Regular doses of buttock clenching life affirming near misses and big stacks that you can walk/limp away from.

The fact that folk well into their 50s still ‘play bicycles’ in the woods with their mates.

Most folk can be laughed at when they do something daft and don’t really mind.

The simple mechanical pervery of a well fettled full suspension moutain bike, preferably smelling of GT85. I’ll get my coat ….

Yes. I had a 5th Element that was 1/2 inch shorter than the air shock that cam with it. Whic hin turn on the 04 model I’ve got is I think 1/4 inch shorter than the coil shock that was the other shock option.

It was alarmingly stable at speed (slacker head angle) plusher (coil v air – no surprise) and clattered the pedals/ crank arms off anything bigger then a pebble – which ran contrary to the ‘go fast downhill’ feel of the thing.

For me – I got bored of pedal strikes. If you can find a cheap shock on here give it a go – or if you’re in Manchester we can try a shock swap for a bit and see how you get on. I won’t be doinbg it again.

Cheers

Paul

Get it built. Hang the expense. As long as it has somewhere nice and secure to live.

I have seen one of a mouse ‘tupping’ a piece of cheese. One colour, a bit blurry now. Forearm. In Wirksworth, Derbyshire.

The owner remains non-plussed when you ask’and what made you think that was a good idea?’ To be fair it is funny.

Exactly the opposite of Toons. Just don’t get on with dry lubes. Any of them yet, including- Purple Extreme, Pedros Ice Wax or the finish Line one. Yes – onto clean dry chains. After 2 hrs the chains squeaking.

Peaks, W Lancs Moors, road.

finish line wet lube and wipe the excess off the links with a rag/ servitette/ passing woodland creature. Sure you get some cack build up – but it doesn’t squeak.

The Sunline ones in white are nice or ODI rogues for size xxl in specialised gloves. Even then hands went a bit numb after 16hrs on the Mayhem.

A mate is currently swearing by the Ergon numbers, but not with Specialised gloves. will be trailling that combi myself in a bit and report back.

Like any other pad but less spendy. Otherwise as flyingmonkeycorps. Again,

Root beer. Like 69ers. Yum.

Fox. My Reba’s exploded twice. Evans were very good and replaced them with some nice Fox forks. ALso didn’t like the feel of Rebas- not as smooth in my view, but after 5 yrs of only riding Fox forks I am prejudiced.

One Megan here in my Thea’s class at school.

Warranty claim or bin.

Thus far for me, of 8 broken frames/ swing arms I have had 7 warranty replacements and had to buy 1 new.

If the frame has cracked on 1 weld it begs the question what has happened to the others, in my view.

As an XL rider it’s just an occupational hazard, unfortunately.

I’d do it again, it was alright in the first year it ran. As was the TranScotland. It was jolly and there were lots of nice folk.

There was the odd moment of ‘crikey flip this is horrid,’ but then you’d stumble across someone agreeable or doing worse than you. And it was alright again. The shower position wasn’t ace. Record wait was 50 minutes on the TransScotland – but again – had a nice chat and passed the time.

Trashed my bike both times. New drive train, most bearings all round and a few bits that never made it back onto the bike .

Used mine on Sunday at Cannock. There was even a bit of dust in places. Now very over excited at the prospect of summer.

I never knew i liked planes. Until now. Ace.

Pack down to naff all too. Means I take mine with me. Which is good.

Custom. At 17 stone it seems sensible to have something you can get spares easily for.

My kids. Knowing bad things will happen to my little girls as they grow up and that’s how life works.

And yacht sailing across shipping lanes in the middle of the ocean. The bit where you realise you’re in a GRP bathtub a mighty long way from land, next to metal things the size of Croydon doing 25 knots and they can’t see you.

Bikes are ace. I am hopeless. But happy. It’s all good. Yes?

Thanks fellas. Still think they’re rubbish, mind and will be avoiding henceforth.

Rex – any recommendations?

Cheers

Paul

It’s Darwinism for cyclists. Possibly.

I’m with singlespeedstu. A morning of battering followed by an all dayer. Perfect.

The butler did it?

Well done you. It is good, isn’t it?

Good luck and try to give the motorist space to be a bit mental in.

The move I have been mostly enjoying this season in Manchester is the ‘no indicator u-turn.’ Still, keeps it interesting and I know my ’emergency stop’ works.

Manchester hasn’t bothereed with snow. Bother.