And that’s one hell of a fine one there! Cracking hound!

Thanks Flash, he’s definitely eye candy apparently, or so I have been told. A local cocker shower had said he has “great confirmation” so I presume thats a dog show speak for “good looking cocker :)” But I never wanted to show him, bottom line he’s my mate, and we go out and get muddy in the mountains and stinky on the beach, so would rather that for him than anything else.

Always had Black Labs as a youngster and grew to adore them, and sort of thought I understood the breed a little. When it was time for our own family dog, much as I wanted another lab, I thought I wouldn’t be predictable and just fancied a different challenge and personality and went for a cocker spaniel, and he’s been all of those things and more. A challenge (hopefully won :) and a personality X10. But he’s ace, friendly as heck, stubborn as a mule, daft as a brush and I loves im.

as a pup

And now (16 months old)

+1 5thelefant great photo bet you are proud of that image

Love this thread

Murray the puppy

And all grown up :)

I know its not a breed for everyone, but love my Cocker, hes a fun loving, happy nutter, hard work sometimes but not a dog you’d ever forget, just about to go and clean the inside of the patio door windows, as hes been licking it for all he’s worth due to there being a daddy long legs on the outside! :-)

Been looking and the mazda cx5

I have a new CX5 and have been very happy with it. Reasonable fun to drive for what it is. And a really nice place to be for a long journey for the kids and the Mrs. However as an out and out biking workhorse its no better than an average midsize estate car. Which in all honesty for me personally suits me fine, as I put thule rails and outride roof mounted carriers on. At the end of the day, its an expensive investment, its got nice leather etc, so I am happy having muddy mountain bikes stinking of sheep s**t on the outside as opposed to in the back.

I am one ride in (so probably not enough testing) on a Hans Dampf 2.35 29er and I am super impressed at the grip so far, coming from purgatory 2.3

Completely subjective I am afraid. Liked the Phenom on my Epic, hated the Henge of my stumpy FSR 29er. I guess I may just be a SLR type of chap, I always think that the position you ride the bike in makes a difference to. My SLR’s are comfy when I am in a lower front end racey position, which is why I have them on my road bike and Carbon hardtail. Yet I struggle with them on my trail bike, where I have a Charge scoop that works for a more upright position. I cant explain the science behind that I just know it’s a fact for me. Maybe I am just weird, I didnt find a Gobi comfortable at all, which flies in the face of the conventional thinking of 90% of Mtbers that I know, who as a rule seem to love them exclusively

OOps I just realised something, I just advised myself. I hadnt checked the age of the original post, and of course the fact I was the OP ! Just saw that some guy had a dying pair of G-forms once, which sounded exactly how mine failed, so thought I’d offer some fine advice of what I did to replace them. Only to realise it was me… what a n*b :-) I really hope someone else has done this before

I replaced my G-forms with Fox launch Enduro, and I prefer them a lot more

+1 Smart Lunar R2, brighter than a very bright thing, which is the whole point. Batteries seem to last for ages, and the units about to start its 3rd Winter, as opposed to the one a year purchases I was making on those long thin Cateye jobbies, which seem to let weather in for fun.

I replaced my stumpy ones which I belive are exactly the same with a lower one from Superstar (as per advice on here) and the upper one with this from UK bike store, and they were correct

http://www.ukbikestore.co.uk/product/402/160_6480/fsa-th-870-mr042-1-18-acb-45-x-45-campag-headset-bearing.html

Yep, same experience here. I know we all expect miracles from these companies even when using their free postage option, but yes its the length of time its taken my last order even to be picked thats not the norm for them.
I ordered bits off wiggle and bits off CRC within 5 mins of each other for a new build I was doing. Ordered on a Tuesday at 11am both using the free postage option. Parts from Wiggle here delivered and fitted to my new frame by cocoa time on Wednesday, parts from CRC didnt get picked from the warehouse until Friday and were delivered on Monday

I have them and like them, As much of my riding is uphill as well as downhill. I had G-forms before, I find the fox more comfortable to be honest. I’d recommend them in a hearbeat

Utterly bizarre repsonses, the OP is clearly accepting full responsibility for something he wouldn’t have predicted would have happened, and made a mistake. It happens ! its how we deal with it that counts, and he’s never tried to shift any responsibility and taken level headed and proportionate action. Hes had to make some upsetting decisions and actions whatever the emotional implications of them are to ensure the problem doesn’t arise again. Hats off to you fella. You clearly are aware of the correct principle of a dog bite always being the responsibility of the owner, whatever the situation. Which is why he’s faced up to the responsibilities he has to his family and the public in the future.
Unrelated to the dog biting and the whole minefield surrounding that, it definitely concerns me that if the story is as per I read it, that the Parent takes the line of “I will go to the police if you don’t buy a new iphone” that’s some really odd parental reaction. Not “I will go to the police becasue your dog has bitten my child and we need to take action to ensure it cant happen to anyone else” to be compensated for a broken phone will then take its course as part of that action as an after priority.
But I feel for the OP. And the suggestion of destroying the dog because of one incident is just trolling surely. Would a Vet even do this ?
“Heres my dog, I’ve brought him in to be destroyed”
“Oh yes sir, why !”
“Hes been fine a gentle and loyal friend all his life, and we trusted him enough to be off the lead, he got spooked and bit a girl on the arm so she dropped her phone, which I know I have to take responsibility for , I know we could muzzle him after this, and be more careful about letting him off lead, or perhaps re-home him in a different environment, but to be honest I’d rather you just killed him now, is that OK ?”

FFS

Its a great event, which I would do every year, but in a way that doesn’t take away from the fact, that there is some shortcomings in the venue that should be looked at. Mainly toilet and shower facilities are woeful. Two toilets in a cricket club changing rooms about 300 yards walk away, just isn’t enough for the amount of competitors. To be honest people were making like bears in the woods, and just peeing by their tents in broad daylight. just to avoid the queues, that cant be right surely. I’d still do it every year though, because I think the course and the atmosphere is ace, but this doesn’t mean improvements in some of the basics shouldn’t be addressed by the organisers

Did anybody actually find any grip on that first section?

Not after that little network of roots showed up!

Old Skool stuff for mine, big lads night out in Chester, mini-bus back, got dropped off 3 miles from home, stark naked having been ambushed on the mini-bus, got chased naked round a local golf club. Proceeded to make my way back on foot home, accompanied by my soon to be best man, to ensure I didnt hide/get in any bother/craft some rudimentary clothing from foliage. 2 miles from home, got collected (still butt naked) by a police car, containing a male and FEMALE officer, who were actually spot on about it, fully clothed “mate” who was still with me, explained to the officers that it was best all round in the circumstances, that I wasn’t given any clothes in which to finish my proud journey home in the back of the police car (luckily the seats were plastic moulded and not upholstered) a point in which they reluctantly conceded to, but were duty bound to have me covered up, and gave me a takeaway pizza box that was in the car already from the officers late night snack.
This was all before the days of quad biking / trips to Prague etc. Old School fun but in many ways memorable. Not sure if this sort of behaviour is as common place now as it was, but if it is…Good luck :)

If your in a team and doing one lap each, any sort of hydration pack is overkill for sure. If the weathers warm (its forecast to be quite warm) then a small bottle would be more than enough. A lot of the lap is narrowish twists through the woods so you probably wouldnt want to be grabbing a bottle there. Toward the middle and end there is some long wide and straight sections where you could easily take a glug if needed. Enjoy it, its a great fun event.

Thats all great stuff. Thanks all. No the bike is staying at home this time. Simply a camping trip to spend some time with the wife, kids and the spaniel :) Thats offer of some info is very kind SprocketJockey I will Email you. Thanks

I have to have dull but practical cars for work, so when given a choice of saloons last time, I went for 159 JTDMi saloon. OK it was only a diesel standard family saloon but damn I miss that car. Had it on a 3 year contract hire from new, servicing was good value, no mechanical issues, and it actually divided opinion and people talked about it, as if it was anything but a bog standard saloon car.
Had an avensis afterwards, perfectly good car and probably more practical than the Alfa, but it was like having all my life-force being drained out of me owning that car. The only people who would come up to you and say “how you do like your avensis, are the exact sort of people you spend your life trying to avoid”
I am not one of these Alfa romantics who are in denial that it isnt simply just another saloon car, and that in some way has Italian passion and a soul, its still a diesel saloon car, but it just looks a billion times better and makes you smile when you walk up to get in it :) The day the lease came to an end and they took it away and brought my new shiny Avensis Estate to replce it, I felt instantly 10 years older.
Car came from Mangoletsi, but my local Alfa dealer ES Jones (nr Chester) did the servicing and were bloody good blokes if I am honest.

Messing about with some petrol and matches as a dumb teenager, managed to spill it all over me and set myself on fire, luckily I had an equally stupid teenage mate with me who was also enjoying playing with petrol, who actually turned out to be a hero and put me out by rolling me in sand as we were on sand dunes. No serious burns but absolutely s**t my pants (metaphorically speaking)

UK AMEX Platinum charge card is £450.00

Yes so it is, blimey that went up. However we have supplementary card holder in that fee, (currently only one allowed), and yes we both travel a fair bit, I guess between us 25-35 trips a year, so thats 2 x priority passes, with complimentary guest sign in’s so if travelling with spouses, mates etc, that’s access for 4 people to PP lounges, very comprehensive travel insurance annually, not just for one cardholder but for all family members of primary and supplementary cardholders, so theoretically that could be a lot of people. You do have to check some of the exceptions, like the newly introduced age restrictions, but it can work out a good deal to some people.
Start getting a few 3 hour delays and buying refreshments (G&T’s) at airport prices, few bits and bobs to eat, and see how much that represents when you do the expenses !

If you travel a lot its worth weighing up (particularly to the States, its worth looking into getting an AMEX Platinum card, OK its not cheap, at over £300 a year, but gets you Priority Pass, with free guest sign in’s, I know that doesn’t represent great value alone, but you also get an annual travel insurance policy that is about as comprehensive as it comes. Including all your CDW, EDW car hire extra’s that are most relevant in the States, and can really mount up. Fantastic lost luggage / cash coverage etc. And covers not only the cardholder and all family members. Great policy. They have changed it a bit recently and made some exclusions to people over a certain age, and also you now need to book using the AMEX card.
Of course this only represents great value if you travel a fair bit

Sidi’s, standard fit (not mega) are lovely and snug for narrow and shallow feet. Go for the one size up method, and they should be spot on

+1 for Kettle chips, orrible stupid things

Shouting something along the lines of “rider coming through” and barging past another competitor on a timed downhill special stage section during the the 2011 Trans Wales. I cant remember the exact wording of my call to him, I would like to hope that it wasnt a nobbish “faster rider coming through” but I can t be sure, needless to say, I crashed and cut my kneecap open about 200 yards later, and was out of the event. I was pleased to see that the guy I had just passed had the decency not to shout “rider coming through” as he went past my wreckage, he actually had the class to simply ask if I was ok as he passed by, which made me feel even more like an idiot :) A lesson learned

Has anyone been in the middle of a great dream ;) and then woke mid dream for whatever reason (a pee usually) then got back in bed and attempted in vain to try and continue the dream where you left it, a bit like pausing on SKY+ (never happens) :)

Wheelies, always bloody wheelies

70mm seems to be my particular sweet spot on both trail and xc bikes I have.

Yep, works perfectly on my Sony Xperia Z tablet. Downloaded about 5 hours worth of watching prior to my recent business trip.

I’m not sure if cucumber is all that, though it is nice

Yep in hindsight, I probably over sold the cucumber thing :) But it has improved what was already my favourite tipple.
+1 on Bombay Saph and Tanquerey

Edit: it has to be lime, not lemon.

Double Edit: Lime is better than Lemon for sure, but what has been a revelation to me in my snobbery quest for the perfect G&T (and I have done more than is probably advisable)is to do away with either and have a slice of cucumber.
Sounds absurd but apparently it has been done this way in some of the finer establishments for a long time, and I was convinced of it by a rather experienced cocktail guy. Completely changes the ball game. if you haven’t tried it, please do so immediately (unless its 10am) You’ll never go back.
Citrus seems to mask the inherent hashness effectively by adding a harshness of its own that disguises. However cucumber seems to completely take away the harshness and create something delicate and fragrant that lifts the whole thing.
I scoffed when it was first put in front of me, by said cocktail guy, but it was an instant “whoooah I have been doing it wrong all these years” sort of moment

Its a crap trail even when its, dry

Well clearly thats that then.
I apologise for wasting peoples time dealing in an opinion, when clearly I should have asked if anyone had a fact.

I live in N wales so can pick and choose, Coed Y brenin without a shadow of a doubt for me. Marin and Penmachno would be a close tie for second. Penmachno is much more vulnerable to the weather (particularly lots and lots of standing water) Marin is probably the one we do most often. Its just a good solid enjoyable trail centre type ride. Nothing thats got a wow factor, but usually rideable all weathers and some good sections across fairly evenly spread across the whole of the ride. Last two sections are very good. So a bit of a no brainer. However if you catch Penmachno on a good day (usually after a long spell of dry weather)which in N Wales is probably only a handful of days a year then in my opinion it rivals anywhere. Its a shame that the ground conditions and occassional overgrown periods make it a bit more hit and miss then the other centres. But as I say catch it lucky and its ace. Properly remote/natural feeling, V Narrow, fast, adrenaline rush stuff particularly loop 1. Craig Wen section is as good as it gets for me. But Coed Y Brenin is just quality and weather proof (hurricane force winds permitting)

I know its a bit Ford Mondeo, but I rather like my FSR Carbon Stumpy 29er.

Went from a zesty to a stumpy, stumpy is definately a more active system. Is it better, I dunno, just a different feel

Think CaptainFlashHeart was the most to complain about :)

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/of-all-the-places-to-surf-the-one-handed-web

Yep, successful entry permitting I will be there again. For me, hanging on and chancing my luck on the downhills is way more preferable than grunting a 30lb 140mm travel trail bike up the endless fireroad climbs, therefore 29er hardtail again. For a short one its quite lumpy !