The TCL has been superseded by the British Cycling level 2 MTB leadership award.

In my opinion it’s quite a valuable course as it gives you the skills to not only lead, but to help others with technique and mechanics, plus more. There’s also an element of risk management and dealing with unexpected situations such as breakdowns on the trail. Too much to go in to here but have a look at the BC web site. http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/coaching/article/leader-Level-2-MTB-Leadership-homepage-0

The MBL equivalent is not ready yet but should exist next year as the BC MTB L3 award.

It’s like this. Anyone who knows about the OSI 7 layer model should understand but I’ll try to explain.

Think about it in layers. First you have the physical stuff, what connector to use, where to position it, what voltages to use. Then you have things like what types of signal, data, analogue, basic switch signals, eg on/off. Once you’ve agreed that you can start to think about what you’ll transfer, audio, video, control signals, packet data? Now what format of audio signal? Raw (more data), mp3, or something else, what video signal, what switching signal format etc. Now for video we have a whole can of worms because, well today that’s just how video is, a mess! Do we even want to go there, it’s sounding tricky so let’s leave it open (DLNA anyone?). Now, how do we present it all? Do we have a two way signalling process for audio or just let the consumer figure it out (ie lose rewind/ff). Ok, so some of this stuff can be off the shelf, but you still need to decide.

Now try to keep this up to date with changing standards and emerging technologies. Now try to agree it with competing businesses whilst fighting off law suits from some company who did a half baked implementation and now can’t adopt your standard (toys out of pram).

I’m sure this is all possible but the big players need to do it, and why bother when you can make more profit with less effort to the detriment of your consumers…?

have they banned you now?

It might have been me had I not spotted the collection of tents already there and decided to pitch up at the furthest possible point away. It’s something to do with the mix of people who go for a bit of a grill and drinking session, and people that want to get up early for ‘the challenge’. It leaves about a 1.5 hour window of opportunity for sleep.

DLNA on the Samsung is best described as finicky and badly implemented. It works well with Serviio once you’ve found and implemented the correct profile, but I wouldn’t rely on it as a replacement for whatever you have now.

See my earlier comment about updates though. It might be better now but this is my experience on my 2 year old set.

not sure if that could be done over USB

Probably not, but there are other technologies now that Apple could bee using their significant resources and budget to invest in, improve or maybe just adopt.

A basic digital to analogue converter in the dock would suffice though, I should think.

High quality audio can be done in less than 6mbps, which is what USB 1 can support. USB 2 would easily handle anything a iPhone could want to do.

It’s Apple being different for the sake of it. I imagine it has a lot to do with docking and keeping the docks exclusive to apple devices.

Don’t get charmed by internet TV’s. IME they’re great when new but as the services landscape shifts around the applications don’t, so you’ll probably end up without the services you want in the future.

This is my experience with Samsung and Sony. Neither offer the Netflix app as I guess it’s a selling point for newer TV’s.

Oh that and they have a more complex software stack with infrequent updates. I.e. bugs don’t get fixed very quickly at all.

Make sure you get ‘freeview HD’, freeview + HD TV isn’t the same as many full HD sets aren’t capable of picking up the UK HD signal.

One useful thing is PVR if it’s the type that allows time shifting. It does on the Samsung but not the Sony. Pretty useless as a PVR, but for the cost of a cheap USB key you get to pause TV.

I could go on but tbh I’m sure you’ll be happy with most of what’s out there now. Just be careful of the really low end stuff as whilst there are some gems there are some pretty horrible sets too.

Done that stroll a couple of times and can’t say there was any need for support.

The pub in question was shut both times which I thought was odd given the number of people who’d drop in for tea and cake while passing, but then I reckon a lot of folk in the Dales seem to have a bit to learn re tourism.

The one thing that puts me off doing the walk every year is the poor provision in Horton. Two very average pubs and a hell hole chav magnet of a camp site. Both times I’ve stayed there has been fighting due to anti-social behaviour.

That said it’s a stunning day out and not particularly hard for the reasonably fit. Pen-y-Ghent café is excellent and the tea van at Ribblehead gives a welcome break when it’s there.

Fwiw, I think they’re pretty good. I wonder if the bad rep they get has a little to do with the cheap nasty version that comes in at the entry level.

I’ve run the pro kevlar version and UST. I find them reasonable in most conditions, including mud, but never outstanding. I have some high rollers that are rubbish in some conditions where the fire cross are good, but then they are outstanding elsewhere. You can’t ghetto the non-UST version, but the UST variant is worth the extra IMO.

Swings and roundabouts really. If you want a tyre that you can run all year round because you CBA swapping then they’re a good choice IMHO.

Sintered always for me. Mud and grit eat organic pads very quickly.

Not had any problems with the superstar pads myself but I reckon the Hope pads last a fair bit longer and come with the extra bits so there’s not much in it if you can get an offer on buying a few packs at once.

It’s really more dependent on how far you’re pushing yourself, I think. Learning how to do ’emergency dismounts’ is helpful.

Darwin had a theory to deal with these incidents. Might be worth getting your chimney capped if it happens again.

After fishing two pigeons out from behind the fire on two separate occasions I can’t say I’d bother again. I’d imagine the natural air flow up the chimney would prevent the smell so maybe just some fine netting over the fireplace to stop the flies getting out – they can be hoovered up later.

My meta also finding itself in an increasingly DH persona. I’m considering some 55 bombers or float 36’s. The revs on it now are feeling like the weak link.

The bombers will not help with weight but as I see it there’s a choice to be made. You can’t necessarily have it all.

Also, look at 2011 or 2010 models

Bear in mind that helmets have an expiration date and are designed to last 3-5 years depending on the manufacturer. Apparently the material they’re made from loses it’s integrity over time.

Might just be marketing BS but if it’s protecting your head because you’re pushing boundaries it might not be one to compromise on.

I’ve started picking the occasional one or two up and stuffing them in my rubbish pocket in my bag. Makes no odds really as it all goes in the bin at the end. Let’s all try to do the same. Maybe the perpetrators will eventually be shamed in to not dumping them but that’s probably just me being optimistic.

Irritating though isn’t it…

Seems to me that the police do a good job for the most part but spend most of the time catching the same people who just get let out again. There’s a whole bit chunk of our society that is fundamentally broken and the police seem to spend all their time cleaning up the mess.

I know that I should know better, but the sentences summarised at the end of that police camera programme are worryingly unrepresentative of the crimes committed.

It’s a difficult decision about priorities, but fwiw I’m with the police officer in this situation, unless of course she really was on a doughnut run…

Thanks for the responses.

I was hoping to avoid starting from Glenridding hence my specificity around the old coach road, I’ve not ruled it out though, and definately want to bag the descent via Dollywagon.

b r, the bridleway you refer to, did you take the one from Mariel Bridge (NY350226) or Groovebeck Fold (NY373221)? The former can’t be found on Google Earth and the latter can for the most part. I’m just hoping to avoid attempting the latter if it’s less apparent from the ground than it is from the sky. I think I’ve stood and looked for the former previously and it wasn’t at all obvious.

It is lovely isn’t it. It seems to have come on immensely in the last 6 months thanks to all the hard work the SingletrAction guys have put in. The new drops are particularly nice and should remain so as long as people keep off them until they’re finished.

+1 Cheerful Chilli.

Lovely riding up to that point. Shame he didn’t quite nail it.

Why would you want an external BB? There are some advantages but arguably more to square taper.

Why not just buy a Shimano un54?

In all honesty I cannot tell the difference other than that my pedals do not spin freely with the external BB and they wear out much sooner. On the plus side they’re a bit lighter.

Pen-y-Ghent café in Horton-in-Ribblesdale

Dog & Partridge @ Tosside/Gisburn

The pub in Long Preston just on the left as you emerge on to the a65 after a trip to Gisburn

The Lakeland peddler

Stump cross cavern

The tea van at Janet’s Foss nr. Malham

There are many more, and yes this is a better thread.

Just often? Seems like it’s usually an inability to separate an individual from their perceived group/tribe (we are tribal beings).

It’s a basic human trait to look down upon and be suspicious of people who you perceive as different and requires a level of intelligence to put the primal instinct to one side and to think rationally.

That’s my opinion anyway.

It’s surprising how much skin a little grub screw can tear through in an instant. Get some veggie shins or maybe normal football shin pads.

+1 heavy feet, light hands.

I’ve used superstar pads as well as disco. The disco pads didn’t fit properly and wore down extremely quickly, even for organic. I’ve not tried the superstar organic pads, just sintered. I don’t think they last as well as Hope OEM, but they work out cheaper overall. No reliability issues to date apart from the spreader isn’t as strong as the Hope one.

I don’t think avid pads tend to last very well compared to Hope and maybe others, so superstar probably compare even more favourably.

You don’t really understand how this country works, do you?

I can hope.

As in the wife cheating, self-centred narcissistic footballist

Not that I’m a Beckham fan or anything, I’m not. But, how many people who have achieved great things are well rounded people who put as much effort in to their family/loved ones etc as they do what they are known for. Everybody has their flaws, some bigger than others but nobody can be all things to all men. Beckham is obviously very focussed on what it is he does otherwise he wouldn’t be so successful as he is.

Personally I’m not sure he’s done enough but others may disagree. He’s not been engaged in any criminal activity (as far as we know), so why not judge him on his merits rather than his flaws.

I do hope we get over this stupid idea that people can be perfect fairly soon as it’s really not very helpful.

Sounds pretty unacceptable to me, I’d consider that a frame should not crack under normal use regardless of age, and you were sold a lifetime warranty.

Small claims might be worth a punt, misleading sales information etc. Give trading standards or whatever they’re called now a ring for some advice – they can be quite good.

Personally I wouldn’t let it rest after just a small email exchange – let them know you’re serious about following it through. Do your research and write them a letter, including how you intend to follow up if you don’t get a satisfactory response. It might get you nowhere but you never know…

I’m not sure how an FS will help you with rocks and roots if you say it’s a confidence thing. Roots is all about weighting and unweighting at the right times and hitting them in the right way. Importantly you can’t be timid with them and tyre choices don’t seem to help.

If you’re struggling with rocks then it might be about tyre choices or even just tyre pressure. Try running them a little softer and see if it makes a difference. Get some recommendations for good tyres – local knowledge helps here due to different types of rock, but I find high rollers good for just about everything except mud.

Lastly, definately get your saddle out of the way if you think it’s hindering you. Before buying a dropper why not try getting a decent QR and some carbon paste so it’s nice and easy to adjust. This way you can get the saddle out of the way in less than 10 secs and again see if it makes a difference.

I’m not trying to talk you out of getting an FS bike, but I think buying one for the wrong reasons, or worse still the wrong bike for you just leads to a lot of expense and risks disappointment.

Keeley Donovan’s nice enough, though she does have worryingly long forearms.

I’d ban FS ownership prior to HT ownership, and cheap FS bikes such as asda BSO and Reebok etc. Can’t help thinking they just give people a terrible experience of bikes.

Unnecessary vehicles should go.
CallMeDave, banned.
Religious institutions, banned.
There are many, many more things…

Get some more skills from a skills day. Much cheaper, fun, and you’ll get to meet some new people.

Bigger bikes are fun though!

I mean I only had to shim the calliper out about 1.5mm. Maybe the positioning is a bit different depending on production runs etc. 5mm sounds quite a lot so it sounds like a nut would work well. I’d probably want to put a washer either side of it if that’s possible, just to prevent any damage to frame or calliper in case of any movement.

Interesting. I only needed to use shims on mine.

Me too.

Good for skills! I’m finding I need to preempt the terrain much more carefully and to stay really loose. Brill for hoofing off stuff and getting lots of air.

I think they’re normally called shims. Google ‘hope shims’ or maybe ‘IS brake shims’

The idea is to insert just the right number until the calliper is centred on the disc. You can use a normal washer in there if you need to make up a bit of space but make sure it’s wide enough.

The trails at Drumlanrig seem ‘natural’ because that’s how they’re designed

Then that’s a testament to the quality of your work and the thought put in to the trail design. Personally I thought £5 to ride the trail was a reasonable amount to ask, my discomfort comes from volunteers working on trails that might benefit a private enterprise, but then that’s my issue and if people are happy to volunteer then that says alot about their selflessness.

Good work all the same.

I do like a good technical climb, or maybe even a non technical climb if it’s a good gradient and the views are nice.

Depends on the rest of your hardware. Anything less than a dual core with 4GB RAM and go XP. Disk performance is also really important, but difficult to measure meaningfully.

Service packed vista is ok, but notably slower than 7 on a like for like device.

I’m liking the comments about corners controlling speed. A good set of banked corners should allow the rider to create speed, railing a set of berms each one faster than the last until you eventually have to calm it down a bit is a privilege the corner cutters will not experience.

As it happens the corners just before the stair case on home baked fit this category. Lovely set of berms they are, and not a single petunia in sight.

From a discussion I had on another thread I learned (obvious really) that DH is about getting from top to bottom as fast as possible. For most other people it’s about fun not timings.