The cheap Casios are awesome and at less than a tenner pretty much disposable but they’ll last the ages any way. I’ve got the Casio W-86-1VQES Illuminator as the light works much better than the basic one.

I’ve got Fox Launch Pro knee pads and they’re comfier than I was expecting, very happy with them.

Fair enough, I used to just wear one until I scratched the hell out of my engagement present watch.

Get a cheap Casio for on the bike and other manly activities then spend the rest on a swish watch for the rest if the time

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Casio-F-91W-1YER-Resin-Digital-Watch/dp/B000J34HN4/ref=sr_1_10?s=watch&ie=UTF8&qid=1345141168&sr=1-10

Nealy, have you used that supplier? (looking for a recommendation, not to slag your link)
As that dual XML is interesting, love the battery, not sure about it’s mount though.

I haven’t bought from Lightmalls or Manafont yet but they come recommended by Bikeradar’s light nut and on Budgetlightforum.com so I’d recommend them to friends and family without worry and will be ordering the £29 3xR5 light from them soon. I’ve ordered twice from DX and both times it took 6+ weeks to arrive but ightmalls and Manafont orders are meant to turn up in a couple of weeks. As with DX though be careful with payments, it’s best to use paypal and use a unique password if you create an account on their website.

The battery does look good on that Ultrafire twin T6.

Nealy – excellent ‘light harvest’

I’ve been doing some late rides recently so have already been getting ready for this years light wars ;) In fairness the 2 501B torches I have are fine but I want to stick them on my lid and get something offensive on the bars :D

Alternative to Deal Extreme that ships quicker but still comes from China.

All in one bike lights

£56 2xT6 1500 lumen
http://www.lightmalls.com/ultrafire-uf-22b-2-cree-xm-l-t6-1500-lumen-3-mode-led-bicyclelight-headlight-with-4-18650-battery-pack-and-charger

£42 1xU2 1500 lumen
http://www.lightmalls.com/new-model-high-brightness-js-803-quality-1500-lumen-mini-all-black-color-cree-xm-l-t6-3-modes-function-front-bike-light-with-apouch-kit

£29 3xR5 1600 lumen
http://www.lightmalls.com/high-brightness-1600-lumen-3xr5-cree-xpg-r5-3-modes-led-bicycle-light-with-4-18650-battery-set-3-xp-g-r5-bike-light

Torch option

£8 501B U2 1300 lumen
http://www.lightmalls.com/ultrafire-501b-cree-xml-u2-1300-lumen-5-mode-led-flashlight-1-18650
+
£6 2×18650 batteries
http://www.lightmalls.com/trustfire-protected-18650-3-7v-true-2400mah-rechargeable-lithium-batteries-1-pair
+
£14 charger
http://www.manafont.com/product_info.php/xtar-wp2-ii-liion-battery-charger-for-1044014500146501634017670185001865018700-uk-plug-p-8401
+
£2.50 mount
http://www.manafont.com/product_info.php/universal-bicycle-mount-206cm312cm-diameter-p-3345

What are you wanting to degrease? For chains, take it off and chuck it in paraffin, a 4 litre bottle will last you til the end of time as it’s reusable (just let the crap settle and draw off the top)

This +1

You’ll end up removing grease form where you don’t want to (bearings etc) if you use too much Jizer or Gunk although they both do an excellent job.

I’m not convinced on the Carbon Nerve being a good choice!

Nerve CF 8.0 £2,369

Rear Shock Fox Float CTD Performance BV

Fork Fox 32 Float CTD FIT Performance

Headset Cane Creek Serie 40

Rear Derailleur Shimano XT RD-M781

Front Derailleur Shimano Deore XT

Shifters Shimano Deore XT

Brake levers Avid Elixir 5

Brakes Avid Elixir 5

Hubs Mavic Crosstrail

Cassette Shimano SLX 11-36 10-speed

Rims Mavic Crosstrauil
Tyres Schwalbe Nobby Nic 2,25″ Evolution Line

Cranks Shimano Deore XT FC-M780

Chainrings 42/32/24
Bottom Bracket Shimano Deore XT

Stem Ritchey Mountain Trail WCS

Handlebar Ritchey Low Rizer WCS 710/20 mm

Grips Ergon GA-1

Saddle Selle Italia Race SE

Seat post RockShox RS Reverb Stealth

Pedals none included
Frame sizes S, M, L, XL
Colour slate / race blue
Weight 11,00

Nerve XC 9.0 SL £2,369

Frame Canyon New Nerve XC Race

Rear Shock Fox Float Performance RP2 Boost Valve XV

Fork Fox 32 Float Factory FIT

Headset Acros AiX-03

Rear Derailleur Shimano XTR Shadow

Front Derailleur Shimano Deore XT

Shifters Shimano Deore XT

Brake levers Formula The One

Brakes Formula The One

Hubs Mavic Crossmax ST

Cassette Shimano Deore XT 11-36 10-speed

Rims Mavic Crossmax ST Disc

Tyres Schwalbe Nobby Nic 2,25″ Evolution Line

Cranks Shimano XTR FC-M 980

Chainrings 42/32/24
Bottom Bracket Shimano XTR

Stem Ritchey WCS 4-Axis (31,8)

Handlebar Ritchey WCS Carbon Riser 680/15 mm

Grips Canyon Bracelets
Saddle Selle Italia SL

Seat post Canyon Seatpost SLC
Pedals none included
Frame sizes S, M, L, XL
Colour deep black ano – silver
Weight 10,90

Good grief, 5,000m climbing! Here’s the Strava of a fairly handy rider doing it on Saturday http://app.strava.com/rides/l-etape-du-tour-acte-2-2012-11eme-scratch-2eme-categorie-40-13433110

http://www.tredz.co.uk/blog/antur-stiniog-mountain-bike-centre/

some more info

Does anyone know how much it costs?

It’s £25 including the finishers mug at the end. I signed up for it yesterday and will be doing for 60km route on my hardtail. I’ve not done it before but it looks like a laugh.

How about £10 per end? http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=11972

I doubt you can get the seals as they are square section rather than a round profile.

I’ve got Superstar’s £160 AM wheelset with their own brand rims which are made by Alex and Switch Evo Hubs which are Novatec D881SB front and D882SB rear (click links for info). I agree that the bearings they come with are pretty low quality as mine need replacing after 6 months and 1,000km but even good quality bearings don’t last forever so it’s not like you’ll never need to replace them on other hubs. As far as I can see the best replacements are SKF bearings from Katec on ebay at £40 for a full set (6804-2RS x 2 & 6802-2RS x 4) which you’ll find if you search “prorider switch”. In my experience Superstar’s customer service has been great, they’ve always responded well and within a day to emails and returns and when I had a big off buckling my front wheel and knackering half the drive side spoke with the chain they fixed before wheels for free including return postage so it only cost me £12ish to post them to them with Parcelfarce.

I’ve had the £160 Superstar AM wheels for 5 months (1,000km) and I’m made up with them. With QR adaptors the front is 1,019g and the rear is 1,100g although I’ve since converted to their 9mm & 10mm bolt through QR’s. I had a big off buckling the front and sending the chain into the drive side spokes damaging half of them, Superstars repaired both wheels for free including return postage so just cost £12ish to send them there via parcelfarce. The rims are Alex and the hubs are Novatec which both seem good although some of the bearings are feeling rough in both wheels which I believe is common on the switch hubs as they use cheap bearings. A full f&r set of SKF bearings from Katec on eBay (search “prorider switch”) can be had for £40ish so not too expensive to fix and pretty easy to replace.

Photos shouldn’t be free, what’s wrong with paying for them?

SSC Type 8?

http://superstar.tibolts.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=57&products_id=359

It comes with a roller bottom chain guide so I don’t see what good a Bionicon guide would do. I’d also advise cleaning/degreasing the chain properly and checking for damaged chain rings

I’ll be the clever clogs :D

http://live.redbull.tv/events/35/strength_in_numbers/

http://www.pinkbike.com/news/Free-STRENGTH-IN-NUMBERS-Online-Premiere-2012.html

I had a variety of end cans on my bikes never informing the insurance companies and it didn’t cause any issues with any claims. Just make sure you get a legal can for MOT day :D

Yup, although the power station is a couple of miles away and was switched off in the 90’s (or earlier?).

Spent nuclear fuel has a half life of 159,200 years! :|

Three eyed fish or not I can’t wait for this place to open :D

My bike is always stored hanging by the front wheel, it did mess the brakes up when there was air in the system so I bled them properly solving the problem and resulting in significantly better brakes…simples :D Also as turtlegeading said storing the forks upside down is much better as it lubes the upper bushes and seals.

Do it properly and get some bear spray :D

I blame Strava

Have a read of this, some good suggestions

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/campsite-recommendations-lake-district-1

I stick a bent wire coat hanger in it and put it on the radiator to dry our if I’m not going to use it for a while but store it in the freezer if the heating isn’t on. If I’m going on a long hot ride I half fill it with water and inflate it then put it in the freezer on its side overnight, icy cold water all day long the next day.

Washed my old altura jacket with a cup of pure soap flakes in the front load washing machine last night. Not a good idea! Foamed up like crazy and had to open the machine door to scoop the foam out manually.

You used a whole cup of soap flakes, I’m surprised you didn’t turn your kitchen into a foam party :lol:

There’s nothing wrong at all with the machine filling with foam until it starts coming out of the detergent draw, use 30g per load in soft water, 40g in medium softness water and 50g in hard water. If you use too much expect a party :D

I’m off to Coed y Brenin to do The Beast a week on Saturday, hopefully I’m as lucky with the weather.

I’ve had both and they both work about the same but I prefer the Mucky Nutz as it shields your fork seals and stanchions a bit as well. I’ve got minimal gap between tyre and fork brace so neither are particularly durable but you should still get a year out of them.

Just use this to wash from Tesco, £1.89 for 14 washes instead of £9 for 10 washes with Nikwax Tech Wash

Grangers 2 in 1 didn’t work for me, I’ve had the best results with Nikwax spray then low temp tumble dry. Also I only wash my outdoor gear using soap flakes and no conditioner in the machine, Tesco brand it Granny’s soap flakes but a few places sell it and it’s loads cheaper than tech wash but is basically the same stuff.

yep great for man made stuff that only gets damp not muddy. struggles a bit in anything soft for grip when climbing. personally wouldn’t want to run one on the front but a great back tyre for trail centres as they roll so fast.

^ This. Also the sidewalls of mine (2.1 62a eXC folding 120tpi) are quite succeptible to cuts although it has been due to riding in pretty rocky conditions, I think it’s worth considering getting one with EXO sidewall protection.

I’m thinking of swapping my rear for a Maxxis Ignitor 2.35 soon as they sound like a good halfway point between a Crossmark and something liek a High Roller.

Use Fogtech, it’s the only stuff that does what it says on the tin…sorry for not coming up with anything funny.

http://www.fogtech.com/fogtech.html

This might help, get someone else to measure you though.

I’m pretty sure the only difference is the UN55 has a metal locking cup so get that if you can find it in the right size.

Great capture of Xolo having a wee….

I missed it at the time as there were people infront of me and my lad was slapping me in the face in excitement, glad the vid turned out so well considering it was a hold the camera over your head job.

It’s definitely worth the effort to go and see it. A couple of videos I took, not the best quality but I did have my son on my shoulders!

Side Farm in Patterdale, the site itself is on Ullswater and they charge a £10 quiet deposit per person for groups. Go and find the hidden pebble beach at silver bay a short walk up the bridalway.

http://www.lakedistrictcamping.co.uk/campsites/northeast/side_farm.htm

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g499546-d654559-Reviews-Side_Farm-Patterdale_Lake_District_Cumbria_England.html

Search “katec 6902” on eBay and it should bring up two bearing options, the cheap one is a normal bearing and the expensive one is SKF or similar quality but both have been repacked with grease. My brother has just done all his Stumpy FSR frame bearings using their stuff and is very impressed with them. Searching the tinternet only finds good reports on them.

I had a similar experience last May when I went to a trail centre with my brother who has been riding for years, I didn’t spew but came very close and really didn’t enjoy it. I went back again a month later with a mate who hardly rode and he blitzed me too which was pretty embarrassing and gave me the kick up the arse to get fit.

Since then I’ve rode 1,500km on my mountain bike, which is my only bike, mostly on the road a few evenings a week including all through the winter and getting out on the trails a couple of times a month which unfortunately is all I have time for. I’m still improving but I can now do big rides without struggling too much so am able to enjoy the whole thing which has been my motivation getting out through the week when the weather is grim.

Get out and ride as much as you can as hard as you can and find a big hill and ride up and down that until your legs and lungs are about to explode.

If you know where you are going then have a look at the below site which lists all phone masts in the country

http://www.sitefinder.ofcom.org.uk/search

Orange and T-Mobile are in the process of merging their networks so will have the biggest network which will eventually be rebranded Everything Everywhere but 3 also have a deal to share sites with T-Mobile and I believe they share roaming but I’m on 3 and they are rubbish.

O2 and Vodafone share sites and may merge networks in the future but that is much less progressed than Everything Everywhere.