First attempt last year and got eliminated at 78 miles, going back this year
Can’t say I enjoyed it – the conditions were grim – but did enjoy the training and feel I have unfinished business. Plus it can’t be as bad, can it…?

As with so many Brake Pads were my downfall – only had to change them once (after 30 miles) but took me 40 minutes. Incompetent I know but they were Avid Juicy’s, had only changed them once before and that was at home, in the dry. Also had chain suck throughout – again incompetent bike setup – grease on my chain.

The queues on the first couple of singletrack climbs were a pain, one descent was plain silly and as to the wall of mud at Newcastleton….

Re Brake Pads – any tips ? Apart from get better at changing them !

I’m a huge fan of 29ers, been riding them for 4 years and have both a HT and an FS.

But I’m 6’4 and into Xc and endurance, so it’s a no-brainer. If you are shorter and into DH, it may be different.

The other thing to say is that I think they work really well in the Peak and the dales, but even so the shops in Sheffield have been reluctant to stock them. Just back from the lakes and the shops up there still don’t seem to have many 29er bikes and even less parts – one very big shop had just one 29er tyre. This, I was told, was due to lack of demand – the steep and rocky nature of the climbs, and the amount of carrying you do on some routes (routes which I admit to avoiding), allegedly put 29ers at a disadvantage. Allegedly…

Garmin’s Basecamp is pretty good for this – once you work out how to use it. It’s not the most intuitive software going, but you can chop off bits of the ride from the map view by using the “Divide” button.

Also comes in handy when you accidently turned the dam thing off during a ride. Load the track into Basecamp, edit it in the Map View using Insert waypoints. Then export it as a track and import it into Garmin Connect.

Pity that Garmin can’t combine the functionality of Basecamp and Connect

10, but 9 of those came on two rides and on several I seem to be the only one to have logged them

Two methods that I use

1) Using Base Camp, right click on the track I’ve created and select SendTo, then click in the drive for the device
2) The other way I create courses is using http://www.bikehike.co.uk, and from there you clicj the Download option, and select to send it to a GPS device. I think you need to have loaded some Garmin software first – communicator ? – but that may already be installed if you have Base Camp

The problem I have is that it only seems to do one course. I seem to have to disconnect the device between each transfer. Anyone else have this problem ?

Had a grand day out around Wensleydale a few weeks back – 46 miles with lunch at the cheese factory – cracking !!!

Route partly based on the Dodd Fell route above, but couldn’t decide whether to go up or down the Roman road, so did both.

From Bainbridge up RR to the top, through 2 or 3 gates, then BW on right (the 2nd of the two) which takes you back and then down to Buttersett. From Hawes I went up the Pennine Way – it’s the red dashes on the Dodd Fell map. This was a great climb, sttep but entirely rideable (though that was before recent heavy rain), but then flattens out so you get this long (5 or 6 miles) section along a stunning ridge before the screaming descent back down the RR

(My ride also included Castle Bolton and Stake Allotments, but this middle section was the highlight)

Thanks for all the replies – very informative

There seems to be various mentions that the minimum ratio is 1:1.9, which given that it comes with a 20T sprocket means a 38T chainring.

That would mean mean (by my calculations) I’d lose my bottom 4 granny gears from my current setup, and the bottom gear on middle ring.

Call me a wimp, but that wouldn’t suit me on anything vaguely interesting.

Can someone explain (in vague terms – I’m not an engineer) why a 20/26 setup would cause problems ? Any tales of woe from running a low ratio ?

just don;t drop the drive ratio too low (2:1 is it?) and over torque it.

Would that rule out a 26T chaingring with a 20T rear sprocket ?

Have to say I like the really low gears for technical climbs

The moment you introduce a deraileur/chain tensioner you’re leaving yourself open to chainsuck

That’s what I thought, but given that the bike in question has vertical dropouts (it’s a Trek x-cal), I think I’m going to need a chain tensioner anyway. It’s not a component I’m familiar with, so I wasn’t sure how differant they are to derailleurs

Some excellant routes detailed here

http://www.arranbikeclub.com/

Really enjoyed the Laggan descent, all the stuff around Clauchlands and above Whiting Bay – some great singletrack on which you rarely meet walkers. I found enough to keep myself happy for a week last year

Not sure how much of the route up Goat Fell would be rideable, particularly near the top, but it’s certainly going to be busy with walkers

Trek x-caliber

I’ve been getting clown bike jokes for the last 4 years !

Roych Clough is DEFINITELY better this way round. And although Chapel Gate isn’t an option any more, Greenlands always makes me smile.

Again I disagree – clockwise it’s entirely rideable. And at the risk of being accussed of heresay, I quite like Chapel Gate at the moment – it makes a very satisfying climb.

I’m firmly of the opinion that this route is best done West to East, up Coldwell Clough and down Jacob’s Ladder. I’ve not cleaned the ascent, but walking has been restricted to a couple of strides here and there. Wheras going up Jacob’s Ladder was mostly pushing, rarely riding more than 10 yards at a time.

To Lifer – YHM

Let me have a word with my wife – it’s her bike !

The law restricting us dates from 1968 – long before the advent of mountain biking – and as such is long overdue for revision. It’s as outdated as the red flag rule for motoring !
Putting bikes and horses in the same category is clearly daft – completely differant requirements and effects on the ground.

However would all riders behave responsibly if restrictions were lifted – minding the conditions and being considerate to walkers. Knowing what you are doing is “cheeky” is no bad thing IMHO

I have a 15 year old Specialized Hardrock sitting in a basement in Sheffield. Size 15.5, rigid fork, rim brakes, 21 speed, sort of metallic purple/brown ! Full working order, apart from rear shifter (which may just need some TLC).

Gary Fisher Tassajarra – after 5 years
Gary Fisher Hi-Fi Pro – after 2 years

both went at the same place – Chainstay, about 2 inches in for the bottom bracket, whilst climbing. Make me wonder if my legs are just too strong for the bike 😉

Both replaced under warranty

Not done Llandegla but I’d say Whinlatter is better than Grizedale for a novice. Start off with the blue, then the southern half of the red. Quick cuppa and then (if they coped OK) the northern half of the red. Repeat until tired/bored. The boardwalk sections at Grizedale can be unnerving for the unsteady, and there is more tedious fire road.

Appears to have sold out already !

When is the next batch due ?

I’ve had far fewer problems since I bought a better pump – sks aircon 6.0
If it doesn’t work first time, then pour some very soapy water around the bead and try again

Quite tempted to build a ghetto inflater, but can someone tell me how to control air flow from inflated bottle to tyre ?

Did it in early March and really enjoyed it – much better than Marin, bit harder than Penmachno – some tight turns (I’m a big bloke on a 29er) and a bit of exposure at times on the north loop.

I was quite impressed by the lack of fire-road – very little apart from a mile or so of slog on the north loop.

Did seem quite short though – I was there for the afternoon and still did the north loop twice, the blue run and I thought I done the south loop twice, but it appears I missed a section – so take care when you reach the top of the zig-zag climb.

Nice cafe too