I’ve got the USE alloy shockpost. Brilliant bit of kit. I’d suggest you get the firmest one. I couldn’t ride my hardtail for more than a couple of hours without getting terrible back pain, whereas with this post I could ride all day again.

Slave labour: I didn’t get that feeling of exploitation and desperation from the hospitality staff in Dubai that I’ve had in many other middle eastern and ALL Asian countries I’ve visited.
No culture: agree most of what they do in that city is copy other countries ideas and do them bigger, better. It’s not culture but it’s very entertaining.
Energy: yeh they do that as well as waste heaps of water but why do I as a tourist need to feel bad about that.
Expats: to be honest the majority of British Expats are dickheads everywhere I’ve travelled and where I live IMO. Theres a superiority complex and arrogance that they share only with Americans. There are exceptions of course. I didn’t encounter any in Dubai but I don’t doubt they’re there.

If you want a good time Dubai has copied most iconic worldwide structures and done it bigger and better. It’s not original or cultured but it’s the most outrageous city I’ve visited in a long time whereas Devon is well …. just Devon.

I stayed there for 5 nights a few weeks ago at the Atlantis Palm resort I loved it and will go back.
Was probably a bit too hot in Late August and I’ll do late September next time. Can’t understand the animosity here.
Devon??? Seriously there’s no comparison!!

I took mine for its maiden ride today just on a bike path.
It was fantastic. They are not super quick but not complete slugs either. Max speed 32 km/hr with a 24km/hr average over 20 km on an urban cycleway is not too bad. I cant wait to try the beach tomorrow.

I think it’s reasonable for them to stand still and let you get around. Its not aggression or ignorance.
I’ve been in many situations where the walker tries to get out of the way whilst you take evasive action, but you both veer off in the same direction which is worse.

You can get some pretty powerful light and small head lights for caving etc from outdoor shops for about 10 – 20 quid. I’d get something designed for what I want to do.

I wouldn’t worry about not being able to pick up the Cwm Carn full red loop. It’s pretty depressing when you do. :oops:

Since the bannings of the big hitters, banning threads have become the new helmet threads!

Certainly the liveliest topics on the forum.

@ ampthill TJ is active on FB under his real name, which should be easy to find given the link posted above.

I recall a thread about a year ago along the lines of “which forum member would you most like to go for a ride with?”
Most of the so called “big hitters” we’re mentioned in this thread and I think TJ was the most popular by a long way.

Arguing is not a bad thing and I think most people don’t get too offended by the banter.
I found most of these arguments entertaining and educating.
I often agreed with DS’s stance on many topics and usually disagreed with most of TJ’s.
I’d love to have a pint or go for a ride with both of them though.
I personally don’t think either of them were trolls.
Just because you disagree with the majority doesn’t make you a troll IMO, and forum discussion is pretty dull when everyone agrees all the time.

I went for a little pootle in Hyde park last week on those Barclays hire bikes. I recorded the ride with my garmin for a laugh. I rode through at least 6 segments within the park (not around it). :D

+ 1 for those yellow Michelin levers posted above.
They are so thin they can slip under any tight bead.
Most of the other ones are too thick to fit under a real tight bead, and when they do they’ll pinch your tube!

and still have all 3, shame you can’t get them any closer than Australia

BTW you don’t need to get them from Aus. Continental do an exact copy of them. Best 2 quid you’ll ever spend IMO.

I would highly recommend the vertebrate series of MTB guidebooks which have routes like you describe in most areas of the UK.
There’s no getting away from gates and mud, but they do take you away from the technical trail centre stuff and to the great outdoors.
I’ve used the volumes covering the South West, Wales, and the Cotswolds and have had some spectacular rides.

Agree with DrP. 90% of sciatica resolves spontaneously in 3 months.
If it doesn’t it may need investigating.
Early surgery does not alter long term natural history.
Pull your wallet out and find a good private physio. Don’t waste your time and money with other shit.
If you prefer to wait for your NHS to help you will probably be very disappointed. There are a few exceptions.
It’s not their fault, the system is too overloaded and under-resourced to provide optimum care.

This could be useful for such a journey.

I’ve nothing to else to add as the OP’s questions have been answered.
I prefer to import my tracks/courses to my 800 using GTC or memory map rather than copying them into the devices directory but it’s no big deal really.

Calling Stw to chillax

I find this place amazingly uptight at times. For an MTB forum it’s very left wing, pc and intolerant of general piss taking.
Quite a shame really as there are many amusing and interesting characters on here but their charisma is not acceptable and many of them have now been permanently censored.
I’ve never been offended by an anonymous persons comments in a public forum. You’d have to be pretty fragile IMO to be really.

I get that with my sram rear mech. Winds itself around the jockey wheel and is a complete pain in the arse to remove.

Pig on the spit. Love a pub that does that

There is a great pub just near the trial start of the Gorlech in Abergorlech. Very MTB friendly and great tucker!
Edit: trail not trial ….. Stupid iPad

I’m at Heathrow awaiting a flight to Dubai and drinking Stella.

I have a specific email for all my cycling and social network sites which is not linked to my outlook.
If it gets spam-botted I just delete the account and create another.
My close friends of course have my real personal account.

For me the “navigate back to start function” has been the savior many times.
I don’t explore with it but follow predetermined and loaded routes on it.
I love all the fitness data it generates and uploading the rides to all the cycling websites..
I don’t use the virtual partner anymore as it used to stress me out and detract from my ride. If you’re into pushing yourself to the max all the time then it’s very useful.

Ive hated every front mech I’ve ever owned. I can’t wait for a better solution but still retain gear range.

I use my 800 to follow new routes all the time using the map page.
It’s also saved my bacon loads of times when for various reasons I’ve had to terminate a route and head straight to my car.
It can be used when you get lost and I consider it essential for remote riding providing you also have back up maps.

I would get a Salsa Fargo. I think it would be the ultimate tourer.

Pretty shit skills really and amongst the slowest in most groups i ride with, but I have a good time.
I’m getting worse as I get older too. I blame injuries, loss of confidence and greater financial responsibilities.

After your warm sashimi you may very well need some bog roll. It’s light, small ( you don’t need the whole roll).
It won’t save your life but may save your arse.

Camel trail from Padstow to Wadebridge is very nice. It gets a bit dull after that.

I’m a firm believer in one flip.
You’ve just got to be confident, get the timing right, and commit. Flip too early and you risk multiple flips resulting in a dried out old leather boot piece of meat.
Definitely no salting until after its cooked or you’ll draw the moisture out of the steak again resulting in leather boot syndrome.

Really hot buttered pan. Flip once only. Cracked sea salt after cooked.

That badger thread is a very entertaining read.
When threads around here go like that they get rapidly closed or removed.
I actually tried using the search function the other day to look for closed threads but it wasn’t possible. :D

Its far from single pivot its DW link.
Here’s a pic of my frame before I built it up – note the gold link at the bottom. No offence to SP lovers out there!

You need a new bike thats for sure. Give up and buy one cause the buying itch won’t go away.

Get a Pivot Firebird. Lovely bikes and not common around here.

Drive to Coed Y Brenin real fast.

I don’t own one because I’m afraid of riding on the road.
If the roads were safer I’d be well into it.

Great thrash with a mate down Skyline trail, Afan

Hans dampf

My 29er is out of action at the moment but I’m running these on my 26er and I’m extremely impressed.

Well I’m about to head back home to Perth after 2 years in South Wales. To be honest I’ve got mixed feelings about it.

The Perth hills are great but a bit limiting as a mtb destination compared with everything I’ve done here. Riding from the front door is fantastic compared to the hills 45 minutes away. Its meant I can regularly ride mid week rather than a weekend affair.

Remote epics, big mountain riding, and short road trips to completely new terrain have been my pleasure here and you can’t do this in Perth.
I might even give up mtb for a while and become a roadie like my other half. Then I can look forward to having beer cans thrown at me and abuse from the bogans (chavs) in passing cars.

Weather… well when its cold and wet you can adjust your attire but still get out. When its 42 degrees you’re a bit stuffed really!

Stop at lights put in neutral and apply footbrake.
Light changes, clutch in, put in first and take off.
If you’re on an incline you may need to do it a bit quicker to avoid rollback.
I’m not sure whats so hard about it.
I don’t know why people creep or ride the clutch at lights – I always assumed it was boredom rather than aggression.

Stop at lights put in neutral and apply footbrake.
Light changes, clutch in, put in first and take off.
If you’re on an incline you may need to do it a bit quicker to avoid rollback.
I’m not sure whats so hard about it.
I don’t know why people creep or ride the clutch at lights – I always assumed it was boredom rather than aggression.

He’s not the messiah he’s a very naughty boy! :lol: