Heyup

I am 5'11" and a smidge (and shrinking). The large is much smaller than my 20" frame Kona.

I had great service from the Specialized Concept Store in Chester. Worth a visit.

Sorry no photos, although there is no choice the colour scheme is pretty cool.

Paul

Hi

I've had mine for 3 weeks now. Done 3 decent solo outings, each about 40 – 45Km. CyB Beast and Tarw, Llandegla – World's End and the Marin (2 loops on Monday, a lovely day).

Does climb very well and let out the forks and downhill is a dream. Very alive ride if you want or very forgiving if you are knackered.

Have just converted to flat pedals!!

Basically you cannot go wrong if you get the sizing right 😉

Good luck.
Paul

Aye, it does look stunning! Have the correct OS map too 🙂

Does anyone know anything about that return E -> W leg? It could be a bogfest now?

A bit of a beast for this time of year. Your original is much more doable.

Paul

Hi Dave

I had also wondered about doing this, have done a few sections already.

Have you seen this route?

http://www.nwmba.org.uk/old_pdfs/berwyn.pdf

About 25 miles and more off-road.

Paul

Many, many congratulations! Wow! :)))
Paul

I'm not really expecting it to be a great route all round, it's just something that's been on my list for quite a while now & never quite got around to

Similarly – I'm hoping to do High Cup Nick this weekend as another one of those 'on my list' routes – I guess it will be a bit damp

Two on my tick list!! Maybe I'll wait for a cold spell before High Cup Nick and a bit of a dry period before the MTL.

Cheers
Paul

Started 50+ here. Pads and building up slowly in difficulty but ever higher, harder, faster etc… 😉

Do what you enjoy!!!

Cheers
Paul

All red crosses here…

Too right! Haven't been rained on since March (and that was in the Canary Islands). Averaged 2 solid rides/week around the North and Wales.

Thought Sunday would be the first ride of winter at CyB but no, the luck was in and had superb autumn riding. Did last 3 sections of Tarw followed by The Beast plus Dreamtime section at the beginning and with the short cut near the cafe. Four and a half hours of excellent trail centre riding. How good is Big Doug after the Pink Heifer!! :))

Knackered!! 🙂
Paul

Make sure your saddle is high enough!! Leg straight with heel on pedal at bottom of stroke. Therefore a hint of a bend when clipped in at bottom of stroke. Too low and your legs *will* explode quickly.

Rode a demo Expert round The Beast at CyB on Saturday.

Maybe due to frame sizing/geometry but was much much better for me than a Trek EX8 or my current 100mm travel Kona.

Brain does work exactly as advertised but as I'm used to Propedal etc am not going for the extra £300. Also ANO part to go wrong.

Handlebars wide enough and the whole bike very lively yet foregiving. Easy to point in the right direction and able to cruise down the wrong line when I made a mistake.

No problems climbing. Eased up all those on the Beast, just set forks to shortest travel.

Winding out the forks for the downhills really seemed to set the bike up very nicely.

So if you have the money am sure you'll not be disappointed.

Cheers
Paul

PS The above opinions are purely subjective and biased to justify my purchase 😉

Heyup,

Many thanks for the heads up! Had planned to try a demo 2010 Stumperjumper there on Saturday!!

Maybe CyB then, assuming the vandals have not been active again 🙁

Paul

Bradley Wiggins is always bangin on about Ian Brown on Twitter…

Legends, both!

Off to see Mr Brown's 'homecoming' gig w/e before Xmas with gf and my 20something son and daughter, oh yes :))

Paul
'I Wanna Be Adored'

Hi

This has worked for me in the past.

Ring the hospital and ask to be put through to his secretary. Explain what happened and how anxious/disappointed you are and see if either the secretary will put you through to him or get him to phone you.

Very best wishes.
Paul

First comment…
…take up SNOWBOARDING you ponce! :))

Second comment…
…am only a 1 or 2 weeks a season boarder and the MTBing was fantastic in improving basic strength. Could slide for hours and really get into technique without becoming totally wasted 🙂

Enjoy the winter rides!!

Cheers
Paul

I definatly rate the brain – I owned a 2008 expert AND a 2004 pro for a year, and the brain effect was great – you miss it once you have to switch back to pro-pedal after realising that you are bobbing away on climbs, and then when I got back onto the 2008 out of saddle sprints on smooth sections felt much more worth it

I note that the Elite rear shock does have lockout as well as pro pedal and full.
Is the 'Brain' another bit to fail?
Do like the Expert colour though 😉

Paul

Perfect solo outing yesterday. 5 Dales 36k circuit from the VG White Peak guide. Cool, but warm, warm but cool. Leaves and magical dry woodland. Autumn colours, lovely.

Ace 🙂

Paul

Errr – that's why I got into biking at the ripe old age of 34! It's all about the coffee and cake too

Likewise…
…but 18 months ago just after my 50th (going on 15) ;).

🙂
Cheers
Paul

Try

http://www.bikenfun.de

La Palma, Canary Island.

Paul

Looks like a stunning couple of days!

And all because of the STW forum!? 🙂

Cheers
Paul

Thanks for the info.

Rode this for the first time today (Sat). It is very good. Does feel a bit CyB in places!!

Conditions were good. The weather and views fantastic especially with noone else around. A nice early start.

Paul

Not names the pike steps. Open to offers

Should name that rock slab descent – 'Stupid Boy!'.

??

Hi

The 'rocky slab descent' is directly from the Pike tower heading south. Not been down to Rivington Barn/Gardens area yet!!

The Quarry? Eliminator? which? (edit – seen Loweys post)
Cheers.

What are your names for this
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=366327&y=414190&z=120&sv=366327,414190&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=623&ax=366327&ay=414190&lm=0

and
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=366789&y=414745&z=120&sv=366789,414745&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=623&ax=366789&ay=414745&lm=0

and
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=366341&y=416130&z=120&sv=366341,416130&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=623&ax=366341&ay=416130&lm=0

and the rocky slab descent from the Pike…
…and don't say 'paths' ;))

Paul

Great to bump into Lowey and others on Winter Hill last night. Didn't recognise you looking 'fresh'.

Although I appeared to have recovered from knee surgery (still hurts but in randomly different places now) I will not be on this ride.

Unfortunately, will be MTBing in Portugal :p

Hope the weather is good!
Paul

Hi Ton

Morally right or wrong doesn't matter…
…just please watch your back, house, friends and family for a while. If the guy is a real badass (or just ffing mad, must be to face up to you!) and finds out where you live there is no limit to what he and associates can do to ruin your life.

Sorry, am sure it will just blow over.
Paul

Thanks for the info! Saved and will be used…
…when the ferns die down 😉

Ta.
Paul

PS Just seen the map. Brilliant!! ta. And yes, my bro and I want to ride around Skiddaw

Sorry to jump in on your posts.

How far does it work out at? Pen~30k, Marin~25k, off road join ~10??

I would be very interested in a map with the link route shown…
…if possible.

Thanks
Paul

Looks a great ride. My brother has just bought an apartment in Keswick! On the 'MustDo' list 🙂

Is there a good way of avoiding the initial ride along the A591 out of Keswick? Dodd Wood??

Ta.
Paul

http://www.adventureroutes.com/biking/index.html

http://www.mtbonline.co.za/

Looks like they could do with a seat dropper!!

🙂

Smoker and fit? Not for long I'm afraid

I've been round long enough to see many of my "fit smoker" mates die off – usually in unpleasant ways – or have to give up exercise – "don't have the legs for it anymore".

Too true 🙁

Cycling will not offset the smoking-related increase in mouth, throat, lung, stomach, pancreatic and bladder cancer (think I've got most of them right there).

…enjoy 🙂

Would like to say MTFU Ed…
…but I feel the same 🙁 bugger!

And come down with a cold too.

Forecast looks good mid/late next week 🙁

Cheers
Paul

Explore here

http://www.stronge.org.uk/index.html

I use the charts for longer range.

http://www.stronge.org.uk/charts.html

I combine these with the Met Office and Beeb. Works well for me 🙂

Paul

As a trail centre ride Gisburn Forest is half the distance and twice as good.

Do the top loop of the figure '8' twice for added value.

Paul

Loving the new open trail before the start of the black run.

Presume you mean the 'same old red' that is soo different now that the trees have been cleared?? Or is there some more new stuff?

Cheers
Paul

It was really quite dry 🙂

Black loop was a bit gooey in the trees though.

A great afternoon ~54km, got lost trying to cut back to Dixons Hollow on the black…
Paul

Have just come back from Dalby via the M62 and A19 (Selby). No problems however…
…A64 east and north east near York is fcuked up with some roadworks as you head towards Malton from Mcr.

🙂

Thanks Uplink.

Tricky question. I carry nothing specifically for the task.

The key is the knowledge to do the least additional damage! That is do the minimum that is exactly the right thing to do to manage the situation.

Not too helpful. A Mountain First Aid course.

Cheers
Paul