The BBC documentary Crossfire Hurricane is excellent. I was rocking out on the train watching part 1 this week and part 2 on tonight

Mud X front and rear for me. I’m glad i chose 2 hour rather than 4 hour now.

We’ve been looking at the LeapPad2 which is a kid-specific tablet. Gets good reviews on Amazon.

Tell him to read this[/url]

Then get him to read this

Then if he has any will to live remaining tell him to read this

I would also suggest he subscribe to the Bike Trade Buzz forum to get a reality check from real bike shop owners. Ideally get a job in a bike shop to see what its really like.

There really isn’t much money to be made running a local bike shop. That’s not to say don’t do it, but if your friend currently has a nice 9-5 job with all the benefits he needs to think very hard about what running his own shop means. Long hours, not much time for riding his own bike, and likely being the owner-manager for the foreseeable future. Oh and not making much money.

Thanks Simon

Another cross brakes question: Do i need the extra brake levers on the tops of the bars?

Thanks Al, i was thinking the same but i notice some 2013 models (like the new Trek cross bikes) don’t have discs. Wasn’t sure if that’s because they missed the production deadline or dont think discs are worth it for cross.

Here’s mine

Gilbert is a worthy world champ imho. Chapeau.

Oh, and Cav isn’t wearing a Sky branded helmet

IIRC Cav has been wearing a non-branded plain black helmet most of the season. I don’t think there’s much to read into it.

British Eurosport for me.

I am sooooo jealous.

Currently riding the steel version and love it but as soon as i saw the Ti version i had to have it. Currently doing the math on how i can get my grubby mits on a Ti frame.

Enjoy.

Don’t forget a sense of humour

Stupid question but are there charging facilities for lights? It’s not mentioned anywhere on the website or the pdf info sheet.

I love my Genesis Latitude. Reynolds 853 Frame, tapered headtube means its future proofed and it comes in go-faster blood orange.

Pics of mine here

Lovely.

Which suggests that it’s more likely to be local residents rather than day trippers, does it not ?

Possibly but people come to stay for a weekend or do a club then stay on the beach until the first train home. Then there’s all the students and hen / stag parties.

Really not that busy eh ?

Yep not very busy.

I suspect the benefit to the local economy of tourism far exceeds the cost of clearing up after them.

Absolutely correct but doesn’t make it right to drop litter. I guess its a “cost of doing business” which the council will probably put onto local businesses thru higher rates etc.

I didn’t see the beach myself so no idea if it did look like landfill or not. Here’s an “after” photo

P.S – the local Evening Argus paper love their “shock” headlines. Check out this Facebook page for a laugh

Yet another excellent BBD. After all that pre-race weather watching and tyre discussion it all turned out ok in the end. I ran with my “summer rubber” and by my second lap the course was running really well.

We were in the Mens Pairs (The Wagon Wheelers) and managed 8 laps, finishing 11th out of 79 pairs. Chuffed with that.

I was riding an orange / red Genesis Latitude, and was the one hooning it into the arena with 2 minutes to spare (didn’t know that at the time!) at the end of the race.

I’m leaving the Crossmark on the back until i get a chance to pre-ride the course tomorrow morning. Then if it looks bad i’m pressing the big red button called TRAILRAKER.

I love my Genesis Latitude

Some rain last night and some showers expected today / tonight.

Woodsman – its rife mate! Especially with older riders whose aches and pains tend to get the better of them.

Badgers Climb should be a hoot in the wet! Anyone remember 2010? It was totally un-rideable. I recall watching / hearing people swearing at their bikes or simply laying on the off-camber bit of the climb and laughing.

Probably Advantage on the front and Crossmark on the back for the first lap, then perhaps switch to Trailraker on the back if its stupid muddy.

Weather forecast for Brighton on Saturday showing sunshine and some heavy showers.

Rode 2 laps of the course last night and it was fast. A little slick in places and a few small boggy bits (on the flatter areas) but overall its in good condition.

Just keep everything crossed that the rain showers promised for Friday and Saturday are not too heavy. I’m leaving my summer tyres on to be optimistic.

I love my Genesis Latitude

Now running a more svelte set-up minus the bashring and less burly tyres.

Rode the course this afternoon and most of it running very fast.Couple of boggy bits in the middle flatter singletrack section(top of Stanmer) but otherwise pleasantly surprised.

All the big climbs are fine.

What i didn’t like so much was the long grass in the start / finish arena and the next section after the first climb. Felt really draggy. Hopefully a few hundred riders will take care of that on the day.

Weather up to race day looking un-predictable with showers from Tuesday until Saturday so fingers crossed nothing too heavy.

Have a great day everyone.

I really like Strava. Adds a bit of competition to riding but i do find it useful for discovering new routes. To be fair that’s mostly road routes but i have found a few new off-road segments as well. Plus you discover how much climbing you do, which for those of us too tight to get Garmin is also useful for geeking out on the data.

Go and look at what your followers (or their followers) ride and you can often find interesting new routes.

Regarding the thing about some people being very much faster on a segment that everyone else i think that might be to do with their phone or Garmin not recording properly. In my area there are some KOMs on segments which would be impossible without time travel!

End of the day, just get out and ride and enjoy it.

I’m taking my two boys tomorrow from Brighton to Dorking Deepdene (change at Gatwick) by train. National Rail reckon it will take about 1hr 15mins (£20) so lets hope they’re right and we dont miss the race because we’re sitting on a train!

Allez Cav!

Just saw this on the Big Dog website: At present the course is running well even with summer tyres.

They’re optimistic!

I’m in a Pairs team. Really looking forward to it as i missed the 2011 race due to injury.

Currently preparing a back-up SS bike in case the rain doesn’t stop. The 2010 wet race was a nightmare.

Query for the race organisers: Do you have a wet race contingency? In particular i was thinking would you cut-out the “Badgers Climb” as its a nightmare in the wet?

That Tour De Dickhead blog is brilliant.

With my “**** media” hat on (and probably one of those well groomed fashion beards) i guess the advert has worked because its created a marmite response. The Halfords brand gets mentioned lots and some other t&*t with a fashion beard feels important somewhere in Shoreditch.

Interestingly (i think i’m right) but road sportive participation has been increasing steadily over the last few years. I wonder if some of that growth is down to MTB’ers switching to these type of events?

For me the combo of weather, cost to enter and cost to travel is the main reason for doing fewer MTB events. I have done D2D for many years but doubt i will do it this year as just can’t take the thought of another 3 hour drive, racing in the mud, then a 3 hour drive home all for £35 (iirc) entry.

I love my Genesis Equilibrium

Riding my road bike more than my MTB so far this year. Partly due to the weather but mostly cos its really fast! Having learnt “the rules” the saddle bag has now been removed and stem dropped.

Before you do anything you better learn THE RULES[/url]

I believe the bikes go to charity.

“Viva La Madness” – JJ Connolly – follow-up to Layer Cake.

“The Twelve” (out in August) – Justin Cronin – follow-up to The Passage.