Cut Gate is thankfully outside DDC boundary so won’t be subject to their “improvements”. It was actually maintained about 12 years ago, that’s when the yellow singletrack line through the rubble was created, and all those little passing places/retaining walls done, they did quite a good job.

Rushup (Chapel Gate) “repair” has just been left for the past couple of years, as it was when worked stopped after our protest. The route is also technically still closed, although the signs have disappeared and no one pays any attention.  I think DDC are just hoping it goes away

I bought a pair of Stan’s ZTE 35 rims built onto Pro 2 hubs in 2008. Much used and abused but never needed tensioning. I destroyed one in a big crash a year ago, but the other one is still going strong (and true)

I’ve been giving my normal “rad” trail riding a rest this winter because of the reward/effort imbalance, but I’ve been keeping a base level of fitness by choosing a slop-free  (and thrill-free) loop that mostly involves canal paths and sustrans tracks, so I know that when decent trails return I’ll be ready to take advantage. Can’t run any more due to a cartilage – free knee and at my age I’m well into the use it or lose it years so I feel I have to keep going. I find that having a routine of riding Tue/Thur/Sun regardless of conditions frees me from the “shall I shan’t I?” quandary and even allows me to revel grimly in the grimness of it all and I always find even when the ride is awful that I feel so much better afterwards

I’ve just spaced my cassette to the right using a 0.5mm spacer to adjust chain line. Seems to have enough threads engaging on the lockring. Haven’t really tried it in anger yet but it works fine in the workstand

I did the Ravenglass to Ravenscar route over 7 days. Day 1 to Coniston was great but tricky navigation over Waberthwaite fell, 2nd day to Kendal then 3rd and 4th day through the Dales. Day 5 through the Vale of York was like riding in Lincs and we gave up on muddy field bridleways and took quiet lanes but the last couple of days through the North York Moors were brilliant with some draggy climbs rewarded with rocky singletrack descents. We camped, but had a support crew which allowed us to not have to carry our kit. I would definitely recommend a gps, we did it old school paper maps and spend hours each day stop – starting to check the route

Timothycdbarnes, I had the same thing, 50mph+ coming off Mt Ventoux, rounded a corner, gust of wind, bladed spokes (Ksyrium), terrifying shimmy which was getting bigger and bigger. I loosened my grip, relaxed and slowly brought it under control. Scary moment, much more terrifying than any mtb incident!

I know what you mean OP,  I ride as much as ever, and have to replace consumables but a few years ago I seemed to reach peak “stuff” generally. I used to have an “if you want it, get it” attitude, but nowadays I find I don’t want any more upgrades. Partly because my bikes reached a good level of parts etc but also falling out of love with consuming, generally and on bikes. T’other day I was moaning about what a pile of scrap metal my winter bike is and my wife suggested I replace it (I know, she’s a star). I wasn’t even slightly tempted

I use ground control on the rear and purgatory or butcher on the front on my winter bike and my local woods bike mainly because of the price. They set up easily tubeless and wear well but I’m a bit iffy about the compound. While it’s ok generally in slop I find them sketchy at times on roots, some rocks etc so I wouldn’t use them for my gnarpoon where my teeth depend on grip

My sympathies, hadn’t really thought how thumb dependent we mtbers are.  Maybe some friction shifter and slippy cables?

This happened on my wife’s first mtb, shop ended up grinding it off!

I know the feeling, I was like that after a layoff through illness last year. First ride I could only manage half the usual distance then a few weeks of slow spinning at the back feeling I was holding everyone up. Just keep at it and get out regularly,  it’ll come back

Just been forced to fit another old 9sp drivetrain to the hardtail plus bb (again, used) and a rear hub service. Rear brake pads down to the metal but holding off replacing cos it involves parting with money. All this is the result of my “don’t clean”  experiment in January. Now having to use the fs in the filth till I can sort the ht

I use silicone sealant to fill unwanted frame holes

I used a garden spray as a cheaper option for a while but because it’s not designed for the air pressure I was putting in, it developed leaks around the seals. I’m currently using a track pump with the backup of co2 cans that I got for a ridiculous price. Soon as I’ve used those up I’ll be getting an airshot

I did the pedalnorth route (Ravenglass to Ravenscar) a couple of years ago for my 60th.  Me and my mate had wanted to do it for years but the logistics were always too complicated (we wanted a series of fun day rides rather than a bikepacking slog) until my wife offered to support us. She (and a pal) would drive from campsite to campsite, set up, cook and also pack up next day, leaving us free to focus on riding. We took our time and did it over 7 days. We found the day’s long, 10 to 12 hours, but a lot of that was map reading, we could have knocked about 4 hours off each day with a gps. We originally intended to do the Tim Woodcock route but were advised that the option we took was a better route. Look on pedalnorth.com for details

Do you mean the cable from the junction to the box and (separate) cable to the router? If so, go to Screwfix/Maplins/whoever and they will sell you cable in various lengths/fittings. I got about 5 recently, think it’s called audio visual cable or something similar

Just to put you off the thumb – squeeze test, I challenged my mate cos he reckoned it was accurate. He got it massively wrong every time

Yes if you ask me, the topeak.

No if you ask anyone who knows what they are talking about

Think the digital ones are more accurate. I got a topeak one and used it to check my analogue track pump which is spot on, so don’t need to use the digital one much. Still handy for shocks/forks and out on the trail though

Not a Nookprufe owner, but it sounds like you need new bearings

Hate all diy, or as it’s known in our house diyfs

My comment was based on CAB advice given to my son when he was pursuing access to his 2yo. It may of course be wrong or modified by individual circumstances

Regardless of what he wants, decisions on accesss will prioritise what is best for the children. In the case of the 2 year old it is unlikely that a court will allow even overnight stays

This sounds odd. Can’t believe it’s cos you’ve added a link or we’d all be regularly breaking them. Sorry, nothing helpful to add

I repaired a scratch on a Pike with black nail varnish which worked fine, but the best repair I did was to a Fox flrk with araldite, the stuff that comes in 2 tubes and you mix it just before use. As others have said preparation is key, as is leaving it long enough to harden properly.

Soapy wash with a sponge. Let it dry. Relube as necessary. Easy 5 mins, don’t overcomplicate it

This December and January have seen the lowest sunlight levels on record according to last Saturday’s grauniad

I’d call whoever supplied the wheel and get them to pay a local shop to retension it. My mate, who’s been trying to get me wheelbuilding, reckons do it yourself

Electrons here, have gradually taken over all my flat pedal bikes.
Why plastic? They disprove the “cheap, light, strong, pick two” mantra

Canal towpath pootling just to keep the legs spinning. Still only slowly coming out of hibernation

Yep. But not always

We have a double one and it’s pretty good, firm which is what we chose. When we got it, it had a fairly strong chemical smell which I think is the fire retardant they’re sprayed with. Took a good few weeks for the smell to disappear

+1 pump it up go ride. Repeat as necessary

As others have said, dahl is easy, plenty of recipes.
Here’s a simple shepherds pie with blackeyed beans taking the role of shepherd. Sweat an onion, add celery and carrot and mixed herbs. Add black eyed beans, fry/mush it for a minute. Put in dish, add half a pint of gravy with added flavouring, such as stock cube and yeast extract. Top with mashed potato. Bake for 45 mins at gas mark 5. Serve with gravy and greens of choice

63 here and still as keen as ever to ride mountain bikes, off out today in the cold and wind. The past year has seen age begin to catch up with me, but that only seems to fire my enthusiasm to milk every last moment for fun

I have an OnOne hardtail and a 150mm full sus and find that the full sus is just as quick on the ups, which I guess you could put down to the fs tracking the ground better and the 650b wheels carrying a bit more rollover momentum.

Over how many years ton? I’ve managed 14 in the last 28 years so not in your league

Glad it seems to be sorting itself, but if you have a big event coming up I would recommend some Spesh Body Geometry gloves with padding on the palm specifically for ulnar nerve protection. I had a similar issue to you a few years ago when I did the Coast to Coast, and these gloves helped sort it/prevent reoccurence

I had the standard 93 bv, came with exage cranks, needed a 122mm bb azle. Think the se would have had lx cranks which I guess would be the same long axle, shorter axles came a year or two later with compact chainsete