Just book a bike fit with a proper bike-fitter.

I like both. Mostly, I ride solo, partly because getting things to align with mates doesn’t always work out. I enjoy solo, can do my own thing, at my own pace, and it’s a brilliant mental reset.

But, tonight, we’ve managed to get together 5 of us to ride. There was a bit of a half-arsed attempt earlier in the day to bail due to mizzle/grease/splatter, but collectively, we’ve pulled it around. And, I’m really REALLY looking forward to it. I’ve been out of the equation for a few weeks juggling work/family/domestic stuff, visiting my elderly demented Dad in hospital (he’s back home now) … And can’t wait to catch up with mates, fool around in the woods, and go for a quick beer after.

I put some soil in my pockets.

Username checks out!

They’re not advertised as waterproof, which to me, seems a basic requirement of a winter boot.

Thanks for all the advice and supportive comments.

I’ve booked a couple of recommended local builders/roofers to come and have a look and give quotes, so I’m armed with a bit more of my own information.

I’ve asked the estate agent to call me and get a view about the current housing market and the potential risks/benefits of putting it back on the market. I’m fully aware that the foam insulation is a problem that’s not going to go away; it’s whether we stick with the current buyer, or whether we get the work done and return the house to the market with the issue resolved and a new roof, and the likelihood of then selling for a higher amount. I’m not going to be unrealistic about what I think the house is worth, but equally, do have a responsibility to maximise the return for my parents’ benefit (especially since my Dad is due to be discharged from hospital this week, with a much more expensive care package needed by the care team at their current sheltered accommodation)

I’ve emailed the company who installed the foam; I don’t expect to get anywhere with that, but the survey states the foam was incorrectly installed, so we’ll see.

The survey is for the buyers benefit, you don’t have to do anything based on the outcome of it.

Its not quite as simple as that though, is it? I need to make a decision about how to respond to the buyer’s request for another £15k off the sale price.

It’s all very subjective to the individual though.

This.

I’ve never been badly affected by COVID (3 x now).

Tested positive last Monday. Gentle gravel ride last Thursday. Longer, but still gentle MTB XC ride Friday. Short easy run Saturday. Quick local MTB ride Sunday. Felt fine with all of these, but no hard efforts.

But others are more significantly affected over a longer period of time, so just go by what feels OK to you.

Just checking, is it acceptable to wheel your bike into Halfords or Decathalon?

Yep. Have done in both. In Leeds Decathlon, they have bike racks and a security guard inside the doors, it’s positively encouraged.

Also love the idea of a Beady Little Eye, love having a SS HT, and the BLE looks brilliant fun.

Carbon Wasp are local to me, I visited a year or so ago when looking to buy a new Carbon FS. At the time me, they’d a prototype of a longer travel trail bike (140/150) that I had a quick go on, rode really well. In the end, went for a Bird Aeris AM full build but I really liked what Carbon Wasp were doing.

In an ideal world, there’d be a place in my life for both of these bikes/frames, but fairly certain I don’t have £6k loose change down the back of the sofa!

Y’see … I’m not sure there’s a right/wrong answer about bikes in shops.

Filthy, muddy MTB? Nope. China/glassware shop? Nope. Very busy and/or small shop with narrow aisles. Nope.

Commuting home, without my lock, popping into the supermarket to pick up something for tea? Maybe. Bike-packing, no lock, petrol station or convenience store? Probably would ask to leave it just inside the entrance and in sight. Hardware/DIY/Sports shop – probably would.

I don’t think wheeling a bike around a shop is very much different to wheeling a pram/buggy/wheelchair in terms of its physical presence and impact on other shoppers.

Mainly, it’s about rule #1 and being polite/asking/not being an entitled dick about it.

@snownrock … I’ve just PMd you too. In Leeds also.

Anyone got any recommendations for a waterproof gilet and arm-warmers? (And I mean waterproof, not just DWR-coated ‘resistant’).

Commuting:

I’d like merino lightly padded mesh boxers … To reduce sweat, small amount of comfort, not to smell so I can wear them all day.

Smart-casual shorts (summer) / trousers (winter) that are technical but also normal looking, have a bit of venting, also splash and mud proof.

Smart-casual shirt/top that is technical but also normal looking. Big enough chest button/zip pocket for a phone.

MTB:

MTB jerseys are too loose and don’t have a pocket eg for a phone. Roadie tops are usually too tight/figure hugging and look silly with baggy shorts. I’d like something in between (should probably check out ‘grrrravel’ gear) .. with a couple of pockets (at least one zipped, probably on the chest so it doesn’t interfere with a bum bag).

As others have said, MTB waterproofs need to breathe/vent better, be lightweight but also properly waterproof but also robust, have a chest pocket, not a big flappy hood, and be under £100.

Down/insulated gilets. I’ve a couple. They’re ok for warmth-without-sweat for steady state road rides, but for MTB, any burst of energy, I just find my back gets immediately sweaty.

Weather a little less ‘bluebird’ today but the trails around Leeds are still dry, fast and dusty. Quick couple of hours on the HT before tea …

Boring day in the office on Tuesday, bookended by two stunning extended commutes on the gravel bike …

46km ride in the Peak on Friday, Cut Gate from Langsett, up to Lost Lad, Back Tor, Winston Tor, Ladybower descent, then back up to Slippery Stones and Cut Gate return. Weather started off a bit unpromising but soon improved, apart from the strong north-easterly that made it a bit tough going in places. Great day out.

EDIT … Pics in the wrong order.

I’m in the same boat, bought a cheap Rev MoCo in the Chiggle fire sale late last year, and find it pretty harsh. I do run it at a slightly lower pressure, with the rebound quite slow, but find my hands and arms feel totally pumelled after even an hour or so of techy XC.

Well, the positive will be that I’ll be a bit better off this year because I’m cancelling my sub. Articles like this are one of the reasons – I’m not interested in reading forum content in a print mag.

Someone buy @IdleJon a STW sub as an ‘act of kindness’ just to smite his grumpy attitude!

^^^^

^^^^

I’m really hoping that no one, even were I to PM them, would have these ‘frowned upon’ trails that should certainly not be ridden on, contained in, for example, a Strava activity … No siree!

Both are accessing rights of way they are not entitled to use. It’s either OK to do that or it isn’t. You either stand by a principle and apply it fairly or you don’t.

I think there’s a difference (usually) in the way most MTBers ride ‘cheek’ … and (most) MX/Suron riders behave when riding where they’re not supposed to be. Personally, Rule#1 trumps the anachronistic RoW/access laws.

I’d ask if they can price-match.

If they can’t, if it’s your LBS and you want to support/stick with for future warranty, suck up the price difference. If that’s not an issue, cancel the order and order through Start Fitness.

Had it on the gravel bike recently (2x 105)

Not on the mtb for ages

I had this too on the gravel bike, 2×11 SRAM Rival, when the drivetrain was wearing out … And was the main reason for changing to 1x.

Can you not take her out in your car? Not sure I see the point in sorting out a dedicated car just for someone to learn in.

Not really. The family car is a Ford Grand Tourneo Connect (small van/7-seater)

Brilliant responses everyone – cheers.

I don’t think the locks are seized, I’m just assuming that the central locking is powered by the battery, which, being dead, isn’t powering the central locking. Will have a more robust investigation this weekend.

You may be able to save a good deal of cash by getting it running on the drive

This was my hope. But I have questions! Battery is dead, can’t unlock the car (even just using the key in the lock), to then get in the car, to open the bonnet to charge the battery.

– is there a way of popping the bonnet from under/on front of the car?

– is it safe (for the engine) to just start the engine, which hasn’t been run in probably 6 months or more?

No idea … and depends what you want. But, I would get on Strava heatmaps and have a look in the area. The South West Coast Path might be worthwhile? We were in Ilfracombe a few weeks ago, and I just pottered about on the HT on the SW coast path. Not very tech, but nice enough and lovely views.

Dishwasher stacking. We now have an unspoken truce that I will stack it properly, and that if she starts, and I am in the vicinity, she will quietly retreat and allow me my time to excel.

Knife Block! Perfectly serviceable. Accommodates all the sharp knives we have. But no, “the-sharpest-knife-in-the-world”, along with all the other sharp knives, are bundled and hidden in the kitchen utensils drawer, ready to slice open unsuspecting fingers.

We have one, a 2018 model.

(Assume you are talking about the previous version rather than the newer VW Caddy / Tourneo mash-up?)

The rear 2 seats come out really easily (4 x Torx bolts each). Provides useful extra depth eg for big family camping holidays. But then creates a stepped floor if folding one or more of the middle row of seats.

As far as I know, the middle row seats don’t come out (easily), but I’ve never tried.

With all 5 seats folded, you get a completely flat, and large, load area.

Depth from the floor to ceiling is such that you can’t get a modern MTB in without taking the front wheel off. You might be able to if removing seats 6 and 7, and the MTB is placed front wheel facing to the rear. Gravel/Road bike is no issue with all wheels on.

It’s a great car/’not-quite-van’.

I can send pics of various seating configurations if you want to IM.

Roof bars readily available.

Facebook Owners page is useful for info.

The newish Berlingo XL is possibly more versatile as you can remove/fold any of the second and third rows of seats individually.

EDIT. I’m in Leeds if you want a closer look/drive.

404 page not found error for me.

I think an XC/Light HT makes a good ‘Gravel-Plus’ bike.

I’ve a Ti gravel bike, which is great and fast on road / easy off-road. But even with 40/42 tyres, suffers when things get remotely chunky.

I’ve also a Ti trail HT. Mostly runs with a Pike and trail wheels/rubber,  but with a carbon rigid fork, lighter XC wheels and 2.2/2.3 XR2/3 tyres, is very nearly as quick as the gravel bike overall, and significantly more comfortable/capable as the off-road gets more chunky.

It was great for the North Yorks Moors 300 I did 3 weeks back.

@mattrockwell

£200 for a carbon frame does seem hard to ignore! These never-ending Planet X deals aren’t helping me sell my lightly used Scandal frame though… keep meaning to list it, but it’s probably only a hundred quid’s worth right now.

If its a medium, PM me, as I might be interested in taking that off your hands to replace my BigWig with a seized seatpost!

That reform vote in Sunderland ?

5 years of far right creep awaits. Reform will be leading the calls for PR….very hard to see how LD and Green navigate that. We’re seemingly not far away from the wider European far right turn…..but FPTP could be keeping a lid on it. ?

This. My feelings too. Scary.

If you want an Enduro / longer travel bike, and have the cash, then, why not? As someone else pointed out though, increasing the travel by 10mm or so will likely result in quite a lot of overlap between the current bike and a new bike.

Other option would be to invest in some new / second set of forks/wheels/tyres. A Lyric or a Zeb for instance. Or coil fork and shock. Then beefier wheels/DH/Double-down casing 2.5/2.6 rubber. And just swap those onto the bike when you’re going to be visiting Bike Parks. It’d be a faff, and depends how often you’d need to do it; if it was monthly, probably not worthwhile, if it was twice a year, it might be …

Lovely bikes.

Article needs a bit more proof-reading; several examples of ‘written’ instead of ‘ridden’ for instance ….

Logically, if stuff like this were going on, it’d be very hard to keep secret. Just about the only way it could work would be for an individual rider to somehow modify their own bike secretly, or have a pet, tame mechanic who’d somehow do it for them and then hope that no-one else ever noticed. If it were a team thing, it would basically be an existential risk, with a worrying number of people knowing about it.

Presumably, IF there is mechanical doping going on, there would be some level of investment in R&D into something that is small enough to be concealable/undetectable, whilst being efficient enough to give some kind of advantage. That would suggest organisational cheating, rather than a GC contender/stage winner and some friendly bike mechanic?

But that’s absurd. Get a cat.

Slight thread hijack … how do people mount lights on the bars when a bar bag gets in the way? Specifically, the bracket for my Exposure MaxxD doesn’t lift the light high enough to give a full beam over the bar bag. I’ve got the aero spider bracket, so not possible to drop it lower/out of the way.

Very nice.

Weeds, obvs.

And the wall could do with a lick of paint.

Hopefully planning a ride/bivvy/ride somewhere in West Yorkshire. Location and type of ride/bike yet to be determined. Looks like there might only be 2 of us as several of our group have to get packed up / earn some domestic brownie points because they’re heading up to Golfie for the weekend …

I think I’m with Chipps. And Hannah!

I think the essence of Singletrack should be about a journey, an adventure, a ride, getting out there, escaping ‘everyday life’ primarily OFF-ROAD. That can be a quick escape for an hour into the local woods within the city limits … or it can be a multi-day epic into the back-of-beyond.

Clearly, all those things can be ridden on quite a range of bicycle-shaped objects. And before ‘Mountain Bikes’ existed, people (eg The RoughStuff Fellowship) were doing it on the bikes they had, ie steel flat/curly bar tourers.

Since those days, we’ve invented and evolved bikes better adapted to doing that activity, aka ‘Mountain bikes’. Generally, I would see these as being something with treaded tyres upwards of 2in in width, usually flat bars, usually with front or front-and-rear suspension. But, most of that ‘being out there offroad activity’ can be done on a range of bikes, with some overlap on what is rideable, but different limits/compromises.

I would hope that all of us who do a variety of riding off-road, can continue to find a place at home here at STW.