If I bought the Orange 5 would it make me a better rider?, and especially as I like architecture too…….

oooh, poor spelling on my part 8O

IanV – yes the descent into Vanosc is steep, not very technical (swoopy bermy stuff) no drop offs, steps etc and quite a wide track in parts – just steep (as is all the stuff) – the surface was shaley, so a bit twitchy in places for me when I tried to roll it 1st off – got used to it after that, and my 14 year old went down with me on a smaller (travel) bike.

Yes, lift pass is for Vanosc, Les 2 Alpes and Alpe D’Huez – Worth asking to doupe check at whichever ticket office you go to, english was pretty much spoken although I always try my poor french 1st.

As per previous post, parking a Venosc is easier than in some parts of Les 2 Alpes, and the cable car is very quick with bike was at the bottom. There is a blue XC route along the river to Boug D’Oissons from there as well which is OK.

Having been to both resorts, I don’t really like either as an adult, neither has no charm or character. However, both my boys have been and both prefer Les 2 Alpes – flatter, 1 main drag, plenty of shops / cake shops/ couple of supermarkets, pump track, luge, walking, swimming pool.

e-mail address in profile if you want more info

My frame arrived Friday – hoping to build it up tomorrow………….can’t wait

The red route from Les 2 Alpes to Venosc is swoopy awesomeness, did it on a 160mm front / 170mm rear bike last year and on a Pitch – tyre choice more important than travel IMHO.

The Blue route from the top at Les 2 Alpes to the main Gondola or linking the red above, is a huge amount of descending in one go – and easily do-able.

Lift pass covers both resorts in any case

Yep – standard 9mm QR

Running 2.0’s on my Hardtail – grip’s fine and roll pretty well

Lovely, lovely, lovely on the knees – only pedal with a decent amount of float and if I rode on the road still i’d be using them. Pity (apart from Frogs) there is no suitable off-road equivalent….

Puts me to shame……… :oops:

It’s Roam, by the Collective (I think)

If bike bit’s at cost then that would save me £££££££££££££££££’s

As above, none I’ve noticed

Its here – I bought a large, and looks like XL only left…..Canyon Link

In the “Outlet” section on their website – they are selling framesets (or were yesterday) and given that I’ve had to put my Epic in (again) for the rear shock service, I’ve paid £530 for a 120mm XC Frame, with a RP2 shock bargain-atastic

Realistically, how much pedalling is there to do and given the loonieness coming down and is weight really an issue?

I’ve just bought a Canyon Nerve XC frame & shock, with a 45% discount (2008) model and the comms has been awesome. Not had frame yet, sitting by the door as I type

I want it…………might bid

Campfreddie – I ride 6 days a week in the NF, nights, days and weekends. I cover a fair mileage and a reasonable area and have never been stopped, warned, chased, told off or anything by a “verderer”.

A “verderer” has no more rights than the law, is not the landowner, and in the case of cycling would need to bring a sucessfull prosecution for trespass – (great for tourism in the forest no doubt.)

I have on 2 occassions in the last 6 years, had words with a park warden and campsite warden and had my picture taken once.

I’ve seen no “active enforcement” of bylaws as per your post

yep – but you have got to poke about a bit to find it. I’m based on the West side of Southampton, so if you fancy a guide let me know.

I can’t see a problem with DH on Flows, tubed if you are quite a smoooooooth rider – I’ve dented rims a few time, poor landings, ladning on roots, catching lips / edges of rocks and slabs and thats tubeless.

And we (cyclists) wonder why other road users (cars) give us a hard time.

Am holding off from full tilt rant………

I did on a recent GoPro purchase – about 32% overall, and they ship slow US Postal to save ££££’s

Would you run tubeless or tubed?

Flat and sandy grit – can get in a good 50k / 60k without any fireroad riding, but no gnarrr, and definately no DH or anything close to it, not even a mild gradient downwards for more than 10 ft :(

Suggest Lordswood (top if Southampton) if you are in the area – good for a couple of hours in the woods, very dodgy building and digging but adds some spice.

Can’t comment on the doggin, MIL is long gone…….

In the winter, as above, just add cold and wet

Am proprly wiping up my spat out lunch at some of those awesome moustaches…….

Price and delivery times have gone up – not sure if exponentially or not – tend to look around a lot more these days rather than click and buy at the 1st chance

I’m running a 2.1 SB8 on my Pitch, it’s awesome – tubeless on Flows at around 30-35psi, no punctures etc to date and it’s had a few hacks around locally (New Forest) a few days at Lordswood (local DH’ish / lumpy stuff) and more than a few runs at Cwmcarn incl freeride park etc.

Also runnng a 1.9 SB8 on an Epic S-works, again low’ish PSI (30-35) on Arch rims. No problems with PSI, grip, burping etc and really loving it.

2.1 obviously comes up bigger – about the same volume as the (old) mountain king it replaced (2.2) and the 1.9 looked a bit scaryily thin when I put it on but it’s fine – just forget it and attack everything!!!

well….did the 50k, with the woods 1st off – came in through the end gate and just went round the 30k route again – so 80+k, woods X2…..simples :mrgreen:

Mmmmmmm…….Maxiss Larsens……..I was running an SB8 on the rear and it was gripping like sh*t to a blanket.

Know what you mean about the headwind, well worth the slog for Collingbourne Woods

‘cus he’s a cheeder

Spokey dokeys?

Thanks for the heads up – doesn’t usually occur at L/Wood as far as I know – so might have something to do with the recent weather?

Sidi’s always good for me……..XC, distance, racing

Didn’t get on with Time ones (cheap from from Planet X) Northwave (that were a bit bootie style).

Also feeling the love on some Diadora ones cheap from CRC in crappy bronze colour, velcro top straps that fit well and good for general off road looning and DH stuff (yes, clipped in)…….

Get in the shop and speak to someone sensible – they must do them……

I’m laughing :mrgreen:

Am just under 6″ and ride an 18′ 456 with a 10cm stem – inside leg is 32cms, so a 400mm seat post is close to it’s tide mark – it’s a high and stretched riding position, the way I like it for the riding I do on that bike.

A regular thing for me – denting Flows.

Sometimes I can straighten the dent with pliers / grips / jiggery pokery and sometimes it’s needed a new rim. Rarely does the wheel go out of true, and even more rarely does the tyre loose it’s seal. On occassion I have carried on with the dent until something more severe happens and tyres have remained sealed and wheel remained true.

As per previous posting, tough wheels but definately not dent proof – guys in my LBS much prefer Mavic rims for this reason alone.

Ride it, until it really busts

ooooooooh! – could an Orange 5 really do all that, it must be an amazing bike

No ISCG mounts on my Coilair, so have gone with BB chain device to see if that helps, oh and some inner tube wrapped around the chain stay – Alps styleeeee…..

You can buy gritty grease (vaseline with sand in it) – works fine for me