this?

oh dear Simon… and you didn’t have much riding planned before hand anyway! Should have competed in the weekender, then. Hope you’re on the mend if it was bad enough to keep you from riding.

Brant was asking on twitter about translation of the Guerciotti catalogue?

I’ve bent a few, but my 27.2 Nukeproof is holding up well. The anodising stays put too.

If not what about a RF diabolus – they’re meant to be pretty meaty.

Cougar, yes I have lived with a faulty handset for about 18 months now as Virgin refused to do anything but send it back to their central tech. As it’s sporadic I’ve never been able to recreate it in the shop, but it always happens within about an hour later. Admittedly, I did manage about 6 months in the middle with no issues what so ever. Having been on various forums it seems I’m not the only one (by a very long way) and people who have gone down the send back route have had the same problem within hours of getting the phone back. I didn’t see the point of losing my business phone for an unknown period of time just to have it returned with the same fault. I deal with it – it’s frustrating at times, but others I hardly notice it.

Simon, Can I use a photo or two of the guy who ran his bike over the line for my blog?

I’m interested too, but am very wary of getting another HTC. My Desire has given me no end of problems and Virgin will only send it back to be looked at by HTC and seeing as it’s my business’ only phone I’ve just had to put up with frequent (a number of times a day) touch screen freezing / notification bar random movement etc (all apparently known faults with no known cure) since about 3 months of ownership. Once the full 24 months is up (4 months to go) I think it will be hard to choose HTC again.

wrong tyres, surely.

Anyone got a photo of rider 162 who won the WWGHD? prize (ideally running over the finish line with his bike)? Want to do a write up.

Good to meet you Postie and put a face to the name. No takers on the bike?

I’ll be there. Every weekender so far too. Looking forward to a laugh, some fun riding and a couple of beers.

Mike, let us know when the PA long travel pre-orders are up – could be very interested.

Cut Gate
The Lakes “three passes” Gatesgarth, Nan Beild & Garburn
Something south lakes always makes me grin.

PA Long Travel sounds fun – a replacement of the Alpine or to compliment it?

new hardtail frame.. still deciding Ragley / Cotic / stanton / privee / on-one. But no money for it unless I sell some stuff.

I use Maxxis advantage 2.4s on my crests, so the Arch EX should be fine with the same – not sure on Arch, but probably ok. Crests have been a little ding prone but not to a daft extent after 2 years of peaks etc riding (especially considering how light they are).

I think flows are about right tbh although Arch EX look like a great middle ground. I have crests on my Pipedream (previously on my Cannondale prophet) and they plump up tyres (2.4in Advantages) just as well as my previous DT5.1s (due to shallow BST), but aren’t as strong as I’d ideally like. For the weight they’ve stood up very well to two years of peaks etc riding, but they’re prone to dings so I’d choose stronger over lighter next time round.

A real shame but, as you say, sensible.

bugger. Real shame.

Good call Nick. Don’t think we’ll make it but is a good do usually. Graves Park’s a bit more of a trek on the bike, though.

a free dropbox account would work. 2GB of internet based storage. Copy all files to the account and access them from either machine.

i’ll be there. just need to pay up in the next day or so.

so far very impressed with the Osprey bladder I got to replace my ageing camelbak. Seems good quality, easy to use and the stiffer structure makes it very easy to stuff into a pack. Even the bite valve seems to have as good a flow. Can be found for around £25 which isn’t too bad. Made by Nalgene so should last well.

Having had various Camelbaks, and for the last couple of years an Osprey Talon 11, I’d say Osprey make some fantastic packs. Just bought an escapist 25 for bigger rides and general day pack duties, and I reckon off the back of that the Escapist 15 would be a brilliant every day trail pack.

Anyone with experience of either?

Just bought an Escapist 25. I have a Talon 11 which is fantastic but the escapist, on first impressions, looks an even better pack and is obviously better sized for your requirements.

I’ve heard XL is very useful as you have more space to stash kit at the foot if it’s wet.

Surly cross check
Planet X Kaffenback
Genesis Croix de Fer or CDF
something from Dawes (Audax or Galaxy)
Thorn Audax

Lots to choose from, or you could just put slicks (or 700c disc wheels) onto your mtb and that’d probably do fine as well.

RS revelation spaced down to 130mm. That’s what I’ve got – as light as a Reba, stiffer, great damping, what more could you ask for (and can be had for around £300 last time I looked).

Done.

Got to be 18bikes.. If I could afford a UK made bike, that’s where I’d be heading.

But if not UK built, but UK designed the list grows a lot.

No issues at all for me either – now on 2nd pair of folding advantages (2.25 then 2.4) with no difficulty so far.

so.. who wants a small prophet frame then?

I’m 5’7″ and ride a small new style kaffenback with drops and a 70mm stem – wouldn’t want it any bigger. Could happily get away with it for flats as well with a 110mm plus stem, or go up to a medium with something a bit shorter.

Langunilla is very nice as is Campo Viejo

I have no issues at all with crests and various Maxxis wire and folding bead tyres from 2.1 to 2.4in widths. Currently got 2.4in Advantages in there no issues. Can’t say they’re any better or worse for tyres on and off than 717s or similar that I’ve used before.

The crest is pretty damn tough for what it is – I’ve ridden mine pretty hard over the last couple of years in lots of rocky places and there are a couple of non-performance impairing dings in the rear and it now needs a bit of a tweak with a spoke key.

Having said that, I’d go for the Arch EX if I was looking to buy rims now. It’s stiffer and tougher for not a lot more weight. Probably the perfect trail riding compromise.

On-one slot drop-out 26″ or 29″? or one of their swap-out frames?

Maxxis Ardent, or Aspen in 2.25 would be great summer front tyres.

Isn’t it just any standard 135mm QR mtb hub. I’d go Hope Pro II evo myself (probably bought as part of a Hope Hoop wheel).

Got to be Hope Hoops really for that budget (and can be found cheaper). Stans Flow (wide and tough) or Crest (narrower, but still plump up tyres well and very light and surprisingly tough) rims would both be fine and give you the option of easy tubeless should you want.