As above – 2.4 inch tyres = carrying bike! 1.8s on 26 incher here too.

IdleJon – I use the bridleways back from Middleton to, my map is just a bit rough to give a vague idea of what I was talking about, I’ve got a memory map overlay I could email if that’s useful. I don’t think the ascent onto Rhossili Down is too bad if you take the NE route rather than the more popular NW one but the bridleway along the beach is pretty nice too.

The cake at Southgate cafe is legendary.

Oh, and if it rains stay clear of the eastern gower bridleways e.g. bishopston valley, the horses chop it to bits.

If the weather we’ve been having continues I’d keep off the cheeky trails, it’s been absolutely heaving the last few days!

PS, that route map’s very rough!

I live locally so know most of the trails pretty well. The routes on the trail guide page above contain most of the best riding but miss the stuff further east. I think the best long day out is to start at the east end of Cefn Bryn, and do something like this.
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2875756

Do it in the direction so you descend Llanmadoc hill on the SW. The descent I use off Rhossili down is a bit more mellow than just riding off the end, depends what you fancy.

There’s also a good descent from Penmaen to Parkmill, so you can start there and start off through the woods to the north. If you want extend it further you can include the bridleways further east towards Bishopston.

Lunch in the pub in Llangenith, forget its name but it’s pretty good for food.

Speaking as a non-roadie, I also can’t stand it when cyclists ride two across. There are roads where it’s fine (e.g. quiet, straight, easy to overtake) but on a lot of roads it’s like being stuck behind a lycra clad caravan.

If it’s like the last couple of years you’d be best off with some 1.8 Bonty Mud X/Trailrakers or something of that genre.

ajf – if weather at the kimm depends on your top, what did you wear last time? ;o)

I use halfords mineral oil, think they stock it for citroen suspension.

Alimeters are worth their weight in gold if you can get hold of one. Also time everything, assume either 5km or 6km per hour depending on ambitions and time every leg – helps massively to prevent silly nav errors (often brought about by optimistically hoping you’ve travelled further than you have!)

Balloon beds are good -don’t over inflate them though. Ear plugs are good for the overnighter if it’s windy – sleep is important! Eat regularly throughout the day – jelly babies are your friend.

Depending on the terrain and how dry it has been I would never carry water – easy way to save a couple of kilos. Instead take a small mug or sports bottle clipped to your sack and drink from any streams you cross. Never carried water on any kimms/lamms/saunders and havent been dehydrated or had problems with the water. A couple of large freezer bags make a good water carrier at the overnighter too.

If you can do W2 and the skyline back to back in 5 hours I’ll be amazed!

With the current trail closures on the Gorlech at the moment it means there’s a fair bit of fireroad which I find a bit off putting, but the last descent really is excellent.

Which part of South Wales is this?

I shop there for two reasons.

1. I can’t abide Asda/Walmart. Something about the colour maybe?
2. The greengrocers/butchers are shut when I go to work and shut when I get home leaving me with little alternative. There used to be a greengrocers that opened late and then shut late near where I used to live (11am – 7pm) and they did a roaring trade with people who would otherwise have to go to the supermarket for their veg.

Your MP won’t help, he gets Hope BBs on expenses.

..and yup, definitely after tips for riding uphill switchbacks/hairpins. Downhill can come later, I’m not quite so bad at that!

Practice is definitely on the cards – I think I might go out after work and ride around in very tight circles! Really I’m after a consensus on the following I guess as I’ve read conflicting things on these points (this is for uphill).

Weight forwards or back?
Bike vertical or leaning in?
Body vertical or leaning in?
Cut across the apex or track around the outside?

Yup, the 180 degree(ish) hairpin turns you get on a lot of singletrack climbs.

Are you sure his brakes don’t just need bleeding or new pads?

Still waiting for confirmation either way here too…

I love my slx shadow rear mech, found it a doddle to get good shifting with full length outers which I attribute to the more direct cable routing – no need for a big loop of cable outer.

Posted unfortunately. I’d say it’s quite possible that the hanger could have been bent in transit and it’s replaceable for a tenner. I’m more fussed about the stuck shock really as it’s probably 80 quids worth of servicing! The frame is otherwise fine and it was well packed, but I can’t see the shock problem being the postie’s fault! Anyway, benefit of the doubt to the chap who sold it until I hear back from them.

I’ve emailed the seller about it. The bike also came with a bent hanger so I’m a bit nervous about the whole thing. I sent him a link to this thread as well so it’ll be interesting to hear back what he thinks.

Got a recommendation of where to send it? Thanks for the advice BTW!

Is this a big job? On a scale of I do it, normal LBS does it, or a properly specialised send it away jobby. Presumably opening it myself is likely to result in a big bang a la http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l27fJJqS-QA

Should have added, top photo is with 200 psi in the shock, bottom photo is with the air let out.

Yeah, guess I’m thinking about purpose built trails rather than newly waymarket ones.

Depends on the situation I guess, but if for example I met someone riding up one of the majority of waymarked singletrack descents I’d be downright miffed as it’d be dangerous for both of us.

Min svävare är full med ålar

I always assumed Thule was pronounced Tool-ay, as that’s how the place in Greenland is pronounced.

Crack and Corner at stanage (not the roaches one) is one of the most polished routes I’ve climbed. At a time when I was climbing regularly in the low extremes I fell off that route and landed on my belayer fortunately – from not too high up.

Have you given tire choice thorough consideration? ;o)

Wall and Pennhydd are very smooth, whites is a bit “steppier” if that helps.