Crikey,thats exellent information Stu,Thanks 😉

Mr and Mrs Tuddenham

you lucky lucky fellas 8)

I like this one,more natural.

Thanks ton,I am very lucky to have some great “totty”(ref-sfb) as friends and great mountainbiking companions.

It was a great day,and one i wont forget…..dreading the dvd of the best mans speech though!!! 🙄

Thank goodness you missed the helmet cam photo,it needs a little more work before official launch,all pre production models are in a limited batch. but some will be available on Ebay soon. 😉

:Nan Bield Gatesgarth,Garburn pass tomorrow,followed by Beer and a Barbie on Saturday evening…… happy days 😀

Tee hee,looks like the gloves are off on this one,I have travelled on all the above mentioned routes.I think the Laggan option is pushing it a bit when you would have to travel (south) through fort bill to Glencoe!!!.

Having said that the laggan/A9 route is probably the easiest drive (in a van) with a better average speed,if time is not an issue.

The Loch Lomand route has always been a nightmare when ever I have used it,but I havent tried it at 7 in the evening on a friday. 🙄

Thanks for the “unmarked police bike” advice TJ,Our regular mbike trip usually means we travel up the A84 at some pretty silly speeds,so far we havent had any issues, although its usually on a friday evening when things are quiet.

maybee we have been very lucky so far! 😉

I LOVE the drive/ride via the A84 (I have a motorcycle) but always feel as though its a long way round.

Would the Loch Lomand route be quieter at this time, and therefore quicker?

It does look more direct,thanks for the replies so far.

2007 meta here,I run fox 36s and ride it hard with no problems,the front mech position is not good for conventional shifters but grip shift sorts that,as it has better adjustment.

It climbs exeptionally well, and i use 2.3 tyres for reduced pedal strike and a talas fork,paint quality is poor but i am very happy overall,done nearly 2000 miles now with one change of main pivot bearings.

I havent ridden the newer versions but the 2007 ones seem to get better reviews from the ride, and handeling perspective.

I am 5″8 on a medium.

Glad you enjoyed yourself,muddy@rsedguy,Theres not much higher on a kmb ride,it was indeed windy and a very memorable route too.

Hopefully we will see you again next year.

gav 😉

Nuther pic,very busy today and Sunday will be too,£20 quid entry but well worth it,exellent spectating and what a brill atmosphere!

I am driving a 109 Vito at the moment,It is a bit noisy inside, and the anti roll bar links are banging away on bumpy roads (42.000 miles)2007.

I quite like it to drive,smooth torquey engine and handles ok in the dry but a bit scary in the wet! (rwd)

I cant get used to the foot/handbrake and found myself running down the road after parking on more than one occasion!Why mercs persist with this I just dont understand!

I am a VW T5 fan at heart though and prefer them as a van.

Yep Im with druidh on this one,I did it a couple of years ago and at the time felt dissapointed after such glowing reviews in the bike mags.

It is a credit to the locals who have worked hard to build it in the first place though,but its a shame its not quite good enough to draw some of us back to it.

MadBillMcMad

The track you mention is very boggy in places,only good to ride after a hard frost, or very long dry spell.

It disappears into tussocky grass in places, and its not really a viable route imho.

After tommorrows rain it will be very wet on Brutts moss,Dont let that put you off though,It is usually all rideable if you keep going until the climb starts onto Great Dodd,big fat tyres are great for Helvellyn,2.2-2.3s ideal,Theres quite a lot of carrying,allthough its a long ride up from here so you may as well set the bike up for the decents!

Its the best way up Helvellyn ime,Greenside mine to the zig zags is ok,and bog free, but I prefer this as a decent.
Clough Head is worse than Brutts moss,I would avoid it ime.

enjoy 😉

“The “tipping point” for me was my short term memory completely abandoned me to the point that I made two serious mistakes at work. Whether it was right or wrong, I choose to end my contract and go sick before I was sacked. I managed to stay in control of my situation”

my sympathys, muddy puddle,

This exactly what happened to me, and I ended up resigning before I was sacked,I was gutted after 20 years service that my previous employer would not recognise my illness at the time, and at least put me in a position,temporeraly, of less responsibility.

I had no written or verbal warning,and the “mistakes” I made were common within the job,they just seemed to use these as a reason to use the “disaplinary procedure” and the whole thing snowballed from there. 😥

Bloomin union said it was a “watertight case” and saw no weaknesses within it,the odd thing is i have seen lots of different specialists,and yet I have never actually been diagnosed as suffering with deppression, yet after reading all these threads I can see all of the symptoms in the last year or so.

It is very easy to dwell on the negativity,I think there is some merit in looking outwards,rather than within.It has been said in previous posts every case is different,the first step is recognising it,and doing something about it. 🙂

Sound advice foxychick, 🙂

One of the nurses I have seen in the past came from south Africa,Years ago she,(Vicki) owned a tea plantation and employed lots of people from the local community.

It was always surprising to her that everyone was always so happy,even though they were paid very little in wages,(In western terms) and actually had very few possesions.No one ever complained, and very few workers took time off sick.
This was right in the middle of all of the farm/land government reclemation troubles, and lots of familys were suffering with severe traumas at some point or other,some lost loved ones,there homes,and everything they had, “There was no such thing as cbt then” she would say,yet some how the coping mechaisems would kick in,and people just carried on!

or maybe no one really recognised the big D as an issue, and it was all in there heads?,and not talked about.

I sometimes think its easy to get caught up in a material world where having the latest football shirt, or toptastic trainers is the most important “thing”.

Money seems to rule everything these days,and in my previous job I could afford some nice toys, but once your health starts to deteriorate,and you recognise this, it kinda puts things into perspective as to what really matters.

I was a bit depressed,then I read Foxychicks thread, and I feel better now!

“High five with FC”

I have recently had a 12 months of crap from my previous employer,I ended up having 6 months or so sick leave with “work related stress”due to a backpain problem that I have,I am very lucky to have a couple of close mates that have helped me through it,but I do still feel very depressed about the whole thing,and ended up quitting after 20 years in the role.

Theres some exellent threads on here, and I have also been reading Richard Carlsons book as reccomended by Fc,all good stuff.

I am not really qualified to give out expert advice but heres a couple of things that I have noticed myself in the last 12 months or so.

1 avoid the booze,it seems to have a negative effect the following morning(irespective of quantitys consumed) and I think makes you feel more depressed.(Theres nowt wrong with the odd blowout tho!) 😉

2 Avoid fatty takeaway foods,they slow down your body and will make you feel worse.

3 Try to get to bed early, and avoid coffee after 6pm

4 Its important to talk things through (CBT)Ideally with someone you dont know but you feel comfortable with.

5 exercise/cycling is very good for depression but dont overdo it,avoid setting goals and deadlines,and ride to enjoy it!,with a treat at the end of the day,cake,or a small bar of dark choccy!

6 I have found pilates very good for relaxing the mind,and its great for the feel good factor too.

I have one you can borrow,its a bob yak,im based at junc 40 m6 penrith if thats any help.

as neilsonwheels says,they tend to break wires in the hinge area,its possible to get replacments but it can be expensive and time consuming re soldering them in.

I would check behind one of the pick up points on the rear or side loading doors,any symptoms you describe can be caused by corosion under these five pin plugs.

look for any green mould around the pins.

I would check the wires around the headstock (forks) its common for wires to break here as the loom should flex with the bars as they turn.

The main loom should have plenty of slack and not be tight from lock to lock.

“They made me – look at my face – I’m protesting.”

self inflicted more like..lol 😉

I have pretty bad back problem,One thing I can advise you on is Handle bar position,I have noticed over the years looking side on along the top of the bar it should tilted back at about the five past seven position.

seat,top tube length,and stem stack height and length all have a big effect,but the bar position is the one I have benefitted most from.If you have a longer top tube its also better to go for a narrower bar,and visa versa,all imho of course.

Rolymo said

“anyone who knows me will tell you that i am far to skillful to ever damage stuff, or fall off.”

really?….I call it good value!! 😈

http://www.vimeo.com/2365422

Hi Foxy chick,

I thought I should go back to Gavgas as I am riding a hardtail a bit more now so a bit less “fullbounce” now and more gas! 😯

The foots coming along nicley..should be out for a wobble tommorrow night 😉

yey..nice one dozer,yer gloves are still in my van! 😀

“TheLittlestHobo”

yup thats me,moved on from the spesh tho and sold the frame some time ago. 8)

boxelder

Trevor S……?
With a ladies drink……?

Yer right Trev had just nicked it from Clare! I had to buy her another! 🙄

No you hadent started drinking at that point,at least, thats what you told me anyway! 😯

You had a prawn Byriani like me I assume! 😉

No you were never quite there all night! 🙄

yep as sfb says,keeping as much weight across your back is best for a full sus frame,As a rider with a weak back To lift the bike i have found proping the back wheel into the air while suporting the weight of the bike with the front tyre helps.I then crouch down and grab the nearside fork leg, and let the bike drop onto your back.

To take it off your back I try to find a high point on the trail,or get someone to lift it off for you,If you have a hardtail i have found putting your head through the frame makes a hudge difference to comfort levels and its much easier to balance the bike and spread the weight around your shoulders.

Just one more thanks to Clare Morris for organising the meal and doing what she does best throughout the year.

nice one 😉

thanks marmotte, theres definatly something going on 😐

Graham Burns 2008 Rider of the Year 😀

http://s436.photobucket.com/albums/qq85/poorlybottoms/?newest=1

More pics and Awards,well done everyone great night out! 😉

Loadpot Evening ride (North Eastern LakeDistrict)

Source of the River Tyne North Peninnes

Dales Bike Centre here,youd be daft not to 😉

must confess to riding on the odd footpath,ahem,and recently was met at the end of one route by the local rozzers.(we heard the sirens coming from a distance) :cry:(night ride)

fortunatly they turned a blind eye, but we might be not so lucky in future.never mind,the nights are creeping out,no need fer lights soon 😀

As Terrahawk says,The top bolt should never be over tightened,and its the same with the seatpin/clamp. I usually put a bit of lockthread on the (seatclamp)nut,once its dry it should clamp up at the same position everytime avoiding the need for any other adjustment.

A bit of lube in the right places always keeps things working smoothly.