Washing up liquid + water, bring it to a boil and that should lift the stubborn stuff out I believe.

Old wheelboxes. Am assuming you’re selling because you upgraded? Else, go to your LBS and offer to pay them for one. Chances are they’ll give you one for free.

I ride with a mate who can only afford one helmet and one bike. He rides mostly DH and only has a full face.

He’s faster and fitter than most of the people we come across. His wife makes him wear pads because it’s not just him in their family.

If you’re pissed off at the slower riders then please forgive them. Not everyone is fortunate enough to come out of their mother’s womb as a fully formed DH god!

Nice one. Thanks guys. Going to see if I can score me some Nikes, but there’s an Evans on the way home so I’ll check there first.

Nice one. Thanks guys. Going to see if I can score me some Nikes, but there’s an Evans on the way home so I’ll check there first.

Nobody seems to stock them in that size though.

Mojo HD.

Booked in at Green Lanterns. Seems the only place with rooms available for weekend before Easter!

First time I’ll be leading, so any advice on how to tackle the trails appreciated! We did W2 and Skyline last year, but it’d be good to know if trying to get on either one is a good/bad idea from where we’re staying.

E.g: Would it be a bad idea to try and cycle to the trails from where we are, or should we just drive up to where we need to get to?

Then wait and save up, or put it on the credit card and pay the piper. Simple really.

Personally, I’d not buy it with money I didn’t have.

Do you have a contract? If you do, then have a look at it and see what the terms and conditions of it are.

You’ll be surprised, but you don’t have to give a reason for why you’re leaving because it’s none of their business why you’re leaving (unless you’ve stolen the formula for Coca Cola and are leaving to start Doca Cola or some such). Each job I’ve left has been with a letter or e-mail along the lines of “my notice period starts now as I’m leaving this place. Please let me know if you have any concerns”.

Make sure you have everything in writing. If using a letter, then registered post perhaps.

If you have an HR department, then CC them on it. If you’re worried about the owner’s son causing you trouble then copy them both in on the letter/e-mail and address them both in it.

The missus.

– For being first out of bed and prepping the kit every time we go riding.
– For having a go on all the black DH runs on an XC hardtail.
– For being the only woman I know of her age group who’d rather have a new helmet and a Garmin for her birthday than some shite handbag.

I also like Brian Lopes because he’s just awesome.

I’d skip the Maldives too given the current situation.

Depends on your budget really. You could do Southeast Asia in style with a budget of 2-3k per person for 2 weeks.

Can that apply if the OP resigned without making a case for constructive dismissal?

OP, I believe the law states that when you enter into a contract that Ts&Cs need to be agreeable to both parties. However, some of these may be against the law. For example, I could make you sign a contract that states that you will sell me your firstborn. It maybe agreeable to you and me, but it’s illegal and if you wanted out then no court would make you sell the child to me.

I’d ask them to clarify exactly which things they feel make it justified for them to ask you not to seek employment. The burden of proof to show that you seeking employment will threaten their legitimate business interests and is of a period of suitable length falls on them if they want to go to court anyway.

For example, their case will be stronger if you are a senior employee, or are party to trade secrets.

Your case will be stronger if you are not a senior employee, or are moving to another geographical region.

Ultimately, get your solicitor to write asking them why it’s justified and to prove it and they may decide to let it go. Remember, lawyers aren’t expensive, it’s going to court that is. A good one will usually try to get you to settle before it goes to court.

Good luck.

The one good thing about people who call their studies “man caves” is come the revolution we will know whom to shoot.

Then get the Eastons. Looks like you’ve subconsciously made up your mind and want the Hive’s stamp of approval! :)

Oh, and what’s the rim width on the Eastons? The Flow EX’s are lovely and beefy. Really seem to brutalise everything that’s in the way to make up for shit riders like me.

Having said that, I was in a similar position to you last year. Remember, there could be a lead time associated with the bike as well depending on size. So you’re looking at 2-4 weeks for the bike to be assembled, a week for payment and delivery, meaning 5 weeks with no riding if you’re bikeless at present. If you add say, 4 weeks to save up the extra cash then that’s 9 weeks you’re missing out on.

Ultimately, the best bike is the one between your legs (like some other things).

I’m running tubeless on both my Crest and Flow EX rim wheelsets. Just needed Stans yellow tape, sealant and using TL ready tyres.

For the cost of the Eastons you could buy two Hope wheelsets and have close to £200 leftover. I got mine in the sales. 300-400g is an appreciable weight difference. What about replacements spokes and so on? Are they easier to source for the Eastons?

Glasses.

I have Hopes and they’ve been great.

A mate has Eastons and rates them highly too. Comes with tubeless tape fitted means slightly less faff if you’re running tubeless too.

If there is a bearing issue with either then who will be easier to deal with? How much more weight with the Hopes are we talking?

I hate walking and would never do this. But we rode the section from Washington to Bignor and the scenery was stunning. Bignor had some nice B&Bs/pubs as well.

We used these websites to plan our ride:

http://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/Southdowns/uploads/SDW_MBG_122009.pdf
http://www.bikedowns.co.uk/GeneralInfo.htm

A bit more bike oriented, but there is some info on where to stay.

Worth the extra.

For £350 more you get better forks, shock, brakes, shifters (though I reckon SLX is better than X9 for the dual action, unless the new X9 has dual action as well) and the reverb. Slightly lighter cassette as well.

If money is an issue and you have enough cash for the 6, then I suggest you save a bit more for the 7.

Faff when you start, but great once it’s sorted.

Cannot measure how good it is to not have to fix the missus’s punctures.

Pro – (Lack of) FAFF!

Cons – It’s not mountain biking. But what is? Apart from mountain biking.

Has it been a while since you had sex? If it is, then have some first and revisit the question.

Remember, if she is “The One” then this is your last chance to have some fun.

I wish I had known before I met “The One”, I’d have had a go on Rachel Weisz before calling it a day.

On its way hopefully! Been wanting one of these for ages.

Fit wise, I have an XS Filet, but the Filos don’t come that small. Even if they come up slightly larger I’ll gladly wear it. They’re more for warmth than how they look, and if it’s cold enough to wear it then you’ll probably have something on underneath to bulk it out anyway.

Thanks mate. Much appreciated.

The longest distance is from your warm bed to the front door with the bike in hand. Once you cover that, you’ll not regret it!

Ach, I must admit I stood around watching a couple of people go past. Sorry :( They did just plop down like you said. Was having a look at the bigger stuff from near the other DH runs (the one with the berm to big tabletop) too. Definitely will be fun in the summer!

Cheers, good to know it wasn’t just me stacking it. Most of the runs seemed to have grown icicles on them yesterday. It was hard going if you weren’t committed enough.

What is the drop to the berm like? I’ve sized it up a couple of times, but I’ve not had the confidence to ride it yet. Any tips?

There are two types, one more embarrassing that the other. I’ve experienced both.

Type 1
You come down a track, and suddenly it disappears into what (to you) looks like a vertical section. You decide to walk down it, but unfortunately you’re wearing SPD shoes with no grip and find yourself sliding down it on your butt.

Type 2
Your bike is suddenly going faster than you for some reason and you come off it landing on your posterior. Usually happens riding downhill, or trying to do a wheelie.

I pump the terrain where it’s “pumpable” (berms and little lips) with the little skill I have, but where I’m coming off is where there are a number of repeated downhill step downs. With step downs I just smash the handlebars down which works, but when there are repeated ones I can’t handle them in time.

Problem is when I slow down I either bottle it, or slip off line on the roots. Any tips for keeping my weight centred? I think you have hit the nail on the head though. It is to do with my position on the bike.

Monday morning bump for some help please? I am aching all over.

I’d suspect it’s your running technique, but best see a physio mate.

Burn the man who has a cupboard for his bikes.

What next? A wardrobe for his shoes?

@alpin the confidence thing may be true for some, but not for me. I’m as much a mincer going downhill on a hardtail than my full sus, uphill, give me the hardtail every time.

Re full sus and hardtail. With the guys I ride with I’m usually fastest uphill, but slowest down. The fat bastard we wait for after the climbs canes all of us on the way down, but I think he would regardless of what he rides.

Only time I shaved anything was if I had to repeatedly tape it up, but you inadvertently “wax” yourself the first time you rip the tape off anyway.

I can buy the “shave because it’s easier for the masseur to do his/her job” argument, but hell, I can hardly afford spare inner tubes, let alone a post training ride massage.

I’ve heard it’s easier to do if you get a women’s razor if you really want to go that way.

What can be done on a hardtail if you’re nuts:

Here’s some light reading, or skip to the video of the guy riding the lime green hardtail:

http://www.pinkbike.com/news/The-Argument-For-Short-Travel-Bikes-Opinion-2012.html

Is the top one actually faulty?

– Superstar pads and grips.
– Deore kit.
– eBay HDMI cables.
– Endura cycling glasses.
– Fruit and veg from the market stall near me.