We’re with Aviva for both home and cars, and are paying less now than we were for just the cars last year.

Bikes didn’t need to be listed individually and are covered under the umbrella cover level, in unattached outbuildings, cars, etc, as long as they are locked to an immovable object (I use Pragmasis Sold Secure Motorcycle Gold ground anchor/chain/lock). I specifically asked whether they needed to be listed individually over a certain value per item and was told no, not as long as the overall cover is sufficient.

I love Afan so I’d be doing W2 (Whites plus Y Wal) – fantastic ride.

I would have advised a Shark, as most did, but you’ve ignored all of their advice, so.. 😂

I’ll second the Wera Hex Plus.

As johnnystorm says..

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/xc-900s-full-suspension-carbon-mountain-bike-29-id_8545706.html

At £1699 you’d be daft not to consider it.

https://www.eurofitdirect.co.uk/pages/search-results-page?q=Ball+bearing+slide+1473

Remember that the Brand X has an inline seat clamp vs. the Command Post’s setback, so your effective seat angle will steepen and your seated reach shorten.

You probably won’t notice that much, but in an age where people obsess over +/-5mm on geometry charts it’s worth mentioning..

To answer your original question then.. 😉

I run tubeless and don’t carry an emergency tube for the majority of my riding as there isn’t a huge amount of sharp rocky stuff where I am. Don’t like CO2 carts so have a decent mini pump tucked in a frame bag along with a tubeless patch and plug kit – not had to use either yet. Hate wearing a pack, hence keeping stuff to a minimum for local sub-3hr rides.

Not entirely classic car, but you can do tours of the Morgan factory in Malvern, and hire a Morgan for the day as well.

Given that there have been cases of people committing suicide after circumcisions left them in constant pain due to sensitivity and overstimulation, is this really a laughing matter? It’s genital mutilation, and should be treated as such. Those of you who think it’s funny wouldn’t be laughing if it happened to you.

RAV Vast drum

Reactable

If your LBS is telling you you need a whole new drivetrain over a rear mech and a chainring then either find a new LBS or learn to spanner and sort it out yourself.

30 seconds on Google found me new 2xWhatever Race Face chainrings and SRAM GX top pull front mechs (low and high mount), in stock at various online retailers. Hell, I can still get 6-speed screw-on freewheels for my Saracen commuter and that’s bloody 32 years old. If you can’t find the right parts for something 4 years old you’re not exactly trying!

For anyone who hasn’t seen the FB posts or other thread, it seems as though the dogs and cat have been found safe and alive..

Those people who have got their other halves ebikes cause they couldn’t keep up, can you ever see them bridging the gap from ebike to normal bike?

Maybe, maybe not. But you know what? It doesn’t bloody well matter!

I just typed out a big post justifying riding for fun, with exercise as a fringe benefit, deleted it because actually there’s no point. Nobody on this thread is posting because they’re going to change their mind, are they? It’s just pathetic, threatened old men upset by something new that they don’t like or understand (see also gender nonconformity, fluid sexuality, changing fashion, new music, etc). Just because you might draw the imaginary progress-stops-here line at a freehub, the derailleur, suspension, electronic shifting, or whatever, doesn’t mean the rest of us have to.

“Curses..! People are having fun in a manner that I don’t approve of even though it doesn’t affect me! I must decry this to all and sundry forthwith! Down with unapproved fun!”

I genuinely, genuinely do not understand the indiscriminate hate towards e-bikes; towards people riding them inconsiderately, yup, I can see that – but that’s the rider, not the bike.

Look at it this way; I’ve ridden bikes for years and generally maintain a certain level of fitness. My other half hasn’t, and struggles to maintain fitness. When we go out together on rides, she’s knackered after 10k, struggles up climbs, doesn’t enjoy the descents as she’s out of energy from the climb, and ends up feeling like she’s holding me back and hates it. It’s a vicious circle that ends up with her not wanting to ride.

So we got a Turbo Levo. Now she hassles me about when we’re riding next. She adjusts the level of assistance so that when we’re putting in the same relative effort, we go the same speed (as borne out by comparing heart rates over the ride duration – average within 5bpm of each other). She loves cycling again, and in turn its making her want to ride more, which is getting her fitter. Nothing wrong with that as far as I can see. I just wish we’d got one years ago..

From this very website..

300 quid new? Would you ride a bike that cost that much?

Absolutely, don’t be such a snob.

The Carrera Kraken in Halfords with £90 off at £360 is far better than the 1992 GT Timberline I started on, and that cost £300. I’d happily ride that – in fact, a colleague has the £240 Vengeance as an off-road commuter and he’s absolutely abused it and it’s still going strong. Nothing wrong with either of those as a budget entry-level MTB. Not everyone thinks a £1500 bike is cheap..

Genuine question – why would you choose an e-bike on drivetrain brand (which can easily be swapped) over motor (which can’t)..? We picked the Levo almost entirely because it has the Brose motor, which seems to top most reviews.

My other half’s Levo

Banana, soya milk and oat smoothie for breakfast with a cheeky squirt of maple agave syrup.

Black coffee

Mediterranean microwave rice pack for lunch with a few olives and sundried tomatoes.

Green tea

Quorn (vegan) chicken pieces fried in a little olive oil over a leafy salad with plum tomatoes, peppers, spring onions, avocado, croutons and a drizzle of Follow Your Heart vegan caesar dressing.

Lovely 😁

Actually..

Much as I hate to admit it, the better team on the night won (mind you, when you think about their talent pool, resources, etc..). As has been said; 0/3 penalties at this level is shocking. Well done to the team though, they played well but were outclassed. Have another crack in four years’ time!

On a more serious, less offensive note..

WTB Ranger TCS Light 29×2.4 skinwall?

https://www.evanscycles.com/wtb-ranger-tcs-light-fast-rolling-29-mtb-tyre-EV365063

Aeris 160 – British designed for British riding (threaded BB, forward facing seat tube slot, full external routing), properly progressive geometry, good value, ability to spec to your preference/budget, no silly model/year updates, amazing advice/backup/support, and a lifetime transferable warranty.

Doesn’t hurt that they ride great either..

The BLevo app would be ideal here – you sync it to your HRM and your Turbo Levo (should you have/get one) and you can set it to adjust the level of assistance automatically based on your heart rate in order to keep you in a specified range.

Stuck on my Eliminator/Purgatory combo tonight, both 27.5×2.6 – Purgatory rear was tighter and sealed with just a track pump (no sealant yet), Eliminator front has a tube in it to let it stretch for a few days.

Initial measured widths are:
Eliminator – 61mm knobs, 62mm casing
Purgatory – 62mm knobs, 64mm casing

Was hoping the Eliminator would be wider, which is annoying but will see how they go at the weekend. Both on DT Swiss 30mm internal M501s.

It’s not really a lockout as such, just massively increased compression damping. Tbh, if you’re doing rides that long, surely the forgiving nature of a FS is a benefit rather than a hindrance? It’s not like the Giant Maestro is known to be inefficient – it’s said to be one of the better designs in terms of reducing pedal bob.

Get that then! Anthems are always touted as being one of the most capable all-round XC bikes; why not stick with what you know works?

To help the search, what do you need from the new bike that the current Anthem doesn’t do?

I’d say suck up the loss of 25mm travel and get the external Brand-X: https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mobile/brand-x-ascend-ii-105mm-125mm-dropper-seatpost/rp-prod159176

TranzX list the JD-YSP29 as a 150/170mm version of that but it doesn’t seem to be for sale anywhere.

Used to have the 2.3 Butcher front/Purgatory rear combo on my old Pitch and loved that, so I’ve gone with 2x Butcher, 2x Eliminator, 1x Purgatory and 1x Hillbilly – all 2.6 Grid. Should give me enough choice!

Just me being technically inept then..!

Balls, Butcher Grids all gone.. Ah well, will just order Maxxis then I guess!

I was thinking Purgatory rear/Eliminator front for the summer, Butcher rear/Hillbilly front for winter. Surrey Hills so no rocks but roots. All in a 27.5×2.6, coming from DHR II/DHF 2.3 combo on 30mm internal rims.

Have I got that about right?

Depends whether you want it done “properly” or not – if there’s a kit that offers full OEM integration then that’s always my preferred choice personally.

I think MTBtours.ro (http://www.mtbtours.ro/en/ads/our-mtb-tours-in-romania/) are much more XC-orientated than typical uplift holidays.

If it’s a VAG group car then I’d pick a Westfalia with the proper vehicle-specific wiring kit that includes the control module (if required).

No specific advice, but how the hell is sub-10k miles a year “high mileage”..?