My first HONC for over a decade and this time was much more fun. Only the second time I’ve ever done 100km, and proud I am too.

Not a great a time as many 6 1/2 hours, but I didn’t drink enough towards the end and the choice of a cx bike didn’t pay off at the end, as the descents over Cleeve hill were hell. Superlight next year I think, it’ll make sense for the final descent which would have been amazing (instead of amazingly painful)

As for people complaining about competitiors on the climbs, next month at the Dyfi it’ll be people mincing down the descents which will p155 people off. You can never win….

Nice to hear it’s still dry after last nights downpour..

This old cookie…….. always the same… barends on risers, aslong as they’re stubbies, like the Carbon Ergons on my superlight.

Very much function over fashion, but I think mine look great.

The downhill types no doubt will feel differently.. 😉

Assos is nice, but De Marchi or Castelli for me, sorry YDr

The cheek of it…. I say no too…… FFS !! Pay your money like the rest of us, or get the tracklog and do it next week when I’ll be safely back in Wales…. 👿

Just changed my Bars for the HONC. I’ll find out after 50Km that they give me back ache I’m sure… 😉

I’ll be there on a cx(ish) bike… can’t wait !!!! 8)

I was running 2.4 mtn kings on 17mm 717’s…. and now I’m using them on the Olympics which are 23mm wide. Light weight wheels have all served me well as a big bloke. You just need to “ride light.”

Heavy wheels make heavier peoples lives a misery. The main part of the strength of the wheel is in the build quality and tension. The wider rims will serve you well.

I’ll report back in 3 years, which is how long my 717 rear rim lasted. The only reason I changed it was because of a rather large dink which meant that I couldn’t “ghetto tubeless” it when I came to convert. I therefore splashed out on a new rim and build…

I have just fitted an olympic to the back (about 1 month ago now) and after 50 miles of offraod riding I’m suitably impressed. No puncturees (obviously) great grip especially over rocky trails, and it feels faster rolling. I am using a 2.4 UST Mountain King with Stans sealant. 🙂

In addition to this I’m about 16 and 1/2 stone (6’3″) and ride trails in Mid Wales mostly.. 8)

Have you got rough man hands or girly smooth ones?

I laughed so much a bit of wee came out…

Think I need to see a doctor about that…

100km here for me as well…. I’ll be on my cx(ish) bike as well 🙄

It’s a 100km or nothing as I’m travelling from Aberystwyth for this, and setting off at 5.30am is not something I’m looking forward to !! 😯

Square taper Middleburns on my Superlight as well. I originally had them set up as a Duo, but my aging knees have resulted in the need for a granny ring so now they’re a triple.

I’ve just changed the UN72 BB which has lasted for just over 2 years with no problems. This has been replaced with the UN54, lets hope that it lasts aslong as its predecessor !!

Definately Square taper instead of ISIS. Oh, and my BB is a 68 x 115mm

I read this thread and actually thought it was nice to see there is still goodwill in the world.

It gives you a warm fuzzy feeling inside !! Just like special brew !! Not that I’ve resorted to that level of unemployment yet 😉

Iolo lives in Dolgellau by the sound of things…….

Surfr – Member

martyntr – Member

Nant yr Arian….4 miles away..

Same for me.

Alright Dan me old chum….. 😉

LOL….. It’s all your fault, at last some one to blame it on…. “Get the Brazilian Prime minister on the phone…. we’ve found the culprit…. and he’s not German…”

Sockpuppet – Thank you….. Not too much climbing really then….. I’m looking forward to beasting round and about the cotswolds next weekend…..

Tyres – Conti Cross country 1.5″… nice..

fat gingers…

The global financial crisis was caused by…………… Gingers…. well we’ve gotta blame someone…..

And my redundancy money’s now run out…….

You can claim straight away… I’ve been jobless for 3 months and 3 days now, and have had my £60.50 / week since then…

Nant yr Arian….4 miles away..

Good point…. was hoping for 5-6 hours or there abouts as a target… what do experienced HONCers think of this timewise ??

Any ideas how much climbing there is ? I’m not shy of climbing

Does anyone know ?? The only reason I ask Is do I have a 12-32 or a 12-27… this is really a big decission for me on a 100km gnarly sportif……. 😉

I’m in aswell……

Any ideas how much climbing there is ? I’m not shy of climbing, I just want to make sure I take the right bike…… same old problem of Cross bike or MTB ??!!

tyger – most of the questions I get asked being a retail manager (well a redundant one at least) are related to my sector.

Examples would be….

– How do you delegate to your team?
– How do you communicate performance & expectations (targets etc) to your team?
– What do you do to motivate your team?
– How do you motivate yourself?
– What procedures do you have in place for staff training?
– How have you improved staff training?
– How do you ensure that your store is commercial?
– What would your aim be for the first 6 months?
– How do you plan & organise your day?
– How do you ensure that high levels of customer service are given at all times?
– How do you train your team to give good customer service?
– How do you manage deliveries?
– How would you describe your management style?
– Are there any areas that you feel “company X” are failing on as a company and how would improve these?
– How do you ensure your customers keep coming back?
– Who are “Company X’s competitors?
– How would you manage external and internal stock loss?

Well, these are the ones I’ve prepared with examples that I can relate them to from my previous roles..

I have had one of the latest bikes since March 2007. I am 16 1/2 stone and 6’3″. I ride a commbination of Natural and trail centres around Wales, from Betws y Coed down to Brechfa. I have used my superlight for enduro duty, from 50 – 100 km. I use a Fox F120 on the front and find the geometry spot on.

I would use a 130mm fork but find a 120mm is more than enough. If you want more travel buy a Heckler 😉

What to do with cracked frame?

Throw it away, teeth can be very expensive

Spend some time really getting to grips with what your skills and capabilities really are. Think laterally about the work you’ve done and the skills you’ve developed as a result and then highlights these.

This is very important as I’ve had 5 interviews so far and it took the first 3 to realise that I needed to prepare properly for the “Capability” part of the interview. 😕

I’ve been using them on my Superlight since September. They’ve wintered superbly. They have needed no attention all winter and I’ve ridden more then usually over the cold, muddy, grim months than usual (due to redundancy)

Shifting has been spot on, and they are importantly “zero maintainance”…… I would however point out they stretched a little more than the Shimano cables I ran before, but that’s a minor niggle for a set of cables which have been worth the 17 odd quid I paid back last autumn.

Oh and the White outers look nice too 😉

The second one more often than the first !! 😉

flatboy, that’ll be fine for the conti…. I have ridden it on this….

and this…

As a local I can thoroughly recommend the Continental (Conti) trail. There’s plenty of extra trails especially when you get out towards Nant y Moch.

If you want a bit of Guiding give me a shout, my emails in my profile.

If I’m not around give one of the other guys from Ystwyth MTB a shout….

http://www.ystwyth-mtb.co.uk

1.5″ Conti Cross country on the Cross(ish) bike

2.4 Conti Mountain king UST (R) and Nobby Nic (F) All year round here in Mid Wales…..

I hope the choice she made to make the whole thing public helps to reduce deaths from Cervical cancer in women. If she saves only a few women from this then she’s done well.

I hope her boys are ok and that they get the support they need.

Stans olympic on the back with a mountain king 2.4 at the moment. Only converted a month ago and have been impressed with the way it feels. It feels obviously lighter, and accelerates quicker. Another plus is that I’ve had no punctures, pinch flats or the like for the last month. Throughout the winter i’ve been suffering one flat a ride on average. For me tha saved time, not stood around changing tubes has been a godsend….

I’m also still using a NN out front. When I convert the front (which may not be for a while) I will stick with the NN as I think it’s the best front tyre out there..

Thanks for the tip…. one none adaptalite and one adaptalite…. £35 for the 2… can’t go wrong..

she is a perfect 10

I worked in Fashion for quite a few years and those thighs are not those of a “perfect 10″….. Actually 12-14 would be more appropriate….

I feel sick……

There’s a bit of a review of them in MBUK this month…