that video app is a great shout, I have so many old phones hanging around and would be good to put to use.

The most important part for you here is the width and especially the sweep. Do you know what rise and shape of bar you want?

My new bike didn’t feel right recently, I knew the bars were the issue, bought some bars with less sweep and reduced from 780mm to 760mm and makes the bike completely different!

Kim Jong Un

However it is pretty rare that a women’s body/leg ratio is the same as a mans.

Agree, hence the comment:

I would consider a mens that was the right size. If a man is 5”10 and same torso etc measurements, and a woman is the same size, she should have the same size bike.

If a woman has exactly the same body measurements as me, she would suit riding the same bike. Gender makes no difference

This is likely going to be something I’ll come up against in the next 12 months.

If I was buying any bike under £2k now, I would always go second hand, so that answers one question.

Due to general short supply of 2nd hand womens mtb’s, I would consider a mens that was the right size. If a man is 5”10 and same torso etc measurements, and a woman is the same size, she should have the same size bike.

Need to decide if you’re a gym bunny or a cyclist.

A lot of top mountain bikers spend more time in the gym and associated training, than they do outside on a bike.

All depends if it’s 85kg of fat, or muscle.

Regardless, buy a new bike, 29ers are better for SDW type of riding

1. Tidal wave of speculative money coming from foreign investors (much of it criminal money being laundered)

Firstly, it’s not speculative. Prices are continuing to rise in London and other major cities. Therefore property is a fairly reliable long term investment.

Secondly, whilst I understand your point, the idea that ‘much of this investment’ is criminal money is quite ludicrous.

Both put on tough loops and anyone who had done a ukge would have been fine with BES so where did everyone who did UKGE go?

Maybe it as the perception that was created by Paton then? I mean the year before he spent the majority of the time slagging off Enduro in general.

Probably my biggest dislike was him capitalising on numerous stolen bikes being stolen at the UKGE Triscombe round, by shouting about great security at the BDS rounds.

BES was not inclusive enough for weekend warrior types. It focussed too much on elites and wasn’t targeted to your normal rider. UKGE did both, manageable for most, but also testing enough.

I do think BEMBA have missed out essentially creating this. Using North, South, Welsh and Scottish rounds.

Whilst there’s a chance I won’t enter any unless in the south west, I had a great time at some of the old ones, and were very well organised, and am pleased they will be back on next year. Hopefully will help consolidate some of the regional events as well.

Paton took them too far, basically excluded anyone not at a very high level, I always felt my mid pack finished would not be enough, the loops were just too long as well. Even events like the BDS still cater for your average rider, but felt the BES just excluded most.

I think the way forward is 4 or 5 events per year, but more like mini festivals, similar to the Ard rock, and at very good venues, and increase the amount of riders at each.

i tend to have Chris Cornell playing at least once a day through one of his bands. This has actually upset me, probably more than any other.

Scott Weiland dying upset me but it was always going to happen, this is just unexpected.

Always amuses me seeing overweight people taking protein supplements in their pursuit of weight loss.
Very few people get insufficient protein in their normal diets for their needs, unless you read the marketing blurbs of supplement sellers of course.

I think it’s more a case of replacing carb meals with protein, which is better. The issue is that a lot of protein shakes are also full of carbs.

I notice a significant difference in recover after a heavy set of squats if I have a protein shake.

I have noticed a change that people are now starting to ride more natural trails whereas before they would have stuck to trail centres.

I was recently shown all the off piste stuff mentioned above and it’s great, and means I will likely never ride the trail centre at Afan again. We did use the facilities at the trail centre however, and for a Saturday in March, it was extremely quiet, weather wasn’t great though.

I think with the popularity of FOD, Cwmcarn and BPW, as well as Black Mountain as well, there is little point heading over to Afan for people travelling a distance.

It’s not really near Bristol. It’s a 50 minute drive, so not exactly around the corner.

Whoever has done this has actually scoped it out, planned it, knows exactly what they are doing and the bikes will likely already be split and for sale, potentially abroad so more difficult to trace.

This happened at a race I was at (UKGE at Triscombe) a few years ago, and I found it amazing that people were quite happy to leave bikes out on show with no locks etc. These days a set of handlebars, pedal, derailleur, wheels and dropper post could make you £1500 on the second hand market, all easily removable from a bike.

I think the term ‘secured in a tent’ says it all.

thousands of pounds worth of bikes locked in a tent – you make your own luck in life and whilst i would never say ‘they deserve it’, they are asking for it.

I’m not sure what people get out of it to be honest. Obviously it’s not right, and Strava should monitor, but they likely don’t have time or resource to do this.

Whilst it’s nice getting a top 10 or KOM every now and then on a ride, I pay little attention because it’s so inaccurate. I only use Strava to give me an idea of distance and climbing i’ve done in a year.

i’ve just been through this myself. New bike did not feel right, for about 3 months I couldn’t put my finger (or hands) on why, but just didn’t.

My hardtail felt right however, and realised the backsweep on the new handlebars was around 9 degrees, which meant I was riding too much on my palms, and the angle was hurting my wrists.

I’ve now bought the same handlebars that I’ve been riding for year (renthals) with around 3 degree sweep, and it feels like a new bike, unbelievable the difference it has made.

Having met Chris a few times as our local riding spots are similar, initially I thought he was pretty far up himself. Since have realised he’s a genuinely nice bloke, soft spoken and always willing to give advice. At a local spot recently a guy turned up not having ridden there before and pretty sure Chris showed him around the whole place.

Having not ridden a geometron, I can’t comment on whether they’re good/bad, but the principle makes complete sense, and I haven’t read a bad review. However, his point about how the British tend to session stuff, ride up fire roads and down trails makes a lot of sense.

Got excited and decided to enter. If anyone is driving up from Bristol and riding senior and wants to share a lift, drop me an email.

I’m still not 100% sure if I’m going to do this. Going to check on the weather and make a call tomorrow.

You’d be surprised. Most of my male friends do it – personally I have never been interested but some of them have some bad habits developing.

We tend to meet up for a weekend every 4 months-ish for a night out. Now any night out is always preceded and followed by a trip to the bookies. I tend to wait outside as they are the most soul destroying places I have ever been into.

As per any gambler, you only ever hear about the wins, if I were a gambling man, I would put money on them all being at a net loss since they started, otherwise the gambling companies wouldn’t exist.

I’ve got an 06 plate version of the same car. It’s been great, and it’s on twice the mileage as the above. Not much more space than a large hatchback however. My large 29er full sus needs both wheels off to slide in.

However, I would say there are much newer, cheaper to run cars out there. Focus estate, Astra estate (I know they’re horrendous).

I would likely look at an MPV, something like a Berlingo, you could sleep and change in it at races then as well with the seats out.

Look at the science….the benefit of protein drinks is almost negligible for mere mortals (i.e. Non-elite athletes)

This is not true. I notice a significant difference in recovery when using protein recovery drinks compared to not. Especially larger muscle groups (legs & back).

I use maxi-nutrition lean recovery at the moment, only because I used to work for them and have still got loads left. Otherwise would likely be looking at some high protein powder from myprotien or similar.

Joining a club would help. However, if you’re enjoying riding your bike, what’s the problem? Doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things, whether it’s road, gravel, xc or DH.

At some point you might want to start MTB again and really get back into it, you may not, it doesn’t really matter.

Oh and I got bitten on the leg by some horrible little creature which caused it to swell up and go hard. My leg and ankle now looks like it belongs to Pat butcher

Anti hystemine (or however you spell it) will sort that. Probably a horse fly.

@sandythepig – agree, When I moved it was for 2 years max, and was there for nearly 5. And it took a lot to move even then. A year on and I am much happier, and still get to London now and then with work, so scratch the proverbial itch.

If mtb & outdoors is important, the South East is not ideal.

Sounds like the both of you were reasonable about it and you were also considerate to livestock etc.

I’m sure people walk through the field so you’re only doing the same. As long as you’re not a d1ck, which it sounds like you’re not, you’ll be fine.

@jambalaya – Guildford isn’t London (as I’m sure you’re aware). The OP is talking about London. When I lived in hammersmith it was usually at least an hour drive to Peaslake, and usually worse on the way back, up to 2 hours on a Sunny Sunday.

Whilst Guildford is a great compromise for working in London and still having a bit of the outdoors, it doesn’t compare to what is on offer in Bristol and especially Edinburgh. Industry dependant, pay certainly isn’t double for living in London. I would say anywhere from 5-25% higher. I took a £10k paycut moving from London, and I am better off because of it.

I’ll put it this way, my mortgage for a 2 bed house in central Bristol is the same as my rent for a room in a 3 bed flat in Hammersmith.

Go to London! I guarantee you’ll either be mugged or not appreciated. Catch the train to London, stopping at Rejection, Disappointment, Backstabbing Central and Shattered Dreams Parkway.

I lived in London for about 4 years, and whilst managed to mtb a lot, found it a massive pain. As much as I loved living there, and like going back, I can’t recommend to anyone who wants any type of outdoors lifestyle.

They are poles apart, riding from your doorstep in Edinburgh, cheaper to live, better all around quality of life probably. Without question I would choose Edinburgh.

Another option is Bristol, it’s where I moved, trails close by town, and amazing riding within an hours drive.

Also, crying out for Software developers in and around Bristol.

you could just buy a big tarp and fasten it on. Wouldn’t look as good but functional. Also benefit of being able to drag out and cover the rear bumper.

Can get for a few £ of ebay

enduro beaver

Magic mary or maxxis shorty front, unless it’s bone dry, which it won’t be.

Decent mudguard as well.

Thought they may do a long travel 29er for the next Nomad, this looks like a 650b

Rode triscombe on Sunday and there is more than enough rideable, but there’s a lot of climbing involved in any of it.

Good pub near the bottom car park but check opening times and food serving times as we’ve been caught out before.

Also, little community run shop in the village further down with a good but slightly strange selection of products

Thanks all. Thought it would be fine just wanted to check with the masses to see if anyone had done previously.

even with a shorter dropper, wont it still be the same as a longer dropper, when they are both at their lowest in the frame ?

exactly

The main issue is the seat at it’s lowest height.

at that age/mileage, stuff can start to go wrong, but if it’s been well maintained it should be fine for years.

Looks like a decent car.

Seats have some lovely looking stains on them, not that they can’t be cleaned…..

anyone who’s booked needs to contact administrators/credit/debit card issuers, to get a full/partial refund

I did read that. If i had just paid £1k for this and then had the offer of a ‘partial’ refund, I wouldn’t be happy, as you would expect – hence my comment above.

A real shame, I’ve never used them, but have used their GPX’s to ride trails in Les Arc – am I part of the reason for their downfall? Possibly, but maybe if they had been more accommodating with day rate guiding etc then they could have survived.

Although was browsing their website last week and considering a few of their options.

My real problem with this is that they have been taking bookings for races and guiding, and then suddenly just announced they will not be able to provide these services anymore. Take the money and run…..