I've just got back from seeing a sports and manipulative therapist today. I feel like a new man!!

I'd been getting problems with cramping in my left leg, spasm of my lower back, shoulder pain …… the list goes on. It had got progressively worse until recently I decided to seek help. This lady came recommended as a possible solution. I've had a few motorcycle accidents over the years and a recent mtb fall where I twisted badly – she felt this had been the final straw but that the problems lay with the earlier accidents.

She found my left leg was longer than the right, my pelvis was twisted, my shoulders were twisted and 3 or 4 vertebrae in my middle back had locked. With manipulation she freed the vertebrae – all I felt was a pop as she did. They had caused all the problems and the pelvis and shoulder immediately corrected themselves and my legs became equal again.

I can't start to describe how much better I feel. The immediate release of what can best be called energy is amazing. All the areas that were previously in pain are now tingling pleasantly and I feel great.

It is genuinely weird – I feel lighter on my feet and all the discomfort I'd grown used to has gone.

I think ZTR hubs are rebranded American Classic hubs.

I'd go for a Stans ZTR rim on a Hope or ZTR hub with DT Rev spokes.

I'm personally running Stans Olympic rims with REv spokes of Sun Ringle Dirty Flea hubs – just under 1500g and seem to be strong and light

A combination of a crud catcher on the downtube and a Neoguard means i get almost no mud on my face or glasses at all.

Loads of places sell Neoguards – Chainreaction etc – just read the reviews on CR – they really are that effective

Thanks Stevie

I do like the DX spd's as they provide a decent platform when you're not clipped in but weigh a tonne. The Candy 2ti's will lose 1/2 lb (and they're white)

I'm tempted to flip my stem – it's 100mm 5deg rise and with the riser bar I think it needs dropping a bit. Only had it a couple of weeks so still tinkering and making it fit.

Here's mine –

2010 Anthem X4 that's been upgraded
XT chainset and gearset
Stans Olympic rims/Dirty Flea hubs/DT Rev wheelset
K18 Oro's
Thomson stem and seatpost
Hope QR s/p clamp
KCNC skewers
Raceface Next SL carbon bars
Fizik Gobi

Changing the M647 DX pedals for some Crank Bro Candy 2Ti's this week

J20 fruit drinks

I had to go a size up on my Endura clickfast liners. The baggy was spot in medium but the medium in the liner short was ridiculously small in the waist and grippers.

I've used soft lenses for about 25 years and have used dailies for as long as I can remember.

I always tend to wear glasses on the bike even if they are just clear lenses. I would if I had perfect eyesight to be honest as it only takes a stone thrown up or an overhanging tree to cause problems.

All the GP users I know have all switched to soft lenses. They are really comfy.

I seem to remember my order arriving very quickly from them – some No Tubes items

I also seem to recall getting conformation that it had shipped after I'd received them.

She usually comes across as a pretty nice lass. Apparently all the production teams/crews enjoy working with her as she's very grounded and doesn't expect special treatment like so many of these presenters. Her film review show on the radio is supposedly ok.

Fair play to her I say (not that I'll watch it).

I've got a couple of pairs of goretex boots and have never suffered wet feet from water coming in or sweaty feet

Go Outdoors is a good place to try loads of makes on as they tend to have a huge range. If you want expert advice though go to a specialist climbing/outdoor shop.

As above – got a cold which has set off my asthma. My ride last night started well but turned into a very slow crawl back. Think I'll wait until my chest has cleared until I go out again. Hopefully at the weekend.

Pretty lightweight excuse compared to some of you

I've just fitted a set to my Oro's.

Took a couple of rides to bed in the front due to the wet weather but were great last night. Almost too good a couple of times!!

Jagwire make one

http://www.jagwireusa.com/index.php/products/mountain/disc_hose_kits/

If you mount them to the wheels with tubes overnight before fitting them tubeless you should find a track pump will get them to seat.

That's what I've personally found with Schwalbes anyway.

Planning doing it with my wife and 2 other couples in the Autumn – my wife hasn't ridden a bike for 7 years

We're planning the Whitehaven to Sunderland one. There are at least 2 guides with routes etc available

Started well on local trails and bridleways but went down hill fast.

I'm asthmatic. Still got the tail end of a cold which sometimes seems to set it off especially combined with the cold air in the NE.

About half way round the loop I was doing the asthma kicked in with a vengeance riding up a hill – the bridleway had been totally destroyed with hoof imprints and it was very hard going. Simply couldn't turn the pedals I was so breathless and had to slowly walk until I could breath again. Not a great experience. A very gentle ride back followed and my chest is still tight now 2 hours later. Rarely suffer with my asthma but today was an exception.

Sounds like overuse.

It's a problem that a few of the married men on here would love to suffer from.

A bad experience with a Nitron a few years ago means I wouldn't fit one to any bike of mine now.

For a bike like the NT650, the Hagon would be ideally suited.

Or he's a scammer. Would you send a cheque for £2600 to someone who has no seller feedback and will ship the bike in 3 weeks!?!? His only feedback is for buying a teapot and an Ann Summers vibrator.

I'll leave it.

I considered getting one but bought an as new condition Thomson off a member here.

Unless you're chasing light weight the Thomson is the best built, strongest and best looking post.

Loving my Gobi – also got a Tundra and WTB Rocket and neither come close for comfort

I suspect my lack of natural ability and vertigo would make that a non-starter. Great to watch though

Good call on bacon and brie

I still love strong cheddar, ham and mushroom too

It's well hidden in the FAQ section

In the past I'd have said yes execute him but I've mellowed a bit with age.

I do feel strongly that anyone who kills or tries to kill another person should lose their liberty for the rest of their natural life (apart from certain exceptions eg compassionate reasons, self defence).

I find it astonishing that murder is so often downgraded to manslaughter resulting in a pitifully short sentence, for example, unprovoked attacks in the street which result in the victims death. If you mindlessly take a life you have forfeit the right to live yours freely.

Rehabilitation and restorative justice are simply inappropriate for some people who will always be a risk to others or who have committed crimes serious enough to no longer deserve their liberty.

Taken from the Fox website

What is the maximum size disc rotor I can put on my fork?
32 & 36mm forks are designed to use disc rotors with an outside diameter of 160-205mm. 40 models are designed to use rotors with an outside diameter of 200-225mm.

If Labour win this country is screwed even more than it already is.

Come on Tony get campaigning!!!!

cheeky monkey

There's a big difference between riding a public bridleway and riding purpose built mtb trails at an FC centre.

Trail centres might be on 'public' land but generally they are not routes A-B. They are leisure facilities built purely for the enjoyment of mountain bikers so a contribution seems fair enough really.

rkk01

Visiting a trail centre as part of a longer ride from further out is totally different to my mind.

It's people parking just outside the toll booth or the entrance and riding in purely to avoid paying that I'm on about.

bassspine
If the car parks are full that's pretty unavoidable but at places like Hamsterley there are acres of space for parking all the way through the valley – I could never foresee an occasion when they would be full.

I don't supposed there's any recently cut hawthorn branches or wild rose lying around that could be placed across the trail?

That would put off all but the most determined I would imagine.

A quick sweep on completion and sorted.

A one year pass for Hamsterley is £38. Seems reasonable

When we go there are usually 3 of us in one car – £1 each!! It would be cheap at twice the price.

If we take the kids to Hamsterley for a picnic, to use the playground or go for a walk £3 is still cheap for a day out and that's without riding a single trail. It would cost 3 times that to take them to a soft play place or the cinema.

If people expect free riding they should use free trails i.e. bridleways etc.

The staff do usually seem to be young and probably not that clued up on the technical aspects of the products like a specialist outdoor shop might be.

Having said that Stockton seems to be mainly staffed by attractive young girls so it makes the shopping experience more enjoyable.

I was in the Stockton store on Sunday afternoon. Yes another from the NE. This really is turning into a Teesside thread.

Didn't buy anything this time.

Some good deals to be had if you get there quickly enough. Mostly similar prices to anywhere else but with a huge range. Great place for trying stuff on to check out sizes etc. Came within a whisker of buying a Montane Velocity DT cycling jacket – reduced to something like £50 or £60 from £130

running mud tyres front and back – Schwalbe Dirt Dan XC 2.0's – only weighed something like 460g each so decided to fit a pair. Great on everything but tarmac where they're a bit buzzy

Happy with my 4 inches…………………. of Giant Anthem X4 travel that is

Fox RL 100mm and 100mm FloatR
XT chainset, front/rear mech and cassette with KMC X9L chain
Thomson stem with RF Next SL carbon bars
Thomson seatpost with Gobi saddle
Formula K18 180/160mm
Stans Olympic rims/Sun Ringle Dirty Flea hubs with DT Rev spokes
Schwalbe Dirty Dan XC 2.0's run tubeless with Stans yellow tape

Around 24lbs I think

Interparcel are ok and you can choose which carrier and service to use.

Also worth considering is Royal Mail Airsure – you can insure the item and it's also tracked.

After trying on plenty, I went for a set of Specialised BG Sports

Not too expensive and really comfy. I find too many brands are too narrow in the forefoot but the Specialized were perfect. I don't notice I'm wearing them (apart from when I put my foot in an icy puddle after forgetting to wear the Sealskinz). They are well ventilated so need a softshell or sealskinz type sock if it's wet or very cold.

Formula seem so nicely made and designed. I'd plum for them from a purely aesthetic and engineering perspective.

The RX's have also got great reviews so far.

I use Oro's and love them. If I was in the market for new brakes I'd buy RX's without hesitation. Failing that a set of Magura Martha – depends what you're using them for I guess.