Can I add myself to that arm list please?

Decent three hour ride (easy to follow on a Garmin as well)

http://www.gpsies.com/map.do;jsessionid=C68991D3DFBDD409AC3516BC7B47C0E5?fileId=zcwovqrryhgzcfaq

Did the BMX thing pass me by? Any spare spots going?

ETA: Daz, yes. Yes it would be. 8O

It’s a lovely looking bike. Saw the strava run – good work!

can guarantee that all of the ones I see are herion addicts or alcoholics

This is sort of why I give them money. I know but for an accident of birth, or a decision along the way that could be me or anyone of my friends sat in the door way in minus 5.

Some (not all) are addicts; many will never recover from their current situation. Would I prefer they use donations to check into a hostel? Of course. Does that mean I should judge them when they use the £5 to buy a bottle of something so they can temporarily escape from a hardship that I can barely comprehend?

– Pump
– Multi tool
– Chain tool (no link – I just remove the broken link)
– Flapjack
– Spare tube
– Puncture repair
– Credit card + cash
– Phone

I’m certain I could carry all that without a pack, however, my inability to regulate my body temperature means I carry my camelpak everywhere so I can change layers and also for the water.

I’d prefer not to carry a pack everytime, but thems the breaks.

When’s the STW weekender?

@beamends

The one I have is the “2013 Royal Racing Alpine Soft Shell MTB Jacket”

Here http://www.mountainbikebitz.com/2013-royal-racing-alpine-soft-shell-mountain-bike-jacket-blackgraphite-p-24698.html

Faultless.

E-mail?

Thanks Kev, that’s a really helpful. Probably convinced me just to come up on a Sunday.

One question, what’s “dibbing”?

I’ve had a Royal Racing one for the last three years. It’s the absolute mutts, best thing I ever bought.

SealSkinz have been disappointing for me.

I’m going to try and ride in ski gloves before I hit the button on a new purchase.

work hard on my fitness

I assumed we were walking the transitions 8O ?!

Also, are people camping / staying over, just going on the Sunday or commuting both days?

Bristol (and to a lesser extent Bath) born & bred, Nottingham educated and now live in Manchester.

All have their plus points.

Bristol in the summer (on a sunny day) is simply unbeatable. Lovely atmosphere (especially if, like me, you’re of a liberal persuasion).

Manchester is great fun – right on the door step of the Peaks (the Saturday morning train is a gem), the Lakes and North Wales. Also the city has a bit more of edge to it, a proper city if you know what I mean.

Also, if you have ambitions of owning your own home, it’s got to be Manchester

ETA: What do you do for a living? For me that would have a huge bearing on it.

@Davey sounds good.

I’ll be wearing a red carnation, a full face and goggles :D

I’ll join the stw loaders if I may. (is this an official team yet)?

*Dong* we are now an official team.

Ah, as if by magic. Cheers Davey & Darren. I’ll sign up now

It’s a tempter.

Can someone say some soothing words about the friendly atmosphere, great intro to endure racing etc.?

[NB. Yes, I am a massive wuss]

Hovering over the March Gisburn one.

Is it practice and race in the same day, or is it held over a weekend?

Can all loners unite under some sort of STW collective?

No excuses from me, just too bloody cold. Still thawing out from yesterday.

Will be back when my winter boots arrive.

Thanks Hindle Pie, the Bamford stop is best for Ladyblower isn’t it?

Ok, so I’m a man with a plan.

Can anyone recommend a loop around Marple / Glossop / Edale / Hope? Basically I need to be able to jump on the train from Manchester? The one around Monsal seems a bit far to go.

Because she hates me teaching her stuff?

Ha! No, because you described my wife!

Also, my gf HATES me trying to teach her anything that she doesn’t pick up quickly (which has resulted in a few incidents while trying to teach her how to snowboard!),

So, she’s having an affair!?

I’m liking the fact that you took round the red loop in Philips. You knob.

Ha, tell me about it! My internal idiot siren went off as soon as I went down the hill. But alas, it was too late!

Might hit the blues this weekend if it’s nice. Can you ride there from town on the canal?

Or something. I reckon you do need to start by admitting you were wrong before, you’ve listened, reflected and learnt, and that it’ll be different this time.

Yep, that exactly what I’ve done.

Given all the above, maybe January is not the best time to do this. A sunny day round a national trust estate via a few tow paths in early spring seems the way to go!

@legend that’s the dream!

Cheers everyone, recognise the red was a mistake. Tow paths sound the way to go (that one to Dunham Massey sounds like one to take a look at)

But then you called her “my Mrs”, and wrote “my bad”, so forget all that stuff above.

Nice to see someone’s remembered their ‘Judge people based on an innocuous forum post’ pills. Tricky to remember them, especially if you’re trying to remain at peak ass*ole….

Ride somewhere nice. Pleasant trails with good views, not too techy (if at all).

I’m all ears!

@cfinnimore

would it prying to ask which ones (venture capitalists)? And what was so bad about it?

Was this manager also an owner? In Leicester…?

For me it was working a meat packing factory, the shift was 4pm-11pm and involved packing crappy processed meat into 500g boxed. Oh yes, I smelled delightful.

A close second was nights at a shot blasting factory in Swindon. My car had no radio at the time and it was a 45 minute drive from Bristol. Coffee and an open window were my friend.

Neil Donoghue did one, in Spain I think. It was only about 40 seconds long, but I remember thinking YES, this is how all videos should be. The loud noises made it some much more relatable (and also a reminder of how hard they hit stuff!).

With music, it can lull you into the false perspective that yea, I could definitely do that!

Also agree on rucksack. I’ve got an Osprey one that I take everywhere.

Though I feel a bit of a gump wearing it, it annoys me more when people don’t carry tools / spares

Dropper post, no question.

I’ll tread lightly here, but I think people get a bit hung up on tyre choice; your ardents are fine.

There was some snow (enough for me to be tapping out of my tyres) on Jan 3, but it’s all gone now.
Very slushy up at mam tor, but no huge change there.

The wind meant I was pedalling down the rushup decent. Character building stuff.

Edit: sorry just realised you said roads not trials

I was there on Saturday. Apart from the wind (which was ridiculous) it was all pretty much fine. Jacobs ladder itself was a bit wet, but nothing silly.

I absolutely ****ing hate this time of year!

Initially it’s quite invigorating, if it’s not too cold and there some nice views to be had. But, yea, cleaning the bike is getting pretty bloody tiresome. Especially as my outside tap is broken so it’s a bucket of water job.

Going to get wind battered in the Peaks tomorrow. Probably the Edale loop.

Picking up a new (2nd hand) 29er tonight as well, so might have a pootle on that on Sunday.

It’s ok. Floors a bit slippy and the freezer cabinets can be hard to avoid, but it’s nice to treat yourself to a lasagne pizza at the end

I’m trying to do the climbing challenge, which seems a better measure for a mountain bike.

That’s not to say I’m faring any better on that. 767m down, 5,375m to go!