Agree golf mark4 platform was good to me. My 03 Octavia VRS just got written off in an accident. Super cheap.

<<<very sad face>>>

215k miles still going strong and over 10 years ownership it cost around £1.40/day with me doing most things (not petrol/insurance but including the £2.2k price)

I decided to replace with an 09 VRS but  I doubt I’ll ever have as cheap a car as the first one here… only pita was getting the rarer front suspension as they shared the same drop link bolt positions as the hot Leon.

I had spent a weekend riding in the new forest. Packed up & driving back to Bristol. Bikes on the back. A new (less than year) driver decides to drive straight into us at a junction. Still chasing insurance for bike wheels damaged…

Hi got a nuaire fitted a few years back in my 1968 house with surprisingly no air vents. Teenagers in the house mean there’s lots of damp towels on the go at any one time, but the PIV did actually make a positive difference to the moisture buildup on the windows on cold mornings.

(Part of the reason for getting it was my asthma too.)

The only real downer was when my neighbour had fires and the smell of smoke quickly came inside. Oh and when we’ve had Covid in the house, I’ve turned it to the max…

Like above, vented loft space is needed. A friend put one in their cottage that was forever damp, due to the side of the house being part of a rock face, and it also made a difference.

I have old NW road shoes in 46 and they are like slippers to my wide feet.

Usual size for me is .. 46

(Shimano spd boots are 47 and still not wide enough.)

Sorry

Third Cross Check has a crack. Now looking for a new partner.

Better to have loved and lost than never loved at all…

Sounds amazing. I’m in.

As above re mud, depends on what the 5% is.

Clement Strada 32s have done me well (I commute 15miles on road with a 2 mile off-road gravel section.

Useless (or fun?) in mud, but fine on straight gravel. Seem to wear ok too.

fwiw, I posted an Orange 5 frame using Parcelforce in Bristol. It was collected successfully, the CC video showed the box going up the ramp at the depot, and then it was never seen again…

Forgot to mention the Crank brothers headset that rusted on the outside after about 10 not terribly wet rides.

Northwave SPDs where the mesh uppers has “disolved”.

Too many seatposts to remember (all broken).

Castelli Mitts that disolved in under a year.

DHB gillet zip went in under a year (am I too fussy?)

Lapierre OEM handlebar 2011 now corroded all over.

Oh, and the super thin SRAM chainring that bent almost double with a dollop of awesome power!

fwiw, I rode Episode 2 (Haldon Forest) of this yesterday in the old farts (veterans cat), and loved it. Came 11th – not bad for first time.

The mainly virgin trails were great, with roots, rocks and lots loam, but nicely dry which makes a change to Bristol lately.

The electronic timing was generally good, the markings were a bit hit and miss at times, you really had to concentrate. Plus the transition stages ranged from fire-road blast to technical singletrack. They were ample timed, although it’d be a squeeze if you had a mechanical.

Definitely will try round 3… Grogly…

Weather was heaven.

Course was Hellish. I managed to get around the GOLD course, and finished in sometime over 7 hours, (with about 15mins stops for punctures etc).

I used a Cross Check. And it was good to see the other Surly crew there to augment mine. Most bikes were MTBs though.

Not sure which was better, I went passed loads of MTBs on the climbs and the road, with them catching up on the rocky sections, of which there was miles. 34×32 low gear really really helped. Haytor climb was EXTREMELY hard, near the end too.

Overall really hard on your body, but the sun was out, and Dartmoor is beautiful if you can look up long enough to drink it in.

Chris

Just had an Orange 5 frame go “missing” with a Parcel Force 48 delivery to an ebay buyer. No sign of it 2 weeks later. Putting a claim in now.
Bummer.

I’ve never ridden in Brechfa before, mainly as there’s closer stuff to Bristol, but I think another trip may be needed soon.

I never usually use the granny, but it got a battering yesterday! Happy with 19:38…

Really nice chilled atmosphere too.

Big thanks to the organisers.

I have had prostatitus for the last 2 years or so, which flares up now and again and have seen about 3 consultants (NHS and private) over that time. They all checked the cycle helmet as I walked in and said that cyclists can have issues in that region, but there isn’t a definite link. They said saddle cushioning was important, but other than that just general advice.

I did this which helped
*Saddle is slightly nose down now (used to be up)
*Charge spoons and knives (used to think they were dead comfy, but on reflection they pressed on the soft bits). Swapped for Specialised romins which being flatter support my bones better, so less pressure.

As mentioned in posts above, width of pelvis sit bones should match the saddle IMHO, then at least you body weight is going on the right bits. The rest is trial and error. Good luck.

Came 5th in 8hr old gits Team and was happy with that. Skillfully came off in the first lap trying to overtake on the perimeter trail. Doh!!!!

As these are my local trails, I was v conscious to be polite, there’s always little red mist out there unfortunately. Especially annoying was being overtaken when 10 or more riders ahead in a train. What’s the point?

Also the “bmx” section could benefit with some overtaking slots. The red downhill was always bunched because of that IMHO

Overall a very well managed event with a nice “nerdy” event feel ( according to my wife!)

Agree – tighten the bolts tight, and make sure the brackets are straight, otherwise they can be riding along at odd angles.

Otherwise, I think they’re ace, and even the pump track has been negotiated (slowly).

My 2 both use(d) them.

Got one and use it daily. Totally agree with @badlywireddog in para 2 here. It will shrug off some rain for a bit and some wind, but it’s not as windproof and waterproof as others. Good enough for me, but if you need utter protection, maybe its not enough.

What I find is that I can wear it out, and then later inside, people say, why have you still got your coat on? I look down and forgot it’s still on.

I would buy another if I lost this one.

I run campag, connex, sram and KMC rather than shimano these days as probs with shimano years ago. They may be better now, not sure.

Just bought a 10 speed wipperman brass coated (arrived today) which was very expensive, but looks smart and if it stops the rust after a jetwash, maybe it might be worth it.

Watching Greg Lemond win the 89 tour was a big motivator.

Cycling up Greenwich Observatory’s grassy climb on a friend’s brand new Diamond Back Apex that same year made me realise MTBs were worth a try.

Was running a v light singlespeed roadbike which was great, but broke.

But reckon I’m having more fun on my heavier Surly Crosscheck frame, with full guards and 1×8 gears. Can do offroad route to work, and still not covered in mud when I get there. yay

Looks like this:

I ran with tubular wheels (they were Mavic Mach2 and vittoria Rubino Pro tubs) for a few month back, and liked them alot, but probably wouldn’t want to live with them on a communting bike again. I didn’t feel confident going anywhere without the Vittoria Pit Stop (and spare tub) – which saved me a couple of times. A brief excursion with velox tub-tape stopped when I saw the tubs moving round the rim. Conti glue remedied this, and held them fast (2 layers on the tyre, and 3 on the rim).

Switched back to clinchers in the end: more easily repairable for more confidence with some longer runs.

The Tubs are great, so light/quick rolling at 120psi, but still compliant. They do feel different too, in a good way.

Top entrance drive to Ashton Court, Bristol has some good showings under each of the avenue of trees yesterday.

ahhh

I see you have one already,

I have a 2006 Meta 5 5.2 medium with a Cracked frontend and good rear end (bit scuffed but good) if you still want to a rear end to match.

Ace bike IMHO.

Poo.

My Fuquay broke.

I’d still do it again though.

Road bikes are better for this sort of thing IMHO, as the fit needs to be more precise II have short legs and long body so needed a longer top tube.

MTBs don’t need the close fit, as your moving around more, but that doesn’t mean its not a good idea just to have something individual.

Tube choice is crucial.

LEMMINGS. That bit towards the end by the bridge and road are priceless.

What’s the quote from Withnail and I

“They are throwing themselves in the road glady” or something like that…

Oil level affects lockout.

I serviced mine as was suffering the same problem, the amount of oil in the reservior is pretty crucial, can’t remember the amount but the SRAM manuals have it.

Just checked:

“REVELATION – 115cc/ml (+/-5cc/ml)

IMPORTANT! OIL VOLUME IS CRITICAL. TOO LITTLE OIL DECREASES DAMPING PERFORMANCE. TOO MUCH OIL REDUCES AVAILABLE FORK COMPRESSION/TRAVEL, AS WELL AS RISK DAMAGE TO FORK FROM COMPRESSION BOTTOM-OUT.”

Not sure why its leaking, but may be worth a conversation with Shock tuners. Or get a new set of seals and fit them.

Forgetting the bikes were on the roof and slamming them into the car park height restriction.

Luckily the rack bent back and dented the car roof, and the bikes were largely OK.

double doh!

Cross check on Flickr[/url]

More pink bars on a Surly, 2 weeks old and still to find some mud.

6' on a medium.

Fine.

Pedals are a little forward than ideal, but not annoyingly so.

Shame isn't it. I just got a new SLX chainset rather than 3 new Blackspire rings.

Plus I bought a park chain-wear tool to help gauge the chain wear, as this is a big factor in the wear of rings. As well as grit, mud, and err, logs.

717 disc on rear, 717 rim brake on front
Panaracer Rampage 2.35 on both

I'm 95kg and I find them fine. I rely on the snake bite chamfer the Panaracers have, and you do get squirming at low PSIs but overall they are ok for me.

My rear has a flat side after a heavy landing at Afan. So they do dent easy, but that's about it.

Talking of Deda, here's my Casseroll.

Campag Veloce mainly

ooo this is a good thread.

Nigel dean 653 – now sporting tubulars (not in pic)

42×18

I have 2.35 – pretty big, but seems good.

Panaracer's anti snake bite strip does work IMHO

Nice photo of the jump above.

Here's an 853 with another sus seatpost.

8 speed thumbies x3, plus Psylo 120mm works well for me.

Another shout for Green Lanterns, the food is large and good quality.

I plumped for Nikon D40 with stock 18-55 about 6months ago.

Its cheap, light and works with my older lenses (with manual focus),

I’d get one again if it broke.

Check out Ken Rockwell’s blog.

As others have said, it’s not really about the camera… (but SLRs have their place).

More cracks in my Mavic rims today. All my bikes have them but I do wonder why sometimes.

I’ve got a Thudbuster and a Use.

I’d go for either instead of a rigid post on my hard tail (PA 853).

Thudbuster, is the better unit IMHO
Use is lighter and takes the chatter out, but I found the telescopic nature of it meant it wasn’t as plush, plus the trvel is less. Oh, and I snapped the bolts, twice.

I’m 40 and love suspension posts (I’ve had USE, moxey & cane creek) due to my love of hardtails and a bad back.

They’re not damped, but the cane creek (was moxey) lets me sit and pedal much more than before. Hence ride further.

Still need to get out the saddle when downhilling. You probably need to try one though.