Depends how you view it. Stopping to map read can be viewed as a pain in the butt, or, see it has having a bit of an adventure. It’s the unknown outcomes that provide the biggest and memorable experiences IMO. For me, trail centres are very forgettable, but rides in the outdoors have returned me some moments I’ll never forget…the best moments don’t come without a bit of effort..

Fasthaggis +1

And he definitely shouldn’t abbreviate his surname…

Genuine question – if you did a coca cola style blind tasting test – would many people know who’s being the helmet and goggles? Can people tell the rider from their style alone?

Athlethism – just heard it in a radio report. Apparently it’s a high fashion word..means sports wear that’s glamorous…

Now then, where is the line on this? I always thought tracksuit wearing people where slated by some others in loftier positions?

In response to people earlier saying ISIS are more brutal etc. Are they really? War is brutal, but historically we have heard about it through newspapers or TV news reports that have been censored. This time though, ISIS have used technology to their advantage for their campaign and put their stuff on YouTube. So now,for the first time we are seeing for the for ourselves the true brutality of war. Also, uncensored people are using the internet to write their own reports.

Furthermore, beheadings have been used by the state in parts of the middle east for years and rape is used as a form of state punishent in parts of rural India…

Oh, wasnotaswaswas i see you beat me to it…

Metabase…..

For someone who’s only been riding 6months the Borrowdale Bash could be a bit intimidating – whilst easily walked, if necc, i would then see no point riding it.

The Borrowdale valley and surrounding hills are quite big terrain for a newbie- would you drive to the Ambleside area? The area around there is lower and alot more intermediate terrain biking wise (IMO).

DrJ – why do you have an issue you with hairy car mechanics? Did you get a bad car service or something?

Molgrips – maltrodexin is a carbohydrate supplement. :roll:

Skydragan , the rides it happens on, do you feel you’re going at your natural pace? Or are you riding at the groups pace which is too much for you over that duration?

Maybe it’s what I’ve written and the words I’ve used becuase you’ve misinterpreted it agin (and dont worry I’m definitely not taking as a personal attack – seems a reasonably healthy debate). Or maybe I’m misinterpreting you.
My point in reference to benp1 (asking if he should be taking supplements to improve performance) was he doesn’t NEED to. He may CHOOSE to, but it isn’t necessary. It’s marketing that makes people think they need to take supplements to improve performance. That’s all it is, choices. I totally agree, they all work and each to their own…

But rats, I ended up reiterating my point…

Now then Molgrips, you’ve taken my marketing comment out of context. I could put it back into context and reiterate my point, but then we’d go over it all again…and I’m not going to do that, I’ve not got the energy…

Molgrips. Avoiding the bonk is to do with keeping your energy stores at the correct levels and making sure they do not get reduced to such a low level that you have passed the point of no return (whereby it’s too late and any food you eat will not be turned into the necessary volume of energy you need).

Therefore, whilst you are correct that liquid food is digested quickier thank solid, all that means is that you have to eat your choice of food at the correct time to ensure it has the time/process involved to be converted to the energy you need.

Therefore, avoiding the bonk is about the timing of your food intake and ensuring your stores do not get too low (which is why you should eat before you get hungry).

Molgrips – the bonk has nothing to do with liquid food, suppliments or real food. It’s do with your energy stores, or lack off. I suggest you do some more sports nutrition research.

Benp1 – from what I’ve read and researched, unless you have zero space for real food or cannot be given it en-route (think pro-roadie food bag) – there is no need for supplements. It’s marketing and personal desires behind the reasons for buying supplements etc – not an essential requirement for your body or performance.

Hey Mikewsmith – I wanted to put a smiley face on mine but don’t know how. I was also going to bracket it with (unless you have a specific job to do) – because you’re right – be foolish to enter a downhill race on a fixed wheel singlespeed!

A good workman never blames his tools…

That’s good – cheers for posting Houns.

Forzafkwi – I know what you mean about longer rides and simplicity. My personal experience is endurance/long distance MTB and to make it work (wholefood and water) I’ve managed to get my energy bars to the minimum size I can – but I still have to use an Alpkit frame bag to carry them (because I didn’t want excess weight on my back). It’s taken me alot of effort and research to get it to work for me. So I totally understand if peoples choices are made primarily because of convenience and not a desire to eat wholefood.

Molgrips – energy drinks are the biking equivalent of fast food vs whole food so it just depends on your outlook. Not surprised welshcakes gave you indigestion if that was your energy bar and spuds wouldn’t help you either. You need to replicate the right ratio of carb, protein etc for it to work….

Gotta say I think it can be done naturally if you think about it properly (getting right combination of food groups in body) – I’ve been riding up to six hours straight (on MTB) this year and if I eat well before hand (a considered bfast such as porrige and a 3 egg omelette and then pre ride snack and hydration), drink plenty of water en route and eat my homemade energy bars every 30mins..followed by eating properly afterwards e.g Turkey baguette, its fine. I’ve had no problems so far, and if anything I’ve felt far stronger than when I used to consume energy products…

What was that website? – Ashley something…sounds perfect for your evenings…

When I was living in NZ, the ‘local’ policeman living in Hast was a lovely guy and about six and a half feet tall. His nickname, known by all, was Stretch.

The cheaper Endura gilet for Autumn and then a Paramo gilet for proper winter rides..those two work well IMO.

To concur with you Hatter and the power of the organisations – about ten years ago very strong empirical evidence was published regarding the link between cancer and drinking alcohol – however it was completely squashed by the state and the organisations with vested interests in the sale of alcohol. Mental when you think of it.

Cracking bit of research – just google who’s funding the IEA…hilarious…

Cheez0 – word of warning. Your words are racist and you’ve just published them on a public forum. Your identity is not anonymous.

Mattscm – I’m proud to be the person in your second from last paragraph. The opposite would be a heartless, mean spirited do-badder…

There are more politiancs and parties than just Labour and Conservative (who are essentially all subscribing to the neo-liberalist agenda). We do have choices to change the thinking of this country (and potentially be more accepting of issues like the people crisis going on now)- but hegemony makes it difficult.

I think you’ve missed the point I was making with my response to Freeagent (not your fault).I’m very aware of what Blair and has done in the world…he’s a **** too.

Free agent – I must have missed Blair saying he doesn’t want to take in more this week. Can you show me where he said that?

That link made me cry.

Goes alongside Cameron just announcing he doesn’t want to officially reach out and take in more people fleeing bad places. Sorry, but he’s a ****. That’s what you get when you vote Tory….

Hi,

I picked up an Elite Crono Mag Elastogel from Wiggle. Gets nearly a thousand positive reviews and its been great for me. It’s a simple, quiet (ish) trainer for biking on I.e. no dials, settings, feedback etc but that was fine for me.

Protect your future career with some quals then save some money and go off travelling for a while (maybe you have already)..its a blast, you’ll meet loads of interesting people, find stuff out about yourself you didn’t know and you’ll probably realise the UK is a pretty good place to live and ride a bike!! (And maybe you’ll get the stories you want to tell too)..

Whilst trail centres are not for me I understand they have a place for many people. Alot of (voluntary) hard work has gone in to creating them and to slag them off on this thread is a pretty rubbish thing to do.