morgs – just for you.

A few days after we got her

A couple of months ago playing in the stream

Just after fetching a stick from some water – most photos these days have a water theme!

Cheers folks

That’s making me feel ill just watching it

View from the Mendips was great today. No bike though – just the wife and the dog

It’s not that far for a 2yr old springer – unless you’re superman the uphill probably won’t be that much different than walking to him. Probably just build up a bit slower and make sure the downs aren’t flat out.

I have a 15 month old springer labrador cross. She’s been out with me for short starter rides to get her used to it (1-2 miles). Hope she’ll be able to go a fair bit further when I’m confident she’s stopped growing.

Cheese and chocolate. Love it

Paid for 37.5. Tend to work anything between 45 and 70.

Good skills njee. I do indeed have Bonty rims.

UST logo on th NN too

Sod it. Non UST tyre to be ordered. This isn’t worth it

Didn’t know that about Schwalbe. After the RRs being as baggy as a baggy thing, I thought I’d be safe with Schwalbe!

Cheers folks

>Next time you have the cassette off

That would be almost never for me then

What creamegg said. I’d never considered it until I let my friend borrow my bike and he moved them. I really love the new position. Feels loads better – only weird thing was the shifters not being where you’d expect, but got used to that pretty quickly

Bike looks ace, btw.

I loved the race. We came 41st in team open. There were 3 of us and if I wasn’t there the lads would have been much higher up. Didn’t help that in a moment of incompetent thinking I went out without my spare tube or repair kit. Typically that was the lap I got a puncture. happened on the red downhill bit so not too far to run.

I always got out of the way, often asking if the rider wanted to get past before they mentioned it. Almost everyone was very polite indeed. What did annoy me is riders who were desperate to get past on the very last bit of a climb, who were then really pants on the fun and twisty downhill/level single track, where because of pace it’s harder to overtake.

I do think the organisers need to sort out the transition though. It’s way too small. They should look at the 24/12 set up. Also the timing was a bit poor. Again 24/12 used ton have timing chips in the numbers. I’d rather pay a couple of quid more or have that instead of a pint glass.

On balance though, it was brilliant fun

Euwe

It’ll be perfect

Those scales are brilliant. I love the fact that pi is marked on there. outstanding

I’ve taken part in lap where we can’t spend more than £25 on a steed. The lads have done it twice, but myself just once. You’re allowed to spend a little more to make it safe – I.e. New brake pads and potentially cables.

Mt steed was my wife’s old bike from Germany. Fully rigid, awful 20yr old hybrid tyres, cantis, brakes that were the wrong way round and bull horns.

No idea how fast the lap was – guessing about 1.5 to 1.75 hours. Surprising quick on the climb, but you really feel it on the downs. Obviously all doable (you could ride it on any bike within reason), but makes you realise how good modern bikes are.

Chubby

I have an EX 8 2009 and love it, though I’ve never owned another FS bike. Like mrben I’m pretty bulky at about 95kg, but it’s coped fine.

I found the stock tyres shocking, though incredibly easy to turn tubeless if you can get them on the wheels (very tight). They should change them in the shop for you though. One of my mates had a top fuel and the guys in the shop looked as if they were expecting him to return the tyres (which they just swapped no probs).

I mainly ride around Bristol, Cwmcarn, Afan and Coed-y-Brenin. For me it works great, though I don’t have big enough balls to leave the ground too often. I always feel like I’m the one that limits the ride, not the bike limiting me.

HTH

Chubby

coatesy – I think I love you! A bit of advice that’s opposite to everything I’ve been told before and it works. Everyone has always said to me start at the valve because there’s more slack away from it, but first attempt going in the other way and it’s fine.

Thanks – you’ve made my day!

Yeah tried WUL.

I did exactly the same with the tubeless (I swear my wife nearly left me whilst I was cursing whilst doing that) but I hadn’t topped up/replaced liquid for a while – not sure how often you have to – but can’t get the buggers back on now. Annoying thing was the liquid looked ok.

An actual cage – found some online – might just suck it up and order one

Ooh Wilkinsons – I’ll try there – cheers Granny

As for pet superstores – well I’ve tried 2 Pet’s at home stores and the dog hole so far – no luck there. No luck in Halfords either

Try the FSCS webiste http://www.fscs.org.uk/what-we-cover/questions-and-answers/qas-about-deposits/

Also, this link has a ‘which banks are linked tool’, but you might want to check when it was last updated http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/savings/safe-savings

My understanding is as follows (I’ll caveat it with the comment that I might not be right, but it’s my understanding nonetheless)

A bank needs a banking license to trade in the same we we need a TV license to watch TV legally. This banking license may well cover all banks in a Group, or there may be more than one license in a Group. My understanding is that the FSCS levy (which is the body that provides the ‘insurance’ for your balance – the £50k you’ve mentiond) is levied per banking license. So you may be covered with £50k in two different companies in the same group as long as those companies are not trading under the same license.

it’s done on banking license, not on what group you’re in

only experience I’ve had in my girlfriend’s when I was 23 – all I cared about was that people were there, so don’t worry about taking/doing/saying anything. Do remember to turn off your phone though

roots rocks and mud is spot on. It’s my local and can be ridden on my EX8 or my hardtail just fine

Quirrel

I’m 5′ 11″ with a 35″ waist (hope I have the ‘ and ” the right way round!). I have a 43″ chest – no idea my armpit measurement! – that’s pretty difficult to measure yourself.

I got a large and it’s, as you put it ‘tight’, not ‘TIGHT’. Plenty of stretch left in it.

Hope that helps.

Chubby

I've used Joystick as a main light in a 24 hour race. It's plenty bright enough by itself on full beam (though admittedly I'm not exactly a front runner). However I think night riding should be about riding at night, not having enough light such that you might as well be riding in the day.

I've also got a p7 which is seriously bright, but gradually fades as the battery depletes. Might want to think about having a mini torch to make changing batteries half way through a ride easier (not that tricky though tbh, but a pain if you drop the end cap).

They're great together, but IMO the Joystick is far more superior.

There's load of stuff left in one of the Bristol stores (Ashton/Southville). Just picked up a heart rate monitor

that's cool – nice number plate too

Quick update after my post 3 hrs ago. No need for mud tyres in Bristol. Claggy mud for about 7m of riding in total (around ashton court), and most of that was after the rutted bit on the bridleway at the bottom of the zig-zags

About to go out in Bristol – I was expecting the trails to be a little bit nasty. mmmmm maybe I've made the wrong choice – there's still time though

I have a joystick maxx – plenty enough by itself unless you need to go really quick. Used it at a couple of 24 hour races. I then bought a p7 for £50 including battery charger and spare battery (they don't use normal sized batteries so need a charger). That is seriously bright, but does get dimmer with time.

The combination of the two works well, but I have been pleased to have the joystick as the other gets dimmer (also when changing batteries on the p7 as unsurprisingly when it's dark you can't see what you're doing).

For pure night riding thrills I'd just use the joystick by itself though. If you have too much light you might as well just ride in the day.

Might give them a bit of time then.

Funny thing was when I replaced the tyres (not tubeless) on my hardtail immediately after – didn't need levers at all.

Rear tyre on with two satisfying cracks. Think the washing up liquid made the difference, though still a bit difficult for my liking.

Really hope these things don't burp on the trail. Stupid wheels! Might be visiting the lbs to talk new wheels soon.

Cheers for advice folks

Thanks both.

I'll try the tyre on a different wheel.

Does washing up liquid react with the sealant at all?

And yup – my sole reason for going tubeless is because it's embarrassing on the side of the trail trying to get those tyres off and on – never experienced anything like it!

Cheers

Chubby

very good indeed (make sure you do the straps up though).

notice it most after a ride – no faffing about when knackered, just pick it up, put it on roof, and you're good to go.