Yup – I had put my winter kit away – have pulled it out again :(

Ahh OK – yeah tiz long enough to be enjoyable rather than painful :)

Oopsy – I H – my mate did it yesterday – I usually do it every year – what were the off road conditions like on the Devon Dirt yesterday?

I only saw the hardcore riders out yesterday in winter gear ;)

I think the rain must of flippin followed us! I have never seen so many rainbows in one days ride!

http://lejog.foxyrider.co.uk/?p=1657

Yes – I have some very good “waterproof” jackets at home but we took showerproofs given the start of the ride was nice – oops :)

Damn – Dartmoor sounded like the wrong place to be Sunday!

We’ll I’ll be there with a mate on my Kinesis HT – might be a bit sloppy :)

Wow some constructive comments on here this morning – sheeesssh :roll:

I think you may have missed my rather sarcastic point there foxy

I’m having a dig about the word ‘awesome’

Sorry LOL – long day ;)

jota – whats to say that stem has not been over torqued – the bolts look a bit dinted to me?

If there is no room to overtake then I am afraid I hog the lane – I have a few sections of my commute that are like this and I have only ever had one beep (well several from one driver) – I slowed and then gave him the bird I am afraid as he then burned rubber only to hit the next jam – cock!

Defend your position – at least 1/3 of the way out from the kurb – works for me – when I forget I soon get reminded!

Use plenty of milk the first time and then go and do a decent ride – usually works for me :)

Any use?

http://www.cyclistno1.co.uk/features/maintenance/hope-pro-ii-rear-hub-service.htm

Cheers Johnathan – Just updated my article with your upgrade link :)

My Pro II SP’s have officially lasted 2 years but I am a regular fettler and usually overhaul my bike after every winter – The bearings are running rough but still spin well.

THX :)

Except that both BB’s are running cartridge bearings,

Yes I know that I wasn’t suggesting that I was suggesting that Shimano BB’s benefit from regular servicing and cleaning rather than Hope would likely , on the whole, last longer between breakdowns as they have stainless bearings.

The main difference between hop and Shimano BB’s (XT and below) is that they have Stainless bearings so don’t suffer from rusting so badly.

Use the closest socket you can but as above you can wreck the seals if your not careful:

http://www.cyclistno1.co.uk/features/maintenance/hope-pro-ii-rear-hub-service.htm

Phone them up and suggest sternly that they rebuild them :)

TBH I think of Shim vs Hope BB analogous to Shim cup n’cone to Hope Carts – Service them every 3-4 months vs leave for 2 years then replace?

I have Tech M4 and I love them – the Tech lever is a little finicky but Hopes CS sent me some new seals – I’d prob go for the Race XC TBH as the tech levers are quite big and mess with your shifter setup a little :)

Nope – My SS one has lasted many years so has my mates road one he uses for CX :)

Don’t ask you don’t get Cynic-al ;) _ have no hair to speak of and I can’t run anymore ;)

John O‘Groats to Lands End – JOGLE

Lands End to John O‘Groats – LEJOG

:)

I wouldn’t go that far VanMan ;) LOL

I would also fiddle with the pressures – also when you put a shock pump on it the volume @ 25psi is very small so when you take the pump off is often drops below 25psi when the excess is lost.

My article is here:

http://www.cyclistno1.co.uk/features/maintenance.htm

+1 :)

Ahh great – Many thanks Barn :) – Thanks dude – ++ Karma points :)

Its a std headset – There are 3 kinds.

Std – external cup like the hope one above
Semi-integrated (Zero-stack) – pushed in cups but recessed into head tube
Integrated – bearing just sit into head tube with just a top cap and crown race.

Hope have a good guide: http://www.hopetech.com/webtop/modules/_repository/documents/HOPEHEADSETS2011Web.pdf

Yes otherwise it would not say 1 1/8th only? as an OS head tube would take and 1.5″ and a 1 1/8″ :)

“Seatpost diameter: 31.6mm (wise to get a decent length one)

Front Mech: 34.9mm (Top Pull)

Bottom Bracket width: 73mm

Headset: 1.125″ only”

http://www.cotic.co.uk/product/BFe

Oh and I hear that there are 29er versions of the Black Panther Xtremes about to hit the market :)

Had good results from these people in the past:

http://www.owayo.com/cycling-custom-jerseys.htm

Me too – http://lejog.foxyrider.co.uk/?p=1308

I am reviewing them – they are vredestein black panther xtremes – XC tyre but with a bit more knobbles for more technical terrain so I believe :)

Cheers guys – yes I think she will do more than I could ever do ;)

WW – yes got some heli patches where the cables cross over – I purposely keep my cables a bit longer to stop rub so they go out the frame rather than along it if you see what I mean. I do need to get some frame protector rubber covers and will prob see where there are any other light rubs and put patches on them :)

This is a longtermer build for our online bike mag Cyclist No.1 (not an advert sorry) so more pics when I write up my first thoughts article in a few weeks :)

Ahh OK – I’d just make sure you have plenty of milk in there for starters and do the stans demo wheel wiggle with plenty of soap for about 10 mins – i.e. leave to settle but if you can’t see a leak in the tyre but it maybe you valve seating? pop it in a tray of water over the valve like you would a tube and see if you get any bubbles?

Cheers Luke – not willy waving – rode to work this morning – need to drop the bars and move saddle back and put another 20psi in the shock and then I think were sorted :)

Big arse! no ones sit bones are that wide – it just stops the flab from rolling down the sides? Maybe I’m wrong :oops:

riding it for 30 mins helps loads esp off road as long as it doesn’t go down too fast :)