I picked up my bike with the new fork today and rode it home. Like @thisisnotaspoon says, it is a better fork in many ways, and even on the short ride it felt different. Since I use a mudguard on it in the winter the bolt hole is not a concern. I got this bike originally for £730 in a sale from Evans three years ago and its been a great bike – fast and fun to ride off road and a useful wet weather road bike. It’s been three months waiting for the fork (although I did carry on riding it since Cannondale said they found nothing wrong with the old fork). I’m glad to have it sorted.

As of today, my CAADX is finally at my local Evans shop having the fork replaced.

All three of the medallists in the 2016 Olympic women’s 800 – Caster Semenya, Francine Niyonsaba and Margaret Wambui — are intersex (have XY chromosomes). https://www.letsrun.com/news/2019/05/what-no-one-is-telling-you-about-caster-semenya-she-has-xy-chromosomes/

Did you clean off the old, dry sealant from the tyre beads before fitting? It can only be the rim-bead interface. Remove tyres, clean beads and rim and reinstall. Add sealant and inflate to 40 psi and slosh the sealant around thoroughly and leave overnight. Then lower the tyre pressure to your preferred PSI.

I’m still waiting for Evans to give me a date for a replacement.

A gravel bike (or CX bike in my case) is a lot quicker on the road and climbs a lot faster off-road providing the terrain is not too rough. I’d definitely go for a bike that you can get big tyres – like 40mm or more. I can only get 35mm on my Cannondale CAADX which is ok and fast for a lot of terrain. I would prefer a gravel bike (lower bb) to my CX. I also use my CX bike fitted with full mudguards and slick tyres for winter road riding, so it’s quite versatile. I have a road bike with 23/25mm tyres that I do a bit of gravel riding in the summer, taking short cuts to avoid busy roads. With 35 to 45 mm tyres you can switch from road to gravel, to a bit of hardpack, and back to road again if the terrain is not too challenging. But for anything remotely challenging — and mostly off-road — I stick to my hardtail MTB. I have very poor bike handling skills.

Back home safely. Thanks for all the comments and advice on tyre pressure. I will reduce the PSI in both tyres to something like 25r and 23f (and maybe lower).

Riding the other way on Sunday the chalk had dried out and was much less slippery – though I was pushing the bike up hill anyway. For those doing the NDW the danger spot is between 18.5k and 19k on Interim Riders Route Day 3 https://ridewithgps.com/routes/31330375 (OS Grid Ref: TR 06076 51961).

@poopscoop my thoughts exactly. Getting out for some exercise in the countryside is what I enjoy. I rode the SDW last year over several days and enjoyed every minute of it. NDW is a bit more complicated – and longer. Both great riding.

Thanks for the advice people. I”m no doubt running too much pressure up front. But green chalk in the wet and off camber is to be treated with extreme caution. I’m riding the route the reverse way on Sunday so I’ll be ready to dismount and walk it. Though even my grippy Five Tens were sliding today on it. I’ve already got titanium pins in my hip from a stack on wet tarmac 15 years ago. I’ll stay timid. Have a good weekend everyone.

Some progress. I had this message from Evans today:

Cannondale have confirmed that we will receive at least 2 drops of forks a month and are being supplied in the order in which they were submitted.

We do ask for your patience whilst we work with Cannondale to get this turned around and you back out on your bike as quickly as possible.

Please be advised this is most accurate information we are able to provide you at this time and will provide updates when available. The store will make contact once your allocated fork has been received to make the necessary arrangements.

Thank you for your continued patience on this matter.

Kind regards,

Evans Cycles Product Recall Team

@markwsf Thanks for posting those photos. Really useful to see.

I’ve emailed Cannondale

I’d be grateful if Cannondale would give an update about the CAADX recall. When are UK dealers expecting to get replacement forks? I understand that you can’t just make the forks at the drop of a hat, but an indication to customers about the likely date of forks being available to UK dealers would be appreciated.

@Markwsf You’ve had it fitted already? Are you UK based? I’ve not heard anything from Evans since they told me it would be mid-October. Does the fork have the same fittings for mudguards? Any chance of posting a photo?

@hydrophil The Cannondale notice is here https://www.cannondale.com/en/Great%20Britain/Safety-Notices-and-Recalls

Contact a local dealer from this list https://www.cannondale.com/en/Great%20Britain/dealers-near-you.aspx

Your saddle looks to be too far forward. In the second pic your knee is in front of your toes. It should be further back – just behind your toes. You should have the saddle set horizontal or a tad down.

I have a Voodoo Bizango (previous version with double chainring, size 20″) and it’s a great bike. I have zero complaints about it. The only unwieldy thing about it is getting it up and down the two flights of tight stairs to my flat! Go down to Halfords/Cycle Republic and get him to try it for size.

I suffer from depression. You did the right thing by stopping and walking. Take it easy. You seem to be a bit “all or nothing” about this. If you are feeling low or tired, then just get out and do some easy rides with no pressure with a couple of friends and enjoy being out. Or go out with an easy group for some easy cross-country riding. And do some short, skills-based riding. Your energy and bike handling skills will return in due course. That’s just the way it is.

Actually, the injunction is not in force, but is still being sought by the council.

And indeed, it still rumbles on injunction is still in force.

@thisisnotaspoon

Doesn’t mention anything to do with the original court case. Only that cycling clubs/cyclists won’t be targeted. I.e. they could still try and close the cafe, but won’t stop club runs going there.

Yes, good point. This joint announcement only addresses the issue of notices being sent to cycling clubs. It says very little about the original enforcement for breach of planning or the inspector’s decision that upheld the aspect that relates to “cyclists meets” at the cafe, or the injunction against the Velolife that followed. This saga is likely to continue.

Better to have an e-bike than to have an e-car – by a long way. Utilitarian e-bikes for getting people around towns and cities and even for getting people from villages (often very car-dependent) into towns or cities and back home again as a commute or for shopping is relatively very green compared to driving an e-car or worse. Electric cars weigh around 1,500 to 2,000 kilos of metal, plastic and all sorts of nasty components. And they pollute the air with PM 10s and 2.5s. E-bikes only weigh 15 to 20 kilos.

(from https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4573013)

Thanks for all your responses. The TAG Facebook group has some very useful information. My interest in the Ash Ranges is that it looks like some easy riding across some very beautiful heathland and forest. It looks good for a gentle ride, a picnic and a chance to view some wildlife. I’ll obviously respect the red flags and keep away from military exercises.

South east is looking dry and windy. Gonna do part of the North Downs Way –> North Downs Way: Riding In The Shadow Of The Rat Race

Get fatter grips. I find Ergon GA2s to be pretty good. But I still find drop bars with cork tape more comfy (though less easy to balance on rough ground).

I’ve now had an email from Evans Cycles saying my CAADX is booked in for 25 December – yes, Christmas Day! I went into the branch that is due to change the fork and enquired if this was a joke. According to the staff I spoke to there is a delay in getting the new fork. But Christmas Day? I was then told it would be sometime in October. Originally they had told me that it would be available from mid-August. Staff reminded me not to ride the bike. Anyone else had a confirmed date for a new fork yet?

Spesh Defrosters with DeFeet Woolie Boolie wool socks.

Darn it. I’ve just updated mine with new brakes. No doubt the replacement ones will need different adapters etc. Will wait and see. Thanks for the heads up.

@Whereisthurso I replaced the crappy original Promax Render brake calipers for BB7s and I have full mudguards fitted. I hope the fittings will be identical. They should be.

@TomB

Anyone know if the Tiagra version is affected? Mine meets all the recall criteria except the ‘Ultrax’ stickers on the fork inner legs.

Mine is the Tiagra. I never noticed the Ultrax stickers before until I looked closely yesterday. They are dark grey against a black background. Double check. But if they are not there then yours is not in the recall group.

The FSA BB30 on my Cannondale CAADX has lasted for three years with no problem. And I’ve used it every winter.

@Bent-udder I had a lucky escape – I did SDW last year. It is likely top be found alongside a river or stream. This is a useful guide on how to recognise it and distringuish it from cow parsley.

@bratty It would be better to note the exact location – co-ordinates, grid ref, etc – and report it to the rights of way officer at the local council and make others aware of it via social media and put a note on a fence post. If you are going to bash it with a branch (and I do not recommend you do this) you should have protective clothing including goggles. I’d say leave well alone and report it.

@uberpod That seems to be the case. The council is only making the right of way safe but the landowner is still allowing the plants to grow nearby. So every year thousands of seeds get scattered. The law is not strong on the obligations of landowners to remove the plant.

There is no legal obligation to remove or treat giant hogweed as long as the landowner or occupier is not encouraging or allowing the growth on to adjacent land.

However, enforcement action could be taken against the landowner.

If the plant is obstructing a public footpath or otherwise can be deemed to be presenting a risk to human health local councils also have powers to compel landowners and occupiers to take action to avoid causing harm. Section 79 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 allows for enforcement action to be taken where the giant hogweed is, or is likely to be, prejudicial to health.

So allowing it to grow next to or across a bridleway would present a risk to human health.

In 2013 the UK government decreed that anyone failing to control giant hogweed (and other invasive weeds) could receive an anti-social behaviour order. It will be seen as committing a criminal offence. For an individual on-the-spot penalties of £100 can be issued, if prosecuted fines of up to £2500 and for companies up to £20,000.

So Surrey CC could do a number of things to force the landowner to take action. But I think it is likely that the local authority being strapped for cash (like most LAs) find it more cost-effective in the short-term to clear the plants from the bridleway with their own contractor rather than paying lawyers to take action against the landowner.

If you see GH while out biking please note the grid ref or location and report it.

I’ve had a response from Surrey County Council

Thank you for your enquiries regarding the giant hogweed along bridleway Newdigate 183. We are aware of the situation along this bridleway and we cut and spray the giant hogweed along this bridleway annually. This year the area officer has requested that the hogweed be sprayed twice, this was sent to our contractors on 12/07/19. The contractors will deal with this when they are next in the area.

And just a reminder the location is at grid ref TQ 191 384 near Lyne House in Surrey and marked on Open Cycle Map. here

For those of you who can’t see the image in the original post (apologies, my hopeless tech…)

The bridleway runs between the plants. The location is actually marked as a warning on Open Cycle Map here.

Never mind what any staff member in Evans tells you. They let you go out and take the bike for a spin. I brought my own pedals and a tape measure so I could set the saddle at the height I wanted and spent 20 minutes riding a Cannodale CAADX, bumping it up and down kerbs before returning it back to the shop to buy it. It really is helpful to ride a bike before buying it. If the Arkose felt good, it probably is ok. But try a few others. I’ve made mistakes on sizing in the past.

9pm tonight on Channel 4 https://www.channel4.com/programmes/free-solo

Also worth watching is the TED talk that he gave https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iM6M_7wBMc

Thanks for the tip @whitestone

@Whitestone I suspect the forest roads would only be open for the event with special permission. I was thinking of heading west from Mach along the southern loop of NCR82 and they head north west along the public byway at OS Grid Ref: SN 66847 99804 and then pick up the NCR82 again just west of Abergynolen. That should be enough excitement for my little legs! Plenty to explore in that part of Wales – but not many direct routes that are rights of way.

I’d love to get hold of a .gpx of the route. I’d be content to do just stage 1 over two days. I could probably work out a route of bridleways, byways and minor routes that would take me pretty close to the official route. Riding Aberystwyth to Dolgellau would be a fantastic weekend of riding. https://wales360.com/route/day-1/ Great to do a wild camp en route during the summer.

No. It’s been a good pump.