Of all the things that bother me, this wouldn’t be one of them. Slow down, stop, or as a last resort do a massive bunny hop over them 😉

Mrmo, I’d agree about the land owner point, but all I’d ask is that repairs are carried out more sympathetically. Instead of creating a 3m wide flat path, spend more just improving the patches that need drainage improvements or are badly eroded. Better still spend the money where it’s needed more such as maintenance of school buildings or keeping libraries open.

Regarding access by horses, like us they are accessing the outdoors environment and need to deal with the terrain that’s there.

Don’t know that route myself but getting pretty fed up with trail sanitisation, just wondering what can be done. Suppose I should write a letter to my MP, another to the council and maybe get involved with the local access forum…?

What i’m wondering is in these times of financial hardship where councils are finding this money?

Loving the technique through the drainage channels there. I was a little surprised that a ‘keen mountain biker’ would opt for bloody big channels made from what looked like slippery bricks running diagonally across the path on a fast descent. Nothing a good bunny hop won’t deal with but strikingly treacherous for the inexperienced, I thought.

I’d have thought that anyone could use whatever mode of transport they see fit with the land owners permission.

Walkers should be reminded of the kinder trespass, and informed that this is our own mild civil disobedience. Sounds like the farmers wife has a chip on her shoulder, but technically in the right.

Both. SS hardtail for most rides and geared bouncer for bigger rides or when i’m feeling a bit wussy.

All good and there’s a nice descent line in Ravenscliffe wood. Loads in Calverley & West woods too. Not too many nettles on the official bits of the route but more on the cheeky/unmarked bits. Check out black Carr and you can get away with using the fp between black Carr and the bottom of keeper lane if you don’t fancy the climb up to bankhouse.

djaustin, I got the impression they were intended more for touring bikes, where I’m sure they’d be ideal.

Maybe I just got a bad pair, but I didn’t treat them any differently to pedals that have lasted 2+ years. My biggest issue was setting off where there was a climb or imminent technical section. I’d get the first foot in, but then ended up faffing for the second. I think mud/ice must have been a factor in the pedals being unpredictable.

Anyway I’d maintain that I wouldn’t like to recommend them for mtb. Flats are best as they can give a large platform on to which your foot is easily and quickly located and once on with the right shoe/pedal combo feel more secure than spd’s. There are also none of the accidental unclip issues.

Maybe I should elaborate…

The problems I’ve had are firstly that the locking mechanism isn’t that strong, so if you forget it’s locked or have a heavy handed mate who doesn’t realise it’s locked then it can be overcome with some brute force. Secondly because unlike the 591 the fixed bit of the arm is the bit that goes over the down tube rather than under it can be troublesome getting the bike to go in. When the carrier is new the arm will stay up, but that soon wears and it just drops freely now on both. Basically this makes loading bikes a 2 person job.

Admittedly once you have the bike in the carrier feels very secure and doesn’t worry me in that respect.

Thule 591’s, but the bikes can wobble a bit. If you have trouble with frame shapes then then 561 is very good, but oddly more expensive than the 591. I have a couple of Atera Giro which aren’t great.

Tbh, them dual sided shimano pedals are bobbins. I never seemed to be able to get the side I wanted and they made setting off incredibly difficult at times. I was glad when one of them fell apart after 6 months so I could swap them.

Now i’m using spd’s on the single speed but only because my 5.10’s take an age to dry and I have some good spd winter boots. Prefer flats.

Sorry trout, but seeing Paddy ‘helping’ with the barrowing today was properly funny. 😉 Hopefully you’ll get him trained up for next time. I was impressed with what we got done in such a short amount of time. Well worthwhile!

HP Service Manager. I used to think Remedy was bad. Not compared to this.

ITunes has no place on a PC.

+1 shortcut

the fact that when it really is raining as hard when I am on my bike as it is if I am in doors, that I still love it!

Keeping a pack of baby wipes on my desk at work to clean the mud off my face and legs after the morning commute.

Being out doing something that most other people wouldn’t because it’s hard work. Appreciating our beautiful countryside – even just a stones throw from urbanisation.

Meeting other considerate trail users and exchanging a friendly ‘hello’.

Doing something that tickles the non-conformist chord in my psyche – like most night riding.

Nailing some bit of technical trail feature and seeing my mates try to follow me and sometimes pull it off, sometimes not. Seeing one of my mates nail something that I can’t and having a crack – developing as a group.

Lauging at ourselves at the stupidity of staying in the pub so long after a winter ride that we’re now so cold and having to fumble about with locks and lights and we’re not going to be in until midnight even though it’s a school night.

Feeling some ownership of the countryside and making an effort to keep it nice.

Dog walkers!

Effing dog walkers who cannot control their animals. Their dogs (there are usually more than one) come running toward you get in front of you wheels and as you make your very best effort not to run it/them over the owner stands there shouting at said animals and giving you a look of disgust. This is not at speed either – this can be bimbling along chatting pace. Keep your dogs under control you muppets!

Dog walkers #2 – allowing your animals to crap in public and not cleaning it up. I don’t care if it’s a footpath brindleway or kids play park it’s just not acceptable – at all.

I’m usually quite a calm person but these people make my blood boil.

Ooh, so close but just not close enough. Good post.

That said, it could be the moor just above Skiddaw…

I’d say the big lump of grit suggests pennines, so Yorkshire or Northumberland are most likely. Derbyshire can probably be discounted as it’s debatable whether it’s the midlands or north.

North moor?

Hmmm, it does look familiar. Second punt, High ash head moor.

Nice bike.

Lofthouse moor?

Not a chance! Why should I look like a pillock just to help feckless drivers. Also it would be impractical on hot days when you need to stay as cool as possible.

Ride defensively and maximize lumens at dusk onwards.

That wasn’t the reason. To me it looks suspicious because the spec is all wrong and to own a bike of that value I’d expect the seller to at least know the basics. Anyway it’s just a notification and Ebay can make the decision about what to do.

Reported to Ebay, fwiw.

It’s a poor light. I have one and the battery lasts ages, but so does a candle. Cateye stuff seems to be bobbins nowadays.

I’d maybe look at one of the Blackburn or electron lights at that price point.

They’re a very nice little unit, very compact and ideal for a helmet light, however they do run hot and compared to trouts liberator a lot less bright. Smaller and brighter that the previous vision 4.

I don’t understand the r8. It’s using older generation leds and a tiny battery with silly low run times.

Loddrik, have you considered that maybe the op doesn’t have elsewhere to keep his bikes? Are you suggesting that people who don’t have a garage shouldn’t keep bikes?

I should expect to be able to leave my bikes anywhere without have them nicked by some scrote. Unfortunately we don’t live in that world do we do what we can, and if that means keeping bikes out of sight in a shed then so be it.

Best of luck recovering you’re bikes Orange cinq.

I can recommend Urr Lodge. It’s not exactly close but if you’re planning to visit some other stanes it works out well.