2500km gravel bike miles
2000km on mtb, all local cos lockdown+5 Peaks rides in Jan and Feb, unrecorded cos it’s not about distance covered. So about 4600 total.
Next year? More trips away and more Peaks day rides,more riding with mates,trying to get what I’ve missed this year

I use a 30t on a Shimano crank, 104bcd, no problem

Having heard him speak recently about how it’s not all about winning any more and how he loves to be involved in racing/wants to give something back, I guess he will be going to DQT to help with lead outs, tactics etc as much as trying to win sprints?

This situation must be so upsetting, as you say on top of everything else you face. I can vouch for how poor Curry’s customer service is, I had an issue with a new TV a few weeks ago, phoned customer service and spent an hour listening to how important my call was to them then was cut off without having spoken to a human. Did this twice, eventually sorted the issue without Curry’s help. Find a local independent shop who may actually give you some service? Whatever you choose, best wishes Gnusmas, and don’t stop venting on here. Wish I could help more

I read it back in the 70s and found it thought provoking though not as life changing as it’s reputation. Reread it a few years ago and all I could think of was his poor neglected son, ignored while his dad pondered philosophical questions

I’ve used Spesh tyres for ‘low jeopardy ‘ riding and have always found the compound a bit hard and plasticky, prone to losing grip on wet roots. I quite like the moment of excitement when it gives way on an otherwise boring ride (eg gravel), but wouldn’t dream of using them on a trail bike

I’ve just tracked a wobbly cassette (gears skipping) to disintegrated bearings in the freehub

I go from 780 on my trail bike to 740 on my xc bike, a bit odd to start with but I soon get used to it

I was getting flashes in the corner of my eye a while back. Optician sent me to eye clinic to check for detached retina

I’ve had a fleet of different bikes in the past but these days I have condensed my collection down to 3 based on the riding I do.
A short travel light full susser for fast flowy woodland singletrack
A 150mm trail bike for smashing rock gardens in the Peak, Lakes etc
A gravel bike for winter, local tame trails, pootling, and the odd road ride I might do
Sometimes any one bike gets used almost exclusively, at the moment that’s my woodland bike, but all 3 have their day

+1 for Pedalcover home+bike insurance. Policy not as good as a few years ago but still the best I can find

I use Spesh tyres on my gravel bike and on my local woods bike. Never had this issue with 2bliss sidewalls. Maybe a bad batch? That’s why they were so cheap?

I have a Fatbar lite on my Superlight at 740mm and a Fatbar carbon on my Bronson which is 780mm

Old skool wired computer, £10 from Halfords/Decathlon/etc

Favourite climb? Hahaha.
Actually I had my first Peak ride in months yesterday and was surprised I enjoyed the climbs more than the descents.
The one climb I aim to ‘clean ‘ is the one from behind the Ladybower Inn to Whinstone Lee Tor, a challenge of tech and fitness. Dunno if I’ll ever be fit enough to clean it again, due to advancing age

I think it depends on your attitude towards your job and your own sense of self worth. For me retirement has meant a second childhood, I still wake up and feel great that I’m able to choose how to spend my day, focus on the things I enjoy rather than squeeze them in to a busy must-do agenda. This is also true for my long-term bike buddy. I know one or two more career-focused people who have struggled though, with filling their time and with feeling valued/useful.

I’ve just replaced my drivetrain because it was clicking, before it started slipping. Put it in the offending sprocket and look at how the chain sits on the teeth, it’ll sit a little proud if it’s about to die

Big fan of wasps, especially as a gardener. My neighbour always freaks out at them especially in their crazy season. I “solved” her problem with them by putting out some jam every morning, wasps would gather round the jam and ignore us. I had so much fun putting jam out and telling her I was feeding my babies in the way she does with birds.
All you haters need to read up on their life cycle, fascinating creatures

Some good tales, here’s one I like to tell when the daily fail readers start going on about teens today, inner city sink estates etc.
I used to have a regular weekly commute into Nottingham city centre. On my way out of town one day I stopped at a shop in one such estate, then continued home. Got home and found I hadn’t zipped up my saddle bag and my phone, wallet etc had fallen out. My wallet had about fifty quid in it. Within 30 minutes of my discovery I had a phone call (landline) from a woman whose son, with his 3 mates, had found my phone and wallet. He had failed to spend the cash and empty my bank account, instead handing them to his mum who found my home phone number in the wallet. An hour later I collected my valuables and tried to give the lad a reward, which he wouldn’t accept.
Never got my multitool back though

It would have to be my Bronson because the bike is perfect for the kind of riding that excites me most. I would really miss my Superlight round the local woods though. Can I keep my gravel bike for winter though, or I wouldn’t get out much?

Pushed all the way up Snowdon looking forward to trying out my new 150mm forks on the ranger path. Set off, forks started working overtime, unfortunately(!) ripping brake hose from the lever, I hadn’t factored in needing a longer hose for longer forks. Brake fluid everywhere and careering down the scree with no front brake, I had to lay the bike down on it’s side as best I could. In doing so I ripped the hose on my brand new reverb and scratched the post too. This was day one of a week’s camp/bike holiday. Luckily the lovely mechanic at Beics Betwys was able to repair my brake, send my reverb for a warranty replacement and lend me a seatpost, or it would have been holiday over. Funnily enough although it was a disaster I quite enjoyed the day

Got a Bronson. Came with a Cane Creak headset. Replaced after 2 months with a Hope. Never been touched since

Just don’t break the screen on a Samsung. Replacements are ridiculously expensive

Herbicide. The woman next to me

Got one on my gravel bike cos it came with one. Don’t use it much and could manage without but it’s handy when you’re at the limit of gravel riding, just gives a bit more confidence when it gets steep and a bit nadgery

Chatoyant, changing in lustre or colour, eg like a jewel, silk or a cat’s eye. From the French chatoyer, to shimmer

Thanks for the suggestions all, some v appealing sites. We’ll probably go with Binners’ suggestion and keep the others for future fun

Caher, like you I put off having the op for about 10 years because it wasn’t affecting my riding but walking caused me pain. I had a total replacement a year ago because I reached the point where I couldn’t walk 400m without pain and also it was affecting my sleeping. As others have said rehab is key. I get 125°+ movement now and I’m informed that’s as much as possible, it has a limit on movement. It’s a bit like fitting a Raleigh part to a Santa Cruz, the new part is heavier, bigger, clunkier and has limited movement but overall I’m very pleased, now I can do 10 mile hill walks again as well as play football with my grandson. TLDR: Don’t leave it too long

All sounds fairly standard, straightforward stuff. I’d also replace brake cables and blocks while you’re at it and set them up to be as easy to operate as poss

Some good tips here. I would add if you take him to Glentress start by driving up to the Eagles Nest car park and have a go on Berm Baby Berm, lovely swoopy flow fun to start with

Fox Flux owner here. No, and no.

Like OwenP, I used to have a Butcher, changed it to a Bronson and I’m loving it. Maybe look at a 5010?

Before my replacement I had bone on bone, felt quite loose, and bandy legs. Since the op has straightened my leg and tightened the joint up, my leg is a bit longer than the other one. I’ve considered different length cranks but true to my CBA mentality I’m just getting on with it. It’s also altered the alignment of my hips and affects my lower back

I had my left knee replaced last August. As others have said, your recovery depends on getting it moving asap and doing the exercises from the early days, including the seemingly boring easy ones you think don’t apply to you, and the achey tricky ones that you don’t like. It’s easy to get despondent in the boring empty fortnight after the op but if you focus on the exercises, the RICE, and keeping up the painkillers you will find that you’re surprisingly busy. After that it’s a steady road to recovery. As soon as the swelling/stiffness allows, get on a turbo, the movement will help your recovery, for me this was after a fortnight and I was back riding on smooth surfaces at 6 weeks. Since then I’ve been gradually building up and started riding my fave techy Peak trails since Feb. It’s still a bit numb and achey,bigger and heavier than my old knee and doesn’t move as smoothly, but the stability it’s given me is a major plus, for walking but also for biking. Feel free to message me for more info

My son was in a similar situation a couple of years ago. He set up viewing of the bike and contacted the police, who came to the viewing and ensured he got the bike back. He then put the bike up for sale and was contacted by someone claiming it was their bike. Turns out it had been sold on and re-nicked but being the original owner my son kept his bike. I mention this because if it’s a while ago your bike could have been sold a few times since

I have an Inbred Summer Season 18″ frame, 26″qr,straight steerer, in ‘raw’ for next to nothing if anyone is interested. Bought from new in 2010, had my use out of it, surplus to my needs now. Comes with Hope headset.

The end cap only needs to be tight enough to hold the hub together. It sounds like by overtightening it you are compressing the bearings, causing the binding. Tight enough to be snug/loose enough to spin

If it worked fine till you tightened the cap then loosen it off a bit till it spins freely?

I’ve just fitted some Spesh Gription in 38mm, measured in my LBS they are actually 41mm wide. Not ridden them yet so can’t comment on performance but they are a decent price

My new knee. I guess you could say I bought it via years of paying tax. It’s a bit more Carrera than Santa Cruz but has been a gamechanger. Also inspired a sympathy purchase by my wife, she got me a Whyte Gisburn gravel bike to help my recovery. I’ve been surprised by how much fun it is, given that for preference I’d go for maximum gnar