Just had a new Inbred frame arrive this afternoon and when I build it up I'll do the same as I did with my current one i.e. just use cable ties instead.

Crinan Hotel.

Just worked out that my two lightest bikes are close to a ratio of 10:1 (I'm really fat at the moment!).

By the end of the week I should have a singlespeed together that's closer to 12:1

Definitely descender should give way if possible.

Just back in from a muddy Pentlands and can confirm the Fire XC Pro 1.8's on the Inbred seemed to find grip everywhere.

I used to use Conti Verts on all of my bikes and they were good for everything except wet roots. Currently my Epic is on Larssen TT's which, despite the way they look, seem to work well on everything. The Inbred is on Fire XC's and they also seem to work well in all conditions. The Soul is on Racing Ralphs which aren't great in wet conditions.

epicsteve – what sort of distances / terrain do you cover weekly on the tricross ?

Not an awful lot at the moment! We moved office and the new one is under 4 miles from home (only one was 10). Since we moved I've tended either to commute using one of my mountain bikes, detouring into the Pentlands on the way, or alternatively not commute by bike and instead go for a MTB ride in the morning or evenings.

Pentlands probably. Might also try and persuade SWMBO and my son to come out again.

The geared sport can take full mudguards and a rack – I've got them fitted to mine:

Despite not really encouraging new cyclists I'd say it was still worthwhile from our companies point of view (and not just because I got a bargain bike via the scheme!). It's seen as a nice perk for those employees that are cyclists, and it's also a useful tick in the box for our green credentials when responding to government tenders.

Can't comment directly on the comp as I've got the sport, however my bike came with mini-V's on it and I've not had any judder problems with those.

Our company signed up to it perhaps 18 months ago. Quite a few folks have bought bikes through the scheme. Nearly all of them were existing cyclists though and I'd have said there was perhaps only person who cycles to work reasonably regularily who didn't do so before the scheme was introduced. Even they were prompted to start cycling by an office move, not by the scheme.

Nearly everyone else who's bought bikes under the scheme either hasn't continued to cycle to work over the longer term or was already doing so. In the case of the latter folks then only a couple actually bought the bikes they'd then use to commute on. The rest either already had ratbikes for commuting on and continued to use them, with the scheme bikes being their "best" road bikes, or else bought mountain bikes.

We've also had one person who's now bought two bikes under the scheme. The first one they do use to commute on, the 2nd was a mountain bike.

So I'd have to say our experience is that, despite perhaps 15 people buying bikes under the scheme, I can't think of one case where it's introduced someone new to cycling to work and it's then stuck.

I've tried both. Helmet mount was definitely better but a bit more hassle so I've generally stuck with bar mount.

I don't know much about CX bikes either however when our company signed up to the bike-to-work scheme and I wanted a tourer/commuter a CX bike seemed to tick all the boxes. I ended up going with the Tricross Sport as it was under the £1000 that the scheme was limited to.

Given the choice I'd have preferred a bike with discs however the mini-V's that my bike came with are pretty good and I've not had any of the juddering issues that some have encountered.

On-road it's a tad slower than the road bike I had before it (Giant OCR3T) but still pretty quick. Off-road I've only done some gentle trails but it coped better than I'd expected. It's a different experience to even a rigid MTB but still fun.

I'm not entirely sure, there was a lot of pressure to convict someone.

Indeed there was, however the trial was held under intense media scrutiny in another country and by three of Scotlands senior judges. Other than an impression that he's a scapegoat I haven't heard anyone really dispute the evidence that convicted him. His appeal also found the same.

I don't think he was the only one involved, but I don't think there is any doubt he deserved to be convicted and – given the seriousness of the offence – that he should never have been released.

I'm the product of an English mother and a Scottish father so pretty unbiased on this issue. So far I'd have to say I've heard more anti-Scottish comments in England than I have anti-English in Scotland (barring joking around regarding football) – not that I've actually heard all that much of either.

I've lived in quite a few countries but even from that perspective I think Scotland, and Edinburgh in particular, is a great place to live.

Does anyone actually believe he was wrongly convicted, or just that he wasn't the only person involved?

I find I tend not to particularily look at who made the frame if I pass someone on another bike – more what forks, tyres, brakes etc. are fitted.

couldnt comment on a mini fitting, but a google search for images brings up a few pictures of the dropouts with a number of different brakes in there.

Just checked that. I've got Deore's that I could use if the Mini doesn't fit and I've seen a pic of those fitted ok.

Mine will be getting a Hope Mini on the back, using an 160mm disk – I take it that should fit?

I'm HOPING to order a slot dropout inbred frame this weekend (in 18" flavour)

I ordered one this morning (same size) so there might only be one left now.

On-One – forum lurking middle aged IT geek.

I take it we've met?

Also noted some other bargains on their. Hilleberg Akto tent listed for £200 (usually is £350) – very tempted but SWMBO would not be pleased if I bought yet another tent.

kennyp – the Nail Trail is pretty boggy at the moment up the top section, however you can extend it by riding parallel to the road heading W from the startpoint as there's some singletrack all the way through the forest, then taking a right and following another tree line. This option is drier as it is used less, but has a few fences that breaks it up unfortunately. It's not as flowy but makes for an alternative.

I like that way – the initial singletrack beside the road is flowing then there are some trickier, rooty bits later on. Closer to Balerno there are some more flowing & faster bits again. I've never actually met anyone else riding in there (just the odd dog-walker etc) except when I was taking mtbscotland rides through there – and even then perhaps only 2 or 3 times.

Might go up there tomorrow morning.

There's a huge piece oh singletrack we call the Nail Trail that goes from near Red Moss down to the middle of Balerno. The gradient is very gentle (you have to pedal the whole way) but it's very tight and twisty through the trees and goes on for ever.

Haven't ridden that for ages – how overgrown is it at the moment?

There's a good wee descent off the top of Bells Hill.

Which way? Down to Maidens Cleugh or to the west towards Black Springs?

Just back in from a quick spin in the Pentlands this evening – it's quite muddy in places at the moment. The singletrack east of the track from the Maidens Cleugh path to the top of the Currie road was particularily so.

I built my son a bike based on a 14" trials frame, 26" wheels and 170mm crankswhen he outgrew the 20" wheeled Hotrock he had previously. Much smaller than him (he's a tad over 5' now) and I don't think it would have worked well though. Using 26" wheels meant I could use bits I already had lying around so the only thing I actually had to buy for it was the frame (the cranks were originally meant to go on a bike for my wife).

He loves the bike as it's much lighter than any of his friends and has some good kit on it – XT crank, mechs and shifters, disk brakes etc.

Specialized Tricross Sport.

The only munro I've biked up was Mount Keen. Even for me that was mostly rideable on the way up (with a bit of pushing on the steepest section, climbing onto the plateau) – someone fitter (i.e. everyone) could well be able to ride all of it except the final summit bit.

Tremendous fun as a descent. It probably took me the best part of 2 hours from car-park to summit, but perhaps only 20 minutes or so on the way down.

Post something up on mtbscotland.net if you're looking for Edinburgh folk to ride with.

The mtbscotland folks organise quite a few rides however I think it's fairly rare for them to ride up in the Pentlands nowadays.

epicsteve did i see you and company at the foot of the red road (dreghorn end) last night?

I was on a white charge wearing a very bright Kona top, almost fell off into a deep puddle in front of you?

Wouldn't have been us. We stayed in the area around Thriepmuir and Harlaw, and the only person I saw falling off or close to falling off last night was my son – several times. Got most of them on film as well.

There seemed to be quite a few other groups up there last night – we maybe saw 4 or 5.

I'll be up there at some point tonight as well – not sure when and where though. I'll either be on a black Epic or, more likely, a grey Cotic Soul.

I live in Balerno so haven't really explored the east end of the Pentlands either.

I've not been up Black Hill for at least a year but will continue to avoid it if it's chewed up at the moment.

My sons 20" Specialized seemed to be a fair bit lighter than the cheaper kids bikes, but still heavier than my bikes. It was bombproof though.

It was also fairly capable off road.

Hideous

Black Hill is probably the best descent in the Pentlands, although it'll be a little soft at the moment.

The track running down to Thriepmuir from the gate west of Hare Hill is also pretty good.

Scotland is full of fat, miserable bastards

When did we meet?

Nice ride out in the Pentlands last night though – even managed to persuade my wife and son to come out as well.

Everyone's stacked it while doing a wheelie in front of a group of onlookers havent they?

No – but only 'cause I can't wheelie.

Worst I've done so far was on a family ride with the wife and kids. We get to a rutted section so I tell them I'll take the lead and show them how to ride it. Of course I binned it almost immediately, to howls of laughter. Everyone else managed to ride it no problem as well.

Also binned it good and proper while riding across the outflow from one of the Pentlands reservoirs, not realising just how slippery the cobbles were under a couple of inches of water. Lots of walkers about at the time as well who appeared to enjoy the spectacle of me sliding the rest of the way across on my arse.

i do like the spesh tricross bike.think it's about £1100!!!

Mine is the cheap one (£750 I think) 'cause it needed to be under £1K for the bike-to-work scheme.

In the summer the best option is to get up early and get the A9 done before it gets busy. It's horrible otherwise. Even on the motorbike it's pretty tedious.