maybe it is all marketting hype???

No, but I like my BFe; although it is built quite heavy (probably 30 lbish) with RS Revs / Hope EN521s maxxis HR / Advantage, heavy seatpost and bars with Hope Mono Minis I reckon that 3-4lb could easily be knocked off weight without too much issue. From what I know 140mm is top of Soul reccomended travel, but midpoint on BFe>>> BFe being a more versatile frame if you changed your riidng style. Therefore IMO a BFe coudl be a better long term frame for you??

In terms of riding v my other hardtail (van Nic Ti zion) despite extar weight over the VN I reckon BfE climbs faster and is much more solid and robust feeling. More secure to ride.

Hope this helps, Im sure youll get plenty of other thoughts on this one! 🙂

Thanks for easy explanation; so basically youre saying that as long as I can get air pressure setup to give correct amount of sag for my riding style (say 20% on a 150mm fork) the floodgate should only be used to give me anemergency` blow off when I use teh fork lockout, and all other fine adjustmenst should be through compression and damping dials only?

you can just about see the glory halo on the clouds at point of Ben Lawers summit:

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on Ben Lawers above clouds[/url] by jamesld8[/url], on Flickr

dont worry if the metoffice forecast out to xmas is right well all be frozen up so bikes will remain nice and clean:

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/uk_forecast_weather.html

Cracking Creag Meagaidh snow forms!

day after a big snowfall Stob Coire Easain (Laggan)

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stob corrie easain[/url] by jamesld8[/url], on Flickr

Just failed to clear the gate on a big jump 🙂

Van Nic Zion, access track to Beinn Dearg, Pitlochry on way up for spot of munro walking (hence saddlebag with boots)

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MTB Beinn Dearg access[/url] by jamesld8[/url], on Flickr

GOOD!

here`s another tow, both taken in Feb in Scotland, but different years, and how different teh degree of snow cover is. Sgurr Thuilm 2005, deep wind crusted fresh snow, Ben Lawers hardly any snow around but big temp inversion , walking above the clouds on frozen ground.

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JB sgurr thuilm feb 2005[/url] by jamesld8[/url], on Flickr

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ben lawers range feb 2008[/url] by jamesld8[/url], on Flickr

minton batch is a real fun descent (and ascent), just dont do what ive just done and miss edge of s/track up the dingle and end up in stream with badly damaged wrist (: = no mtb for aweek probably (:

i changed to xtr a few months ago and they`re fabulously better, just a gentle flick to change and multi dual direction operation too; imo well worth upgrade, not just blingy but functionally far better 🙂

From watching riders go past last year at Radnor hills point theres a huge range in fitness levels, from super fast racers to push along and enjoy; I guess as long as youve got the stamina and determination itll be a good challenge, anyway Im hoping to ride it in 2011 as well so thats one rider youll beat 🙂

Out at Nant y Arian, complete with bar ends and mudguards!

Cotic BFe / RS REvs / Hope 521 hoops / Hope mono mini discs

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cotic @ syffyrdin lake[/url] by jamesld8[/url], on Flickr

Here`s one for the climbers…

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Viner Veleta summit[/url] by jamesld8[/url], on Flickr

I think you mean HYPO thermia??

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Lochnagar summit JB[/url] by jamesld8[/url], on Flickr

Cant emphasis enough need for ice axe, and practice so that getting into proper arrest position becomes second nature from any aspect of fall (eg how to get from head first on your back onto front with feet first). If you take a fall youll be glad of this practice as believe me if / when a fall occurs it can be very very fast so an almost instinctive ice axe arrest is good!
Re whiteouts, IMO if you can get back out of the situation, dont try to continue. I have been moving up onto ridges in past and encountered whiteouts and it is unbelievably disorientating, you cant tell ground from sky / up from down. In most cases Ive turned back, in one case I didnt and walked off the edge of the corrie headwall, which wasn`t a very good experience 🙁

Not exactly in that area but with a 1 hr drive you could do worse than consider Elan Valley, or for a wilder experience Beacon Hill area (South of Newtown / Beguildy) which has lots of bridleways but hard route finding!

??? no one else on forum rides RS Revs? any advice pls?

low level passes though in Highlands can equate to moderate Lakeland Hills! Lairig Ghru in `gorms for example is at 2900ft and a serious winter crossing.

old inner tube + 4 x zipties….strap tube from fork crown to stanchion brace, stops a lot of front wheel chuck off coming back in yer face

yes their times are poo

<img src=”http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1307/5179662990_5a162580b3.jpg&#8221; width=”500″ height=”375″ alt=”Ascending Sgurr Chuilm” />

How nice it can be in winter, but hard, hard going

OK, patience I`m told is a virtue!

+1 above about low level paths…often can be the iciest stretch of a route, water seepage freezing can make some really difficult conditions

Scotland is winter is great and adds a new dimension to walking, Every Feb I have a week in Highlands and it is fabulous to be out there, (but it is actually best regarded as mountaineering when in the hills); but also can be very serious….do not under estimate the cold, the effect snow can have on navigation and speed (and beware white outs too!). Think very hard about river crossings, they could be frozen or impassable due to high water levels. Routes which are easy in summer can become very serious under winter conditions. Night temps can be very low indeed so even a bothy could be a challenge (-15c last winter for many nights in central highlands). Get an ice axe too, (having one literally has saved my life).
Start with easier routes and keep distances low and achievable, 10 miles in winter is a big walk. Think maybe about a winter skills course, expensive maybe, to learn how to use crampons / ice axe / check snow , avalanche issues etc / winter navigation. If you live somewhere hilly already do some of your summer routes in winter conditions and youll be amazed at difference (eg my local 2000ft hills behind me, an easy summer ramble, last winter at times I couldnt get around due to thigh deep soft snow making progress very very difficult).
But above all enjoy and take extra care!! 🙂

try Vamos cycling near Malaga / Aljuparras mtn, great road riding and Gary also does MTBing too, good set up and IMO good value; had great time last October there 🙂

Michelin krylions, bit heavier than Pro Race 3 but good hard wearing tyre and cheaper

craggy +1 for opposite way around, taken around this by crazy legs on sunday, (http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/one-days-riding-in-dark-peak-area-wheres-best-for-a-peaks-newbie) NO WAY I would have ridden down Jacobs ladder, just enjoyed the walk / bit of cycling up it; great grassy descent too down to Kinder Resr and then the Middle Moor bit fab! 🙂 must come back soon!!

are those the ones down to a sharp LH into and then out of a small stream?? if so amazingly I managed those last Sunday too! 🙂 great day out in Peaks as well

this is why I am confused as to all teh different specs!!!

Agree with johnners re not bike for life (sadly); have had a Ti road frame break at BB less than 10 000 miles use (OK it was replaced foc quickly) but this has dented my confidence in Ti + all teh stories / reports I hear about welds breaking , cracks. My Ti MTB is light and fun and probably quite tough, but having just bought a BFe steel I find latter is actually quicker uphills (more stiffness in farme BB area?) and I feel more confident in it over rough terrain. But you may need to buy a Ti just for your own satisfaction —- 🙂

Best event of the year, cold and wet, cold beer and steep greasy descents (I still remember from several years ago slithering down some dark ravine in the woods grabbing at trees to slow down :), thanks for reminding me that it`s still on. Top event, a must do

Large ortlieb 2l saddle bag with 2 x tubes, 1 x windproof jacket, 1 x puncture repair kit, bit of old tyre, a few zipties, multitool, wallet with id in it,mobile phone, a couple of emergency gels; plenty of space for all this. In pockets maybe a couple more gels and a gilet. Just hate overloading pockets; 🙂

without meaning to prolong debate about UK softwood quality, whilst some may be very good from what Ive seen in Wales a lot of conifer crops are planted on poor soil sites, on very difficult terrain, often high rainfall and windy. Consequently a lot of teh trees areswept, ie bases are curved >> loss of quality at base of tree, harvesting costs are very high due to site difficulties, and a many plantations have never been thinned to give trees space. Given that yes Im sure that there are some high quality conifers out there but a lot of softwood appears to come from overseas and a UK market of fencing materials, pulpwood and firewood is not a high quality softwood.

agree Mr agreeable FC main focus does now seem to be far more conservation aware and access focussed, probably some forests make more out of access / recreation than timber (= argument why private owners may do same as much UK softwood is not high quality); not sure though about English Nature (now Natural England) will be shuffled out of existence; UK govt has international / EU conservation and biodiversity targets to reach and they will have to maintain some sort of conservation org to oversee and regulate.

ohhh that looks daunting
but what if i hurt myself
i dont get sick pay
i cant afford to be off sick
i better walk this drop

yes that is also what goes through my mind too on rockier tech bits, it`s a good way of taking care and preserving oneself

its not only FC woodlands that are in line for privatisation; due to DEFRA budget getting big reduction it looks likely that Natl Nature Reserves and some Sites Special Scientific Interest, many of which are owned / maanged by Natural England (sub branch now of DEFRA) may well be handed over to other , voluntary conservation bodies, eg RSPB, Natl Trust, Wildlife Trusts. In itself this may not be a bad thing but Question is where will money come from to pay for their management and restoration? The idea ofbig society` volunteers all very well and good but you do need a budget for paid staff to manage vol activities and provide equipment and materials!
Probably though of more concern to MTBers will be the potential for deterioration of access via the public Rights way networks, eg bridleways may be overgrown and impassable, gates derelict and obstructed, as LA budgets are severely cut back from access issues.
Re ancient woodlands chopping down there is plenty of statutory protection for these woodlands via possible SSSI status and teh requirement for felling liceneces (via FC); no reputable purchaser of such sites would go ahead and fell woodlands such as these without prior consultation

Riding off road to enjoy and not do super tech stuff, happy to get around redtype routes intact , maybe small challenges at a black level. Trying to increase my skills level though! Happy that I can do a 6 day Pyrenees road trip across lots of the big cols, and maybe occasionally get a silver sportive std. Recognising that at super vet age I`m not going to get any faster at anything but wish to be able to maintain cycling at level as present for next ??? how many years 🙂

Rosie’s Cafe is indeed excellent, good coffee and cake plus home made jams and chutney.

I can still spend £27 on cake cos my entry for TotP was free.

crazy legs>>> sounds very good but I reckon tea and cakes will be my treat if you`re showing me the way around, beats a GPS me reckons!:)

+1 agree with TJ; suspension has become much more sophisticated= more bits to go wrong and very difficult to service?, (remeember RS Judy forks with elastomers?) and lighter but componenets have become less durable, and much less home serviceable (eg wheels with normal spokes, ball bearing cups etc).

Gear shifters too have made huge leaps fwd, from thumb shifters and down tube shifters to teh rapidfires etc (btw IMHO a huge step fwd with XTR shifters now with multi chage and dual action).