I am currently hammering my Merida FLX3500D carbon more than my Trek EX8. These bikes are designed to be ridden!

I have 3 sets of varying designs, Merida, Livestrong and Cervelo and the only problem I find is they are very tight around the arms.

Pads as mentioned are a little basic but are still functional and after 50 rides still seem OK.

Bid shorts have been great, just roll the leg up to pee!!!!!!

If the forest trails are supported by the FC then why shouldn't they be publicised.

The magazines have all been there, written great reviews, races happen there 4 times a year so why should locals keep trails "under their hats"?

It's one of the most popular areas in the country for riding!

Sweet, I am going to man up and go hard!

Website looks ace buddy.

One question, the Enduro that is taking place in a few weeks. Is it suitable for the carbon race hardtails whippetts or will a nice 5" full sus be more suitable?

Glad this moan was raised as I was going to post exactly the same thing.

The new jumps have been well thought out but the litter is a joke, the spoons WTF is that all about and what is the crack with all the glass down "Race Track" and near the start of the shrine?

Kids are back at school now so we shall see if it changes!

Kenda Nevagals on mine!

After looking at the photos of the work that has already been done on Skidmores phone it looks great. Not too far away from Lecky and lots of scope.

XC folk will ride up whatever climbs they are given so don't worry too much on that front.

Yes you can buy the bearing on their own but you have to buy them from a Trek dealer. Both the upper and the lower bearings are specially chamfered so try to find an off the shelf alternative is impossible.

Be prepared for £20 a bearing!

Took me 2 hours on a 5" Trek EX8 and I ride 3 times a week. So allow for 3!
But I did slow down to allow the less fit guys catch up.

http://www.cherryorchardfarm.co.uk/camping.htm is ideal!

I am in for the 4 laps.

Trek EX8! Wicked bike and if you can find a 2009 version you may have £500 to play with to buy some kit.

To the right person £650 ish. The frame will fetch £300 all day long.

Not that I know of!

Got a broken knee!!!!!

Still up for grabs.

Bump

Sorry guys, I have not explainedvery well.

If you look at at wall and imagine a galley kitchen with work tops on both sides. At the far end the work tops touch the wall and I have tiled the depth of the worktops and have gone the same distance vertical on the far wall so I have two exposed edges that will be filled with grout and these two edges are on the wall I want to paint.

Darren,

If you ride from Edge towards Haresfield, just as you get off the A4173 after about 250m there is a wood on the right. Get in there and there are some really good trails that lead you near to Standish woods (always keep left in the forest tracking the road).

Once you get to the end you will find you are on a junction with a sign post to harefield beacon. Head that way and you will see the car park. Just beofre the car park is a gate and 2 different walking routes. Take the lower route and after a few meters it opens up into 2 / 3 trails.

All of these end up at the bike specific area at the bottom, but I normally take the lower trail on the right to get down to the bottom and then come up on the left hand one.

But once you get to the bottom head left and you will see the bike firendly area. The Cotswold way markers all lead there too.

But just have a look around as there are loads of routes that you can link together to have some fun.

I have the DS23 on my EX8 and they have been brilliant. Got them on Nuke Proof hubs.

I only use these. Brilliant. On my 5th pair as I keep losing them.

Lucky there not £100 Oakleys every time hey!

SOLD

Anyone got pics of their vans with the bike in and bed down?

YGM back

May have to try to find someone with one and have a mess around!

What if the bed was down the side with no cabinets?

Nick,
The bloody noise of them when they get ever so slightly bent! DROVE ME BONKERS!!!

Give the disc a good clean with brake cleaner then I know this sounds really stupid but once clean rub your fingers over the disc brake surface to supply just a little natural grease. It worked for me.

looking at VW forums
1.9 roughly 33 to 38mpg
2.5 roughly 26 to 30mpg

They all say the 1.9 is the one to buy.

203 on the rear is the problem! Why do you feel the need to have such a big rotor. Does the front do the same?

I had Hayes Strokers on my Trance and decided to put 203 on the back, after 10 minutes of riding it was off and a 185 put on there instead.

To save adding another VW Transporter thread 1 from me if you don't mind. How easy is it to fit bikes in the van with a rock n roll bed down at night?

Spend all 3 days in Glentress and ride inners a few times. Ae is a waste of travelling time IMO and the actual trail is a little boring until you hit the last 600m

Same as mine.

undo the main allan bolt and you can pull the mech back. I used an allan key in the star bolt to lever it up and back.

The additonal black plate at the top allows for the mech to swing about 90 deg. But make sure it is nice and tight once on.

I may have a place going if anyone is interested. Will know more early next week.

Ahhhh good thinking batman!

TF Tuned at Mayhem. Um nothing 😆

Hiya, any of 1505, 1506, 1507 or 1508 please?
dimmasaxo@hotmail.com

Luminous's light will be on my Merida from 10pm on Saturday so if anyone wants to have a look you have to catch me first 😆

If all goes to plan I will be in the main arena at 12am Sunday starting my lap.

Keep an eye out for Steaming Ahead jerseys as they are my team.

BONKERS!

Solo's will have their own area next to the start finish line like the last couple of years.

Racing Ralphs!