Don’t use neetsfoot, it is designed to keep flexible leather items flexible.

Go to a tack shop or a proper shoe shop and get some leather conditioner, you only need a tiny amount, so if you know somebody who rides horses, you may be able to blag some. Just work a very small amount of it into the saddle with a sponge or with your fingers, wait for it to soak in and buff the saddle with a dry cloth.

Hey Tom, sorry to hear about your fall.

I hope it’s just bruises and nothing is broken.

Neil M

I like Pearl Izumi Attack 3/4’s.

I’ve got a couple of pairs and use them mainly for road riding.

I have used Gripshift on all my bikes since the mid 1990’s (before SRAM).

The Shimano compatible gripshifts are a vast improvement over the old Wavey shifters, and the Attack 9 speed shifters are almost identical to 9 speed X0 (with different pull ratio’s). All of these are pretty ‘clicky’ and require a decent grip for up or down shifts.

The 2 x 10 X0 shifters are in a different league, and are much easier and quicker to shift than any gripshift I have used before.

I like them, always have done, and wouldn’t use anything else.

As other have said Joe Friel is yer man, Riding Past 50, ISBN-13; 978-0-880011-737-1.

There’s a lot of pretty basic stuff in there, but there are also some very specific targets and guidance and I use aspects of the book as part of my road riding / training

Another vote for the Smart 1 Watt.

I just went into my LBS and asked for the brightest rear flashing light they had.

I use mine all the time on every ride and have just fitted something similar to the front, prior to having to fit the proper winter LED light in another month or so.

Given his contacts and connections, never mind his name, I think he should be able to drum up some additional sponsorship.

The next two weeks of the Vuelta should be good for the team, what with contracts to be renewed and all.

Waiting for Raceface to bring some compact chainring sets into the UK.

When they do, I can finish my DeKerf.

Teetosugars has it dead right.

There are a few boys over on RB who would sell their souls for a Whisky Town Racer. A lot depends on the paint though.

Do a search in the pre 97 for sale section first, as there have been a couple sold recently, and that will give you and idea of the value. Plus, most of the boys over there prefer to buy a frame and forks, so they can build it exactly how they want it; unless of course the complete bike is really high spec. Even then, I’d put money on people asking you to split it.

I’ll watch out for the ad, and remember, lots of photo’s, they luv em.

I use them a lot, although usually just one in a small drink bottle.

I’ve never had any trouble getting to sleep after using them, but then I’m 54 and after a hard ride I’m absolutely knackered, so sleeping is never a problem.

At Easter a local greenlane motorbike club got special permission to use some woods in West Somerset that we often ride through. We have just come back from a weeks holiday down there and I have had to report one of the Bridleways to the local Rights of Way officer as impassible, and the woods are now criss crossed with motorcycle tracks.

It appears that the guys riding in the woods did not know about it until the club rode through there, as we have been riding down there for a few years now and never seen any damage before, just the occasional set of tyre tracks, now they are starting to do real damage.

These woods do not belong to the Forestry Commission, they are private, and the local council have worked hard to get open access to the paths for walkers, horses and cyclists, it wouldn’t surprise me to see the whole place locked up tight or some kind of barriers in place the next time we go down there.

As a motorcyclist, as well as cyclist and horse rider, I am saddened and at the same time unsurprised that given an inch, some guys have decided to take a mile which ultimately could to lead to total closure.

I only have a CX bike with no wheels at the mo, so have no idea what I am…

Stationary.

Roberts DOGS BOLX, perfect right from the start.

Spare a thought for the poor train drivers.

On that point any recommendations for a v brake groupset. Can’t seem to find an XT one anywhere.

.

Have a look on retrobike.co.uk for XT V-brakes, they come up from time to time. Alternatively there are the Avid groups, I have SD7’s on a couple of bikes and they work well, but my current favourites are Cane Creek Direct Curve. I have one set of DC2, two sets of DC3 and have just got some DC5’s. I have just fitted a DC3 setup to one of my daughters retrobikes and she managed to get some matching levers too, they are a really nice shape and better quality than pretty much any of the current Avid range (the older levers where much better).

I like the sound of your build, it’s pretty much what I do. Are you sending your fork to Fork English? Tim really knows his stuff and is a good guy to do business with.

oh and a cracked Roberts Dogs Bolx frame too.

Chas and the boys will take care of that for you. I had a new top tube put into my 92 DB and it rides like a dream.

robdob, nice to see where the BEEZ NEEZ has ended up, I have a CATS WISKAS and have instantly become a DL fan.

On the subject in general, ALL my bikes are retro, both mtb and road, mainly because I am too, and I am stuck in 1994.

Also, BAH, HUMBUG and PAH! to all this new fangled nonsense, what was ever wrong the the Safety Cycle?

That could so easily have been avoided, if only the rider had worn his Hi-Viz vest and a helmet.

When will they learn?

Off the top of my head I’d check, B screw adjustment, outer travel stop screw on the mech (could need moving out a little) and chain length. Chain flapping sounds like it might be slightly too long, although this usually shows up on the granny ring in the longer gears.

I’m assuming the ‘rumble’ is not very slight contact of the chain on the front mech, which tends to be more of a grating or buzzing noise.

Yes you can replace the downtube shifters, but as dantsw said, the expense is not worth it.

Downtube shifters are pretty cheap, brake lever / shifters are not, plus there are all the new gear cables, downtube cable stops, bar tape, plus the time involved.

Better off spending another £100 on a different bike.

As for toe clips and downtube shifters being dangerous, that’s a bit of an overstatement isn’t it? After all, that’s all there was for the best part of 40 years and plenty of retro types and students still use them on a daily basis.

I bought / built my first ever road bike last autumn and I really enjoy road riding, it adds a whole new dimension to my offroad riding as well as the benefits of additional strength and stamina (which is why I started).

As for size and manufacturer, go to your LBS and try a couple of bikes for size, as reach is important for a road bike. I ride a smaller sized frame than convention says I should, and have ridden hundreds of miles comfortably, so regard any size chart as, at best, a guide.

Deciding which make to buy is as difficult as deciding which make of mtb to buy, and as I ride a Raleigh I would consider them a “proper” manufacturer, although they still have a lot of catching up to do. Fashion plays a huge part in the popularity of certain brands, so a cheap bike is not always a bad bike, just not popular. Of course, it could be cheap because it’s a complete dog….. so caveat emptor.

Just to second that if you are in Burnham, then you are within easy reach of the Mendips, or the Quantocks.

For the Mendips, head up the A38 to Churchill and then to Burrington Combe, or to The Swan at Rowberrow, just off the A38. Both are good kick off points to explore Rowberrow and Blackdown.

Umm, I don’t want to p*ss on anyone parade here, but we’ve been using old tubes as chainstay protectors for around the last 20 years.

Cut a long strip of old inner tube about 20 to 25mm wide and then just wrap it, bar tape style, from the dropout to the crank. Secure it with a couple of cable ties, trim it off, job done.

They last a couple of years before the rubber starts to split, due to weather, water, mud and the constant beating of a chain.

Most local authorities have someone who is responsible for cycling. Part of their job is to liaise with companies to try and increase the number of employees who cycle to work. They will also know of any funding or grants available to companies to help with the cost of cycle parking.

Also, Sustrans have people that do a similar job.

There are a number of manufacturers who make 5 bike shelters, some are designed specifically to fit into a single car parking space, just google cycle shelters and you’ll get half a dozen manufacturers.

1999 Raleigh 853. Made of Reynolds 853 and one of the last hand made frames out of the old RSP section in Nottingham.

Ultegra chainset, carbon forks, Easton wheels.

I love it because it is great fun to ride and because it has brought a new dimension to my cycling after 20 years of mtb only riding.

I have both attack and X0 in 3 x 9 and as far as I can tell, exactly as perthmtb said, they appear to be basically the same shifter with a different finish.

I have used the Attacks on / off for the last year and a half, all through what was laughingly known as a summer in 2012 and have had no issues at all, and they still feel and look like new… apart from the ingrained mud!

There are a number of riders on Mull. I’m not sure how up to date it is, but they have a web site with a few routes listed.

Linky: http://www.isleofmullcyclingclub.co.uk/

I hope you have a great time.

My family are from Mull, but I haven’t managed to visit for a while, maybe next year.

Don’t forget insect repellent, the midges can be wicked.

Take a look at FSA SL-K.

I have a set fitted to my drop bar mtb / cx frankenbike and they work as well, if not better, than V brakes.

I picked mine up from ebay, boxed and unused for less than half the list price.

Fine in daylight, counterproductive in the dark, IMO (as a driver)

If it gets me seen and slows the approaching vehicle down, then it has done the job, day or night.

As for the half a mile thing, I have a LED light, not a laboratory grade laser.

I have the most flashingest and eye burningly brightest rear lights I can find on the back of my road bikes. Then, just to make sure they are seen, I angle them slightly up and towards the centre of the road.

I really don’t care how much distress and discomfort it causes car, van and lorry drivers, my intention is to be seen.

I was convinced that flashing lights work, when on a long stretch of A road early one morning while driving to work, I was able to spot a cyclist the best part of half a mile ahead. If that’s not enough time for a driver to see me, then I’m dead meat, regardless of what I do.

As for clothes, I have come to the conclusion that my riding gear is neither dark enough, nor bright enough for me to consider myself a ‘serious’ roadie!

Don’t confuse a full car park with a busy trail. There are always a lot of downhill riders at Peddleabikeaway, and I have been round the VT before and seen very few other riders even when the car park is rammed.

I’d reflect what other have said, the descent in the middle of the trail is pretty steep, and the last 3.5k just needs a bit of care.

Just an additional reflection or two; it was great to have a choice of food as opposed to just the usual burgers / sausages / egg etc.

In my case (and my son’s) I had an Indian, and it was very good.

Shame all the traders shut up shop at the end of the usual working day. This may have been a stipulation by the estate, but it would have given me something else to do in the evening when as team captain I finally had some time to myself.

Some brighter lighting in the changeover area would have helped identify incoming team mates. A lot of people were shouting names, but my team mate was the strong silent type, and it took us a while to find each other. I’m sure slightly brighter lighting would not rob riders of their night vision any worse than having incoming cyclists headlamps flashed in your face or cause more disturbance than a whole bunch of people shouting all night.

This was my first Mayhem, and my first ever mtb competition, and overall I enjoyed it a lot.

On reflection, and looking at the photo’s, next year I’ll do at least one lap during daylight hours, as riding only at night, I think missed a lot, including conversation, as at night I think everyone was in a bit of a bubble, with two exceptions, first was the guy who said ‘nice lights’ as he went past me and the other was the pair of guys chatting away while riding through the Red Bull section, as if it was a Sunday morning trail ride, and still going faster than me.

As trackside camping is never going to be an option at this venue, how about some strategically placed stands for watching, encouraging, heckling, out on the course.

I was there for a while at lunchtime and there was loads of room. Camping area A had about four camper vans and an awning in it.

You don’t need any identification for signing in, but you do need to know your own name, so best stay off the beer until afterwards.

The ground was hard, and it would take a lot of rain to turn it soggy. I can’t make comment on the course as I’ll be walking that in the morning.

And there were a lot more people in the retrovillage when I left.

If it’s like the picture above. I removed the band at the back and shortened the long band that runs side to side. I then re-stitched a loop at the end, cut a small slot in the middle of the mount so that I could feed the new loop back into its original position.

I made two, one for me and one for my son, which we will be using at Mayhem.

Battery just lives in one of the pockets on my jersey.

Well I’m glad I’m not the only one who was more than a little bit pissed at the ‘first come first served’ announcement.

This will be my first Mayhem and for many reasons I can’t get there until early Saturday. I’m part of a team, so I will keep my fingers crossed that there is space for my tent somewhere, as I don’t fancy sleeping in the car.

Looks like it’s dried out very nicely.

I rode some of the same bridleways in March and everything on Blackdown was still very rutted from the previous 9 months worth of rain and use, although Rowberrow was fine, if a little rocky in places.

Must get up there soon.

Good choice of music BTW.

Done.

But your focus on magazines may be misleading.

I don’t buy any magazines on a regular basis any more, mainly because I can get information faster on line and also because the cost of magazines which are mostly low on content and high on adverts really pisses me off. I don’t see any good reason to pay the best part of a fiver for a mag full of ads.

However, I do buy books, as I much prefer to read a real book than from a screen. Plus, the battery never goes flat on a book.

Uuggghhh, I hate ticks.

As others have said, you do get used to it.

I was originally told my hearing loss was not suitable for a hearing aid, so I lived for three years without one. I’ve had mine a year and a half now and it’s bloody marvellous.

One tip, don’t do an offroad ride with it in a ‘safe’ pocket…. need I saw more. Bless the NHS, they only charged me £50 admin fee for a replacement.

I wear mine when road riding as I want to hear traffic behind me, but tend to leave it in the car when riding offroad, as I don’t want to kill it by sweating it to death.