mc11as- that’s a nice write up. Could you edit it and put in some paragraphs and capitals? Apologies for the critisism – I’ve got night blur vision just reading that 😉

Edit – Here – I’ve done it for you:

I would say running time is 2.5 – 3hrs on the mj872 for climbing and slow techy singletrack. I use the 1st 30% setting sometimes going upto the 50% setting, very rarely have i been above 70% it literally is not required as you have ample light.

I do agree that a combination helmet light works well with the mj872, it gives u better awareness around you and a little more confidence. I recently purchased a trustfire cree XM-LT6 1000LM ZOOMABLE torch off e- bay what a fantastic piece of kit it pisses all over my mates exposure helmet lights to be honest it is embarassing.

Their are seven settings high,middle,low,strobe,sos,zoom in, zoom out. It is only 12cm long and weighs 105g, fully water resistant and runs off 1 18650 3.7v battery, i trailed e – bay and found some 3800mah lithiums which are belting loads more burn time than the 2600mah and i carry a spare so i dont get caught out.

The zoom is un- real a lazer of light that goes a long long distance, i picked mine up for 12 quid on auction with buy it nows at about 16 quid.

Batteries are not included: I picked them up from another seller 2 batteries and charger for 5 quid delivered. I also picked up a CREE XP- G R5, 800 lumens, 3 modes bright, normal and flashing without zoom though but still a very powerfull light when helmet mounted that cost me roughly a tenner.

The zoomable torch does win massively i picked up a helmet light mount of e-bay and it works a treat 20 quid all in u can stick ur exposures where the sun dont shine.

What a rip off buy one of these their unreal………

God – there is some ill informed stuff on here. I almost never comment on this stuff as it’s my day job and I’m on here to think about my next ride / bike etc.

Anyway I take around 100k photos a year (somewhere around 2000 a week) with a range of bodies. Including a 5d mk i and mk ii, 1Ds, 10Ds – the whole range. More expensive bodies are marginally better than others. All are good though!

If you want one body and budget is limited then compromise is called for.

For £300 a used canon body from someone you trust is a real good deal.

For someone to trust I’d go to these guys: (in Scotland, unbelieveably good advice and backup service when stuff goes wrong – eg they sent me a replacement body foc before I’d even sent the original used body back under warranty):

http://www.ffordes.com/category/Digital_Cameras/Digital_SLRs/Canon

Lastly – the things that go wrong after about 100k actuations are – 1: battery failure, 2: shutters, 3: flash activation / circuits (but we have them on all the time).

#Edit – forgot to say – Don Simon – what do you want to know about product work?

This may help?

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/what-happened-to-crud-claws

Edit – having read the thread – probably not ;(

in the north

How north? Faroe, Shetland, Nothumberland, England ish.

The Southern Yeti – Member
Empty swimming pool at lunch, a rare and simple treat

I’m wondering how a swimming pool with no water could be a treat? 😉

Soap and a brush is miles better than the pre-foamed foam in a can ime. I dont get the rustic / antique razor thing though.

A stick of Arko from my barbers costs £1 and last around a year used daily. A brush lasts maybe 15 years.

On the other hand an electric razor makes me look like a convict before lunchtime! Each to their own.

Yes that is a LIDL one.

The clamp on the lidl one is rubbish.

True.

If you do get one expect to spend some time modifying it. Carbon paste helps. Drilling a bolt through the head is better. Even bolted in one place the plastic clamp still flexes and creaks.

Also the legs rust. It is stable though – usually cause the front wheel slowly moves around and sits on the ground.

Mine now sits outside and gets used for the degrading bike washing duties.

Edit – and it doesnt have a QR clamp so its slow to tighten up while you balance the bike in your other hand.

This is what you want – no NEED:

Hard to belive you can make an entertaining 8:50 video about a shovel! I dont own one btw.

Glen Sligachan

I’ve only walked this (7 hours with missus) and about every 2 mins I was kicking myself that I didnt have a bike! Lovely route on a nice day, cracking views, lots of rocks and step ups etc but nothing too fast. Some slightly muddy bits but wasnt too busy when we were there (ie saw about 15 folk all day).

I dont know if recommending “brands” is all that helpful. Most of the main manufacturers make at least the following models: long lasting (low grip). Hi grip (short lived). Fuel saver. Extra load. Summer. All weather. 4 season. And some that are compromises of all that.

The model names make this a mine field. So – the answer- there are lots of tyre review sites out there. Pick your priorities.

When you roll up to kwik fit I guess they sell you the ones with the highest margins and just quote you the brand – not the model.

Decide what you want – life, grip, compromise. Dont be a brand snob. Just like mtb tyres I guess?

I’ve got 3 sets of SLXs (’10 & 11 models?) and love them. One of them leaked at the caipler seals though. A replacement was £20 in a sale.

Oro’s are also great – but (Im nit picking) have smaller pads that seem to be fussier about rotors with gaps in them.

Re Tektro Augira comp’s – they are basically re-manufactured Shimano Deores from yesteryear (although mine squealed like a female dog) and imitation is the sincerest form of flattery etc.

mmm – I dont want to be judgemental but I think you need something in your life to raise that awesome bar just a bit 😉

Dunlop Sp Wintersport 3D

IIRC Autoexpress tested this years version (now called 4D I think) and gave it top marks but it was a pre production model so didnt actually put it in the top 3. So in summary – a 3D will be better than fine!

As for 2 vs 4 debate – I’ve done 2 winters with 2 on the front (fwd) and as we live on a slight hill (but regular visits at inlaws on a steep hill) the sideways excitement just got too much: always braking, coming back down the hill and we now put 4 on at least one car.

You can live with 2. And get going. Stopping is more entertaining esp on a hill for some reason.

With a RWD you defo need all 4. A non braking non steering 5 series is not something I’d risk others lives with again.

how is MY yeti then?

It’s MY Yeti now! It’s great – makes me feel faster than I am really. I’ve recently got the Commencal warranty replacement I was waiting for (eventually!) and have been using that for the last few weeks. I was planning on selling the Yeti when the Commie arrived but now I’m torn!

Not the same by any stretch – I got an ASR-SL used from on here and it’s ace! But be aware of the slightly odd yeti sizing (ie a small is almost a medium/small etc)

Alu frame less than 2kg inc headset and shock. Built up easily to 24lbs. The carbon must be even more mental!

Lastly – it is a single pivot – and does rely on the custom tuned fox propedal shock to make it feel fast. Which it is. And uber plush on the downs!

andrewh – ah yes. But how much is your road tax PA? Eh? eh?

I only mention that as my first job was with PMPA – if you remember them, and my first car (Fiat Uno D – not even a turbo D) cost £3000 to insure. Car tax was something like £1000.

Just to play devils advocate here- I’m a big SS fan, but their kevlar / red pads squeal like a female dog in the cold, damp or wet.

So I use their sintered pads from this time of year onwards. Stop. Quietly. Cheaply.

Used in SLX, Oros and Juicys. Kevlars are in the box and kept (for me) for wet summers. YMMV.

I noticed it this year above any other. 15 years ncd, boring car, premiums are up by about 25% even after shopping around. Still it’s only about 3 tank fulls of diesel so it’s not as bad as Ireland.

This one divides the populus on here. I guess it depends on you and where / what you ride.

I did the overshoes thing – which works but is a faff and the overs fail after a few months if youre lucky (depends on miles, conditions etc).

Shimano mw80 (and this years replacement) are “put on – go ride – take off – have a cuppa”.

But that does come at a cost.

At the real extreme – if it’s proper baltic (-15 or worse)- or you get cold feet – mw80’s dont really cut the mustard – you need overshoes too. I got 2 pairs now – one for normal woolie boolies and one sized up for really really thick merino hiking socks. BTW – I cant find overs that fit over the larger mw80’s.

Lastly: woolie boolies – What ever you wear start with them: warm when damp, dont honk, etc etc.

amt27 – Member

I was enjoying that video listening to Deep Purple when somebody make a plonker of themselves!

There are **** in every walk of life and hobby. Dont take it personal like.

I got a few meters of the the biketart tape and I’m sure it’s the thinnest of the 3m heli tapes in their own box. I’m in no way knocking it or anything. All the 3m tapes can be applied wet – I’ve never needed to – I plan ahead, am careful and I get the hairdryer out and stretch it as required.

If in doubt – Just Riding Along (thicker) and Biketart (thinner) are the real macoy. Just that sometimes the same stuff is on the evilbay (usually from ex mod or airport worker types) that sell it for peanuts. A lot of the ebay “shops” selling 3m stuff are questionable.

Well of course you’ll never be sitting down on a hit:)

Id guess you have the cheap/ free mk’s. They are small for their size. Therefore seem firmer. If you want to buy something then on one have schwalbe rocket rons for £20 and also nobly nics(dont know their price). Both come up a fair bit bigger than mk’s for the same nominal size. Aim for less grip at the back for safety.

My views (Im not usually this opinionated) are in this link.

Basically the good stuff comes from 3m. It’s rebranded and sold at a big premium. The really poor stuff is prevalent on ebay. Decide how thick you want it then:
http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/ok-3m-heli-tape-whats-the-best-tape-and-whats-best-value

Richie – what exactly is the problem?

Are you getting bounced about/ too much vibration / not getting grip on climbs etc etc?

BTW MKs come in a range of flavours from free plastic versions given to bike manufacturers to the much better black chilli (“supersonic” and “protection” ones – but these names have changed this year). So what one do you have?

exactly what you do yes

Appreciated! I’ll be in the shed tomorrow!

Update:

And the answer is: only if you get out of bed on time!

Still had a good attempt: due to the later start changed the plan to Drumlanrig, Ae and Mabie.

After Drum… and Ae (3pm ish partly due to R mech dying) realised that it was going to get dark so Mabie was out (I really didnt want to ride somewhere new in the dark) went back and did another 1/2 lap at Drumlanrig (up to the “bail out”). Bloody knackered now – I think I overdid it this weekend.

Anyways, I’ll be back! What great trails – 90 mins away. Drumlanrig is ace in the rain btw – a proper root sliding giggleathon.

GT was mentally busy today wasn’t it…

The master of understatement. I’ve only ever been to GT on a Saturday twice in my life. Jeez! It was like this (except everyone was on bikes!):

Christ – I remember reading this last year and feeling it for you. However that there is just a new low.

But it’s good to see you’ve got fight left though! Getting on a bike is a great way of dealing with problems, stress, grief. It doesnt sort any of it out – but IME it gives your head “space” to process things and be able to deal with them.

My thoughts are with you and your brother.

Thanks Yeti and scratcher. Looks like I’ve got myself a “stetch goal” for the morning! 2 of the 3 would be great, but 3/3 for the bonus.

I’ll ask in the deli for “like a famished animal” packed lunch: and see what they can do!

Northwind – I’m just trying to get somewhere new. I been to those which are great (esp Kiroughtree) but I had a bizzare situation in GT this afternoon where there seemed to be 200,000 cars parked in the Peel (and the roads around it) and a million folk in the cafe, and I couldnt get moving on the trails for unfriendly grumpy folk so I decided on something brand new tomorrow.

Thanks Northwind – I appreciate that advice. I’m sure I can get two in, but am just wondering if 3 is utterly crazy. I think I’ll do the first 2 and see how I feel / where the sun is. I’m charging up the lights now just in case!

Purple extreme for me, even at the baltic temps of the last few years. Excellent chain / ring life. If smells like crayons – I guess its a wax in a solvent.

My FIL is as sound as a hound! A real good guy!

His daughter on the other hand is .. I’ll stop there.

Seriously, some of my own family are god awful to have staying. I’ve got 2 coming next week and am already annoyed before they even arrive! I just try and ignore them (its hard) and when it’s over – celebrate that I dont have to live with them full time.

Thanks for the update Cruzheckler.

I’ve kept an old fox seal for this very purpose – but I cant find a guide on what needs to be done. Do you just remove the brass bush thingys with a torx key, remove old seal, slide new one one and reassemble? Anything else?

Most probably the connector in the cable. Seriously fragile.

#Edit:
Any sparks or bangs or just dead?

Anything happen if you jiggle the cable? Can you try a different battery.

Soz- timberheart, you heart may be in the right place – but that there is SPAM!

My only 2p’s worth after owning several of both types- generally buy diesel if
a- you do a lot of miles
OR
b- its under warranty and will remain so while you own it.

I had diesels for years and never had a problem. Then over the next few years I got all too familiar with TLA’s and other terms for diesel stuff (most of which seem to cost aound £800 to sort): dmf, injectors, injector pumps, turbos, intercooler, dpf, egr,…. They also seem harder on batteries, tyres and clutches.

Petrol stuff seems generally cheaper to replace/repair (eg ignition coils/leads).

We currently have 2 petrols and one diesel (and I’m not following my own warranty advice – but touch wood). In the long run – IME – there isnt much difference in the cost per mile. The cost at the pump is obvious week by week but the annual fleecing can be a shock!

Torquey diesels are easier to drive though – despite being a bit noisier.

Lastly – where is the quashqai made? My sis has a 1.6D from new and it’s been back in a couple of times with electrical niggles – I’ve got it in my mind that it’s French as a result.

aracer- nice edit. I’m sure bruce was trying to help out. Like me, I dont need to buy more stuff (according to the misus). Our opinions help each other out a wee bit.

70000 pennies! My 17p candle is more than capable thanks! 😉

Don Simon has just melted my monitor!

How much does that cost then?