Nice one. Thanks chaps. Thinking of flying to Nordkapp (or near as possible) then cycling down to St Petersburg as part of a long distance epic to Cape Town that I want to do over a few years

Lucky enough to have a FS 26er and a 29er. It’s not long travel (it’s a Swift) but I find the combo ideal. And to be honest the Swift gets ridden much more than the FS 26er just because there’s less faff with it.

Could be because it’s singlespeed as well though…would recommend keeping the FS 26er if you can and get yourself a cheap rigid SS 29er to see how you get on. Just an idea.

I love the idea of ‘drafting’ in a 560 mile off road race!

I’d say there is def a market for simply long xc events. I personally love the one long lap events for that epic feel. Find lap events a bit hectic…

Anyone else heard anything?

+ 1 for coke…

Left it over night and it finally did the trick

Ibis have a demo fleet in the uk…I bought one of their ex demos. Bargain!

Saturday…but not too early in the morning so that I could travel from home in the morning and then camp the Saturday night.

Where do I get myself a clip-in bike? They sound like fun…

I’ve got a lightweight Rab jacket I wear. Not sure I like any of the mtb specific jackets out there…would just find the lightest weight waterproof you van and couple it with a decent ride jersey. Lightweight merino jerseys are good. I wear a Repack Berino, but I’m biased…

I got some second hand Specialised storms off someone on here the other day. Rode with them today. Amazing.

Chers guys, know where I might find a GPX route or something?

Is the North Downs any better do you think? Thinking East Grinsted way…

Oh dear. That doesn’t sound very appealing…maybe I’ll try the North Downs instead…

No science to help you understand but I accidentally bought a pair of 165mm cranks and they felt weird. Would stick with what you know or try out first…

I noticed those. Anyone had any experience of them?

Thanks all, and rollindoughnut I may well take you up on that offer :)

I can now get more excited about the future move! Got 6 places to view on Saturday and they are all in the Sevenoaks area.

Thanks chaps – some good food for thought. We’ve not decided where yet but need to be able to commute back into London sadly…

Looking mostly in the Sevenoaks area so far but could go further out towards Tunbridge wells etc. also open to other good suggestions…

What gee said. Don’t have pork pies etc. best wait till after the race for that kind of food.

Great mag Mcmoonter – I don’t think my other half will thank you for showing it to me though. Plans are already being hatched…

Vdubber67 + 1

Flapping wind proofs seem to affect readings especially if you’re wearing something baggy ish underneath. Try wearing a tighter top and keep it moist…

Nice vid btw dropseoi

37 and probably stronger than I’ve been for a while so now don’t ride my full sus any more. Fully rigid for me these days

Sorry to pi$$ on the Howies love-in but having been a long term fan I was really disappointed by the cycle specific baggies. They were weirdly short in the leg and the ‘epic’ cotton is rubbish. Too hot in the summer and not in the slightest bit weather resistant. In fact they just get wet and heavy.

Bit of a fail IMO

Same, just not sure anyone’s quite there yet…and there isn’t the choice

Did SDW with a mate who’s new to mountain biking. Think I might have underestimated how long it takes and he’s probably not going to be looking to do any more all day rides any time soon! But it was fun nonetheless. Great tailwinds at times too which is always a bonus!

I’d say 12 hours would be good for this time of year. Remember there are a lot of gates and walkers…so it’s not head down racing the whole way

Cheers pal. Not come through but will check my junk mail

i was thinking hacksaw and then screw driver but a bit scared it’ll permanently knacker the port…do oyu think you can get replacement bolts?

Edwin for me. But never ride in jeans anymore as so many have started to fade on the arse it’s worth the 30second change when I get to the office

I think there is a wider issue here about police attitude towards cyclists. But clearly this is not something many of you have witnessed. Which is good to hear

Actually, what the bike did was not against the Highway Code. They stopped in a safe place. Which in the incident was in front of the ASL

It’ll be because you’re tired I expect. Happens to me a fair bit. Probably sometimes from over-doing it. But I’ve usually just carried on. And…I’m still fine.

Yeah, I’ve been favouring the cheery hello which apparently they can’t hear. Which is probably louder than my bell…Probably best to just not really care to much what people say and continue being as polite as possible!

Hey Gribble it probably was me…I had a last minute change in plan. My bro wanted to join me from lunchtime so I started from QECP in the morning and headed towards Winchester and back for my morning ride and then met up with him and headed East after lunch. Not very exciting riding as I doubled back on myself both times but it gave me a nice work out…

Start of an all day ride on the flinty downs so unfortunately no other option really (other than being better prepped before any of you jump in…) To be honest, I’m not too fussed paying out for my own lack of organisation but I’d at least expected a quiet ‘sorry about that…’ Rather than the implication that it was totally reasonable.

Not sure out paths crossed in the end Gribble…was looking out for you but must have crossed mid break…thought conditions were pretty good, a little warm for my baldy head that managed to get burnt through the helmet!

Also, did you find there to be ruder than average walkers this weekend? Never really had much bother but on Saturday there seemed to be lots of moaning and I couldn’t have been more polite! One kind chap reminded me I was on a bridle way…I stopped short if letting him know there were plenty of footpaths too.

See you up there gribble. I’ll be on a singular swift on my tod so say hello if you see me. I’m riding Harting Down to alfriston and back so will look out for you on your creaky hard tail

If I’d just shelled out on a nice new headset I’m not sure I’d bodge installing it…and believe me I’ve done some stupid bodges in the past. Still get grief for bodging my rear mech with a picture hook the day before a race. It didn’t work.

On the of-chance that you’re based in North London you can borrow crown race tool.

What is the min width if I want to out a 2.4 tyre on?