I’m into rock climbing too, advice from my osteo: warming up helps you get the maximum range/strength from your muscles. Hydration and electrolytes are key for during the activity (obviously pre activity energy in the form of appropriate food), post activity gentle stretching is required to relax the muscles. They contract after being heavily exercised and thus feel stiff, there is also a certain amount of intra-muscular energy store in skeletal muscles. If this is depleted recovery and strength will be significantly prolonged.

Pre ride: eat well, be hydrated, warm up (stretch if necessary)
During: eat appropriately, stay hydrated (add electrolytes if exercise is 2hr+ish)
Post: eat a lowish fat carb rich something with a little protein (banana and a snickers will do) within 20 mins of stopping, stretch to warm down and replace fluids lost in exercise.

There is a certain amount of ache which is normal and indicates that you have simply exercised, there is a further level which is typical of the above not being done or excessive exertion (you could do the above but really push yourself; your muscles have a limit!).

Some of this has been said above, I wanted to put it into context with the activity in a pre, during, post format. Excuse the formality; I’m writing a lot of assignments at the moment (outdoor adventurous activities).

Hope that helps :wink:

I assume the “D” in DX stands for dog, a pair of these and he’ll be reet.

Or inner tube and zip ties :wink:

Don’t get it….(someone had to say it)

Unless you want it! Sell the Dew, get the CX or better build one up. There seems to be lots of CX parts on here.

It does seem a little odd to me to have a road bike and a hybrid, a bit like having 2 different shape manual whisks. CX and road seem more varied in their uses; whisk and electric whisk.

Maybe if there was a tan leather saddle and you had some of those weird brown grips (a mate had a gorgeous bike, then put brown grips on it :roll:) and a brown frame. Or as said a retro bike (or even bmx in a “nod to the roots” kind of way)

I love stealth with a touch of detail colour myself; a mate has some skinwalls on his ride. But it’s a period correct Kona Hahanna rigid and looks awesome.

But then again, STW is a difficult place to get aesthetic opinions from as we all believe our opinion to be correct (which it is).

I caved, 5 in the post :oops: (£8 each ain’t bad)

Lovely frame, but did they have to stick “full floater” on the CS. Looks like you’ve got mounts for either 1 standard BB or 3 teeny weeny ones :wink: Concentric drive ftw!

Hub holes, do you mean dropouts? We get a 10mm qr option (stock I think) and the 12mm upgrade.

Sorry, I’m in Brighton! Wrong end of the country :wink:

I did exactly that on my Spesh P2, it seemed daft buying a chaintug when I had one on there already. I removed the bash and box guide and just slid the roller up to keep it tidy. I liked it, stealth is key.

I’m going Pro II front and rear; 9mm thru front and 12mm thru rear. You can get adapters for Pro IIs to do this easy. You’ll need the 12mm dropouts though (both sides, some shops sell them individually!).

2 days is tight!

Most women would use a 26″ box to stand on, but the niche ladies would rock the 29er :wink:

The chap look’s been done. With a 3M reflective weave in the tweed!

One day…

Moses :lol:

Exhibitionism is the new black. I had an ex into public places, should have got her a maxi dress… shame they weren’t “in” 10 years ago.

I’d rather see a Maxxis dress.

Ah, ok :oops:

I’ve put up a new pic of one of the tyres now clean. Taken just now.

By the way, they are folding, aramid bead tyres which you can tell by the way I’m holding it in the pic.

I’d rather get better quality second hand tyres. Max psi 40 sounds sketchy to me. I know you don’t need that much in them on the trail but the max should be closer to 60.

Tyres make a big difference, it’s a corner I’ll trim by not buying new but wouldn’t cut with a no-name tyre.

Come to think of it, I’ve got some Specialized Enduro tyres (new to me, vgc) you can have for £20 posted. I’ve washed them since the pic, but look here.[/url]

2.3 (same size) dual compound; 50a/60a, one is 120 tpi and the other 60tpi. These were ace on my Specialized P2. Surplus to requirements (I have 3 other tyres on rotation).

My email is shameer AT gmx DOT co DOT uk

Think about the number of active muscle groups, if the bike is supporting you then primarily propulsive effort is used. If you honk, then you have to use more energy to support, balance and counterbalance your movements. My bike starts waggling a fair bit side to side if I climb “stood up”, which is a lot of upper movement (not tiring, but it’s dividing your resources), I think the main thing is the additional strain to your core when stood vs sat.

Efficiency is key.

Hill climbing is the end result of a number of means. Getting stronger is not the only way.

I have strong legs but can out climb a number of my friends (most) some of which are much stronger than me. I road bike a lot which I feel keeps me in good shape for mtb. I do ride more than them so specificity of training is relevant. This is a really important part of training; training in too abstract a fashion (eg weights for hill climbing) can be used in a complimentary fashion, but your body needs practise in the activity you are training for too.

Aerobic fitness contributes, lung capacity, mental focus (a little, you obviously can’t think your way up the hill!), smoothness, cadence, bike setup eg ht vs fs, spd vs flat etc (again a subtle contributing factor) and many more I can’t think of right this minute. Oh, and a strong core too…power transmission etc.

A consistent smooth spin in your Granny is better than a wiggly honk out of the saddle in the mid ring. Power is nowt without control.

JW :lol:

I think it adds weight to the old link between the monarch and the big man upstairs. The RAC must have an inside deal with him :wink:

I genuinely want a penny farthing, but a modernised full size version with a coasting front wheel. The 36″ front is too small!

Ah, the flex stem! I noticed the elastomers are identical to skateboard truck bushings, makes them even more questionable.

“in the fishmonger” :lol:

IGMC

One of each, 175 drive side, 170 lh. Or even the reverse to counter balance the weight of the chainrings?

172.5 is available sometimes, I suggest matching it to your size/terrain. My road bike has 175.2, fixed gear had 170 (toe overlap reduction) and my fs has 175. Paired crank length :wink:

I like the wider “attack” stance of 175, 170 feels quicker on a climb.

I feel like a rebel for having neither a big ring or a bash guard: 2×9 bareback. Ah, life on the edge.

I might write “Offroad” on the side of my bike too.

Ah, the sweet reality of bargain purchases has bitten down it’s jaws. Second hand ftw. Hope II EN 321 on it’s way. Holding out for a Hope II AM rear on ebay.

As they say in the US, “get bent”.

I really don’t get the 29er specific forks which are 20mm less travel than their 26″ counterparts. More expensive AND less travel :lol:

At least the SS rigid 29ers make the effort to ride a completely different type of bike. Masochists.

They just to release a 29er elastomer frame (I bet it would seriously catch on. Colour coordinated elastomers to bling the bike…it’s the future.

Fixed gear mtb, off road unicycling, 36ers, or maybe MTFU and go tyreless?

I’d love to try out a 29er, but can’t help but think it’s exactly what the emperor would be riding around on; in his lovely new invisible clothes :wink:

I take omega oil supplements (3,6,9, plant derived) and I notice I click a little less when I’ve taken them regularly. I think synovial fluid is easier for your body to produce if you’ve got lots of omegas in your system. I don’t recommend cod-liver, they’re over fished and it’s disgusting if you think about it! Available from Holland & Barrett and waitrose I think.

Funny, I’ve just got passionately back into hip-hop :D

J Dilla is (was) incredible
Black Milk, current fave
Madlib
Phat Kat (Ronnie Cash)
Check out the Dangerdoom collaboration album (MF DOOM+Dangermouse)
Mad Villain
Guilty Simpson

Type in any of the above into lastfm.com and it’ll play you plenty of connected artists; that’s how I found some of them. The Detroit hip hop scene seems pretty damn good at the moment :twisted:

I thought of that too…It was £50, I tried doing 2x £25 but no cigar.

I buy a lot on PP gift, I think they’re getting wise.

Not if you’re verified (which I am, with a back up account to boot). They’ve blagged it as a security measure. Motherlickers!

I think a good test would be same rim, same hub but in both variants and as similar weight spokes (same number) as poss. There must be mechanical tests comparing such things?

If it can mean equal strength, but a lighter setup, that’s a pretty big deal!

I’ve got a Helena Bonham Carter (HBC) Desire, it’s proper bo. If you’re on a budget the HBC Wildfire ain’t bad. Slight reduction in screen and camera but very good none the less.

That’s 2 leading, 2 trailing right?

Swiss bearings, Champagne, Bordeaux, Scotch whiskey and rapidly perishable items.

It’s mental how shipping from the west outward inhibits export, but manufacture and cheap delivery/shipping from the east=loads of export. I guess it helps when you pay people nowt.

I think bent seems the easier bet, the late great Sheldon Brown has got me thinking about a half radial half crows foot rear wheel…

Looks like it’s been battered, fish n chips anyone?

I take your foot and I raise you…gonorrhea eye discharge.

I love these at the moment, great for slacklining too :D

People keep asking me if the laces are real!