Second for army goretex here. I sew on two Velcro tabs top and bottom on the calf area to reign them in for riding. Can be baggy if not strapped down. I find them breathable on rides.

I’m a little chunky at 100kgs :o)

Found one at Greyville

https://www.greyville.com/products/13486-fep783-11-sr-suntour-hard-spring-zeron-35-140mm-travel?store_referer=true#.XbwujPZ2vcs

Where can you get a firm spring from? a quick google and ebay search didn’t come up with anything.

Decathlon QUECHUA Men’s Mountain Trekking Warm Softshell Wind Jacket Quechua 500 works for me. Has pit zips to ventilate a little. Lighter weight than some other soft shells out there. Good water resistance as well.

Done it twice once in damp misty conditions once sunny. Great views when it’s sunny. Lots of single track riding through fields not very gnarly just a chilled out xc ride. Can do it on a cross bike which give a clue as to the sort of ride. Going to be wet tomorrow!

I’ve just ordered one of these

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hex-Tool-for-Hope-PF41-PF46-Press-Fit-Bottom-Brackets-Allen-Key-31mm-25mm/132629856491?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&var=431964007715&_trksid=p2060353.m2749.l2649

Cheaper than the hope tool

Have a look at the Cube hyde 62cm with Eccentric BB. It may fit the bill.

https://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/cube-hyde-pro-frame-black-n-blue-695500

I’m building up the similar Cube Travel frame up as a single speed with drop bars and a 27.5inch carbon forks and slicks.

Thunder? Surname Cat.

My mother in law is a fan of New Home, she has a few machines. Their machines especially the older ones look well made and strong.

Have a look at Cube travel or Hyde frames cheap on Bike Discount DE at the moment. Built for 2 inch plus 29 wheels and  tyres. A mix of 29er and road of hybrid geometry. They have an eccentric BB (great if you want to go single speed or an Alfine) and no gear hanger but a hanger can be bought and fitted.

I’ve built mine up with drop bars and a 27.5 carbon forks but they originally have flat bar. Bags of clearance front and rear. light build so far.

I have a modern Toyota Jeans bought off ebay. Its a tough little machine. I’ve been surprised at what it will sew through. I’ve made a few messenger bags with it sewing through canvas, liner and webbing, 4 layers with no probs. Think I paid around £70 for it. Can pick up older singers for reasonable price but I’ve found them a little temperamental with the thread tension and difficult to get set up correctly. The Jeans does zigzag stitch and sews in reverse which is important and is easy to set up.

I find the leg room and seat in my 13 plate dispatch fine. Done 1000 plus miles down to lake Garda with no problems. I’m 6 foot tall.

For clubs there are the Risca riders who frequent the Prince of Wales Pub on a Wednesday night and further up the valley are the Halfway up lot. I think there’s a group that ride around Wentwood mainly downhill but not sure of their name. Wentwood is not far from Caerleon, a short ride. Get in touch with the person that runs / ran the Wentwood 50. I think he runs regular club rides.

Looking closer at that wheel looks like 3 holes in between the spokes that point the same way at the rim so the same as a 32 hole then ? Will try again tonight.

Great thanks for that. So 9 and 2

Onza Jackpot or Payoff. Ridden my Payoff for a year. Handling is great, descends nicely, climbs ok although rider could do better.  I’m single speeding it for the winter.

Mahabis https://mahabis.com/ they are expensive but last a long time.

Have you thought of retraining as a brick layer? There’s a shortage at present. Drove past a local building site yesterday and noticed a sign saying brick layers wanted. It’s out door work but don’t think you can lay bricks in heavy rain or extreme cold. Plumber of bricky world be my choice if I got made redundant.

Is it a  2 litre? That sounds like the EGR valve. My Scudo went through approx. 3 of them which left me on the side of the road a few times. Was looking into blanking it off but then sold it. Gives warning that it’s about to fail by going into limp mode and message on the dash, restarting used to bring it back to life. When the valve finally goes the end breaks off then the engine wont run / move the vehicle keeps stalling.

They aren’t that difficult to replace and cost about £80 – £100. Located at the back of the engine up top right (if facing the front of the car)

Was that the Pompegnino Vertical trail? I rode that last year, hiker biked up to the church and rode back down. The decent down was good.

Ive been going to salo for a few years with the family.  Most of the bike hire, guides and popular trails are up north malcesine Riva torbole. Gondola up monte baldo in malcesine. Can get an early fast boat up there but check the timetables for getting back down the lake. When I looked at it there isn’t much time to go explore and get back.  I’ve stuck to the good  network of trails just north of salo. Lots of good riding. Grab a map for the area and go explore. Not sure about bike hire in the area. There are a few bike shops in Salo and Roe. Not sure about manerba. Try DB bikes in Salo may be able to help.

Put an add on gum tree or Freecycle test the water. May save you the cost of a skip. Should be able to reuse them.

I sweat loads on a ride so I wear a buff under my helmet and carry a bar towel hooked into a loop on my back pack strap. Just the right size. I’ve had a few “is that your w***k rag” comments from mates. It works well for mopping up while riding.

The Pompino I had was a great bike wish I hadn’t sold it and wish I’d got the disc version. Would look at buying one if they were back in stock. Titus are great bikes I love my elguapo and my fireline. Titus just needed to be marketed better by OO.

Their cycling daps look like five tens sleuths

I’ve got one currently built up as single speed. Great bike, lovely handling through single track. Spot on geometry. I ride a 20inch which has a longer reach. I’m 6ft.

Yes that’s knotweed. Legally your neighbour must not let it spread on to your property. Check out the environment agency web pages or natural resources Wales.

You can treat it with glyphosate. As mentioned above

We’ve done the trip to Salo in Garda each year for about 4 years with the kids Lake Annecy for a few years before that. As mentioned DVD screens and DVD supply is useful. As are tablets, phones, Spotify etc. Recommend European breakdown cover also. We had to use it last year for the first time. We stop over in Novatel outskirts of Dijon over night on the way there and back. Account for delays on the approach to Mt Blanc tunnel (worse on weekend) and tolls coming off the motor way on the road approaching the lake especially if its a Friday afternoon / evening. Can also be busy around Milan, Bergamo and towards Brescia. Cool bag with drinks and a big snack bag in the front is  recommended.

We tried going through Switzerland one year but the motorways aren’t as good and the St Gotthard tunnel wasn’t the best, long delays. Watch when going past Geneva on the way home. We’ve ended up going into Switzerland following the satnav, haven’t paid the tax and spent the journey trying to avoid being stopped by the Swiss police. A bit like the Great Escape. Plenty of places (services and parking areas) to stop on French motorways. Not such good motorway services and stopping points in Italy. Luckily the kids don’t get car sick so not had deal with this. Kids don’t sleep, factor in stops regularly for stretch legs and kids to run around. We’re doing it again in august this year so not been put off. Great scenery travelling through the Alps. Don’t forget the Hivis vest breathalyser, spare bulbs etc. required for European travel.

Plus 1 for a scudo and yes 2.0l is better than the 1.6. I’ve had a scudo crew van (the 2.0l six speed version) for the last 5 years. It’s been a great van. Taken us down to the alps then further afield to Lake Garda Italy for the last 3 years. I’ve recently sold it and bought a newer 2.0l Dispatch (same van as the scudo expert etc). The Scudo was mostly reliable one or two problems in the last year of ownership, power steering pump went and the EGR valve went a few times. I think they have sorted that in the newer scudos, dispatches experts. EGR valve is easy to fit.

+1 for Purple Moose and Tiny Rebel

Also try Glamorgan Brewery Cwrw Gorslas

The Bullit Hero looks good. I’ve seen a good review of it on YouTube

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F132450214886

No probs here. Had mine done in Jan. was back on the bike a week after with no complications. Very small aching but no issues. I did bang my balls on the seat on last nights ride (need a dropper) but ok this morning. Just waiting to check my load for any swimmers then I can shoot freely without worry.

That Cube frame looks good, my lad is just 9 and getting into biking. I can transfer the kit off his old bike.

Not the forks though and I don’t have any in the parts bin.

What are people using for forks for their kids bikes, what’s good out there for a reasonable cheap price hopefully around £70 – £100.

Anyone used the Suntours?

Or should I just go for rigid an upgrade later on.

That’s a good ride from Cardiff, good day out! Haven’t been on NCN 467. I’ve always got to just past the new(ish) bridge at the top of Blackwood and joined onto the B4251. Nice gentle climb. Looks like NCN 467 stops in Hollybush but would be good if they extended it.

The other option would be to go over towards Brynmawr and Big Pit and drop down the NCN 492 to Pontypool then canal to Cwmbran and Newport. That’s a good route. May be too far over for getting back to Cardiff though. Lots of good Sustrans routes in this area.

Yes it is possible. You can work your way along side of the river. You have to pick your route between the Halfway pub along the streets Gelligroes Road to down along the left hand side of the Ford garage. Been a while since I’ve done it so cant remember the exact route. I think you go past a footie pitch and garden centre. There is a point here you have to wheel your bike past some ones house next to the river. If you ride they tend to create. I’ve never followed the track past Blackwood. Have always gone up the hill to Oakdale past Pen-y-fan pond to Manmoel then along the ridge over to Mountain Air and Tredegar. From there you can carry on up to Trefil quarry. Good gravel ride in the summer.

They scraped off the high parts then painted on the green grit stuff then plastered our ceilings.

I’m working on a Honda CB250N super dream. Bought it a few years back as an impulse buy off ebay. It looked better in the photos :lol: Some rusted parts and lots missing. Ended up getting a replacement frame, centre stand, seat, forks, front wheel and calliper off and Aprilia. won’t resemble the original 80’s style bike when finished more of a scrambler or café racer. Need to rekindle my interest in it and crack on.

Have a look at Rohan. They do some good shirts with wicking and crease resisting properties as part of their travel range.

Rohan

I have a SS Titus Fireline and a Payoff geared. Titus is my go to bike, mainly because it’s SS and is lovely to ride. I’m 6ft and ride 20″. I find it playful and chuckable. I like the payoff also it has similar characteristics but heavier. I used to ride a Kona Unit that was a a great ride. Love the Kona geometry. I imagine a Honzo would fit the bill also. I had an 18″ Packwood but found it a little sluggish. May be due to it being an 18″.