It’s a nice trail RD. Mick Arms showed me that one.

I saw some pretty big jumps on some of the DH tracks that I wouldn’t attempt on a big bike, let alone a HT. I’d have a bit more of an explore if I were you.

Dunno about the orange paint. I heard that the “Enduro” course (as used for the SSEC race) was to be waymarked at some point, perhaps it’s the beginings of that?
I’ll be down there in a few weeks to have another nose round, myself.

I’m sure one of the FOD regulars’ll know.

Two songs that stand out massively from my 90s “raving” days.

Love the SUF stuff too. Going to be seeing Chris Liberator and D.A.V.E. the Drummer again at Bearded Theory festival in May! 😀

I’ve cracked two Raleigh Dyna-Tech road frames (one chainstay, one downtube by gear-lever bosses)and one Dyna-Tech MTB chainstay. They were utter crap. I worked in a bike shop at the time and most of the frames we sold came back broken at some point.
I had a Klein Rascal that I cracked under the head / downtube join and a Klein Pulse Pro (Trek) that cracked at the seat tube / chainstay junction. (Fair wear and tear on the Pulse though I reckon. It’d had a hard life and lasted well over 10 years.)
Snapped a Raceface Turbine crank arm too.
No pics, I’m afraid.

I only buy Singletrack now. It’s the only bike mag I find suits my cycling interests and I still think it’s always a good read.

Used to buy MBR, What MTB and the odd MBUK and occasional music magazine, but decided it was a waste of money as most of the time I only read the odd article.

SWEET! 😀

I’m amazed that anyone can clean the zig-zags up Skiddaw. 😯
I was reasonably fit (not like when I used to race, though,)when I tried it some years ago and am pretty handy climbing technique-wise, but I was WAY off the mark!!!

I saw it a while back and enjoyed it a lot. I was expecting it to be awful, from what I’d heard.

I was set on getting a titanium wedding ring, but I tried a few and some gold ones and much preferred the heavier feel of the gold rings. Felt like you were getting something a bit more substantial for your money, LOL! – more like a wedding ring than a fashion ring.
Went for a plain white gold court-type band in the end.

10 years, eh?
I remember going for a ride on the Long Mynd and there was miles of fencing on the top to help stop spreading f&m.
Stupidly, I’d forgot about it before setting off and the planned ride had to be altered somewhat!

franki, listen to his playing on the cream albums, hardly blues is it?
listen to his playing on john Mayall and the bluebreakers hardly average is it. listen to the track he did with aretha franklin (ain’t no way), that is not an average guitar player.

Perhaps I was a little harsh, he’s good, but I’ve never felt he had the genius of Hendrix or Jeff Beck, although many obviously do – hence thinking he’s overrated. I’ve never been awestruck or moved by his music.

Warton wrote:

hahahaha, what utter rubbish.

I think not.
Feel free to provide evidence to the contrary! 😉

I’ve got to agree with Eric Clapton.
Just a competent bluesy guitarist, of which there are thousands.
Don’t understand the fuss about him at all. Good – yes, God – ‘fraid not!

Nice pics Rich. I toyed with the idea of SSing the Mynd a while ago, but reckoned I’d have been walking most of the climbs! Hats off to you Sir!

Another clippered by the wife guy here, I’m afraid.
Before that I had long hair, so I didn’t spend much money on haircuts then either tbh.

I quite like the Roger Moore films, especially Live & Let Die.

Don’t really like anything from Tim Dalton onwards tbh. They all fall into the “bigger is better” trap, when it comes to action and effects.
It’s o.k. to slightly push the boundaries of what’s believable, but I lose interest as soon as it goes OTT. The humour doen’t work now either imho, as the films seem to take themselves a bit too seriously.

Tim wrote:

Trail centres allow you to turn off your brain a bit and just have fun without worrying about routes or permissions or walkers/horses.

Not the case at my local "trail centre". You get dog walkers on the trails, families, joggers the lot!

Top-notch entertainment!
Thanks a lot! 🙂

I enjoy riding trail centers and natural trails, but the thing that's starting to put me off centers a fair bit, is how busy they are. I don't want noise and crowds when I'm out on the bike and yobs skidding and pulling wheelies and endos all over the car park, getting on peoples' tits. I only really get to ride on a Sunday, so can't generally go at quieter times.
The upside is that non-manmade trails seem to be getting a bit quieter these days.

I don't think it's particularly tough.
It feels harder work to get round than the length and elevation would suggest for some reason, but technically it's fairly tame – the only real danger as I see it, is taking the descents too fast and getting caught out.

I used to love their show. As people have already said – work stopped for some of their regular items.
It was also great to hear Radio 1 DJs who actually admitted to not liking some of the crap they were forced to play!

Hard to say…Imagica by Clive Barker is certainly up there for me and I guess I'd have to include The Lord Of The Rings.

Nice! :o)

Don't have much of a problem with it tbh.
I'm nowhere near as fit as I used to be, but I just climb slower – very rare that I have to get off. You just get used to it over the years, I guess.

My first MTB was a Diamondback Ascent EX 1988. OK apart from the chainstay mounted U-brake.
First MTB I got excited about was an orange and grey Marin Pine Mountain (just before they started that textured paint)I saw at a smell race event in Devon. It looked the business. :o)

I can see windows from here, but none that look outside the building. :o(

RIP Laurent. :o(

I've run XT hubs for years now and IME they give no bother.
The freehub could last a bit longer, but in the 7 years I've had my current HT, I've replaced one set of rear bearings and never touched the front hub at all.

Didn't think last night's was quite as good as the first one, but it was still great TV.

Not convinced the Special Products stuff was much cop tbh.
I worked in a bike shop at the time of the Dyna-tech frames and even bought a road frame myself – after a visit to their factory and being convinced they new what they were doing.
I would wager that every single Dyna-tech frame we sold came back to us broken, both road and mtb. (My family broke one of each plus both their warranty replacements.)
The chainstays would go in the main or, downtubes split by the gear lever bosses on road bikes.
Sorry state of affairs.
I guess that's why they ditched the name (and bonding process,) and started M-Trax.

I think when the conditions are right and you're in tip-top fitness with honed skills (and blessed with a great deal of luck) it can be done.
The conditions under wheel vary so much though and can make it impossible.
I remember riding most of it back in the '90s, but last time I tried (2008) I never came even remotely close to cleaning it.

Veeeery nice. 😀

I like Facebook purely for the ease of contacting people all over the world that you have previously lost contact with or don't know well enough to have their phone numbers or e-mail.

I can live without the tedious apps and games and pointless drivel posted in status updates, but it's great for arranging and promoting events and passing information to like-minded individuals with the same interests.

I always found it hard to maintain concentration and would often settle down to a slightly lower pace than I should have and would have to keep reminding myself every so often :p

I used to do this too…

Big ring it all the way (wind up to speed until you can spin the gear and then sit down) and keep reminding yourself the pain will stop in a few minutes. 😉

I run a 2.1 Crossmark on the rear at the moment with a 2.1 ADvantage (my favourite front tyre by miles,)up front. I've not ridden a great variety of terrain with the Crossmark yet as it's quite new, mainly Cannock and the Wyre, but it's suprisingly capable and the extra speed is easy to notice. I bought it originally for a bit less rolling resistance on the SS, but now I'm using my Stiffee again I've put it on there and it holds up well enough to a bit more aggro than I gave the SS. Nicely controlled braking is the order of the day though, as it locks up and skids quite easily.
Wouldn't want it on in soft mud, but I've got a Medusa for that.

1) Yes
2) 39

rest assured he won't be seeing you!!

LOL! I was about to post something along those lines!

Knocked off twice.
Nudged but stayed on once.
Forced to crash, rather than go through rear window whilst been cut up on a left turn once.

I've ridden my Cove Stiffee on several enduros (Dyfi / Rough Ride etc) and I did the first two 24/12 races on it (the second one 12hr solo)plus big days in Wales, the Lake and Peak Districts. No big deal – just running regular 2.1 or 2.2 tyres.