Spent ages trying to figure out why the rear brake on my road bike wasn’t working only to realise that I’d clamped the cable in the stand

I run psi in the early 20s and am a skinny whelp at around 60kg. I destroy rear rims far too quickly though so probably not the best to advise on how hard your tyres should be.

About right I’d say. I have the 2.2 29er version though. I wouldn’t worry about drag unless you’re riding a lot of road or fire road. That said, I’ve got a 17km Road round trip to my local trail and it isn’t awful on the Trail King.

Continental Trail King Protection is what I’d use if I went back. The rocks are sharp so make light work of flimsy tyres. It’s very dusty to so some tread to dig in is helpful. Run tubeless as well, otherwise you’ll be forever suffering pinch flats.

107kmh

Flipping heck. 8O

Having ridden mtb for over 20 years I had my first serious accident in May. Shattered my knee cap riding in Squamish. I’ve been off work since (thankfully paid still) and face not being able to ride until early next year. I can’t wait to get back on the bike though, albeit with some decent knee pads.

Another Charge Spoon user on mtb and commuter. Hated both of them initially but once they’re broken in they’re great.

Health, family and friends. In hard times those three prove their worth over and over.

I’ve got some 1.8 floating about that get dug out when it snows. They were rapid for dry xc duties back in the day.

I was pleasantly surprised. Then he started warbling in auto tune, which ruined it.

Run the Jewels were great.

We have great Neighbours. Single women both sides. One side takes all our packages in and looks after the cat while we are away. The other is hardly ever there but nice when we see her. The neighbours behind smoke a lot of weed and play loud music a lot but I quite like their taste in hip hop and their freestyle rapping is hilariously crap. We have a big Romanian family A few doors down who a really friendly and we chat to several others who live in the street. All in a not particularly fancy part of Bristol. It’s great here.

I couldn’t find exactly what I wanted off the peg so went for a self build. Value for money wise I reckon my bike rivals an off the peg one with the benefit of not having to replace anything. It can be a frustrating faff l at times but you’ll know your bike inside out by the time you’re finished and you won’t be disappointed.

Because people need to sell things.

It’s by far the tamest trail centre I’ve ridden. Sessioning the downhill runs on a short travel hardtail is a lot of fun though.

Don’t be so needy. I’ve already said I like it!

We should start a club!

I appear to be the only person who likes the look of it.

With the form Gwin’s in, he could win it on a balance bike.

With regards to politics but works in most things, Whatever your opinion on something there will always be someone who completely disagrees.

American Psycho – Brett Easton Ellis
Galapagos – Kurt Vonnegut
1984 – George Orwell
The Great Gatsby – F Scott Fitzgerald
The Wind up Bird Chronicles – Haruki Murakami

Comminuted fracture of my right patella. Around eight months recovery apparently if all goes smoothly. Not resenting anyone but mighty jealous of some riding pics of the Mendips last night.

They resurfaced a lot of the trails fairly recently so the grip shouldn’t be an issue. Summer tyres all the way. Sad not to be racing this year due to a broken knee but might try and head up to support mates.

I recently had surgery to piece what was left of my kneecap back together after it got attacked by a handlebar during an mtb tumble. When I came to after the surgery I woke up and pretty much straight away started screaming in agony. After a cocktail of painkillers did nothing to allay my screaming, the increasingly concerned staff ended up giving me IV ketamine. I went from agony to completely off my tits in the space of a few seconds, eyeballs rolling back in my head and gurning like a casualty from a Dreamscape rave circa ’93. The next few hours proceeded with me talking utter gibberish to my girlfriend and the nurses who had to sit with me. Topics of conversation included: Paddington Bear’s sideline dealing quaaludes and snorting marmalade, there being a gateway to hell in the basement and how had no one spotted this glaring design flaw for the hospital, insisting that someone had built an airport specifically for dwarves in the middle of the recovery room, confusion as to why there were two fat women climbing into trunks and feeling sorry for a male nurse who couldn’t see the badgers and raccoons frolicking all over the place.

Unfortunately for my girlfriend, she’s a nurse in the same hospital and was actually working that night. She got a lot of updates from the other staff about how ‘off my face’ I was and how amusing/weird/grim it all was.

When I was a kid I crashed in to the back of my neighbours car while learning to use spds. Thankfully at very slow speed.

At least you can ride your bike. I just shattered my patella so will be off two wheels for a good few months. :(

5ft 7″ and on a Zealous Division. Love it. Wasn’t so keen on other 29ers I tried though.

Another vote for a Giant TCR. I don’t think I’ll ever be quick enough to do mine justice.

I’ve got two pairs of bibs (neither of which I paid full price for). They’re good quality but the fit on the 3/4s is a bit off for me.

Judging by the amount of roadies (I’m one of them btw) out last weekend around the Chew Valley and Mendips I would say its pretty damn popular.

Yep, the Mendips were alive with the sound of freewheels and bleeping Garmins on the weekend. Beast of a headwind back to Bristol though. Looking forward to getting out around Rowberrow on the mtb as well soon.

I wouldn’t fancy going up the Joux Plane on an MTB. It took me about an hour on the road bike.

Two days a week I work on the outskirts of the city and in just a few km can be in the countryside with rolling hills for miles. I extend my commute to take in a hill that gives a fantastic view of Bristol (Dundry for anyone who lives in the area). This always makes me happy.

Not a driver but another cyclist. Whilst waiting at a set of lights in Central Bristol, another rider pulls up and asks why I’ve got one trouser leg rolled up? I reply that it’s to stop my trousers getting caught in the chain and getting dirty. His response “ah, I thought it was a Jamaican thing.” I’m as pale as fresh snow.

My favourite driver one was a guy who beeped incessantly and tried to overtake me on the wrong side of the road, blind corner on a major arterial route in rush hour before cutting back in on me. His response when I had a word with him “I was trying to keep you safe”, said while gripping his steering wheel lock ready to swing at me.

Adding a 5mm headset spacer can make a world of difference. Shorter stem (100-90mm) and wider bars will probably help. If it were me, I’d be making small changes rather than suddenly swapping a 110mm baguette for a stumpy 50mm stem.

XS Giant would be a good shout. I have a small Giant road bike(46.5cm according to Giant). Fits a 5ft 7″ me like a glove

I’m quite an aggressive rider, but lacking in some finesse, which might explain my issues with the Ground Control. I do only weigh about 60kg though so not much weight behind me.

I’d highly recommend against Specialized Ground Control S-Works 2.1. First ride, rolled it off the rim, second ride put a hole in the sidewall that won’t seal. Made of fairy wings apparently.

300m climbing in 20miles is pretty flat, even for a southern softy like me.

This thread is entirely pointless as average speed comes with so many caveats: distance, terrain, traffic, type of road and surface, number of riders, type of riders, bike choice, weather. There’s an awful lot of meaningless willy-waving going on.

Also, measurements should be metric. It’s much easier and it makes more sense.

I know some very quick riders with Bristol South so worth checking them out.