So, so, so! Merry Christmas!
On a serious note, it’s a bit poor to criticise grammar and then balls up your own. “new years” indeed!

Great post Luke, cheered me up no end! I reckon that little Lochnagar loop was probably the most smiles per mile I’ve had in a long time.

I’d also thoroughly recommend Wharnscale for those who love really technical riding but get freaked out when things get steep. It was great to be able to push yourself while still knowing you were unlikely to OTB unless you were really tanking it.

I should mention that while the Lin of Dee trail was pretty flat, it would actually be great fun with a bit of pace; there are some nice roots and turns on the singletrack but it would be a slog in the wet. But having climbed up 1.2 Munros on tired legs I don’t think we could have made the most of it.

£4.95 a pint and £5.00 for a single Dalwhinnie was this Yorkshireman’s low point of the trip; BYOB if yo’ cruisin’ into Ballater.

Here’s to more mountains and mischief in 2015!

I was lucky enough to score a ticket an it was a great concert. Though had some reservations about playings songs like Ava Adore which need electronic sounds to really work. Was great to hear a mix of old and new though; the new album’s not actually to bad. Definitely gave off the old control freak vibe though, spent half his time gesturing for monitors and amps to be turned up and down, but maybe that’s just radio performances.

Anyone else tried Ileach? Think it’s young Lagavulin. For £20 a bottle it’s great!
OP. I would recommend Mortlach, the 15yo Glenfidich, low end Japanese stuff and Glenfarclas 105 if you want a bit more oomph. Kilchoman Machir bay is lovely too, but a little over-priced

If you’re doing to do it, do it properly I’d say; poor black tie looks worse than a smart lounge suit.

Black Tie:

Single-breasted (more formal) or double-breasted (less formal) Black jacket with silk/satin/grosgrain facings

Peak lapel (more formal) or shawl lapel (slightly less formal). Notched lapel is naff.

White pique marcella shirt with studs or concealed buttons with a regular collar (Wing collars are for white tie only in the UK; don’t be a pleb)

Cufflinks to match your studs if you have them, preferably gold colour.

Cuffs should not be visible from under your jacket.

Waistcoat (U-shape or backless) or cummerbund. Neither worn with a double breasted jacket.

Patent leather balmoral, oxford or court pump/shoe.

And for heaven’s sake don’t call it a “Tux” or even Tuxedo.

“Trick that had never been performed before” U WOT M8?

Most middle class children today will not be as well off as their parents.

Aye, bloody baby boomers, coming here, taking our future.

In all seriousness, there will surely be a point in 20-30 years or so where working age adults get fed up for forking out for all the 100year olds’ 40 years of retirement, medical care and final salary pensions (either in tax for healthcare or strain on businesses through pension bills).

Aye checked it today and it looks like it’s hardly been used. It’s a shopper style bike so doubt it’s seen much action.

Ha! No, been there, done that; don’t want to get involved in anything as onerous as replacing the drive chain!
That Clarks chain should be just the trick!
Cheers STW sages

Chinese carbon rims and decent hubs?

I’m going to get some as I was so impressed by Muddy Marys that I didn’t mind a 1300g+ tyre on the front all year round. These seem even better proposition for a trail bike.

All I know is Rival is significantly lighter.

I tend to ask as prices seem to have both gone up and become more variable in recent years. I always ask when ordering a whisky as some very similar establishments can have 150% differences in price!

Leon FR noted. I guess I had a bad impression of them as where I’m from they’re generally the go-to car for wannabe gangsters. But as you say, same car underneath.
Cheers chaps.

Cheers, guys. I’l have another look at the fabia but I think the Panda (as fun as they are)and smart would be too small and I’m looking for a diesel that’s churn out 6-10 hour motorway journeys without fuss.

Depends on the frame. Some will take it, others won’t. Some bikes will have their geometry ruined by it too. Worth googling to see what other’s experiences have been with that frame.

Aye, budget would be £3-4,500. Seen examples of both going for that on ebay but the focuses generally have fewer miles for the same money.

Ribble sportive carbon is a fair bit lighter for a similar price. I have one and it’s not bad at all. Grabbed the frameset for £250, some 1550g 30mm wheels from superstar for £135 and some cheap centaur and other bits and peices from ebay and the sales and I have a bike that’s as light as a £3k big-branded one for under a grand.

I’m an average 5’8 with 30″ legs running an 18″ race 29er. I found it fine for most stuff but I do like longer bikes (I used to run a large prophet). I would recommend giving one a go if you get a chance but obviously if you’re used to a 26er and enjoy them no point taking a risk.

Honzo, Stache, stumpjumper evo HT or frame from On One/Ragley? Don’t see the point in 26″ hardtails after riding a 29er one – my jeycore one felt as composed as a bouncier 26″ so a mildly rad 29er might be a good shout; not as many handling compromises as a full suss one.

Team issue is typically tubeless ready and lighter if I remember correctly…

Not always true.. I thought this and was proved wrong. Check they have the ‘TLR’ suffix as I think some of them are just a lot lighter, not tubeless. (This was for 29er xr1s)

Skyline is good if you want to pedal all the way down and keep up speed and flow. Not at all technical but lots of fun with a few drops and rocky bits. (A good ‘Straaaaaaava style’ descent – like the Climax trail).

Don’t know if this one’s been done yet.

My favourite is the Toronto Raptor

I bought the 30mm version and have about 250miles on them thus far, I’ve used them for commuting, climbing loops 10 mile TTs and one big day out with no complaints (I’m c.70kg if that makes any difference). I notice a teeny bit of flex but it’s not much compared to frame and crank flex. For the money I don’t think anything comes close until you get to Chinese carbon wheels. Would recommend them.

Planet x?

I’d wait until a couple of weeks before you go before you decide what tyres to take. No point gearing up for dry conditions if it’s soaked. I find muddy marys hard to beat in terms of being tough, light and versatile. I still run a 2.5 on my trail bike because I love it so much.
I hate Maxxis tyres though just can’t get on with them for some reason. Specialized’s DH tyres are worth a look too.

The thing that impoved my fitness most was Strava.
Intervals are obviously worth giving a go.
Explosive bodyweight exercises like burpees will help too, but you might feel like too much of a prat doing them, like me.

You clearly read my original post then!

I guess I just never saw the need for non-over the top front tyre unless I’m racing XC or stravaing a trail centre.

I’d also recommend the xr4, both in its old and new guises. It’ll slip out if you push it but it’s a good all rounder. I run one on the back and it seems to do fine and sin’t too susceptible to punctures either.

You can get 2.35 muddy marys too IIRC, and they’re are amazingly grippy and not too heavy and roll a lot better than they should. I’ve never tried decent contis but the only one that interests me is the Baron. Rubber queen’s side knobs look a little dainty for something that heavy. Hans Damf is an obvious choice too. I really liked the fat Albert and use RoRo and RaRa no my XC Bike and on the rear of the rad bike in summer, I like Schwalbes.

Thanks guys, I’ll be sure to take my fishing rod along! Any tasty sea life within snorkelling range will be in danger! I hope we get the highland spring sunny-heatwave, but I fear we may have had that Feb-mid April.

I replaced the frame bearings on my remedy and would not wish that job on anyone. I even had all the tools. I imagine a hif and remedy would be similar so I’d be tempted to let a shop do it.

That menu looks fantastic, leeph. Unfortunately we’re all cash-strapped postgrads so even the 3 courses at £60 is a touch out of our price range. We could maybe raid the bins? Likewise the boat trips look great but are far too expensive.

Cheers guys, some lovely pictures there! Can’t wait!

2.5 Muddy Mary on the front. You don’t need a rear tyre. Light and tough. I ran it with 14psi with a tube in for a while without realising.

From what I’ve seen, RoW departments are more like a headless chicken in charge of a dumper truck full of gravel.

+1
We had one that made us and our neigbour rip open sections in four fences and two drystone walls to open up 100 yards of path that hadn’t been used since the little water mill closed in 1948.

I’ve just got the new HTC one. Fantastic sound through headphones and the speakers, very sharp screen and decent camera (miles better than my Iphone4).
The only thing I miss is the home button that you can click and it is fairly big.

S4 is out that’s worth a look, a little bit bigger and more powerful than the HTC but a lot less premium-feeling. Have a google I guess?

I’m 5’8 and rode a large it turned out. Still loved it for it’s lightness and simplicity. Medium would probably be the way to go with a 50-80mm stem.

Reminds me of a better-looking one of these. Should ride really nicely!

Every time I’ve seen her on TV or heard on the radio I’ve found her to be great.

Pacenti tl28s are worth a look.

A set of crossmax sx would also be grand but makes sense to keep your hubs.

If you want to save pennies, superstar have some new tubeless sets with lifetime truing and decent warranty.

spank evo rims are also a good bet, very hard alloy akin to mavic’s.