Out on the trail they are faster to fit than swopping a tube, and will last for the life of a tyre

There can be lots of reasons for numb or tingly fingers/hands. 50 miles off road is a long way if you’re not used to doing this sort of distance, so maybe just an overuse thing? I got this when I did the C2C, it’s settled down now

Middlewood Farm, Fylingdales, is good for Robins Hood Bay and coast, dismantled railway passes site with easy routes along the coast for bikes

I’ve got half a dozen plants, 3 from last year. They all seem to be doing well, setting fruit and growing. Last year’s plants were definitely quicker off the mark though this year’s plants are set now, including a scotch bonnet. Oh, I live in the Midlands and it’s been grey and wet so I’m quite surprised that they’re doing ok

If it’s not your headset or your front wheel bearings and all bolts are tight it will most likely be your fork bushings. You can check by holding the uppers and gently rocking the lowers. Definitely a job for the specialist, removal and fitting bushings needs a special tool. Send em back to sram if they’re less than two years old, they’ll probably send you a new pair

Every stage has been fascinating this year, watch it all if you can

I had a brown Santa Cruz Butcher, looked good in a sort of purposeful tool for the job way, I actually had a choice of colours and went for brown. Even my wife, who has an eye for style, liked it. When I told her how unpopular the colour was she asked why I expected cyclists to have any taste! I was told it would knock £50 off the resale value though, so I sold it to a mate. A great bike, one of the best I’ve had.

Just back from France and can confirm this. Southern France ok but lots of mozzies in central/northern France

27.5 tubeless, Slaughter at 30 psi on the back (clumsy rider on rocky grippy terrain), Hans Dampf at 25psi on the front

A great ride and a good choice for a showery day. Reckon I’d leave out the middle moor bit at the moment though (guessing, not been up there recently)

Haha, good luck in the weather we’re having this year! At least the midges will enjoy the feast. When I did the off road coast to coast a couple of years ago we camped and were glad of a good night’s sleep every night cos we were so knackered

Mine were changed under warranty (ie shop fitted them for free) just over a year after I bought the bike. This was after a wet year of 2-3 weekly rides in the Dark Peak in all conditions. A couple of times I removed and regreased the pivot axle and cleaned the bearings etc and on one occasion I prised off the bearing covers and added fresh grease (this may be why they only lasted a year cos I’m a klumsy klutz who can never do this job without bending the covers). They were replaced because one of the bearings (main linkage pivot, drive side) had seized, all the other bearings were fine. The mechanic reckons I wash my bike too much (this may be true, it’s mine and I’ll wash it as often as I want)

As a doctor points out in ‘The Death of Marco Pantani’ not all riders react in the same way to EPO etc. If everybody dopes the ones whose bodies react best will rise to the top, not the best athletes.

There’s a type of bee that looks quite like a smallish wasp that hijacks other bees’ nests (especially masonry bees) and nicks their honey.

Get back on your mountain bike? I ride all sorts, including a recent 3 weeks road riding in Provence, but the only thing that gives me “that” buzz is the mtb. Yes it’s lots of faff but the rewards I wouldn’t do without

Been raining round here all week so pretty wet I’d guess

Poppadums are equivalent to crisps?
Also try bateda, basically chips but fried in spices, delicious

I’ve been running a Nobby Nick on the rear through the winter. For the last couple of months it’s had sealant seeping out between the nobs, which I assume is Schwalbe telling me I need a new tyre. Soon as trails dry a bit I’ll be putting a summer tyre on

I regularly repair small holes in tubeless tyres using a puncture repair patch on the inside, never had a problem. Clean it, rough up, glue, patch, job done

I’ve used both the topeak and the lezyne, both good but nowadays I use a digital pressure gauge and a separate pump

I did the pedalnorth.com C2C route a couple of years ago and loved the NYM days, longish doable climbs and brilliant techy rocky singletrack descents

I used to have a campervan until someone wrote it off but it was always compromised for biking. I bought a transit to replace it intending to convert it but realised it works best with minimal changes to remain flexible. I boarded it out and put Windows in and vinyl on the floor. That works as a van to take biking on usual days out. To “convert” to a camper, I put a carpet and mattress in the back to use as a bedroom and have an awning on the side for kitchen. Job done, minimum faff maximum versatility

Only just caught up with this latest thread. Yep should be around for your dates in October, will pencil them in

Sorry to hear this mate, it sounds pretty crap for you at the moment. I’ve never been in a situation like yours but have had some very low patches in my life and can relate to how you feel. Whenever I get to the point of wanting to end it I think of how my friends and family would feel, how they would blame themselves and wonder what they should have done, this would stay with them forever. This always makes me pull back because I couldn’t do that to them. Hang in there, it sounds like you have emergency support ready and that you will use it if necessary. Is there anyone who could stay with you, or you could stay with? Good luck or whatever

I usually do what you do and save up although my latest one I bought on 0% for the reason your mate mentioned. I still have the money in my account. Dead cautious financially, me.

Good work chaps. I’ve been noticing the gradual progress of your improvements over the last few weeks and wanted to come and help today, prevented by lack of a vehicle. Off to France for a month but will definitely be helping when I get back

Ta, that’ll do, he’s only 5. My older grandson (15) would go “no, he’s not, he’s…”

Thread subtitle: you had to be there

Oi!wwaswas! I’ve been amusing my grandson with this thread! That puts a stop to it!

I find the older I get the more I’m up for trying stuff. Mountain bikes didn’t come out till I was in my 30s and for years I rode cautiously, probably because I was out with my kids. Now they’ve grown I feel liberated to ride how I like. I remember an old boy down the allotments once saying you are “once a man, twice a boy”. He meant that as you reach old age you become dependent again. I find as I reach old age I’m letting my inner child come out again after years of responsibility (I’m 61 btw )

Aah, the warm tingly glow of summer. It’s the way they hide the brambles that gets me

Newgale campsite is right next to the beach, good for surf/body boarding, hire equipment from shop in the village, good place for coastal walks, and reasoned ably placed for other attractions

That looks a pretty good choice, hope you enjoy it. Let us know how you get on

I saw the fire smoke around midday when I was at the cairn at the western end of Cut Gate. I’m amazed it was a bbq because it was halfway up a hill on open moorland, not yer usual scumbag spot. I also picked up broken glass at 2 separate places on my ride, a fire hazard on open moorland.

Mum in Poundland to offspring “don’t say eh, say wot”

Toga Psycho tyres, the most lethal tyres ever

+1 for Kirroughtree, gotta do the full red and black loop so you get my mob and that long flowy techie descent from the top all the way back to the vc

Had a red mk2 which I used to run with Pace light carbon forks until I killed them on Cut Gate, fitted Rebas and used it as bait to draw my son back into biking, and in 2008 got an anodised mk3 with 130mm revs, which I used as a short travel trail bike, still ride it round my local woods where it’s perfect although I’m lucky enough to have a carbon Bronson for the Peaks now

I’ve used both and prefer the Topeak, it is larger so less packable but pumps a greater volume of air. Main reason I prefer it is I find the Lezyne less durable, it feels a bit sticky after being in my bag for a while and needs regular lubing to keep it smooth. Could just be my damp pack though

Generally manufacturers won’t warranty bearings because wear is dependent on so many variables. Might be worth a try though