I’ve been using a 200 for the past 2 years and it’s not the best for Strava off road. The low sampling rate can mean some times are wildly different when you’re sure they were only a couple of seconds different. That said, I’ve never missed a trail and never lost signal and almost all my riding is in forests.

For that reason there’s a 510 in my Xmas stocking this year.

My missus used Teva Links before going over to spds. I’ve heard there are a few bargains around if you can find any

Anyone use the MT500 3/4’s with knee pads? I quite fancy a pair but they look a little narrow legged.

Just tried my new ones on with some Kyle Straits and they wouldn’t fit.

I have an athletic/MTB build which Endura calls a large so the MT500s come around half way down my calves. Even with the velcro on full width the pads wouldn’t really fit under and I’d not want to pedal with them on.

If I was wearing pads I’d just settle for normal baggies. The pads will keep your knees toasty anyway.

I used to run a bit before I did my back in (and started doing a proper sport/exercise/whatever). Problem with pavements at night is they’re very uneven and street lighting creates deep shadow ‘pools’ in the dips. You can’t actually see whether it’s deep enough to twist an ankle or whether it’s just the light.

I used to run on the road a lot because of that but always jump on the pavement whilst a car went past.

If you look in the weekday evening rides section of the Trolls forum there’s a post on ‘Weekly meet points’ that has most of them pinpointed.

Weekly meet points

The forum is a bit slow at the moment for some reason…

If you mean the Potters layby for Tunnel Hill it’s by Potters motel (GU16 6DD) right by the canal just east of Mytchett

I wear 3/4 bibs under normal baggies when it gets chilly (below 5ish) although I have just taken delivery today of a set of 3/4 MT500 sprays so my arse keeps a bit drier. If it keeps raining they’ll be trail tested on Sunday

I’ve got a Baabaa and an Icebreaker. Full price (which I didn’t pay) the Icebreaker is twice the price. There’s not that much in it though – the Icebreaker feels nicer but both do as good a job and you can’t tell the difference once they are on.

Had mine (non-vxi)for almost a year now riding about 5 hours a week on them. Look pretty much as new once cleaned up only a couple of scuffs on the toe. Look like they’ll last at least another two years and I’ll then buy another pair of the same.

They seem pretty weatherproof, never ended up with wet feet and they seem a bit warmer than the Vans Gravels they replaced. Pretty much glued on with a set of Nanos as well.

Ironically since they piled up soil in the parking area there has been more fly tipping on the MOD land! With less cars around there is less chance of the fly tippers being seen, hence more fly tipping

Like the pile of asbestos that appeared in the middle of Tunnel Hill a few weeks ago.

Have used KMC missing links on a 10 spd Shimano chain. Work fine

Rebuilt mine using the kit from SS (almost half the price of the pedals!).

Pretty easy job – about 10 mins per pedal taking my time, although I did have to buy a new socket that fitted into the pedal.

Theres a Hilton about five minutes ride from the swinley car park – I’d say that was a better bet than the premier inn, as you don’t need to worry about parking at swinley, and it has a decent pool etc. too.

you can always put in a ride out through swinley and along the perimiter track and porridge pot before ending up at Deepcut cafe for an ace all day breakfast!

Good call on the Hilton. 5 minute ride from Swinley. I can also vouch for the Deepcut cafe. Great post ride recovery grub. Make sure you head down that way – much better than Swinley.

Gore Phantom….A wind stopper jacket/gilet. Probably the most worn jacket I have ever bought for cycling. Very worm on cold winter mornings, but when the sun comes out, or you get too warm, just remove the sleeves and slot them in the rear pockets provided, and finish your ride in a gilet….win win

Love my Phantom but to be honest in 3 years I’ve only ever removed the sleeves twice. I can see the point on all days rides though.

Gore Phantom.

A bit expensive but mine looks like new after 3 winters. For around 4 months of the year I wear it every ride and it gets washed after most of them. Start wearing it with nothing underneath before moving to a thin base layer and for the worst of the cold a merino base. Sub zero is not a problem. Just carry an emergency packable shell if you think its going to rain – it copes okay with drizzle on its own though.

RP2 here and is fine switching on the move – not that it’s used much.

Be careful not to kill yourself when bending down to reach it though!

Multi-tool
Chean breaker
Power links
Tyre levers
Tube & patches
Pump
Zip ties
Grease
Mech hanger

..and the all important ’emergency’ twenty

Love my summer gloves (altium?). Got a LS jersey which is okay. Quality is decent just nothing special

I’ll be keeping to my Sunday morning ride on Tunnel then. Have never seen a squaddie there on a Sunday in the last few years. Weekdays (and Bank Holidays) you sometimes can’t move for them.

Either way, it’s never been an issue and I don’t see it becoming one. You either turn straight around an apologies or they wave you through – usually with a smile and a ‘mornin’.

They boys on the ground that you come into contact with don;t mind if you don’t get in their way. It’s the higher ups with one eye on health and safety etc.

Anyway…. if they need more space then they shouldn’t sell off land to build houses on – Pirbright

New Elements versions are great. I’ve got the non Vxi standard Freerider Elements. They keep out the worst of the weather and keep your toes a bit warmer – still fine to wear at 20 degrees as well

Same as DK. I replaced the oem ones in my X0 mech for some KCNC ones. Cheaper than the SRAM ones even with ceramic bearings.Came in at just over £20 the par from ebay.

SRAM ones ended up looking like cowboys spurs after a few months and you could actually see the bearings on one of them without taking them off the mech. £30+ for a pair FFS!

Only had the KCNC ones on for a few weeks but already they are not gathering crud like the SRAM ones.

Park Tool one here although get the new on – the 5.2.
It has better clasps that hold the 2 halves together – mine have started to fall off

KMC X10 here as well only just the normal one rather than the light one.

Good to know those details. Got the same wheels on my Nerve. Luckily they’ve not needed any attention so far.

My missus took a fancy to my bike. She now rides it, I got another better bike.

What’s not to love?

Cant compare them to normal Five Tens but my Elements (non Vxi) seem to keep the weather out better than my Gravels. Warmer as well – not that they’ve really been tested this winter. Not had a problem with wet socks yet other than it coming in the top of the shoe.

Charge LR suits me – most of my rides are around the 3hr mark and this swallows everything I need and more.

Used to have a Rogue and that was a little tight on space but fine if all you carry is spare tube/keys/phone/multi-tool

Do the Alp-Xs have better zips? They are supposed to be more mtb specific and could be heftier items?

I love my Phantom II and the zip is fine after 2 years but I can see it’s not the burliest. The actual softshell material though is awesome and I’d be looking at another Gore product if possible.

I’ve got Gravels as my summer shoes and Freerider Elements as my winter ones. Got the Elements last autumn as my toes were freezing in the Gravels every winter (despite Sealskins, Woolie Boolies etc). Now this winter has hardly been the coldest but I’m reckoning the Elements are doing the job so far.

Both are similar weight and fit. Both seem about as grippy as the other – although in different ways.

Have a look here for a friendly, local bunch.

http://tunnelhilltrolls.get-forum.net/

At least one ride a week must head off to Minley.

Rode some of the course this afternoon. Nice and dry. Then the hailstorm from hell hit on the way home. Probably a bit more squelchy now. Definitely more so by tomorrow.

Tunnel is kind on brakes by the way. Not like Swinley.

Fitted a KMC Missing Link to my wife’s Shimano chain (10spd) at the weekend after her hanger snapped. Reusable too although getting them off without the special pliers is a bugger

How rooty in comparison to the other 3 rounds?

Similar to Porridgepot and Frith Hill rounds as far as rootiness goes.

Mostly singletrack in the forests with soft but rooty conditions. Some fireroads but nothing too rough.

Was there on Sunday and most of the trails are holding up after all the rain.

Got an Nerve XC9 (year before they renamed it the AL) and love it. Very light, agile chuckable bike. Pedals and climbs well – never have to use lockout/propedal.

Only issue I’ve had was one of the pivot bolts came loose after a year. Luckily was the one behind the chain rings so never came out fully. Straight back in with some threadlock and been fine ever since.

Trolls are a great bunch especially if night riding is your thing. Different nights for different fitness/skill levels. Weekends tend to be less organised

Nobody ever gets dropped – sweeper on every ride. It’s a bit of a drive from Guildford though as most rides are on home turf – Tunnel Hills and other areas around Farnborough.

PeterPoddy – Member
Got a replacement job lined up?
Hell yes. I’ve had 2 offers and will be starting as ‘Workshop Manager’ no less, at Moores Cycles in Isleworth on 16th December.
It’s soul destroying here right now. No trade, low stocks. I’m a rat leaving a sinking ship

Nice one Peter. Not quite as short a commute as the other job offer you had but probably more job satisfaction 😉

These ones seem to fit X0s. Most of the 11T wheels claim to fit from 2010 onwards. Some have warnings about x7/x9s etc.

I just don’t want to have to pay £30 for another set of plastic originals which have lasted a year. Lower is spiky and the upper seizes every month or so.

Need to replace the wheels on my X0 mech. Those Aerozine ones look just the trick

Laybys and side roads – be careful around The Lookout area. The layby right next to the start of the trails is a hot spot for giving people tickets. Though they tend to be there at busy periods. The road also has double yellows. Possibly why they ticket the layby though I’ve never been sure why they can do that as it’s off the road. Unless it’s blocking fire access or something like that.

Have seen tickets being given out there as well. There is the fire access gate at the one closest the entrance so maybe that’s it.

Try parking nearer the south of the trails. Nearer the red stuff if that’s what floats your boat

Merino base and Gore Phantom windstopper softshell on top. Singletrack trousers if its very cold otherwise shorts.

Buff and skullcap help as well.