Sorry if this has been answered before – is the Codiene the eventual replacement for the El Guapo 26er, or is it instead of the El Guapo 29er?

Or is this a pure addition to the line up?

Call me Al

You can ride all day at Afan, and not get bored. It’s a classic Welsh trail centre, that drains pretty well. Whether that’s ‘worth’ it, is up to you.

Second vote for chocolate milk…

Read that piece of advice in “The First 20 Minutes”, which is a very interesting read, if a bit frustrating in it’s lack of citations…

You can buy headphones that also let you hear what’s going on around you. Best of both?

I did the Gap a few years ago, and was a bit underwhelmed. A section of canal path, a long (uneventful) up, followed by a long down (which while technical at the top, didn’t give me the reward I was hoping for)

I get the feeling I might not have got the most out of it though, reading the posts above.

If you’re training though, is there an arguement to run yourself out of ready energy, in order to adapt into becoming more efficient / improve adpatation to use all available energy sources.

I train quite regularly without having eaten in the last few hours – eg ride after work, just before dinner.

IN also – 4 man team.

Did D2D last year in a 3. This will be our first 24 hour event, and interested to see how is plays out!

I too can’t be arsed changing tyres so have advantage 2.25 on front and rear.

Used Advatanges 2.25s for years on my 140mm FS. Swapped to High Roller on the front on a recommendation, but slightly preferred the predictable, progressive grip of the ADs on balance, even if the HR had a bit more ultimate grip. Suited my riding better I think…

Heard good things about the HR2, which I haven’t tried.

I keep it simple – I really like Ikons as a dry/firm tyre and swap for Beavers when it’s muddy.

PS – think I had a brain fudge in previous post. Was 24 PSI on front, 28+ on the back. Soz…

I’ve been a big fan of the ADvantage front and back for the type of riding you describe, on a 140mm FS. If it got really dry stuck a Small Block 8 on the back which also worked really well.

It has quite a high volume, and a pregressive feel, which gives confidence – no ‘zone of uncertainty’

Before you start splashing the cash, presumably you’ve experimented with tyre pressures – made a big difference to me. I ran 28psi on the 2.25 front which took out all the high frequency vibrations, and felt stable and predictable in the corners.

Done…

@Shortcut – perfect. Thanks. Makes total sense…

Sorry folks – I’m going to need a little more help here. Trying to understand how it works. What is the difference between the Master and Super Master?

And am I an ‘expert’ having finished half way up the points in the last Brass Monkeys 2 hr race (I wouldn’t call myself one! It was my first non team xc race.)? The Spring series feels like a step up to me?!?

And isn’t the point about number of laps, moot – if you get lapped by the leaders, you finish straight after they do anyway, irrespective of whether you do the number of race laps… Is that right?

Will you still have your old FS? If so, getting a HT is much less of a risk.

Having rencently got a HT off the back of riding FS exclusively for 4 years, I’m really enjoying it, but I’m riding terrain that suits it… It did take me a few weeks for my body to adjust, both to geometry, peddling style and the impacts your back end up taking. There was one point where I thought I made a mistake in getting it, as my back was pretty uncomfortable, but it adapted (or I adapted my riding style)

If I’m heading to some more rugged terrain, I’m right back on my FS though.

The fire roads are total bogs/ponds/streams in places, but the trails are mostly ok.

Great little adventure, that…

Did it in Nov ’12, left Llanberris at 5am in the pitch black, but the mountain god was on our side as the sheeting rain abruptly stopped 10 mins before we were due to leave.

After a bit of off-piste, night naviagtion to pick up the path and railway, rode (pushed a bit) through a gloomy dawn to the summit, which was clouded in.

Down Ranger path which fun although it did try and kill me – I have since invested in 6 inches of ‘skills compensation’ for future similar circumstances.

To Pete’s Eats for brunch, and the biggest plate of omelette and chips I’ve ever seen, and up Tryfan in the afternoon.

Scramble two eggs in a ramakin. Flake in some smoked mackerel. Nuke for around 90 seconds (watch carefully for the rise, and don’t overcook). Serve your mackerel souffle on toast…

EDIT – Beans OR eggs, unless a fry-up, in which case anything goes.

Try riding at 100% for a month, no breaks, no resting after a climb – just full effort, all the time. See it as a challenge.

Once you’ve done that, then ask yourself the same question. I reckon you’ll start enjoying the cruisey bits again and you’ll be fitter too…

Depends on the ride. If it’s a training ride, then it’s better solo, focusing on what you’re doing etc. Anything else, then it’s more sociable.

Wot FOG said – I consider a waterproof to be a warming layer, rather than a stay dry layer. Any sort of exercise and I’m wet inside, irrespective.

One of my fav bits of kit at the mo is my waterproof jacket with removable arms (forget the name). Perfect for cold winter riding where windchill is the main issue. Take arms off, undo zip a bit, so plenty of ventilation, and core stays warm.

kiwijohn – I thought it was the absence of brakes that makes you go faster! 😉

I retired my FS frame when the shock started rattling in it. Could have investigated getting it sorted, but the frame was from 2008, seen a bit of abuse, and the riding I’m doing is different now, so thought I’d get something new – a bargain on a 26’er as turns out!

EDIT – spelling

I do ride with two lights – a Diablo on the helmet and 1000 lumens on the bars, which is plenty, but take the point about peripheral vision. Perhaps too much light forward. I reckon there’s probably a bit to do with moving shadows as well…

Just interested to hear if others find the same. It’s a bit frustrating riding a trail you know well (Swinley Deerstalker in this case) badly, and not getting into a rhythm ‘cos you’re not on the line you should be!

Perhaps sharkattack is right – all part of the fun!

Once convinced myself someone was riding behind me (without lights!) when out one night. Stopped, turned around… nothing…

Started again, heard the noise again… Stopped… nothing… Realised I was being stupid, and checked the bike, and found some snagged plant life rubbing against the wheel…