Number 1 would definitely be reading a trail/looking ahead
Carrying speed through corners when there isn't a berm
Larger drops when you can't spot the landing because it is so steep
Wheelies, coasting manuals, bunnyhopping to height
Trials
Controlling the bike when airbourne
Dirt Jumping
Generally riding like a goddess

(well, you did ask)

my biggest skill is holding on for dear life at high speed when I have no real bike skills at all :D

*waves at tootall*

psling
Think we may have seen you at PABA littlegirlbunny; pony tail, knee pads, etc.??

Possibly, although my hair is usually tied up. I was my usual overbiked self on a 222 with body armour.

Ayatollahofniche – Member

Hope LGB wasn't part of the attitude filled teens too hardcore for anyone else, mincing around outside PABA cafe that I moaned at for spraying stones at me as I was sipping my char. What is it with some of the DHers there that seem to sit outside the cafe all day on their overtravelled bikes?? LOL

Heh heh – i'm too old to be filled with attitude :lol:

(although did spend half an hour in the morning sat outside of the cafe with my vastly overtravelled bike trying to wake myself up with a cup of coffee)

We've only been down to the FoD a few times and everytime I go I get more surprised how little known as a riding destination it is. Some really super stuff there for sure.

Uh huh – we was there on the DH runs, maybe even have a few pics later. :)

Agree about the trails – the top sections were absolutely perfect!

Didn't see no hippy types though…

People who read 'The Sun' and take what it says as gospel.

For the bike I ride the most it's an almost respectable 21

Although goog got 35 (this is what happens when you've got bars 777 mm wide – knew there must be a purpose for them somewhere, clearly they are to make him more gnar)

Ooooh that's an amazing finish.

Really gorgeous!

One ickle one in my thumb.

But heck it has caused me so much grief. A year later, I still can't change gear with my left hand and have no real pinch grip.

Mr Agreeable – Member

LGB, have a look at Pro-tec lids – they come in four different sizes.

Will do – fanku :D

I love bike bling

It makes my life complete

Forest of Dean Saturday
Westwoods Sunday

Met Parachute for most XC stuff
Overpriced (but it was the only one left in Bourg that fitted, honest!) carbon Troy Lee for DH
Spare sixsixone for DH
Giro summut or other which I hate, and is kept set up for nightriding only

Really would like to find a decent skatestyle lid for jumping and town, but can't find one small enough (i.e. one that is genuinely small, rather than a one-size-fits-all with loads of padding) :|

Blimy 8O

I wouldn't even want to calculate, but it's safe to say it's WAY too much.

*buries head in sand*

Fab thread – and most observations ring so very true!

Bubble wrap and padded envelopes everywhere along with numerous bits for the constant buy/sell of the classifieds.

A whole drawer devoted to 'trail foods' (sweets, trek bars, more sweets, energy gels etc).

Just awesome!

The first piccy on the thread is superb.

Best of luck for the rest of your lives n all that – seems you both are a pretty fun loving couple so that's gotta be a good start! :-)

Could you not get the next size down? Or are you talking about a 16" frame?
I thought they were long because they onlt 'work' with a 50-70mm stem too

I was talking 16" – a 23" effective TT seems pretty long, even with a 50 mm stem (I always run short stems anyway).

Practice is the key (although B54 pedals and 5:10 shoes help!)

I couldn't even jump off an ant hill without loosing my feet off the pedals when I first changed over. Took a lot of perseverance and sheer-bloody-mindedness not to change back to Spuds.

Been worth it though :-)

IvanDobski – Member

…look really nice in the flesh. Went into a friends shop this morning and they had both colours of BluePig and a Ti on display. Had a good hands on look at them and was surprised how nice and "well made looking" they actually are.

*nods*

I'd be getting one myself if they weren't so long in the top tube.

*is thoroughly disappointed by the lack of smut in this thread*

I agree with jam bo

You'll not likely get on the uplift bus for the DH (it's completely booked) and the XC course is ok, but will be packed and prolly not worth that kind of drive.

*decides that jojoA1's radcoreburd advice must be right*

Yeah, I'm gonna ride, I'll just stop if I feel dodgy in anyway. I'm not too worried about the actual bite (I can easily cover it), it's more the worry about spreading the bacteria through my bloodstream again. The antibiotics are obviously doing their job though, so I am mostly gonna MlehTFU 8)

LOL at Eccles

stumpy01 – Member

erm…..Just Get Out & Ride……

Sorry…..

Just take it easy. That's what I always do!

Don't say sorry, it's exactly what I want to hear really. I'll be able to blame you if it goes all wrong then :P

I guess I know I'm not too good at the 'taking it easy thing' which may be the problem here!

I agree bowglie – starting on SPD's let me ride like sh*te for a year….it was only once I changed to flats I began to really understand the importance of body and heel positioning, going with the bike and picking lines.

Still don't always get it right mind you, but flats have no doubt improved my riding no end, even though at the start I really missed the security of being clipped in to the bike.

If I get the OK from the doctors I shall be…….

Out for the first time in a week test riding the new build round brum later
Uplifting at Cwmcarn tomorrow
Malvern Sunday

Just hope the doctor agrees *crosses fingers*

I was pretty scared when I started riding a couple of years back – my first proper off road ride was an 'easy' loop of the peaks with Suicide Break, Winnie Tor and the biggest boulders I had ever (at that time) seen. Scared the bejebus outta me, but it didn't take too long until I became pretty fearless and started throwing myself down most stuff. Crashing was all part of the fun and I was always falling off in spectacular style.

However, since getting injured last year it has sent me backwards in terms of confidence and I'm in a similar place to you where I am seeing the 'worst potential outcome' and I have an acute fear of falling on some trails. I'm still forcing myself to ride the scary stuff, but I'm also having hypnotherapy to deal with the fear issues of crashing again (partly because they affect my job as well as cycling). I'll let you know if it works – changing the way you think may be the key to changing the way you ride. It's definitely easy to fall into a nasty pattern of negative thinking, but so hard to drag yourself back out of it! :-)

I'm hoping that soon I'll be at that lovely point of being able to throw myself down everything again and fall off as regularly as I used to.

dunno

when you find the answer can you please let me know

*sighs*

Les Arcs, this year

ernie_lynch – Member

What is there to like about short days ?

the fact that if you don't do your best to like them you're gonna be miserable for half the year?

there's enough shite to be miserable about without worrying about the stuff you can't change – at least off-road lights allow for night riding fun….and it is great being out in the dark when everyone else is wasting their lives in front of eastenders

it's not really unusual, but it is bright, and looked awesome when i first got it – almost pearl-essence like

I noticed the change this last week.

It smells like Autumn now, I've been thinking about charging up the lights for next week, there's leaves on the lawn and the shops are full of stationery for the when the school kids to go back to school.

I like this time of year.

we were soldiers

what a pile of we-love-the-US pish

tinsy – Member

Now this light, but no idea what size they measured to get 1.2kg!

And it doesnt mention sugested fork length either.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=31512

it's intended for 100 mm travel according to the table below the item ;)

awesome pic :)

anything to do with DOT fluid

nice n grippy on the pedals

warm too

not quite a cop, but a government agent…

littlegirlbunny – blimey, that looks a fun bike Well done for building it yourself – have you done that before?

Your bikes are not lightweights – 41 lbs !! I wouldn't be able to lift that, let alone … point it downhill

Nah – first complete build (although I admit I didn't bleed the brakes, me n DOT fluid would be a disaster waiting to happen). It wasn't too bad, just like putting together a jigsaw really, but with more interesting bits. And things to bash them together with :lol:

Yeah, my bikes are definitely not lightweight, but tbh, I prefer them to feel 'planted' than nimble, especially for DH. When I first rode the 41 lb I was really worried I wouldn't be able to control it because of the weight, but I found it was way more stable and controllable than any of the other bikes. Wouldn't want to pedal it uphill though! The Marin Attack at 34lb really doesn't feel heavy. I find it easier than my old women's specific kona to pedal all day now, plus its far easier to handle on the descents so the weight penalty is well worth it. I definitely agree with stevenmenmuir about good tyres being a priority. IMO Confidence on the bike as a beginner is way more important than being able to ride fast/all day.

I finally finished building this today! It was done on the cheap – less than £400 total build cost (some bits were gifted/my own spares) – frame was £80 off the classifieds. Prolly not a good starter bike (it's built up for a specific purpose), but it shows that a half decent build can be done on the cheap. Putting up WTD threads in the classifieds definitely gets results! :-)

BTW I'm 5'3" and pretty small (8st 4lb), but never have too much problem with weight of any of my bikes – my other HT is 28lb, the fs is 34lb and I easily pedal it all day, and the bigboing is 41lb.

This is the medium 243 sl frame and seems ok for sizing btw (need to test ride to confirm). My chameleon is a small and that is certainly spot on – you may be able to pick up a slightly battered one for around £100.

That on-one does look rather lovely for £125 new though – especially for a starter bike. I'd definitely consider that.