Rubbish photo (from phone) but it gives an idea:

I remember Brant saying that they should be angled so that the grips point towards the rear wheel skewer. That’s how I had mine set up and they felt pretty comfy (just too narrow for me to really get on with)

There isn’t any good riding in London although you can ride from your door in central London and bang some miles out around Richmond Park, Wimbledon Common and along the Thames. By no means exciting riding but not too bad, Richmond Park in particular.

Otherwise you are looking at getting a train (or driving) out to Swinley Forest (Bracknell), Surrey Hills (Dorking) or up to Chicksands, Aston Hill etc

Given you can buy brand new 5:10s for only another £15 I would say it isn’t worth it (leisure lakes)

On-one doing frame for £99 and wheels+tyres for £99. Cheap entry into the world of 29ers

Right-hand side faster is the way it has always been done on rides I’ve been on

I have been out there half a dozen times with work, for a week each time. Despite being there on company expenses, Business Class travel, nice hotel etc etc I hated it. No way I would live there (for the security issues mentioned already) and no way I would subject my wife and kids to the “lifestyle” (gated compound living)

I was shocked how much I had to concentrate on my riding

Agreed. I have the grazes to prove it after a high speed bike-tree interface 🙂

I think it was a Connex 1010:

http://www.cyclestore.co.uk/productDetails.asp?productID=10645

although I can’t exactly remember!

I went for a Connex chain last time having had a Shimano one snap on me. It has been fine so far.

Jedi – I’d be interested in a skills course too. If you are keeping a list of people to contact once you are up and running could you add me to it.

I’d have thought a crappy drop-bar bike would be less nickable than even a cheapo mtb and would therefore be a better pub/hack bike

I had one of those too, again until it got stolen 🙁

RichT – email me (in profile) and I’ll send you a map with labyrinth on (and I’ll try to mark Tank Traps too, although I rode it for the first time yesterday!)

The general feedback seems to be normal/average. All my riding shoes are 11/46 so I have gone for that.

I had some interesting moments yesterday afternoon coming up against people cycling the Stickler and Tank Traps in the opposite direction but both trails seem to ride pretty well both ways so it would be hard to say one direction is right.

Thanks tooslow and cinnamon_girl for directions to the Stickler by the way

(I totally failed to nail the deep, bermed S-bend when travelling towards the Tank Traps, although it was much easier the other way)

I actually find jumps/drops harder on flats as I haven’t yet perfected the art of gripping my pedals when getting airborne. At least with clipless pedals you know the bike isn’t going to separate from you! However, I am persevering with flats on my play bike to try to improve my bike handling – it is a slow process (for me)

I have found Welgo MAG-1’s reasonably grippy and light and have just today ordered a pair of Five Ten Freerider shoes

+1 Mountain Morph

Thanks chaps. I have taken the plunge (after much deliberating over Impact2 vs Freerider). Leisure Lakes (not my favourite online retailer) have 10% off so I have given them a go…

Which types have you guys bought (white/burgundy, grey/black, white/black)? The materials used in the uppers look like they really vary according to the colour. The white/burgundy ones look the most practical/wipe clean.

As above – do it up until there is no knocking when holding the front brake on and rocking the bike backwards and forwards, at the same time as making sure the front wheel turns smoothly and easily.

If it isn’t tight enough you should notice it while using the front brake riding along.

It sounds like the clear coat is coming off. This happened to the Easton seatpost on my road bike ages ago and it has been fine ever since. I wouldn’t worry about that.

Perth…v..e..r..y.. r..e..l..a….x….e…..d……

A photo might help.

In London, Brixton Cycles or Moose Cycles

But I would have thought, if in doubt replace it

+1 for either Racing Ralphs or Bonty Revolt Super X’s. Both are fast-rolling, surprisingly grippy and very predictable

schrickvr6 – Afraid not. A couple of have come up for sale on the classifieds in the last 6 months though

slowrider – I find the top tube length OK (despite being 6’3″) but I have to agree to having concerns about the VPP – without Pro-Pedal it bobs (with corresponding chain growth) disconcertingly in the granny ring. What did you replace the 4X with, out of interest?

Oh, and one of the reasons it works so well is because it doesn’t have too much rear travel (115mm)

100mm to 50mm is a big change. If you can, I would get a 70mm stem (borrow one ideally) and see how you get on with it.

I was quite surprised how different a 70mm stem felt on my bike vs a 100mm one.

My Blur 4X has a 12.6″ BB height, albeit that is measured on a 100mm fork, rather than 120mm or 140mm as I normally ride it.

I wouldn’t change the geometry of my 4X at all tbh.

cinnamon_girl – I stumble across the Star Posts rather than necessarily know where they are but I do know the main trails and think I know where tooslow is indicating so should be able to find it. Last time I looked for it I was walking around the area around the Lower Star Post for ages but didn’t find it!

I don’t have a map or mapping software for Swinley so unfortunately grid-references won’t help 🙁 but thanks for the offer.

tooslow – thanks. That makes sense. I will give that a go tonight.

Are there any clues as to how to find The Stickler? I had a look a few weeks back and couldn’t find it. I am there again tonight so it would be good to know what to look for (I had thought it would be pretty obvious but was wrong)

I am 6’3″ (long body/arms), ride a 20″ Scandal 29er, a 17.5″ Blur 4X (toy bike) and test rode a Large Swift with Sam and it was spot on for size.

I was a Junior and Under 23 international rower (plus a box of National Champs, Henley medal and Boat Race medals). Gave it up before the Sydney Olympics as I wasn’t enjoying it. Arguably the most stupid decision I ever made as the boat I had been selected for at “GB Final Trials” went on to win a gold medal. Doh!

“Enthusiastic” is about as good as my cycling can be described though

Easy to try though if you have a 26er wheel on another bike/lying around

I liked them but found them a bit narrow and struggled to get my brakes and shifters positioned where I wanted them. I have kept hold of them though as I suspect I will play with them again at some point

Gore Ride-Ons. Take a bit longer to fit but last forever.

Stupid question but you have a van…can’t the bike go in the van?

I use a roof rack so can’t help with your question though.

I’ve only been to Afan once and did Penhydd and Whites in about 4 hrs. The Whites descent was great fun but the “most demanding” description is a bit OTT.

I had been warned numerous times about how “technical” parts of it were and was quite nervous about it but didn’t notice anything too untoward

Good God, look at that Kona!

My current favourites are Altura Airstream shorts. 8-panel (more panels=better fit), nice chamois (nicely padded but doesn’t feel like you are wearing a nappy) and a great fit, for me at least. Less than £30 too!