Tifosi Duro are very good. 3 sets of lenses, including the clear ones. Very comfy, big frame.

Bloody hell! What a bargain! 8O

For a nice, powerful, cheap and reliable self-contained lights check out the Lumina series from Niterider.

I’ve got 700 on the bars and 400 on the helmet and it is perfect for late night singletracks action. Even on low setting the combo is bright enough for most tracks. Switching to “mid” on some scary bits.

Just got an idea: getting an external battery pack in one of these stem/toptube mounted bags would allow for a whole day of exploration!

It really depends of the setting of your phone before the ride. I was recently in similar situation, when going for holiday in Normandy.

What I did was I got premium maps of the area we were going to, I found plenty of GPX files on French MTB forum (VTT!), bought the QuadLock mount and it was it. Before the rides I switched wifi, Bluetooth and NFC off on the phone, the network setting was 2G only, display dimmed a bit and running Strava with ViewRanger (in “follow” mode, which records your ride, as you said) simultaneously I was able to enjoy the technology for around 4 hours.

And this included: snapping photos during the rides, sending occasional text to the wife and having the screen on for most of the time (proper navigation!). Phone is Xperia Z3.

Phone with Viewranger (with premium OS maps downloaded) and QuadLock mounting system here.

I’ve retired my Garmin since using this little thing.

Sealskinz socks are great – especially the knee-length version.

If it’s 1 1/8″ A-Head frame then probably the best thing to do is to check CRC for brand new Recon Silver Air, version for V-brakes. A friend of mine recently got them on his Gary Fisher, replacing Bombers which totally stopped damping the rebound. Massive improvement on the bike for very little money!

Also, watch a few episodes of Stranger Things beforehand, that’ll sort you out.

This will make you sell your lights and forget about “night riding” thing.

I got my Niterider lights from them some time ago. Prompt delivery, no issues at all!

On my 29er rims (19mm internal width) I ran 700x35mm with no problems.

I assume as long as the tyres are not super skinny or like 29×2.5″ they should fit easily.

Nakd bars are awesome! Peacan Pie….

legend My bad, sorry – I’ve only just realised I pasted a wrong type photo from Superstar’s website here! Both adaptors are exactly like you posted! 8)

Yes, but the axle you’ve posted a picture of isn’t the one you should be using!

The one on the first photo was the original one that came with the wheels. The second one that snapped is identical – I will take the photos this afternoon.

No other skewer type would go past the caps on both axles…

OP, have you a picture of the side that hasn’t broken?

I haven’t got it here, but the other side is the one with a thread and a screw-on nut, as you can see on the photo few posts above.

As per the comments that it looks like a through-axle thing – please mind that the part which reduces it to OR was still in the freehub body! :lol:

What frame – and what condition the dropouts?

What QR do you use?

What condition the end caps?
The frame is Merida Big Nine TFS, aluminium.
The drop outs are in good condition.
QR is Shimano from Deore hub.

I don’t do jumps and I’m not very heavy (75kg).

Yeah, the caps are installed – this is the thing in its full glory:

There is also a spacer thing that goes into the freehub body (as the diameter of its hole is bigger than the OD of the QR adaptor), which has also been installed.

I’ll do it slightly less tight this time, will see what happens.

**** that! With no helmet???!!! 8O

I did that MBR ride, starting from Holford. I loved every bit of it! It will take you down the aforementioned Smiths Combe – get your eyeballs ready to rattle like crazy! :lol:

All I can say – I’m bloody jealous…

I went for one of those “take minimum gear” ride some time ago. **** it, never again! I prefer to have the kit I may not use, than to not have something I need…

Backpack with bladder for me every time.

My dad has plenty of super skills. The one I admire the most is the ability to conform to the MTFU Rule in even the most extreme situations (like loosing a house and business due to a massive flood, while having a big family to feed) and going through a real shi**y times in a way, that none of us – his 5 children – would even realise that the times were any bad. He’s a Real Badass.

I think I need to start feeding them something that makes them more distinctive amongst the fallen leaves

Red berries then… :lol:

Having English as my second language I find I have no problems with using the ” ‘ “. I had it covered nicely on my English lessons. My native language does not use apostrophe, maybe that’s why it was easy to understand and learn what does it do?

But reading emails from my native-English work colleagues or clients often rises a solid “WTF?” question in my mind.

Another vote for ViewRanger with premium OS maps! You can buy selected area maps, which is very handy.

When you switch off data/wifi/bluetooth/4G when out and about the battery lasts ages (Sony Xperia Z3).

Reported

Why? It may be useful! :lol:

…to fight off the Bruce Leaks

With Huck Norris the rocks gets the punctures when you ride!

I love them already!!!!! :lol:

Last time they did it for me (about 2 years ago) they charged me something like 10 quid and did it while I was waiting there.

@timba – many thanks for that, it has found my headset in few seconds!

It’s not the bearings I want to replace (I’ve done it few times), but the whole thing. And yes – it will be an LBS fitting it! However when I went there last time they said “a week wait, as we need to order the headset, or bring your own and we’ll fit it in a couple of hours”. So if I know what to buy I can shop around to find something nice :lol:

I’ve tried, but no real help there… “EGG S-Bearing” – this is what they say.

I’ve got one of the Trespass/Argos special, rapid pop up tents. £40 for a pretty decent thing, takes less then 10 minutes to set it up. I’ve used it for 24 hour race (Bontrager last year – it was “quite” wet and the tent kept the rain at bay) and few family camping outings (3 people and 1 small dog).

It’s not ideal – the way the entrance is done makes it almost impossible to not get any wet grass/mud inside, but for occasional use it is a good choice.

Thanks! All sorted, the axle will be with me there at the beginning of next week – just in time when wife gets annoyed with me and lets me go for a ride :lol:

I’m going to order the replacement in a minute then! Thanks!

Just a question: to replace it do I need to take the cassette off? Just so I know what tools to take with me for a holiday :lol:

OK, so after further inspection (which was really easy – I just took off the QR skewer) it turned out, that the axle broke. I’m pretty sure I’ll get the replacement, but the question is: will I die riding it for the next two weeks? When the wheel is back on the bike (which is a bit of a faffle, as the freehub & cassette does move a bit at first…) with the QR nice and tight, there wheel works perfectly fine. There is no play, no rattling, the hub engages as it should…

I like clothing that has a defined purpose: waterproof jacket, wickable base layer, protective gloves… A cap like that is an advertisement gadget, can’t find a purpose for it. When it’s cold its the ears that suffer most, not the hair! 8)

My wife bought a Whyte Fairfield last summer, £499 rigid hybrid bike that can take some proper 29er tyres. It hasn’t got disc brakes, but it’s lighter than my hardtail. Lovely bike. Not a proper off-road machine, but copes perfectly with easy forestry tracks (Green at Haldon, New Forest cycle network, French gravel trails).

I’ve used it plenty of time myself.

I like Endura and the last Aldi’s Special ones. However if you want something with no “rubber-skin contact”, Troy Lee make the liners that don’t have any nasty grippers and are quite comfy too (but they are a bit too shallow on waist for my preference).

Thanks! So it is not some dramatic failure then. I’ll give it a check tonight!

I think you must upgrade. Otherwise you’ll be riding dead trails.

Only the new bikes bring the trails alive.

I just need to mention that you, Dear English People, spread a massive lie around the world regarding tea drinking!

I learned that there is that massive thing here called “5 o’clock” – celebrated by everyone, everywhere. You go to the shops in Poland, Germany, Czech or wherever and you can buy English tea, often called “5 0’clock”.

Being in the UK for long enough to observe few things I must say I’ve never seen anyone looking at the watch saying “excuse me, gentlemen/ladies! It’s 5 o’clock, let’s have some tea!”.

What’s wrong with you??? :lol: