Going from 510g rims to 350s and changing the tyres to 2011 Rons should save almost 1.5lbs on it’s own, so throw in a new saddle, post and maybe a carbon bar and I should be there!

Not much other scope without big money and if it flies at 27.5lbs, it really should at 25.5!

Ah well spotted – will give my LBS that part number and see what they can do!

Uvex XP100 – best fitting helmet I’ve ever tried and one handed chin catch adjustment is nice.

Thanks for that – any special tools needed do you know?

Anyone else know?

I’d assumed the bore of the outer was bigger to allow the liner to go in?

Hmm, will maybe try a mac geek forum!

I’ve done the DH runs without armour (but with a full face lid) – all parts of them are rollable! Worth another visit I think!

Kevlar lasted 1 1/2 days in the Alps – just fitted some more here in the UK so will see how they cope here.

Me and some mates stayed here – very hospitable host and a pub about 100m away (although not sure I’d describe it as having a little life!). 5 minute ride to Afan.

Oakridge[/url]

Garage for safe bike storage etc.

Fair point MBoy – I guess I like XTR for the bling as much as any small weight saving! I have M970 on both my bikes but the ML8 which is generally ridden more and cared for less, has a very graunchy drivetrain at present whereas the other bike shifts like it’s new still, so whatever I go for will be a big improvement I’m sure.

According to CRC the new 2012 XT mechs aren’t due in until end of October – anyone know any different?

Mine shipped today so will let you know next week!

I usually park on the car park until they lock up and then move onto the small layby just down the hill from the carpark entrance. Although the park is technically closed then, if you ride 100m up the road, you can get to the start of the trails easily enough. I rode there on Friday and despite the heavy rain on Thursday it was largely dry and there was plenty of grip. The XC loop is a bit of a super narrow slog up and down – I wouldn’t bother – the DH runs are all nicely different and a Remedy will be fine (I ride a 165mm ML8 there). The black is not that fast but quite steep and technical. DH3, DH4 and 423 are all worth a few runs despite the push back up (I used to ride up but it is bloody steep!).

ST Minions are perfect there – seem to find grip even when it’s wet, and armour and a full face lid are a good idea too – lots of trees to hit!

Anyone?

Great vid – what mounts did you use on the bike?

Just ordered a T6 XML – already got a P7 which I was happy with so will probably move that onto my bars and try the T6 on my helmet. For £30 I don’t really care how well it works!

Good point ref getting my LBS to do the work – have seen a couple of FS frames I like the look of so that might be the best bet.

Anyone?

Rickon – what’s your email?

Rickon – I could be interested. Email im profile

We didn’t make it to Grange Hill due to the lost day but it’s on the list for our next trip. Another of our party has a place in Chamonix which is meant to be quite different to Les Arcs – more slower technical stuff and more riding between sections. Love snowboarding in Morzine but have heard it gets v busy during bike season?

Here’s another vid uploaded!

The chest mount was very tight – almost too tight! Not sure if it’s because I had armour on and the chest plate isn’t that flat a surface?

Having looked online, I think it is play between the GoPro bracket and the chest mount. I fitted the little rubber bumper thing they supplied and it was slightly better, but I am tempted just to glue it in place as I don’t plan using the camera anywhere else and it drives me mad!

Stevo – yes we were with Brian – stopped to fix a puncture I think when you went past. Very lucky man riding there every day!

Chakaping – we bumped into a White Room group at the very top of one of the chairs on Monday – was that you!?

The same guy had another even more amazing ‘got away with it’ that I caught the tail end of – basically we were coming to the end of a trail dropping down to the road and he went offline, dropped/rolled/slid maybe 20ft down a VERY steep rocky bank and managed to walk away with only bruised forearms! His motto when skiing was always ‘Go big, or go home’ so I was pleased to see he has the same approach to biking!!

The GoPro is a 960HD and I use it on full resolution (960, 30fps) but upside down, so I can angle it upwards on the chest mount. I always think it wobbles too much but it’s smooth on the road and those trails were VERY bumpy, so probably as good as it’s going to get. I think the 1080 version run at 60fps would be much better on the slow-mo stuff, but editing 960/30 is hard enough on a MacBook pro so 1080/60 must need a Kray Supercomputer!

Will try and get a couple more vids uploaded later.

Jedi – didn’t stop waxing lyrcial to my riding buddies about your course and spent an afternoon as a half baked instructor, doing some drop offs in the car park (‘heels down!’). Think some of them will be attending courses soon!

For the same reason that it is easier to undo a nut with a 200mm long spanner than a 50mm long spanner.

I was told by a frenchman last week that this was introduced as many of the outdoor public pools were getting filthy due to the local youth riding down there on their scooters and going swimming with dusty and oily shorts on.

Finding it hard to get back into work mode today – hours lost watching GoPro vids!

I’ve just returned and think I was the only person in my group of 8 not to get a puncture – was also the only person with dual ply DH tyres (2.5DHF and 2.35 DHR). Just had regular specialized tubes fitted.

Well all back in one piece. Had an amazing ride saturday afternoon, Sunday was a complete write off due to biblical rains, but made up for it on Monday with a guided day into Italy from coolbus.co.uk which was the hardest 7 hours in the saddle I’ve ever done. Bus uplift to the top and then the most mentally steep and technical singletrack I have ever seen with chairlifts in between. Clocked up around 100k of downhill action which was exhilerating and exhausting in equal measures.

Then got out very early Tuesday for a few more runs before the lunchtime transfer.

All in all, probably the most fun I have ever had with my clothes on my some margin and I’m still buzzing now!

16GB of GoPro action to sift through including some You’ve Been Framed worthy crash clips (not from me I am pleased to add!).

Roll on next year!

Forecast improved slightly – heavy rain Snday afternoon now but dry otherwise…. getting VERY excited now!!

Miele for microwave – ours must be 10 years old and still works brilliantly. Think they now also make a built in nespresso machine which looks nice if a little ££££.

203/185 rotors here with fresh plus spare pads and a newly fitted double and bash setup so think the bike will be fine – just need to worry about me!

One of our riding group has a place in 1950 so 7 of us are heading out there early in the morning and flying back Tuesday evening. Bike packed up last night with super tacky DH tyres so should find grip if there is some I hope!

Can’t wait – first time I’ve MTB’ed outside of the UK and on chairlifts!

I bought one of these in the sale for £60 and while it has worked well for 18 months, the ratchet has just done in the clamp so the bike just swivels around now!

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/lifeline-elite-team-workstand/

Wiggle have said to send it back for repair which should be free so can’t complain really.

Think I’d buy a Park one if I was buying again though.

Not sure if it helps but I need a medium 661 pressure suit but the large Brand X fitted me really well. The large 661 was too big on my shoulders.

M4 X2 combo on my ML8 and love it. X2 X2 on my hardtail and do often feel like I want a bit more bite on the steep stuff.