scottfitz – Member

Give me a clue on your name or category and I will let you know your start time/end time.

Chris Knight – Vets.

Thanks

My riding buddy has pulled out so I am unsure I fancy going on my own – half the fun of racing is beating (or being beaten!) by your mates. What time are things likely to wrap up if it starts at 5? Just trying to work out if I still go or not.

If you’re spending that kind of money I think a demo is the only option. You only need to look at group tests where all too often the bike with the least attractive geometry on paper is the most fun to ride, and I ride for fun, not to get through my local woods 6/10ths of a second faster than I did last time…

Strava Swinley May 17 by CJK007[/url], on Flickr

Had a go this morning – was fairly busy so reckon I was held up by a minute or two at least although that obviously did give me a breather! Happy with 4th and reckon 2nd is in reach, but no way on earth am I getting down to an hour or even anywhere near Paul Turner whoever he is on here. According to Strava the overall KOM for this loop is 56.47 which is just mind boggling!

I’ve had mine on since November and CBA switching back to the DHF. Seems fine so far.

Last time I was in Dubai (in October) I went for a ride in Oman (Hatta) early one morning on a rental Stumpjumper – good god it was hard work in the heat! The terrain was what I imagine Mars to be look. Loose, black, shingle and very hard to ride with any commitment. I linked up with a couple of expats via FB who were involved in trail building out there.

We started riding at 730am (22 degrees) and by 10am it was 37 degrees and massively hard work. Glad I have done for the experience but little desire to do it again!

Here’s a photo at the top of the climb of the guys I rode with.

Went from old but very comfy 661 Kyle Straits to Ion K-Pact this year and really rate them. D30 bit is removable and they’re plenty comfy enough for 3-4 hours of pedalling. Much better protection than the old KSs too.

140mm XC bike? YT Capra, Canyon Strive and the Aeris are all worth a look.

Aston is pretty steep and technical although you’re a braver man than me to try that on a rigid bike! TBH, apart from the drop at the end which you can ride around, the black doesn’t have any big drops or jumps so might be ‘fun’. Ricochet is also pretty techy but not as steep. Root Canal has quite a few smallish drops and then some super steep switchbacks. Surface 2 Air probably no fun on a rigid.

He should take up football.

I was there last weekend and it’s super dry and grippy. S2A full of braking bumps and in need of some TLC and the switchbacks at the bottom of Root Canal are pretty rutted, but otherwise riding really well.

I’ve got one of these and it’s insanely bright – comedy name too if you’re childish like me!

Hotrod 50 USB

Tom_W1987 – Member
Bars are a fairly consistent 800mm in MX – and there are plenty of people still running 800s in DH.

Not many narrow sections in MX and DH – plenty in the trail and #Enduro riding that most of us do.

thomthumb – Member
do you think the average weekend warrior compensates for a lack of core/ upper body strength by going slightly wider?

I think the average weekend warrior (including me!) go wider because that’s what the internet tells you to do!

In true STW stylee…

Are you re-using your current wheels so wouldn’t consider a Hightower? I went from a Bronson to a HT and cannot believe how much better it is 95% of the time. My mate (who can really ride) uses a 5010 and does stuff I can only dream of, so there’s no doubting their capability (hence why Peaty, Bryceland and Danny Mac all use them as their main bikes) but for me, the HT is the perfect blend of 5010 playfulness and Bronson ability but just does more things well.

5010 and Bronson are now Boost hubbed anyway so your current wheels may not fit straight on.

Northwind – Member
And for enduro strava, you want the maximum corner-cutting ability

FTFY

Fourth place is yours truly. Don’t think I was trying overly hard so might need to go back and give it some welly!

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/just-back-from-copenhagen

Picked one of these up at the weekend –

https://m.ellis-brigham.com/products/the-north-face-mens-morph-down-jacket/201128

Amazing result against some proper athletes. I guess when the conditions were as bad as they were then bike skills play a bigger role than lung capacity and sheer power and he’s clearly got some serious skillz…

Money refunded today. Very impressed by ABTOT.

did you pay by bank transfer?
I paid by debit card – the forms said there was no money set aside to cover these payments and that I should contact my bank for a refund….which I have done.
Is it also worth trying with ABTOT

Yes I paid by bank transfer. ABTOT covers you if your credit/debit card doesn’t. I downloaded the forms, sent it in with printouts of my bank statements showing the date the money left my account, a copy of the email I had from TA confirming receipt, and within 10 days, I got an email back from ABTOT saying I’ll have it back this week.

Definitely send in a claim – the ABTOT form has a place to fill in your debit card details for the refund.

Just had an email from ABTOT to say that I’ll have my deposit refunded this week. Very efficient service. Hurry up and get your forms sent in if you haven’t yet.

Has anyone tried any of the Kilpi stuff that Sportspirsuits have on offer at the moment? This is less than half price:

https://www.kilpisports.com/en/product/isaiah

Yeah forgot about Narcos. Bloody brilliantly!

I also really liked Peaky Blinders

Netflix

Breaking Bad
House of Cards
Dexter
The OA

Sundayjumper – Member
I don’t own it any more,but a few years ago I built this:

That is super-cool. Had a few E36 M3s in my time and love that engine. Someone did the same to an E92 which I love the idea of.

Hob Nob – Member
987bhp of ticking time bomb. Long since gone.

Oof!

0-60 in 3.5..! (skip to 3m57s)

Seems like a nice guy in this vid:

cardo – Member
Thanks hughjayteens… dont know about you but I was proper looking forward to this too.

I was really looking forward to it – was gutted when it went from race to tour and then double gutted to hear this news! Have managed to switch our booking to White Rooms for the same week so will be riding in the same area at the same time (for less money too assuming we get our deposits back!) so not all bad.

Love the 130i and Griff! Had a Chimaera 15 years ago and loved it when it worked! Had a 130i about 10 years ago and have fond memories of taking it to the ‘ring.

Previously had this….

F10 M5 by CJK007[/url], on Flickr

Eek! by CJK007[/url], on Flickr

which could this (it had very long legs and would light up the rear wheels as you went into fourth at 107mph on a damp runway..)

Now have this:

2015 Audi S8 by CJK007[/url], on Flickr

which isn’t quite as pokey or fun (and I still miss the M5..)

but carries bikes very well and the kids prefer it!

S8 family wagon by CJK007[/url], on Flickr

Cardo – my group of three were booked on the TS Tour which is considered to be a package holiday and therefore should be covered by the ABTOT Bond. One of us called today and it sounded pretty positive in terms of a refund from them.

Compared with what the Bond companies have to deal with when an massive tower operator goes under, this is very small fry so I don’t see why the deposits shouldn’t be protected.

Give ABTOT a call tomorrow as advised on the TA website.

mahalo – Member
i wonder what it’ll mean for White Room. either they’ll be reaping the rewards with loads of extra business, or folk are gonna wary of paying out for a holiday with a British guiding company in France!? Hopefully the former, and hopefully someone else will step into TA shoes and provide similar in Les Arcs….

Looking at their ‘Meet the Team’ page it looks like their guides all have French qualifications so maybe they just saw this coming.

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/cx-am-i-missing-something

Such a shame. Had paid a deposit for the 2017 Trans Savoie which was then switched to a package holiday guided week when that was cancelled. Hopefully can get my money back from ABTOT as my insurance doesn’t cover insolvency claims.

Shame for the guys too – always seemed super friendly when I spoke to them and I’m sure they’re smarting more than we are about all of this.

Fingers crossed a phoenix can rise from the ashes and that the Trans Savoie will be back in 2018 as planned.

I’ve only ridden once at QECP and that was a very brief visit. Are the trails used for the race normally marked or easy to find as I quite fancy trying to ride their again before the race?

Cheers

What tyres will everyone be using…..? :wink:

I’m in! Good chance to get some proper use from my Gemini Titan lights. My usual two race mates can’t make it so it’ll be a solo entry and a Billy no mates evening!