Big road rtides are now looking like a good option. Commuting Manchester Liverpool tomorrow. Manchester – Wirksworth on Saturday. The good thing is road bikes don’t get owt like the same wear.

The Alps were however spanktastic last weekend. Manly cuddle to Ludo at Rideability in Morzine.

218 miles in 12 hrs, but iwas a time trial. The winner rode a lot and a lot more than that. I felt a bit peculiar afterwards. Perhaps straight to the pub after for 4 pints was ill advised.

200 in 24 will allow for pie. As such a good thing.

Family rides – good

Rides with Mrs Please – good on a tandem.
Off road – DO NOT TAKE TO CO ED Y BRENIN.
Nothing with a number on the front.
On road – good in small doses.

Classifieds can be a bit hit and miss. Most of the folk I’ve had dealings with are lovely.

As to the bloke for whom I sat in and ruined a nice sunny day with my family, that wasn’t so good, but that’s how it is.

Now, shouldn’t we all be out riding?

Thanks Ladies & Gents –

Mr Gasket – YHM too.

Yours in a state of pre 42nd birthday excitement

Paul

Thanks fellas – the intention with the guide was just to get the most out of the riding in what’s a relatively short period of time.

If I’m using chairlifts I don’t want to be map & compassing as I get quite enough of that the rest of the time.

Sunshine in Manchester and the Mrs Hillplease saying ‘why don’t you get out on your bike for acouple of hours this evening.’

Fabulous.

Ace, what’s not to like?

Thanks fellas – sounds like a trip down for the Enduro 6 before putting an entry in. Having solo’d at a v wet Mayhem I am not at all keen on the mud thing again. Was down for 24/12 but chest infection stopped play.

Like althepal -= riding one was a revelation albeit in the 90s. Good bike and you like it, so what’s the fuss? I prefer full suspension – but a good hardtail is a thing to be enjoyed, unlike a bad one which is pretty much as your mates describe IME.

Alex 222 – really? I’ve been home servicing mine or over 10 yrs and the bearings last (as with most things)in line with how hard they’re used. The exception in my case being when I went with some posh bearings thinking ‘less rolling resistance’ but weren’t really upto it.

The pawl springs are nearly free and wear over time. On the bright side they tend to keep working unlike my CK hub that had a propensity to undo itself orthe Shimano ones that gave up and wore out the bearing surfaces. The DT ones (including the Trek branded ones) seem alright, but my mate’s have failed so as far as I’m concerned Hope remain my choice (and seemingly that of many) with top service for the fuller figured pedaller.

Happy Easter.

Paul

And me. Hope hubs are ‘very good things’ in my experience and shrug off some heinous abuse.

When things do go wrong the feedback of ‘you’re right , that shouldn’t have done that’ on the 3 occasions over 15 years something has gone wrong I don’t think can be bettered.

Albeit my LBSes/s Altrincham Bike Shak and NWMTB are marvellous when my girth and clumsiness get the better of kit designed for folks who can ride.

Not for me I don’t trust ’em. But then I do tend to break a lot of stuff and at the tender age of 41 fret more about crashing than I used to. Perhaps I should MTFU.

Many thanks – the headset drive works for the 1.5 heasets – and on a ‘compare to existing’ seems that it’d load both faces of the bearing.Is there any reason this won’t work or is the issue that it shifts under the compressive force and then won’t line up?

Thanks again

Paul

For me the Exposure 24 is cracking value – for the price of a night out you get to be overtaken by riding gods on a course that is nearly wholly pedallable by a woeful rider like me even after 22hrs when it’s rained for at least 16 – as last year.

Sure, it’s expensive to get there, but any holiday away is.

And there was a gorilla with a drum kit.

Endurance racing is expensive as you’re fitting 2-3 weeks ‘normal’ riding into 24hrs. But with less bacon and driving. And possibly some training.

I have woodshed envy. Is it wrong?

Blimey. I wish i hadn’t just had tea. I presume a mate had a 5mm allen key to get the brake a caliper off and there’s not the whole bike just out of shot.

Liking the Park Cyclone and Fenwicks, now I’ve recovered from the cost of it.

Wingnut for me. Pretty basic for what you pay, lightweight and less structured – by that I mean the yokes is flappy until you put it on, than a Camleback, which I find a faff.

Once on – comfier in my experience. So far have only ridden with one for 5 hrs at longest in the Peak and no signs of webbing burns or that ache I get in my lower back with Camelbacks. As such it works for me, also none of that ‘jumpy hit you in back of helmet’ I’d occasionally get with the Camelback – but to be fair I never used the waist band – so that may well be an operator, not a kit issue.

Top experiences all round so far. Nice to meet forum dwellers in the flesh – so far it’s always been a bit of a laugh with either having some new or divesting of some shiny but unused things. This is a good thing and I think having a bit of e mither banter before meeting helps.

Still regretting selling my Trek 69er, such a pretty bike, but I was too useless for it. It was last seen gambolling around the Borders.

There’s a truism about poo and your own doorstep. The kids thing will preclude ‘no strings’ if you meet them. I wouldn’t, unless you don’t give a tinker’s about your job and are happy to move on if it all gets a bit strained.

Still very much liking the Anthem and am looking for a 2nd bike for 24hr soloing on and training on.

I recommend the Anthem whole heartedly asnd if anyone’s in the NW and want a go on a L then give me a shout.

Just wondering if there’s anything I’ve missed? But for £2300 the spec’s up there, I like the fork and frame and it weighs not very much at all. The Scott felt sluggardly by comparison, and the comfort of it being easier to wheelie would only be so relevant on a long ride.

Giant Anthem X29er? Less cash, bandwagonesque, white forks (from memory) and fewer odd ‘industry standard’ but not parts.

I had a Rush (forerunner to the RZ I think) which was OK, but it cracked, the headset was made of cheese, the steerer was a daft size and the hubs were Deore. Not quite what I’d anticipated for a £3.5k bike. The white forks also didn’t have the FIT and felt distinctly wooden compared to other Fox forks of my experience.

Not a hardtail but my Giant Anthem 29er has been rather nice to ride all over the place. Another 2 inches of travel would have been idea on Jacob’s Ladder descent, but that’s been the case everytime I’ve ridden it regardless of type.

Yes – a trackside cabin for the the 24/12 at Newcastleton. The kids and Mrs Please have done pretty well too and that’s the end of that bonus. Bother.

MMCXLVIII – At least one of the riper Stiltons should have a vague tang of ammonia.

Re Cutting the nose off the cheese. Flogging’s too good for them.

Port – ruby and tawny (LBV or better) must be decanted and served at a proper temperature.

Nice folk in real life
Interesting and hardly used bike bits
Some great routes
A collective interweb hug when bad things happen.
Picolax – seconded. It’s not everyday you cry laughing whilst at your desk.

No problems at this end with the Giant Anthem X 29er, just had to replace the bush at the top, which took under 5 mins.

Sue

Why did the Mexican push his wife off a cliff?

Tequila!

Boom boom.

If you’re in MAnc area and fancy a pedal drop us a mail. New trails are always cheery, especially if there’s cake after. And a brew. Sounds dreadful but best of luck with it.

Paul

Gents – legendary – you have just saved me a week of evenings.

Not entirely sure about doing it in March and from south to north (thinking prevailing wind). 3 days should be a bit of a monster.

Many thanks

Paul

Marvellous news – thanks fellas.

The lad in my Platoon used to be made for the issue G10 watches, on the basis they were free. Albeit occasionally folk would buy one in the occasional fit of misplaced enthusiasm. Anything with Special Forces on was scrupulously avoided on the basis that it made you an object of ridicule.

Based on my experience of a new fully built Cannondale there’s a lot of very average parts eg Deore hubs on a £2k bike ,solid crank arms, weighty own brand finishing kit and the world’s 2nd worst grips, etc. Also my experience of them wasn’t great eg headsets where there are no spares and it’s Cannondale specific. Having said all that it’s life time warranty, it rode OK and it’s made in the US, subject to model.

Upto you, but I’m not minded to have another Cannondale.

Is envy a bad thing? Also on sofa with twisted ankle and not at Bristol Oktoberfest with the mighty Team Splendid as I should be.

Get it thrashed – it’s sunny after all. Have fun.

Heckler here and a Giant Anthem 29er for going a long way. Had Oranges and they all broke, 2 * Sub 5s, 1* Patriot rear, 1* Patriot front. But it was a long time ago.

Why has no-one mentioned ‘owning them with Bombers’yet?

It’s a bit out of context but it must be my turn by now to proffer it as badly formed and inappropriate advice?

No. Avoid.

Tried a double and on a 29er found I missed the littler gears, so not the thing for me on bigger rides.

Sticking with 3*10 – not found the weight/clearance issues a problem, but accept it might not be for everyone. It doesn’t look cool either.

I’ve tried:

Stan’s rim strips proper on Mavic rims – PITA
Stan’s rim strips on WTB rims from the late 90s with commuter tyre – ace
Stan’s with electrical tape – worked but felt a bit anxious
Stan’s with ‘proper’ Specialized/Roval rim tube for tubelss fun – neat and worked
Stan’s with the yellow tape – ace
Bonty with Bonty rim strips – ace
UST – ace

CO2 – expensive but saves pumping like a madman.

2 Bliss I found to be a nuisance, but that might be my ineptitude.

I should have done something else with my life over the last 5 years.