Where’s your climbing wall?

Only useful when not hidden behind piles of crap 🙂

The most impressive thing about that crack vid is the crapness of the belaying!

For a first trip I would suggest Deux Alp. Better weather guaranteed, open from mid June, trails in better condition. The mondial du vtt is around the time you are going as well and is much better fun than the pds. You can park a van on the river just before vanosc and make the trip even cheaper. No guides needed either.

Should I be asking for my plate out?

If its not a problem then best not to go back and play the MRSA lottery.

Flew easyjet to Nice

😮 thats a long transfer.

Better would be Barcelona, Tolouse or Perpignan

Mine was plated about 4 weeks after the break, it healed pretty well and I was riding within 4 weeks and in the alps in 8. The stuff about the graft is probably worst case scenario.

I still have my plate in 2 yrs on, it can be a pain at times with the snagging of tendons but the consultant decided that there was probably no need to remove it.

You will always get differing opinions from doctors main point is you have been treated, it will probably be ok aand it was free. Dont be too harsh on the NHS.

^^ Where did 5 year old come from??

Misread 5′ for 5, sorry!

Any good?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75ys1R6DMg4

It would be mental buyiong a 26″ frame for a 5 yr old (unless she is a giant). At that age most kids are on 20″, 26″ would be like steering a supertanker for her.

I imagine that you will find Deux alpes a lot better now. Can’t comment on how it compares to whistler though.

Edit. Everyone was comparing the trails at a little southern park called chabanon to whistler. It is small though, and has weird opening times. Never went as it was closed I passed by but all the locals rated it.

Definitely: great riding, nice weather.

Driving is the best option, you can then go to other parks like granvalira, ac les thers and even la Molina if you want a change. Camping is hyper expensive (hotels are almost the same price) but you can camp or sleep in a van at the top Valnord carpark without any hassle.

World cup is there 28th July.

Granada

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DSC_2144[/url] by ianvincent[/url], on Flickr

Welcome to UglyStick Sunday, where bike mingers hang out.

I am amazed by some peoples conception of beauty. 1 is the best of a VERY bad bunch.

The dog and gun above oxenhope, nice food and apparently sells massive mixed grills. Nice views as well. Gets busy though.

Home

112 works in Europe as well.

Blue sky + Dry, Dusty trails = Summer in Valnord

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006[/url] by ianvincent[/url], on Flickr

Or anywhere in the Pyranees,

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011[/url] by ianvincent[/url], on Flickr

Les Angles

A bit of googling says work permits for tourist/hospitality jobs in andorra are not that hard as long as you get all the paper work sorted.

Lagos is nice and the algarve has a pretty strong biking scene, both xc and downhill.

http://www.mondovelo.fr/vtt-junior-24/5154386-ramones-24.html#zoom

This looks quite nice

When were you last at deux alpe? IME for that jumpy, fast, open type of riding there is no park in France or the Pyranees that is better.

One or two trails at Valnord that fit the bill, a few at Orciere but for volume deux alpes is the best. Cant comment on the top trails at les orres as the top lift was shut when I was there but the lower stuff was nothing special (only two runs anyway).

£1000 is not enough but other than that, Spain. Big hippy commune near orgiva that might suitable.

Street cred on a kona*

*laughs and walks away

Way more than an isla bike, and it wont fall apart.

Good 16 inch Bmx, a lil shredder.

http://m.pinkbike.com/news/Jackson-Goldstone-Goes-to-Woodward-Winter-Camp-video-2013.html

1000 switchbacks, Orciere (on the orciere trail map)

I knew Sean, he worked in hmv for a bit and used to sneak us a few n promos n other bits n bobs. Top bloke. Last time i saw him was a few years ago tho now.

That was a different Sean (Kendrick), the manager was Sean Mcinerney. Kendrick is now in the US I think. Not seen Nige since about 99, he alienated a lot of people around then for various reasons. Hopefully he has sorted himself out now.

Ask the question on ukbouldering, there are some really good climbers there and you will get good advice.

Imo, footwork comes with practice but upperbody/finger strength is key to progression. Work on these, and don’t bother with courses.

God the the Orbit was mental, we used to go to that pub over road to get ‘warmed up’ on Ayingerbrau.

We used to do that as well for a bit. I went pretty much every weekend for about 8 /9 years. I knew the promoters and was mates with nige so it was a cheap but ace night out. Saw apex twin twice, once early on and he scared people to death ( there were pilled up girls crying on the balcony, mental!). Second time the local speed freaks couldn’t handle the lack of 4×4 and it all got a bit nasty, pity really and it was the start of the sad decline (2000 ish). I really loved the place but it all started to get a bit crap not long after that.

The orbit trip to the love perade was excellent as well. Tresor was amazing and we pretty much had access all areas as they were mates westbam.

Anyone go to the Orbit versus Omen weekends??

I went: Nige scared the locals,I got wrecked and lost my glasses, Sven paid my beer tab and Sean (orbit manager)almost got into a fight with the hotel security :-). Good weekend.

On a more modern note: Detached in Leeds always had awesome DJs.

Rocking nu school techno at its best.

Orbit
Omen
Tresor
Bugged out

Not as full on as his earlier stuff but this guy is good:

Junichi Watanabe

Jam bo , pay up I love trail centers ( not so sure about trial centres) and love most MTBs ( I draw the line at tandems ) but when people start blotting routes which can be safely lead on trad gear then I draw a line.

Have you ever climbed anything hard on limestone? The routes are totally unprotectable without bolts. Bolts have been responsible for the vast majority of progression in the sport since the mid 80s and as such definitely have a very important place in climbing. The hilti was the best bit of climbing gear ever invented. 🙂

This is the one that always impresses me:

If you look at his hands you will see what I was trying to describe above.

I used to use them when I climbed, they were awesome for building upper body strength. I used to be able to do the crucifix as well, it is a lot to do with technique and how you hold the rings (sort of with the pad and slightly towards the back and let the rings move out towards right angles to your body)

Start off with stuff like dips and then pulling from a hang into the locked arm position. Then combinations hang/locked arm/dips/hang. 6 months is possible if you are strong and someone shows you the technique, whatever happens they will deffo build upper body strength.

The area to the west of calais (cote d’opale) is meant to be nice.

http://www.cote-dopale.com/carte

I’m pretty sure I would not have been bothered about not having a kid. More time, money, less compromises (especially in the first few years) etc. However I did and now I am pretty glad.

If he had turned into a little s++t it would be a different matter though 😐

Coincidentally when I was looking up 5th wheel caravans I found this:

Last year in France I saw the ultimate holiday set up. Artic cab (Harley Davison behind the cab) towng a 15m (very expensive looking) caravan, pulling a trailer with a q7 and a final little trailer with a jet ski. Not sure how many campsites would be suitable though.