http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1RwmuMdni4

+1 for the minoura we use one in the workshop and although it's old and tatty I can't justify replacing it.

I got 14 bikes in a Fiat Punto with the seats down so it should be possible, wheels off, seat posts down and pedals off, card board on the floor, stack them alternately with card between and as upright as possible so no weight is transferred.

Zip tie the pedals to the wheels for each bike, card above the lot wheels on top. No bother!

I got properly hit and runn'd by a couple of drunks in a white van in N Ireland about 18 years ago.

The driver honked on the horn then drove into my back wheel sending me into the brambly hedge. The car driver behind witnessed the lot and took down the reg of the van.

Police were called and apprehended the van.

Both occupants were drunk; they had no insurance on the van; BUT as it couldn't be proved which one was driving at the time the police took no action FFS!

Apart from some scary scratches a trashed jacket, back wheel and helmet I was OK but no thanks to the Police

I have bad knees from rugby and motorcyling injuries (3 orthroscopies on the left and a cracked patella right down the middle). In four years of SS I've had no problems with my knees except an ache after a Solo Puffer ride. I did 60k thru the Lowther Hills (over geared and hard work) a few weeks ago with no soreness at all.

Bike set up will be your issue. I have far fewer back problems since switching to SS too as I have to use a flat back/ solid core to climb rather than sitting in a slouch and spinning up the hills.

Check your bike is correctly set up, not just seat height but bar height and stretch as well. Get a professional to help you may need shoe inserts. It's amazing how many runners need them and yet hardly any bikers even know that they might have a problem.

+1 Drumlanrig

http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/drumlanrig-is-it-just-me

30 : 1 ratio of like to dislike 🙂

go get a proper bike fitting. A mate was suffering with a sore knee, he rides a single speed off road but does plenty road miles on a geared bike. A fitting with a sport injury/cycle specialist slightly changed the position on the bikes and fitted an insert into one shoe….knee problem gone….hurray!

'Pumping' the trail is kinda crucial to 'catching' the flow of the trails at Drum… If you getting all animated and 'off' the bike while on the singletrack then it's just going to kick you about and feel awkward (sp?)… If you're not sure what 'pumping trails' is watch this

> the only gripe I have… is the pointless or should I say in the wrong place.. the new jumps and berms they put in… surely it would have been better to put them on a part of trail that was pointing on a decend…<

Not jumps…..rollers….! 'Pump them' for plenty of speed into the wee tabletop….. trust me on this. Pump the rollers for speed,, it's built to liven up a flat peice of ground, to make some pretty geometric wavey shapes and help me coach 'body/bike' seperation. Pump it………..

Snapped or just wore away… check out the drop outs ..usually about 20mm across

The trails get plenty use all year round, I actually prefer them a bit damp as they're less gravelly and much more predictable. Book a skills session next time you come. it'll make all the difference.

That looks like an old Magnesium Kirk to me. Amazed to see the BB still there!

there's only one section of 'rediscovered' Victorian path – the climbing traverse half way up the first black climb, the bit that kicks you into a rooty straight up climb. The rest has been built specifically for bikes either by shovels and hard graft (the first half) or mini digger (most of the second half but not all), usually with as dug mineral soil and no/very little imported aggregate (some barrowing in where the trail crosses clay but not much).

Hold on folks…there's a helluva lot of riders who just don't 'get' Drumlanrig the first time they ride there, lets not be too harsh..

Drumlanrig kinda sneaks up on you the more you ride it, or if you ride it with peeps that are in the know.

It's just not the kinda trail that does it for you…..what you put in gets magnified by the trail.. Ride it flowey and there's not much flowyer; attack it and it'll bite back; sit back on your 120mm travel bike and pedal – it'll bore and frustrate you.

And at the end of the day you can't please everybody. Although it greives me to say this, some people think it's a bit pedally!!!

you're talkin sh*t 😉

+1 Kirro and Drumlanrig

What i do is ride a shonky old single speed XTC with a crack in it at all events. No need for a lock and no problem leaving it unattended. No need for carbon or bling.

My brand new Orange E3 was nicked along with three other bikes from the back of our van way back at the Malverns Classic back in the 90's. This is nothing new.

+1 wtb she

I have a L Swift in stock if you're needing one.

Rik

+1 wot Ferrit said. Watch out for the pulley bearings for the pumps/air conditioning unit. They are weak and will go at about 60k miles so make sure you're warranty will cover that or just get the importer to change it before it goes. The engine will run on and you can do damage to engine casings :o(

I put bigger wheels off a HiLux on mine (minor body work alterations with a lump hammer) and the difference off road for grip and clearance is impressive, another vote for going 29er (not so easy to manual tho ;o) )

I have the 8 seatet which gives me about 29mpg on a run but down to 10 towing excavators. It used as a family runabout, uplift bus, camper, truck for delivering bikes, race vehicle, trail digging tool, I used it to tow mini diggers out of holes they're awesome trucks and can be driven pretty much like a car definetely a quieter and more luxurious ride than your average 4wd pick up and landy. Good advice on common issues at the delica owners club http://www.mdocuk.co.uk/

I've an old AMP as well, the bearings are beyond repair now so it's hanging on the shed wall. 🙁

My wee lass just spent a late night in casualty after failing (I nearly got it Daddy) a flip then rebounding onto her knees and knocking her sternum away from the muscles nehind it. Ouch !!!!! Still very sore a week and lots of kiddy pain killers later. That's with a net; and recent 'trampolining lessons' at school…… That ought to learn her 😉 see Northwinds 'what have I done to my chest post !

My 11 year old daughter just did something similar while doing a (or Not doing) flip on the trampoline. Whoops, a trip to A&E and plenty pain killers later she's still really sore a week later. It'll be a bugger when you sneeze then 😉

+1 your mate must be chuffed with you and your big mouth, I reckon you owe him big time!

I regularly face BBs and face/ream headtubes and even with 'quality' frames they're often far from true.

Given the heat and forces placed on relatively short soft aluminium bits of pipe while welding, it's hardly suprising that there'd be some deformation; then the heat treating process pretty much melts the frame again.

Well worth getting them faced IMO.

the Dalveen Pass is sweet, from the Drumlanrig turn to Elvanfoot not one junction, good surface and curves to inspire. +1 for the Beeftub – Moffat to Broughton. Used to ride it every week.

Well trained (trainered) turtles swimming just under the surface??

It should be fine if they fitted it properly with bearing fit / threadlock and greased the pedal / helicoil thread. If the helicoil comes out with the pedal, fit a new helicoil and do the above .

Jewel in the crown for curry, on St Michaels St

I took mine to the wee sewing / repairs shop and the replaced the popper with a proper brass button for £3. Cheaper than posting the shorts back to endura. I like the Zymes for riding and hanging about in.

Any sent I've back to endura from the shop have been replaced no problem so I wouldn't knock the company too much.

I have a box of spare steerers for RST forks if anyone is looking , threaded and un, 1" and 1&1/8th

+1 for tonic water before and during…anyone for Pimms?? Beer for after :o)

also don't forget to eat as well as drink on endurance events, I keep a couple of snack sized pepperoni style sausages in the bag as they're salty and easy to eat and I get sick of too much sugary sweet 'energy' bar fodder.

Also Drumlanrig riding very well and closer than others (ten miles as the crow flies tho' the road is a tad on the wiggly side). Of course other brands of trail are also available.

THis is what I use on me and the dug (just pulled 5 off him)

http://www.otom.com/

most vets will have them for a few pounds, I keep one set in the cart and one at home.

😀

Drumlanrig for me; but I may be ever so slightly biased 😀

The last black section/alternative finish at Drumlanrig is mostly climbing and has some challenging turns and steepness. It's currently beoing rebuilt due to a spring having sprung just above the trail and bringing with it significant sogginess.

I'll be out with the locals tomorrow night on the club dig night fixing some of it.

Finally getting proper quality maps from the estate….yeehah!!!!

Down side is they're a pound but professionally printed and very, very clear and easy to read.

I'm always amazed how many peeps rock up to the trails and head out without a map or any advice and then moan about stuff that they could've easily understood with one or t'other. I can't go past a bike shop without popping in for a bit of craic and wee neb at the shelves.

Mmmmmh, Northwind p'raps your right….after all the people I give advice to on a daily basis; and all of the absolute beginners (and many more with experience) that I take out for skills sessions; and all the families that head out on hire bikes and the sproggs and Yoofs I coach; yep…. you're probably right after all. Drumlanrig – no place for a beginner, don't risk it people, unless you're an expert Drum's obviously not the place to go :-p

Ask in the bike shop ! Y'know actually communicate – offline- face to face – with a map of the trails – it's not so hard ;o)