I admit it doesn’t sound all that interesting when I put it like that! 😴

Usually it’s a bit higher tech than a straw…medical devices, gene therapy, that sort of thing. But hey, it pays for bikes.

This shit is pretty much my job…I’m patent attorney. We actually end up arguing this type of thing in court. Is a bore different from a hole? Is a pipe different from a tube? Should you have called your pipe a conduit?  It’s a good job I quite like arguing about this type of thing!

I’ve got Oury and the ones linked to by op. Very similar, squishy and comfy for me with fairly big hands.

It really depends how you define “hole”. There’s no right answer. I’d say it can be 1 or 2. 0 just seems like contrariness. Probably better to use term lumen in this case if you want to be more precise in your language and avoid ambiguity.

Just tons of loops and out and backs to do without going onto tops. Round the back of Liathach. Out to Craig bothy and back is a decent bimble. Loop around bealach on maol chean-dearg. I’d also recommend the marked path from Loch maree up leathad buidhe – we did with kids and it was surprisingly fun with some fun easy scrambling.

Brilliant! Very impressive. Great to get an update.

Got the Sony 1000xm2 as well based on great reviews and got a good discount at Dixon’s at the airport. They’re great. As people have said, cut out constant background nose like traffic noise or engine noise brilliantly, less so voices and suchlike. Listened to quite a few in John Lewis and the more expensive ones seemed to have less hiss (white noise) and cancelled noise better. Didn’t try any of he cheaper amazon specials or suchlike – based on reviews seems that they were perfectly ok, but tend to have quite a bit of white noise.

Ps ignorance isn’t a defence for copyright infringement, nor any IP infringement.

Pps they should also demonstrate how they have acquired the right to assert the copyright on behalf of the copyright holder. The more I think about it the more it sounds like a scam.

They have to identify the alleged copyright infringement. Just saying you used an unspecified image, that’ll be £x isn’t sufficient. I’d either ignore it or reply saying you have no knowledge of any infringement and ask them to particularise their claim so you can look into it. Sounds like it might well be a scam. Unfortunately, unlike patents and trademarks, there is no law against making unjustified threats for copyright, otherwise you might be tempted to say piss off or your counterclaim.

I enjoyed riding out to Carnmore last time I was up that way. Carried on a bit further up hill towards strath na sealga but ran out of time. Stunning part of the world.

My WTB STp (?) i29 rims that came with my Whyte S150 certainly seem to be made of cheese. On the rear I just noticed bulges at several spoke holes with one cracked as if spokes are pulling through. I’m not particularly hard on bikes and there’s no sign of any major trauma. Rim also got a dent when almost new from a very trivial hit, though this isn’t where the spokes are going. Maybe badly built from factory, but never seen anything like it. So…I’ll be avoiding WTB rims.

S150 came out and T129 was dropped at that’s point – about a year ago iirc. S120 is just coming out now. So in terms of models being released the there was no transition from T129 to S150, but the s120 coming out now will be more of of replacement for the t129, if that makes sense.

Got an s150 c-rs. It’s done me well on an uplift day at Innerleithen, saw me round Strathpuffer and generally been great on all trails I’ve ridden including torridon. Don’t think I need more bike than it, and it Is still pretty efficient for xc type stuff. I’m hardly a gnartastic rider though.

Got a couple of dozers. Seem good and comfy and a lot cheaper than exped (we have some of them too) but still early days. Hope they don’t start leaking.

Decent chance of ok wether then. Could be pissing down though! Much like any time! Snow likely cleared from bike routes though still might be some on tops if you’re wanting to head up hills rather than around.

Seriously though, late April And May can be lovely, but it was pretty chilly this year about that time iirc. Safest bet if there is one would be mid May to early June.

In nature it’s not quite as clear cut as XY male, XX female. Have look at https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Complete_androgen_insensitivity_syndrome and other sex chromosome variability.

I remember my genetics lecturer explaining that statistically XY ‘females’ were over represented in models due to the typical body type. Is it still rape if you get lucky with an XY model with CAIS without knowing?

Done. Thoughts are with you and the family.

I gave up on SRAM for years after similar issue with x9 and x0 mechs. Was a problem with the mech, and I know others who had the same problem. This was a few years ago and thought they’d solved it. Assuming you’ve cleaned the mech and lubed all the pivots etc, as it seems you’ve ruled out sticky cables, I think you have to assume it’s a problem with the mech itself. Someone else may have a better suggestion.

Alpkit Dozer. Just got two and seem good and comfy. Decent price. Car camping only.

That would be a good thing! The meltdown wasn’t the best way to end it, but not entirely unexpected with the exhaustion levels.

The cleats wearing out very quickly if you walk more than about 2 feet seemed daft to me. Also, popping into a shop makes you feel like even more of a knob if you’re wearing Lycra AND waddling about.

I don’t believe you lose any real efficiency through using spds and a stiff shoe rather than road pedals. If it’s anything at all, I’d be surprised. I seem to recall that there’s not even compelling evidence that super stiff shoes add efficiency. That said, I did just buy some really stiff mtb shoes!!

Tried both, prefer spd because road cleats are a pain to walk in after events and at feed stops etc., I like double sided pedals, and don’t see any loss of efficiency.

I use cheap as chips 520s on my commuter and some marginally less cheap 540s (I think) on my road bike. Both do the job and last well. I used to just use specialized Ryme shoes, and they were fine for many century rides, but recently got sworks mtb shoes, which are much stiffer. Don’t think makes a huge difference – I didn’t get hotspots with either. Like the fit of the sworks ones.

Was tempted to get something shinier, e.g xt or xtr race pedals, for the road bike, but the max 100g weight saving hasn’t quite persuaded me to do so yet. Would look nicer though.

Skoda Superb, because……em, I have one. Seems good to me. 2014 model. Comfy, loads of room for rear passengers, efficient, non-electric handbrake, decent boot. Was cheaper than equivalent smaller Octavia when I got it. But there are loads of good estates in the same sort or price range, so maybe drive a couple and see what you like.

I am the only one who just thinks 50nm is “pretty damn tight” and that there must be a decent margin for error there, so just give it a decent heave on the Allen key or whatever? I use my Norbar torque wrench for lighter stuff where margins are tighter and there’s a risk of stripping, but for the high torque bits I’ve not worried too much and never had a problem.

Respect to the runners, and good on them…but really?! I don’t think there’s a need to vacate the entire south end of the WHW for them all day. It’s not that narrow. And where it is I’m sure folk’ll let them by and cheer them on.

I really like BG grail gloves. Stop numbness completely for me on long rides. Got long and short finger versions. Thin palm except for padding in middle of palm – it just works for me.

Ae red is a bit of a grind. Don’t seem to get back what you put in. Mabie is a delight. Small closure when I rode a few weeks ago. Dalbeattie I haven’t done for years but it was good. Not quite as sweet as Mabie.

I’ve always just sealed the holes. Always seemed odd to use tape wider than rim bed. Did try once but seemed to be a faff and look messy and ended up taking it off and using narrower tape. Maybe I’m missing something here. Back in the day I did it perfectly successfully with a couple of layers of insulating tape over the spoke holes, though would go for some other tape now. I have used gorilla tape but found it left gunk and also tight tyres had a habit of pushing the tape about as the glue on the tape remains squidgy whichbcoild be a pain.

CR a bit of a step up from AE in my opinion. Beautiful route. One for confident scramblers though and wee bit of a faff getting to start of route if never done before. Massive step up from crib goch.

29er wheels just seem right for someone over 6’. Seems odd when I ride my 26er now, just out of proportion.

Sorry, love mine. Saw me round Strathpuffer in good style, so it does well enough putting the miles down on xc courses, and it does downhill far better than I can. Couldn’t say it’s better than anything else out there, but it does seem bloody good to me.

btw – I’m 6’3 and the xl fits me well. Though it might feel a bit long as used to older school frames (whyte e120 and 2010 spicy) but feels spot on, and did from the start.

http://www.ashdownworkshop.co.uk/product/premium-bi-fold-wallet-almond

I like mine. Handmade in uk from good leather.

Done. Great idea. What a star

I’ve got the gabba 2 convertible and gabba 3 short sleeved. I reckon they’re great I would use the convertble gabba 2 with a normal base layer down to freezing point happily, and below with a warm base layer. I don’t mind the cold though, and run reasonably hot. Similar with the ss gabba 3 with arm warmers, though probably would keep it for warmer conditions. If it’s likely to be really wet i chuck a thin waterproof into my pocket (a shakedry gore 1985, which is also brilliant).

Does it help guide the tyre into gap between the brakes to help you put the wheel in easily…that’s my best guess. Oh, and it must be aero too!!

Did someone say Ae’s better than kirroughtree?…madness. Ae is fine, but a bit of a grind except for a few nice bits here and there. Kirroughtree is brilliant. Most of it flows so well. I struggle with mcmoab, though haven’t tried it on a slack bike with pads – suspect it’d be more manageable. I haven’t been for a few years. Went to Mabie for the first time in years a week or so ago, and really enjoyed that – nothing tricky on the red, but just grin inducing old school trail centre fun.

But they just feel right!

Bar end are great. Stop the hate! I can’t be arsed to go to garage, but I’ve got an on one whippet with stubbies. Used to have them on my E120, and that was with a riser bar (how uncool am I). Without bar ends on most of my bikes now but often find myself riding with hands on the end of bars as if I do. Wonder how the s150 would look with them?…

Likewise!

Very old Defrosters and woolly socks saw me right at puffer this year. I find them warm but they are quite low, so water gets in over the top easily. Think new ones are higher. Also got some, 45nrth japanthers in anticipation, but didn’t use them in the end at puffer ‘cause it was so cold and dry I could reuse kit easily. I’ve not really used them in anger yet, but they seem to be really good from the couple of short rides I’ve done in them. Much less Frankensteinish than the Wolvhammer ones they do. Not too heavily insulated, but plenty room for thick socks and a loner if really cold, and quite a high gaiter thing to keep water out. Should work well with the Pearl Izumi amfib longs I’ve got that have a bit which will go over he gaiters. I got them for a bargain in a Charlie the Bikemonger sale so pretty chuffed.