Hmm Mark Anthony in Buxton, I went there last year for some advice (admittedly not from the shop expert) and the guy in the shop basically started talking about shaken baby syndrome etc. Our daughter was 6 months old and wanted a Croozer to use as a stroller then to progress onto the bike with the baby sling when a bit older. He also told us that the rail trails around Derbyshire aren’t trailer friendly due to walker/bike confrontations.

However, happily we ignored the advice bought a croozer for 2 and it’s been ace. Great as an off road stroller, good on the back of a bike and our daughter just happily drops off to sleep.

Currently looking for a toddler insert if anyone has one.

Kaz, yeah I did but you didn’t mention it in you post I responded to. Soz.

Any chance its a discrepancy between effective top tube as per the website and actual top tube as per measurement?

One thing Jon – the Longitude is seems more do-anything, and will take the racks and baby seat and bags for a family day out as well as hoon.

I’ve sold my old mtb and the hack I used for family stuff. n-1. Going to repair the crosscheck frame and may sell that as well: n-2.

Exactly this, bit of do it all. Then to build some 50mm wheels and go for a hoon.

So at 5’8″ I think the specs are recommending the 17 but most of you guys are going a size smaller?

Thanks Luddite, it’ll be replacing my Inbred and I’ve never had a bike with exceptional metalwork so unlikely.

I’ve been looking at the Surly Krampus for a while but it’s been difficult to justify the £1300+ for one considering how little I’m riding at the moment (although the baby is becoming more mobile).

But what do people feel are the main differences between a Longitude and Krampus to justify the difference in price, is it wheels/tyres only? Anyone ridden both?

My thoughts are to get the Longitude, pop a flat bar on it and some Maxxis Chronicles for a nice intro into 29/29+. Then maybe when the Hugo rim comes out buy the bits and make up a proper 29+ wheelset and still have paid slightly less than a Krampus.

Spoke to a mate at work yesterday who was walking around there last weekend. He said he was told cramp-ons and ice axe to go up snowdon….or was that tampons and tooth picks…?

Anywho sounds like its still a bit shit over there but keen to get a more up to date report as I was due to go there this weekend too.

“Oi fatty get on yer bike” car sticker would be amazeballs. Where do I get one?

20-50 meters from the end of the feed zone is where the promo/hedge rummaging occurs for freebies. Just for standing at our spot we got 2 Orica bottles, 1 Saur, 1 Maxi Fuel, & a Rapha team car lobbed an SIS bottle with a sachet of GO and a gel inside.

There seems to be a somewhat experienced bunch of ‘swag’ gatherers though who race up the verge literaly just after the cyclist have passed hoovering up mussets and bottles.

I bought something off the evans website using paypal, decided I didn’t like the item so took back to the Trafford shop. They took it but said it would be a few days as they’d need HQ to do the paypal refund. All worked pretty well to my surprise.

My fork purchase from them however was a real PITA!

Hey Stevo, yep it was cold on Friday. Nice to know the weather has picked up for you though. Had a great time last week thanks for a great holiday.

Is the Machine Mart promo in all stores at the moment? Can you just pitch up and get the discount or do you need a flyer?

Just wondering if the cabinet in the below link would be a good compromise between the £60 Halfords and £250 Halfords cabinets.

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/ctc800-8-drawer-combi-chest-cabinet?da=1&TC=RV-070110801

I’ve driven this track hundreds of thousands of times….

…on my games console.

I’m almost embarrassed for them.

Sorry Alpin,can’t see the pic. I was just picturing it all in my head :)

Ah the ponali trail :D

We went this time last year and hired from Garda Bike as the shop was on the same street as the hotel. GT Force which were pretty good. I’d assume you’d now get 29ers aswell.

Carpentari also had a ruck of bikes available and I was able to watch a bit of the Giro in the shop.

I think the 2 above seemed the best price vs kit. But ultimately think of where it’s located. We hired for 2 days, at the end of day one we took them back to the shop so they could look after them overnight.

Worth pre-booking early tho, as we were low season we could just hire straight off the street. I guess August you’d be struggling.

Also instead of a guided tour buy the local trail map and do you’re own. You can then take in some of the sites like the medieval village (with awesome descent afterwards).

I’m not usually a person to compete in an event and certainly never one that requires a full face helmet.

My wife and I entered this as a tribute to our friend Gareth who is no longer with us and to support his wife who had also entered following on from last years event.

I really enjoyed it, didn’t feel confident in the practice runs as not used to trying to ride fast in gloop. I had some alone time waiting for my first timed run and got myself in a bit of a state thinking about my friend. Composed myself and went out on my run, didn’t fall (bonus) but did have to put the anchors on a couple of times.

First run 2:07 (masters)

Team Hobson regrouped after the first run and took in a bite to eat, the sun came out and the tune gareth put in his Mach Chicken DH came on the P.A. We knew he was with us (probably for the food).

2nd run had dried out I knew I’d gone faster, things seemed to go a little better, had a touch more confidence, apart from being a touch front wheel heavy on the drop to the finish line.

Second run 2:03 (masters) 34th overall (not last, phew).

It was a great day out and good to catch up with friends we hadn’t seen in a while (and Nicks dog). Really friendly atmosphere, well organized. Well done to Steve Peat for being there all day and being 100% involved.

Doesn’t matter how it’s billed (xc/DH) it’s for a good cause, brings people together and can be fun for everyone.

I was race number 94 (in Green) and my wife was 77 (red/black/gold). If you do have any photos of us I’d really appreciate if you could send them my way (jon dot burns AT mail dot com) as a memento of the day (& Facebook profile obviously).

Sabbath Silk Road or any of the other line up

I always ride with bag of Jelly Babies in my pack. Whenever they are 1/2 price at the supermarket I stock up. Liqurice Allsorts are also pretty good and maybe a packet of Fig Rolls.

I used to eat the energy bars and gels etc but realized I may as well just eat what I like and that’s cheap.

Regarding the Steel City Mini DH race. The way to make this cheaper for yourself is to enter you and your partner in the race as well. Done on the joint account means its £22.50 each.

It’s a win win all around :D

I’m planning on going to see what its like. If you do a search ok here there is a thread which I think has a post code for it.

I would have agreed with you up until yesterday afternoon. I watched it from the start and it was one that I’d never seen before.

Good up to a point however on mine the plastic tubing comes off the syringe pretty easily now. I have had a problem spraying dot5 fluid over my garage fairly recently. I think a blob of glue could fix this though.

Hmm, I did a quote for Admiral multicar at the start of this week. Quote for 2 cars and 2 drivers is only £20 more expensive than my renewal on 1 car from Swift cover.

…That said I am now been pestered by calls from Admiral all week which is driving me insane…to the point I’m almost not going to bother with them at all.

Good Thread!

For Pedalhead,

So I bought our ’57 x-trail 2nd hand as an ex Nissan company vehicle. Other options we looked into was a Mondeo estate (quite low though for slinging bikes in), Rav4 nice but not a massive boot and quite expensive (same for freelander), Vitara a touch agricultural but nice.

Why did we choose the x-trail? 37mpg avg, doesn’t slouch if you need to boot it, inbuilt satnav/cd autochanger, reversing camera, comfortable, feels airy in the front, 80cm fully opening sunroof, aircon, tinted windows and doesn;t look too bad. The big plus is the size of the boot, with the rear seats up I’ve had 3 hardtail bikes and wheels in there. Dropping the rear seats leaves a totally flat loading space. A bike goes in fully built. A pitch and an ariel can both go in with just taking the front wheels off. It’s all plastic so wipes clean (so I’me told) but I guess it could scratch (hence I use old sheets and a rubber mat).

Costs, £245 for a years tax, replaced discs & pads for £130 from camskill, yokohama tyres cost me £105 each a year or so ago, servicing isn’t horrendous. Just getting insurance quotes and getting between £360 & £700

Problems, DPF issues which are common on a lot of cars, red light comes on…go for a drive on the motorway. Currently have a bit of a problem with the windscreen washer but I’m sure it’s my fault as I think a leaf got in the tank.

It’s a great car, I used to go shooting so it has been over fields and the like also snow, ice and it’s all predictable driving with no surprises.

Would I change it……I’d like a Transporter like everyone else at Llandegla had on Sunday but in reality the cons would probably out weight the pros.

Autoexpress did a long term review which I read when I was making my mind up. http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/longtermtests/229161/nissan_xtrail.html

ah missed that one. 12 months.

Just taxed my ’57 pate x-trail (2.0 Diesel, 173BHP) £245

Quick StrongLifts query. If you register what do you get e-mailed that isn’t already on the website?

I’ve learnt the technique for the 5 exercises over the past months just not used them training specifically in this way.

Thanks guys, I have 2 pairs of revelations in the garage I’d like to get back up and running.

I ride with Oakley prescription jawbones. Got them 18 months ago from extreme eyewear in castleford (and online). I got them with grey transitions lenses which are good enough for night riding and also Spain, France, whistler and the peak district. Think they were about £240 which for a bloke from yorkshire is mighty expensive. That said never had a problem with them and no more faffing with contacts if I want a bike ride. They do fog up though but then I’ve never had a pair of glasses for riding that don’t.

Lower leg service on RS forks are pretty easy and did it last week.

Slightly O/T but has anyone bought the cheaper o-ring sets off ebay for an air service. Any good or is it worthwhile buying official?

Same as Alfabus, Ordered Sunday from Digigood and receieved Thursday.

I also took advantage of the Chesty mount from Pcworld for £26 which is pretty good. Think the price has gone back up again but I have noticed it fluctuate so maybe worth checking now and again.

Mine was a Hero 2 for £220 think the Hero 1 is about £185

As alfabus, bought one last week from Digigood on the Amazon marketplace

Hmm so is the consensus that it’s a bit of a pain in the butt and has no doubt shortened their lifespan but are still usable?

Usually quite keen to clean around seals then wetlube push down and wipe but obviously not up to the required standard.

Taking them apart there wasn’t much oil inside and fair bit of crud so cleaned out re-oiled and they’re now back together. They feel better but I’m conscious the foam rings didn’t look that great.

What’s the home mechanics technique for installing new seals?

Could someone also share the Nail Varnish tips to me as well please?

Cards n’Tings

Bought a Transcend 32gb class 10 from Amazon for £26 on Sunday. I’ve used Transcend cards before and never had any problems with them.

I’ve just gone from 685 to 760mm (with an aim to reduce if needed). My first ride out was up Hayfield on a very wet, windy, muddy, rutted day I fell off loads of times due to the change in steering and the conditions.

Went out on Sunday around the Clwyds and absolutely no problems at all. Think I descended much faster than usual and felt much more in control and confident (even in the slop).

£40 for some Nukeproof Warhead bars that also have cut marks to reduce if needs be. A well worth expense to experiment with.

Oh Guy Martin also rides with 760mm bars (as seen on his Orange factory trip) so they must be good :)

EDIT: This is on my Pitch which I wouldn’t necessarily take around Delamere forest and tight singletrack :)

not sure how it affects this if I then cycle to work (which I will be doing)

I think you can claim for that at around 21p per mile :lol:

Yep recently got some flat own brand blades from wiperblades.co.uk and they’re great much cheaper than halfords alternatives. Arrived the following day when ordered early afternoon.

I don’t understand why ITV insist on showing this kind of remedial tv. The Ade Edmonson in Yorkshire one and the fat comdeian bloke in the lakes were equally painful to watch.

…Oh and the adventure one with Gethin Dancy pants!

Grates my cheese :evil: