Jumble? MTB bits? If you have enough stuff to justify the stall fee, check out Peaty’s Bike Bonanza coming up end of the month.

No, you don’t need one*.

One some of the tracks a 6″ travel bike can be faster, like the blue, top of the red and some of the smooth bottom bits (I rode both, mate rode both, we were matched speed on similar bikes but he pulled away on his ‘am’ and me on my dh).

1.5″ on a 6″ travel bike is 25%. I’d start there.

*owning one is fun though, if you can justify it and ride it often enough to make the most of it. I still have one but don’t get anywhere close to pushing it any more as I spend 90% of my time on my 6″ bike, which is nearly as capable.

Yes, absolutely. Months of research then a day of denial before 30 minutes of calm/blank.

Do it with big purchases, used to do it before big jumps on the bike and the same feeling before dropping in to ‘big’ lines on skis.

Bought a brand new van recently after failing to find a decent 2nd hander in budget!

Well done, they sound brilliant bikes.

I’d employ a ‘gentleman’ who would take care of bikes, skis, transport and logistics. Decent salary and fantastic adventures await.

“Load the van, pack the toys, book the tickets, see you in the Alps” would be a common phrase.

Then I’d dedicate myself to family and flying down mountains with mates as often as possible.

At least someone got a Duffbag…

Universal Gas Services are great too.
http://www.ugs-ltd.co.uk/

Brake caliper mounting bolts had the same thread as my TV when I DIY wall mounted mine using a wooden baton (french cleat). If you’ve got some spares give it a whirl. I think I have loads if you need some.

Found a box recently labelled ‘3rd bedroom’. Only been in 12 years…

driving a black vehicle in the fog with no lights

Fog’s white/grey. High contrast, innit. No need for lights. ;)

Note – if you do turn them on, TURN THEM THE #### OFF AGAIN when the fog goes!!

Another vote for Osram Nightbreaker. Put them in my last van, big improvement. Just about to order some for me new ones and OEMs will be my spares.

Simply, it’s a streaming service with access to massive amounts of music but only when you are connected to the internet*.

Think of it like renting all the music you can imagine. When the contract stops, you loose access.

They do a 3 month trial so give it a go for free.

* you can manually manage downloads to store some stuff locally, but that cannot be copied across devices and expires when your subscription stops.

This was left at ours recently. Never told them about a safe place, but did find the parcel in the outside loo!

I didn’t have a choice but am 6 foot so just grabbed the large one.

I bought it for big days out – Snowdon in mixed weather, hike a bike in the Alps, but I’ve stopped using my Raptor and just use the Zealot all the time. The lid lock is great for an XC lid or the 2 upper straps on the rear flap go through the chin guard on a full face. This keeps the lid steady with its own weight holding it down. An extra strap could be added to stop it bouncing if needs be, I think.

Disappointed that there’s no 64gb version of the 5X, which was rumoured.

The Cloud doesn’t cut it when I am on a fligt or roaming and don’t want a massive data bill but like a decent selection of music and videos. Need to check if it has OTG support.

No Qi charging which is interesting. I found it useful but not a deal breaker.
Quick charge is nice.

Love my Zealot. Good and stable with a full face on but not sure I’d want to trail ride with it on there, it still bounces a bit.

Wrong side of the Pennies for clogs, surely? Traditionally a Lancashire thing.

Right side for bikes though. What hardtail? I’d bring that and head out through the Parks, Porters Clough, Ringonglow and Lady Cannings. Devils Elbow and home (or back up) if you have the time/legs/batteries.

Trailstar is softer and tears up on the back but is good on the front.

Some has issues with side knobs tearing off but it was a warranty issue, mine have been fine.

Lots of mixed reviews, have a search on here but they suit me well and were great for the Lakes riding I did this year.

Mine usually squeals when it’s been put away and not ridden. Has it been stored somewhere slightly damp – unheated garage, shed or cellar? If it squeals but still slows down, a few hard stops from speed or down a hill often cures it.

The Gloworm mount uses the sprung ‘shoe’ from GoPro, to fit into their stick on mounts. A GoPro mount stuck to the bottom of a Garmin mount might work but it’s not the same part of the system as the above k-edge.

Of course if you have access to a 3d printer anything is possible! :)

Worth very little.
I ‘restored’ my ’93 purple LE, all period kit I had from new, RS Mag 20’s, Middleburn RS2’s, butter scotch smoke and dart, Sub 130 handlebars. Priced it up. Worth nowt so hung it on the workshop wall!

Yes
No

Nexus 5, regularly use Aeroplane mode for a full ride, even just a 3 hour one as the battery is indeed terrible!

Yes, it works in Aeroplane mode.
Or turn mobile data off, still works but less saving.

Mine has developed a knock or ‘notch’ about a third of the way into the travel. Feels like it lines up with the solo air port opening and equalising – started after I’d been playing with adding bands.

I stripped the air can off and the damper is totally smooth. Cleaned inside the air can in case the port was blocked but still doing it.

Might try an air can seal service and see if that cures it.

The sensors are just tyre pressure sensors. Run off the abs sensor and read the wheel rotations. A flat tyre gives a different reading. Remarkably sensitive. Maybe a 5psi change could set them off. Just reset after checking pressures on the newly fitted wheels, if you do it.

What he’s getting as it you only ‘waste’ the wheel cost, which also have a resale. We do lowish mileage so hopefully won’t buy tires for another 3-4 years as wear is split 70/30 across the 2 sets of wheels.

Last Xmas it was forecast to be 7-8 degrees so we set off to 4 days away. Came home to 4″ snow covering hilly Sheffield and had to dump the new BMW about a mile from home (a mate with a Landy gave us a lift with our 18 month old and all the bags and Xmas pressies)

Next day I ordered winter tyres. It snowed again. The car didn’t seem to notice. In fact, winters on a few inches of fresh snow had more grip than summers on a cold wet (snow free) road. Was driving up 15% gradients no problem. Could see people thinking “Ha, RWD, this will be funny. Oh.”.

If you don’t have to drive, they are a luxury and sounds like snow socks will do. But once you have winters, driving (with care) will be possible in pretty much any UK conditions (better/safer in cold/wet too, not just snow).

I’m almost looking forward to fitting them again!

Mr Winter is where we got ours. Very good price and service.

p.s. we went Conti’s. I didn’t want to save a couple of quid to find them only a bit better and we still got stuck, just closer to home, so spend a bit more to get the review winners and be sure they performed.

p.p.s. Socks sound OK for you. We live on a 12% hill, reasonably high (often rains in town and snows here) and our road doesn’t get gritted unless all the neighbours pitch in. So that’s just me and a shovel doing 500m then…

I asked for (and got none of) pretty much everything on this thread – BMX, skateboard, rc car, scalextrix and tin can alley being top of the list as well as Bigtrack and Evil.

One famous Xmas I got a green duffel coat instead. I was often round mates houses, playing with all of their stuff!

I feel vindicated now though as finally one year, aged about 12, I did get the 8860 car chassis. Some, if not all, of it is in a box in our back room. One day I’ll rebuild it “just to check it’s all there”. Can I get spares? Just bookmarked this in preparation:
http://lego.brickinstructions.com/lego_instructions/set/8860/Car_Chassis

The debonair is a good upgrade, depending on frame. It increases small bump sensitivity and it much plusher. High volume needs tuning tto get the best out of it, either DIY or with the RS reducing bands.

Plus is only really helpful on long downhills (Alsp etc) as it just gives more oil volume for better control and less fade.

Nice shock, I went from a 2012 Monarch to 2015 Debonair plus and it feels far better with my RCT3 Pikes.

Save up, treat yourself and take a moto Taxi! Just clench and close your eyes…

I dont know what I do wrong with google maps but it eats data when I use it,

Satellite layer turned on?
I did this once by mistake. Only wanted nav for the ETA. Used 800MB going down M1 from Sheffield to Slough!

Turned off, it uses virtually nothing. Even better if you fire up the route when you’re on WiFi, then stick to it, as said already.

I have 1GB allowance Google nav barely even makes a dent.

It’s brilliant – until you need directions and have no signal.

I’ve got some great video of my first attempts (no, not sharing!)

Tips – start on flats, in a doorway, elbows out. Something to grab is great – I had a rope from the cellar ceiling.

I can now do no handed and sprints up to 130+ cadence with practice.

I watch Supercross on YouTube and sprint when a rider makes a pass. A session goes quickly and a tight race leaves me barely able to climb the stairs…

Ah yes, concave! :oops:

Now convex rollers would be a challenge!

Why do you have to disconnect the pump to compress?

My shock pump is rated at 350psi.

My Debonair is rated to 350psi and I run it at 275psi.

If I fully compress a shock at is, at 275psi uncompressed, the pressure will be way above that at which the pump is rated. You are not relying on the shock seals which are designed for the pressure spike, but could well be overloading the pump gauge.

Shock pump is not a good test. When you connect the pump, air from the shock enters the shock barrel. This slightly depressurises the shock as pressured equalise.

Is your sag changing?

Debonair – generally equalise a few times during the pressurising. Disconnect the pump and compress, you’ll hear it ‘pop’.

Bang on for me today. Right on time.

I went for some aluminium ones and got these:

http://www.jetblackproducts.com/products/JBT-R1-V2

Under £150, think they were more like £129.

Very happy with them, nice and durable, parallel rollers (not convex).
Careful setup to match rollers to wheelbase makes it easier to steer!
No resistance, so not good for max power but brilliant for cadence drills, core and smooth pedalling. You can really work up a sweat running top gear at 90rpm.

Consider Liverpool as well if Manchester is within reach. Easyjet used to do a flight 8:15 home Monday night. Full day on the slopes and home for midnight if you are lucky!

For France, Pierre et Vaccences or Maeva are two big accommodation agencies with lots of options, websites will say by the day or not.

Chamonixallyear for, erm, Cham!
Cham Express for transfers

Alpy Bus too

Local tourist office websites often have links to all the accom.

Flaine/Les Carroz worth a look for a short break as it’s close to Geneva so you could get an extra half day on the piste.

Loads of options , I’d start with a country and narrow it down based on flight times and transfer times.

In my experience you could struggle to book a 4 day trip with a travel conpany as and when you want with flights to suit.

I’ve done loads of DIY weekends and its a bit daunting at first but quite easy.

Flight – easy jet or jet 2 are good times/locations
Transfers – loads of low cost flexible mini bus services
Accom – depends where you go. For weekends we tend to aim for Chamonix as there’s loads of by the night accommodation.

If you need someone to help buy your lift pass or book lessons and gear then a package makes sense, if not you are paying for a rep/support you don’t need.

No choice…

Explained here (NSFW/kids lyrics):

I hate dealership stickers too, especially ones bang in line with the rear view mirror, which seems a specialty.

Car dealerships have started putting branded reg plates on as well now, bastards!

I found out recently it’s UK law that the number plate supplier puts their name and postcode on, along with the BS standard for number plates.