nope who would want to do that!? Fortunately NEVER appealed to me.

So presuming you know the outcome then Sharki … give PCB a kick then and tell hime everyone is waiting …..

If I got bitten twice by a rottweiler and you know who the owner is I’d be looking to report that! dangerous dog, get it destroyed!

What piss** me off the most is why do dogs owners ALWAYS says “it’s okay it won’t bite” it’s boll****! I’m terrified of dogs (having had a bag experience years ago) a dog will ALWAYS bite if encourage enough/kicked/abused etc and there’s no point saying to someoen that’s shite scared “it won’t bite” … no it won’t especially once I’ve kicked it in the mouth and it loses it’s teeth!!!!
Not many dog owners are considerate .. unfortunately I haven’t seen many!

I’ve just got one of the womens’ specifc hard tails and it’s ace! Good top end spec as well, really nice to ride and super light! I know my WLS won’t help you but they look ace and aren’t very common. Until recently UK companies struggled to get their hands on them from Germany but now they are becoming more widely available.

So where have you gone PCB, or is it now in the serious stage where you don’t have time to post here!?
Keep us posted ……..

does anyone know if it’s on TV anywhere though? as pressing F5 every now and then to update cyclingnews website isn’t quite as exciting!!!

Cube Access???

(Mr M-C posting on her account).

Both M-C and a friend of ours were taught on DAS courses, by different instructors with different firms, NOT TO USE THEIR FRONT BRAKES. To me this is borderline criminally negligent, and was a lazy way of making sure they didnt lock up the front and drop the bike.

Luckily M-C has years of cycling experience, and very well developed road sense and awareness for a novice biker so she has survived to enjoy riding and develop in confidence and skill. A recent temporary lapse in observation showed her just how quickly she can stop a bike using the front brake (when the alternative was to hit my R1 or the stationary car in front of me…) I would treat the DAS as the car test, you are taught to pass a test and then actually learn “on the job” afterwards, and riding with sensible experienced friends will help (though bigbutslimmerblokes mate doesnt sound like hes taken the hints).

So yes do DAS, 4 days should be enough (if youre posting on here you can balance a two wheeler and know about front and rear brakes…) but take it easy when you rip up the L’s.

Costwise if youre prepared to drive away from Reading and S/E youre likely to find it cheaper. M-C did it with brackley yamaha for £450, whereas various oxford companies and http://www.onyerbike.net in aylesbury were 600+.

I did 4 day DAS 2 years ago having never ridden a motorbike before. The instructor will quickly assess you when you do the CBT and get a grasp of whether you have the skills to pass in that time and will advise you accordingly. My intensive course which included boring kit, all instruction and the theory test was just under £500.
Definately worth it, lots of fun.

Bristol seems to be a massive hot spot for expensive bike thefts and I really wonder why?

Hey remember that’s also what STW is good for, there are always people in similar situations that have come through. We can all pass on positive vibes and through riding everything works out.
Get out and hammer an hour of awesoem singletrack, that’ll put a smile on your face.
Good luck all. x

Here’s my justification!! I started MTBing at 13 and didn’t realise the importance of cleaning my bike .. would throw it in shed muddy and never seemed to break/need fixing. At the same time was always MTBing with men (not 1 chick!!) who were at least 5 years older than me .. so if something happened on the trail they would fix it ASAP and hence this has continued throughout they would never give me the time for me to learn the skills myself! Now at the age of 30 .. I can do basics but no-one would teach me the finer skills that most men can do.

Now I have a bike/garage fairy (same for my motorbike!). For us it’s like Coffeeking .. he tinkers (as he loves it) and fixes whilst I’m washing/cooking/making cups of tea.

I don’t mind washing my bike however it pe** me off when Mr MC is stood behind me watching and criticzing HOW I wash my bike!! Don’t be doing that as it’s incredibly annoying!
So upshot is I have no clue how to fix my bike normally, can just take it apart to put in bike bag for hols .. oh and occasionally wash it but realistically over the course of a year Mr MC will definately wash it more than me!!!

Funny thing is though I did an adventure race in Dec and bike was stinking. Horrendously cold got home and cleaned bike as thought Mr MC would shout at me if I didn’t due to the state it was in and he had put lots of nice XT/XTR bits on .. he told me off for being so silly washing my bike in -4 degrees! See I can never win ……

Barca that’s the Cube that I wanted but it weird some of their sizes go down to a 15″ but not all ..that one didn’t! So got the Cube women’s specific one at £900 is (£1000 I think now). We can only get a bike on B2wk scheme every 18 months depends on your companies scheme.
I think I am he only one who hasn’t got a bike on the scheme either but at present I can’t justify another one!!

Yes that’s the kind of line I was thinking!!!!

Yup that was what I thought, except don’t you get the impression he severely regrets going to the Olympics?

Just don’t use them! IT’s a rip off! I have never used Ryan Air out of choice and don’t intend to even if flights are super cheap! You pay £8 to fly to Spain, realistically what service do you expect!?

Tesco credit card?What’s the score with it then? I buy everything on credit card and pay it off every month, so sounds like I may benefit massivetastically!!!
Tracey what are the hols like with them? Do you hvae to do packages or what? Where can I get all the detailed info!??

I have never done a “package” holiday until my trip to Morocco 2 weeks ago and over there, there is no way you would’ve found the stuff we were doing without a guide. You need their expertised and knowledge of the best trails. It also wasn’t that expensive and the holiday was excellently run. Got up every morning and didn’t have to worry about where we were going etc etc.

I also agree with TrailMonkey. To a point I like reading a map but when we get lost and people start arguging .. makes it rubbish!!!

Maybe Moab is worth going then going MTBing somewhere else?? Oh I love my holidays and planning for the next one .. gets me excited!

HH45 The cycleactive trip to Morocco is awesome, that’s the one I’ve just come back and done.
http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/mtbing-in-morocco-youve-got-to-go

That was the first time I’d gone on an organised tour and it was awesome, which is why I wanted recommendations of other good tour companies, otherwise if I booked something that was rubbish I would be gutted.

Troutwrestler, I’m also getting to the point of being a bit tired of Morinze/Les Gets,every year for the last 6, we are going this June to do P du S which should be good, but want to go somewhere new and exciting. Was tempted with the cycleactive trip to Vietnam .. although that would mean my one holiday of the year. Will have to get looking at all the companies mentioned. Cheers guys!

Plus it’s got Sylar from Hereos in it and Simon Pegg looks okay cast. Anyone seen State of Play as we were going to see that this weekend first as it’s been out a while, is it recommended?

Cheers for that Doug I’ll have a look fancy Spain. Do you have a website? If not could you e-mail me more info franwhyte AT hotmail DOT com cheers

Yossarian LMAO at you …..

Also a thread I thought about a few weeks ago .. here

http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/mtb-holiday-suggestions

Definately here:

http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/mtbing-in-morocco-youve-got-to-go

awesome!!

They say to leave percentages as if you say leave £5000 to uncle Joe and then when you die your estate is only worth £50 it’s a nightmare. So divvy it up into quarters or whatever it is that you want. and most definately DO NOT do a buy your own will pack they really aren’t that good.

http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/come-in-mikey_m-your-time-is-up?replies=26#post-356767

mmm scammer me thinks…

It’s funny though they asked for their privacy to be respected .. hang on a minute their whole relationship and live has been lived in the presence of TV cameras. idiots!

i use the velcro strap and then just shim underneath the front of the mount with rubber strips (either those provided, or the sort you get with lights) until the camera points in the right direction.

I broke my mount (falling off one of the high north shore sections in Chatel bike park ehad first. Doh) and when I tried to buy a new one they didnt have any in stock so I guess its a weak point.

Effie Louise .. that’s great! makes me chuckle everytime I say it! I do like Holly, that’s my niece’s name.

Andy YGM.

I would love to come on the Watlington ride (as I only live 20 mins away) but I can’t make it. I don’t know much good riding aroudn this area anyway. Anyway else make any riding in the Chilterns possibly this weekend (need to check with Mr MC??

Radio 1 DJ Sara Cox is son is called Isaaxc … nice!

I have the same problem being a chick.

Effie what the heck is that!!!???????????

Don’t sell your bike as so many people have said above you won’t get as much as you want/wish for it, plus it’s the sentimenal value that means more than anything and if your Missus is understanding then just DON’T do it. You will get through, look at all the stories here of people in the same situation getting through you just have to evaluate stuff and take a different stance on shopping/nights out etc.

Pantsonfire .. that made me well up too! good luck to you all that are in this difficult nightmare situation you’ll get through it especially with support of fellow STWers in the same situation!

oohh very interesting debate!!! some intruiging responses here.

I can’t speak from experience but things will get better and there are lots of peopole on this site that are in a similar position and can support you. What I can say is ensure you find out what benefits/entitlemens you can get as this is what that the system is for.

I would suggest NOT selling your bike, if this is your escape then you will need to keep it for support while things get sorted.

Good luck and I’m sure lots of others will pop up to support you soon.

That’s top must be such a feeling! Think she’ll be training for 2012 next … good luck for those early morning swimming trips!!