I got one of those XF Vengeance forks from Oz – certainly worth more than the £230 they cost me, they arrived promptly and the sellers were very helpful. Set to 170 but can be changed to 160 or 140. They’re 20mm x 110mm thru tho

Lots of great advice here. Plus one for chest low, elbows and knees wide, allow the bike to move under you, remember the rocks and wheels will skitter about under you until they reach a bite point – remaining loose and mobile around the bike helps that happen more smoothly. Sadly missed the chance now but riding in snow is brilliant for teaching you to relax into drifting.

In terms of suspension setup tho, I found this https://www.bikerumor.com/2014/07/24/suspension-setup-series-1-set-your-sag-properly

Explained the parameters and how they feel nicely. Tyre pressure is a funny one, lower is usually good but the fat Albert on my 26 HT rolls horribly if much below 30psi, tho that might be the narrow rims.

@djflexure (or anyone else) hit me up if you want to sell your ticket!

Weenoddy(at)fastmail(dot)fm

Not too old, no such thing as plenty have stated above.

My tuppence worth is that balance is worth aiming for – I’m looking at reducing my hours to 3days a week in the NHS low waged but very satisfying job, supplemented by a bit of freelance work that pays better, will probably end up working four days a week on average. Partly to go back and do an MSc since I enjoyed my uni time so much a got a slightly poxy degree, but mostly for a variety – short attention span requires stimulation of differing sorts (I’m sure I’m not so unusual in that!) – and that mythical “work-life balance” which ought to allow more riding of bikes than I currently manage.

For context I used to work 80hr weeks, earned a lot more money but had no more disposable cash and zero energy/positivity to enjoy my family, took a huge pay cut and now work school hours, can run the house more efficiently which frees up pennies to do fun things with my kids most evenings.

Do lots of number crunching, see what income you need to cover your essentials and consider how much more you need for luxuries and go for it.

From friends who’ve made their hobby a livelihood tho – do it if you cannot not do it, but making your joy your income runs the danger of leaving you no alternative relaxation activity and can make that fun-stuff just stressful.

Good luck!

Jesus, so many causes! My Passat requires me to remove the wipers to get at the plastic tray under them so I can remove the battery… In order to push out the debris that clogs up the drainage hole.

Needs doing again really :( otherwise it spills into the heating matrix and into the passenger footwell, underneath which lies all the fancy electronic gubbins which is, needless to say, not waterproofed

Always such well considered arguments, thanks again Hannah.

Bump.

How’s your experience of this stuff then? Bought a pouch and it wasn’t staying up very well, added the rest of the pouch and it’s clear the recommendation of half a pouch per tyre is just wrong as plenty of teeny fissures started bubbling happily – seems fine now. (2nd hand Hans Dampfs, 650b 2.35″)

Question is whether to get a litre of same or go for stans for the front

+1 for the wheelbuilding PDF – easily the most cost effective purchase in my recent bike build. the first 70odd pages are preamble but they set you up brilliantly for being confident about the building process when you eventually get to that. Haven’t ridden mine yet but using his simple techniques both wheels were true and tight in not very long and I’m confident I’ll know what to do if there are any issues in the future.

https://www.wheelpro.co.uk/wheelbuilding/book.php

Ride them and see which one feels best to you! More riding can only be a good thing, right?

Especially try the Flare tho, if I were a better rider I’d maybe get that over my Rocket that’s nearly built… Some guys on the demo were ripping on that thing, but it was *such* fun to stomp up hills on :)))

NDT – interesting point! Tho how noticeable is that compared to chain growth due to pedal bob?

DeadKenny – where have you seen xt for £40?! Was going to get Deore for £34, not seen XT for less than £50 in medium

Vincienup, overthinking and underbuying… Now where did I hide that credit card?!!

R0cketd0g, needing a crutch right now would probably make me take my time and save up for 11spd :lol:

tho just been reading a thread on chainline issues with M8000 1x and thinking it’s maybe not a bad idea going with 1×10 on practical grounds too!

for a “heavy” bike it frikkin loves going up hills. /reeeaally/ loves going up hills. most fun I had demoing it was going up the hills, and the dudes and dudettes who were much more capable riders than I am preferred it on the descents to the Rocket too. Both excellent bikes. Get a demo sorted! Oh, and the aqua is actually lovely in the metal

Jakester wins.

Seriously though? Plus one for finding a compromise system – two sets of rules will end up in the kids resenting each other. I’d say that for all the basic incompatibilities my wife and I suffered the most crucial one was how parenting looks. Work hard to lay out what you want from your parenting and why you feel some styles will be more effective than others, listen attentively to your partner and respect the fact she will be right about some stuff (aside from anything that will open her mind to you being right about other things), and if you’re really struggling to find a common ground neither of you hate then get some family counselling. If you really love and respect her it’ll be more than worth it.

If even this proves fruitless then you ought to consider the possibility that you aren’t compatible in at least one crucial component of your new family set-up, and both boys could suffer serious upset throughout adult life if you ignore something like that.

My girlfriend uses a Reddit.com/r/stepparents forum which she feels is a lot more accepting and intelligent/positive than some others she’s read. She’s pretty sure she wouldn’t be the awesome stepmum she is without the helpful advice and suggestions she’s read there.

Depends on what you’re after innit? Faster riding on gnarlier terrain? Sure, get a more modern bike, they’re better designed for it. I still have an absolute hoot riding my fully rigid steel 26er with V-brakes at Llandegla or wherever – going half the speed is twice as scary :lol: I’m looking forward to getting a more modern bike as well, mind…

Depends on what you’re after innit? Faster riding on gnarlier terrain? Sure, get a more modern bike, they’re better designed for it. I still have an absolute hoot riding my fully rigid steel 26er with V-brakes at Llandegla or wherever – going half the speed is twice as scary :lol: I’m looking forward to getting a more modern bike as well, mind…

Ride a load (on trails, not car parks), choose the one that feels right to you. There are loads of great bikes that won’t light your soul with excitement though someone else will think they’re the best thing with wheels ever made.

My On One 456 has made me very happy, though if you have the budget you should certainly try out Cotic’s offerings, really lovely guys that tour their demo fleet.

As for travel, meh! I still take my rigid, steel Hardrock with V-brakes on reds and blacks – more fun for less speed :lol: and I’m not a very capable rider, you just go slower and picks your lines more carefully.

To add more choices to your mix have you thought about a plus bike? A mate has a Genesis Tarn with rigid forks and it’s an incredibly fun toy :-)

How many people experienced a vivid olfactory hallucination at the suggestion of a smell?

The strongest I had was when reading ‘plasticine’… Still lingering now, thanks :-)

keep us posted on how it goes – I’m tempted by the Orbea MX24 disc, partly so I can use the wheels on my small Trailstar until he can use it with 26ers :)

sahweeeet! Do you find the Bioracers OK for wet riding? (I live oop North!) I’ve had some windproof Sealskinz that were as good as waterproof and other brands that got so wet from sweat they were worse for being waterproof coz the buggers wouldn’t dry!

Always Liked BG shoes, will look into their gloves too :)

Lots of good technique advice above. The fitness aspect is part developed but in my case was more learning how hard I can push sustainably so I don’t wear myself out. Riding with others is great motivation to push a little harder too. Everyone’s different tho – I take an hour to warm up properly, after which I can ride much harder.

Will.buy.

… But which one? The flare because it’s right for most of my riding (peaks) or a rocket for the rare overseas adventures (planning to go to Vancouver next year so Whistler must be sampled and also want to ride the Pyrenees)…

Anyone got theirs yet?

+1 on checking out artists work and seeing who’s work you like and think would compliment the style u have in mind. Quite a few good artists in Mcr, tho many more shit ones. Also worth meeting them if its likely to be a multi session piece, lots of objectionable egos in that world and you might not want to spend hours and hours being hurt by them!

I’m having a full leg piece done by Hannah Mosley at Middleton tattoo studio, really love the design she drew for me.

Andrew & Arnold come highly recommended by the programming geeks I know for reliability and privacy (though TM may put an end to that). It’s not cheap but I’ve not suffered slow speeds like I used to and only three blackouts in as many years. The one time I’ve had to call them they were very helpful.

Scud, have you got pictures? Sounds great.

Has anyone found a shorter and/or higher rise stem is necessary? Just fitted Love Mud Bombers and after a quick spin around the block I’m wondering if the bike will manual up/drop off big steps quite as nicely without changing stems (canal commute).

Bump on this – anyone ridden one yet?

Cool, didn’t know that. Every day is a school day! :)

Downhilldave you win the friendly poster award, thanks for your helpful advice. The system should indeed be closed but that doesn’t mean it is impervious to breach. It would be unusual but then so are the symptoms – usually tapping the hose while working the lever will bring any air bubbles up to the reservoir, if there has been fluid loss it can then be topped up. If water had *somehow* got into the system it would sit below the oil, being denser, and so flushing from the bottom might not remove it all, hence speculation that bleeding top down might be more effective. Water, while not as compressible as air, is not incompressible. I hope I haven’t damaged your self confidence too badly – keep trolling, practise makes perfect xx

went for epic… that much difference?

Flatter than flat.

Duller than dull.

Rode it today on a ’99 HardRock with V-brakes and found it pretty fun. I wonder if you’re overbiked?

Surprised by the lack of love for Penmachno. It’s so old it almost feels like a natural trail – replete with diluvian puddles! Nice flow to it, feels like you gain elevation without having to pedal much. Physically demanding but much nicer gaining altitude than at ‘Degla.

Northwind – good to know, ta.

kcal – can’t believe that didn’t occur to me! bloody gorgeous creatures so they are <3 I have a Croix de Fer though which I butchered to build something lighter coz although it was lovely on the rough it was a pig to get up over Goyt Valley! Is the roadrat much lighter?

Philjunior & mattyfez – I think as light as possible is the way to go. she’s a tattoist so there’s no way I can convince her to hit the trails with me or else that would totes be my plan :-D (broken wrists = no income!) I ride her commute a lot on my Dirty Disco and formerly on the CdF and it is/was fine n dandy.

they have finance arrangements… or if it’s a full bike you can go the Cyclescheme route ;)

I bought a frame last week. I’ve put it where I can see it as I wake up until I have all the necessary trimmings to build it up. Lovely way to start the day :)

Oops – Based in Manchester! Thank you for the kind offers though.

Flanged tow bar? doesn’t sound quite as rude as it ought, shame… I’ve no idea if mine is flanged or not – it has a ball on the top, does that answer??

Thanks ya’ll

bump

happy to give money/beers!

Dude,

You are not alone. This is pretty close to what happened to me 7 months ago. Wife of 10 years, mother of my two, realised she had feelings for someone else so left me – fortunately I have the kids, like you. Believe me they will help you through this more than anything else in the world – and never feel bad for those days you just hurt too much to believe you’re loving those tykes enough – you are and they will see you as their ‘kin hero when they grow up!!!

As part of my coping I’ve gone for as many road rides over the high peaks as pos (more meditative than MTB, though both are good!), started climbing, kickboxing, going out drinking and dancing with all my mates I thought I wasn’t really friends with any more, gone to a therapist a few times, hung out with my mum and family and done a stupid amount of meditation – like at least twice a day, often four or five and up to an hour each time. If you have a Buddhist centre near you check it out, extremely peaceful places. If you want some of my thoughts on meditation or anything else PM me; also up for a drink if you live near Mcr.

You will cycle through the grieving process more times than you think you can cope with, but you can cope. Read up on it all, knowledge is power. Again I can recommend several books I’ve found helpful.

I’ve finally got to a place where I genuinely don’t want her back – previous iterations have been based on anger (and I wanted her back really, I just pretended to myself I didn’t). With space and trying oh so hard to win her back and being played with I’ve come to realise a lot about her character that I was ignoring as part of trying so damn hard to support her through chronic emotional issues and the strains of nurse training. She’s not really the woman I thought she was. Right now I can’t tell if she ever was, which hurts like hell, but that doesn’t matter really – I’m actually less stressed out and the kids are doing much better with her out of the home.

Take it from me – don’t sleep with her again! It might seem fun but the sense of rejection that follows spoils all that.

Finally a note to everyone else who posted:

you are all such beautiful people! It brings a tear to me eye, it really does.

Gaaargh, mon Brant, stop teasing me!

Why aye lad, well at least you have a sweet bike for consolation ;) I thought Oxford was lovely actually.

Thanks for thoughts on forks.

Just found out the X is dead, long live the Y. Something between an X and a Roadrat, apparently. Mixed feelings about it having lusted for the X for over a year already and blowing it out of the water at the last minute for a /propoh/ MTB. I guess if it’s lighter n tighter yet still handy over rough stuff and loads up nicely it’ll be closer to my actual requirements of it. Wondering what colours it’ll appear in – I don’t think I’d want that classy duck egg, ta muchly, the gaudy green/orange was fit! White trim to soothe my Irish heart please http://www.flickr.com/photos/coticltd/8427467369/in/photostream/

Awesome, thank you both.

mattsccm – Did you use front racks or did it feel stable enough with all the weight on the back?

bol – my strength is in ploughing on moderately fast so I’d only win races against hares that like to snooze when they have a lead on me. I don’t think CX will be a major part of its life (though I do like self-punishment so will probably give it a go).

Hopefully Cotic will get back to me agreeing to a test ride in the real world. I’ll be borrowing my mate’s Croissant de Fur for comparison. Any other suggestions out there?