Just noticed you say you’re 6’2″. I’m a bit taller and found 661 back protectors stop about 3 inches above my belt! May want to try before you buy anything.

Dirtbiker is wrong partly, it is like UK trail centre but the runs are much longer, I could ride it on a hartail but would much prefer the comfort of my Prophet. We were clocking up to 80 miles a day downhill for a week and don’t think I’d have managed that on a hardtail. I’ve ridden a few uplift days here on a hardtail with big forks and it does tire your legs much more quickly.

Big hit or stinky from Pinkbike seem to be cheap and you’ll probably get similar to what you paid for it if you sell it when you get back… unless you get the bug and then you could sell your road bike?!

Take a shovel and put a loads of soil behind the bigger ones, make nice little kickers.

We used to do Church Parade once a months and were sort of volunteered for it by the leaders. No one wanted to do it, especially the leaders, but as we used the church hall sometimes I suppose there was a bit of returning the favour going on. We also used to do a carol concert for the local old folks home which we found hilarious for some reason – so did the old folks 😀

I’m an atheist and have never really believed in anything even as a kid. The religious part of the Scouts never really bothered me compared to the fun we had playing bulldog and going on adventures in the highlands.

Not very, don’t own a Kona anymore. Have smoked a few in my time though 😀

It’s no wonder the streets in many places are so dangerous

Are they? I walk through some of the rougher part of Manchester after a few pints and don’t really feel threatened (although maybe I look like I’m not worth mugging!). I think the main prob is the media demonising kids. I used to hang around the streets when I was young, sometimes we caused a bit of trouble – getting into derelict buildings, trying to kill each other with fireworks, riding our bmx’s in pedestrianised areas etc etc – my parents never really knew about what we got up to but it’s what young kids do when there is sod all else. I think my folks would rather I was out riding my bike or meesing around on the promenade than sat at home on the Megadrive.

We may have looked menacing to some folks at the time but that wasn’t intentional and we would never have thought about being violent or threatening. I don’t think anything has changed that much apart from kids seem much more conscious about their image nowadays which I suppose in the wrong circumstances can lead to them being led astray.

I was also in the Cubs, Scouts and Ventures by the way.

On another unrelated note, as the cub leader said to the priest;

‘Pass me another cub, this one’s split..’

Dual ply tyres if you considering any of the downhill stuff and plenty of spare tubes! Rode there for a week on my coiler and was never ‘underbiked’. It’s very easy to get around and you can get a piste map style map which is easy to follow.

If you get chance head over the hill to Chatel and Champery there’s loads of good stuff over there.

We were easily doing 70 miles of downhill a day so your bike will take a hammering, get your shocks / wheels checked and serviced before you go as the shops aren’t cheap out there for parts!

Have fun!

Did my DAS last summer (but not got a bike yet 🙁 ) I found it was nerves more than anything that affected me. I could do perfect u-turns and figs of 8 in the car park where I had my lessons but nearly dropped the bike on my test doing the u-turn. Just try to stay relaxed for it and you should walk it. Still passed as I corrected it and didn’t put my feet down.

Seems a stupid test really, the swerve test at 32 mph particularly, WTF is that all about?

Anyway, good luck and stay relaxed, it’s a piece of cake on a big bike (My first attempt was on a 125 and I couldn’t get enough speed on the bend for the emergency stop which was a bit annoying 😡 )

Born in Lancaster, lived in Morecambe until I was 20 so nearly a Sandgrownun, now live in Prestwich but that will hopefully change if we can sell our house…

Went past the Kings Arms in Morecambe on 2 wheels in a Bedford Rascal after the lad driving clipped a traffic island whilst overtaking a line of traffic. Good job there was 5 of us in the back acting as ballast!

Bad news. A week in tha Alps would be my first priority!

One that always stops me in my tracks, in fact most of that album does;

“i think it’s dark and it looks like rain” you said
“and the wind is blowing like it’s the end of the
world” you said “and it’s so cold it’s like the
cold if you were dead” and then you smiled for
a second.

“i think i’m old and i’m in pain” you said
“and it’s all running out like it’s the end of the
world” you said “and it’s so cold it’s like the
cold if you were dead” and then you smiled for
a second

sometimes you make me feel like i’m living at
the edge of the world like i’m living at the edge
of the world “it’s just the way i smile” you said

The Cure ‘Plainsong’

+1 Emsz, going to have that playing at my wedding in two weeks time whilst we sign the registers! 1st dance has now been changed from Take That to ‘One day like this’;

Drinking in the morning sun
Blinking in the morning sun
Shaking off the heavy one
Heavy like a loaded gun

What made me behave that way?
Using words I never say
I can only think it must be love
Oh, anyway, it’s looking like a beautiful day

Someone tell me how I feel
It’s silly wrong but vivid right
Oh, kiss me like the final meal
Yeah, kiss me like we die tonight

Cause holy cow, I love your eyes
And only now I see the light
Yeah, lying with me half-awake
Oh, anyway, it’s looking like a beautiful day

When my face is chamois-creased
If you think I’ll wink, I did
Laugh politely at repeats
Yeah, kiss me when my lips are thin

Cause holy cow, I love your eyes
And only now I see you like
Yeah, lying with me half-awake
Stumbling over what to say
Well, anyway, it’s looking like a beautiful day

So throw those curtains wide!
One day like this a year’d see me right!

Mine eyes have seen the glory,of the sacred wonderkind,
You took me behind,a disused railway line,
You said I know a place where we can go,
Where we are not known,
And you gave me something that I won’t forget too soon.

(The Smith – You’ve got everything now)

Or,

So, so you think you can tell
Heaven from Hell,
Blue skys from pain.
Can you tell a green field
From a cold steel rail?
A smile from a veil?
Do you think you can tell?

And did they get you to trade
Your heros for ghosts?
Hot ashes for trees?
Hot air for a cool breeze?
Cold comfort for change?
And did you exchange
A walk on part in the war
For a lead role in a cage?

How I wish, how I wish you were here.
We’re just two lost souls
Swimming in a fish bowl,
Year after year,
Running over the same old ground.
What have we found?
The same old fears.
Wish you were here.

(Pink Floyd – Wish you were here)

Oh and,

Lawnmower Death – Sumo Rabbit And His Inescapable Trap Of Doom

When Sumo Rabbit was let out of his hutch,
You couldn’t believe a rabbit looked to butch,
His muscles ripped, there is death within his eyes,
Other forms of life are things he does despise.
Sumo Rabbit goes to nightclubs to kick some trendy ass,
Thye drinks Nuclear Brown so he can have the glass,
Then without a warning, he crushes it in his paw,
Then without a flicker, he’ll stuff it in your jaw.
Then he goes to a food-bar to hassle the ****’ owner,
He starts by telling others that they are all?
Then he has some food but won’t pay lot the bill,
THen to top the lot he goes inh for the kill.
Sumo
Into the fighting ring to everyone’s surprise,
Sumo throws a rabbit turd between his opponent’s eyes,
With a crash and an ear-splitting squeek,
For his opponent it’s the end of the ****’ week.

Been booked for months now, it’s our honeymoon (taking the kids too mind).

Will have a few whiskys before hand, going into the ground like a dart doesn’t seem too bad after a few drinks!

Down to head size / shape maybe. I try to wear met helmets as they fit me better than Giro or 661. Last one I bought was £25 from CRC, comfy for me and not noticed it being heavy.

Actually found one in a laybye in Central France – no walls around it and in plain view of the road too!

Problem solved:

http://rpmedia.ask.com/ts?u=/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9e/French_Squatter_Toilet.jpg/120px-French_Squatter_Toilet.jpg

Lambda sensors on my ‘new’ car. Dog turds on otherwise amazing trails. Kids in track suits (unless they are actually doing something sporting rather than walking up and down the street).

Volvo 245 DL
Sierra 1.6L
Mini 1100
Astra mk2
Opel Manta GTE
VW Transporter
Audi 80
VW Polo
XR2 mk2
Austin Montego 😳
Volvo 745
VW Golf
LDV Convoy Tipper
Escort Van
Isuzu Trooper
Honda CRV
Honda Civic
VW Sharan
Honda XL 125

This happened to a friend who used to do trackside clearance for Railtrack – their small company lost the contract to a national company who had quoted almost twice as much. The national company then approached him and asked if he would subby to them at a price lower than he had initially quoted. 😯

Basically the national would be principal contractor managing subbies but not doing any of the actual physical work, just skimming a huge profit off the top.

One of the reasons train tickets have gone up I suppose!

Axes are so out of date, I have a modern version for sale if anyone should want it:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180660263089&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

Makes a better noise too!

I feel for the OP after having a crime ridden year a couple of years ago myself. I think if I had caught anyone on my property I would have overreacted. Whatever happens try to stay calm and don’t let the fookers drag you down to their level. We are currently moving house just to put some distance between us and the (sorry to say it) coucil houses however the person I have a strong suspicion of being responsible for all our trouble owns their own house, albeit he’s away at the moment (for around five years 😉 ).

Bit of decorators caulk and you’ll get another few years out of that 😉

I’ve been riding my ti456 with some deore stuff on it as I couldn’t afford more expensive stuff. I just keep an eye on the bargains at CRC / Merlin / Ribble and buy when they 50% off stuff which brings xt / slx stuff inline with deore at full price.

I do insist that any wheels i have run on cartridge bearings though as can’t be doing with cup and cone!

TBH you don’t realy notice when riding the bike and some of the deore parts seem much more reliable than higher end stuff. Had some deore discs for around 5 years and apart from new pads they are still going strong.

I’m really wanting to drive over again soon, we flew last time and it was a PITA. Especially trying to get my girlfriend though Geneva airport in a wheelchair with a broken knee on the way back!

We used to drive down from Lancaster to go skiing once or twice a year and it worked out a similar price overall (for the 3 of us) as flying but you have the flexibility of choosing resorts and moving to others once there. We generally had an overnight stop around Macon on the way down and did the return in one go with 2 drivers, usually around 18 – 19 hours door to door. Always tried to hit the M25 at night too so as to miss the traffic.

We also used to stop in the valleys as you get proper little french hotels rather than the concrete monstrosities in some of the ski resorts! If you do hire a car from Geneva airport if you hire it from the French side it worked out cheaper when we booked, just make sure you return it to that side otherwise we got charged £90 for them to drive it the 200yds from the swiss side back to the French side 😕

I think there may be a party, probably with a bit bagpipes and lots of tartan and waving on the Saltire then things will get back to normal apart from there being a few more politicians and something else for them to discuss for years on end without actually doing much…

Oh and everyone in Scotland would have to apply for a new passport. And re-register their cars with the SDVLA – although you may be able to claim your tax disc back! 😀

Driven most types of van for work (ex delivery driver) and although I hate saying it the nicest and most car like were the transits. Vito’s – could never get the seating right and felt a bit perched in it and seem to hold their value too well second hand unless you don’t mind high mileage, transporters were slower and felt a bit more agricultural, sprinters are nice but probably too big for you, not sure on vauxhall or fiat / peugeot offerings.

I’ve just bought a VW Sharan cheap to cart kids and bikes in and it seems more car like if thats any use, cheaper tax band too.

xmas eve about 7 years ago got wasted around Bury, managed to hurl into the urinal perfectly while having a pi$$ then fell through a pizza shop window on the way to the taxi, collapsed on the floor by the taxi and had to get lifted in by 4 lads, fell asleep on the pavement outside the house then on the stairs with the front doors wide open and suspiciously wet jeans… 😳

Whisky and sambuka shots really don’t go well together!

I’d start by lubing one thing at a time to eliminate creaks. I had one on my scott nitrous and spents ages tightening stuff until the point I put a bit of grease behind the replaceable hanger and it stopped. FFS…
Noises seem to transfer around frames too and I was convinced this was coming from the BB area.

Seatpost / seatclamp is a prime suspect too, take the clamp off the frame and a bit of light oil behind it often stops creaks.

Salford? Well generally a ring of horible places that are around Manchester City Centre. Ardwick and Harpurhey spring to mind too but don’t think they’re cities!

Dihydrocodeine is nice though, was prescribed it for my back by an A&E doctor. I was wondering why I couldn’t remember driving to work and things until my GP realised that I had been given the strongest dose and was taking two, four times a day instead of just one 😀

Quite addictive though…

I think its interesting that these days people’s opinions of a bike are based on how it looks, not how it rides. Looks like a bike to me, in fact I quite like the way it looks, but I own a trance, which isn’t very ‘niche’.

That’s what I was thinking, apart from owning a Trance…

I’ve just bought some ‘new’ cranks like those, seem to do the job ie. propell the bike in a forward motion when I pedal!

+1 for the Prophet 🙂

What is ‘work’? I sit at a desk in a office with other peole who presumably are on STW, am I mistaken?

I do it too and have done for years, a bit like skiing in reverse (and more hard work), do get some strange looks sometimes and not always the best on busy roads!

Having never ridden either I would recommend taking me mam’s shopper (folding of course).

Yeh, we have a joint account where all the money goes in and all the direct debits and bills go out from, if there’s any left before pay day that’s a bonus. We did once set ourselves a spending money limits but the wonders of paypal and credit cards soon got me around that 😉 I can’t see how people can have 2 separate accounts when they live together and are contributing to the home etc, I think it would just cause agro in our house, especially with my addiction to buying shiney bits of metal for my bikes!

Did you take the washer out of the left hand side to compensate when you spaced it? What’s the BB size? Shimano have fitting instructions on their website for the BB’s.