I was there too last Sat/Sun and was awesome .. I too was on my brand new Cube women’s hard tail … wripped it up! Awesome riding and not even that busy considering it was an Easter weekend and all that.

Kona, mine is from 1994 and still going strong cost £465 then!
Cube do some good stuff if you can get your hands on it.

Have you looked at the Vaude roomy 17 +3 or 20+3 bags they look quite good. I’ve just got a Camelbak Daystar which is good and large.

Have a look at Waitrose website they have some great recipes and if you put your mobile number in they text you all the ingredients for free!!

SO …. how did it go!?

Have you thought about talking to them nicely and explaining if they could just be a little quieter for a while. I can imagine they may not be this amenable!!

I’m lucky when I come off 2200-0700 nights I get home, straight into bed and sleep like a baby until 1500-1600 hours!!!

nope but there’s loads of quality riding out there. I lived in Bethlehem PA for a couple of years and most of the XC races I did were in NJ.

http://www.mtbr.com has a ride/trail database

http://trails.mtbr.com/cat/united-states-trails/trails-new-jersey/PLS_4564crx.aspx

Try a night ride on the Appalachian Trail ;-)

FItness road riding .. however that’s boring! if weather good go and do some MTBing will make you happier I say!

Now we have moved onto the topic of women’s specific kit this is something that does still irritate me. I went shopping for some MTB shoes and found a particular brand (men’s) picked them up and asked shop staff if I could try them on in a size 7 (and they were dark blue) shop staff says “oh we have those in a women’s specific cut” I ask what’s the difference and his reply was “they come in baby blue and they are slightly narrower, oh and £10 more expensive”. What a rip off £10 more for exactly the same thing in some guff girlie colour!! Things have come on in leaps and bounds however I still get frustrated at buying women’s specific shorts.

I think women do struggle riding heavier bikes. I have a Giant Reign 2 which is awesome for going to Morzine however riding around Swinley it’s quite hard going. However for my DHing I started doing weight training and can now bench press 55k (I weigh 63k), problem I now have is women’s specific clothing won’t go around my biceps!! So how did I solve that, got Mr MC to buy me a nice new Cube women’s specific hard tail for my birthday!! I can now deal with the weight of my bike and getting more muscular certainly helps with the battering my arms get when we go to Morzine every year. But again most women don’t want big biceps, or to spend a reasonable amount of time in the gym.

To be honest I think every women has different view and opinions on riding/groups/kit etc etc that we have to take them all differently and despite how many men (and women) think it’s cr**/unfair/silly whatever we need to cater more specifically for women, such as on rides etc. I have seen this through 15 years experience on trying to get more women into riding and so far I’ve only managed o get about 3 and honestly … they probably only do it coz their blokes do!!

Me on the other hand would not be able to live without MTBing and there’ no bigger buzz than beating a man down a hill!!!!!

Ooo where was the singletrack?did it go down the back of Caerphilly Mountain? used o be some awesome riding around there, always tend to go to the trail centres now .. at least until I move back there at some point!

cheese -any variety!

Okay so who is going to arrange a girlie ride to Swinley one weekend? anyone got the bottle ;-)

Sounds like people have some awesome holidays planned!!!

It’s on thred button on BBC NOW NOW NOW!

We were originally going to spend a week in Scotland doing the routes up there but mates were going to Morzine and couldn’t resist missing out on another trip .. think it’s my 6th year!! Luckily I don’t have kids!!!Skiing got kyeboshed as we are off to Morocco.

Peru sounds awesome .. always wanted to go to south America. I save all my money and time off for holidays, got to love experiencing MTBing around the World. Whistler, Moab, South America to go at some point!

Remember Caerphilly Castle is also the 3rd biggest castle in Europe …. or it was in it’s time .. not anymore looking at the ruins of it! How about velodrome in Newport to have a go at riding there??

I do agree that a lot of the time if women want to ride they will, however he less confident amongst us (I’m not ashamed to say I’m not) just need a little encouragement away from the glaring eyes of machismo, and I’m not normally one for saying that. But I really want to encourage more women to MTB I see how much joy, how many friends I’ve met and awesome holidays I’ve had through MTbing and I want others to feel my love!

I don’t think women specific trails will work (IMO) but rides, support, interne sites then yes, some women will not feel comfortable posting on here, like the recent bloke that asked for some women he could e-mail. His girlfriend has a personal question that she didn’t want to post, loads of us answered and hopefully sorted out her problems!

St Fagans in Cardiff is a nice day out with kids (depending on ages). Great big park with a bit about history of wales and lots of things to see and do.

I have been MTbing for 17 years since I was 13, I got into it young as I was a tomboy and my brother started. I think a lot of the comments above are fairly true.

Women who get into it later in life tend to be more cautious about falling off and breaking body parts/looks etc. I’ve never cared what I look like on a bike as I’m not trying to impress/pull! I think a lot of women are definately put off by gung ho blokes wanting to rush around and do fat jumps. Me and some mates in Cardiff make an effort to entice new women out into MBing but on women only MTB rides as a starting point. relaxed, can get advice, we can talk about kit (puppies and hair products). They can ask more honest questions, get advice and not feel like blokes are critizing or intimidating.

What annoys me most is why some men are so pig headed sometimes? You ever catch a slow woman up they will make an effort to allow you to pass WHEN possible and I would never harass them. Men will refuse point blank as they don’t want to be over taken by a women or they go past you on a descent at a very dodgy moment taking you out and then hey are crap and you end up overtaking! This was a classic that I was having an Afan yesterday!!! Men can be too pig headed to sometimes except that women are better than them. Hence women only groups tend to go out and have a lot more fun … plus as bunnyhop mentioned there is always cake and tea at the end.

Again a lot of people get introduced through boyfriend/husband and getting/giving advice can turn into rows. You go out with mates you are more likely to take their advice when riding especially if it’s a women who you have followed and realise are quite good a downhilling or techincal single track. I have a mate that’s pants at downhilling, I can shout at her to get her weight off the saddle or she’ll crash, when her boyfriend does they both end up sulking for hours!!

I think definately women only rides and bring back a women only forum. Shecycles was great and very well used with, here just frustrates me sometimes look at the typical first few post responses that you get!! I know some of it is meant in jest but with newbies coming along they may just be put off.

did you go on an organised tour? or did you manage to find all the routes yourself?

Me too … I want to help out!? Please send me the e-mail

franwhyte AT hotmail DOT com

All I want to say is DON’T stay together for the sake of the kids it will just drag you down and you’ll struggle to stay happy. I see lots of people in my job who are like that and they just spend all their time depressed.

Good luck though things wil get better over time.

Another vote for the Havoc!
Very spacious, carries everything easily. Nice smaller zip pockets inside, including fleece lined one for camera. Space for pads and full face helmet. Straps are good, adjustable and moveable, back pad comfortable. Hydration pack goes into seperate pocket which always makes a massive difference. Just sold my 2nd hand (as being a chick it was too big on my small frame) bloke I sold it to has also sent me loads of e-mails about how good it is!

Go get one now! And some good deals out there too!

Police covering their faces with riot fire proof protective gear. They will be easily identifiable by their shoulder numbers.
2 hottie … agree, good on you.

I’m going be there startign from Morzine on the sunday .. rock on!! Get delivery of new bike this weekend and get to christen it at Afan! Hope it is sunny again!

Lazy lie in, met up with 4 others and went out on the motorbikes to Bibury to look at the trout farm and have an ice cream. 160 miles later all pile back to mine for a BBQ. now lying on he sofa pooped after a mad but awesome weekend.
After 6 1/2 years of being together Mr MC and I are on the same shifts! yeah to having some time off to play together.

Loddrik I can’t possibly see how you can have 3 licences? Unless they are in different names? Interesting to see what personal details you have on that? and need we says more on that …

when both myself and Mr MC got 3 points neither of them effected our insurance policies we were told 6 points would hike it up, guess it depends who you’re with, how long etc etc.

The points are valid for 3 years on your hard core licence then they count for 4 years in the distance somewhere! wierd .. makes you wonder what the point of that is?

Definately day travel card much cheaper.

Because there is nothing better than flying down a twisty single track descent at speed and getting it right! The feeling of freedom is just awesome, the love of playing in the the countryside and night riding to the pub on a summers Friday night … shall I continue!!

Couldn’t live without MTBing! would do it every day if there were some decent local trails .. unfortunately where I live is shite!! roll on my move back to Wales!!!

Have you got nothing better to do that watch Enders!!!

OOO i’ll have to have a think and look tonight (oh and ask my other half!!). Will get back to you.

I agree with Barney-McGrew.

It’s always sad and disturbing when people die in any industry. Thoughs go out to oil workers, my bro is up in Aberdeen in the industry so close to home.

That’ll be those darn horse riders!!!

Cool I shall take a look, I like the look of the Sombrio ones!!
Currently waiting for my Minx girl order!!!!!

Oh where and when was that? Impressive style and what a talent even if SOME folk (not wanting to start a row) think he’s arrogant!!

Have a look at Orbea road bikes I bought an Enol about 8 years ago now and that was £500 and still going strong.

buy buy buy you will enjoy it! Can go to Majorca training in April and do Sa colobra 12 k of up up up unless you go down into the valley for a coffee then decide to catch the boat out :lol:

here goes .. I have had a nightmare getting baggies to fit and I would think i’m a normalish size!! I am 5ft 4 1/2 30″ waist and 40″ hips, I have 2 old old old pairs of Oakleys and Fox shorts which are both are large. I have tried to get some more however they are silly sizes.

This week I bought some Endura Humvees from wiggle for £40 and got a large as that’s allegedly what size 30″ waist is, the lycra liners fitted well the baggies had enough space to fit 2 small children in!!!

I then e-mailed Minx Girl asking what she recommends (since I have chunky (or sporty!!) thighs). She sent me a very very long e-mail with lots of recommendations and I have just ordered some Harlot stuff. She also suggested the Terry Liner for under baggies, she said the pad is the same as in their normal shorts but the material in the shorts is mesh so cooler when under baggies, they do look good and I’ve ordered a pair of those as well.

If you e-mail Minx girl you’re girlf’s height and size she will suggest something that looks good.

I found the Sombrio and Loeka stuff made me look like an oompa lumpa!!! Hope this hasn’t put you off but basically what I’m saying is there is loads of options out there for women it’s just finding something that fits your missus. Look at the usual sites
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com
http://www.wiggle.com
http://www.stif.com
http://www.minx-girl.com

Baggy buying for women I think is a nightmare! Good luck though and let us know what you get that fits her, if I haven’t tried them I can always buy a pair!!

Don’t know and don’t care I really can’t bare to watch Alan Sugar!! sorry!

Ton you are absolutely right! No one has a problem with peaceful protestors especially as we all feel strongly about something but those few minority idiots that like to riot and cause havoc for all the law abiding citizens causes the police to have to react in the way they do penning EVERYONE in.

Cool I have just bought one of those Face west ones as they go smaller and for now I just wanted a little one for passport, paper work etc.
Thanks guys.