Look forward to hearing the responses. My other half is the same and we are off to Morzine to do PdS and some other riding soon.

I’ve seen vids and read threads on Les Gets having green and blue runs, that would likely be a good start. Theres a few vids on youtube that show they are fairly tame, not anywhere near as steep, and look much like fireroad. I guess once you get the hang of them then working up to the harder routes is just a case of giving them a go.

Until a year ago I hadnt done any formal training in my 20+yrs of biking (on and off). I was self taught, from reading things like MBUK and video’s like Tricks and Stunts. Got pretty good at biking, but not what I’d call using my full potential. I got bought a skills course with Cyclewise @ Whinlatter and wasnt expecting a lot, but the chaps there picked up on skills that I had an got me a lot further in a day than I had gotten myself in a past few years. Now looking to go and do a jumps course with Jedi at some point as we dont have anywhere local to build up the jumps/drops and get used to them. I’m sure he will work wonders too.

I can see the pro’s and con’s of both sides of the argument. Self taught vs a bad instructor, I would say is about level pegging for how much you will improve. But you cant possibly learn what a good instructor can teach you in anywhere near the same timeframe IMO. Far better off to spend the money on coaching than new bits for the bike, however hard it is to admit.

Another vote for the Carradice here 🙂

Epoxy was what I wanted. Gives a similar finish to what car showrooms used to have. Like its painted but much harder wearing. The problem is you have to acid prep it and then leave it to dry for 7 days.

I ended up with Dynotiles, which are interlocking plastic tiles that lift you off the floor by about a centimetre and seals the concrete under it so lowers the dust. I’d also paint the walls as brick/blockwork constantly gives off dust.

Open Street Map is pretty good for it. The following link shows you the main trails and has them named too. The Look Out (Discovery Centre) is just to the right of the light green box under Nine Mile Ride road (where all the trails converge). Blue lines are the fun bits. I suggest you head out and Surrey Hill to the west and then back along the east side (if that makes sense!)

http://osm.org/go/eusrg9gM-?layers=C

I’ve got notifications for the last couple of things I’ve ordered.

OSM is a great resource for finding the main trails in Swinley and maps can be downloaded to Garmin GPS that support custom maps (Google OpenMTBMap).

I think the reason trails arent advertised is something to do with the agreement between the Crown Estate and those that run Swinley for them (Gorrick for biking). Its not meant to be advertised as an MTB trail centre, more an area where you can go and ride if you behave nicely. The problem is its becoming known as a good place to ride in the area and a lot more popular which goes against the mandate of it, probably something to do with this:

This large area of private land is both a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and part of a Special Protection Area, protected for the rare bird species that live there.

Bikehike is great 😀

That’s good to know.

If you don’t mind me asking…..

Did you get Seat to fit the towbar and electrics yourself of were they already fitted?

I’m just waiting for a call back from the dealer on Monday for a price with a view to getting discount as part of a deal on a new car.

We got it at SEAT purely because all the websites didnt have one for the Ibiza SC, which it now appears most would have fit, so could have done it myself *DOH*.

It was rather expensive, they quoted over £600 for it, but we got them down to a little over £500 as they admitted it was rather expensive! Its because they fit a 13 pin socket which has permenant live feed from the battery which requires taking half the car apart and a half days labour! I think the newer models have the sockets already wired in to the CANBUS system so should be a bit cheaper and easier to fit.

We’ve got a Thule Euro 908 for our SEAT Ibiza with OEM detatchable TB. Got it from towequipe and its been spot on. Dead easy to fit and bikes are rock solid on it once fitted. Also comes with 13 pin connector as standard which mates up to the SEAT wiring perfectly. Only downside with it is its rather bulky when not off the car. So long as you have plenty of room in the garage to keep it, I’d well recommend it

I’ll keep any eye out and let my mate in Halfords know to do the same with all their staff. As Matt says above, let Basing Cycles know as they are the main shop in the town centre now. Also let Pedal On know as they are close by too.

Hope they get recovered.

I find mine is great. Very useful for places like Swinley where you can load up OpenMTBMaps onto it and know where the trails actually are 😀

Also great for exploring new routes as you always know exactly where you are and can scope out other potential routes.

Thanks for the replies guys. I assume there was nothing I could do to stop this and its just “one of those things”? Up until a week or two ago the shock was flawless and didnt make and discernible noise, until after a ride it was making a little noise but it was very cold so thought it could be that. After another mainly road ride to my parents it was really squelching and lockout didnt work, it was bobbing a lot. I assume something had literally let go and not worn out prematurely.

Just want to avoid having it again – although Mojo were excellent, turn around in a couple of days and got the shock back to me for tonights night ride 😀

Another one for Pedal On 🙂

Mines been delivered from Wiggle, whoop! But I’m stuck at work and its at home 🙁

Definately call around, Chris Knott are particularly good. Also dont rule out Admiral/Elephant, I’ve been with them for years, had a few claims between me and the missus and they’ve been great with us and good customer service.

For comparison, I’m 28 and with Admiral, have insured a new Nissan 370z with 15k busines miles for not much more than you’ve been quoted 😯 The missus 59 plate Ibiza was well under 500 quid with 10k business miles too.

From what I’ve seen its great. I couldnt wait and got an Oregon 550t which comes with the same OS maps but is rather chunky and rubbish for cycle features/training. I saw the Edge 800 at the Cycle Show and its perfect for most bikers tbh. Good combination of the previous Edge cycling specific and training features and the great OS maps from the Oregon/Dakota series.

Cant wait to get my Edge 800 when Wiggle get some stock 😀

If you get them from a Tech Shop they will spec them with whichever you want. Moonglu did mine with a set of 9mm bolt through to go with my Stumpys RWS skewer.

Cant say it supprises me, I’m expecting it to be a good few months before we see one, this side of xmas would be nice though. I have one on order from Wiggle, but not in any rush, I have my Oregon to keep me going, its just a bit bulky.

The lady from Garmin stand at the Cycle Show told me that the guys there (forgot to ask which shop they actually were) were getting the first lot of them. They were pre-ordering them for £399 w/trail pack, so thought I’d save my £50 and get it from Wiggle anyway

Having had a quick sit on one, its very very similar to my 2010 Stumpy Comp. Its made of M4 alloy instead of M5, and the welds arent as smooth, but hell, if you didnt look too closely you would assume its a Stumpy. Good spec and all, I dont think you’d be disapointed with it 8)

Few options. 1. take it to the local tip, they usually accept it to dispose of it. 2. Local friendly garages will usually take it. 3. Local Halfords will sometimes take it if you ask nicely. They do bike services and also things like batteries to dispose of, so have the processes in place to have it taken away.

Note that if you take it to the tip, make sure its reasonably small amounts, I seem to remember they can be quite arsey if you take lots of it as they might think you are a business trying to pull a fast one (as they have to pay for it) rather than just a amateur handy with a spanner.

The shop is pretty big, plenty of bling to look at

Also plenty of good riding around there. When we visited, a local friend took us around 16 miles of MTB heaven, which was a killer for us southern wussies 😆

Great work guys, I visited your trail a few months back and was impressed by what you cram in to such a small space. Its a great tech skills workout for those of us miles away from the hills 😀

Look forward to seeing more progress.

Basingstoke isnt far from Reading, and the Odeon is pretty easy to get to by car, or by train & bike.

Dodo Juice Red Mist. Designed for cars primarily, but unlike natural waxes (wuch as Megs and Autoglym) which wear off quickly, its synthetic so sets much better and bonds to the surface. Very slippy stuff, makes water bead lovely (read run off). Compared to Megs/AutoGlym its well worth the money. Give it a couple of layers and off you go.

For car lovers, swap megs/AG for Dodo Supernatural wax. Expensive, but well worth it 😀 AG SRP is flawed in that it is a polish and sealant in one, I dont see how that works very well, one removes paint, the other protects it?! It does work well as a polish, but I’d never leave paint with just that on it, always wax and/or sealant applied afterwards.