Ardent is in the garage – fate is undecided but might try and repair for summer. Currently got an old High Roller on the back.

More grip, but not that good at climbing in the mud…

Ned, sent you an email. Chris

Tor5 and Ned; thanks for your tips. I have not looked on the trail break websites. Couple of questions if I may:

Tuesday night rides – where do these go from and who organises these? Is this just a local group here?

Tor5 – the DH trails you refer to. Which ones are more mellow (less drops/jumps so I don’t have to mince down them). I ride them all so infrequently that I don’t really know them that well. I often cycle up from Bunch Lane, up via Temple of the Four Winds and then up to Gibbet. When you say ‘left of Gibbet’, are you talking to the north of Gibbet (so if you have your back standing facing the old A3, it will be left of Gibbet)?

I know there used to be a viewing point down that way (to look over the new A3 tunnel entrance).

Map Gibbet Hill

Scales on order. Also went for a ride yesterday; cracked out a whole 5.5 miles…

You have to start somewhere.

Could not help posting this…

Thanks all for the help.

I am working on fitness in January and February and hope to join some regular rides again.

Rob, thanks. Have sent you a PM.

I just sold my Trance X 26in (last year). So far not really missing it, but then have just spent time building up a 26in Bfe, so I have to say that. I have got bug volume tyres if needed for summer rocky riding.

I think in time I would love another FS (post lottery win), but they are getting better and better all the time and standards are changing so much, I am going to concentrate on becoming a fitter and more technically adept rider.

I did think of keeping both, but to be honest my FS was not a lovely Ibis, so a different kettle of fish for me.

Rob,

Hi, I tried emailing twice to join up but don’t seem to have received any confirmation email. I was using my work email and it is a big firm, so not sure if it went to spam.

Do you mind checking please? I have not been able to get access to the sheet to fill in any details.

Chris

thanks all.

Thanks all. I have the technical ability of a fish, so not confident in dropping the lowers. I might youtube it but never have done it and the forks are brand new, so I am a bit nervous.

I will try and wet rag carefully and lube. Thanks for the advice all.

Second/third the comments on riding on quicker tyres. That is what I would try first. Some experimenting with a faster rear at first will be worth it.

I have sold my full susser (Giant Trance X) and now have two hard tails – one ‘hardcore’ one with big travel, the other an XC bike. I never use the xc bike much, because the other bike isn’t more fun and my riding t8me is limited.

If the tyres don’t make a difference, then have a look. There re some amazing hardtails out there for xc these days and if I rode more I am sure I would I be out on my 10year old xc bike more.

.dmorts – think it is because we are down the end of a track and it gets used as a turning area.

Wow, it Ian a long way to drive but quite a fun ride.

I have done it twice, well once fully completed and once got to Lewes before rain stopped play. So first of all try and go for a good weekend weather wise.

Tried 50/50 first time, stayed over in Amberley. First time I tried was in a group and good fun for the beers in the evening. The Second time I tried to do 60/40, stayed on my own cheaply in a pub. It did work but I was lucky enough to meet up with with someone from here to help motivate me the next morning. It was my second attempt that I completed.

There is a decent map that is worth getting and if you can get a gpx file, It is helpful to keep you on track. There are some tricky turns where you can miss the route easily.

Pack light and don’t bother with a full susser, unless it is light.

Thanks all. It is definitely our land, I have checked recently (the title confirms it is ours).

The other option might be a chain and just suck it up. I don’t want to become the citizen pest who puts cones out like some angry neighbour, or have a bollard, or a chain, but one or the other seems necessary as the space is tight and the last person to hit the garage definitely did a job on it. If the car had been inside, we could not have got it out.

I had thought of upside down old suspension forks set into the ground, but then not that helpful for me to get the car out…

Hi,

Emailed again as my name is not on the list. Might have got into your junk mail.

Gribble

I have emailed and I am I need.

Have to set myself some goals in 2018 to ride more and shed the wobbly belly.

Great photos. Never ridden The Gap, but this makes me even keener to do so.

OP, not foolish at all. I think pretty much any bike will work, as long as you just take it easy and walk when needed. I rode there a few years ago, on my hardtail. Would have loved to have had rear suspension, but have just got a hardtail again and sold my full susser so looks like a repeat visit will be without suspension again.

Link to previous thread: Asking about Snowdon a while ago

I loved it and can not wait until I get the opportunity to do it again. Ended up doing it in February, but unfortunately had no good views from top. Definitely recommend going as early as possible.

I am interested in this thread, but not for all the right reasons.

Joking aside I think my wife and I are about to enter a stage of childcare mayhem. Thanks for sharing that link SL2000.

Getting excited here. I have a second set of wheels and a pair or Ice Spiker Pros. I think the Ice Spikers have been used once, for about 6 miles.

I am now very smug, although if anyone sees me with them on the bike, they will think I am a tool – I live in the South East, not Finland.

Second the Trail King/Rubber Queen comments. 2.4 is a nice size. I have heard the 2.4 Ardent is a good size, but have only ever had the 2.25 myself.

Gwurk – thanks. I am half wondering if that is the best, or at least most sensible option. On and off I do drop it down to 120mm for general local faffing around. It is 15mm QR maxle thing, so never going to be as stiff as a 20mm axle. I also get the point reference forgetting it is locked out/lowered etc half way down a descent. I still have a few spacers under the stem already.

I don’t mind having the longer fork and higher front though – don’t find it a problem but I know it is not everyone’s cup of tea.

Thanks Andreas. Will look. Got very good reviews online.

Thanks all for the advice and input. I am looking to buy new, as I am planning to keep the fork and bike for a while. I would consider something nearly new (if people want to sell, not trying to push it).

Pnik, thanks for the offer but struggling to get time out at the moment with work and family commitments.

Just to add to add it to the mix, Rose are doing a Fox 34 Talas CTD from 2014 at £416. Seems good value and is adj travel – the adj Pike is £516, so tempted to save £50 and go for a fixed height fork. Limited reviews of the Fox, but presume general consensus is a 2016 Pike is a better option.

Paul at Cotic said Pike would be a good all round fork.

Qwerty – thanks; Rev were not on my list but I will take a look.

Kids just started school here, have a big mortgage (for us), family (some terminally ill), so a few things keeping me. However, I sympathise completely with those who have decided to move, or don’t feel as welcome in the UK any more. I would naff off if I could.

Real shame as I was proud to live in a not necessarily perfect, but at least somewhat inclusive society. I think a lot of decently folk are just going to get the hell out of dodge and take their skills/contributions to society with them.

As Pete says above, 26 Bfe still runs old QR at rear.

Have built one up this year, which is obviously why I think it would fit the bill. Have not checked any specs but they are nice looking, which is very important…

I use one. Slightly unusual in that I have a 150mm Revelation on my Bfe, with dual position and lockout. My local ride has road riding up a steep hill at the start, so I tend to lock out the fork for a bit at the start.

Clutters up the bar and is not that reliable though.

I bought a pair of new, but lightly shop soiled (i.e. just duty really) 26in Crossmax wheels (bought them this year, but on sale at the shop from circa 2012) for £150.

I think the best thing might be to either (a) see if you can get a second hand rim from someone on here/ebay and then repair or (b) do the opposite and flog them for spares/repairs.

Decent wheels, so a shame not to use them somehow.

Thankyou burchill for your kindness. Dropper on order!

Burchill – if you are still happy to give your code away, I would be very grateful! Looking for a dropper.

Very interested in this; been to BPW once, (and loved it) but would like to try Antur. How does Antur compare to Snowdon (Rangers/Telegraph) – appreciate not all of Snowdon was rideable (for me anyway!), but just a measure of relative required skill/mince level. I did Snowdon many moons ago and ave to say that Snowdonia is one of the most stunning places I have been to.

Recently sold my full suss (Giant Trance X) and replaced it with a Bfe; so far I have not missed the lack of rear suspension, but have not ridden anywhere too rocky yet…

Love Penmachno – one of my favourite trails, but defeats all know laws of physics in managing to stay so wet.

I would recommend a Bfe, but I have to as I have just built one up. I actually went for a 26in one (using forks and wheels I had). You can see it (it is the bright Orange one) on this thread: http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/friday-is-cotic-day/page/7

For balance, anything by Whyte, Orange Cotic, Bird and Commencal would be on my list. A mate has just got a Cannondale Beast of the East (27.5+) which rides nicely and is lush.

Should be absolutely fine. I have just built a Bfe with 26 in wheels (which is on the Friday Cotic thread). I went for the 26 in version in the end, but seriously considered going 27.5 and then just using the 26 in forks and wheels I had spare.

I think 26+ tyres also look like they will make the bike more comfortable, if that is of interest.

Normal Man – thanks, pleased with the colour. At least it looks ok, even if I am slow…

There used to be a shop around Peaslake that did rentals – think Pedal and Spoke.

Poop scoop – feels confident on downhills and I like the feeling of climbing on a hardtail again.

Pete, I read that on the Cotic site when I was building it up, but my layback post was what was knocking around. Saving for a long dropper post.

Haha – I appreciate the comedy garden comments. My local riding spot near Devils’s Punch Bowl.

After much time and mega faffing, I have finally got round to building my Bfe, finished for about a month now.

Enjoying riding again: [/url]]Orange Bfe[/url]