Last time I was off the bike for a significant period of time I had to make a conscious effort to not think about what I was missing out on, rather to focus on what I had an opportunity to do. Sounds a bit trite, but helped me – I read a lot, did gardening, diy, watched films, cooked, just generally hung with the family and chilled.

I’d say the carcass on a 2.3 Baron is a teensy bit smaller than a 2.2 RQ, but the knobs are much bigger, so not much in it. I think the ETRO sizes are the same for 2.2 RQ and 2.3 Baron.

bummer :-(

Found my 2.2 & 2.4 RQs good as a front tyre, but not great – not aggressive enough shoulder lugs, tread a little too shallow.
Howver, 2.2 RQ run on the rear paired with a 2.3 Baron up front – proper moon on a stick combo. Loving it :-)

as above – clear/black iridium are nigh on perfect for UK riding most of the time (darkness – overcast – bit sunny). For proper blazing sun (i.e. abroad ;-) ) you may need/want some darker ones

I used to have a Giro Switchblade back in the day – never got on with it for trail riding/mucking about in the woods. Too hot, reduced visbility, too much hassle to switch form full to open face mode.
Have always used a fullface for DHish stuff and an open face lid the rest of the time – currently have a Giro Feature and it’s ace.

Had a WeeRide on every full sus I’ve owned, plus used a Trailgator on my Prophet & Blood.

Do not emigrate.

Contract, pay off mortgage, feed your soul with frequent life-affirming sessions doing what you love, with whom you love.

last week or so – i didn’t ride last week in AC, but they weren’t there the week before

the rocks @ the start was the main bit that confused me – it’s at the start of the trail where people will tend to be picking up speed due to the gradient + it’s where you just enter tree cover so you lose a bit of visibility.

“source close to Cameron” been smoking crack again? ;-)

Next policy idea to be floated will be to prove the Earth is flat

didn’t look like it – there was a warning sign and a bit of tape though.

wait til the end of your contract and go GiffGaff?

A lot depends on if you *really* need an altimeter/barometer/compass as well as a tough watch. If you don’t, there are more contenders

As above, I tend to steer clear of Corn St/Harbourside these days. There are some exceptions – Apple, Rummer.

Get yourselves into the Corry Tap in Clifton and see what happens….

Gloucester Road is a good bet, especially where you’re staying

There are tougher watches out there, but I’ve warrantied mine twice and the service from Suunto has been unbelievably amazing.
As above, battery does need changing fairly regularly and I’ve also found the altimeter to be in constant need of calibration, but as a tough watch you can wear every day it’s pretty good.

“f*ck you San Diego”

“Of course, San Diego is German for “whale’s vagina”

or anything else from Anchorman :-)

@I_Ache – you sound like you’re where i was before I got my Blood. As already said by someone else, if you’re looking for a fun, burly frame to match with some 160mm forks, you can’t go wrong with a Blood.

+1 for VAST

Bought my dad a Garmin eTrex 20 for geocaching – he seems pretty stoked with it

I’m 6’1″ and I have a 17″ Blood – I test rode a 15″ and it was way too small.
Go for a 17″ with a dropper post FTW IMHO

Didn’t Mike from JJ write for a bike mag not too long ago?

Have a Core – very tough watch, but I managed to dent mine and rip 3 straps.
now have this

tough as f*ck

+1 for Watership Down and the ending of The Railway Children. Every f*cking time!

+1 on booking.com being legit and ace. Sounds like phishing to me

I have a Blood, never tried an Alpine though, sorry. Did use to have a Prophet MX – I definitely loved the slacker HA and lower BB when I switched to my Blood.
The build I have is very similar to the one you’ve described, and I’ve ridden the Blood all the over the shop – it’s a lot of fun to ride :-)

+1 on forks – I had a 2001-vintage Stinky and ran 150mm Boxxers on it which slacked it out way too much.
Pikes/Revs/Sektors are the go if the Z1s are borked. Maybe just get the Z1s serviced as they are awesome forks IMHO

that were proper good, now the fellas!

Must be frustrating for WH, but what if she had been subbed in for the semis just to give her the medal and then f*cked it up?

Been running a SRAM 951 for a year or so without problems

Google “Centreparcs” and check the 6th or 7th search result that comes back ;-)

They size up properly – if you’re a 32″ waist, go for a 32″ Moto. The legs are fairly roomy.

Best shorts I’ve ever owned BTW

sailing

Brechfa’s good, as are the trails in Brizzle.

My eldest has been on a Spesh Hotrock 20 since he was 6 – I can highly recommend it.

the dude outta Nickelback has nice hair – we need more hair rock bands in this ager of austerity and Simon Cowell-pimped pap ;-0

If you’re emigrating, you can take double the luggage allowance (depending on airline AFAIK).

Take it as hold luggage, it’s what I did.

This morning on my commute, I stopped at some lights at a some crossroads. A guy pulled up next to me, but seemed dead set on RLJing – he crept forward until he was on the junction, looking carefully, weighing up his options. The roads were fairly quiet, not a lot of traffic was crossing in front of us.

He was about to launch forward to run the red when a car came flying across from the right which made him stop abruptly.

You see, although he was looking carefully, the silly sod was only looking at the road coming from the left for some reason.

He thought he was making a good call, thought he was judging the situation, thought he *knew* he was making the right call in RLJing.

But he nearly got hit by a car.

Round our way the volume of cars at drop-off/pick-up times seems to be exacerbated by the numbers of parents who:

a) Move into school APR to get nipper into school
b) Move out of school APR once nipper is in school
c) Rely on sibling rules regarding school admissions to allow future nippers to join elder nipper’s school without requiring residency within APR

End result =
a) lots of parents living out in the ‘burbs driving their cars in to drop their kids off at schools they morally shouldn’t be able to go to
b) creating traffic chaos for local residents
c) preventing children who live closer to school from attending

One positive aspect is that it puts car commuters off from using the rat runs near the school ;-)

Has it got “Handmade in Germany” written on the sidewall?

If it does, you’ve a BC RQ :-)