The aptly named XCracer.com 29ers raced 29ers this season in the BMBS national events and seemed to do pretty well. There weren't many other big wheeled bikes on the start line apart from them however.

@ starseven

There are loads of 600mm flat bar manufacturers, for example RaceFace, FSA, Truvativ, ControlTech, KCNC – take your pick in either 25.4mm or 31.8mm…..

KCNC Fly Ride or SC Wing?
http://clee-cycles.co.uk/cc/catalog/index.php/cPath/27_66?osCsid=65a2dddf41aa092cff9ca577c3e13165

Good film and an interesting subject matter.

As others have pointed out, it's not just cycling for transport or competitively where teenage girls seem less likely to take part in the UK, but also tennis and quite probably many other sports.

Are you sure some of those girls are from Darlington? The usual local accent seems to have disappeared in that case….

@bunnerscj

The Lockblock works fine at keeping it stable when mounted on my helmet's central section, but when mates have borrowed the L2D, it doesn't fit their helmet designs so well.

[thread hijack]

@Chipps

I'm not sure if it's something I'm doing wrong, but I can't ever seem to vote on the polls, as an error message tells me I've 'already voted' for each poll, when I haven't.

[/thread hijack]

I'm happy enough with my L2D Q5, especially with decent 2700 mah rechargeable batteries.

However, no doubt others will be along soon to recommend the latest torches which are apparently even better.

Who makes duo chainset bar fsa and middleburn.

665g KCNC K-Type XC1 Compact
668g FRM CU2 M18
754g SRAM XX

None of the above are particularly cheap, mind you.

Just Riding Along has a list of normal, non-UST tyres by manufacturer and whether they recommend that brand for tubeless use or not, at:

http://www.justridingalong.com/content.php?pid=529

The slickshift chainrings are different because they have ramps and pins to aid shifting, not because of the finish on the rings themselves, I think.

http://www.middleburn.co.uk/chainrings_mtb.php

The below site used to have a calendar of 12/24h races across Europe:
http://www.24hpassion.it/index.php?lang=en

I've not done either myself, but how about:
http://www.24hfinale.com/
http://www.24doce.com/nueva/index.php

I saw that at Mountain Mayhem this year. I think the owner's from the North East?

@StratoBiker

ETRTO is an alternative way of measuring how wide the tyre is, using the same rim etc. I think each time.

It should be on the sidewall of the tyre, and read XX-559. For example, a 2.1" Crossmark is 52-559, i.e. 52mm wide, and a 1.8" Medusa is 44-559.

Thanks….

@bennyboy1

I don't suppoose you weighed the 1.8" Sauserwind prior to fitting it, did you?

Secondly, what size are they listed at on the sidewall in ETRTO terms?

They look like a good one to try out…..

I've also ripped RR's by looking at them the wrong way, stroking them with a newborn kitten and breathing too hard close to them.

Hahaha! Love it….

I haven't used them for a while but, apart from not being CRC fast, they were absolutely fine.

So what about the BNP party members (including their publicity director)who claimed that Ashley Cole is not "ethnically British" and that he "came to this country" even though the footballer in question was born in London?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/oct/11/bbc-bnp-ashley-cole-comment-row

I couldn't say what's as good/better as I haven't used any of the below, but how about one of these, with claimed weights as follows:

Truvativ Noir, 785g? (triple)
SRAM XX, 754g? (double)
FRM CU2 M18, 668g? (double)

There's also the Middleburn Duo option, which is around 775g including a BB, I think….

What about SRAM's 8sp shifters which work with 2:1 cable pull i.e. Shimano mechs?

You've a choice of trigger:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=13206

… or Gripshift:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=13208

The above might be cheaper elsewhere, mind you – I got a bargain pair of 8sp Attack Gripshift from Germany – http://www.bike24.com maybe?

Well the official website at http://www.osmountainmayhem.co.uk/ is still stating that "as always the entry from will be out on midnight 28th of February".

The aluminium NRS or the carbon one?

If the latter, the frame measurements quoted were using a fork with a 445mm axle to crown length, I think. For comparison, I believe the latest Rockshox SiD 80mm is 453mm from axle to crown, and the 100mm version is 473mm, so I suspect a 120mm or 140mm fork would have an axle to crown length quite a bit longer than the bike was designed for…

cxi

Yes, it is integrated, unfortunately, as I've just found out. Damn.

The minimum graphics card spec for one game I'm interested in is an ATI Radeon X1550 256mb, but I'm not sure how much better this is than my existing (and non-replaceable) Radeon X1150 256mb card. I might try it anyway…..

I'm trying to find specs for the X1150 on AMD's website now but without success.

It's too late now but I wish I'd known more when choosing the laptop spec. Still, I'll know better for next time….

Maxxis Crossmarks in the 2.1", eXCeption flavour? Claimed weight of 530g but tend to come in around 490g, fast rolling, great for most conditions except really muddy when the front will clog and get quite sketchy.

I'll be there, still hobbling around on crutches months after knee surgery, and pit bitching for 'The Flying Donkeys'.

Pitching up Fri afternoon in the quiet bit, with no bike for obvious reasons but spare tyres for team mates comprising Maxxis Medusa eXCeption 1.8", Geax Argo 2.0" and Geax Barro Race 2.0". I'll be in a blue tent and beer choice will depend on what mood I'm in at the supermarket….

Yet another vote for Maxxis Medusa in the 1.8" eXCeption version.

Other skinny mud tyres not mentioned above, though I don't know how good they are:

Geax Barro Mud 1.7"
Vredestein Bull Lock 1.8"
Geax Gato 1.9"

See the Twentyfour12 threads/official forum here – http://www.xcracer.com/forum.php?pid=80&fp=viewforum&id=6

Hi

It looks like the place has been taken, I'm afraid, but if that changes, I'll let you know.

Thanks, Eldrik

Thanks – I know the old Marzocchis are great as I have some myself, but I suspect he would prefer a new fork all the same.

I'll ask him re: secondhand ones too however.

Anything else I should be considering in addition to the forks mentioned above, whether new or secondhand, and are STWers aware of any cheaper prices than above?

Has the associated cheque been cashed? If so, you should be in. You may have received a confirmation email too.

Entry packs don't tend to be sent out until a week or so before the event.

En andra röst för Fort William här! 'The Witches Trail' är jätte god, tycker jag.

@ couch_potato – "Men de som interessera sig så jattemycket av den har thread ar ju typiska engelskmannen eller hur?" Precis!

Lycka till!

corroded – I agree, the Oakenfold Goa Mix from December 1994 is still amazing sounding now. Picked it up on double CD in the early 2000s and it still gets played regularly 🙂

The OP could also check out Sander Kleinenberg – perhaps not pure trance again and more on a progressive tip, but good nonetheless….

I'm beginning to realise quite how much I love turn of the century house/progressive house…..

Another vote for Global Underground compilations (particularly early 2000s vintage) and/or Sasha and Digweed. I'd agree they're not probably not entirely 'trance' but excellent nonetheless.

rOcKeTdOg – there was a : missing from the http://

Try this – http://www.flickr.com/photos/s_perrotin/sets/72157620893278183/

Seb – you've managed what every other photographer I've checked did not – to get photos of my elusive team mates 🙂 Thanks!

I’d definitely use a low pressure pump if you can buy or borrow one. It’s so difficult to get the correct settings otherwise.

My Marathon Race lose air too once the pump is disconnected, but it should be possible to work out how much air they lose each time, then deliberately add too much air so that when you remove the pump, the fork remains at the right pressure. E.g. I had to pump to 140psi to get the fork to remain at 90psi once the pump was removed.

Thanks.

Any other recommendations out there? If not, it looks like the Mag is the way to go.

I’m definitely taking it easy – am more concerned about maximising the chance of a full recovery than a fast recovery…

@ Ti29er
“For those who endured 2008:
Imagine how this course would have held up under 2008’s torrential rain.
Now tell me, hand on heart, that anything has really changed.

It might have less of the mud / grass / off-camber stuff but none of the sections that need all-weather proofing received any such detailing.”

I’m not sure the landowner will allow any all-weather proofing at Eastnor so Pat’s hands are relatively tied in that respect.

Paul Oldham was fastest overall, but I’m not sure of his time. Dan Lewis won the prize for the fastest climb by a non pro/expert, I think.

“Be prepared for the mudfest, the Three Counties Show is on this weekend – that’s another rain magnet for Malvern.”

Hence the warnings about huge traffic jams on the way to MM 🙁 Best get there early then….

Which SRAM front mech is it? If it’s an X9 mech, both the top pull and conventional versions come in 31.8 or 34.9, I think, so there is no spacer as you need to buy the right size.

@ Surfr

I can’t help you with the SS gear ratios but last year’s course had 385m of height gain per lap, mainly comprised of 2 hills in the first half of the lap.

@ glangri2

Another vote for the offcamber section after the switchback corner and 2 small drop offs. At its worst, it was lethally slippery to walk or try to ride.