Conti Gatorskins here. Used them for over 2yrs now. Only one puncture in all that time (30 mile round trip commute).

Shortly to be replaced by a pair of the 27mm Vittoria Open Paves IF I can find a pair in stock anywhere.

Hope ProIII’s on Mavic Open Pro CD’s.

Them or a Xentis full carbon clincher from Merlin. Currently have 50% off at the mo. You could get the rear……….and then maybe get the front (there is no carbon clincher that comes close to the braking of these bad boys, even in the wet).

3T ARX Team and LTD stems come with Ti bolts as standard. As do Tunes Geiles Teil stems.

And ENVE

And probably some others too………

Shudders in anticipation 8O

Currently waiting for my dental appointment to come round after suffering jaw, ear and head pain 8O 8O

I presume you did the 100 miler mikedoubleu?

Distance is similar, but a lot more climbing in the FW. Some of them are really steep (Honister and Hardknot top the bill). As long as you take your time, eat regularly (don’t wait till the feed stop for eating (I ate something every 10 miles). It was my first time last year, we rode to finish, not for a time (probably why it took 9hrs 59mins – inc stops though :wink: ).

Road conditions?? Nothing’s as a bad as the roads in Northumberland………..except the descents off Honister and Hardknot 8O . Take it easy though, don’t let your speed pick up and you’ll be fine (worked for me, I’m not a confident descender). Lots of guys crashing last year, might have had something to do with full carbon clinchers and roads like rivers, one guy past me going down of Hardknot, he looked and sounded as if he wasn’t entirely in control,, still, he made it round the switchbacks. Respect.

brakes – Member
For anyone who’s done it, where does the major challenge lie?
Is it the thing as a whole? Is it getting over the passes? Is it the technical roads? At what point do you think ‘shit, I wish I’d stayed in bed’?

POSTED 13 HOURS AGO # REPORT-POST

My first time last year, we just took it real easy all the way round. Remember to eat regularly (I shoved something in my gob every 10 miles). Apart from the weather the hardest bits for me were Hardknot (without question – still rode it all though without dabbing or stopping :smug ****t:), and Honister. It’s a bit of a killer the first bit, riders everywhere! Some guys were zig-zagging up Honister, the result meant they kept crossing right in front of me (a few guys in the wrong gear had keeled over), a bit off putting. I never noticed Cold Fell as I had my head down, I just wanted to reach the next feed stop at Calder Bridge as it was blowing a hoolie and p1ssing down. I think they say that and Fang Brow(?) or stings in the tale. I found Kirkstone’, Newlands’ Whinlatter and Wrynose ‘easy’ (compared to the two ‘H’ passes).

Really looking forward to this years FW, May even wear my FW jersey now that I have completed it (bought it at the sign-on last year but didn’t want to jinx myself and wear it on the day, I really wanted to earn it).

I’m in again. Second time for me and my mates too. First timers last year. One of my mates had to drop out at Calder Bridge last year with hypothermia (even though the wife from St John’s Ambulance said he would be on to carry on………I’ve never seen anyone alive with lips as blue as his!), he didn’t get in this year. He enquired about one of the guaranteed places for those raising money for their charity. He just found out he’s got one so he’s cock-a-hoop!

My mate got his email this morning telling him he doesn’t have a place :(

He’s now trying to get one of the remaining guaranteed places for those raising a minimum of £250 for the Macmillan Nurses.

Lizard Skins DSP +1 (but black for heaven’s sake :wink: )

Thread closed

Thanks Bryan-g-, I’ll check that out.

430 quid with the extra discount mrblobby :wink: ……………. :oops: like I said, this isn’t something I’d normally buy, so when I got the windfall I thought I might treat myself, especially after spending the day indoors when it was so icy out. Bit of a wasted day (although the house is now spotless!).

ooh, tell me more about this etraining thing and the Arion please bryan-g-!

Thanks BrisolPablo, very helpful :D
The Elite Arion also has parabolic rollers so that’s a plus.

My ribs have now healed, or at least they aren’t hurting as much when going about my daily routine. I’ll be starting off using the rollers inbetween a door frame (with a mattress against the opposite wall :wink: )

I don’t think I am/was a ‘choppy’ pedaller before, liked to think I had a quite smooth pedalling style (this could prove me wrong though).

As far as the money goes, as mentioned, I want to buy something I’d never buy, and a trainer is/was one of those things………until I had my accident. I think if I had a trainer of some description that I might have actually got back on the bike sooner (rather than the 4 weeks I sat around stuffing my face and off my t1ts on prescription pain killers 8O )

It’s either that or put the money down as a deposit on a pair of Mavic Cosmic Carbone SLR’s………………… 8)

Campag Record: stupid tool needed for joining for the chain?

Nope

Just go for a KMC chain.

Only chains I’ve had snap on me are Shitmano and Campag.

Go for the Record, but sell the chain if buying groupset and buy a KMC chain.

[edit] Oops, beaten to it! [/edit]

A ride on the Cyclone Rollercoaster at Coney Island, then a hot dog at Nathan’s. Walk over the Brooklyn Bridge to take in the view of Manhattan (well worth it imho) especially at night.

We’re in Hotel Diana in Puerto Pollensa end of April. It cost us £200 for 5 nights half board (4*). Will be back in august too, staying at the Uyal (as mentioned) with the family. We’ve stayed at the Uyal a few times (family hols), can thoroughly recommend it (and the Diana – stopped in the Diana last April whilst on a cycling trip, was only £100 then! It was also a week earlier than we’re going this year).

Shirley? All you need is a phone and a convincing sick voice…

That’s only for 7 days, imagine if there’s going to be 2 weeks of unbroken sunshine next summer……………yes, I know you’ll need a good imagination (especially if you live up this end of the country) but I’m sure you could imagine. Just make sure it’s filled in for sunburn for when you go back with a tan.

2013: 9hrs 59mins (inc 60mins trying to warm up at Calder Bridge :wink: )

2014: ??

No road tyre is going to be any good on the ice Blackflag.

I use 28mm Gatorskins but still ended up coming off (and breaking several ribs), now recovering at home (broken ribs = mucho pain!).

Entries open 1st Jan…….or they did. They’ve changed to online entries this year.

My first time last year, just wanted to get round and to climb Hardknot without putting a foot down. Managed both so was cock-a-hoop! Time was rubbish but then as nammynake says, first time must surely just be about getting round?!

Anyway, was looking forward to doing it again this year (if I get a place!) and getting a MUCH better time.

Looks like I’ll have to go back to the ‘just getting round’ ride seeing as it’s a ‘new’ route.

Entry format changed as well, anyone know if they’re accepting group entries online?

Check Currys PC World at the Metrocentre (Newcastle), they had one heavily reduced when I was in the other day.

I’m certain that’s what I used to have my SS Rich.

Double post.

S’ok, found him :oops:

How do I get in touch with this Chris Heal that you talk about?
I have two Tag Formula 1’s sitting in a drawer that I’d like to get repaired, and the wife has one too!

I’d never buy another but would like to get them fixed if at all possible.

My last one (1st Dec).

Came off on a downhill bend (diesel). Ripped road club bibtights and 3/4 bib shorts, ripped Rapha overshoes and winter gloves, long sleeve road club jersey and Assos base layer cut off so that I could get cannulated and be given morphine (nice). Currently week 2 off work, missing out on a load of overtime so taking that into consideration.

Only damage to the bike was a small hole in the shifter hood and a small tear to the bar tape. Seems that throwing myself under my bike worked.

Snap, I’m just over 6 foot and ride a 56cm (effective top tube) – compact geometry, I also ride a 55cm traditional geometry frame (long legs – short torso).

Would still recommend going and slinging a leg over a few, perhaps even hire one to try?

Holy crap, that was agony watching that vid (only because my ribs are actually broken and laughing causes me great pain!).

Funny as **** though

4 of us came off yesterday, downhill on a corner. I ended up having to go to A&E, broken ribs, road rash etc etc. got to go in an ambulance, after 10mg of morphine.

Now at home, off my tits on pain killers and it’s still sore to move.

Bike is ok though, I managed to break its fall :wink:

Same can’t be said of my cycling gear (over shoes, bibtights, jersey, base layer and gloves).

I never tire of seeing pics of your bikes solarider, every one bloody gorgeous. Looks like it might be time to change your name though!

I don’t suppose you still have that Ambrosio Nemesis wheelset still for sale?………

I’m doing the Moss Trooper Audax next year, and the Fred Whitton again if I can get a place.

My cousin’s hubby has the new Ribble carbon winter bike, bloody lovely it is too.

I think I used Parcel2Go the last time.

Anyone else?

I’ve just added some carbon bottle cages this afternoon (a nice pair of Arundel Dave-O’s). Proper posh.

Save your cash and buy some parafin. It’s the dogs bollocks and cheap as chips (think I paid £5 for 5 litres)

Carbon?
Aluminium?

P’ah! What you need is a steel road bike. For only a bit more I’m selling my Indy Fab Club Racer – a light-tourer come audax come winter come commuter bike (mind you, that’s only the frameset and a few extras :oops: )

Posh winter road bike?

Campag Record 10spd (still the best imho) – tick
Rotor 3D chainset with Q-Rings – tick
Carbon bars and seatpost – tick
Carbon railed saddle (Prologo Scratch Nack) – tick
Chris King bits (headset and BB) – tick
32 spoked wheels – tick
28mm tyres – tick
Full mudguards (with extra eyelets for racks) – tick
‘Custom-made’ rear mudflap – tick

(oh, and it’s still for sale as well :wink: – frame/fork/headset/guards/seatpost as a package)

…………..and it’s spotlessly clean!

Clarty (adjective)

Atlantic Boulevard.