Personally, I’d make the effort to get to Brechfa. Best trail in South Wales IMO. Do the red though, the black is rubbish. You can then stop off at Afan on way in/out.

Well….today was a tad wet at BPW. So wet it was actually grippy! Just had to watch out for roots! Vicious Valley/Bonneyville/Insufficient Funds riding awesome. New coil in Pikesis one of best things I’ve done to this bike. Playful, supple in initial and mid stroke without that wallow feeling. Bottomed out twice, both times on gap down Vicous Valley, but interestingly not on step downs on Insufficient Funds. I’m gonna be needing a cane creek now!!! Bike also felt really stable with longer wheelbase and not lost any of its playful ability.
I got chance to ride a Trek Remedy 9 RSL which my mate had hired for day from the BPW shop. Good bike but no where near as good as my Spittie in its current form. It also felt really short (it was a large). I’m 6’1″ and riding a 2015 Spittie, which is also a large. Trek’s sizings seem to be way off for 2017.

Hahaha. ^^^^^^^^^ I’ve pretty much done the same. Superstar 2 deg slack set, 150 pikes, kept the 27.5 dropouts and removed the air assembly and inserted a coil (from CRConceptions) for the pike. Off to BPW Weds for first ride in anger with new fork set-up. Must say, just from riding down the street, it’s feels awesome. Only problem is, it make the rear end feel like wood!!!!!!

+1 for trying out the settings recommended. I know it’s not the same bike, but I’m on a Banshee Spitfire, run pikes with 2 tokens and a gnats whisker under 80psi. I’m 93-95kg with full kit and trail pack/bladder btw. Shock wiz doesn’t account for personal preference.

Blue pig or Sonder Transmitter

Check out http://www.hasbean.co.uk
We usually go for their starter pack once a month. That way you get whatever is in season. There’s also a few vlog’s that are interesting whereby you can see the farmer that has grown the coffee and learn a few things about where your coffee actually comes from. Or you could just drink it.

^^^^^^^ you’ve got to love an optimist!

I’m running a Manitou Tower Pro on a Charge Cooker. Tried it with 650b+ Nobby Nic. Unfortunately didn’t work. Pity as it rode great. Just kept rubbing the ‘power bulge’ when leaning over. Worked fine out the back tho and as I really like the fork I’m currently running it as 27.5+ rear and 29 front.

What if it’s a ‘she’?

Wight Mountain were the UK importer and Russ (owner/manager) still rides his Horror Taxi. I know he’s looking to expand his 90’s Spooky collection so if anybody has any surplus to requirements I know he may be interested. 😉

Same situation here. I’m currently looking at a Sonder Camino. Would love the ti but think the AL is more within my budget.

Ah OK, my bad. Must have misheard. Thought they said “she” had served them well previously.

Does anyone know who the female Jedi was? Referred to as serving well in the past?

+1 for Geilo, Norway. Hadn’t had any ski experience until 2 years ago. Thoroughly enjoyed it. So much so that we ditched summer holiday last year and went to Chatel. Geilo is perfect for beginners. Quiet slopes, locals that don’t mind speaking English (we did try Norwegian but they knew straight away and just spoke back English to us!) and great location (Forest Cabins through Crystal Ski). Chatel was equally as good but wouldn’t fancy it as a first time experience as there was a noticeable step up in gradient. Oh, and we had a bad experience with the kids Ski school being a bit anti-English.

Pigface, totally agree. I didn’t and regret it every single day. Life’s too short. At least if you tell him how you feel and what the consequences are, by getting him for a GP assessment, he can make positive future choices. If you find talking to him awkward then, yes, a letter would be ideal.

Bestival, this weekend

POOk, you in Huddersfield area?

I know that its not one of the above (this is STW standard practice) but WTB i23/i25 TCS are worth a look. Light and cheaper than ZTR’s.

Only you can decide which way to vote. If you can justify one way over another and it feels right then that should be your path. Your only voting at this stage. Even if you vote in favour of pay increase the majority may vote differently (and vice versa). In which case, you will have to carry out the actions of majority or hand in your union ticket from a moral point of view.

^^^^^^^ I know, but as I’m coming from Isle of Wight I don’t think a little detour will be any bother.

What are you sleeping on? Ive just done Wales C2C offroad over 4 days. Slept on an Exped Synmat UL7 rated down to about -5. Bought a Top Quilt from UK Hammocks £150. This set up worked perfectly for me under a tarp an Alpkit Hunka XL. I’m 6’1 and 13.5st so not slight by any means. Down packs a lot smaller and if you can get away with a quilt even smaller still!

Segments to look out for – Berlin Wall, Bomber, Baghdad, Ho Chi Minh, Deacons Drop.

That should keep you busy for a bit. Just been out there this morning. Conditions are perfect, although I didn’t do Ho Chi Minh as there’s a bit of tree felling going on near bottom.

Out again from Jubilee Car Park at 9.30 tomoz if you’re over.

……..”..and didn’t he sing ‘Right said Fred’?

EDIT : D’oh, bikebuoy beat me to it!!

Wasn’t he in ‘the Water Babies’?

^^^^^^^Same as what Chris777 said. Brighstone Forest is where most locals go. There’s a bit of a battle with forestry commission at mo, but that’s mainly down to building trails with materials not natural to forest. If you’re a Strava user it could be quite productive

Got there in the end!!!!!!

Nobody’s

Rone – good to know. We’re out in Chatel for a week from 5th March. Which runs are you referring to? Was the snow still holding up?

2.8 Schwalbe Nobby Nic does NOT fit in a Manitou Tower Pro fork, even with a measly SS DS25 rim. It’s more down to the Manitou ‘power bulge’. Pity as the rear of my 2013 steel Charge Cooker has plenty of clearance. Gonna leave the rear in and put my 29 2.4 Chunky Monkey back on front. A 1 deg works component headset is currently winging its way to my house!

I have similar set up in my kitchen. 2 ceiling speakers into Sonos Amp. You will need a bridge as well (if you haven’t already got one!). Went with Cambridge speakers, awesome quality but not waterproof……
Amp attaches to a plate on wall with black and red speaker wires. Speakers are wired into back of plate, chased into wall. Hope this makes sense.

Ok. Something I picked up last week. When checking a u-bend because sink is blocked make sure you don’t empty contents of the sink after you have removed said u-bend! 😳

Fluffy Rice – cover rice with exactly double amount of water plus a tbs. boil for seven minutes. Do not stir. After 7 minutes take of heat and put lid on for another 7 minutes. Do not stir. After 7 minutes has passed rice should be cooked/steamed. Stir through. No need to strain.

Edit – just seen earlier rice post! 🙄

Changed my mind!

Sheriff Fatman – CTUSM

Bring me sunshine – Willie Nelson

Extremists in all walks of life, not just religion. You just got to look at the cx fraternity!!!

If you accidently pack your bike give me a pm nearer the time. Happy to show you where all the best spots are!! Good thing is everywhere is also within riding distance too!!

Stay away from Sandown unless you’re in to Bookies, Charity Shops, Tacky gift shops and fashion outlets for the over 70’s.
Everywhere is within easy driving distance. Seaview, Bembridge, Freshwater Bay, Brook, Brighstone, will all offer decent accommodation. Unfortunately IOW (even though a tourist destination) has not had any adequate amount of investment for years and the larger resort towns are a bit lack lustre

KS Lev seems to get good feedback.