructions, then reinserting the bleed cup, putting about half a cup full of fluid in, pulling the lever once with no rotor or spacer block in. This in turn brings everything a bit closer, then mess round with the reach and bit adjusts to get it hunky dory.

Hope that helps!

:-)

I think we’ve just found Stickman’s car then.

We’re pretty sure Stickman is the grumpy old git who lives in the house on the fireroad, with a silver Merc.

He tried to mow down one of our group a month or so ago, and when we stopped him, he went into a mental old boy tirade, including coming out with the gem “don’t argue with me!”. One of our crew put it to him that we think he is the one putting sticks & logs over trails – he blustered a bit and stormed inside.

Am I alone in thinking, “Those slides look like fun!” whenever they do the safety video?

Until you hit the deceleration pad at the bottom and it gives you the mother of all wedgies!!!! 8O

I worked as cabin crew for 3 years after uni for a bit of a change (getting paid to travel with nice looking girls was a pretty cool move at 22!).

From the overwing exit to the wing, there is usually a strap that attaches to the wing and fuselage to help guide to a safer place to drop down.

But in the case of an evac (Did 1 real one in that 3 years and then 2 practice ones a year), passengers tend to “freeze” so you drag them, push them, do whatever it takes to get them out in the critical 90 seconds. A few broken ankles/arms/legs or whatever is pretty unimportant relative to the alternative……….

So you’re cool with god know what details about you (email , address, credit card etc.) being passed around unscrupulous people as long as you go “lah lah lah, I didn’t see it, so it’s okay”?

I only buy online from proper shops who have systems like Worldpay or Paypal portals so my card details are as safe as they can be anywhere. ID fraud protection on my accounts protects me in case anything like the CRC Worldpay hack ever happens again, and if a piece of “spam” or unsolicited email hits my inbox, I just delete it without opening. Simple.

Why not just mark as spam and forget it ever happened or turn off the forwarding to your main email? You’ll then not see the emails again and not have to waste time worrying about something that is (in real terms) pretty unimportant.

:-)

I’ve got 5 or 6 different routes home – all of which take in a mix of road, technical and backstreets/1 way sections so it becomes very hard to get a follow home. I think that’s probably the safest thing up at LW/AC – but you’re definitely right to trust your instincts I reckon.

You’re always going to find groups of lads having a cheeky smoke up the woods anywhere you ride, but as you’ve described these as a bit older than the average teen stoners, I reckon you are right to be concerned.

Riding up there tonight with a few mates – cheers for the heads up, will keep a beady eye out.

:-)

Got a Superstar Plasma – had one on my old bike too. Has worked perfectly through 2 years of hard use. Totally happy with it :-)