No video footage as unfortunately on my own. It has made me think twice about cycling trails like Cwmcarn on my own in future though. Will be off the bike for a good month or so until the elbow heals but will do my best not to let it unnerve me getting back out there.

As good a job the helmet did I have a sneaky suspicion it was the visor that lacerated my top lip. I noticed it was hanging down on one side and is well covered in blood. Checking my gloves a few days later I noticed the palms were clean so I think the crash happened so fast I didn’t put my hands out…

Was this you?

Thankfully not – I’d build up a lot more speed before that drop. Or take the chicken run to the right 😳

Not sure what all the digs at the OP are in aid of other to make those digging feel superior.

He’s made a boo-boo, realised then posted for advice on an mtb forum.

Anyway:

Do your spacers come up slighly higher than the steer? You need this to get a bit of purchase.
This is it.

Ha cheers pp. Yep, spacer sits above the top of the steerer.

Ta for the useful link too wurzel. The Spesh 5 star top cap has an offset bolt which threw me a bit. I’ve managed to set the new stem up and eliminated the play but to be on the safe side have a standard top cap so will probably use that one instead. Think borisselbrus had it with the red herring comment 🙂

Find a LBS that is helpful and friendly that you can ask how or get them to show you Best of both worlds you learn and you get it fixed. Becoming more of an issue with some of these very specific manufacturers part selections bodges.

I second that and used to have one back when I lived at home but have yet to find one where I live now. I’m systematically working my way around them all though 🙂

Following the advice above it all seems sorted now.

Mosey – top cap seems okay to my eyes. Its the same as this one?

I’ve rotated it so the arm on the to the left of the Specialized text is pointing down my top tube towards the saddle. It seems to be covering the spacer beneath pretty comprehensively.

We have Peregrines nesting on our building in Central Cardiff. They’ve had 3 chicks this year so good going.

I actually got up close to one of the chicks earlier today when I helped the falconer ring a male chick that had fallen/flown from the nest. Stunning to see them up close and was quite surprised how large it was even though its approx 4-6 weeks old.

Right suitably reprimanded and full of beer I shall take heed of the above advice and try again 🙂

To be fair I always try most mechanical things myself first otherwise I’ll never learn and use the lbs as a last resort. Come to think of it, its quite clear to me now that the top cap should be tightened first, then the stem pinch bolts. I even googled the park tools step by step guide but had remembered it.. ahem the wrong way around.

Did you use another spesh stem? If not you need a standard top cap as I’m willing to reckon the original spesh stem as a shim and off centre top cap to give and extra half degree…

This does concern me as the Spesh top cap doesn’t seem too compatible with the new stem.

Do your spacers come up slighly higher than the steer? You need this to get a bit of purchase.

Yep. Steerer finishes about 3 mm below the spacer so at least I’ve got something right!

Never attempt to hold the bars with your arms crossed.

+ 1 and if you do don’t try to brake othwerwise you will definitely go OTB.

They have taken notice of the rotation arrows haven’t they?

Anyone know what the t shirt fit is like?

I’m approx 40″ chest so that would usually place me as a M but I know some brands (mainly fashion wear tbh) have a very skinny fit to em.

I use a cheapy chain cleaner that was from one of the Aldi weekly specials and fill it with Fenwicks. Works perfectly fine for me and I’ve not broken it yet but I do take care using it. Unlike my last one that I accidently trod on and shattered.

Just to clarify, my above post was in relation to this 🙂

So, how the hell does one find such a place in Cardiff? I’ve never been able to find decent car mechanics

Ride out on the taff trail to castell coch or the Garf or both
At least you have some gradient there and it adds a few miles to warm up / down

I ride there a few times a week and would happily show you the trails, mail me if your interested

frogleek@icloud.com

Will have to take you up on that frogleek, keen to garner a little local knowledge from others

Yep, you’re right Northwind. Brakes have gone back to being a little spongy so a bleed it is then. At least the pistons are nice a free…

http://www.baysidegarageltd.co.uk/

Used these chaps last time I got new tyres (via mytyres online) and they and was impressed by the service. They seemed very knowledgable.

Eating on your own or with company?

On my own then perhaps a Thai where they sit you down in rows. I’d feel less self conscious.

If a couple then I’m into Lebanese/Turkish at the momnent and fits in nicely with the warm weather. Plus you usually have nice sharing platters of olives, stuffed vine leaves, falafel etc

I started to notice that shops attached to service stations selling booze are becomming more frequent so no different really.

At first I thought this was tempting fate but really but come to think of it, I pass a few pubs on the way into work and I managed not to get smashed on the way in.

So I followed the above and pumped the rear brake until my forearm was bulging and I could feel the lever feel returing. Zip tied overnight again and felt fine on this mornings commute.

I didn’t fancy a bleed until I’ve got a workstand as bike maintenance leaning against a wall is always tricky.

Cheers all 🙂

Tick

I need to introduce more midweek riding from the City centre rather than relying on trail centres so following this with interest…

Edit: double post

My car is quite old (a Mazda 323) but it was expensive to me and I like to look after it and keep it clean.

My cleaning regime (say after a winter of road grime) goes something like this:

– wash/shampoo car to remove dirt
– give wheels a clean using wonder wheels or similar
– use a clay bar (Meguiars or similar) to remove any surface deposits on the paintwork.
– if any swirl marks or dull paint is noticed use a light cutting compound such as Meguiars to restore paintwork.
– apply polish to restore paintwork shine – I use Autoglym super resin polish
– I then finish with a wax to protect the bodywork. Currently using some Meguiars carnauba wax, which smells nice too.
– finally someone inevitably opens their car door into mine in the car park and I then think sod it, whats the point.

Would removing the reservoir cap on the lever and gently pumping the lever help to remove any air bubbles?

I tried the tying to the bars trick but that didn’t seem to do much. Wanted to avoid having to do a full bleed an all

We dressed my mate up as a lobster and the other 15 of us dressed as chefs. It was particularly amusing seeing 15 chefs chasing a lobster down bham New Street 🙂

Not me but a brown trouser moment I’m sure 😯

I suppose you’re going to tell me next that stopping mid-ride or mid-walk to nip one off behind a wall is unnatural too?

Well it would be if you were sat in the beer garden of a country pub 🙂

You piss on the lawn every morning ?!? Are you sure it’s just the cat that needs to see a psychologist ??

Thank you! I was wondering if someone else was going to pick up on that 😕

more on the beeb this morning
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-22602141

I just can’t get the image of Steve Buscemi out of my head for some reason…

Perhaps hoofing it past at 25mph irked them somewhat?

Cheers all. Presume they all display books the same and ease of reading text is the same across all 3?

In true STW style, looking at that pic I can’t work out whether the lawn’s been mowed recently

Is that a euphemism thepurist?

I have to say that despite being a big Rossi fan his move back to Yamaha has so far been a bit underwhelming to say the least.

I was expecting a few more closely fought tussles near the front of the pack ala v’s Lorenzo a couple of years back or Gibernau a few more years further back. Hopefully he can regain some form but I have a feeling like others above he may be past his best…

Strava? 8)

That sounds promising matt. It’s not made from e-vent, gortex or similar but I suppose I’m after the best of a few worlds and it seems reasonably priced from gooutdoors at 99 quid.

Atomic DT Stretch?

I was just looking at the standard Atomic – it seems to be the same jacket just in a less stretchy material it seems.

Take a pic of your old chap pressed tightly against the rim of the bottle.

Then after a few weeks simply e-mail the image around the office.

They’ll soon stop using it then.

Edit: Might not be the best idea with chilli sauce.

I’m contemplaing buying a new waterproof for the summer ahead. And we still have to have the central heating on as its v cold at night – its almost bloody June for christs sake 🙁

But fear not, I’m on hols 10th – 21st June of June and legend dicates that whenever we go away the uk experiences a heatwave.

Ta for that. Better than that there Apprentice.

Whatever you decide, I hope you get this Resolven soon.

I use the Exotic flats (similar to nano) from Carboncycles.

I’ve not had cause to service them yet but the lower bb on my full suspension means they get bashed a fair bit and they’ve held up well so far.

I much prefer them to my V8’s as they’re a wider platform and much thinner. I find they grip well too though I have used longer pins on the outside edge.

My motto in life… is, umm, more or less stolen from John McClane in Die Hard.

You will die.But I don’t think it will attributable to the change in stem length

That I can live with, so long as its not anytime soon. But will I notice it 🙂

On a more serious note is knocking 6 deg rise off on a new stem really going to stuff up my handling or is it negligible?

But you won’t die!

I think that’s the key issue here I wanted some reassurance on!