The thing about a decent bike fit is that it could correct some bio mechanical issues as well as set the bike up to suit you. It’s almost a given that the bike is the correct size, but if you consider that every contact point has at least 3 planes of adjustment, it is easy to get it nearly right,but not quite right. For instance, are your cleats in the best position, do your feet need wedges or instep support to help correct knee / leg alignment. Are your cranks causing the knee over extension or compression by being too long or short?

You can do it by reading up and taking videos of yourself, but if you’re spending thousands on a bike, £150 could be money well spent to get the best out of it.

Of course, you would probably be fine with a clued up mate or setting it up using measurements and guides, but a lot of people have odd length legs, tight hamstrings, Achilles issues, bad backs, etc etc, and a good bike fit could help adapt the bike to fit you better.

I would say ignore the doubters. If you have aches and pains whilst riding, and are not confident in setting up the bike yourself or have numpty mates, and are at the point where you are thinking of spending money on shiny bits in the hope that this will sort your issues, get a bike fit from someone who can do dynamic fitting. It could help and save you a load of money and pain.

And if you want to protect the course in case the gps crashes there is the same folder on the sd card that you can also use.

No idea on couriers, but I would make sure there’s loads of free bits, beer, chocolate and other good stuff in the box.

:lol:

Big tin of green paint – as long as you match the scuffmark no one will ever notice

How much is involved here? If the car is £500 then it’s unlikely to be a. Sting, but if you are talking £5k upwards you need to be careful. Maybe take a mate or something. Don’t leave the keys in the car when you swap drivers, keep the paperwork in your pocket with the second key, take innocent looking photos of the buyer etc.

Ok, have had a play with my rear hub. I had play and it has turned out to be the dust shield nut things were unscrewed a bit. There is one on each side of the hub (it’s the first thing you unscrew when you take the rear hub apart) and they can only be done up fingertight. It seems they work loose even when clamped in the frame. Have a look at your hub, the problem may well be easily fixed without a bearing swap. This seems to be a unique thing with novatec hubs.

Tell him you are not bothered about the crack, but it is now a fair price given that the frame is cracked. If in coventry I can pick it up for you!

Nice one, thanks for that link, have ordered a repair kit. It’s worth a shot at a DIY solution as it’s not exactly a boutique frame.

Ride what you enjoy, but keep it mixed up. One year, focus on xc, the next do some crits and CX, then train for a 24, then mix it up a bit. Keep it interesting, and do what you really want, but don’t feel pressured into doing something just to keep up.

I have the same. Cheap bearings in novatec hubs have lasted one ride – I will keep them till they get graunchy then replace with decent bearings.

I could imagine a broken axle could cause the funny feeling bit, but the wheel should wobble in the forks. Are the forks carbon? I can see the steerer is alloy, but is there a carbon leg bonded on? Is that where that mark is?

The only other bit that could cause the steering to pull slightly is the headset, like you’ve crushed the bearings or something.

Have a thorough strip and look, and a good look at the back end as well.

Can you still exercise? I had an inguinal hernia for years and did lots of riding, racing and circuit training. I had it sorted (luckily I had private healthcare) and had 6-8 weeks off then started gently getting back into it. 2 years later I am back to my old form.
Chin up fella, it doesn’t last forever.

They only wear out because you keep using them. Anticipate more and brake less. Momentum is your friend. 5000+ miles all year round for a set of pads here.

Good luck to the pair of them. Met Gary on the HTR last year and he’s a top bloke.

I don’t know, but what an amazing place. If anyone does know where it is please keep it to yourself.

Why do people feel the need to kill/remove animals that are just surviving. They help control rats and mice. They produce a damn sight less waste than us lot, and they don’t do any harm. Leave them be.

And have a drink in one of the pubs in Kemerton or towards Beckford. Cracking place to walk (and ride)!

I use my MaxxD for commuting, but it is set to low or med and pointed towards a spot 10 feet in front of the bike. Any higher or brighter and it’s not suitable. Oh, and I have 3 exposure lights and all have been perfect (MaxxD 3 years old, joystick and Revo 6 months old.

Get your head in the right gear. So much more important than getting you body in the right gear!

So, to express our opposition in a way that could hit home we could book every B&b and hotel room for a certain week, then cancel when it gets near with the excuse that cycling is not welcome in the Forest so we have decided not to come. Might lose a deposit (or not)

Getting chased by a lion can only help with speed, but you would miss out on the low intensity phase. Maybe searching out the lion could provide this!

Getting caught by the lion would indicate you haven’t put the effort in to yesterday’s training session!

No pics online, but my Planet X Dirty Harry is 9kg (20lbs). With crest rims, novatec hubs, light spokes, mt zoon and kcnc bits, carbonia saddle and rebas. It flies ( except yesterday when the engine was running rough).

Get your own quote and compare to his. That way you will know if you are being ripped off. If you are, tell him and for taking the pee he can sort it out himself.

Mccraque, you didn’t have to let him through – as the overtaker it’s his responsibility to pass you safely. If he had called and you decided to move over that’s fine but it’s not your job to dive out of the way.

Was my first Gorrick race, and was a great course, very similar to Cannock courses (but less muddy), and as I was much slower than usual it was quite nice to amble round rather than blast it – I did notice there wasn’t much calling for overtakes though. And I did get overtaken a fair bit!

Isn’t there one in Yorkshire, or is that the ssuk event?

Just Starting to worry that I am turning into one of those parents.

The hours of fun I’ll have at the children’s expense! :-)

You have more pairs of biking shoes than any other type.

The cost of some of those shoes is 5x the max permissible spend on non biking shoes.

You plan your family holidays around MTB races/events.

My 26 er bikes have a future – off to the garage to lengthen the chainstays.
Hacksaw. Tick
Ally plate. Tick
Jubilee clips. Tick. ( for added safety)

That explains a lot, thanks. Looks like I need to get lighter wheels, turn it into a CX bike proper, and buy some kit. Then a winter commuter is needed.

I already have 6.5 bikes – when is enough? (She sort of wants a tandem so we can go out together. I can see + and – points for this!

Just in case Tescos are closet bikists, racists, helmetists or any other persuasion of ist, we should boycott their stores.

Seriously though, if you don’t like their random restrictions, don’t shop there. Plenty more shops that sell food….

What’s a 29er specific stem? Is it a normal one turned upside down?

That’s a cracking bike though.

Like **** of you racist **** ?

Is that aimed at me? Not very true if it is.

Including saying how he’d like to kill people because they are ****?

No, that’s making threats to kill. There’s a law against that.

And challenging peoples views is great, going off on one isn’t.

No, not on the wind up. And I don’t like racist behaviour. But I do understand that some people have different points of view and however much I might not like their views, they are entitled. Freedom of speech is about being able to say things that others might not like.

They are as entitled to their views as much as you are, and just because you don’t like their views doesn’t make it ok to be aggressive towards them. After all, free speech is something we all value, isn’t it?

You will need to use 2 or 3 of the plastic spacers between BB and frame. 2 one side and 1 the other. Then just screw the BB shells into the frame. Then fit the cranks.

The bottom bracket will need a special c spanner to tighten up, your local bike shop might do it while you wait if you take them a box of Jaffa cakes and go at a quiet time.

I have a Dirty Harry that comes in at 9kg (20lbs) – it’s a fast bike! Not sure what you’re Whippet weighs, but the Dirty Harry frame is about 1250g ( heavier than claimed if I remember correctly)

Do you lot have dyslexic personal number plates?

Nice one though!

This is the whole dilemma, replace or repair. Rewelding a new tube in is commonplace and places like Mercian offer this service, but a new seat tube plus quality respray is £200.

The question for me is whether a welded frame can have the same kudos as a lugged frame?

It should be illegal so the irresponsible ones don’t do it.

Set up after dark and be gone by sunrise and leave nothing behind and there is no reason to challenge any rules/laws….