Proper cable cutter are loads better than side cutters of pliers, but if you heat the inner cable where you want to cut it 1st with a lighter, then cut it while it’s still hot, it cuts much more cleanly.

It doesn’t make a ‘significant’ difference-I’ve got my calulations somewhere but can’t be bothered to find them at the moment. It’s a tiny percentage increasement not really worth bothering with using modern materials.
I have both ridden on tied & untied wheels & cannot honestly tell any difference, but am not saying there isn’t a difference, hence part of the reason I will tie & solder my next pair-because I can & if there’s a slight improvement that’s not going to cost me a fortune I may as well have it.

It is much more of a track/road thing, idea was to give the effect of a bigger hub flange & shorter spoke, so making the wheel stiffer. Not really noticable now with much better quality spokes & rims that allow higher tension compared to years ago. Although I am going to do my next set of wheels, haven’t had many people go for it on costs grounds because of how long it takes to do it neatly & properly.

Hopefully get up there Sunday afternoon to watch the racing & get some photo’s

Surely that depends on the quality of workmanship you’re after?
I prefer my wheels to be as close to perfect as possible & everyone I build is done so in the same manner.
I have a good reputation for my wheel building & wish to keep it!

There shouldn’t be a significant difference in tension, but there will be a difference. If you think you’re about finished with it, have a look down on the nipple from the rim, so you can see the spoke coming into the nipple (if that makes sense) you should have the spoke about half way through the grove in the top of the nipple where it sits in the rim. If its not that far in, spokes are too short, if it’s protrusing from the nipple, then the spokes are too long.

Any reasonable flashgun should do the job, I’ve got Canon 420 & 550EX’s. Rear curtain flash sync is done in camera, not sure where it’ll be on a 450, but on my 40D’s it’s in the custom functions so have a look there.
for off camera stuff you’ll need a compatible flash gun & a wireless trigger mechanism-cheap ones can be found on ebay.

Find many LBS’s won’t be far off CRC on alot of Shimano stuff at the moment, I know my local one is doing them for £55, but don’t do mail order

There’ll most likely be plenty of people around by then, so just have a chat to some other riders, or go & see Paul in the bike shop & ask if there’s any locals around who’ll show you some trails.
The Kitchener trail is easy to find & follow from the car park as will says I rode it with him yesterday, then just explore from there, can’t really go far wrong

34.9mm

I’d never run a shock boot, having seen the damage it did to a mate’s shock! I had a Reign with a similar design for 3 years & had no trouble at all without one

Give the guys at Saddle Skedaddle a try, really friendly bunch who’ll do their best to help you. Phone number is 0191 2651110 or http://www.skedaddle.co.uk
Just let them know TSW directed you, as they should ask.

The ones that have been stolen aren’t sig posts yet though, just tall palin posts about 2m tall-many of which are now blue! The smaller ones that are marking the Kitchener trail haven’t been touched (yet) Think the ones that have been taken have been lifted for resale-you wouldn’t lift them out by hand going by the size of them & they’re also 2m underground, or so I’ve been told.

Sounds good Matt, how’s rob getting on with his? Havent seen him since he got them! (I’m Dave from TSW, who spannered for him last year)

Had it on one with a swinger 3 way as well, swapped the shock for a spare 3 way I had-problem solved. Try stripping it down, you can get instructions form Manitou’s website. They’re straight forward enough & not nitrogen charged like many shocks

Have done mine twice now, 1t time I was skiing & was 3 months before the physio would let me ride again. Thought it was at full strengh when it popped out again while holding a horse (long story) Physio again & been warned ‘when’ it happens again it’ll need surgery. Hospital both time to have it relocated. Get it looked at if I were you.
Clunks & groans on a regular basis, which my missus hates, but can be quite funny!

That happened a couple of weeks ago, there wasn’t ever any signs on the posts as they haven’t got them finished yet.
The posts iirc weren’t concreted in either, just dropped in a hole & backfilled.
All the signs for the main trail itself are in place still

Just a quick word of warning, there’s an endurance horse ride on at Sherwood Pines on sunday as well, 120 horses will be about all day from 9am ish until 3pm, so you might not have the best ride on some bits. The main singletracks will be ok though-I’m photographing them, but will be out riding when they’ve gone home

seat tube is the right size, so shouldn’t be that, was run in a previous bike without any issue. The post seems a nice snug fit in the seattube too. Might try a hope one now they’re doing 30mm ones.

Conditions are fantastic at the moment, went up on monday & hasn’t rained since. Really dry & fast.
Kitchener trail is all signed now, 1st section of northshore is being built, has been done in the last week or so.
‘DH’ bit is more fun on the r/h track, much nicer/faster lines on that one.

You can get to that point though Olly by shimming them properly. Can take a while, but can be done quite easily.

Depends on how long it takes, what the frame/fork is made from & how far out it is.
Some shops also may have a minimum workshop charge, usually £10-50.
Also will vary massively on if you use said LBS on a regular basis or not, perhaps shouldn’t, but loyal customers do tend to get a better deal on things like that, I know our customers do!

At a weekend I’d only ride on the marked trails up there the way that it’s signed, it just gets too damn busy now to to ride it the older way round on lots of it. Ride it during the week, or early/late in the day at weekends & it’s still quiet. Don’t find much of it rides better the opposite way round to be fair & most of what’s signed it fairly new (within the last 5 years anyway)

Standard Fox eye bush, 1/2″ iirc or 12.7mm, TF sell them for not much, or most LBS’s if they’re any good will keep them in stock.
Have a look here:
http://www.tftunedshox.com/mount-kits/mount-kits-and-bushings.html#eyelets

Sherwood PInes is riding well at the moment, been up there this morning for a couple of hours, the main trail is signed now too. Loads of singletrack that’s pretty easy to find.
Cannock is more hilly, but I find it harder to find the trails, possibly because I don’t know the area as well, or possibly because they’re better hidden! Some cracking trails there other than Follow the Dog if you can find them

Lot of money, but have you seen the new Maxxis Maxxlite 285’s? £129 each RRP!

I’ve got an old Thule one & that’s great, 1st time I used it, threw it on & drove 3 hours to the lakes with 3 large full sus bikes, no problems at all, easy to fit as well. Sell quite a few Pendle ones at the shop & they’re really nice quality, but not cheap, but have now started making a tilting version, might be worth a look

BB shell is 68mm, axle is dictated by the chainset, if shimano it’s usually 113, some raceface ones are 108, even had some at 118 on certain shimano set ups. Try & find out what’s in it now, or at least what chainset is fitted

Yup, very local, in the woods with 10mins from home on the bike. I’ll come if I can, but think I’m away next weekend

It’s great fun,don’t take it too seriously & enjoy it. Have a few beers friday night with loads of like minded people. gGuessing you’re not going to try & win? So no point in getting too stressed.

One thing we’ve noticed at work with them though, the rims are fairly soft, so if you use them as winter wheels with the grit on the rad they seem to wear out really quickly.
Also good luck if you need to get spares for them. Shame really as they do look like good value

So what’s he supposed to do? Not plough his field & get on with his work, just so you can stay clean & have an easy ride? Give him chance & he’ll more than likely reinstate it.

Don’t worry about the rally, it’s been cancelled due to low entries according to their website
http://www.robinhoodforeststages.co.uk/
So should be fine to go riding, trails are really nice at the moment, drying nicely. Good choice on the day as following weekend there’s over 100 horses at an Endrance event there.

Come down & help, take your bike as there’s often teams looking for a rider, or put up an advert looking for a spot in someone’s team. If you don’t find one, just drink for 24hours

I’ll stay away then if there’s going to be a mass invasion 😉

You’ll struggle will if you haven’t got your entry in by now for solo, there’s only 135 places this year according to the website

Yup, solo again, got the email this morning.

Crank Borthers multitool
Leatherman
tyre levers
tubes (at east 3!)
repair kit
powerlinks (8&9speed)
cable ties
insulation tape
spare layer of clothes
1st aid kit
mini pump
shock pump
spare gear cables
brake pads
pliers
money
water
food
Think that’s about it, but quite likely a few extra bits as well

Bugger, course it is, serves me right for not reading what the frame was!

Or depending of how quickly you need it doing, take the hanger off & send that up to me to sort.