Why? Riding seems to be considered no worse than walking by most scientific studies. Are you suggesting that SSSIs should be no-go areas to walkers too?

The problem is that in the eyes of the law a bicycle is considered to be a vehicle and not a 'usual accompaniment' of someone on foot. Given that prams, pushchairs and wheelchairs are perhaps it's time for a change in the law, but until then…

Hmmm… he was actually fined? Under what authority?

As I understand it, it's a civil matter akin to trespass NOT a criminal matter. If anyone knows otherwise, I'd very much like to know.

Did he get the details of the people handing out the fines? And whereabouts was this, by the way?

Perhaps the limit screws on your front mech set up so that it won't physically shift onto the outer chainring:

http://www.bikemagic.com/news/article/mps/uan/2968

Thanks for the heads up about the signage folks, was planning to visit for the first time this weekend. Any volunteers for showing me around the place sometime this Saturday?

Is it even that revolutionary?

Ten speed has been bodged done on MTBs before.

The cranks plus BB is 694g, a little more than a Middleburn Duo plus Controltech Comp Carbon-Titanium BB.

A mid-range SunTour front mech from the early 90s weighed in at 114g vs 118g for the XX.

…etc.

Rode one years ago, though my ‘single’-speed bikes usually had two chainrings and a rear mech tensioner for on-/off-road or climbing / everything else use.

Don’t think my back would stand for a true singlespeed these days unless it was pretty flat. I tried 1×8 speed too, but found the chain was always falling off the chainring without some sort of device to keep it in place.

That’s what I thought: big day out but mostly rideable. Shame there’s no way to avoid losing quite so much height in the middle… unless I gain even more, I suppose :D

These are almost disc-specific and very tempting:

http://www.all-about-the-home.co.uk/onza-tuf-guy-matt-black-forks—2-sizes-561-p.asp

How about:

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/riverside-5-ladies-49820074/
or
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/EN/riverside-5-men-s-49820115/

For the two new stores, yes:

http://is.gd/1jTHG

My girlfriend’s 3-year-old missed out on a Rothan, so is on her CNOC-14 with stabilisers… oh well, she’ll learn to ride properly sometime just to keep up with her brother.

Dougal – Member
It’s a trail centre; I think you’re maybe confusing skills, with the bottle to go fast over bumpy (not technical) ground.

What do you consider ‘technical’? And surely having the bottle is about experience and a degree of skill?

Not that I’m entirely disagreeing with you mind…

uplink – Member
You can get a perfectly decent bike for less than £200

…for some value of ‘decent’.

Isla do part-exchange deals, so may have some second-hand CNOC-14s. They really are the best in the business from what I’ve seen, and should hold their value well.

andywhit – Member
But you *are* Dr Rad!

*Wry smile*

Used to stand for “Ride All Day” but that’s something I’m going to need to work up to I think if there’s any significant gradient involved…

ianpinder – Member
probably just unfit

I think skills matter more than fitness on the downs… I was dying on the ups, but that’s what nine years off the bike will do to you I suppose.

Looks like a great day out :-)

Coming back to biking after about nine years away, I am pretty shocked by how much more things seem to cost these days, especially suspension forks.

What has really improved so much in the last decade to justify the increase in cost? At Afan on Saturday, on my 85/60mm ‘full suspension’ rig, I was being slowed down by a guy with four or five inches at each end. Are today’s riders cossetted by technology?

Worth the effort of cleaning it. Plus it’s quite theraputic.

Tell me, do you iron your socks? :wink:

They have always been very good. I had wheels from them that lasted years.

Don’t know what their wheelbuilding was like as I always tweaked them myself, but back in the day they would sell you complete wheels for less than the cost of the parts elsewhere. Want brass nipples on your extra light spokes? No problem. Recommended.

What size you need may also depend on your torso and leg length, not just your overall height. I usually find I need a frame to be a little short for its height to be comfortable on it so tend to size down rather than up.

If you put a new chain on it and you’re getting skipping or jumping and you’re sure the gears are set up right, it’s time for a new cassette.

BB7s? Why faff around with hydraulics?

Power just not getting through to bulbs on old cans, could replace innards, but thought I might investigate LED alternatives for greater efficiency…

AB – Member
I use White Lightening and find that a good lube.

Used to use it in my Calderdale days, always resulted in a squeaking chain after about two hours. Might be better if it’s dryer under your tyres.

Homepage

Intra-ride caffs or post-ride restaurants?

simonfbarnes – Member
I wouldn’t so much describe it as a cure as a distraction.

Exercise can help with mild-to-moderate depression, but if there are bigger underlying problems, you’ll eventually need to sort yourself out some other way.

That’s what happened to me: I used biking as a distraction for about 12 years until circumstances meant that everything came crashing down around my feet. Took me seven years to get over it, and another two to want to get back on a bike.

Bottom line: if you’re using cycling as a crutch to get you through, it’s probably better to look at ways to heal the underlying problems rather than just masking the symptoms.

Running 175mm as opposed to 170mm is basically the difference between running a 35-tooth chainring instead of a 34-tooth, but with less ground clearance on the cranks rather than the chainring.

I was exactly the same until I got some really (no, really) bad news when I was on a bike and everything got poisoned. I think something had to give somewhere, and I simply didn’t get what I used to out of riding for about seven years.

I think the Mojo is coming back though: dragged myself round the original Afan trail on Saturday getting dehydrated in the process. My fitness and stamina may have gone, but the skills haven’t… time to have fun again.

uplink – Member
I just use Rock ‘n’ Roll Extreme for the chain lube
No need to ever degrease or clean the chain as it stays nice & shiny all on its own

How often do you have to use it? And how many re-lubes does a 4oz bottle last?

If the trail is anything other than a climb…

I like climbing though…

… or a fireroad what are you doing sat down?

Saving my aging back and shoulders?

So what is the point?

Yep, but even with 3 inches up front, what comes through the back is enough to send the saddle into my b*lls in a very uncomfortable manner if I’m not extremely careful. Do you have to adapt your riding style a lot?

DoctorRad… Why? I dont get what you mean.

Maverick XC forks are 4.5″ jobs, I don’t have a suitable frame at the moment, my three MTB frames being 92-94 vintage…!

will, but what about a high end fork with all the bells and whistles, that is only marginally heavier BUT with a massively increased lifespan and service intervals?

I would buy into that.

That said I run Maverick forks, dont really do any maintenance, but am comfortable in the knowlege, when they do need it, its a DIY job. So I guess I already have bought into it.

Sounds good to me… going to involve a new frame though…

recent court case Pinder v Fox

What was the outcome?

Arguably for the price there is nothing anywhere near the 456. It punches way above its price-point.

A mate in Bristol has just got one set up as a commuter, can’t wait to give it a go to see if it has that feel-of-steel zing to it.

I remember when all this was fields

I remember when all this was lilac and orange…

Hardly ever do you get threads that start “My Forks have been faultless for years”

…and even if you did, such a superbly reliable fork would have been superseded by a new model which may not have the same level of reliability.

Come on then Brant, why not design us a range of UK-proof suspension forks, e.g. three models: Race, All-Round and Downhill. Then sell it to one of the big manufacturers :-)