Yeah but Glen, you gotta be down with the Web2.0 kids…

lol, "true dat" 😉

I self taught over a few years while working as a Software engineer. Just did loads of pro bono work and built up a portfolio and took the plunge on a job app and got it. I'd always had a degree of talent for it but spent 2 years really going for it and eventually landed that role. I'm very much in digital as my developer roots are useful in getting work…

Tried freelancing for a bit after my first role but have settled back into a nice up and coming agency in Bristol and working on some really interesting gigs!

2.35 Blue Groove and 2.1 Small Block 8 (yes steerer has been cut)

Leaked copy or it didn't happen? 😆

Legit copy? I thought it was out on the 14th?

I appreciate that not everyone can afford to run more than one bike but I don't know how anyone could chose between HT or FS – the correct answer, budget allowing, is both! 😀

MBUK makes me feel old, and I'm only 26 FFS!

Those chavy sports shops often do those long sleeve sports layers quite cheap. I think it was JD sports who were doing Champion branded ones BOGOF. They're no merino wool but they do the job!

I really don't mind MBR, I think I might even cancel WMB subscription for it which has been well shonky of late. Mainly reviews that could be written by reading the brochure and verdicts that seem to bare no resemblance to the star ratings!

Image > Image size should give the DPI but it's craftily called "Resolution"

Well jedi, if you're ever down this way and want a dogsbody let me know!!

Jedi: I understand you're southwest based? Once I get started I understand it's strongly recommended you assist other leaders.

If you ever need a free assistant I'd be very happy to help out! Got to log my 20 personal rides in the mean time LOL!

The things that wind some people up eh?

Woo, congrats!

Oh and you bought the Five in the end, nice one, at least you'll be safe in the knowledge that it's all but unchanged for 2010, and the '09 was barely changed since '08, which was identical to '07 and let's face, it 2011 probably won't be a huge departure! 😉

I wouldn't be embarrassed about the women's specific frame but those dirty spokes in the last shot are unforgivable!

You could do an On One Inbred with Recons and Full deore (inc wheels) group from Merlin and then pick up the finishing kit 2nd hand for £650 easy.

Buying scales = prepare for disappointment. lol

That said, my Five – being the versatile do it all bike it is – ranges from 28lb in marathon spec, 29lb in normal trail spec, 30lb in burlier trail spec and 32lb in DH uplift mode. Nearly all of those weight variations is down to a tyre and tube combinations (with minor spec changes) LOL. The lightest being 2.1 HRs with 1.5 tubes to 2.35 Kendas with DH tubes (500g a piece!)

I stopped agonising over grams here and there when I can drop or gain a whole pound or two based on what rubber is going on.

I too laugh at people going crazy light on supposedly burlier bikes. I got my Five down towards the 26lb mark at one point and it was rubbish! I ended up just getting fitter and dealing with the 30lb weight which seems the best weight for it and is the most fun.

Cheers guys!

And yes, very well done jedi!

What had you done prior to CTC SKills Instructor because from the CTC ProMTB site, Trail Leader and Technical Leader are prerequisites..?

(I feel like I'm banging my head against a wall with all this stuff :cry:)

jedi: Trail Leader or Technical? I'm trying to do them but having trouble just getting enough info together to actually do a course, I think all the bods at the CTC have been on holiday and then away teaching you!

I've got a good story on how naive and foolish it can be and the relief of getting back into work without doing too much damage to career and finances..?

Wash and dry, squirt finish line wet lube on stanchions, ride around pumping forks, wipe away excess.

I ride a lot and I've got nearly two year old Fox floats which had immaculate stanchions as per a recent service at LBS.

A guy from mojo at the Brechfa enduro said this was fine, he reckoned the issue with wear is riding them with dried on mud on the stanchions.

And I suppose wiggle for constantly delivering next working day even though I don't opt for next day delivery…

Bike Bristol – it's probably because I've started to get to know the lads quite well over the last few years. But I think they reached new levels of service when due to being unable to fit my bike in for repair, the mechanic offered to lend me his own bike (few grands worth). Like I said, I've got to know them quite well, but still that surprised me!

You probably couldn't afford the tech anyway, lol.

That, and, "can you trackstand" can pretty much win you ANY bike related debate… lol

You can buy the Orange bearings on thier website. Word of warning though, might not hurt to order the shock bushing kit too – mine went a week after I got the pivot bearings done… 🙄

Edit: looks like they don't sell the shock bushings but I suppose that's a fox item then.

I also have a weird thing where the bike I've been riding the least, suddenly becomes the one I want to ride the most…

a) would be in the workstand more than it would be on the trails.

Naturally I'd rather own a) but I know b) would make me ride more. I hate nothing more than a constantly unreliable bike. And we all know a) would be built with kit that needs nursing all the time.

Ignoring the price, I at first thought, wow cool, I could program all my photoshop shorts cuts in. Before realising that I never actually look down at the keyboard when selecting tools.

glenp: cheers, I've been speaking to Richard (as a result of trying to contact you actually). I'd be operating in the southwest so Bristol/Somerset, Quantocks, Mendips, Dartmoor, Brecons and then the South West Trail centres too. I assume some (if not most) of that would come under separate leader skills? And what do you class as separate leader skills?

I just need someone to give me a list of courses I need to do!! LOL

See, now I'm even more confused with Bikeability being thrown in, to clarify, I'm looking to instruct mainly adults to Mountain Bike with guiding thrown in.

I'm not a school teacher, nor looking to work with schools.

See, I'm all very confused, I keep being told SMBLA is the one, but I'm more interested in teaching than just leading. Which makes me think the CTC route might be better as you are able to then teach using their Wheelies Award and Right Track schemes.

I've emailed One Planet Adventure, plus I've emailed Ian Warby and Dan Cook of the CTC, I've had no responses and I don't know what to do!

the thief would have to pick a pretty impressive bike to nick to cover the cost of a train ticket from London!

Yeah but due to a combination of cycle to work scheme and general ignorance of bike crime, people are locking up £1000 hardtails with £10 locks in stupid places. I even know of one chap who left his cycle to work scheme funded Kona Blast Deluxe in the back garden of his place of work in Clifton, unlocked, he could merely watch from the top floor office as some yoof looked up, laughed and ran off with it.

2.1 HRs are more like 1.75s and about 490g

In fact, I lost the key to a cheap cable lock holding an old road bike I was commuting on. Me and Agency Scum, at 5pm on a weekday, cut the thing free with a hacksaw after about 20 mins and we were not interrupted once.

They're almost the least secure place to keep a bike as there's relatively little activity once you're inside.

adh, I used to live in one of these city centre blocks. The car park doors close so slowly that they just hide in waiting and nip in behind. In my experience, they can pretty much go at a lock uninterrupted for as much as an hour or more if they sneak in at night.

I lost two from one of these "secure" underground garages…

and in my head high rollers on a hardtail with flat bars doesnt work.

Clearly you haven't seen the 2.1 high rollers!

Another vote for the Blue Groove here, slowly but surely converting all my reluctant mates but now starting to give away my advantage! 👿

cannot touch their own toes.

I'm only 26 and in very good shape and I can't touch my toes.