Er, it was sunny today, there was a nice day last month and I'm sure it was sunny for a couple of days in May or June. Snow on tops on Sunday. 🙂

Raced on Bonty muds at the weekend on a muddy, rooty, off-camber, rocky, steep course – excellent. Hooked up on anything, able to brake/steer/climb everywhere, confidence inspiring and yet still fast enough on the fireroad section. I'm going to take them off and save them for the truly yeuch weather!

I had one of the first SLights and it was fab; it was raced and properly mountain ridden up here in the Cairngorms and from what I here the latest ones are way stiffer than my old thing (which was a bit flexy, but I never noticed at the time!) no probs with Inners/Laggan Black/Golspie as long as you remember it's a light xc platform. If yer a "hucker" go with the Heckler.

Just fitted Bonty muds, very impressed on slippy natural woodland singletrack, not just on mud, but on "loamy" surfaces. I'm running them tubeless at about 20 psi all ok.

Just installed Bonty muds, tubeless, easy, "banged" against rim most satisfyingly on inflation with track pump. Oh, and what a tyre for wet woodsy singletrack!

They all give me a hangover!

I prefer the clown bike version.'

I have just discovered R1's are better than Marta sl's.

So so, some decent road miles, some learning to rode a cross bike, some running and the usual mental big Cairngorm mtb rides.

Just for you Martin! I've worn this for 20years! It's had various bracelets from the original steel one to NATO issue fabric to the present leather. It's been worn to do everything, but having been valued for more than I bought it for, it's now being better treated, with a "goping" g shock taking over for day to day duties. Decided I can't stand digital, so just going to "acquire" a G10.
excuse crummy pic, just took a quick snap of it on the bedside table using phone

beinbhan +1, druidh +1, it's very wet and just needs a rest.

Jeezo AJ and there's me all chuffed with a 2.35 on me Tallboy, I'll ride with you's all yet before the winter closes in again!

This

Oh, and there seems to be more of these 3Peaks gear threads popping up now. We all getting a bit worried!

Oh, and there seems to be more of these 3Peaks gear threads popping up now. We all getting a bit worried!

SRAM Apex rear mech and cassette, SRAM STI's, compact chainset, job done. I posted on that other thread as well. I tried SRAM STI's with an XO rear mech and mtb cassette – no joy!

Benw, just been through the same thing, but due to knackered STI's was starting from scratch. I've gone for SRAM STI's, a compact chainset, an Apex 11-32 cassette and matching long cage mech'. This set up works a treat and gives me a super low (by cx standards) gear. Ive been testing it on our local hills, the Cairngorms, and I'm pedalling up some pretty big climbs. Coming from Shimano STI's the double tap systems taking some getting used to, but I really like the mtb feel to the shift – SRAM on the mtb.
Now just need to "up" the training, slight panic setting in!

Mmmmmm that Holdsworth.

Bikes so far – that Indy Fab, motorbikes any of the Ducatis.

I can juggle.

The day I decided to marry my gf I stopped, rigs still in the loft though.

I've based and more and my heart is still racing and my palms are sweaty after seeing his low twists crash.

Chain looked too long…..

I like Dalbeattie, it's getting better with age plus, I now know where the locals stuff is!

It was the first trail I ever built and if you don't know where it is, ask the Bothy Bikers very nicely where it is, and if it's not too wet, go and enjoy it. No skidding, "modifying" or any of your trail centre bad manners though.

I taught skiing and outdoor pursuits once, turned a passion into just a job. Had to stop.

Aye I'm in. Gordymac – have to meet up for some hill running whilst carrying bikes!

Hmmmmm, this is very surprising as at an FC meeting last week it was pointed out there is no money for any new trail and neither are they planning any "red" anywhere. Their policy is to only maintain, or if really necessary, only modify/upgrade what they've already got. The days of mile upon mile of new trail are over.

Watching it

Me me me Martin, up the hill and back down, road dead and awesome sunset. No camera. Putting the Jake back together as cx bike proper now.

If you want to cook and save weight just get a hexamine burner.

ahhhh the smell of hexi in the morning…..

Nikon peut- être?

Yep, if I can find the time I love watching the full coverage, otherwise it's the evening highlights for sure.

Did it several years ago on a Kona Kula with 80mm (ha more like 63) SID's, flat bars, etc, etc and my new wife (just back from honeymoon) her on fully rigid Stumpy: it was October and it snowed! Turned into an epic……. Wife still *remembers* it!!!

All these routes are vastly overrated and not worth the drive up the A9.

I install the tyre with an innertube first leave it a while, unseat 1 bead take out inner tube install valve and the fluid then swish round like neninja describes then inflate with normal floor pump – oh don't rest it on the ground to inflate, hang it of something. Job done.

Ok, bike fitness wise I might be ok, hill running is ok (done that since I was a teenager) but hill running with a bike over a shoulder might need work! Likewise, descending on a drop bar cx bike on rocky tracks – I'm gonna have to practise that. Might rebuild some wheels with sprint rims, I reckon some nice tubs might help.

I did the OMM a few weeks ago and got everything into a 20l sack and weight was a fraction under 6 kg – some of the top elites had 12l rucksacks with a bum bag totalling 4kgs!!! This is for overnight kit as well.

Hmmmm, pavé that'll be interesing.

Well, I'm trying to get mtb race fit again after a few years out and for me that means getting loads of "base" miles in first, which I find tiresome, but now aided by an "ipod" type device. 4+hrs on yer own I find way harder (mentally) than 4 hrs riding around our local singletrack. Funny thing is I find the interval type (top end) training way easier (mentally). As for averages, round here a 4 hr ride takes in a lot of up (4500') and I knocked my pan in yesterday trying to average 20mph over 80 miles (obviously on my own) and was 20 mins out, but it was windy and for once v' hot. The dreaded saddle sores have raised their ugly heads (sorry for that image) so even sitting at the computer today is "uncomfortable"……