7.30am Techno, 8.30pm Techno, and now and then lunchtime Techno.

Uh, oh….you don’t live next to me do you? 😯

I used Maxxis Highroller 2.1 f&r when I rode it.
They’re really skinny but quite grippy for the size. They were pretty well ideal.
Looking back, I would have sacrificed a bit of grip for an even faster rolling tyre.

No complaints here for Talk Talk.
Saved us a lot of money switching, is fast enough for our purposes and we’ve had no connection problems.
Their webmail is a bit clunky and sometimes goes down briefly, but not the internet.

That is class!!!

Heard the new album on Sunday.
Nothing wrong with it particularly, but it offers nothing new and hardly any tracks stand out IMHO. I don’t dislike it, but I’m not excited by it either tbh.
My brother who’s CD it was and who is a big Green Day fan, was a bit disappointed too.

It’s a day off work.
What’s not to like?!!!!

Yeah, it’s not too bad. I checked that drop out on the race course. Bit messy after that, but nothing to write home about.
Seen some of the forestry work first hand now. Lots of trails affected!
Good job there are some new ones appearing, eh?

Well, it would, wouldn’t it Neil! 😉

Had the 2.2s on for three or four rides, but found them so poor in mud – (I’d agree with the scary comments above! The front was gone straight from under me on several occasions, with no warning)even day to day stuff, that I ditched them for ADvantages, which have been awesome so far.

I imagine they’d be a good dry condition and trail-centre tyre – they roll pretty well and climb decently in dry / loose stuff, but there’s too much mud year round in the forests where I mainly ride, for them to be of much use to me.

I tried 2.2 MKs tubed on an orange 5 and was scared witless with it rear-wheel drifting on every muddy corner, because I’m not used to it

I ran some MKs for a little while last year – scared the carp out of me letting go of the front end without any warning, sold them pretty quick.

My io came with 2.2 tubed MKs. Nice and fast rolling in the dry but I found them particularly poor for muddy forest trails. Lost both wheels on countless occasions over the Wyre a while ago and the mud wasn’t even that bad. Replaced them with ADvantages which seem a much more capable all rounder and handled a much wetter ride in the same place with no nasty suprises.

Controversially, I didn’t much like the Cotic Soul I test rode.
I felt like all my weight was over the front and the steering felt caster-wheel-like. It felt great climbing, but all wrong pointing downhill.
I’m sure the position could have been altered to suit me better and/or I could grow to like it over time, but some bikes just feel “right” when you sit on them and this didn’t to me.

As already mentioned – nothing like the Dyfi.

It’s a bit of a love or hate route really.
I loved the RR, it’s proper “old skool” xc mountainbiking and a real challenge fitness-wise.
I can see that it wouldn’t appeal to thrill-seeking, rad dudes though. 😉

It’s the sort of event where super-fit roadies will run rings round you and the make up of the field tends to reflect that much more than the Dyfi.

Do it! You can always decide to do the shorter route at the split if you don’t fancy the big ‘un.

You could try these guys:
[list]http://www.rdfcc.org.uk/[/list]

When I did the long route a few years ago I’d say 99% was rideable if you had the fitness and skill.
I could have ridden all but a couple of short sections, but I did have to hop off on a couple of the climbs towards the end until the gradient eased, when painful twinges of cramp set in.
There were a lot of people pushing up climbs I rode, probably not much slower, but I’m really stubborn and won’t let a climb I think is doable beat me!

It’s not a ride I’d undertake lightly though. It really is a grueller and I went through several bad patches before picking up again and finishing quite strongly. I won’t be riding this year as I haven’t got the miles in my legs and it would probably kill me!

I’ve stayed at Woodlands a couple of times too.
Great site.

Cheers!
I’d heard nothing about this film and have been a massive Tolkien fan since I was a lad. 😀

I looked at the STW routes but as you say, the map is pretty awful. The one in the mag isn’t much better, as it’s quite small and I haven’t got the O.S. yet to peruse.
Was thinking of getting the Vertebrate Graphics guide and seeing what’s in there.

I think she’s got bags of songwriting talent and I’m not a fan of most chart music. Her songs are witty, a little bit naughty and catchy as hell.
Her singing is kind of cutesy sweet, but I’ll admit she hasn’t got a very strong voice and it looks like singing live is hard work and sometimes a bit shaky.

She’s also looking well-fit at the moment!

Thanks for that! 🙂

I’ve heard good things about Wickerman, Glasgowdan!

Cheers!
At the moment it looks like the first week in August. (O.k. it’s not that soon!)

Small festies are where it’s at. None of that money-grabbing commercial malarkey.

We’re off to Bearded Theory in Derbyshire.
Great line up of bands, plus superb acts in the dance tent.
Last year took the daughter to her first festival – Shamania psytrance festie in Lancashire. She loved it! 😀
Nozstock in Herefordshire looks good too.

Gone are the days when teenagers could happily frolic in the woods with their 10-inch Rambo sidearms. Did yours have a hollow shaft where you could keep a sewing kit to stitch up your wounds with?

Yup! 😳

Not me, mate. At a festie this weekend.

Not as soon as that Rich. 🙁
Pity, as I’d love to check out the SSUK!

Plain enough to me. Which bit do you not understand ?

The Welsh half? 😆

Love my Stiffee, or will do again, when it’s got some new forks in it. 😀

Must shamefacedly admit it’s mainly ridden in a mincing xc fashion ;o), but having cracked other frames, I bought it thinking that it could probably handle far more abuse than I could dish out.

It does encourage the hooligan element in me, however small!

Is it by the valve?
If so, let the tyre down, push the valve up into the tyre a bit, seat the bead and pull the valve back down.

If it’s not by the valve…beats me. 😕
Let the air out and whack it with your palms all the way round before re-inflating?

I lived near Bearwood for 26 years and never visited Franzl’s, even though I passed it daily to and from work.
Sounds like I was missing out!
Still not too far away though. Might make a trip over.

Bit of overkill for FYD eh, Alex? 😈

Sherwood Pines isn’t as good as Cannock in my opinion and again, is best ridden with local knowledge.

I wouldn’t rule Cannock out, providing you can meet up with someone who can put together a decent loop, taking in some secret singletrack. Alternatively, wait until Phase 2 of FTD is open and you should have enough waymarked trail to make the trip worthwhile to ride on your own.

Try Nant Yr Arian for sure, if you’ve not been before. It’s superb.

Some good stuff there already – notably (for me at any rate) the Sven Vath, FSOL, Thomas Heckmann and CJ Bolland tunes.

Some more monumental tracks for you:

Jeff Mills – The Bells
Dave Clarke – Red 2, Wisdom To The Wise
The Advent – Bad Boy
Plastikman – Spastik
Hallucinogen – LSD
Shakta – Silicon Trip
Lochi – London Acid City
Mathew Jonson – Symphony For The Apocalypse (New Age Revolution)

I snapped an old Raceface Turbine crank arm in almost the same place recently.
Scared the crap out of me when it went!

I take it that’s the one with your photo on then Rocketdog? 😛

They seem to be quite localised then.

I’ve never picked one up in all my years cycling, (Or doing anything outdoors for that matter,) mainly in the Midlands, Wales, Shropshire, The Peak and the odd jaunt to the Lakes.

Or have I just been lucky?

Don’t hold your breath!

Usually several months after the event.
(It’s not a race y’see… ;o))

take all the plastics off,

That was my first thought…

That was quick! Cheers!

Off on a bit of a tangent here, but rather than starting a new thread, what’s the deal with the £7 forest drive charge?
We may be camping up that way soon for a week. Does that mean every day you drive into the forest costs you another 7 sheets??? Could work out quite expensive!