If you don’t want to fit a slick, then get a Minoura RDA one as they run on the rim rather than the tyre, so don’t require any tyre change.

HTH

That’s a bit like saying “what bike for everything?” :lol:

+1 for Zamberlan. The pair I bought the Mrs are still going strong after nearly 20 years.

+1 for Scarpa too. I’ve just about killed mine after about 10 years service.

Of course, the real answer has to be Galibier (Google ’em).
I’m fortunate enough to still have a mint pair that I wear occasionally in the depths of winter.

Edit – Beat this for reviews![/url]

do you really need to replace the fluid every 2-3 months?

Yes, I’ve left mine too long (circa 6 months) and only took a look because the front (single ply ST minnion) had started to loose pressure over time. Inside was dry!
Popped a bead off and refilled; reinflated straight off with track pump; done the wiggle/lay flat bit; sorted.

The rear one still had liquid in but it had separated into clear fluid and a nice latex spikey ball. I’d worn the tyre out on a single filling so was replacing.
Getting lazy now and just inflated dry with track pump (UST ADvantage); first time – no problem; popped a bead off to add Stans goo; reinflated; wiggled; lay flat; wiggled; lay flat other side; sorted. Ride.

Flows and Maxxis – no problem at all. I’m not going back to tubes.

Wife: “You’re always out on your bike. Which do you love most… me or your bike?”

Me: …. [thinking]…….[/thinking]….. answer “….which bike?”

Nothing to fear from MBTI.
It can only do you some good in terms of you understanding your own traits and how/why others might see things differently.
You’ll recognise something about yourself and possibly learn to recognise characteristics in others that you can play to.

Also gives you a framework to understand why some people tend to p!ss you off.

Stereotypical ISTP here. (and suspect there may be a quite a few of us on here)

MTL anticlockwise.
That was a monumental planning fail ‘cos it meant I had to battle a monstrous head-wind for the whole of the southern end of the loop :(
… and the only tail-wind was down Gorple road, which was consequently super quick :-) … but resulted in the inevitable pinch flat.

Hard work all day but great fun.
7.5 hours round, including lunch and the flattie. Must try harder next time.
…and yes, it probably would have been better the other way around, even without the wind.

If you strip it down then be careful to keep grease on the bearings and away from the pawls.
If you get too much grease around the pawls and their engagement points on the freehub body, then they may fail to pick-up correctly and may fail completely. (yes – you learn from experience !!!)

I’d use only sufficient grease to hold the bearings in place whilst you re-assemble, then run a small amount of lube in before refitting the nut.

HTH

fruit cake served with a chunk of cheese. perfect combo.

last night’s leftover spag bol
(checks front of shirt for evidence)

Edit — Thought better of it

I think I still have one of these in its original box somewhere in the loft.
Where abouts are you? Is it worth me digging it out? Would you be interested?

General synopsis used to be:
Topfield if you like to tinker with what you can possibly make it do
Humax if you want something that just works (and works intuitively)

Had both Humax and Sony
Prefer EPG layout on Humax

I’m in exactly the same position Special_ized_Jamie, looking for something to replace the Float32RL on my Meta 5 (only lasted 14 months) :-(

Best I’ve found are Lyriks from Merlin at £500 or older Revelations from Ribble at £400

Si, I’d be interested in what you could do too (ygm)

Received mine yesterday and only had chance to skim it.
First impressions:
Look and feel – Different, distinctive, a coffee-table book ??
Content – not sure, reserving judgement. Thinks its a bit too arty perhaps.

Will I keep up the subscription? Waivering – Probably not.

RRR, thanks for linky……. Damn, tapered steerer is no good for me though, need 1 1/8.
Thanks anyway.

Sorry – Hijack

Revs at £300 would be very nice. Any chance of a linky pls?
I’ve just about killed my Fox 32 Floats within 15 months :? and those would be ideal replacement.
Revs for me next time I think.

Cheers all.
Group ride was good motivation (if any were needed) to brave the elements and get out and ride :-)

Damp, yes … but meeting new folk out on two wheels is always worthwhile.

Ian (on the blue spesh h/t)

I wouldn't get too worried about modding them, just cut 'em off to length and wear 'em 'til they're worn out, then replace & repeat.

They don't frey because of the membrane layer bonded in, so don't need any stitching.

Yes, they'll wear through after a while but at <£10, are you that bothered?

cheap copies – but that's just 'cos I'm a cheapskate :-)

Outland Enduros feel fine and stay in place fine. Do seem to be waring a bit quick though but I can't complain at £9 a pair

The Picolax Thread Returns

Black is 6 xpg cool whites running at 1 amp so a theretical lumen count of 2106 lumens

blue is 3 XPG cool whites and 3 XPE natural white at 1 amp
for a theretical lumen count of 1821 lumens .

Trouty,
I think the spread of votes indicates you're in the right area, converging on the best compromise balance between the two LEDs.

At risk of "teaching my grandmother to suck eggs" how about 4 cool/2 natural?
HTH

(edit – damn – too slow – rustry got there first)

Its going to be a bit busy with MTBers in that nick-o-the-woods this Sunday.

DaveyBoyWonder's Forum ride, the Mary Townley event and now Bronte Big K are all going to be in the vacinity of Widdop.
Don't follow the wrong group of riders or you'll end up doing a VERY big K. :lol:

I don't think 30 miles will kill you. Don't bother changing stuff on your bike, as they've all said, take it easy and you'll be fine.

I managed to crack a L 2009 model which was replaced under warranty with a XL 2010 model.
There's a world of difference between the two in terms of quality. You can tell that they had a reputation to try and recover! The seat tube now being thicker and tapered to accommodate the seat clamp.

The 2009 was the model/year that was prone to cracking at the seatpost/top-tube weld. Large and XL sizes also seemed worst effected (the configuration of the top shock mount is different on these to that on the S and M sizes).

Overall, a very capable bike, especially so downhill. After a year or so on mine I'm still getting faster and faster every time I do the local descents.
The suspension feels deeper than it is and tracks really well too.
I can't draw many direct comparisons so won't say its better or worse that xyz, but I'm not in any hurry to change mine.
Never felt out of its depth yet on rocky lakeland descents etc., riding in the company of Patriots, Alpine 160s and Nomads and not feeling out-biked.
For the money its remarkably capable.

http://www.flattyresmtbroutes.com/SnowdonTwinPeaks.html

heres the link with descriptions to the map above. He finishes saying he's done the route the other way round.. up llanberis –> down Rhyd Ddu –> up rangers –> down Llanberis. Seemed to think this was a better option.

Thanks for the linky Gravity, I think we'll give that route a go.
Probably in reverse.

yes I am going the day the ban lifts.

Me too Junkyard,
Day booked off work and accomodation sorted for the weekend.
Friday the 1st we'll do Snowdon. Early morning start.

Llanberis or Rangers ? – jury's still out on that.

Now all we need is half-decent weather.

DaveyBoyWonder
Just for info, there's a minor diversion in place to re-route you before the dam wall at Widdop. Turn off the road immediately before the temporary barriers around the site.
This might all be obvious in daylight anyway but it came as a surprise to us in the dark last night when we came to the dam wall and found it blocked off. [Queue minor backtracking to find diversion]

Coincidentally, we did the majority of your route last night, starting from Worsthorne and cutting back after Wirlaw to pick up Dukes Cut to Egypt.
All trails in good condition. The only nasty bit is the uncompacted loose stone of the diversion around Widdop.
Enjoy :D

How do you get to Cragg Quarry from the Buck Inn parking??

Andituk's version is the most direct but its a brutal climb/interesting challenge (delete as appropriate).

Wors's version works for me.

I'm very happy with the Stinger. I've been trying it out for a couple of months now on the same slx double and bash as you. (on a Meta 5.5 in XL)
It's sorted the problem I was previously having of me dropping the chain as soon as things turned fast and rocky.

I haven't noticed any additional resistance in the drivetrain, so I'm happy to stick with it.

Didzy,
This (head)
and
This (bar)
are the oft referred to bast!d lights.
Personally I like the universal mount (linky was in my earlier post)in preference to the one supplied with the "head" version.

You can also get spare battery packs and extension cables from DX now.
extension cable
Sorry can't find the spare battery to link it at the mo.

Hope that helps

I'm no longer up to speed with which of the many torch-type LEDs are best but these universal mounts have proved very robust and secure for mounting just about anything on t'lid.

Bast!d on low beam works for me. Doesn't drown out the one on the bars running on full beam.
These universal mounts are great for head mounting either a torch or the std bar mount bast!d.

nom.nom.nom.nom…….

Do you really need to break the existing connection?
The outer casing of the cable has separated from the connector on one of mine too.
Rather than re-make it, I was planning to reinforce the existing connection by adding an outer "flex-protector" in the form of a coat of silicone over the area. Plan was to form a loose mould from tape and injecting silicone down that.
Haven't tried it yet though.

Took a quick look a couple of months back.
Two vert short trails from the same start point on top. One's got a brief section with a rocky entry and a lip to drop off which is quite good but the rest is just loose gravel trails. Hopefully bedded in a bid since then.
Overall – Not enough to make a ride in its own right but OK for inclusion in a cheeky night ride around that area.
Pictures here on BAD's site

My money's on BB threads just needing a good greasing.
Take out the BB; liberal application of grease to threads; re-fit.

For a few ideas just mouse-over the flags on the map here[/url]

Don't ride out from Blackpool though, you'll be very tired and have wasted most of your day by the time you reach anything worth riding.

How about Garburn from Kentmere

I broke my '09 Meta 5 earlier this year.
The '10 frame is noticibly better build and paint quality (a reputation to rebuild)

At the time, '10 frame were in short supply so I pestering every few days for an update. Eventually I got hold of a bloke (Jack) at Madison who manages the Commencal warranties. He seemed to be the guy who could make decisions. He stripped down a complete bike to send me the frame.
Might be worth asking.

Still got mine :D

Really got into it when I lived in Munich where they ran a blade night every week.
They'd close off the roads around the city centre and 10,000 people would take part, following a rolling roadblock for about 15km.
blade-night[/url]

Always ended in a beergarden too :P
Better totty factor than your average night-ride though.

There was supposed to be a feasibility study for trails around Entwistle, I suppose this is gonna cast a bad light now?

A cynic might conclude that the "problem" may have been dreamt up to prejudice the outcome of the feasibility study :?

Ironically, a while back, I met an ROW officer on an MTB on Darwen Moor… riding the footpath and yet simulateously whincing at the mention of Boggies. :?