Chorlton cum hardy (giggles)

Northwind, it will get Saint groupset, and maybe a CCDB air in the new year, so on it’s way to growing up 🙂

More office furniture in front of a poorly maintained fence, 2011 Plasma Blue Five:

Nick

Looks perfect to me. If wanted to buy a road bike, I would want some of the technology that I like from my MTB, and wouldn’t really care about the extra weight.

If you can average 30mph over 130 miles, then yes. Otherwise, unlikely.

Wish I saw the OP’s photo’s before riding last Thursday. Thought that I’d check it out since it’s been a while since the last resurfacning. Unfortunately dragged 6 of my mates down there too (plus the road ride back to the top of Mam Tor), so they all hate me now!

It used to be such a good descent …

The best “mistake” I saw on the Halfords site this week was a 10 speed XTR shadow + rear mech for £10.68 – my eyes nearly popped out of my head! If they had any in stock, would have upgraded to 10 speed there and then. Unfortunately now back at RRP minus 20%.

Nick

Has anyone else noticed that their prices on their website for decent stuff such as forks, brakes, etc are comparable with bike discount. They have advertised heavily in magazines lately – I wonder if these are short term prices to fish us in, or will Halfords be another good source of cheap kit, like Merlin, etc?

Mine is built up slightly more on the XC side …

2011 16″ Plasma Blue
Fox Float 140 RLC
Fox RP23
Hope Pro2/Mavic 719 Wheels
SLX Crankset
MRP Lopes Chain Guide
34T Renthal Chainring
XTR 9 Speed Mech/shifter
Thomson Post/Fizik Gobi XM Saddle
Hope 50mm Stem
Renthal Fat Bars
Hope X2 Brakes (183/160)
Nukeproof Pedals
Ergon Grips

I’ve not properly weighed it, but using the unscientific method of getting on the bathroom scales with the bike, then just me on the scales, it was 12.1kg (26.7lb).

Nick

P.S. Yes, that is a gaping hole in the fence.

Toxicsoks, I don’t mind your wife hating me if it means a new bike for you!

I think the offer works online only. I can buy halfords vouchers from work at 10% off, but can’t see how I can combine both together.

Just had mine serviced. Posted to them on a Monday, recieved them back on the Friday. Their website gives a rough estimate of how many days they expect to take.

Nick

Here’s mine …

2010 Felt Breed. Running 39×16 gearing which gets me up most hills, but spins out too much on the road. Use it for commuting, which it excells at. Just added mini-v brakes, which make a world of diference over canti’s.

Nick

Cycle to work for a week, then you will realise how comfortable your current car is.

@MoreCashThanDash – I wondered if any of your group were on here. I was the runner going in the other direction between Strelley and Trowel around 1pm.

Orange Five for 9 mile (each way) road commute, about 3-4 times a week. It can get very boring.

It really is very good.

Called “Road to Glory, on Sky Atlantic, so it’s repeated loads.

2010 Whyte 19 Trail, think the 2011 is the same.

Cut Gate, early this morning. Conditions were as good as i’ve seen up there.

When I got back down, had to re-direct a lady on her commuter cycle, that the route she wanted was around Ladybower, not up Cut Gate. Wonder how far she would have got before turning around?

Nick

Spicy 916
Whyte 19 ti
Niner Carbon SS thingy
The most expensive bike in the world, boxed, to sell, as De La Soul were right – three is the magic number.

I originally thought about doing this, but in the end went with an interruped outer – it was just easier to do.

I would be interested in how it works if you do decide drill the stays.

Surely I win. I’ve got an Orange Five and a Cotic Soul.

I’ve got two …

SKNZZF6EAGDA3Q
6TUVKZHT3WMLV7

I’m all spent up, so don’t need them. Both are £10 off £75.

Nick

Surely the problem with electric anything is that at some inconvenient time, the battery will die. What then?

Ditch the fashionably wide new bars!

… or at least undo the stem, shift the bars a foot to the right, then do up stem again.

I’ve yet to have a puncture using zip ties, altough using this set up on a commuter bike (Specialized Langster). The ties last for weeks (with a few replacements), doing 15 mile a day commute, 5 times a week (on road). So long as you are clever where to place the knobbly bit of the zip tie (alternative edges of tyre) then they don’t wear down if there is no snow.

Cost of these are next to nothing as well, and you can cut them off whenever and use the original tyres again.

They do not work on ice though.

I’ve used this method for the last couple of years. Works OK enough …

http://www.dutchbikeco.com/_blog/Dutch_Bike_Co_Weblog/post/Seattle_Snowpocalypse/

Nick

Yes, i’ve had that set up in the past. Only the rear mech/shifters are incompatable between SRAM and Shimano.

Or do an evening course in something relating to photography/design, then buy the student version yourself for about £140. That plus course fees of approx £100, make it cheaper than the £900 full price – and you might learn something useful! That’s what I did.

Nick

Convert the road bike to single speed, then you can keep both.

WTF is a reflector doing on that wheel in the bottom right corner?

Just got back home from doing Cut Gate. Boggy at the top, but pretty good everywhere else. First time I’ve done it on a full suspension bike, and loved it even more. I only seem to go in wet conditions, so don’t know it any other way really! Not many other bikers out – think I only saw 3 others – quite a few walkers though.

Kashima coated, FIT damped, disc brake compatable. 1″ steerer is the new tapered. Right?

My Whyte 19, mpr 36t chainring, e13 turbo bash, n-gear jumpstop. Runs smooth and silent, although the chain has dropped inwards a few times when bouncing round in the peaks (a bit of adjustment to the jumpstop seems to have cured it) …

Nick

A bit late to the topic. Here’s mine …

Running fairly standard, with 1×9 setup – 36t chainring, e13 bash and n-gear jump stop, plus nuke proof flats and ergon grips.

Nick

I used to live in Burnham when I was young, and spent most of my summers playing in Burnham Beeches on my BMX. Just turn right out of BB Hotel, head up the road for about a mile and a half, and check out the woodlands – it’s not amading by any stretch of the imagination, but there is a little elevation, and plently of tracks through the trees. Certainly worth checking out since you are so close.

Another vote for an n-gear jump stop. Works perfectly, costs £10.

People thinking I’m odd sort of appeals to the rebellious child that still lives within in me though.

Agree. My work mates thought I was mad turning up in my cycling shorts. However my cycle home took an extra 20 mins to normal, they were stuck at work for 3-4 hours.

Off road cross country was better than on road. I’m in the middle of adding these to my tyres …

http://www.dutchbikeco.com/_blog/Dutch_Bike_Co_Weblog/post/Seattle_Snowpocalypse/

Check out this link …

http://forums.mtbr.com/showthread.php?t=256673

It’s something I’m trying at the moment. Removed 44t outer and 22t inner rings, replaced the 33t middle with a 36t MPR ring, and bought an e13 bash to stop the chain slipping outwards.

As willyj suggested, also bought an n-gear jump stop to stop the chain slipping inwards. I’ve only recently ordered the parts, so can’t comment on how they work, but reviews of the n-gear jump stop are good, and it only costs a tenner.

It’s automatic. Just saved myself an extra £16.20 – 10% discount is on top of any other savings.

The bits that are closed are the least fun bits though. Went today and it was reasonable – and thought the diversions were easily followable.