Hi,

Yes, the team will be at all the Thetford races. Come say hi! I'm the one on the red Mamasita… :)

GB

We're sponsored by Ison – so the Gusset rotors come from them. Yes, Ashima are a bit lighter, but not from Ison!

The Selma – which is the same frame without gear cable stops – handles really nicely, very quick through the singletrack and rolls over the bumps (being a 29er…). The carbon rear end makes it nice and forgiving. It's just a brilliant singlespeed and I hope this is the same!

As for the Dos Niner – You might want to try one back to back with a Mamasita as I'm not sure it makes that much difference having the shock. Come see us at a race!

GB

32:19 on my 29er Salsa Selma, then I never have to faff with ratios.

GB

El cheapo Judy as above. Very heavy and very basic. OK for a pub bike.

It's the latest trend for XC racing…

Single 38t ring and a 12-34 cassette. For when there are no steep ups/downs, but there are still ups/downs, if that makes sense. Surrey Hills would be a good example.

GB

I've never seen another one of either of these:

Both great bikes – the HCR is now 5 years old and still getting great results. I'd like to know how many podiums it's had over the years!

GB

I've had an Enduro Maxx and a Joystick for 2 years. They're brilliant. The ultimate would be a new MaxxD and a Joystick with White Light extra bulb bit. Brilliant piece of kit.

GB

Exposure Enduro Maxx plus a Joystick. Brilliant combination (but you do really need both).

GB

I don't think I'll be racing at Brechfa… If you want a hand setting up etc, I may be able to help out depending when it is – have you got a date yet?

GB

Hahaha! Perhaps… It was a strategy mate ;) I thank the 29" wheels for the 1" advantage come the final sprint! You OK – back problems again at D2D?

GB

I rode a geared 26er at the National Series race at Dalby, then a 29er on pretty much the same course a couple of weeks later at SSUK. The 29er was a lot smoother and less scary on the rocky sections (Worry Gill and others). However, this may have been something to do with the fast it weighs 3lbs more than my 26er race bike and had riser bars. I'm getting a 29er to race during the Winter (mainly at the Thetford Winter Series), so hopefully they won't be any slower… Having ridden the 29er SS round Thetford, it's certainly a lot smoother through the woops.

GB

The home truths about Nick's Epic…

Frame – S-Works Epic – Broken
Forks – Specialized Futureshock E100 – Broken LOADS of times
Shock – Specialized Futureshock – Broken LOADS of times
Crankset – Specialized S-Works BB30, 28/40 with alu bolts – Broken (well, the BB is)
Headset – Cane Creek Integrated – Broken
Cables – Alligator I-links with Power Cordz inners – Keep not working

So super bling not necessarily "better".

Only joking mate – that is a very nice bike, I've been jealous of it for at least 2 years!!

GB

Nick – "but obviously had other negative effects too"

Yes – It rubbed off really, really easily!

GB

They float "out" – the buttons allow a degree of expansion when the rotor gets really hot, preventing warping. It's why they "tick" at the bottom of very long downhills (assuming you were braking…).

GB

Furious Freds in the dry – you'll fly!

GB

No, no, no.

Use your eyes & ears.

GB

Just buy Stans – it doesn't dry out unlike the JRA stuff which leaves goop all over your tyres.

GB

Either will fit – the proper shimano one with the long peg part is much better as it won't slip off when you're tightening the lockring.

GB

The Salsa UK team have used those hubs for the last 3 seasons' racing. They've held up really well, good value too. Have needed no more than one or two bearing changes in that time – remember the team has done 9 x 12 and 24hr races, along with 3 years' worth of Winter Series and National Series races. As good as anything else we've used. Only reason to get something else would be weight in my opinion.

GB

100mm 7deg stem run upside down, paired with Monkeylite SL low rise.

GB

Oh yes – BOB are also a great local club! Regular weekend rides and weekday evening night rides too.

West Drayton was my old club, so I guess there's a bit of allegiance there…

West Drayton are good – regular rides, team entries at the big races and club nights down the pub!

GB

Had the bumholes not been so sandy they would have been faster – they usually aren't so much of a sand pit. It was a great event – certainly the closest 12hr event I've ever done.

GB

Some are more equal than others. I have a 3 year old nano which has been through pissing rain on many a road ride and still works 100%. My itouch died after getting a couple of drops on it in a rucksack when I went for a walk. Stupid to have it in there, yes, but I just think it's rather fragile. Got a blackberry and a new Nano now seeing how many smashed itouch/iphone screen I've seen at work after being dropped too…

GB

Saturday on the Salsa stand.

GB

Very, very sensitive to water. too sensitive for the real world IMO.

GB

You can get special anti-slip grease for carbon components (FSA and others make it). Get some and use it.

GB

Yeti ASR

http://www.thetfordmtbracing.com/d2ddirections.htm

Golf?

The course held up pretty well last year given that it lashed it down for the entire race! No issues with clogging bikes, no problems with wheels jamming!

Remember SITS 2006 and compare…

GB

Rock Shox are very simple to service – well SIDS, Rebas and Revs are anyway… All you need is a hammer, a couple of allen keys, an adjustable, some oil, some grease and a pan to catch some oil.

GB

Hopes – they just last forever and keep looking good forever too.

Maintain with a bottle, a tube, a spanner and a torx key. No stupid little bleed nipples or anything.

GB

So MSCs don't break then Nick? Did you see the 2 (or was it 3???) at Dalby…

GB

Yeti AS-R?

Brilliant.

Indeed it does, if you can count being a thief as a job.

Seriously though, it's great to have the Valleys being used for something again – compare the house prices around Afan with those in non-MTB valleys and you'll see the amazing impact biking has had.

GB

"forgetting these guys are on puny lightweight bikes with skinny tyres"

to add to that…

…going a hell of a lot faster than you think, without a rest to have a chat with their mates at the top of the hills and bottom of the descents, hearts in mouths and doing it all 7 times.

GB

Yep, cars being broken into to steal bikes. It's a really deprived area (i.e. full of idle scumbags that our delightful government is happy to keep supporting).

GB

Don't be an arse. Take the stuff.

GB