It’s bound to be dry, as although I’ll be there, I’m not racing 🙁

I’ll hopefully get lots of good photos and video footage instead, however.

To paraphrase someone, “those who want peace a dry race, prepare for war mud”

I think it was only the SITS course which was weather-proofed with stone chippings in places. I believe the landowner at Eastnor wasn’t keen to have similar work done there.

Last year’s course was 8.5 miles with around 385m of climbing per lap, so I’d expect much the same in 2009.

Geax Barro Race? 380g per tyre in the folding version, super quick on road even compared to my fast rolling Crossmarks, and OK offroad as lng as it’s bone dry hardpack.

And are now trying to rebuild it under the new owners with a revised QC process and 3 year warranty (I believe) on 2009 forks…

I wish them luck as my 2006 MX Comps and 2005 Marathon Race have been great.

Didn’t they only outsource the production of their lower end forks to SR/Suntour though, or was it for the entire range?

As Chipps says, last year’s course was two large climbs and descents at the beginning of the lap, then smaller stuff later on. I think it was around 385m of climbing per 8.5 mile lap in 2008 🙂

I can’t see any course details for 2009 yet but they should be out soon….

In addition to what others have said, try some of the coffee shops for ‘fika’ around Slottskogen, as they do a great selection of cakes, pastries etc. and most seem to have a nice relaxed atmosphere.

Have a look at the Göta älv river, and the ships moored in the harbour if the weather’s nice.

Göteborg is great – you’ll like it 🙂

Having broken mine last summer and had it pinned, I agree with stuartie_c.

DON’T rush the recovery, keep the plaster on for as long as the surgeon/physio recommends, do the exercises etc. Being able to get back on the bike faster than recommended is not a good swap for all the potential problems if you do so….

I missed 6 months of biking, but it seems worth it as the wrist’s now fine, with no pain, and has a good range of movement.

SRAM Racing Grips in 60mm/110mm/130mm width depending on how large your hands are….

(Depending on tyre choice)

24.33lbs (11.06kg) on the digital shop scales

Inbred, Marzocchi Marathon Race 80mm, XC717/Hope Mono/DT Revolution wheels, SRAM Attack/LX/XT gears, Stylo chainset, V-brakes, SLR XC saddle etc….

Yes, I’ve got a treasured photo of Sophie Brookes and JMC at the top of the NEMBA Hamsterley DH in 1993, resplendent in matching MBUK/Salsa kit 🙂

I really should get a high res scan of it sometime…

Jason was a hero of mine when I started biking, especially as a fellow north-easterner.

*reads article*

A second vote of support for the plastics team at Chelsea & Westminster hospital, who did an amazing job when I fractured my scaphoid while biking last summer. An excellent hospital and a credit to the NHS 🙂

Mountain Mayhem, 2008.

Having been lucky enough to miss the worst of the mud in the middle of the night, I went out at around 5:30am in the early sunshine on a fast drying course, and was really enjoying myself.

Approaching the entrance to ‘Crazy Coppice’ wood however, any riding skill I once had deserted me completely. Too sleepy to remember my brand new cleats, I ran out of grip, failed miserably while trying to unclip and landed elbow first on possibly the largest, pointiest rock on the entire course, still clipped in.

One cut to the arm all the way down to the tendon, a lot of blood, a ride with the medical team down to the arena and 18 stitches later, I returned to my bemused team who wondered why on earth my lap had taken so long and was promptly relegated to pit bitch for the rest of the race.

As I understand it, the main legacy from 2012 in MTB terms will be the permanent MTB XC course at the main Games site, which will run around the velodrome and under the A12, and act as a replacement for the old Eastway venue.

There will also be a legacy MTB XC facility at Hog Hill with Redbridge Borough Council looking after the permament course there, I’m pretty certain.

Let’s hope there’s one in Essex too, mind you.

2.1″ eXception Crossmarks are claimed by Maxxis to be 530g each but mine came up around 500g. Seconded that they’re a genuine 2.1″ due to a claimed ETRTO size of 52-559 i.e. they’re around 52mm wide.

Muddypuddle – I won’t be able to comment on 2009’s event, but I worked as an XC/4X/DH marshall from 2005-2008 and had a great time. As long as you don’t mind getting up super early and can cope with mosquitoes if it’s not windy, it’s well worth doing 🙂

Check out the new Marzocchi warranty approach for 2009 if you’re wavering.

I can’t find the link but believe the 2009 forks have a 3 year warranty from Windwave….

If it’s http://www.moosecycles.com, I can’t vouch for their mail order, but the shop is great.

Axle to crown length is the key measurement here, I believe. You should be able to find this on most fork manufacturer’s websites, but I’m unsure if Fox will list that length for a modified fork.

One other thing, can anyone recommend which ones to go for?

Have a look at some of the XTX Horn or Smica lightweight ones – around 58g a pair, and £20 or less.

The weight difference between the two is minimal according to http://www.sram.com/en/srammountain/cassettes/9speed/index.php

If your set on Ceramic bearings get them from Enduro – those are some damn fine bearings.

Thanks Offroading – I take you mean the CH 6001 LLB bearings, from http://www.endurobearings.com/products/enduro_bearings.html?

If so, where can I get them in 6001 2rs as BETD don’t seem to do them in that size in ceramic, but only in steel?

IF there anything like the bottom bracket bearings i wouldn’t bother. There’s another review on bike radar from a group test saying theres only lasted one ride

Aah but I was hoping that the existing, so far very effective, Hope seals on the hubs would prevent that happening. Wouldn’t they?!

Like most other STWers, I also read the old threads on various Superstar products, but how wrong can one go with ceramic bearing replacement kits?

The original bearings are fine for the moment. I was merely looking at potential upgrades.

Would ceramic bearing make much of a difference to the existing steel ones?

Am I right in thinking that the £35 was for a complete set (of 2) for the front hub, and the £70 for a complete set (of 4) for the rear hub?

If you’re after a factory wheelset then Mavic CrossMax SLR or Roval Controle SL are both about the same (1250-ish grams the pair) and both about £600!

[pedantry]The 2009 Crossmax SLR is 1520g according to
Mavic – http://www.mavic.com/mtb/products/crossmax-slr-disc.996414.1.aspx

[/pedantry]

Also have a look at the Hope XC3 which someone on STW weighed at 1508g w/out rotors, I think. Much cheaper than Crossmaxes too…

Yes, I think we’ll be there as a team again. Let’s hope the 60 tonnes of chippings work well – they should be bedded in OK after a combination of EnduroPlus, the Thunder Run etc. at Catton 🙂

Yes – “Los Burros Voladores”

As will Los Burros Voladores 🙂

In fact, there is more oil off the east coast of Canada, than in all the other countries of the Arab world. The only problem is that the vast majority of it is locked up in sand and it’s extremely energy intensive (and therefore costly) to extract it.

And it would involve an extraction process which emits incredible amounts of CO2 and pollutants, I think.

If I remember rightly, it was fairly serious last year, as some Elite and Expert men who couldn’t find a female team mate to be able to enter Expert Mixed instead raced as all male teams in Open Men.

For Elite and Expert racers, Sport is not available as a class at Mayhem, so it’s either Expert Mixed or Open, I think.

Well, the form’s now out 🙂

*begins filling it in*

Good luck…..

I’m hoping to get the form shortly, PC issues permitting, and then will post it ASAP on Monday morning. That worked last year so I hope it will again…. *crosses fingers*

Tomorrow night, I think. (At least I hope so) It opened at midnight on the 29th last year, which then meant very late Fri night and into Saturday morning, so it should be very late Sat night and into Sunday morning this year.

Wasn’t it one of those rubber soap holders for on a sink? I always wanted some Racing Porcupines though 🙂

Another for 1989, with an Emmelle Corniche in a charming flourescent green/orange two tone paintjob 🙂 It was good enough to race XC, DH and Dual Slalom on though!

steve_b77 – are you sure? Maxxis’ website lists the 2.1″ eXCeption at 510g and the 2.35″ (non-eXCeption) at 790g…..

Granted, my Crossmark eXCeptions came in well under their claimed 530g weight.

Continental Mountain King ProTection 2.2″, 580g?
Continental Speed King ProTection 2.3″, 580g?

B is for Bontrager

They’re a good budget pedal, the MXR, but mine eventually died and I’ve now got the slightly heavier but rebuildable C.

*slight thread hijack*

So what about suspension fork servicing in London? Any recommendations where I should take my Marzocchi MX Comp Airs?

I’ve been given quotes from Evans and Moose, and wondering what other options there are, or if I should send them off.

Thanks..

I’ve no idea on camping facilities as I stayed in Fort William proper, but I had a great time there at the 2005-2008 World Cups. Good atmosphere, plenty of spectators, and reasonable night life in Fort William in the evenings too.

I don’t know how much impact the loss of the XC races for 2009 will have though.

Alternatively try http://www.vcgraphix.com which seems to get good reviews. I’ve just ordered some stickers for friends so will hopefully soon see how they turn out.