Traffic at the start but it clear up quickly. The route is usually good and you just has to follow the signs, no map or GPS, so that’s nice. You usually race with the guy in front of you just because you like to do it, and feel sometime annoyed if a woman overtook you. The feeding stations are boring, bananas and nearly out of date high 5, compare to the rough ride for example, with flapjack, cake and rabbit burger.

that’s great, thank you, I will explore all these.

I came from Annecy, best town on the planet when quiet. LE Semnoz on the East side of the Lake has some signposted MTB trails, so you can give a go. I believe bus can take you to the top. On the west side of the lake, you’ve got the Parmelan. I used to do the GR on the top but it’s not great, you have to carry your bike a lot, but going back to the town is very nice but not really exposed. Toward La Balme is too flat, and I haven’t explore enough on the other side of the Lake (South). Great experience will be to do La Tournette, but walk it first and see how doable it is

Marlborough Going Down

Wiltshire rocks.

Well Bath is better but I’m not going to Bath tonight. Have you already ride near Westbury, on the edge of the plain? that’s not bad, no hardcore downhill though, I’m too old for that, I just keep to the xc.

Why are they going to release 7 if Vista is that good?

Do what glenh said. And then it will be sooooo fast, like you on a bike.

ok, so worcestershire then. Don’t forget your oxygen mask.

The Clent Hills are in Worcestershire?

What about in England and Wales, a BW becoming a footpath. So basically you have to ride back the BW and forgot about your loop. So weird.

Well, I’m don’t know what you mean by Strawberry line, A371? There is also a bit of Sustrans route to avoid that route. Is it what you are meaning?

map reading on a bike is just painful, except on top of a moor when you don’t need to look at it every 5 min. I’m using my GPS all the time now, map has a backup. Only problem is when the GPS lost its signal and I have no clue of where I am. A bit scary until I got my signal back.

To go toward the M5 from blackdown, the path at the start of Lillypool Farm has a big sign with “No Mountain bike” on it…I went through the footpath further south to cross over the hills down to Kingswood and it’s very good, except a bit steep at the start. Then instead of the direct BW down Crook Peak, I turn south down Compton Bishop, making the singletrack longer. It was technical, a bit like the descent over cheddar gorges, but narrower. Good fun. I’m sure you will enjoy it.

Recycled all my WMTBs and MBR but still got all ST from issue number 1. Miss the route page though, as I used it.

Is it signposted or more like HONC?

I think it’s about time to make a list of people who hasn’t put their face on…I don’t think STW has only 500 or 600 forum users.

It is me or am i the only one having the message “Windows explorer has stopped working” every 5 min with Vista? Or I can’t copy any file bigger than 500MB without the same message? Or i can’t run my USB printer (Lexmark) which is supposed to be Vista compatible? Or I can’t recharge my Blackberry without the bluescreen of death when I unplugged it?????? Or my broadband is as fast as a modem because the router does not like Vista? How can you be a Vista fan? really? how?

Go XP!!!!!!!!!!!!Don’t GO vista!!!!!!!!!! You’ve been warned.

It’s just a superb ghosts story, no horror involved.

After The Thinker, The Yearner.

trailmonkey, nothing rocky or challenging nearby I’m afraid, just great views and easy ride. Nice singletracks though. Maybe a local can point you to more hardcore bits.

Well yesterday I discovered a new area never explored before: around Corfu Castle. It was dry and handsome, all legals, great view along the coast, nice singletrack going down with the castle in the background, walkers keeping the gates open for me. I think I can die now. Really enjoyed it:

Courtesy SteveP

It’s a film about capitalism and that’s good in our current crisis. To be damned for money. See it as DDL being the devil and even managing to corrupt the angel. Soo brilliant. The bible revisited.

Exactly what I need to know, cheers guys.

I get annoyed when a celebrity opinion get more recognised than an expert one.

thank you for the tips…and I’m going to try dal and roti. Looks good to me.

Last Saturday my physio told me i was riding too much and I should definitely considered another sport like swimming. i hate swimming. I asked running? and he said no , same kind of muscles, you need something else like swimming. I would have to cancel a night ride in mendips for a swim tonight then.

Fair enough pk, your commuting journey looks dreadful, I consider myself very lucky to either work from home, or the odd trip to London once a week (with my lovely shiny Brompton I love so much).

What’s wrong with the brompton ***-squad? Are you jealous because you don’t have a folding bike? Honestly.

Well, I really like the Ferrentino column. Ok, he got one fair point and try to stretch it over 2 pages, but I enjoyed it. I like the guy from Torq article’s but somebody has to tell him that he’s not funny and he should stopped using too many parenthesis with bad jokes in it.

This can really be called Col du Clent now, it’s probably reopened by now but more snow coming. Don’t forget the chains for the tyre.

My own one:

I’m sorry but ST is doing a very good job of finding new themes for their articles and that’s make them different from the other lots.

My partner does not like Singletrack, too much for blokes with all the dodgy titles such as “Joy of Bonking” and all the pseudo names rider like to be called. She said it’s like a bunch of kids talking at school and really wonder how many girls read the mag and appreciate it. But no worries, I’m buying it so no need to target a new market.

Side question: I’m running twice a week, 6-10km each time, indoor or outdoor, and I notice that my performance is getting down slowly, like for the same loop I have to add 1 or 2 min each time. I can feel my legs are getting tired earlier than usually, could it be that I need a new pair of shoes? Or that my fitness level is going down with my age (going 40 soon).

Oh yes, we want to see that.

Ok, thanks for leting me know! Next time.

No, I’m not in SPAM but I should really. I will probably ride from Trowbridge upon Biss. Drop me a email tomorrow morning if you think you can make it!

Your username make me laugh.

Looks good, but same week end as the Dyfi for me…and I like to do it this year. Still can register an interest for me and my girlfriend who is into Wildlife. The rabbit over there looks enormous…

Thanks for all your replies. Just went to the Shimano website, find my part number, FH-M585, google it…and find that place:http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/%5B/url%5D. Look like heaven . And they even sell dust cap… not sure it will fit mine but I can try.

STW you rocks.