but wide tyres feel awful on narrow rims.

Not in my experience

Same here…. never had a problem in 4-5 years with 717’s and big volume tyres, in slatey mid wales conditions..

My 4th Dyfi in a row and even though it was the muddiest I still enjoyed it again. The final climb was littered with people cramping, stretching and stopping for a rest… this truely is a tough enduro, with no time for resting

Well done to Joe, Fraz, Tegid and all who help to make this the best enduro event I take part in every year..

I’ve got a 2.4 NN on my 717 and have had no issues for nearly a year now.

First MTB in 1989. An oversized (you’ll grow into it) Emmelle Cougar. 30 – 40lb of Hi-ten steel. Steel wheels, badly functioning canti brakes and 15 sis gears 🙂

Soon moved onto a Muddy Fox Courier Comp as soon as I saved up enough pocket money to buy a 2nd hand one 😉

Go Nobby Nics, that’s what I’ll have on the front.

Good luck with the interviews. What do you do and where?

Thanks very much 🙂

The last 12 years have been Retail and Sales Management. I left Uni in 1997 entered a Graduate Management trainee programme and have been doing that or sales roles ever since.

My main problem is that I’m in Aberystwyth and the job market is small here (to say the least)

Interviews next week are for

a) Administrative officer for DWP (the irony)
b) P/T Clinical Audit Assistant
c) P/T Playgroup assistant

Diverse I know but retail management jobs are at a premium in Aber and I need to pay the bills now as redundancy money is long gone and the credit cards are reaching max 🙁

I’ve been jobless for 4 months and 8 days now and the novelty has well and truely worn off.

On a positiive note afetr an extremely quiet April I’ve got 3 interviews next week !!!! 🙂

They come up very big. I’m a fan as they fit nicely over my expanding waistline. I wear Large which fits like other peoples XL, so I’d say go down a size for correct fitting.

I’ve had a 30.9 for the last 11 months. It’s the kind of thing you don’t realise you need until you’ve got it and when it’s away having the seals changed (again) you miss it a lot.

I heard that a 27.2 was being made but I don’t know if it’s available yet.

A big 🙂 for 2pure for sorting out my post again. I hope these seals are an improvement on the last ones.

I am indeed, those climach-x videos on the ystwyth mtb forum are the ones that I made.

Good man…. see you sunday then buddy..

I also remember he had a very lovely gf at the time !

Hmmm Sophie…. (I think).

Someone else I remember from my teenage years…. but we won’t go into that….

one of the Aber Uni lot then eh ?

I think some people here really do need to get help

That’s the internet for you….

I don’t want a ticket, but say hi to chris for me !! Tell him to give me a shout when he’s back up this way 🙂

I just can’t figure out why you’d think that not having heard of this fella before makes somebody one

Google ? type it in and away you go 😉

The numpty comment was just that…. a comment and was not meant to offend. I’m not over protective, but more so have a tendancy to do a bit of research before i make comments sometimes…

Anyway, no hard feelings man…..

chvck were you out with the Ystwyth mtb boys ??

I thought numpty was rather tame. Anyways it is my opinion…… He was god like when I was a teenager, in the same way that Hans Rey is a living and breathing God…….

JMC probably died before uplink was born. Anyone who’s been around in the scene for a while knows who he his….. numpty…

2.4s which seems a bit overkill to me.

It’s what I’ll have on the back and a Nobby Nic on the front. 2.4’s as the descents are unforgiving….. you’ll see !!

If not 2.3 or 2.4’s then tubeless 😉

tracker – it’s bone dry at the moment except for the obligatory year round puddles where the mxers have eroded the trail down to the bed rock…

skinny 2.1 tyres will be a nightmare for all but the spanky mountain roadies

A pictorial update of how my Veggie patch is progressing…..

Strawberries flowering nicely…. should be a nice fruity May/June

Potatoes have now come through

Courgettes are out (a bit ambitious, but i’ve got reserves if the frost gets ’em

White onions are doing well, and the runner beans are in behind them !!

Peas are away and climbing

First time I’ve grown rocket and it’s looking good atm

Cauliflowers are coming along, but may need to move

Carrots are through and need thinning out. Thought I’d grow them in pots as the grounds very stoney here in Mid Wales

probably Speed Kings or Mountain Kings.

Dan – definately Mountain Kings. Don’t be tempted with anything less than a 2.3 either as you’ll end up with punctures and it’ll be much less fun

Since I live in aber, I’ll saunter over on sunday morning and see most of you passing me on the first climb 😉

It’ll be my fourth Dyfi and I can’t wait.

Just remember to keep off the good lines on the descents if you’re not used to going downhill….. especially those from flattish england….

I rode some of the enduro trails which are after the feed station last Thursday and they’re riding well fast and smooth this year. Not as cut up as in previous years as the MXers have been up there a lot..

The Mojo is on my most wanted list……. if only I could find that winning lottery ticket 😉

Windfarms – yes or no?

Definately, but preferably out at sea.

I read recently that the amount of CO2 released when upland peat/boggy areas is dug into to erect wind turbines, negates the CO2 saved by using this as a renewable source of power.

I use the UST Protection version on the back. Great tyre especially in the local Mid Wales conditions. A great tyre to use all year round aswell.

I have a folding 2.4 Protection (none UST) for sale if you’re interested.

If there’s anyone in or around Aberystwyth I’ve got more Courgette and Pumpkin plants than I will have space for. If you want and my email is in profile..

It’s my second year growing fruit and veg….

This is how it’s looking at the moment

Potatoes have been in for 2-3 weeks. Leek seedlings have just started coming through. Strawberries are looking great (no flowers just yet though) and the Mixed Salad’s coming along nicely

As you can see below the Herb Garden and the onions are looking great at the moment.

This year the produce list is as follows…..

Strawberries,
Lettuce (3 diffrerent varieties)
Cabbage (Round and Pointy)
Cauliflower
Brocolli
Carrots
Onions (Red and White)
Potatoes
Pumpkin
Courgette
Beetroot
Butternut Squash (hopefully)
Tomatoes
Peas
Runner beans

Plus Chives, Basil, Oregano, Thyme, Mint, lemon Balm and Rosemary

I love gardening I do !

I need more time, not new bikes

If you won the lottery, you’d have plenty of time on your hands *aslong as it was a sufficient # £mil….)

I’d wager 50km of proper MTBing in the lakes is pre-requisite enough for 100km HONC…

I’d agree. The climbs were not that taxing IMO. I’m from Aberystwyth and most of our weekly rides take in more climbing than was on the HONC.

If you can ride 50km in the lakes, then the 100km at the HONC should be a breeze.

Only via your local Mavic dealer.

I’m becoming muslim

Did I notice recently that Trek were using then on their bikes ?

I thought it was only voluntary…..

Rice Pudding or Porridge…… similar consistency, but either I could eat forever…. 🙂 Oh and anything made by the fine people at Ambrosia

Thought I recognised you as you flew past at speed.. 😉

“the climbs at Brechfa look as though they are only there to get you to the top”

Is this not the case with all climbs 🙄

IMO – Brechfa Gorlech with the addition of the Bike park (4X section as described above) which can be accessed from the top of the final descent, is the best trail I’ve ridden so far

Singlespeedstu, were you and the lady in your photos at the HONC, on a Blue Tandem ? I recognise you both…

The Red (Gorlech) and Black (Raven) trail meet at the top of the final descent of the Gorlech. There are sign posts so it can be easily joined up. As for the Blue, I haven’t ridden it. When I go down to Brechfa I usually do the Gorlech, which IMO kicks the ass of the Raven. 🙂

There’s too much climbing for the first 50 – 60% of the Raven so even though the Bike Park section, Log rides, final section at the carpark, I find the climbing to be a bit of a bind, and I’m not averse to a bit of climbing, aslong as the pay back balances it out.. 😉

If i did it again, i’d do it in a team. It’s not much fun on your own

I disagree, I did it on my tod and had a great time. None of that waiting around for anyone. You can go at your own speed as well. The only downside was with navigation where I also felt that the sign posting could be better.

I think maybe a Garmin for next year may be a plan.