Ooooh, very nice

Coastkid, I love that timelapse of the 456 build.

I was interested until i realised its £9 per issue!

First issue has an interview with Brant Richards! Wow, like we can't find out what Brant thinks or is doing via STW or his Twitter feed.

I'm sure they'll be some nice pics and some witty downbeat editorial but in a recession I need a heck of alot more to part with my hard earned £££.

I'm probably the target market but I'm either too tight or too cynical to pay for it. Or both! Same reason I stopped subscribing to ST magazine.

Cracking video and good skills on a CX bike. As said above its nice to see something a bit more familiar to "real everyday riding" but the video just makes it really enjoyable to watch.

Has inspired me.

Wild Park, Brighton

Whites Level, Black Run, Afan

Penhydd, Afan

if you have to define it, you haven't got it.

Thanks John_Drummer. I'm sure Joe is thanking you for keeping the dream alive.

Cool is an aesthetic of attitude, behavior, comportment, appearance and style, influenced by and a product of the Zeitgeist. Because of the varied and changing connotations of cool, as well its subjective nature, the word has no single meaning. It has associations of composure and self-control (cf. the OED definition) and often is used as an expression of admiration or approval.

remember that alot of climbing is in the head. if you start negative then you have nowhere to go but down, or backwards. I have gone from hating climbs to actually "enjoying" them.

Mine have held up really well. I mostly use them for hardtail XC riding and I'm 13st. I'm runnin the 29er version but not sure if that makes much difference.

I should point out most people i know who ride full suss do have the Flows as i think they are generally considered better for harder riding.

Just wait for Human Centipede to come out

I have just read about that in this month's Empire. Fricking weirdness!

Recently watched "I love you Phillip Morris" with Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor which was ace.

But forget movies I have read a few books recently which have been incredible page turners. Highly recommend "Blood Meridian" by Cormac McCarthy. Its like a cross between Apocalypse Now and Pale Rider. Also "Simple Act of Violence" by R J Ellory.

He fell off after seeing a straight guy in a red bandana and lycra shorts with no neck

Its got gears! Its got suspension! Its got regular size wheels! Its not made of steel! Get off this forum!

Profitting from selling an asset is exactly what they should be doing.

True in most cases but the ride2work scheme is a very emotive staff benefit and as a result "profiting" causes alot of tension with staff who already think they have paid for the bike. True its a hire scheme but in most peoples minds its HP therefore they have paid for it.

If you extend the hire period longer you don't need to worry about the ownership payment and you can just keep using the bike as normal.

I can't understand why employers were letting bikes go for a nominal sum, what with their responsibility to shareholders and so on.

Because the employers have already got their money back via the monthly salary sacrifice payments so there was / is no need to profit from the final payment. Employers just want rid of the bikes.

I had the same problem with the Crest and a Maxxis Crossmark.

First of all patience is everything.

Fit the tyre on one side and then make sure its sitting in the "gulley" of the middle of the rim and not on the "shoulder".

Do the same with the other side. As you are moving round the rim pushing on the tyre also make sure this side of the tyre is in the middle "gulley" and not on the "shoulder". This helps to give you a bit more slack in the tyre for getting it on and positioning properly.

As it gets tighter put on lashings on soapy water with washing up liquid on the bead of the tyre. On the last few inches really grab the top of the tyre and use a bit of brute force to pull tyre over top of rim.

Now before you inflate make sure tyre is properly seated in the "gulley" all the way round. Then inflate to say 20 psi and check again that all sitting nicely. Then inflate some more and keep checking.

I then found a few rides up and down the street go it sitting properly on the rim but you might need to deflate a bit and use a bit of brute force to seat it properly.

Hear endeth the sermon.

Nothing has to be at retail. That's why some LBS charge an extra fee for using Cyclescheme and why Evans can let you buy sale items using your Ride2Work voucher and effectively give you a double discount.

Remember you are not buying a bike but your employer is and then they are hiring it to you with payment made via a method of salary sacrifice, with a final payment made at the end if you take ownership of said bike.

Employers routinely try to get the bike(s) at lower prices to help their cash flow and in very rare cases actually pass that saving onto employees as well.

The scheme was originally launched as a basic bike hire option whereby employers purchased bikes and then hired them to their staff. Unfortunately no employers took it up because they could not get a return on their investment. Hence salary sacrifice was bolted on the side.

Nah, the riding there is really poor and you would probably get bored within 30 mins. I would steer well clear if i were you.

If anyone mentions Brighton Big Dog Race or the really sweet singletrack and grin-inducing handbuilt trails I would ignore 'em.

Stick to the fireroad trails or seafront.

Aha! Yep, the guys at Trek UK have managed to source the last 19" Ferrous in the world from the goold ole' USA and are shipping it to me.

I just don't want to take the same risk again so getting a long seat post seems a wise move.

leggyblonde – well spotted. That was me at Big Dog!

I'm on a Fisher Ferrous 29er which has a long seat tube extension above the top tube so need extra long post so i make sure it get far enough into the frame. So i actually need more in the frame not less.

I would say its totally the opposite.

As far as i can see more people getting into MTB – and cycling – than ever before. Loads of people at this weekend's Brighton Big Dog were newbies and at the "club" i ride with they are getting loads of enquiries from people who want to try out MTB riding.

I would say if there is a drop in attendance at events its simply because people don't have the cash at the moment. With regards to retail i think people are researching more than ever for the best price or just making do with what they have. Doesn't mean they ride any less.

Photos are now online

I like this action shot of me just before a front wheel wash out

It was ace. Super tech riding on the wet roots and the walk up that steep climb in the mud felt like something out of Commando training. I could hear people screaming at their bikes in frustration in the woods at some points.

Never have those after race beers been more well deserved.

I was placed 9th in the men's solo when my frame cracked! Finished 17th. I'll be back next year for another go.

The only downside is that I'm not sure the stanmer trails will be rideable for us local riders for a very long time.

Its chucking it down here in Brighton – i live 10 mins from Stanmer – so I'm running with my Bonty Mud X on the back. Might be slower rolling but at least they'll have some more grip when it matters.

Going through my clothes now to find some wet weather gear.

Can't believe after all these dry weeks we get rained on!

Looks like this year its the Wet Dog!

I'm having a tyre conundrum for Big Dog.

Keep the summer tyre or go for something a bit chunkier to be on the safe side?

I've been riding stanmer all summer with a Crossmark but wondering whether it can handle greasy roots?

Its based on what the employer has paid for the bike as it is their asset.

Weather for Saturday appears to be getting worse. BBC is now forecasting "heavy showers and prolonged rain" for daytime on Saturday. Gutted. Need to dig out some tyres from the garage.

The course has been running sooooo fast the last few weeks. As a solo rider I guess that's just one more challenge for the day!

the course is ace and a little bit longer than last year thanks to some cunning new additions which i was shown last week. hope the rain holds off on friday so its nice and dry on saturday, otherwise all those wet slimey roots are gonna add a whole new dimension to the race.

my favourite section is the last bits of singletrack down into the bombhole. no brakes or pedalling and you can do it really fast.

As they say in Korea: "bring on the dog!"

The last trail I rode.

Out of interest what's the asking price for the house?

Cycle Show, Earls Court, October

That's near where I live so might pop round to see it for real.

Forgot to say, I really LOVE those people who clean up the dogs mess but then hang the bag on a tree or throw it in a bush! What the **** is all that about!!

The bridleway that runs behind our house in Brighton is known as "Dog Sh*t Alley". Its a disgrace. I've stopped taking my two kids along it after one fell over and landed in the stuff. Not to mention getting it all over your shoes or bike.

I'm thinking of making signs at each end of it: "Warning: you are now entering dog shit alley. Please tread carefully."

The green Inbred is a 69

Its a great film but the book is even better. Suggest you read the book to give you a better understanding of what its all about.

Interesting that some people above seem to think its the Coen brothers who have created these characters and the quirks of the film. These are all in the book, although its a good film its base material is where it draws all its ideas and inspiration.

I would strongly recommend reading The Road (also by Cormac McCarthy who wrote No Country) before seeing it at the flicks. The Road is by far one of the most thought provoking books I have ever read and as a father it resonates deeply with me. Some of the imagery from the book has stayed with me for a long time. I hear the film is meant to be good but I'm sure won't be a patch on the book.

You'll be pleased to hear it has no quirky ending either so shouldn't confuse you too much.

We've decided not to do it.

Official figures say about 50% take-up and to be honest I'm not entirely comfortable we know everything about these vaccines etc. Both of my boys are in great health. I think if they had any health issues which might make then susceptible to swine flu I might think twice.

Down with bold! Up the workers!

I lived in New York for about 3 months nearly 10 years ago so not sure how relevant my experiences are to the city currently but here goes:

1. Its awesome. You really do feel like you're living in a film set. Loads to see and do and just people watching is fascinating.

2. Its super expensive. When I was there rents were astronomical and I can't imagine its changed much. You don't get much space for your money. You will really have to consider living off Manhattan. Consider Queens, Staten Island or Brooklyn. We nearly moved to Queens and its got some lovely neighbourhoods, parks and bars. Eating out can be done fairly cheaply.

3. Difficult making friends. Its a very cliquey place and we found it really hard breaking into established circles of friends. Obviously if you are working there or have friends / family that will make things easier.

4. The Americans. Even in New York I found most Americans to be very conservative. Also expect to work hard if you have a job. They don't get nearly as much holiday as we do and the corporate culture is highly competitive so you'll be expected to put the hours in.

Hope that helps.