it’s cheap for a reason.

Yeah, a lot of the items I’ve looked at in there are obviously seconds, with quite glaring faults.
Good for a bargain, but give it a good going over first.

I’ve just bought a steel framed ss after riding only aluminium HTs for the last 15 years or so.
I think I was put off by my early steel mtbs which were heavy and felt dead and lifeless and switched to alloy frames which I much preferred.

I must say though, that I’m really enjoying riding a modern steel frame. It certainly has a nice bit of “zing” in the ride and the angles are perfect for me.
Should have given it a go again sooner, I reckon.

I’ve had my Genesis io for a couple of months now and it’s ridiculously good fun for the money! Handling is spot-on. 🙂

Get well soon!
Those jumps caught a riding buddy of mine out too, but he got away with a few scrapes.

I’d delete it without a second thought.

Wyre Forest tomorrow.
Nowt Sunday.

Bonty ACX 2.2s are pretty cheap and a good all-rounder. I much prefer them to Fire XCs – especially in muddier conditions. Not very exciting or fashionable maybe, but I keep coming back to these as they work well for me.

Got some Conti Mountain King 2.2s on the SS, they roll really fast, but don’t dig in too well.

Trying 2.1 ADvantages on my HT. Seem great so far, but not had much use yet. Seem to offer near Highroller type traction but without the excessive drag.

I thought he was talking about the camber run…..they have dumped a load of fencing/barbed wire and gates at the end of it.

Yeah, that was there when I went over with Mick Arms the other day. Looked like they intend to fence off the bottom of the camber. 🙁
There was a load more to the right of the top of the concrete climb out of there too…

I’d never choose flat bars over drops on a bike for road use only.
You can brake and shift from the hoods while maintaining a fairly upright position for a good view in traffic, but still have the advantages of multiple positions on the bar. You don’t need the extra width of a flat bar either on the road.
Fair enough if you’ve a wrist problem that means drops are out, though!

Other than biking, music is my big obsession. A minute with no music playing is a minute wasted! 😉
I’m a CD junkie (Mainly techno / minimal, psytrance and chilled electronica).
I do a bit of DJing, but only really to amuse myself.

Mynydd Ednyfyd Country House Hotel (Criccieth)is superb.
It’s away from the road, a short walk from the town and has large grounds overlooking the sea. Food is excellent too.
We were married there last year. Classy but down to earth.

Mynydd Ednyfyd[/url]

I think a fatter front tyre is less easily deflected and knocked off-line rather than giving more control necessarily.

I prefer to run same size front and rear as anything else feels somehow unbalanced. Occasionally I’ll run a narrower rear for speediness or extreme mud.

Back in the day David Baker used to regularly kick butt for Raleigh racing with a fatter rear tyre than front, so some people must like it!

No probs Scruff!

Wheelies Direct.

Just got home and read the e-mail from Chipps about the pic I linked to in all innocence!

Thought I’d better set the record straight…
Apologies to anyone I offended – looked like a brown / cream Trek 29er to me!
Won’t be pulling a stunt like that again anytime soon… 😳

Do you have the multi-release cleats?
They unclip much more readily than the std ones, which should only release when you rotate your heels outwards.

I had a load of unplanned unclippings on steep climbs the weekend, but my cleats are worn out. Hope I can get the buggers off and not wreck (another) pair of shoes. 😉

Odd really.
Every other forum I use allow PMs.

Cannock Chase:

Skiddaw:

If you’re going to crash, you may as well make it a good ‘un! 😆
Get well soon mate!

130 miles on the road.

I wouldn’t have a clue how to gear a ss for the Rough Ride tbh.
The problem is, that most of it is either steep climbing or fast flat / DH sections.
A gear that would get me up most of the climbs would be useless for the rest of the ride.
I spent an awful lot of time in the granny ring when I rode the long route…
If you’re a hardened sser and don’t mind getting off a lot to push / carry, then perhaps just use your usual gearing.

That is a truly amazing photo SFB!

What a load of crap!
I played with Action Man, toy guns and model soldiers all through my childhood.
Never entered my head to join the army or shoot anyone.
Perhaps kids are more stupid nowadays.

A mate of mine some years ago, tried to stop three lads booting the hell out of a guy on the floor outside a nightclub.
Ended up losing most of his front teeth… 😥

It’s a difficult one really. Chances are, if some yobs are giving someone a beating, they probably enjoy a bit of a ruck and therefore would probably kick your ass quite easily if you interfered and weren’t a bit of a hard case yourself.
What’s the point of two people ending up in A&E?
On the other hand, if you were the poor bloke on the receiving end, you’d certainly appreciate some help and not onlookers walking on by.

There’s the whole issue with knives and guns too and the fact that you don’t know the reason behind the attack. (I know violence isn’t the answer, but there might be much more to the situation than first meets the eye.)
Is it wise to get involved? Who can say?

Wyre Forest on Sunday, I reckon.

I’ve been happy with the two Animal watches I’ve had. (Think they were about £80 each???) The first one had the velcro strap which was good for biking, but looked tatty. The missus bought me a nicer one with a stainless strap that I wore for anything other than work and riding.
Some toe-rag stole my first one when we were burgled, so I’m down to one now. Had it for years – no problems.
If I had to buy a new one now, I reckon I’d pay up to £200 max.

I’d never spend a fortune on a watch, but can see the attraction if you’re into that sort of thing. (As long as it looks like a functional timepiece and not an item of jewellery!)

Congratulations!
Have a great day!!!

I’ve had one for five years and don’t think it’s overly harsh a ride.
Done proper mountains on it, played about in the woods and ridden it in the odd 24hr race a 12hr solo and some enduros.
It’s inspiring on technical trails – up or down, the only slight negative for me, is that it’s a bit of work to get up to speed and maintain it on flat non-techy trails, but I guess it wasn’t aimed at the terrain where an xc HT excels.
Paint is lasting really well on mine – but I’ve seen many less fortunate!

The apprentice. What a bunch of clueless eejits!
Guaranteed a good laugh!

Most (if not all) 360 owners I know are well acquainted with the red ring of doom. 🙁

Yeah, that.

i didn’t mean you franki

No worries mate! 🙂

Every spare penny goes on good old-fashioned compact discs. 🙂

There’s a bridleway running through the forest, so you could enter via there at anytime. Right of way n’ all that.

However, I think riding out of opening hours is frowned upon(especially night riding)and other than public rights of way, the rest of the forest is privately owned, so really – what they say goes.
Wouldn’t want to jeopardize the trails!

Hardly ever have punctures on my mtb. Probably one every 6 months or fewer.
Nearly always from thorns mindyou…
If it became an issue I’d think about trying something else though…

Well worth a visit. It’s great fun.

I’m so chilled, I’m horizontal dude. 😀

They sure are making a mess.
Seem to be widening the fireroads into dual carriageways by chopping back a few metres into the forest all the way along. 🙄
Cannock’s taking a bit of a battering too.
(I know they’re working forests, but it looks bleedin’ awful until it starts growing back a bit.)

Jeez, what a ball ache.
Never had any probs with tyres & tubes myself. 😉