That is a very good point! I think I’ll be looking at which sizes of CCDB are on offer at CRC… That PUSHima body would look good though, and I’m not one for fiddling with kit a lot..?

Flicked through those videos, but as they were pretty slow, I got bored.

Also- film of some cheerful bumblers from 2007, 2011, 2012 and 2013 doesn’t really work as evidence of hordes of thuggish inconsiderate mountain bikers from ‘this summer’ does it?

Despite never having this happen, I always charge my cheapie lights with-

Circuit breaker extension lead on a dry concrete garage floor- put on charge as soon as I get home and off by bedtime.

Not intended as a thread hijack, as I can’t make the 19th, but I’d be up for being guided around the FOD sometime. Can anyone do weekdays? I’m free on the 23rd and 24th Oct?

Tonights was a typically great start- it’s pretty edgy, by mainstream US terms at least…the only thing is, I missed the first 5 minutes and can’t remember what happened at the end of last season…Brody is…dead!?

He should be fine- my eldest did it when she was 4. I would disagree with the comments about it being a waste of a drive, as you can do the green, the first and last sections of the blue, and it has a good playground- although the cafe is a bit crap… It also depends if you know where to ‘cut into’ some of the trails, but we now also ride most of the stickler (the flat bermy section) and some singletrack. If it’s dry, you can easily make it into a day out. Take your bike, and after riding with the little ‘un, leave him in the playground with mum and go for a blast of blue/red/blue…?

As above! Broke mine a few years ago, spent 5 months in plaster, over a summer when I would have much rather have been riding. Took up running instead, which I now know is alright but not a patch on bikes however your dress it up.

Now ride harder than I never used to, partly through fitness and partly through realising just how much I love bikes and want to enjoy them while I can.

Letthehealing take its course and come back better. At least you be done it at the right end of the year!

witty.name, where are you based? that looks lovely.

As a non-non fatbikist, it seems most anti complaints are about a lack of speed in comparison with other forms of mountain bike. The criteria for praise/devotion/obsession by devotees is fun, not speed.

I like speed. I have a fast bike.

I like fun too. Time to demo a fatbike.

I can attest that the start- in fact the first lap of Open was pretty silly.

I made 18th in the end, pretty good as i’ve not done an XC race since the Enduro at Ceasars camp. I did feel beaten after a lap and a half, but managed to hold it together til the end…

Where are the results? I can’t see them on the Gorrick results page.

I have, this very evening been given some interesting advice by the workshop manager of a sizeable southern bike shop- if you have Shimano brakes, just cut the hoses to fit, trying to avoid spilling fluid. Then, rather than bleeding them, zip-tie the levers to the bar overnight. It should allow any air to escape slowly over night.

I will have a go and report back!

Throughout the Chilterns there is a lot of good riding, both on and off piste, but it is quite XC really, and the trail ‘features’ tend to be short sections of existing bridleway. What makes the Chilterns good is the tight, windy woodland singeltrack, not technical descents. Its very pretty though and everywhere is riding fantastically well at the moment! Grimm’s Ditch is probably as technical as it gets, and its not one to advertise- footpath and national trail make it one for selective nightime riding…!

Drop me a line if you want to go out sometime, or any tips.

The big issue with Reading is the river, and not enough bridges… As a result, there’s always a faff about getting around in a car. I’d reccomend Caversham, as it’s pretty pleasant, central, and runs out into loads of good Chilterns singletrack bridleways. Pangbourne would also be good for access to riding. There are loads of riders in the area, so a night ride midweek could well be an option; I usually do Tuesday or Thursday!

I’ve not read the whole thread, so apologies if this has been mentioned; there are Solarstorm X3 lights on eBay now- does anyone have experience of the 3xled light? It looks like they come with the same battery, which will impact run times?

Probably quite last minute, but I’ve just seen this: I currently teach both IB and A-level, with some oversight of both programmes. Good scores are very well regarded, but it’s a programme for students with abilities across subjects (depending on what’s offered where you are) and it needs the application of individuals who enjoy learning, not just working the mark scheme. Email is in profile if you’d like any further comments?

Also did it as part of the 2009 etape. Mechanicals earlier in the day, plus heat meant I was more tired than I should have been- the climb from Berlin was pretty brutal in the heat, so when I go to the chalet Reynard I sat down for a bit… And almost didn’t get back up.

Made it to the top, but I was pretty knacked- I do remember hitting 80+ kph on the descent, which in retrospect and considering how tired I was- probably not a sensible idea…!

Definitely the soundtrack to many a herbally enhanced evening…

Third is a superb album as well- much more sparse and challenging in style, but had that same freshness when it came out.

Fantastic bit of filmmaking, and the riding is sublime, as expected! Reminds me of a very special day there a few weeks ago- Need to get back soon….

As far as I’m concerned, summer isn’t really over until the clocks change… However, I’d did steep a whole load of fruit in booze for the winter this afternoon…

Sorry if this is a bit of a thread hijack- i’m in a similar position, currently have a Passat, but its not really fit for purpose for family days out, when we have two kids, two dogs, bikes, etc to factor in- Last weekend was a camping trip that needed us to take two cars!

Thinking of a T5, this would be my ideal spec- Probably similar to what the OP is looking for. Any comments would be useful:

T5 SWB with 2 front seats and 2+1 rear.
Bulkhead to divide the rear, with a dog cage in the back (So I can stack luggage on top)
Rear mounted bike rack for 4x bikes.
A pop-roof bed (for events, and would combine with a driveaway tent for family camping)

Spacious enough or would it need to be an LWB? And which model/engine is best?

For various reasons i’m going to be driving up early Sunday and riding the course blind- Not that it’ll make a huge difference in my impact on the leaderboard!

It’s pretty rocky isn’t it? Weather looks good for Sunday, so the rain should sort conditions out well. Too much dust ATM anyway… :wink:

Conversely i’m a bit in love with the Transition Rapture, which i think is super cool

I have a rigid SS 29er, and a road bike, and i’m tempted to sell both to have a shiny new Transition SS/CX/Gravel gnarpoon…

Never rode a Blur 4x, but looking at the numbers for the Banshee/Santa Cruz, etc, I’m going with tradition and recommending my own bike, A Devinci Atlas Carbon.

The RX build has a 140mm fork, (110 rear) and the reversible pivots on the seatstays drop everything by 1 degree.

FWIW, I find it pretty chuckable, good in tight turns, and generally not like any of the 29er cliches…?

120mm SID with the RCT3 damper. Thread closed.

Back for the evening crowd:

I’m happy with cheeky, obviously not for public sharing, but email in profile, if anyone has GPX to share. There seems to be a load of good riding heading up towards Curbar/Froggatt, which i’d love to ride, it’s just knowing be better ups and the better downs…

I must have ridden a lot of this when i was at University in Sheffield- but as i left in ’97 and haven’t had much to bring me back that way for a ‘few’ years, I have little realistic idea now…!

Similar situation here, but building a light XC/trail full suss. I went with the SIDS, which I found at a decent price through bike24.de.

I went for the lighter fork, as my other bike is a 160mm mince tank, (my favourite current phrase!) and I didn’t want too much crossover in purpose. The result is ideal. It’s been perfect on trail centre stuff (Afan trails, Swinley) as well as local riding (Chilterns) and XC racing (Gorrick). I can’t fault them. Stiff enough for small jumps and rocky XC, great platform for climbing too.

Some good ideas here thanks! Most switchback stuff I thought would be cheeky trails- which I’m ok with… Happy to be shown about with local knowledge…?

Bit gutted about missing the next Enduro, but I cant complain, as i’ll be in the Pyrenees…

Completely agree about Enduro as racing for the masses- pretty competitive at the pointy end, but a good laugh for everyone else!

Compared with spending half a day sat about waiting for your 3-4 minutes of a DH run, or slogging it round an XC course looking at other men’s muddy, lycra-clad bums, it seems worth a couple of hour’s drive for the fun of coming somewhere mid-pack…

bol- Having the same thoughts! I have a mate who wants to get into riding, between a group of us we could build one up with 26″ gear- Where’s Brant to tell us if this would result in death or not!?

You won’t want to hear it, but wait until Freeborn have the atlas back in. I bought one in March and it’s the most capable XC/trail bike I’ve ever ridden. It looks and feels bombproof, it’s light, climbs well, descends faultlessly… For the majority of UK riding it is outstanding. Otherwise- might be out of budget, but a Pivot Mach 429? Or a Santa Cruz Tallboy?

I’d reckon 26″ wheels will be currency for silly little hardtails for a long time yet.. Plenty of them are still 24″ wheeled!

Mrs Johnny has one of these: Zircus[/url] Takes up to a 140mm fork, works with gears or singlespeed. It’s her trail bike and my playbike. Now available as a full build under the NS brand for about £550.

If the marginally bigger wheel is a deal breaker, how about one of these: Surge EVO

Superfli- were you talking to each rider at the top of 1-3 and setting us off? If so, you were a great presence on the start line, suitably reassuring and professional at the same time.

I got 17th in sport. Still a bit stunned, as I’ve only ridden once with lights since Christmas, and I had a bit of an off in the berms at the end of the 4th…!

My conclusions: orange shorts make you faster, nighttime enduros are definitely a good idea and free beer is the finest recovery drink!

Just to reiterate others’ posts- great night out!

Trails were varied with a good mix of technical and fitness challenge, and racing in the dark was a great additional buzz. Atmosphere was great too, partly due to plenty of heckling/encouragement round the course… And beer. Free beer! Being handed one when skidding to a stop sideways at the end made it for me!

Well done Scott and team, looking forward to the summer one!

Sure- will do! From what I have ridden, and I’ve ridden most of the Chilterns, but in the northern part, I don’t know what rides best with what, loops, etc. The Turville/Stonor/Watlington area has some great riding, probably the best part of the hills.

The GPX stuff I have is good, but if you’d like to go for a ride sometime, there are many possibilities…!

I’ve got a few loops as GPX. Where are you based? I’m south, on the Thames Near Pangbourne, so we tend to ride the area from here up to the M40. Don’t tend to get much further above than that, though i have ridden up that way a few times- If i’m going to get in the car and go up there it’s usually for a trip to Aston Hill!

There’s some info via the hargrove’s cyclefest site and some on FB. Anyone know if it’s going to be seeded, or just by class?

I’m entered in Sport, which i hope doesn’t prove too embarassing…

QECP has the cyclefest and day/night enduro on this weekend.

It’s not the most impressive blue route, but Hicks Lodge near Ashby-de-la-Zouch is a nice little loop, and not far away.

Has a good cafe too…!

I wouldn’t recommend the Crank Bros one- it has a little knuckle on the chaintool that is there to stop you pushing the pin in the chain too far out. Unfortunately this means you can’t always push the chain far out enough to split the chain without bending the outer link, which then compromises the integrity of the chain after repair.

(As i found out at Gorrick on Sunday…)

However, i’ve had mine for years, and the design may have changed/or i might have just worn the pin on the tool down too far…? Id rather have one without this restriction, especially for use on SS chains too…

TIRed- we spoke during and at the end I believe! If I hadn’t had my chain break twice and a flat, I would have been unusually pleased with the result- as it was, all considering, I’m happy with 19th. I also don’t know why people abandon, you don’t learn much about racing that way!?

Big respect for singlespeeding the day after a big road ride!

Had a scandal for ages, which has been fully rigid singlespeed or 100mm-forked 1×10. Great for local XC or racing. However it did feel a bit like hard work on more trail oriented stuff. -It was OK at Swinley whihc is pretty smooth, but limiting on welsh trails.

This is my new bike: carbon goodness

Not wholly racy, as it’s 120mm front/110mm back, but shorter travel/lighter builds are available.

It ate everything the new Blade trail at Afan had to offer last weekend, and i’m planning to race Gorrick on it this weekend, so we shall see if it’s sufficiently ‘racey’.

Both as a descender and a climber, it’s proving to be a waaay better bike than i am a rider!