1992 – A Purple Fat Tubed Rigid ‘Dale M500.

The bike that started the illness……:)

If you have the choice (and I did) get the Scandal….a bit lighter…..

BTW I loved my 26 inbred – and it now needs a new home….

Mrs GDRS and I had a go on this thing in the voges two summers ago – and I found this clip on youtube of a French guy having a go.

This is now what I call a zip wire.

When I lived in my old flat it was an ex-local authority place with 30 flats and there were all sorts of issues and counter issues raised by the tennants that the authority (who were the leasholder) had to handle. I met the guy who was responsible for tennant complaints one day. He had the patience of a saint, as he was obliged to respond to each one – and make action plans for repeat offenders. I was one of the repeat offenders for issue one below (tip off no physical evidence – no action taken).

Firstly there were compliants about a couple of people with bicycles making it muddy. Everyone got letters. Then it was parents carrying their kids bikes up the stairs making it muddy. Everyone got letters. Then it was people leaving push chairs under the stair well cluttering up the place. Everyone got letters. Then it was people who had dogs – against the terms of their lease. Everyone got letters. Parking. Letters. Recycling bin misuse. Letters. Leaving doors open. Letters.

I would say that nothing actually changed – nobody got turfed out – and we all carried on. Except for the very passively agressive guy in flat 86……who we suspect was the source of all of the complaints…

When we left he complained to a neighbour that we cooked stinky food with the windows open to get at him. We did not get a letter about this.

I have a dodgy right knee – kept in check by keeping my ITB in check.

I undo the good work by riding a SS…..

Chas le bike – I await Xmas and the details of a ‘new’ format for SSUK.

By which time this thread will have mutated into a fat vs. thin debate!

Hey CTBM – I have loved SSUKs, SSWCs and SSECs what makes these events fun are amongst other things the wheel sizes (given we are all mincing, pushing and drinking our way round the woods).

I do think I remember you doing Belgium on a Cross bike? Chapeaux!

There’s rigid / suspension / there’s the odd full suss – and we have seen 26ers win in mixed fields of 26 and 29ers (Wales 2010 and Sweden 2006 spring to mind). I have even seen 650bs beating the other two as well as all that crazy 69er business…..

So I agree with you – in that it’s all good. And to say that when the ‘niche people’ get together there isn’t really a niche when it comes to wheels, kind of cuts through the subject for me. Do as you please – and enjoy what everyone else does!

Change the subject – is there momentum for your mooted SSUK13 randonez format by the sea? Me (29er) the wife (26er) and our baby (OO) do hope so!

I have a Scandal with the swap out drop outs and use the standard on-one tug – however make sure you have the tug that is for a QR and not a solid axle.

WWAS gave me the same advice previously – and I have applied the QR portion of the advice to the on-one tug and it is ROCK SOLID.

Something I have noticed as I commute in London especially in the evening whilst stopped at lights / in slow traffic etc you can see drivers texting and messaging. Their faces are lit up in blue from their smart phones.

Im my view anything at all that catches their eyes as they look up and adjust is a good thing. You see people driving without looking a lot more on your bike than you do in the car……

Good stuff. Anybody on Singlespeeds (already looking for a niche mixed category entry)…..

Thanks.

I’ve not done an Enduro format race previously – but my assumption in this case is that it’s an XC course – a la Crowthorne / Swinley.

That reminds me – I have a frame and forks to sell 😮

Also are you looking to race other people – or just yourself?

http://www.bali-trailblazers.com/

The internet does provide….

Mrs GDRS and I got some guided riding in Bali a couple of years ago.

Went for a wedding and did four days guided riding with a firm run by a British woman – using local guides. I can’t remeber the name of the firm – but I am sure the internet will provide. We never memt her – but the guide and the mechanic / uplifter were top blokes.

Great fun. We did a pick up from Kuta then they sorted accomodation in ubud and on the North Coast for us at the end of each day. The bikes we hired were okay hard tails – we just took some essentials with us (camelbacks / our own helemets / peddles and shoes).

The uplifts were excellent because it is hot. Some of the riding is technical and the descents long so you want some freshness. The guides get you right into the mountain terraces / gardens and villages as well as the lava fields (cycling on the moon). Not sure trails are that obvious – no waymarking – so the knowledge is what you need. But as Bali is not that large – start at the top of a volcano and head to down to the sea!

I live just off the P’mouth road – so I am going to check the lie of the land in a moment. All the roads are closed leading to the course -so v.easy to mooch about by bike at the mo…..

If you are going to watch anywhere between Long Ditton and Hearts Boat Yard it is a very slight down hill – speed v. fast when they paractised yesterday.

And don’t forget that the women start from 12.30…….

Also consider if you want physio / rehab covered when you return to the UK (outside of NHS) – or payment cover for loss of income due to injury. Plus there is personal liability to consider…

Me and the Mrs have been lucky over the years not to need to use the insurance we have purchased – but as we travel together it is peice of mind to know that if anything goes wrong to one of us the other has an eaiser time of sorting out any issues.

Not accident ralted – but the other year our overseas holiday breakdown cover saved a three week tour to the Alps. Our car died on day two. Got a hire vehicle for the remainder of the three weeks that would take all the camping gear and two bikes. Plus paid for my dad to come to Calais to pick us up in a transit van when we returned the hire car……£35 well spent with Axa….Our Laguna was scrapped in Reims……

I work in the insurance industry. My advice is get the best cover you can afford – AND READ / UNDERSTAND ANY EXCLUSIONS.

And take the contact details with you when you ride – don’t leave then in your room…..

We popped up for SSUK a few years back – wet rooty singlespeed fruity.

Going to run it singlespeed.

Thanks guys. I’ve always been a nuts and thread guy on the 26. My transition to 29 was via rig with an eccentric so I have a nice non thread wheelset.

Couldn’t help myself on Friday with the on one closeouts…..

Are you sure he’s given you his actual adress? Fraudsters tend not to……

I have a tricross that I pile around on off road – which is great fun -but I second the on-one shout. I am on a pomp for my commute to work. Great value imo esp if you can get it on the old bike to work or simialr company scheme 🙂

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/london/50-onthespot-fines-for-cycling-on-the-footpaths-in-royal-parks-7599967.html

So that’s a bit of cheeky around Richmond Park under threat – and my cyclocross warm up in Bushey Park under threat…as I think this will be applied to any part of the park that is not specifically designated for cycling…….

I think that a lot of the more recent trail work in Swinley has been good. Some of the trails get heavy use and if the permit fee is being spent on the trails then that’s fine by me. Some stuff gets changed – or made easier – but there are enough places of the beaten track in Swinley to keep it real.

On the pay to ride vibe – we don’t see it any place else really – but for a spot like Swinley, high pop density, high trail use, then if you can afford it I would encourage everyone to pay (either on the day if a vistor or get a permit if a regular)as it does look like it is keeping the place rolling.

Love big tubed ridgid ‘Dales – M900 / Beast of the East etc.

Doing it all in hiking boots and toe straps…….

Not wearing a helmet………

A stem with a quill……….

I had to ask…..

Trail rat is your rig “eh hem” surpless to requirements? If
so might I be able to re home…..

Do like the look of the sir 9……..

http://www.visitezmaville.com/index.php?page=visite&tri=departement&id=1300720697&pg=4

Sorry the link in the other post was to the place we did not stay (we didn’t like it when we rocked up).

The link in this post is where we stayed for a few nights.

Lac Blanc – good but small uplift on a small ski hill…..the roads looked great for road riding too…

Camping – if that’s your thing – we camped here. Rustic (read basic)but fifteen or so in the car from the top of the hill.

http://www.fermeaubergeduchevremont.fr/index.php?p=1_20_accueil-des-campeurs

Are you doing this with any luggage / panniers / trailer……

If so the canal does have some annoying gates / barriers to stop motorbikes – which might be a bit irritating if you are laden.

We have people who mooch across town on Boris Bikes….

Ancient proverb:

Man who rips off western bike manufacturer is foolish if he has not thought about how to sell the copy product or production over run……

Pick your gearing to the country you are riding, that helps a lot, but can make you spin like an egg beater on the flat sections……

Walked past this morning – a car has gone up the pavement and it looked like it had smashed the kebab shop / cafe next door then into the front of Cyclo.

Del – just thread Surfing if you are still looking at this – but I wanted to say thanks for showing Kelly and I around Haldon in July.

My very random over the bar (in which I thought I had just winded myself) turned into a trip to Casualty. I had actaully forced my sternum inwards sufficiently to give my self some nasty internal brusing – was given loads of drugs – and had to have 10 days off work -and no cycling for three months!

That aside a fun time!

Cheers

G

Meta 5 owner here.

Before you commit to big strip – try the following (which cured my uncureable creak which was at it’s worst when climbing).

Unscrew the plate that is derailler hanger. Cover with a smear of good teflon grease.

5 mins max

It did not however take five to work this out………

We’ve done the vosage and Jura as stop offs.

I like some of the small hills (one chair) that give you a day / day and half good riding. Kind of like trail centres with more bite.

Jura – Metabief or in the Vosges – Lac Blanc.

Bump for those having a tea break / early lunch….

Thanks for the links Z1ppy.

Anyone riden one?

G

I think I’ve some old X-rays in the spares box at home……anyone intrested in making me an offer if I take some pics.

For that retro 1990’s feel……

🙂