26 Graphic Designer/Web Developer/Internet nerd

Of all the niches to get cynical about, I don't think slopestyle is one. It's kind of obvious and well defined and people actually compete and win money.

And it's massively entertaining to watch. There's a good section around the halfway mark on Seasons…

It might be '89 and I might hate the song, but even I agree it's Fools Gold

Gurning in this one:

Will wait and see what happens at this one and maybe enter next summer.

In principle the event sounds brilliant but yeah, getting the timing right is kind of fundamental.

And just to clarify, the BFe also passes the new CEN standard.

What PP said, but I'd suggest a Genesis Altitude…

I guess the only hope for me is in propaganda, convincing the B ark folk that the planet really is at risk!

I used to be "stop plane falling out of the sky" software developer but got bored of it…

Yeah me.

I fully expect an "of course you did" response but I was just thinking about dry suit cuffs over shoes as a solution to shoes filling up just last night.

well i’ve just cheated my way to the front of the mega!!!
no gloves for me though as it’s just not cool. and to mr norton, as a way of sorry for getting in your way how about i offer to fondle your balls as you rip past me

This made me lol

One more question; I was under the impression that the fatter of the two tyres should be on the front and the thinner on the rear – is this not correct?

Well! There are arguments for and against. I personally run fat front, skinnier rear. A draggy tyre will be more noticeable on the rear so I run a faster tyre for the feel of speed. Also, a front wash out is nigh on impossible to rescue if it really goes. A rear washout, I'm amazed at some of epic washouts I've managed tosave, prob luck more than judgement mind! So I'll sacrifice rear grip for more speed and less weight, but often it's not worth it on the front.

However, on a hardtail some riders prefer the extra pinch flat protection and extra cushiony comfot of a fatter rear – however, most will just run an equally fat pair rather than a fatter rear than front.

I run the same front all year (2.35 Kenda Blue Groove Sticky) and then switch the rear depending on how "core" the ride is. 2.2 Maxxis Advan if it's a bit rocky, 2.1 SMB if it's nice and smooth and not muddy (wet is fine), 2.1 High roller if it's smooth but muddy.

If you need real mud tyres, work on your technique and/or perhaps think about giving your trails a break and riding somewhere else.

I also find real mud tyres just make me realise how much of the trail isn't really that bad as you drag the horrid things around. And they're often lethal on wet roots and rocks too!

Lol, that's the second one this month where he's supposed to being doing a "fat drift" but then on closer inspection the rear brake lever is back against the bars.

The hilarious thing is the verdict: "If big travel hacking is your thing, the Quake’s great geometry and suspension platform will serve you well"

So basically we 7" of travel to do fat skids on a fireroad now?

Graphic designer, proper B ark material here…

mcboo, tbh it's all about the funding the coverage gets that dictates how exciting it is to watch. And it isn't any more or less exciting then just about every other sport represented in the SPOTY top ten.

I normally buy whatever I can find the best deal on between SRAM pg990 or XT. Never noticed any differences in shifting performance so it's about weight. I'm sure when I used to run deore they'd last longer, but I ride more now so it's hard to measure.

Both cretin related threads contain FAIL by cretins… discuss.

Given people are usually posting on the sly and in a rush between doing actual work, I tend to forgive people their little grammatical nuances…

Ranting about grammar, calling people cretins for it, and then failing to sort your own grammar out = FAIL!

Seeing as in all commentary he's not even been listed as an outsider, I can't see him making the top ten.

Shame really, I think he'd liven up an otherwise dull ceremony…

They fixed the changing lanes thing very early on in trials…

I can't help but chuckle at people slamming the brakes on and speeding up when they see them. It never occurred to me that they'd work any other way than taking the average speed over a distance.

Separate bank accounts here. I don't understand why we'd need to have a joint one – we run a joint budget and both know whats going on with each others money so no need to setup a new one…

Hmmm looks both stiff and joy to maintain!

I find a Five fine under breaking also but what would I know… I swear people look for problems that don't exist.

Rosset Ghyll in the Lakes was good, neraly an hour of hike a bike and then 1.5 km of descent in 15 mins, very many big rocks, weight right back all the way and a few trackstand/hoppy moments. Then a pint in the Old Dungeon.

Rarely a descent feels worth it if it needs a hike a bike, esp for an hour. I'd prob so snowdon once for the novelty but otherwise I'd rather ride up something. 😕

CwmCarn and Whites, bit of tech to keep you distracted and entertained. I am a fan of getting up high, staying high and then a nice big down.

Ditto on the age thing lol

His version of NIN's "Hurt" is one of the best cover versions ever. And the video… sadder than Bambi.

I find it too haunting to listen to… 😕

I think with some Red Bull style intervention/backing, DH Mountain Biking could be one of the more exciting sports to watch. Perhaps if the Atherons find form next year perhaps Redbull might step up their involvement…

I mean jesus, they made a sort of success of the Airrace!

Deffo the big three dullards of Snooker, Cricket and Golf – **** me!

Cheers for the share Sir Neil, looks like pubs off tonight, be staying in with a Mr Cash and a few cold ones.

San Quentin always gives me goose bumps!

Poppa, yeah, Recon gets Motion Control but only Solo air in the best models. Although just plucking stats out of the air, I'd wager 9/10 RS riders with dual air can't set up a solo air properly, let alone a dual air. The Recon is really underrated IMO as the higher models are great.

The Orange finishing kit is every bit as light and well built as the entry level Easton/Race Face stuff that people "upgrade" to.

My personal setup tips for the Five is sensible chunky rubber, a hardhitting stiff frameset isn't going to shine with nervous rubber, so work to it's strengths. I also run the shock quite soft (30%, not 20-25%) but also the rebound fairly slow too – propedal will prop it up if I need it but I have got the stiffer tune of the '08 model (and only use it for climbing while standing). It takes a little bit of pop out of the bike but it keeps it down on the trail and just allows you to guide it through keeping off the brakes which I reckon is how the bike works best.

Also, when climbing, think high cadence, confident and powerful. If you're a low gear stomper/masher, yeah it's going to hurt you I suppose.

Oh and go for a bigger size if you're in between. I'm 5'10" and ride an 18" with saddle right forward and stubby stem, gets you inside the bike even more which again, is how it works best. The kinked top tube was a great idea as it allows you to ride a size up and use the above configuration. The long wheelbase of the bigger bikes slows it down a little in the twisties but makes it much better in the "Gnar" type stuff.

I've sort of given up evangelising (this is a lie because I can't help myself half the time but I'm trying) about the bike recently because tbh, some just want to hate it because it doesn't make sense financially or on paper. And also, not everyone is going to get on with it so there's no point really.

That said, I'd buy another one in a heartbeat, I've explored so much in terms of technique and personal limits with the thing over the last two years that there's a warm comforting familiarity and predictability that inherently makes you ride better.

When I do something, the bike responds exactly as I expect. For me that's the greatest quality a bike can have and the price of that is hard to pin down.

So for uphills they are low

Speed sensitivity better be bloody easy to override trail side. Just thinking of proper technical climbs where sometimes full power is more of a requirement than coming back down.

Entered!

Interesting about the propedal, my '08 has a stiffer tune I think, max propedal is almost like lockout when climbing.

I had that Recon on an ST4 Pro demo and while I turned my nose up at it, didn't notice it on the ride for a second.

I can't get my head around telling someone killing is wrong and then killing them for it… Punishing murder with murder… 🙄

Troy Lee GP Glove has been my fave to date… seems to last too! Year old and in very good nick – I've trashed sombrios in a few weeks…

I've switched to 170mm on all bikes.

I felt less powerful for a few weeks but got past it, I get less knee pain now.

I'm 5'9"

She was looking a little haggard this morning actually…

Suzanna, not your wife… 😉

Deffo closed

I'm 11st like you and at our weight the Five is quite a lot of bike. I've got a 15QR 32 Vanilla mine and I go downhilling, pump tracks and the odd table here and there. Although it still is just my go anywhere trail bike most of the time.

I guess what I'm saying just to mix things up is consider a Five pro and run a double + bash on it. At our weight you'd have to be a proper muppet to break one…