The steepest bit of off-piste trail has a gradient of -58% but it’s not ready for public consumption yet. There’s a suitable squirrel trap at the top to ward off people who might die.

Comedy gold.

This? It’s never been raced.

It’s hardly secret or covert.. go talk to the gentlemen in iCycles and they’ll point you in the direction of fun stuff.

Surely everything at Inners is South of the river, otherwise you’re at Golfy or Thornilee?

“The Nightmare” AKA “Burts Trail” is probably the most difficult thing to ride fast at Inners. It was raced in the Alpinebikesinnerleithenwinterdurobicyclemountainrace last year and it’s never really recovered. It runs down the hill to the right of the fun bit of Make or Brake. It used to leave the first berm on MoB, but that’s blocked now. The current line drops down, slightly up the fireroad towards the uplift dropoff.

“Casey Stoner” AKA “Not For *****” is probably the next hardest off-piste thing as the “jumps” are all made of slippy wood. Really fun trail. It’s the thing that plummets to the right just after the uplift dropoff. Exits on the fire-road that leads to the top of Caddon Bank.

Yellow.

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P1020629[/url] by DavidHodgson[/url], on Flickr

I generally run my stans rims tubeless, but have on occasion ran tubes with yellow tape. It’s fine.

Best rock:

Can someone please explain why you would need a dropper post if your bike fits you correctly ?

You’re probably riding boring stuff. Come to Inners – brutal climbs with steep descents. I’d love to see you ride Prospacker with your seat up…

Rose had some cheapo Saint 9speed shifters a couple weeks back. Might still be there

Chainrings as part of a double/triple are ramped to aid shifting. You don’t want that so just buy a single chainring – they’re not expensive.

Unless you’re riding well boring stuff you’ll need something to help chain retention.

Straitline Silent guide are the best – after smashing loads of other guides I wouldn’t use anything else. Silent and never drops the chain.

Distance: 4,597.8km
Ascent: 107,056m

All logged on Strava

They’re not compatible with any fun riding – like DH or jumping so no. Just wear waterproofs instead. I use them on the road bike though.

Nah doesnae work now.

Only managed to use it 7 times 😆

This is brilliant.. saving a packet on my new build. XT cassette for £34.99!

Scary! The discs on this one were glowing red hot. Skip to 1:44…

I use a 33t chainring on my HT to a 34t cassette and wouldn’t go bigger. Loads of steep climbing round here mind

Watching with bargainy interest..

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P1010373[/url] by DavidHodgson[/url], on Flickr

The Cobbler. Roasting hot day mid-March

Rsync them to my VPS nightly.

Frost is fine. Been riding my road bike around Edinburgh loads on cycle paths and down by the sea at Crammond – except for freezing feet it’s fine. The light dusting of snow is actually quite grippy. Touch ice and you’ll instantly die though. Doesn’t appear to be any ice on the roads just now. Certainly not in Edinburgh.

Just remember braking distances in the frost and snow are huuuuuuuuuuge so ride slower

100-200 grams perhaps. 1/4-1/2lb.

So 1.3% on my bike. Hmm if I want to save that I’ll just pack 1 apple instead of 2 in my rucksack 🙄

On a typical full suss, if you replaced all bolts where it’s safe to do so with titanium ones, how much weight would you save?

Sunday evening, on Prospacker at Inners while trying to outrun a Terminator-like camera on a zipline after losing my pedals..

Thanks! I am terribly lazy when it comes to cleaning.

Did you give it an application of rust-inhibitor before assembling/riding it?

Nope! Lazy / ignorant / just want to ride! 🙄

was advised by Cotic to leave the seatpost out when not using the bike.

I tend to just spray the chain with GT85, leave the bike to defrost and sneak into bed covered in mud 😆

I’ll give that a go though, cheers!

The split in seatpost shims provide a clear route in for water, but don’t know if the pig has one or not

Just had a look. There is a slit in the seatpost. Back when I said I was “hosing” it after rides, what I should have said is.. I’m driving it to the garage and powerwashing it…

Pretty much all my riding is at Innerleithen in the rain and mud so anything other than a powerwasher takes ages!

Here’s a photo of that slit bitty. Worth taping up?:

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P1020540[/url] by DavidHodgson[/url], on Flickr

And one of my Piglet ’cause I think she’s beautiful:

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P1020544[/url] by DavidHodgson[/url], on Flickr

Aaaaaaaah I’ve been a naughty boy and haven’t been using any grease on the seatpost… I’ll pop some in there before heading out today. Thanks!

I primarily use the GT85 on my chain after riding to drive out the water and stop it rusting. But I’ve also been spraying it on my BB cups thinking it would help keep things dry. I’m glad you pointed out my error!

Cheers for the tips – I’ll keep the GT85 for my chain only!

I’m not sure, I got that from the Ragley website.. After some Googling I believe it’s “Cathodic Electro Deposited (ED) Coating”. There’s a bit about it here: http://www.shivpolishing.com/ed-coating-services.html

I haven’t washed it in a few weeks to be fair.. been riding it a lot. Normally hose it after every ride though. Although I hose it with a seat post in water probably still sneaks in there.

Ace thanks!

Aye I thought the GT85 would disperse any water getting in there and stop rusting. It gets quite wet ’cause I sometimes totally drop my dropper (the non-droppy bit) for some bonkers steep stuff. Means the seat-tube gets full of mud and wet

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P1010564[/url] by DavidHodgson[/url], on Flickr

Don’t listen to the “lighter is pointless” brigade. Lighter bike = more fun. Simple!

Punch him in the throat

I also have these which are very good at repelling water. Very light and very very breathable. Half price on Stif

https://www.stif.co.uk/mtb/product/fox-shuttle–pants/11146

Their sizing is a bit screwy – they’re perfect on my waist but well long. Thankfully they’ve got Velcro bottom bits so don’t flap. Also have zips up the leg for faffing with pads.

I bought these for uplift-days but now ride in them all the time. I don’t overheat, they’ve got proper pockets and they don’t look too mental.

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/clothing/trousers/product/review-royal-racing-sp-247-race-pants-11-45031

Highly recommended. Sizing is spot on – medium is perfect on me at 5’7 with a 31″ waist.

And I’m not sure Nukeproof or Vitus have the niche branding that steel buying folk aspire to

Yup! Nail on the head there. Steel and weird for me please 🙄

How come online bike shops can sell stuff at less than trade price anyway?

Aye mainly ’cause braking distance increases so much so I’m a lot slower

Are they still a going concern since Brant went back to On-One?

Ah I didn’t realise that was the case.. I’ll have a look at their frames..

No degree here, but somehow ended up as a senior technical manager… Don’t think I’ve ever been held back by not having a degree but it certainly limits your options if you fancy a change.