Oh dear Adam, that does not sound good, I’d better put the mud tyres in! Going up Saturday so will update then if it’s dried out at all.

I used a set of Hope BB bearings on my Madone as they were identical in size to the Trek bearing but with a bit better sealing.
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/hope-bottom-bracket-stainless-steel-bearing/rp-prod36419
You can also use the ceramic hybrid bearing as well.

Anyone doing the first Midlands round at Sherwood Pines this weekend? I’m in the GV class at 10.30am.
Iain.

I stopped for over 20 years, only starting again about 6 years ago, does that make me the winner or biggest loser?!

Hard tail 29 gets my vote, definitely more comfy for the HONC, ultimately a well ridden cross bike is quicker – the first two guys home in the 100k were on cross bikes but they would have been quick on anything. I used Thunder Burt’s and never felt disadvantaged to the cross riders, much easier and faster on the downhill bits.

But then again, get both 🙂

We tented for a few year before buying a Vango Kura 800 – the plan was to get everything we wanted in one tent:

3 decent sized sleeping areas
Room to have a table at and a cooking area
Sewn in ground sheet
Easy’ish to put up
Water and wind proof
Etc

The trouble is we bought a caravan so have hardly used it 🙁 probably only 5 times in total….

So if you want a bargain it’s for sale at £150

Some links here: http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/tents/p/Vango-Kura-800/424
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8rO8WEE8mI

Cheers, Iain – email in profile.

It cannot be 40 years old! I got some of the first ones and thought they were brill…..probably time to get a subscription as my kids are the right age for it now 🙂

Managed my first year of XC last year in FNSS and really enjoyed it, finishing 5th in GV. Plan for this year is the midlands xc series and a few National rounds.

Might manage down to some Gorrick events, did the last brass monkeys round and quite enjoyed it.

Have a look at this site as it has some good information:

http://www.torchythebatteryboy.com/p/18650-batteries-chargers.html

The battery packs I’ve had from his ebay site have been very good so far.

Ok, first ever Gorrick now done, managed to get 5th in 3hr GV which I was pleased with.

Impressed the Gorrick team managed to get such a good venue, well done guys.

Only done one FTP test using a Quark PM, 319w for 20mins giving 303w with 75kg = 4w/kg. I race in Grand Vet and finish in the upper end, need more power and skill to reliably win stuff though.

Great news, also got some sort of cold thingy that has lasted all month and just managed to get out of zone 2 today at Cannock for the first time in weeks, need another week or so to get sorted though.

May not be the cheapest but probably best value if they have your size: http://www.jaegeroutlet.com/Dinner-Suit/285749Z,en_GB,pd.html?dwvar_285749Z_color=00100&dwvar_285749Z_size=42R&start=1&q=Dinner

That’s what I had also read – I think it needs a bit more work in the bleeding department..
Thanks.

Distance 6,484 miles
Time 402 hours
Elevation gain 407, 608 ft
Rides 239
Longest 106.1 miles
Biggest climb 3,360m

Cotswold Cycles – continued support for the local riders who want to race both on and off road.

Iain.

Thanks chainline, that is worth knowing.
Iain.

Just used the new bike on Saturday with XTR shifter/rear mech, SRAM X01 cassette and XTR chain – all worked really well.

I’m in south warwickshire (shipston on stour) and have a large size Mojo, you are welcome go have a look if you want. I’ve been contemplating selling it for a while now but not managed to bring myself to do it.

It has a 150mm Talas on it with xtr and cross max st’s.

My email is in my profile, let me know if I can help.

Iain.

Thanks guys, good advice.
Iain

I did a short ride on the rollers this week, haven’t used them for years, was trying to do some high cadence low resistance stuff, strava file is here if interested as it has a power reading https://www.strava.com/activities/442657695

Was in a 52 front ring and somewhere in the upper (bigger) third of the cassette i.e. very low load.

Biggest problem was trying not to bounce off as I seem to have forgotten how to pedal….

On a positive note, that’s halved the travel time for me. Shame the course does not sound quite as good but would rather the event went ahead.

Thanks mccraque, might take a mud x on the spare, just in case!

I’m in the 3hr GV category – a couple of team mates doing the 4hr, not done one of these before so looking forward to it, taking a guess at tyres with a Ron/Ralph combo – anyone any idea if this will be okay?

Got a Top Fuel on order myself, Specialised S Works Epic or Whyte are the other two other options I would consider.

Awesome bike, really impressed everyone that rode it, I think I’m hoping that Trek will do a 29+ Remedy next year…..

Funnily enough, we raced back from Cannock last Saturday to our local bike shop (Cotswold Cycles in Moreton in Marsh) to get a book signed and listen to ‘The Racer’. We also returned the Trek Stache 9 that we had out on demo – it was a good day really, the Stache was great and the talk/book signing was good.

So if you want see or Demo a Stache 9 then head to my local bike shop!

I’m 6’1 and 76kg and use a large Gabba – fits perfectly.

I went to two pairs of overshoes last year 🙂

Not sure if you are a Strava user but here’s two easy routes round Skidaw that I did with my family:

https://www.strava.com/activities/172980932

https://www.strava.com/activities/173506407

E Mail me if you need the GPX file.
Iain

Small sized orange crush got him from 11 to 13, maybe a little big but short in the top tube. We did the Islabike Creig 26 after the Beinn 24 – this worked well as I had struggled to find a really small frame. Worth looking at a Ladies extra small frame as well.

LVRC RR near Towcezter Sunday

Very sad, I worked with him in F3000 years ago, really nice bloke.

I’m just over 6ft1 and went for the 21″‘, the ETT is about 640mm if I remember and actual frame size is 20″. I was loaned a 19″ that I rode the HONC on and it was okay but had a load of seatpost sticking out! Also be careful because the SL sizing is different to the normal frames.
I’ve found the bigger size very stable, even on more technical courses, I also use a 100mm stem which is pretty old school…

Have a look at the trek superfly, I got one to race with at the start of the season and cannot fault the geometry, it also just ‘feels fast’ if I’m allowed to say that, even with me on it 🙂

Always keep them in sight plus use additional locks – but I’m paranoid!

This is a good place to start, turn up and pay £10 on a Friday night – might be a bit away from you however.
http://fnssmtb.com/

I race a Ralph front and TB rear which works well, if more grip needed then a Ron front and Ralph rear.

I bought a set of DT Swiss 350’s on Crest for £264 and they came in about a week and were bang on the weight stated. Stayed true so far.

These were the guys http://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/bikestacja?_trksid=p2047675.l2559

Great piece of kit, love mine. To have all the speed and data overlaid on the video file separates it from other HD cameras massively.