Remember seeing KeeWee bikes all over NZ in the early 2000’s, big indestructible things that suited a lot of agricultural riding!  Had forgotten all about them.

There was a 5th element shock on a Heckler I bought at some point, ti spring made a massive difference to the overall weight – was a fancy bit of kit at the time (2003?).

I noticed a new coffee bar has opened on Bridge/West Street when I was there early in the week – eager to hear a report as I didn’t have time to stop!

Standard beams come in particular depths, from 254mm you jump down to 203mm as the next section – and the stiffness and strength is reduced a _lot_.  I’d doubt you can reduce down that far, so you may be a little stuck without getting custom sections fabricated (not as expensive as you might think).

Better ask the engineer though…

I also had a mid 90’s Kona that I loved until it was stolen, currently have a Unit and a Jake which were both just what I wanted at the time.  I’ll certainly miss them if they go, but if they do make it through I wonder if they should be a bit more Surly and return to some more niche bikes.

Need to go shopping for replacement hangers just in case…

Sounds great, I was hoping to be there yesterday to do the short loop with my daughter (12).  Would have been a great introduction to events but an ice skating/wrist issue put paid to that.

Maybe that’s another angle though, get the kids in!

Will aim to get to one of the other ones.

I went with a Marlin 6 when my daughter was a similar size.  I like the XS Trek’s as they have short cranks, brake levers etc and a sorter travel fork (80mm).  I had worried that the coil fork would be too firm for her, but it seems to work pretty well – would like to go for an air fork to save some weight but I honestly am not sure it makes a lot of difference for the length of rides we do.

Last years 6 had Deore 1×10 and mostly standard components, when she outgrows it we can just buy a larger frame.

There’s a Commencal 24 just appeared in the classifieds…  or the Cannondale Cujo 24 is also awesome.

To add to the list, I’ve a Commencal Ramones 24 about to go on sale.  A lot like the Cujo 24 but was actually purchasable 2.5 years ago.

Second vote for ODI Rogue’s from me – reminds me that I should order some more!

I’ve ridden some ‘easy enduro’ in Wales and none of it was easy!  Certainly not at my ability/fitness level.

Have never been as completely knackered on the MTB as I have on the one with an engine.  This kind of race isn’t my thing, a nice flowing course is a joy though.

…and don’t forget that those lucky enough to still get the good FS pension are paying in a _lot_ to bank it.

Oh god yes, one of the reasons I got a BMW was that it still has tactile buttons for heating, radio and then a round controller/button thing for most other functions.  Got to say that the interface to all of the gizmo’s is pretty good.

Given the notes above I might need to hang onto this one for a while…

I couldn’t get a Cujo 24 two years ago, so went with a Commencal instead. There seems to be stock in most things if anyone was looking for Christmas.

It’ll be for sale soon as she’s moving on to a Trek 27.5.

I’ve an XL LTc about to come up for sale if anyone’s looking…

Mine’s a bit worn around the edges but shock/bearings etc all sweet so there is no need for them to go rattly if they’re serviced regularly.

There’s also an extra loop to the Twrch that brings you back across the hill and back to the top of the Airstream sections.  I took it by mistake last weekend and it added a few km, a lot of which was unexpected uphill that my legs didn’t appreciate.  Adds 20-30 mins onto that loop.

Was soggy last Sunday…

Civil engineer here too, but specialised in buildings and timber structures.  I kind of know what people up there are saying about progressing into management at the larger companies, to avoid this I moved to smaller places to keep myself actually designing, and ultimately to starting up my own small practice.  You don’t have to stick to the corporate ladder and there are all sorts of small interesting specialists across engineering if you go looking.

My old company took on a HND guy as a technician (drawing/modelling) and sponsored him through a BEng and onto his MEng part time, may be a good route if he wants to start earning.

Civil gives you a massively broad education and opportunities across the specialisms and world, so am happy with my choice.

Ahhh, yes had it in my head that the FK2 was the earlier one (EP3)… ignore me!

We had an FN2 which I passed onto my brother and is still going strong.

Great car but relatively stiff suspension made it not great at rural roads.  You had to trust the front, but when you did it was speedy.  It’s an incredibly practical car (boot, interior space etc) for the performance.  I really liked it but in the end the ride got a little tiresome, but my brother has put thousands of miles in it driving all over the country and loves it.

Have another fast Honda and the engines are amazing…

Thanks Ambrose.

Seems it’s not enduro enough for the crowd!

Ah, maybe I missed that you can go under the railway path and climb up to it from the other side.

No problem, not sure how I discovered it.  Like you it always felt as though you were a bit stuck at Swineford until I worked it out.  The loop up and out from Bath past Kelston is great, I must find an excuse to ride the long way home one day…

I’ve taken the footpath along the Avon (from opposite the Swan) that conveniently takes you to the Bitton picnic area (you go under the viaduct and then back up to the cycleway).  It’s flat and fine when dry, there are a couple of gates to lift over but it’s a quick trundle round the field edge.  I’ve met occasional walkers but they’ve always been okay.

I really can’t remember Toghill Lane, although have ridden it a long time ago – that may suggest it’s a bit meh like a lot of the north bath stuff.

Even with prices going through the roof, I also now think that KTM’s look good value. Nice bike Charlie, have fun on the TET.

The Swan in Wedmore is pretty good for posh. I would imagine the Sunday roast would be good too, but not been myself.

Is Bloodhound behind the shutter?

As with others above, we get between 20 and 30 miles electric range on ours and this more or less gets me to work and back if I’m careful with the right foot.  The rest of our local trundling around is done on electricity.

Not to get bogged down in mpg arguments, more than half my mileage this year has been electric – so even if the engine wasn’t that efficient it’s still a lot of petrol-free miles to make the world betterer.

Other users may vary…

No one mentioned the Izzo, a lot like the Tallboy but less spendy and a bit lighter.  Think that might be my next bike thought the Tallboy is there as an option.

My knowledge is really out of date now, but I lived in one of the small villages outside Bethesda and did my secondary schooling in Bangor through the 90’s.  I really wouldn’t worry about the location ruining your kids future.  The bright kids with motivated parents always do well, my school gang are now vets, doctors, barristers, professor at Oxford Uni etc.

It was a great place to do my teenage years.  Yes, I had to jump on my bike to go and see my nearest mate 2 miles away, and the winters were sometimes long, but the memories that hang around are all on bikes, or climbing days, or mucking around at the lakes.  On balance all positive.

I didn’t really get far with Welsh, but if you get stuck into the PTA/clubs/community things being English is quickly forgiven.

If our careers allowed we’d be back there like a shot.

I asked at a dealer once about an R36 Passat and they told me I didn’t want one.  Went and bought a petrol turbo A4 quattro estate instead.  Was lovely until the engine started drinking oil…

Am currently on a 330e x-drive, which certainly has some shove when all the electric and petrol work in harmony, but if feels about double the weight of the audi when it comes to stopping and turning.  I miss a manual gearbox too.

Small 26″ frames definitely at a premium as kids bikes – will be looking for one soon as the 24″ is looking smaller every day…

Ady Smith runs a demo fleet for ktm at a few different venues over the year.  Really well set up for beginners and has the full range of bikes to try out for anyone a little more experienced.

I used it as a day to try the new two strokes and took my brother (a road biker) and mate (an mtber) and had such a great day.  May work if you aren’t near the other two, but I’ve loved time at the Yamaha school too.

Mason Bokeh?  Or one of the others depending on your gravel/road hierarchy…

The Olympic version isn’t what you see now though. For the Olympics, it was built with two big “wings” each about the size of the central hall to accommodate the stands which were subsequently demolished.

The wings were designed as demountable temporary structures, as was the basketball and waterpolo buildings.  Lots of smart thinking using standardised components that have seen re-use as stages and reconfigured into other buildings.  The re-use thing was pushed hard by the organising committee to minimise waste (and cost).

I worked on the design of one of the large sponsors pavilions.  It was carefully engineered to be taken apart and transported elsewhere, but visiting site in autumn 2012 it was being flattened by an excavator.  Not a happy moment.  Corporate sponsors don’t give a shit once the crowds have gone.

Kona Unit?  They’re a bit portly but pretty modern geo.

I tried Mavic last time and found them tight around the toes, plus they died quite quickly.

Having always loved Spesh shoes and wearing them forever I’ve gone back to the Recon 2.0s (though sure they weren’t £175 a few months ago!).  Always had carbon soles in the past so tried the 3.0’s, but they were much less comfortable to walk around in.

Might not be quite in budget, but a really nice shoe.

…and Chris Birch on the KTM’s.  Eclipse anything I can do on a little bike.

I have a set just like that!

Surely you have to go all the way to Pontiscill to do it properly?  Love the Merthyr vibe and the chance for an ice cream at the steam railway.

I was tempted by one of these last year, especially once I discovered it shared a frame with the Roscoe and so is quite adaptable.  May be a bit heavy for a pure XC bike as a result, but at the moment there isn’t much choice!

But assume you’ve seen that the front page stories now link to the forum (with the Domain story at least).  Smart…

Also following, but any suggestions for two charging points (I’m guessing we’ll need this in the next couple of years)?