@jonellison

True but riding on any road dressed in black carrying a less-than-helpful set of lights is significantly less than clever.

We’re allowed on dual carriageways which don’t have a hard shoulder but do have a 70mph limit. Riding on one of those wouldn’t arouse any criticism.

To the OP, I’d suggest getting into the kind of well paying job you’re qualified for while you can and knuckling down for a few years to set yourself up to return to the bike trade (or anything else that takes your fancy in the meantime) under your own terms.

This time next year someone will be marketing a frame and forks to take 29+ that’s far lighter and more XC than the Krampus. Wait for it.

Thought about getting one to commemorate my one and only 24hr solo. Favourite design so far is sun in blue sky on the outside of my bicep fading to black with moon and stars on the inside. The solo was 2006 so I’m feeling I may have missed the moment.

And previously

Both of whom look nothing like me?

A few years ago I took my son and a couple of his friends out for the ‘Numpty Challenge’, with points awarded sometimes for biking skills, other times for just silly stuff such as who can splash me the highest if I stnad next to this muddy puddle.

Regularly. I can often get out earlier than the rest of the gang so then I’ll do a longer loop and meet them for the mid ride pub stop.

The only slightly worrying one was last year, after an afternoon and evening of torrential rain when no-one else wanted to go. I went out to see how a local river bank trail was and found half way down that the river had burst it’s banks. From there on I had a mile of following the tree line through axle deep, fast flowing, muddy water. I took a dunking in a dip in the trail which stopped my bike light working for a while and at another point had to wade thigh deep. Thankfully the bike light started working again as my helmet light started to fade.

Turning your lights off for an open bit when the moon is bright and high is fab.

My ’93 Clockwork is still sat at the back of the workshop. Rust and cracks mean that it’ll never be built up again but it’s not going. Too many great memories.

It is concentric

While you were typing that I was googling images to check.

That looks like a full suss frame. Unless the swing arm pivot is concentric with the bottom bracket the chain tension will vary as the suspension moves. This could lead to either a snapped chain or something much more expensive. Beware.

Last Thursday felt like one of the warmest night rides of the year down here. Genuinely warm and sweating in shorts and short sleeves right up to midnight.

As the saying goes though, there’s no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong kit.

Can’t imagine life without riding. Racing or fast techy trails excite me, touring or ‘just rolling along’ chills me out. Busting a gut on my road bike makes me feel good about my fitness.
There are other things in my life that are important too but stopping riding would be very hard to do.

Have you considered that if one bike then has to do the work of three, it’ll need three times the maintenance?

I did once go through a phase of loading up running shoes and a lock and riding out to run in places more motivational than plodding the same streets from my front door every time.

It didn’t last.

Road bikes are more about stability and minimal wind resistance at speed in mostly straight lines, so there’s really no point to what you suggest. If you want moeuverability you’re probably better off with a flat barred sports hybrid.

I stopped running regularly about 15 years ago and since then have every so often tried on the spur of the moment to run 7 to 10 miles.
It hurts more every time.

Last two years we’ve been to Borovets in Bulgaria and Bardoneccia in Italy with Neilson, both about £1100 all in (kit, lessons, passes and half board) plus spending money for me and my son. During term time but that’s a whole different thread. Possibly going back to Borovets this winter.

Automotive brake cleaner gets rid of most stuff like that. Wear gloves when using it though.

You’ve reminded me that I need to get a quote for the creased and scuffed side door on my van that was a result of Wifey’s best friend’s parking when she came to stay. She only realised she’d done it when she got home and found paint on her bumper!

When I had a Polo I got hold of a length of 18inch diameter plastic ventilation ducting and used it to make my own Quiverack. Shame I’ve no photos. It worked far better than it looked.

Love my 29er for long rides and races
Love my 26er for playing silly bu99ers anywhere humpy and jumpy
Where do you expect to ride?

By next summer 26 inch fatbikes will be soooooooooo last year. Get a Surly Krampus (29+) and you stand a chance of being niche for at least 6 months if you’re lucky.

Just been rotating a bar I pulled off the shelf and it appears that if you mount a standard bar upside down and set it so that the angle is good for the hands the grip areas become set quite a long way back. ie the equivalent of having a much shorter or negative length stem.

Pretty much what Clubber just said.

Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres are the answer for commuting.

Shredder: You have mail at the address in your profile.

This winter was to be the last ski trip before his GCSE courses start.

School is always important but some parts of it are more important than others.

Gosh, this one really has run on while I’ve been working, so here are a few points from my original post that appear to have been lost in the barrage of opinions.

1. This winter was to be the last ski trip before his GCSE courses start.
2. Both us and the school have been very happy with his attendance and achievement for the rest of the year.
3. The school has been quite happy to approve his absence for a week last season and the season before when they had the power to do so.

What I really wanted was to get some indication of how rigidly these rules are now being enforced or maybe some opinions from those in the teaching profession.

The price of a ski holiday is of a similar magnuitude to what most of us here have spent on our bikes. If the same bike was available for two thirds of the price, from somewhere that gave a better experience wouldn’t most of us want to investigate the consequences of going for the cheaper option?

2200 lumens? Who needs that much light?
I’m really quite happy with my 750 lumen Exposure Toro and regularly use it on the medium setting as that’s plenty in many situations. Surely the glare-back from shining 2200 lumens at anything less than 50m away would wreck your night vision?

I suppose it’s headlines that Hope are after.

MB – if you can’t take junior MB, you could take me instead!

I suppose I wouldn’t have to read bedtime stories then.
Can you squeeze into the same size suitcase?

Ah, but this is a middle class holiday so it’s ok.

It could equally be said that most of us here ride middle class bikes.

I’ve called the school since I started this thread and was told by a less than entirely helpful secretary that I would need to write to the headmistress. The secretary wasn’t able to give me dates of SATs and told me to look at the school calendar which only gives term dates.

For the record: the holiday in question is likely to be in Borovets in Bulgaria (cheaper end of the brochure but it was great 2 years ago) in the week before half term, which includes one inset day.

Manflu? Please prove otherwise?

He’s bound to be overheard talking to his mates.

when the prices are hiked by 50%

AND the resorts are that much busier.

Tried one and didn’t get it. In a year or so’s time there’ll be loads in the classifieds as 29er+ rapidly gathers momentum and designs lighter and more compact than the Krampus become available.

Plus one for Swinley. 24.5 miles there last Tuesday left my legs feeling like they would after 40+ miles of local trails in the current dryish conditions. A good trail centre encourages you to cane it for a greater percentage of the ride than most natural trails. Sort of like track days that folks take cars and motorbikes on.

Merida and Tomac account for four of my bikes and are also missing. They’re more mainstream than some that are there.
Also Dean who I will accept are rather niche.

So it doesn’t show so much of the grime you inevitably pick up over time.

I recently re-discovered the Stranglers. Loved everthing from the Hugh Cornwell era but what came after didn’t do it for me. I recently heard a couple of tracks from the 2012 album ‘Giants’ and on the strength of that bought both ‘Giants’ and the 2006 album ‘Suite 16’. Cracking albums and back to form in my opinion. Baz Warne, lead singer for the last 10 years has got it right without sounding identical to Hugh Cornwell.

If it’s anything like the London To Brighton night ride I did last year there’ll be fixie riders expecting to see their way with single LED backup lights and folks on all manner of inappropriate bikes.
Don’t treat it as a race. Cruise, chat with strangers and enjoy being out with so many other people on bikes.

Depends on whether you’re planning on riding with proper fast roadies in a group. If yes then gt a proper road bike, if you’re going to be out on your own then stick with the CX bike.