Just for info – I got a bastid and more recently a mickey mouse. As a direct comparison the bastid is slightly more focussed – the mickey slightly more floody. On the other hand the brightest part of the mickey beam isnt as bright as bastid.

The main real world difference though – and think about it carefully – is mickey's remote switch. I like it a lot – I can switch between modes without taking hands off the bars, and vary from 100% to 10% with no flashy modes etc. I'm sure others will hate the extra wires. Also the sidelights only mode is much 'friendly' in traffic / where dog walkers are.

The second main difference is the mickey battery is totally waterproof by comparison to the carboard ended bastid.

My bastid (albeit the earlier version) had some issues with the switch changing mode randomely and the cables fraying.

BTW the chargers and batteries are interchangeable (same volts, cables ends etc).

Well I've just succumbed to that price as well (from The Bike Chain) and built it from that spare parts box this very morning. The frame (16) weighs 1.7kg. Built with revs, cheap deore wheels, small block 8's and deore drivetrain, bike hut seatpost+shim, slx brakes, m520 pedals it comes in at 28 lbs.

First spin was very entertaining! I've got a downhill type stem (40mm) I think and it's too short. It's noticably harsher than either a Whyte 19 or a GT avalanche (all I've to to compare it to). I thinks its to do with the more vertical angle and my heavy duty post. Overall – after just an hour I like it a lot and cant wait to get back out on it again!

btw – the headtube does look odd. I wish I hadnt put the badges on as this might make it less noticable?

Fab day out: great buzz, cracking trails and friendly folk! 6:32 for the 85k for me which was huge improvement on last year. Feel ok today too which is wierd.

I was born there, moved away, came back and lived there for 10 years: pluses and minuses.

Brother is still there now with kids.

IF, big If, you live near the dart / tram (luas)commuting is is fine. Driving is worse than London(some folk I know drive 90 mins each way from the suburbs). Schools can have a long waiting list, ther's no standard medical cover really (join vhi/bupa and expect to pay top dollar). Theres no real mountain biking apart from a few specific bits. Salaries are
higher but the cost of most things is way WAY higher than the uk. EG food(1.5x, drink (2x), car insurance (3x), car purchase 2x, ……).

You will prabably have a great time but its as expensive as somewhere like Italy (eg a pizza in dublin is dearer then in the best place in rome), and your kids have to be driven everywhere. If you and your wife are working you are probably not entitled to ANY health care (car crash, dentist emergency, pregnancy….). You can get vhi but when it comes to claim ypre in for more shit and stress than any insurance you ever had to deal with.

To us that's a ball breaker. We grew up with that reigem so it not so mad to us, but to folk that didnt its a real hassle.

Any questions, get in touch. Slainte!

Me :D

And after a look at the signon sheets – about 600 others!

Gore Bike Wear are there and they'll give you a shirt / gilet etc to try out for the event. You just had it back at the end apparently – you dont even have to wash it. So I'm thinking I could turn wearing nowt and they'll just kit me out. Bit of a gamble though in case they didnt have any shorts etc 8O

Hope the weather holds up.

Edit: It's no longer Merida thingy – it appear's to be the "Chain Reaction Cycles sponsored by Mercedes Benz Vito" thingy. Not quiet as catchy.

Top ride guys!

Euan: hope you're ok after the sideways dive off the bridge into the stream. 7/10 points form me :D. Next time try to include a sumersault to get max points and defo some speedo's or similar. Gotta say you had me worried for a second there.

I might be able to make this but wont know til tomorrow. Need to take it easy though. See you at Bonaly at 7 or I wont be there (dont wait for me).

Now Im no expert but both recent Rockshox air forks I bought from new developed this "feature". The first was temporarily fixed with a service kit (lower inner damper seal leaked) but it soon re-occurred. The second was fixed under warranty. So in all honesty either eBay them and buy new or have them propery fixed.

Edit: given that the lower seal is probably shagged anyway you can't make then much worse. So long as there is some blue oil lelt in the damper.

I cant make this one. Nothing to do with the weather. Honestly.

Thanks for the reassurance. It was just the chilling sound of a child that really got under my skin. I'm sure they weren't alone but it still got to me. Not more I could do anyway.

Great ride – what a cracking descent. Rather clammy too.

Thanks to Colin for his patience and reminding me how to put a tube in a tyre!

Here's the video from Minch Moor down: frame mounted-but its pretty poor quality in the shaded spots and dont bother watching from any further than 5 mins in- it was just too dark for the camera to cope.
http://vimeo.com/12628550

Serves me right for buying a cheap camera :(

Comments on the lack of skilz most welcome!

Kit (or anyone with Jaffa cakes) : I'll be at TBC for 6 with room for 1 more.

I'll be there – probably with one other and have room for another body + bike on roof. I'm sure someone will let me know if I'm needed at TBC.

Great time guys. Looks like I need to keep working on those skills!

The rozzer was Tom. Turns out that it's his horse that sh**s outside my house every week! :)

Ron

Thanks Mark – I never thought of that :( and I've already posted it off.

No worries Mark. A very enjoyable ride – nice to come home with a dusty bike instead of a muddy one :)

btw it turns out the front brake is still under warranty so I'm sending it back.

It seems there are lots of lifts available at TBC so I'm going to drive straight there and meet y'all at the hub for 7ish.

How long you planning riding?

I dont know about this evening but if the Pentland rides were anything to go by then we'd start heading home around 9-9.30 and most folk ride back into town, maybe getting home around 10.30.

Jimmy : GT is fine but Im kinda lost! 2 threads? Are you back working for tbc or is this some type of tbc splinter / splitter subgroup? Either way I'm going : leaving craigleith / Stockbridge area around 6 and can take 2 more bikes (plus riders). I can swing by tbc if needed. I'd prefer to drive as missus will use car to go shopping if I don't bring it!

Ron

Sounds good to me. I can take 2. Im in NW Edinburgh if that's handier for anyone.

Next week sounds good to me! I can carry 2 others (bikes on the roof carriers). Mark – I'm happy to help with organisation if that helps?

I find it fine. BTW it's meant to look bone dry. I reapply roughly every 5 hours in the dry even if that's overkill and get good life from chains. Big plus is the clean / non-sticky chain. I've only had chain suck in the worst muddy conditions.

On the other hand I fine Squirt (dry lube) totally crap and everything rusts!

Glen Etive is one lovely place – if you like real quiet isolation. I had to do some work there once and did a bit of walking – but never biked. There are mountains, waterfalls, a burn, deer, kites and em, well that's it. Part of the attraction really. I dont know how long you'd plan to stay but a good book or 2 would be an idea for the evenings!

IIRC there's nowhere 'official' to park a motorhome but I did see some wild campers and I think you could get by. Dont think there's a pub, shop or anything, but just to remind you there is civilisation, there's a red phone box near the westerly end. No mobile signal either (big plus!).

Edit – this might help re biking: http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/glen-etive-trails-question

And there are other posts in the last year: do a search for Etive.

I'm no expert but needed prof help for family in sometimes emergency situations a few times. My only advise until you have a plan is be a persistent bastard until someone takes some responsibility. In A&E their only objective is keeping someone ticking over – what happens next aint their problem. If it aint in A&E IME you're on an uphill struggle. You can email me for any further advice. Best wishes. Ron

Great spin guys – thanks Mark for the organisation. I missed the "real name" bit – away looking for the remains of a bridge :)

Big vote here for an "away game" and if it goes ahead I can provide some transport.

I should make it – see you at the wee shop at 7.

"Nice bike mate. Youre going to have to give it to me. ….. Hey come back here!"

There was a knife involved too :(

be is aka O2 broadband. If you got an O2 contract it's £10 pm unlimited. Your best bet though is to check out http://www.speedtest.net and figure out who is best in your area.

@op – yes they are very good. Unfortunatley there are counterfeits galore. Just like duracell batteries and sennheiser headphones. Fit them properly and they're fine. Good value too on crc! I've an s8 and it's been fit and forget for 3000 miles. :)

Just fitted one On a GT and it looks good. Was a bit gutted that ribble started doing slx for £51 plus bb for £19. Seems like a better bargain to me. Obviously I can't comment on longevity but the bb is different to slx and xt. Overall I'd say if it meets your budget then it's a BUY :)

When you put more air pressure in the neg chamber than the pos – the stanchion lowers are forced up a bit. Some folk like them like this (gives better small bump compliance or summit). If you want to check (and have a shock pump) let some air out of the neg chamber until the the pos is about 10 psi higher than the neg.

Oh – and getting a little spurt of oil is normal: even a good sign. There should be oil in there.

Alasdair – no we werent near Beech Avenue. Lot's of groups out though.

I use SK supersonics (black chilli) as an event tyre. They're crazy light and make you feel super fit!

They have an impressive amount of grip, roll well but wear quickly. The growl noticably when about to loose grip. Their only real weak point imo is on wet rock where it seems random when they let go. They deal pretty well with mud.

I run them ghetto tubeless at lowish pressures. Never had a puncture (in 3 worn out ones). The 2.3 is about the size of 2.1 for most other makes (schwalbe/maxxis etc). I never had a 2.1 SK.

Nevegals ime are good but a bit slower rolling and have thicker sidewalls and way heavier which is good for rockier places. But there are lot's of different versions of these too.

Horses for courses etc!

Ok – this isnt usual for STW – here's some helpful pointers that work repeated for one of my rellies:

-Firstly: dont go back (I made this mistake in Arran recently)
– As suggested above go to the desk and complain. Preferably at their busiest time – usually just before checkout. Have a clear list of complaints. Specifics count. Decor doesnt. Be calm but loud. It's only £40 so treat it like a joke / adventure. Be clever.
– If that doesnt work write to them (written letter) setting out your complaints again.
– Last resort – TripAdvisor.com. Add what seems like a balanced review, but insinuate about thing like fleas, prostitutes, DSS, needles, …. "I stayed here on my rehab program and found it nice. The DSS paid the bill so I dont know if it's good value. I liked the way cars were easy to case and the decor hided many sins…..

Sorry I couldn't hear what you were saying to me about your light…

Its a £50 "bastid" (aka Magicshine). Bright, good run time, etc etc but its tempremental.

Good range of cheap options here inc Magicshine with links:
http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=15720460#15720460

and a mind numbing discussion on them here:
http://www.bikeradar.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12660192&sid=2f88556a8332080e006541515a221ab0

You can email me if you want more info.

Yep – a lovely spin on a lovely evening. And I even saw DUSTY bits!

Oh and Thomohawk – small hint: when you go riding at night bring a light! :wink:

But looking at part numbers and asking Madison (?) then it was confirmed the only difference between the XT, LX, Deore (whatever) is colour.

I just fitted an XT/SLX to one bike and a Deore to another and they have noticably different seals (the tophat shaped thingy). Also the LX had tons of green grease visible – XT hardly any. Dunno about XTR.

I may be able to make it – if so I'll be at the wee shop at 7 but dont wait.

I got a "Quad Technology 2 Syringe Bleed Kit with Adaptors" for £13 from :
http://www.rutlandcycling.com
(for some reason I cant post the full link to the product?).

and it works just fine on juicy 7's. It includes the clips to squeeze the tubes and 2 bigish syringes. It also fits Formula Oro's and possibly others too. Doesnt include fluid.

I did a 2.2. PITA – but it worked. The usual micro bubbles and a couple of proper puncture sized leaks from the size walls. But stan did his stuff in the end!

terrahawk – Member
And my job means I gotta smile!
ballroom dancer?
POSTED 48 SECONDS AGO # REPORT-POST

Naw. Wedding photographer. I can't get folk to relax unless I look it too.