Doesn't have to be a Race Face specific one. I think those chainsets have a 104 BCD so a Shimano or Truvativ would fit as would a Middleburn one.

Go with a Middleburn if i were you. Running a slickshift/hardcoat 36 tooth on my Orange 5.

Did my first "ghetto" conversion a few months ago using Maxxis Minions. I had no trouble getting the bead seated using just a track pump and a good load of soapy suds.

It was so easy i was convinced something would go wrong later….it didn't!

As mentioned above i did take the valve core out.

If one car is stationary then is it still 50/50?

My Skoda Octavia rear seats fold totally flat.

By the way, thats actually Deadwood, Peregrine Ridge and Jetlag.

Sorry to be an arse but i’m bored!!

I too wanted a van but a new job and a 500 mile a week commute put paid to that thought!

Get a Skoda Octavia Estate. Just bought an immaculate 1 owner with 72k for £5k, its spotless and the build quality is amazing compared to our other car.

Swallows 2 bikes with ease.

The camp place you mention is probably the God camp in Ramscombe. There is a couple of decent runs into that from the top of Great wood(?). One of which ends with the famous chimney.

It’s been ages since i went for a play around there, better make the most of it whilst i have the time.

Taz – my email is in my profile now.

Doh! Just got that info of Merlins website!!!!

Two SLX mechs available.

One for triple chainsets and one for Double and bash, this one has a significantly shorter cage and is limited to a maximum of 36 tooth rings.

You may have bought that by mistake????

Thanks for all the suggestions. Went with a 2002 Skoda Octavia Estate 1.9 TDi 110 Elegance. 72k with 1 owner from new, FSH and cambelt done at 59k from a local dealer. Not the cheapest probably but there were surprisingly few to choose from! It was immaculate with no defects whatsoever.

It’s fantastic! This is our first diesel car and we are so impressed. Has all the power we need, loads of room and is very comfortable! Our piece of turd N reg Clio is now relegated to dog car only!!

Triscombe Stone car park is the place to park. Loads of trails from there.

Across the road from the carpark there is a barrier along side the banked line of trees. Go under that and at various points along the path that runs alongside the bank there are runs dropping off to the left.

My favourite is the one marked as “natural downhill trail-do not build jumps etc”. Steep in places, rooty and great fun and no dodgy jumps, at least not when i was there last!!

The FC are pretty tolerant as long as jumps aren’t built.

When were you planning on going? At a loose end this week before i start a new job next week and i was thinking of going for a play on those runs.

Would be happy to show you the ones i know.

Looks like the Skodas are well worth a look it would seem.

Exactly, my LBS didn’t realise it needed it until i changed down and gouged into the bearing cover thingy.

Just use a standard spacer as supplied with shimano bb/cranks.

Running a 36 tooth. Make sure you fit a spacer behind the driveside BB cup or else the chain will catch the swingarm bearing cover when you change down to the granny ring!

Chainline still seems fine.

If you think Nitromors is lethal you should have seen the stuff i used to strip my frame last week!

Aircraft grade stripper that my wife uses to strip the finish from antique furniture. Painted it on, leave for 5mins and the powdercoat came of in ribbons!!!!!!

The great thing is that it completely evapourates so leaves no residue to react with other finishes.

HEL brake kits are a far better option if you ask me. Look up PROPEL bike distribution for more info (sorry, can’t be arsed to link).

They come with all the fittings you’ll need (about 10 different types) so that you can switch hoses if you change brakes.

My LBS were very impressed with the kits i gave them to fit to my wifes Hope Mini Monos.

Me and Mrs egg are going in early september……can’t wait!!!!

Yeah it’s shiny alright…shame it’ll never stay that nice!

I had the same problem with my DX shoes….Bought 5.10’s for another £20.

I’ll never bother with any other shoes again!!!!

I shall be doing it on my own as know one who wants to do it with me 😥

Having done the Mash-up twice now i’m looking forward to an event that might actually be organised properly!

Looking forward to seeing a few of the other trails Brechfa has to offer.

Of course there is more to it than a tax bill Woodsman! I’m not about to go into great detail on a public forum to a bunch of strangers, i do however value everyones opinion as i think the Singletrack massive are a varied bunch!

Going into business together with no capitol, no means of security against a loan and in a recession is a very bad idea in my opinion.

There is simply a severe shortage of jobs in our industry in the UK right now and the opposite in Oz. Our problems are mostly as a result of the recession.

Thanks for all the response, i’m grateful to you all.

Thanks squin but we don’t actually have much debt, a couple of hundred left on a loan but thats it. We just barely have enough coming in to cover our overheads. We’re pretty good at money management, our student days didn’t end that long ago!

We have just decided that we’ll take the dog, it’ll be a abit of a pain and horribly expensive but we took on the responsibility of adopting her from a rescue centre so we’ll stick by that. She’s like our child!!!

We will go, life is indeed too short to have too many what if’s and we are definitely at a crossroads in our life but it will cost more than plane tickets so we’re going to plan it properly.

Hey Digimap, give me more info regarding the finish you’re applying, Kate knows her stuff so she’ll know what you need to do.

Good to see the good ol’ Grass is greener comment 🙂

The way i see it is that things aren’t great here so leave for a year or so and experience a different culture for a while. We wouldn’t expect such a move to be some sort of solution to our woes, more like a long break from them!!!!

Anyone want to look after a very nice little dog for a year!!!!!!!!!

Your opinion is most welcome Project.

We can get visa’s it would seem and we would live with my stepfather in Perth. Any search on an Oz job search engine shows ALOT of vacancies for cabinet makers, a friend in Adelaide says they’re crying out for skilled workers in that trade.

Looks like we have alot of thinking to do!!!!

Keep it coming gyus, this was the response i was hoping for 🙂

We only got married 6 weeks ago but the whole thing was kind of over-shadowed by my redundancy etc.

We’re not expecting Oz to be perfect but at least we could escape some of the constant media bombardment about the bloody recession!!! It wouldn’t be a premanent move thats for sure, i have close ties in Switzerland and my wife’s family is mostly in the UK.

Unlikely i’m sure…but does anyone have experience of taking a dog to Oz???? or know of anyone who has?

Not sure i’m making myself clear….Bearings were removed with no fuss.

I’m trying to get the swingarm free in order to get the whole lot polished.

Removed bearings and the little insert…..

Still no joy. Looks like its a phone call to Orange tomorrow!

It looks as though the welds are too big, abit smaller and it would just slide through the gap where the little inserts sit.

They got it on so i must be able to get it off!

Yeah Yeah 🙄

When doing the usual loop of Blackdown/Roeberrow hows the best way to add this trail into it? back up alongside the big quarry and race circuit?

I usually start rides in that area from the bottom of Burrington Coombe.

Weirdly the problems seem to affect only the enduro category. The technical categroy results have been listed correctly from what i can see!

It would seem they put more effort into the technical than the enduro.

Yeah it shouldn’t be too complicated really.

I think the format is great and i really enjoyed it but to **** it up twice in a row is incredible.

I think they may have ruined a great idea there!

Maybe next year i’ll try and enter the avalanche enduro, looks ALOT more professional.

Just added up a random selection of those that are listed and not one of them adds up!!!!

And there i was thinking that they couldn’t possibly get it wrong again!

The sponsors must **** furious! I am!!!!

Looks like i’m going to be making a few phone calls to get my money back!

Just to be awkward, i’m usually 8.5-9 but the 5.10’s i just bought today are an 8 and fit like a glove!

No rain at Bristol Airport….yet!

See you in September Stevo. Can’t wait for our first Alps trip!