Same as above, just over a week.

Did photo with the phone, but took a few attempts to get something it would accept. Need a blank untextured background and ideally even light. I couldn’t avoid a bit of shadow it rejected so ended up editing it, though it says they don’t accept edited photos, but it did and got the passport.

Not blue, just same as old but without EU mentioned.

Note on 5ghz. It’s better in that it’s a lot less congested, but the range is shorter. Dual 2.4/5 you can either run separate SSIDs and you have to manually switch between them, or run the same and devices will pick one. Not necessarily the best though, but some access points can be set to steer towards 5ghz and devices might drop to 2.4 if the signal is lost. But then in my experience they sit on that network until they lose a signal or you disconnect the WiFi on the device.

Fixed computers, like a desktop, wired Ethernet. If several around the house or a NAS somewhere, gigabit switch to network them if you’ll be transferring files, videos etc around the house, rather than just download and stream off Internet.

The rest, if not huge place, a really good wireless access point in a central location, otherwise a mesh setup. Got a Tp-link access point and that can be combined with more of the same if I want. Can be set as repeaters though wire to each may be better.

Replacement router is changing the modem built in that accesses the ISP and that can lead to issues or at least faff setting up, but might have success. Really the best thing to do is just locate them centrally as many are tucked away in the corner of the house where most the signal is lost through the walls, though if that means a long phone cable to the socket, don’t do that as you risk signal issues with the ISP. Shortest run of phone cable possible is best.

Squirt.

The insta post does sound overly dramatic. Not sure how businesses would close down because some unofficial trails go out of action. Tourism, well again these are unofficial. The tourists aren’t going here, they’re going to official places. The majority at least.

Obviously there’s an impact on Enduro business that uses it and guide companies, but if their business depends just on one location and it’s unofficial stuff which could go at any time, then risky business to be in.

Riding is a mental therapy for me. I have to ride even if my mojo has gone. Zwifting in a garage won’t cut it, has to be out in countryside. I sometimes may pass for a week or two but I get stuck in a rut then so I do force myself out, even in crappy weather. Struggle at first but then I realise why it’s such a benefit. Worse is not being able to ride and I get stressed and a bit depressed but that makes me less interested in riding, yet the riding is the cure for it.

I do have to mix things up though. Same old is repetitive and I may reject rides with some groups just because it really will turn me off if it’s just the same stuff. I’ll end up going out for an explore, which is what I enjoy a lot anyway. Finding new things.

What Cougar says. You agreed a contract and price, paid part, got the frame and that’s it. You might get charged the full agreed amount, or not. Latter is bonus.

What the shop did to get the frame and whether they got it free from manufacturer or bloke down the pub is none of your business.

Having waived the build fee, I’d say it’s all even. You’ve ended up paying probably what the frame cost or the build fee.

I can recommend Pedalhounds. Grass roots enduro. Don’t know the age of your lad, but lowest category is 12-14.

Plenty of Gorrick stuff through the year, though for some reason the enduro stuff got dropped.

There’s Swinduro with kids events, but main one has gone by already. Was supposed to be an xc as well but that’s been dropped this year due to low numbers.

Yeah, but the issues people have with the IL… 🤷‍♂️

As I say, I like the CC DB Air, though I was surprised by the Monarch that it tracks the ground fairly well, good small bump feel, while agile at popping off also which is something I liked about the DB Air. The Monarch is a much better shock than the various Fox ones I’ve had in the past.

Other thing is servicing CCs. My DB Air on the old Nomad has actually never been serviced to my shame, though it’s not had a major amount of use as the bike got demoted to rare use when I got the 5010. I’d do an air can service but from what I gather you can’t get the kits and has to be sent off, which puts me off buying another as I don’t want to be spending a significant cost of the shock on basic servicing and there’s the turnaround time.

Buy a new LED torch, maglites are utter shite.

Indeed. Got mine back in the day when everyone said they were the thing to get, and they did the job, but cheap £10 LED lights I’ve had are far better, and only power off AAA batteries.

Have wondered about retrofitting an LED to an old maglite, but with something other than those crappy D batteries. Then again, still stupidly bulky torch really compared to small LED torches I’ve got.

With a phone, you are draining the battery with constant use, especially screen on (and a bit with an app actively using GPS). Noting you may need the phone in an emergency.

Personally I’d use a dedicated GPS to free up the phone for photos, the odd detailed map check on ViewRanger etc, and emergency calls (even then a day of doing photos and a few map checks can drain my phone which normally has a day and a half battery life if sat doing nothing. GPS as well would kill it in half the time).

Other option though is a USB powerbank attached to the phone. Considered that with a phone bag for the bike that I’ve got, but there’s not enough space to fit the USB cable into the phone and powerbank. Maybe an option if you stop for lunch for half an hour or more and charge the phone.

Does this kind of thing happen with Monarch Debonair RL (not Plus)?

I’ve got an occasional knock somewhere, and not sure if it’s the shock, but it’s not on full compression, more on the release after compression especially on rapid movement over rough stuff but where it’s had fair bit of compression in the process (like dropping onto rooty descent). It could be something else, like clattering chain but feels more like a solid knock.

Gets an air can service regular-ish, but not done more than that. Does have a bit of a squishy sound to it, though feels good otherwise.

Do think of just changing the shock though for something nicer, though the non-Plus Monarch is surprisingly good, and also unsure if a Plus is really justified for my SC 5010 and what I ride (or maybe a CC DB Inline but heard issues with them. Do have a DB Air on my old Nomad and love that, but it’s too big for the 5010 and probably OTT).

SLR has been out many times on the bike and also when skiing. I just shove it in a Camelbak HAWG NV, with other stuff, spare lens even sometimes and a bit of stuff to pad between things but don’t bother with loads of padding as the bag is fairly padded anyway.

Fine, and have taken a number of tumbles with it too. The camera is old (Nikon D70) and taken beating over the years but only a bit chipped off the flash cover in all that time.

However it’s come out a lot less because yes, the phone takes cracking shots too.

Sure, it can’t match the lenses for zoom, clarity and depth of field, so I miss the SLR for that, but the vast majority of shots I’ll take riding are just a bit of scenery these days and arty static shot of the bike somewhere scenic.

I used to try to take action shots and all that but then it’s way too much faff setting it all up and myself and friends are too impatient for that. Can’t be stopping frequently on rides and faffing about setting up shots, sessioning to get the best one etc. Just want to ride.

Did have a compact zoom which was okay but it got bashed up far worse than the SLR.

There should also be an option in Google Calendar settings to only show invites you’ve responded to, and Google are working on fixing the hole they created, supposedly.

Though it seems the various options to stop showing the spam just hides them but they’re still there on the calendar until you delete them.

Is your Google Calendar flooded with spam? Google says it’s working on it

https://support.google.com/calendar/thread/12248214?msgid=12896501

My oldest component is a GT seat clamp from about 2009, still running on my latest hard tail build. The last remains of my old GT 😄

But Vault pedals have done well, plus my earliest X0 cranks have progressed across a few bikes. Still though, everything I’ve got really only goes back just over 10 years as that’s as long as I’ve been riding off road. Ridden bikes since a kid, but nothing remains of anything over the years, except maybe a 20 year old bottle cage that I’ve been using a few times recently just to see if I’d like to go back to a bottle.

Red onion is fine raw. I stick it in salads. Otherwise cooked or pickled for me.

The cobbles hold up better. They’re rough to ride on by they cope in the wet, if a bit slippery. The ginger is the grinding stuff but worst on the fireroads.

It’s been 12 years since I rode Swinley last, after moving to Nottingham from Church Crookham. I would love to spend a bit of time back down that way taking in my old haunts of the North Downs/Surrey Hills (I lived near Dorking too for a bit) and an afternoon at Swinley.

There’s a good scene going on next to Church Crookham now around Caesars. Don’t know what it was like 12 years ago.

Loads of riding though generally. MTB seriously taken off around Surrey Hills and Swinley. Good, though you can’t pop out for an afternoon at Swinley and not see anyone for hours any more. At least not at the weekend. Used to be the majority stuck around the Lookout area, and the rest of the place would be empty.

Anyway, add me to the middle aged IT nerd category and no worries with laughing at my rubbish jump & drop skills :D . Great to see kids having fun and progressing. Hopefully it sticks with them and isn’t lost with teenage interests (or disinterest) and forgotten once they are able to drive.

Nice going! I keep thinking about doing it, but I’m a distracted rider and tend to stop a lot for views, photos or if I spot some cheeky singletrack potential. Before I know it, I’ve taken a lot longer than I should. If I kept my focus I’d be okay.

Kithurst hill and rolling nicely along past some miserable , moody ramblers. This was the theme for the day , great them with a cheety ‘hello ‘ , and you get stonewalled . well sod you, I am enjoying myself so its not my fault you have issues . I get more response from roadies.

I get this on tow paths as I’ve probably mentioned elsewhere a few times. It’s the afternoon crowd I find are miserable. Morning folk are much happier. Other day, must have said hi with a smile to 50 people and only a couple said anything back and barely an acknowledgement from the rest. Some downright dirty stares from a few also. In mornings I don’t even have to initiate the greeting, they often say hi first.

Chain, KMC.

What Garmin?

If there’s no barometer then it will get GPS elevation which isn’t that accurate, then Garmin Connect will do correction based on elevation data once uploaded. On sync with Strava it will do its own correction which may be based on different elevation data.

With barometer then both will prefer that data but I think they still tweak it.

Also both have a setting to switch between barometer or map data.

Map data isn’t perfect if you change elevation a lot in a small area. Barometers on the other hand need calibrating and can be affected over the day with pressure changes.

Or, ignore it all and just look at elevation change and compare with previous tracks with the same device and application / site.

So long as the phone has data connection you can remotely locate the phone even if GPS is turned off, at least with modern versions of Android. Google locate phone service should send message to phone which will turn on location and ping it back. You can also remotely wipe the phone if you suspect it’s in the wrong hands.

Ask JRM or Boris what their foreign investments are.

Phone?

Not used a dedicated MP3 player in years.

Did a holiday that would probably class as a 3 on these scales in that it was not really a singletrack with features type of holiday but more an xc point to point with some technical bits. It would suit the 1/2 but we picked a higher scale for this kind of trip and it featured a lot more climbing and distance but also had some fairly technical rocky descents. Just no gaps and drops. Compared to UK it would be black trail centre grading. Compared to alpine bike parks it’s blue and fireroady even. Though epic scenery stuff.

So don’t know what I’m saying really other than this was higher end of the scale offered for this trip but then it wasn’t aimed at uplift downhill singletrack gnar, so to others it would seem tame but it’s a different kind of riding. And group size 12ish I think with no need to split the group regardless of technical abilities so long as everyone can cope with long climbs.

See, this is why I’d be bloody upset if this forum ever disappeared.👍

This 👍

Quirky place but amazing community when people are in need and pretty honest bunch.

How you pack the bike plays an important part in the handling and there’s some evidence that less care is taken with a hard shell case on the assumption it will be more protective than soft cases.

Also hard shells can slide off conveyor loaders.

Flying with your bike: tips from a baggage handler

I’ve actually witnessed this myself from a plane window during loading. Not my case thankfully, which is a soft Evoc bag.

Hard cases also add a lot of weight and can be a problem fitting bike needing fork removed and maybe the rear shock if there’s a support pillar on the way.

In SH itself, Si via P&S, B1KE and Singletrack School are a few that come to mind. Not sure what they offer for jumps.

Aside from Jedi though you may be better off with a jumps course at a bike park (not Swinley, though the upcoming skills area by the Hub may change that).

Depends on part if they can get away with ladders or too high or want to comply with H&S and need to put up scaffolding. I had the latter and somewhere around £500 I think and takes longer. Mine was the ridge tiles had slipped. Nothing broken and no new tiles, just fixing back in and new anchor thing at the bottom corner.

Didn’t bother with insurance due to excess plus hits no claims discount which mine has.

EAC on Windows. Rip to FLAC for perfect rip archive storage / streaming to decent kit. Then I use Foobar2000 to convert FLAC to MP3 to stream to phone as MP3 player. I keep the MP3s in OneDrive and stream from Cloud Player. FLACs on my NAS.

Or if you just want to go direct to MP3, EAC rip to MP3.

Volume levels, make sure volume equalisation settings are turned off on player if you don’t want it to mess with the volume.

Actual shares or options?

The latter I think can just be wiped out if they feel like it.

Company I was in was bought out and had actual shares and we were made or strongly encouraged to sell up for the purchase. I recall some had options also and those were worthless as there’s nothing really to sell. They’re just a promise to sell you shares. I think.

I’d bought from options and had other real ones given. Worked out profitable and handy as they promotly made half the development team redundant.

Depends how the merger occurred though I guess.

Not flown from Stansted in years. I try to avoid having to go there. Usually by avoiding Ryanair, which is a good thing. However always used Purple Parking in the past there and no issues. On airport with discounts.

Would never ever use off airport and definitely not anyone you give your keys to.

What rim tape are you using, is it the right width for the rim and seated properly?

I’ve also had issues where tyre lever has snagged the rim tape enough to create a leak. Ultimately it will come out of the rim on the joint or the valve.

I cut up old ones and use them for all kinds. Recent being soft jaws for a vice and as a DIY strap wrench for removing air cans from shocks.

Though 20 will keep you going, but I’d also keep one or two as spare in the car if you drive to rides or on trips. I still keep a spare in my bag, despite all the sealant and repair kit stuff. I need to trust it more. Though I’ve sometimes ended up donating my tube to someone else running tubes or someone less prepared with tubeless.

Still running 1x 11sp 11-40. Range is fine for vast majority of what I ride and to be honest I could happily deal with 10 or 9 gears so long as the same range. Just all my kit is 11sp so may as well stick with it. Got no interest in 12, 13 or whatever next.

The main thing for me has been dropping the front mech and the range at the back is key to that. Front mechs with 2 or 3x have always had too much cross over, too much range and in the case of 2x a hideous jump between rings and subsequent chain suck. Hated 2x.

Well, out on a ride last night, in late, food, fell asleep. Wonder how much that cost me.

There was talk about banks automatically refunding anyone known to have PPI and not claimed, deadline or not.

Can’t say I get worked up about it. Just a bike forum with a load of nonsense at times and got better things to do (like ride bikes 😁).

My helmet wasn’t smashed up other than visor, just signs of impact on the surface, despite serious concussion, smashed up face and fractured spine. Binned the helmet though. The poly stuff inside will have done its job and compacted.

Anyway, concussion itself led to talking gibberish at the time (more so than usual) and ending up with no memory of the event and day after, though partly down to hospital knocking me out. Dazed for a few days and loads of little aches and pains head wise for a couple of months.

Main thing though that dragged on was whiplash. That lasted for about a year before neck aches stopped. Sleeping especially was a problem.

Other thing I had for some time was very brief flashes of blue light in eyes. Weird. Went away eventually though still get a brief flash years later, but just a couple of times a year I notice it.

And yeah, if not gone to hospital, worth considering and definitely if you’re throwing up and have odd symptoms. Hopefully they’ll get a scan done.

Plenty of less-gnar stuff at Windhill. Tidworth never been to yet but if you’re going A303 route then both are on the way. Think Tidworth is similar stuff though. Chalky though so weather dependent.

Rogate is bit out of the way I’d say and it’s similar stuff. Nothing too huge though.

Also Aston Hill is an option.

Swinley and likewise at the other end Haldon, don’t make an effort to go to either. Okay for a quick motorway spin.

Or something more xc. Pootle around Salisbury plain somewhere, loop around Stonehenge maybe. Loads of byways and bridleways. There’s Chilterns further north. Ridgeway even (not done it but keep meaning to). Pedally stuff though and depends what you can cram in for couple of hours.

Public Service Announcement: The Killfile is an extremely effective means of removing intentionally nonsensical non-sequiturs and ensuring that blatant trolling does not spoil your STW experience.

The electronic equivalent to sticking fingers in your ears and going “la la la! I can’t hear you”.

Don’t really get blocking people because of their views. Like on Twitter where I see loads of people who on reading anything don’t agree with they block that person and just to make their point they post “You’re blocked!”.

Don’t like their views, move on. Don’t need to engage, and don’t even have to feel hate or anger towards them. They may be decent people even if you don’t agree on some things. Plenty of friends write absolute garbage (and I do likewise), but they’re still my friends.