How the hell has this thread got to 3 pages without anybody mentioning the legendary Quadrant Park in Liverpool?

The place had it’s problems but for a couple or 3 years in the late 80’s/early90’s there was nowhere better. Knocked spots off the hacienda!

Tucker – if I was going down the “last day of freedom” route then I should’ve had it about 10 years ago. as it is I’m getting married in May, tradition allows me to have a “stag do”. Apart from that it’s a good excuse to get a few mates together, some of whom I’ve not seen for ages, and have a bloody good weekend together. I’ll reserve the night before the wedding for a couple of pints with a couple of mates meaning I don’t turn up to my wedding wankered and sporting an injury recieved whilst taking part in any stag do related high jinks. Nout wrong with that is there?

another top idea from grum, unfortunately it’s on the weekend I’m getting married. D’oh!

Like it Duggan, good shout. *goes to research any festivals happening in April*

mikewsmith – I like it, sounds like a proper giggle. More ideas like this please folks.

Sounds like a right hoot DT78. It’s not that I’m against it per se, more that if I want that sort of a night out I can do it whenever I want without leaving the town I live in. Hoping for something a little different for my stag. I do like the sound of hovercraft racing though, and kayaking down the river wye.

trying to stay away from the standard paintball/quad biking/go karting type thing Luke. Quite like the idea of a comedy club though. Keep em coming.

Not bad for a 1st idea grum. Although the Father in law to be lives on Islay and he’s a recovering alcoholic. What are the chances hey?

Diamond Back Sorrento for me in about 90 – 91. Don’t remember much about it apart from it having a black/red Jackson Pollock esque paintjob. Front wheel and seat got stolen from a bike rack in town, I kept hold of it but it eventually got left in a garage of a rented house I once lived in. Would love to know where it ended up.

I’ve just done the same and will be out testing it at the weekend. Can I shorten the chain and still use a long cage mech?

I’m sure MBSwindon could put a group of volunteers together too.

Firstly, I love the Erlestoke 12. It’s one of my favourite events of the year and IMO the noon til midnight format is fine, I really like finishing with a dark lap.

18 hours wouldn’t be for me but I can see how some may like it. I know you have some access issues with the MOD but would there be any legs in putting on another event later in the year?

They’re all as bad as eachother to be fair. Just go for the cheapest!

@trail rat – what’s causing that then?

I’ve gone through 3 granny rings in a little over 4 years. That may sound a lot but I figure granny is the one I grind away in the most and everytime I’ve had chainsuck that’s what the problem has been. Never had to change a middle or big ring.

I was always under the impression that chainsuck occurs due to worn teeth on the chainring not releasing the chain, is this not the case?

Not really got a “to do” list. I’ve been talking about Snowdon for the last couple of years so it’d be nice to tick that off, also got some unfinished business at Penmachno. Mainly though I want to get out and discover a bit more locally.

When we’ve finished with this could somebody please start a “helmet debate” thread!

A lap or 2 of ashton court and leigh woods tomorrow for me, maybe followed by a bit of pump track action. Had more than enough of cold, wet sloppy stuff this year!

We’ve (MB Swindon) got a couple of club rides planned over the crimbo period, feel free to join us.clicky type thing[/url]

Pffft! Been MTFU’ing all year. It’s a week from winter solstice and the days starting to get longer. Time to stay in bed, pull the duvet right up to your chin and dream of those not so far off days of dry and dusty trails with the sun on your back!

Gonna be cold and wet, don’t leave the house.

My thickies arrived today, along with my neoprene overshoes. Looking forward to toasty toes on tonight’s ride :-)

Ah, your way ahead of me. Thanks for the feedback, really glad you enjoyed it. The “wooden roller” section isn’t officially open yet so we’ve yet to build the approach line to it. We’ve been really busy lately fixing all the patches that were affected by the pants weather this year and will hopefully get on with that job early 2013.

Although not quite as long serving as tomstickland I’ve been involved in the project for a few years also. When I first discovered it in 2009 it was pretty much unrideable through the winter, conditions like we’ve had over the summer would’ve all but destroyed it. So much hard work has been put in over the last 2 or 3 years it’s now an all weather trail perfectly rideable all year long. I like the “skills loop” description as that’s kind of what we aimed for. My average time is about 18-20 mins hitting all the features and depending how many pies I’ve eaten/tabs I’ve smoked that week, I believe some of the quicker guys are doing sub 15 mins without hitting the avoidable features. I’m slightly biased but I’d say it’s worth a 20 mile diversion just to say you’ve ridden it and be able to make your own mind up about it. If you’re there tonight there’ll be a few of us there at about 7.30 for our regular night ride, would be good to meet you and see what you think. We like feedback, positive or constructive, so feel free to post your thoughts on this thread also.

OP – are you a Daily Mail journalst? I mean seriously, you witness somebody riding a bike in a perfectly legal and acceptable manner then over exaggerate (50? Really?) the amount of vehicles driving behind him showing due care and attention and feel the need to rant about it. If this is all you’ve got to be worried about in your life then your a very lucky man.

Surely just doing what you can, when you can is the answer. I’ll be doing an urban loop tonight, mostly on bike paths and gravel tracks. It’s not my favourite ride but it’s a good 25 mile leg spinner and fits into my life very easily this time of year. I’ll still get out for my regular Friday night trail ride and will almost definitely do a ride that involves a lot of mud come the weekend. Good times!

Had the same dilemna for my girl’s 7th birthday. It’s alright justifying it by how much one would pay for a decent adult bike but there’s not a 7 year old in the world that treats their bike with the same respect and care I do. Yes Islabikes are fantastic and probably worth every penny but this 7 year old is getting a hotrock for her birthday and I’m absolutely certain she’ll enjoy riding it just as much as any bike that cost 2 or 3 times more.

sounds good. I’m a definitely maybe for the “TINHFYRIHMFYH(BSJOFECHP)T” group.

I regularly take my bike into the bank and nothing’s ever been said to me about it. Also took my very muddy bike into the kebab shop on the way home from a night ride last week. I was expecting a right earful but the guy just commented on it being a nice bike and how I was stupid to go MTBing in this weather. Apart from taking the bike into shops/banks the only really effective means of security I’ve come up with so far is to build a really tatty, knackered looking bike that nobody would give a 2nd glance and use it purely for riding to/from town or the shops.

Doethie valley innit.

@slowmart – you getting dropped on a climb made the news?

I never has asthma until the same thing happened to me a couple of years ago, proper scared me. I went to the quacks and yep, it’s asthma but I only get it at this time of year. I’m told it’s something to do with spores given off by falling leaves. Anyhoo, I now use a preventer every Oct/Nov and it’s fine.

Isn’t Ashton Court owned by the council?

My mate is selling his Cotic Roadrat for around £500.

Not sure about making it compulsory for all cyclists but I certainly think it’s a good idea it’s introduced for all primary school kids. The issue is that an increasing number of kids are riding unsuitable or unroadworthy bikes, I’d like to see schools given access to bikes for their pupils to do bikeability on.

I had a similar issue and went to see a physio thinking a bit of lower back massage was what was needed. He told me it was all to do with my thighs,when the muscles on the front of your thighs (sorry, don’t know what they’re called)get bigger there’s no room for them so they contract which naturally pulls the back over a bit. All makes sense really. Regularly stretching those muscles has sorted me right out. Also agree with those saying build up some core strength, yoga or pilates are both good.

See, if I was running STW and getting grief about people being ripped off I’d close the classified forum down, end of, problem solved. If you buy kit from here off someone you don’t know and/or have never met you have to accept the risk, simple as that.

Is there a diversion in place on the monkey? If so how much does it cut out?

Yep, another Shimano convert here. Wouldn’t have anything else these days

Doesn’t take long for a chain to go rusty so I always make sure I do something with the drivetrain in that situation. Even if it’s just a wipe over with a rag and a blast with GT85.