I’m rationalising and get shot of everything else so it’s be for;
Long travel, slack 29er
Saracen Myst DH
Road bike
Gravel bike
My daughters Halfords special

Any ideas?

Stand down folks! Schoolboy error alert!! The little washer/spacer that sits over the bearing was stuck to the old cranks. D’oh!!

It worked!!

Bottle cages in place and no damage to the frame

I’m made up. Thanks ever so for the help

The superglue trick has got the bolt out!! I’m so happy. 😀😀😀

I’m planning to chase out the rivnut with an M5 tap before trying the long bolt/nut/washer tip.

Thanks ever so so far guys!!

It IS a new bike mcnultycop that’s why I’m gutted!!

I’ll try the super glue idea anagallis_arvensis. Thanks for the tip

I’ve tried that. Just can’t get any grip on it!

FML!!

Bump.

I’ve gotta try!!!

I now find myself with 2 spare rider numbers. If anyone’s looking longingly at this thread wishing they had a place, please get in touch. I know its too late to change details on line so we’d have to meet up at the event.

I’m giving this a bump as I’m guessing someone has been out there today?

Anyone?

If I dont hear anything, I’m heading out there tomorrow and I’ll report back on my return

Rethink that. He responded to someone else on twitter with “@MTBRanger: sorry! I’m afraid I’ve had no news on the #marintrail”

Guess that’s a resounding don’t know then!!

Sorry I couldn’t have been more helpful

Was hoping to find the answer to that here. Have you tried tweeting the MTB Ranger? He retweeted some pics of Penmachno getting cleared but I think that was more Penmachno trail Pixies. I’ll give it a whirl and report back if I get a response. I know he’s been busy at CyB. Seen some pics. Looks like they got hit quite badly!

I still have nightmares of my day on the Penmachno

Oh no. Where did it all go wrong scandal42?

You’re only right Northwind!!

Apols. I had it in my head it matched BST. Dont know where that came from!!

Wed 9/4 Yes Llandegla on the way
Thursday AM Marin PM Penmachno and if the legs are feeling it maybe only loop 1
Friday Dyfi Forest. Possibly retrace the Dyfi Enduro or maybe just go with a map and an open mind
Saturday Coed y Brenin. The UK Gravity Enduro isnt going there this year. Ride the Beast AM and depending on the legs, in the afternoon ride the Tawr or have a play in the skills area. Easily spend a few hours there progressing onto some of the almost Alpine-esque features
Sunday. Snowdon. The voluntary ban will be back in place by then so it’ll be an early start anyway.

Sounds like a great weekend. Hell, I might even do it myself!!

Went to see Exit Calm on Saturday on a mates recommendation. Whats the chances of that?!!

I love this thread!!!

Lunchtime bump!

I’d love to. Hardly done any riding in the peaks. I may bring a bike with funny size wheels. That’ll be something to ‘discuss’! That and beetroot cake. Trust me on that!

Agree with everything said so far. Although we probably pushed/carried for as much as we rode it was a most excellent adventure! The spirit it was entered into was also what made it and all of us should take a pat on the back for that. I dont think I’ve ever been out in such a foul conditions!

The summit is there somewhere!!

I’m certainley no XC whippet less so my bike and I get round everything including the blue trail in about 2:15 I’d recommend doing the blue first just as warm up almost and with a couple of fun descents it helps get your eye in as it were

This thread has turned into a ‘support your LBS’ thread, which I’m generally happy to do. To a point! Went to get some new shorts at a LBS the other day RRP £79.99. Same shorts at a large online retailer £55.99. i really dont mind paying a little extra at LBS. I can after all touch feel try on but when LBS is 40% dearer… There are margins in there somewhere! And to anyone wishing to educate me in retail theories/practicalities, I say 40%!!!

Love a trip up to Fort Bill a couple of times a year but not so keen on the £50(i think) entry fee but for a tenner I’m defo in. Already signed up

Chrism110 if you enter Rhyd Ddu into google maps it’ll take you there. Other navigational aides are available!! The car park is on the A4085 south of the junction with the B4418. It’s no more than 2 miles away from the start of the Rangers path.

Darkside email me on j[underscore]calvert[at]sky[dot]com Pesky spam bots!! Not even sure if that does any good but I’m sure you can work that out

Weather not looking great but I’m defo still going and I’ll take a view once there

Yeah, thanks for that grum. I’ve got one eye on the Met Office forcast but I’m still gonna go. Its not like they never get it wrong!!! I’ll take a view when I’m there and if it’s not on there’s always Coed y Brenin/The Marin/Penmachno etc but realisticly, I’d sort of expect ‘weather’. It is North Wales in late October!

Looking at maps, street view etc, think parking in the car park at Rhyd Ddu and riding the couple of miles to the start of the rangers path is probably gonna be preferred so I’ll see you there at 10 Darkside

Seeing as how this has gone a bit quiet, I’m getting off the fence. I’m gonna do this on Sunday. I’m gonna park up somewhere at the very bottom of the Rangers path, push/ride up to the telegraph hill ‘junction’ turn left to head into Llanberis before ascending the Llanberis path then descending the Rangers path all the way back down to the van. If I don’t bottle too much of the descent I might even consider re-ascending to come down the Rhyd-ddu but that will largely depend on how much I’ve minced and how much time is left on the clock. I’ve just booked the last spot for Saturdays uplift at Antur Stiniog so I’m gonna make a weekend of it and consequently can’t see me being at the car park much before 10am. Anyone who wants to come with to ride/walk/coax is more than welcome. I’ll be in a little white Astravan. Come and say hello if you’re about x

Is this still on?

Any thoughts/comments/comparisions to help me decide if I’m up to it?

Would love to do this

Did it happen? How was it?

I am afraid you are going to have to buy a whole new bike as your 3×10 bike will not be designed to withstand the extra strains of 1×10. 1×10 is such a game changer though this is not much for the return on the investment.

Whilst I’m fairly certain the above was written with tongue planted firmly in cheek, there is something in this. I’ve been running my 1×10 set up as detailed above somewhere for a while now. I have no problem with long climbs that require getting you’re head down and grinding it out, however, short sharp technical climbs that require power are proving problematic. When I do apply power the front wheel is getting very light at best and lifting up at worst thus rendering steering almost obsolete!!. Of course it could be the nature of the bike or my riding style but it didn’t do this before. I’ve tried getting out of the saddle to weight the front a bit more to find the rear spinning out. Tyre choice could be an issue but again it didn’t do this before

It would seem the extra power being transferred to the back wheel is enough to cause the problems it does

Thanks for all the advice.

I’ve gone for the Polar H7. I reckon if I need other gear compatability the I’ll get a ANT adapter thingy. I probably wont!

I recently went from a 2×9 set up to a 1×10 and pondered for ages on the whole gear ration thing.

In the end I went for one of those General Lee adapter with the remains of an SLX cassette and a 34t chain ring up front. Thought I’d struggle but I’ve not had to walk anything that I could ride before and I actually think its making that little bit stronger. I reckon if there’s a lower gear available, you’re always gonna use it whether or not you need to!

I run mine with a clutch mech and so far I’ve only dropped the chain once and that includes 2 days at Antur Stiniog

You are going to need at least;
Cassette – SLX £40
Clutch Mech – SLX £55
Chain – SRAM 1051 £20
Single Shifter – SLX £30
Chain Ring – £30-40

You may also need a chain guide.

I love it. Its a lot of “complications” to drop. Others will, of course say different!

I keep looking at Fat bikes in general and keep wondering. I do fancy one but it would only ever be as a 2nd or maybe even 3rd choice. Its very hard ti ignore the On One Fatty bundle for £500. Like many, I have a stack of bike flotsam knocking about and all I’d need on top of that bundle would be a bottom bracket. And I’d defo want it in readiness for winters gloop. Think I’ve just talked myself into one!

Apols for delayed response;

20th
maxtorque, Northampton
Junkyard Lancashire room for 1 possibly two
Timc, Liverpool (can also do 27th)

27th
Grum, Hebden Bridge, room for 2 more
Dark Side, Chester, room for 2 more
scblurlt + willio , nantwich , room for one more
Chrism110, Wirral room for one more
johnnygooner, Chester but at this stage I dpon’t think I’ll be travelling direct from Chester so cant make use of the lift share offer. Thanks anyway darkside. If that changes I’ll let you know.

Looking forward to it.
How exciting!

So, with all of the above in mind where and when for meeting up on which date?

I’m good for either the 20th or the 27th. If it goes well on the 20th I might even consider doing the 27th as well! Darkside,
I’m also travelling from Chester!

I’d love to and I’m good for the 20th if there’s room for one more? Reading the latest review of the route on Singletrack, I’d be expecting to push a bit on the way up and walk the odd section on the way down. As long as things are relaxed as there’s no pressure not to do either, I reckon it’d be a great day out and one to tick off. Let me know

You’re missing that you have a much wider range, no? You have the same ‘bottonm’ gear but a much higher ‘top gear’. With a 30 + 11-36 your ‘top’ gear of 30/11 would be very spinny.

Yes of course! Focusing far too much on the climbing aspect which I’ve found ok with the current setup. Thanks

I installed the Shimano version after much eliciting of opinions and techniques on a previous thread on here. Have to say, now it’s all bedded in it works a treat. B tension screw on the mech set to about 3mm clearance, The adjustment on the barrel adjuster on the shifter is very fine. 1 or 2 clicks either way it has problems shifting one way or the other. I’d love to know what it is I’ve done right or have I just got lucky? I really don’t know! Only thing I’m kicking myself about is that I’ve installed a 34t chainring which combined with the 40t General Lee adapter gives a pedal stroke to wheel turn ratio of 0.85. If I drop down to 30t chainring and match it with a standard 36t cassette I get a ratio of 0.83. Point being I could’ve achieved the same using standard parts. Unless of course there’s something in all of the above that I’m missing. Any thoughts anyone?

All of them! Ride the Minotaur out and back. Only a blue trail but ride it with as much speed as you can muster and its nice and swoopy and flows well. Then ride The Beast in its entirety. I’d even say include the big fire road slog to the east. Worth it for the views IMO. I include ‘Dreamtime’ which is the section immediately after you hit the tarmaced road. Cross over it instead of turning left then at the bottom turn right along the fire/dirt road. It eventually hits the same tarmac road you crossed over. It’ll come clear as soon as you look at a map. The first part is a sharp climb but reasonably short. Then follow the standard Beast waymarked trail. Tea and cake then Tawr over the road. Great day out. Hell I might even do it myself!!!

Mine doesnt do this. Am I just lucky or is it because mine is the 40t version thus when the b tension screw is set its not quite as far away from the other sprockets as it would be if I were running the 42t version?