I replaced a set of Solo Air Lyriks on my Alpine 160 with these Pikes and have been very impressed. No noticeable loss of stiffness and they seem to track the ground better for the kind of riding I do. Can’t wait to take them to the Alps/Pyrenees…

We’re heading up from Sale most probably to break tradition of our usual pub ride (Jacksons Boat) – lift arrangements to be confirmed.

Wasn’t he meant to be doing Nan Bield?

And white coppice descent put me in A&E getting my smashed-in face stitched up! And that was the end of my modelling career

That wasn’t Great Hill to White Coppice descent mate. It was a big wide featureless track that you struggled with. It was near White Coppice though 😉

I love doing the Belmont descent just to see the grins on your mates faces at the bottom.

Cheers Superfli

Does anyone have a .gpx of the 2014 route? I want to see how it compares with other ones.

M5 = 5mm dia, uses 4mm allen key
M4 = 4mm dia, uses 3mm allen key

see here

Dal Curry

I took someone elses T5 over belach na ba, it’s absolutley fine. Then drive back round on the coast road.

My recommendation – Cnip on Lewis is stunning and really does have that ‘end of the world’ feeling. Plenty of hiking and biking potential on Harris, which no doubt you’ll be passing through if you choose to do some island hopping.

Also the western beaches all along North/South Uist and Benbecula are pretty stunning.

I recommend the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT25, which is kinda the little brother of the FT4, which I took down the Grand Canyon for 3 weeks last year. Stood up to the grime, sand and water and is still going strong, and it takes great looking photos. I regularly take it biking and never have to worry about being precious with it. I can’t see the FT25 being much different.

I had one of the TZ models and that let in bits of crap too.

Ride the clwyds for some easy XC possibly muddy riding, with cracking views.

Glyn Ceiriog as Olly says. The Pheasant track is a good one to aim for if doing a loop around here.

Marin/Penmachno for more interesting trail centre stuff. Both different, Marin has more fire-road climbing but both have quality descents.

Thanks Guys. I’ve e-mailed BV.

DBW – Techy singletrack sounds good, FYI I was on your TW Halifax ride last year with you guys.

jambalaya – YGM

An extended route[/url] of the Climachx trail in Dyfi Forest? Can easily be cut short.

We’ve got a Novacraft Prospector set up for 2 people. It can be used to transport 2 people (+ dog) and gear for 5 day expeditions. Stored in the garden upside down off the ground on a couple of wooden stands. Ideally it should be covered. I’ve transported on the car roof over the Pennines in very high winds and it didn’t bat an eyelid. Best way to tie it down is to tie it in the middle twice and then at each end using front and rear towing eyelets on the car.

My recommendation would be to get your dog a buoyancy aid. The little fellas can get into trouble too and there’s no saying he’ll swim towards your boat if he ever falls out, and makes it easier to pluck them out the soup too. Our Fraser loves his, can’t you tell.

Don’t forget to name your boat. Ours is called Dave.

Managed to snap a rear spoke whilst riding the CyB Enduro one year, so headed down to the bike shop in Dolgellau[/url]. Got there 2 minutes before he was due to shut up for the night. Booked my bike in as we were heading to Antur the following day. Picked my bike back up at 10am Sunday morning and spoke was replaced, wheel nice and true and me very happy. Think I was only charged £7.50 but paid him extra for outstanding service.

Loved watching that many night lights snaking their way down the hill like a massive slow firework.

We shall be in attendance also, flanking the o mighty binners

Try these[/url] guys. They’ve offered do sort me out in the past and seem friendly enough.

Jai Kathmandu in Northenden

A Manc living in Manc for 30+ years. It’s better than any on the ‘Curry Mile’ and owt in Chorlton.

My missus and I kind of met through mountain biking indirectly almost 10 years ago, so I guess i’ve been lucky. We’re now married. We’ve kind of ‘grown’ together as bikers and in the past it’s been her who’s suggested all the bike trips abroad (Whistler, White Room, BasqueMTB). It can still be a challenge when attempting to go on longer/trickier rides as it can be with your mates but as a unit I think it works well and I don’t ever recall having a barney on trails, ever. I guess it’s all about understanding one another and knowing what you both want to get out of spending time in the saddle. Mrs Pie also isn’t a fan of the busier trail centres and hates the feeling of ‘getting in the way’.

It can be quite handy having someone to (unknowingly) field test various bits of gear before I decide to take the plunge. The best bits however, is watching your missus slowly pick off your riding mates. Not saying much I know but Binners was a victim of hers many year ago, and she’s since notched up a few more.

What sort of stuff do you like doing? How long are you going for? Will you be doing the north or south? If you’re only there for a few weeks you probably won’t have time to do both.

SOAP – email in profile mate 😉

I spent a full day day exploring the natural stuff in Dyfi and finished off on the Climachx descent. One of the best days riding in years, and didn’t see a sole all day. E-mail me if you want a map as I’ve GPS’ed the whole thing.

http://www.workpoop.com/%5B/url%5D

I’d be interested in this too if I could tag along? I was up there on foot the other week and found a few bits near the DH track.

Anyone ever tried this bit of cheekiness?

5.45 at mine? We can head out via Timperley towards Ashley and then a Mobberley boozer for a frothy one.

I’ll probably struggle to get there for 5.30. Hora – if you want to pass mine on the way out to the Cheshire lanes, then that should work for me? There’s many routes we can do.

Binners –
…All meaning they couldn’t compete in the transfer market with the bigger European clubs

The Glazers took over in 2003:

Rio Ferdinand £27,550,000
Gabriel Heinze £6,900,000
Alan Smith £7,000,000
Louis Saha £12,820,000
Cristiano Ronaldo £12,200,000
Wayne Rooney £27,000,000
Nemanja Vidic £7,000,000
Michael Carrick £18,600,000
Anderson £15,000,000
Owen Hargreaves £17,000,000
Carlos Tevez £9,000,000
Nani £13,500,000
Demitar Berbatov £30,750,000
Antonio Valencia £16,000,000
Chris Smalling £10,000,000
Phil Jones £17,000,000
David De Gea £18,900,000
Ashley Young £17,000,000
Shinji Kagawa £12,000,000
Robin Van Persie £22,000,000
Wilfred Zaha £15,000,000
Marouane Fellaini £27,500,000
Juan Mata £37,100,000

That’s a lot of spending with a mighty headstart.

I’ve got the 2013 model with CCDBA and Lyrik solo airs upfront, and I think it comes in at around 33lb. I love my alpine, it climbs way better than my hardtail BFe and descends like it’s posessed and therefore I really have no need for a second bike. It’s not the quickest uphill but it certainly doesn’t hold me back. I know it should be no surprise, but this bike really is built to last and feels solid as owt. A week in the Alps and this thing really shows no signs of weakness. I haven’t felt the need to play with my shock settings and couldn’t be happier with the performance. I’m sure there’s some gains to be had but not sure i’d really notice.

…but Binners, aren’t Wigan your local childhood team?

You are not a United fan. They just happen to be on the TV every time you’ve been in the pub since the incarnation of the Prem.

There’s not a great deal really. There’s certainly nothing between Brooklands roundabout and Altrincham.

There are however some slightly interesting urban footpaths you can take from the Mersey at Parrswood through to Handforth Dean and then onto the airport (I think this is what ‘nbt’ is on about). Previously you used to be able to peel off this route and along Ladybrook Valley to Poynton but I think there’s hundreds of stiles in the way now.

I work in Altrincham and live in Sale. Would be happy to show you this stretch or e-mail me and I could possibly send a map.

I had the cheap (‘Performance’) version on the front and found it to be pretty excellent for Peaks, Lakes, Wales, Alps riding. Despite all this the sidewalls do look and feel pretty flimsy. I’ve found it to be pretty poor in the slop too.

I’ll try the more expensive compounds in the future.

Yep, Ginger Rick + 1.

He’s based out in Cheshire but can drop your bike off with him after riding in Wales. He fixes it then delivers it back to Manc like a new un.

Even Danny loves (my) Borders.

* Sorry, had to get this one in.

Get another electrician.

Aye, try a few more electricians. Some are a lot better at fault finding (experienced ones generally) than others. Get just the kitchen electrics sorted and then get rid of the flat.

Victor Meldrew

Upgrade you say??

What you need is a Sparky mate who likes to be paid with beer