I get a smile and a wave whenever I pass squaddies or Landmarc on Tunnel or even in the middle of Ash Ranges (obviously when the flags are down). I ride there 2-3 times a week and have never had a problem.

Only time I was asked to move on the troops told me exactly where would be quiet for the rest of the day.

None of this has changed in the last few years BUT I’d always be polite and turn around if I came across any exercises. It is their playground after all.

All revolves nicely around the Lower Star Post (Point 5 on the handy map above).

Do the first half of Blue and then instead of heading straight over from Stickler (Blue 10?) into Tank Traps turn right and head for the clearing at the post and then turn right and pick up Red again – there’ll be a bit of fireroad amongst the pipe works (heading to point 6 on the map) but you’ll soon pick up Red 5.

It’s only Tank Traps that’s missing at the moment and the rest is just the same.

Got a LS Flow in medium and it comes up big. Room for armour underneath. Also got a SS Trail in medium and its a good size. Nice loose fit.

So I’d put them both at the slightly bigger end of a normal medium fit.

Been running one since around October with a DD Ralph on the back. Not too much different to the old one to be honest. Comes with Snakeskin as standard now though.

Found it’s a bit sketch on muddy corners but in the dry it grips really well.

Got an X0 triple chainset on mine and nearly keeled over when I saw the cost of replacement rings – about £80 for a set. Picked up a full set of hardly used ones on ebay for less than £20 and have kept an eye out for cheapo ones ever since.

Changed to a double recently – brand new rings again were £20 from Pinkbike. Lots of people going to 1x makes them come up often.

Got some X1700s (OEM specials I guess) that have been ridden 2 or 3 times a week for 3 years and have not been touched.

I’m not the biggest guy and the wheels hardly leave the ground but they’ve been perfect over the time I’ve had them.

Double defence is what you need for ‘under the tread’ protection.

I run a DD Ralph on the rear after being plagued by punctures. None so far but only done 50 miles on it. Mind you I was getting a puncture about every 50-60 on the non-DD one!

I have the Alp X short sleeve top and long sleeve thermo

My missus has those exact 2 jerseys and loves them along with her other Gore stuff. Lasts forever and never seems to show any wear.

Look about the same to me. Was running an old one on the back and a new one up front over the winter.

Tiny little Lezyne V7 and a separate Park Tool Brute chain splitter.

I’ve got a Gore Alp-X thermo. Black, long sleeved, full zip and a good fit.

Works in temperatures from zero (with a base layer and possibly gilet) to low teens. Not sure if that exactly matches your 9 months criteria but I’d say the only months you can’t wear it are June-Aug/Sept

Ebay kcnc ones are keeping my x0 running happy

Snakeskins have tougher sidewalls.
Double Defence have an extra layer under the tread and I think only come in Snakeskin anyway.

Sounds like it’s the latter you want if you want to stay with a NN.

Was looking at these to replace the RR I use as my summer rear. Couple of 2-3mm slices already this summer. One more puncture and I’ll be buying one.

I use Black Iridium sunlasses for driving. Great lenses – no glare, good contrast and keep colours genuine.

Mine (non DD) have had no problems with Swinley. Been on the bike for 6 months and are wearing in nicely

Charge LR here. It does get a bit sweaty on your back but no more than any other backpack of any sort.

Lumbar reservoir is okay but doesn’t work too well when you’re getting low and need to get to the last drops. No more difficult to fill and fit than my wife’s normal Charge though.

Side pouches are handy for food etc so you can get to them without taking the thing off. The main section has more than enough room for all day rides – tubes, tools, food, packable etc

Missus gets around 6-7 our of her 810 when in turn by turn mode so lots of screen usage.

Uses an Anker power pack in her pocket with a 1m usb cable plugged in. Has enough juice to charge it 2.5 times so will extend the battery by quite some way.

Gore windstoppers have always worked well for me. Powers were the road ones I had

Yep suffered from a bit of crotch snagging on my MT500 sprays (3/4s). Wouldn’t put me off getting another pair though

https://www.bike-components.de/en/Schwalbe/Racing-Ralph-Evolution-SnakeSkin-PaceStar-Faltreifen-Modell-2015-p40683/

30 Euros but another 15 for delivery!

http://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/schwalbe-racing-ralph-snakeskin-pacestar-26×2.25-tl-easy-230352

bike discount are another 8 Euros dearer but only 5 for postage

Either way with postage they are over £30

Assos are doing some MTB ones now. I havn’t tried these particular ones but their stuff is usually the best (though expensive).

Thought I’d check these out as the missus loves her roadie ones. £241 in Wiggle!!!

Think I’ll pass

Sugoi pads work for me so I wear their undershorts under my baggies in the summer and have a pair of their cold weather 3/4s for the winter under a pair of MT500 3/4s

Using clear black iridium photochromics here. All you’ll ever need, unless you ride at night

I think the Prizm lenses were originally developed for snowsports as they are much better in low contrast situations.

Endura Singletracks seem bulletproof for me. Current set are 3 years old and nothing wrong with them

@DK I used ‘bigmechcyclestore’ but was over a year ago now and they have nothing for sale atm.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/bigmechcyclestore/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_ipg=&_from=

Cost me £30 so more or less the price of SRAM stuff anyway but worth twice the price.

Had mine for a couple of years now. The only pair of sunglasses I have for riding and the only ones I’ve ever needed. Wear them every ride for the whole ride.

Got mine from here :

http://theopticshop.co.uk/oakley-sunglasses-radar-path-vented-polished-black-clear-black-irdium-photochromic-oo9051-04-136.html

Tunnel and Porridgepot are still fine to ride.

Was over on Porridgepot an hour or so ago and didn’t even know it had caught light again.

Ceramic bearing kcnc ones from ebay. Shiny and better.

Based on their forums being full of update problems (previous versions) I’m sticking with 3.2 or whatever. It just works and does what I need

510 would be my choice based on just upgrading from a 200 that I used for a few years.

The 200 was faultless but I upgraded for 2 reasons (3 if you count that it was Xmas and I was looking for something for the missus to buy me!) – the 1 second polling is a must for off road Strava-ing and the bluetooth auto upload to Garmin and then to Strava means I don’t have to switch the laptop on just to upload a ride.

That said the 200 is all you really ‘need’ and is a lot cheaper.

Got a set of Radar Paths with clear black iridium photo chromic lenses. Great in all but the brightest sun and perfect in and out of the trees.

Expensive but worth it. Missus has prescription versions in her half jackets

http://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/schwalbe-nobby-nic-snakeskin-pacestar-27.5×2.25-tl-easy-folding-230064/wg_id-8913

These are the 650b versions of the ones I bought. I’m still behind the times with my tiny wheels.

Don’t worry about the word ‘Evo’ not being in the description. If it says PaceStar/Trailstar or any other ‘Star’ that’s the good stuff.

PS I’ve never had an issue with sidewalls on any Schwalbe tyres but there’s not much pointy stuff where I ride. Mainly loamy/muddy natural trails.

Used to wear a set of 661 Veggie shin pads. That was before I realised that my trail running shoes and a set of V8s weren’t exactly helping me.

Not worn them for a couple of years since I swapped shoes and pedals but they did the trick and were comfy for hours at a time. Not sure you can get them any more though.

New Exo ones look like they will do a similar job although are a bit more full leg style

Got mine from bike-discount.de too – Pacestar compound. Not that impressed to be honest. I don’t think they are much different from the old ones. No more drag either to be honest. Using it on the front with an old style NN on the back.

Had a couple of front wheel wash-outs in the mud that have knocked my confidence in them to be honest. That could be more down to the rider than the tyre though.

5 10 Freerider Elements here. 2 winters (and a Summer) and they still look a good as new. Filthy but as good as new.

They are my only shoes and do around 40-50 off road miles a week. I’d say they’ll get me to 5 years easily.

Never had a problem drying them either and they look good – they may as well be a skate shoe. All black so subtle

Click on the segment in a ride and you now get your place on a load of leaderboards – all time, this year, following, clubs, age etc. You van then click on each of these leaderboards to see the detail

510 works perfectly for me. Not sure I’d go from a 500 to a 510 though unless you really want the connectivity. I moved from the 200 and it was as much about the 1 second polling and Glonass that made me move. That said, it’s great not having to switch on the laptop to upload a ride!

Mine uploads the ride the instant I press save and usually it’s on Strava by the time I’ve settled down with a cuppa. Sometimes it can take a couple of hours to get on Strava though but that’s the web side. Nothing to do with the device.

Never tried the Live Tracking and never tried following directions.

Nowhere to try one. Either find somebody with the model/size you want to try or trust their sizing/fitting instructions on the site.

My Nerve and my wife’s Endurace both fit perfectly after following their instructions. Not sure whether their road bike fitting instructions are fuller than their mtb ones or it’s just a recent development but we took more measurements for my wife’s bike – shoulder width, arm length, inseam etc

KCNC ones from ebay. Far better – cheaper, last longer, need cleaning less and a bit more bling.

I’ve seen that before. Looks like nothing is happening but in reality it has worked. Usually just close the browser, open up again and the link should be there.

Happened to me twice with 2 different accounts