Its an Audi A4 1.9TDI 130BHP (2003).

Spend the day riding and practicing the skills Jedi taught me in some very challenging conditions and by heck do they work!!

Victoria because she lead the nation during a dramatic period of growth and as a result I believe (happy to be put right on this one) that is one of the key reasons why English is the primary language round most of the globe. Also, look at how many places round the globe pay tribute to Victoria in one way or another.

Only got one MTB (but one urban bike for road work and one BMX for injuring myself, plus a full sus in the cupboard I don't use anymore).

Queen Victoria

I'd say anywhere other than the black bit…

What year is it and what forks?

Personally I'd say £200 might be over egging it a little.

Kenda Blue groove up front and a Mud x on the rear – been working well for me all winter 🙂

A return visit would be good, especially in the dry and with the real Mick as I think I got an imposter based on the comments above 😉

Mboy – you are normally late and a lot later than I am normally.

LOL!! He didn't seem as bad as I expected him to be when we turned up.

He mentioned the Quantocks – sounded like a good ride thanks to a handy map 😉

Swede – Its got to be a Sailor on the bottom!!! Ooo-errr missus!

Been out riding on them today and they are still up now – hopefully will still be up tomorrow too! 🙂

How about a 4 bed house in Cheltenham 5mins ride from trail head? 😉

Oh yes!! ROCK HARD!!!

Used my neighbours JowBlow track pump which got both my back wheels up to 60psi (Rather than 40psi with my shitty blackburn one) and then rode both of them around a bit. Checked them this morning and they are both fully loaded!!! 🙂 🙂

Well chuffed!!!

How about a Sailor?

Maybe I need to ride them a bit more before givinh up.

Mboy – using the tube method on my DT's I can't get the tyre on the rim – hence the gaffa method – if you've got some suggestions let's me know even if it involves a visit from Dr Mboy the professor of no-tubes!

When I'm riding for the first time can I run them at normal pressure?

Been using my neighbours track pump which is significantly better than mine – pumped both up (DT Swiss and 719) and lets see how they hold air.

Wally – thats the one I used – dead easy to do. Might try it on my 719 rim too and see the difference as I know that rim is much less abused than my DT. Plus I want to run a Mud X since the rain is back and thats UST ready.

Rim doesn't have any obvious dings in it – checked before starting – thinking that the tyre bead is a little knackered and as I'm using the gaffa tape method there is less purchase between rim and bead leading to leaks but I think the sealant should patch these up.

Thinking I might get the DT Swiss kit for the one which keeps losing air – the front is fine. Plus I might get a UST tyre for the rear too.. The Kenda is rubbing against my chainstay annoyingly.

The good thing is the tyres hold air long enough for a ride.

B

LOL @ everyone – I ain't doing it for the weight as I'm not bothered how light my bike is.

Lucky b'stard! Enjoy!

Are those UST HRs or normal?

Got some Stans now which is loads better – put three scoopfuls in each. Think they might need more then?

Pete – Yeah, thinking about getting some UST tyres at the very least. Si mentioned Sunday but I can't do it as will be in Salisbury. 🙁

DeVs – Done that a few times and put loads of sealant in after first attempts. Air seems to be seaping out along the bead in a few spots – wondering if the tyre wall is shagged – not that old tyre, they just don't seem to be sealing that well. I can pump them up and they hold the air for a ride – its just next day they are about 50% the pressure they were.

How do you know if you can fit a shorter rear mech or not?

I've just gone to double & bash – Got a soul and found during some rough stuff the chain drops off occasionally which is annoying, I also find that it drops into the granny ring accidentally but I think that is my thumb knocking the shifter rather than anything else.

I've swapped the big for a bash as I only really used it on the road and that was like once a month at best and plus when I came off I've had too many calf / big ring moments and this just makes me less worried about it.

I'd like to get a chain device but gonna see how I get on with this first – but this doesn't really answer your question does it…

Hardtail is fine!

I can build uncertainty – but it wouldn't have any flow 😉

Jedi – How about if I said if you were building a trail for yourself?

When I'm abroad I ride whatever I can find (which has been some shockers tbh) and always enjoy it. Give it a whirl and post up to tell us how you got on.

M-boy – I know you can cruise over those drops but you've got to believe you can – like Jedi said remember the times you succeeded and not those where you didn't 🙂

Mickarms – YGM

OK… hold on guys…

Great to suggest places that you've ridden but what makes those places great to ride for you??

MrMichaelwright has the right idea in saying….

If you are going to have a double, put a table the same size next to it, same goes for drops, steep rolldowns and really rocky bits

Damn – my rear tyre has deflated overnight (the one using Gaffa tape)… pumped it back up and wiggled it and seems OK. Gonna ride it later and see how it holds up.

Any ideas why this may have happened?

That'd be much easier than determining the phyisical damage wrong bike setup might cause and I say that from suffering a bad knee recently after altering my own setup

Saw her in real life on London Bridge and while she looks good on TV (and I would) she was odd looking in real life and bloody tall too

Bit like having a skills session – its only when someone with some expertise looks at it can you reveal where you need to stop, start or change things to improve.