High Roller in mud ? Doesn’t work for me. Conti Barons my current mud favourite (on the best bike, the aforementioned WTBs on the hack).

She’s had children. The good Professor is avowedly childless and hence remaining beautiful (and wonderfully crazy).

I use the Velociraptors ‘cos I bought a load cheap years ago and they last forever. Actually not too bad in the mud if pumped up v hard.

This’ll be a slimemare, it’s rained everyday since sunday…

As you’ve just discovered, Gator skins are brilliant at anti-puncture but useless in the wet. IME changing the pressures won’t help.

They say 4-seasons are better but TBH I’d go as wide as your rims will allow in winter, 28mm with a bit of luck…

Specialized Roubaix tape v comfy…

They never seem to have a wide enough range. I’d want a 22/34, 34/20 and 46/11 equivalents…

Hey, Pompey’s OK. Saw many a good band at the Guildhall when I lived on the Island. And I now work in Luton, which is only crap compared with the rest of the south, If it was up north, people would say how great it was.

you gonna burn it or live in it ?

This started off OK, restored onto new system. Then I ran software update and that hung on the spinning wheel of death.

Just erased the HD and starting again.

This could be a long night…

Shouldn’t that stem have a boxing glove on the front of it ?

Have they fixed the problems with the displays ? We just took delivery of a new (replacement) imac today after the last display packed up…

Thanks.

Fingers crossed it goes well…

is your rim OK ? Check under the rim tape, I’ve had a crack under there cause this problem.

I found torics unstable on an MTB. I use tiny lensed glasses fixed very firmly to my head.

I found this problem went away when I started using a strap around the back of the head to firmly keep the specs in place.

Fixed for £5.

I hated running. Then I duffed my knee (in a freak turbo trainer accident) and couldn’t run. Missed it awfully. Two years on, now running again. Joy.

Phil Corley in Milton Keynes – 30 minute drive.

Seonded, cos that’s what mine is. You can put a bike in without taking off the wheels.

Or you can go to Morzine with wife, two dogs, bikes, spares, and virtually the kitchen sink…

Why retire just as you’re getting good at it ?

Good luck on the GNR itself, and enjoy.

Ensure you have a good local independent Merc specialist locally. You will need it.

67k ? Don’t you what the new ones are like, mine’s coming up to 200k…

There’s a good guy in charge of the trails now

Is it worth coming back then ? It was brilliant around 2001-3, when the MBR was new and the Karrimor had been extended. Could not believe how it had been ruined.

I knew the Roberts’ had done the trails and loved the old cafe. If they’ve the same vibe at their guest house I’d love to come back.

I wouldn’t hesitate for a classic W123/124 if parts are easily available.

I’ve been running an old W124 diesel for the last 4 years. Cheap it is not. About £3k a year parts and labour.

However, when it’s running it is such a relaxing drive that I persevere. Lovely drive down to Morzine this year, packed to the gunnels.

Have the 2006-7 ‘improvements’ deteriorated enough to make it worth riding again ? Went from being a regular to not going for six years after the disastrous make-over.

You been up the Eiffel Tower and seen the stairs to the top that were used before the lifts were installed ? Horrifying.

RD, your review was most interesting. Did you like the Tiagra levers ? I couldn’t tell from the review.

To answer the question, stable as in less jittery front end over rougher terrain, down hills etc. More ‘on rails’ rather than ‘flickable’. That probably equates to slower handling.

Hmm, stuff on the internet suggests the Ruby is more stable. That will probably be the clincher (together with it being more pink !)

woburn as its 5 mins away

Riding fantastic this afternoon. Most enjoyable ride of the year, including the 2 weeks in Morzine ! Enjoy.

Sheep here too. Six months in really not getting on with it. Only went from 685 to 725 but feels horrid. XC use mainly but hated it in Morzine too. Maybe I’m too old to change…

I had a bulgy through the threads Conti recently. No idea why.

Eat more. If baby wakes you in the night, scarf down a snack whilst you’re sorting it.

still have those mahoosive pockets on the back

That’s the reason I love ’em.

Feeling a bit jey for them lasting so long though.

(checks shorts) no green fabric that I can see. The shorts were bought in 2010 but the way these things go they have been 2011 versions. Or 2009. I really wouldn’t know how to tell.

OK, get the point. Really bored by the second video after about 20 seconds, wheras the first one I’m still working out how they fiddled it.

where there’s money there’s cheating. I believe Marianne Vos said something to the effect that women’s racing is pretty clean because no-one makes enough to afford the drugs ! This makes the whole thing difficult because the women’s races are often brilliant and deserve more coverage, and they deserve more money.

Did a charity ride to Rome couple of years ago. 12 of us.

About half used Gator Skins, none of whom had punctures. Everyone else did. Lots.

However, my rear tyre was completely worn out after the 1250 miles and I’m not impressed by the grip. So it depends on what you value.

Hmm, I really haven’t understood this then at the most basic level. What’s the longest folk will put up with ?

If I was Scottish I’d vote for it. I’d prefer it if they vote no, and the SNP field candidates in England, as I like their policies much better than any of the English parties.

Good thing. Flush out the damage. Go gentle so you don’t use the type 2 fibres (which I hope you were hitting).

IMO there should be a KnOM, i.e. Knave of the Mountain for the slowest. I think I currently hold one KOM and one KnOM.