As above johnj2000, I frequent the South Downs (in the summer!) and always on a hardtail (a Soul, as it happens) which is perfect. Full suspension would be over-biked in my opinion. Those hills go on and on.

Second Donald Kennedy above. He’s a good guy (did a honeymoon cruise on loch Etive on his boat). It’s a miserable trek on the main road from taynuilt – crossing the loch is way better. Good track on the north side for most of the way, gets technical towards the top. The last coulple of miles can be a hike if it’s been wet before the road at the top.

Am envious. Enjoy.

Definitely sunspots.

I’m convinced that’s the reason anyway that everything of mine seems to have broken this week.

Markhw I was on the Soul on the road verge near Cray’s Pond looking at the map. Followed you on that rather excellent loop then turned the other way in Woodcote.

Bradley – enjoy! I sadly won’t be out that way for a couple of weeks now.

Click! Light comes on. Ormondroyd, you’renot the chap on the white whyte I saw on Thursday near woodcote, are you? If so, you’re quick!! Couldn’t keep up.

PS, there’s this lot too who I keep meaning to catch up with:

http://www.summitmtb.co.uk/

Cheers

I’m east Chilterns but often head over that way – as above, loads of great trails and OS maps are your friends. I’ve put together loads of alternatives in the last couple of years. Obvious start points (if you have a car) are Watlington – big climb up to kick off with – or Nettlebed / Woodcote, Russell’s Water (fantastic area). As above, a great loop can be done from Wendover / Prince’s Risborough but probably best for the summer. Really just follow your nose. There’s also a good organised ride in September – heaps of fun last year, great cake, lovely couple who organise it:

http://www.roughrideguide.co.uk/mtbike/2010/07/chilterns-challenge-woodcote-nr-reading-berksoxon/

Finally finshed tipping it down now so I suspect you had a wet one! Planning to slip out this afternoon on the singlespeed / mudplugger.

Would offer to show you round but I don’t get much time what with work (hoping to get out there tomorrow with Mrs O though) plus I’m really old now and recovering from injury so am incredibly slow and a generally crap rider so would just slow you down.

Thanks chaps. It’s been a while! Good point TJ. Will stick to what I know but take the point that 2 links = 1 inner / one outer.

Thanks.

Hammering down here (Chilterns) but that’s nothing new.

Play the long game on this one. I raise the Alps suggestion above. A weekend at Glentress = A month riding through Nepal, surely?

So long as they don’t put the tax levy on Mint Sauce cufflinks.

My Soul is just wonderful, I love it. Not ridden a Ragley so possibly not helpful though!

Citybike?

Good point Onza, the brake was working but felt very soft and the lever was coming right back – I will give your idea a go though. Cheers

Thanks Matt. I do take non-dexterity (is there such a word?) to the absolute heights, and I can see me dropping the seals on an untidy floor and losing them forever…..

Hmmmm. And bugger. Didn’t think it looked clever. Maybe Hope it is.

Thnaks Nobeer.

Nobeer – how tall is your ahem, friend? I ask as I have not yet got Mrs O to sit on a small Soul and would be interested how they size up.

Honourablegeorge – just built up a Simple and it follows the same predictable pattern of “just” improving this or that and still ends up expensive!

It’s orange which is very nice but for me the tea / coffee ones were the best. Especially the coffee ones. Cotictastic.

Yes – usually 2.

As nickf above, Chilterns flints wreak havoc. Have had to use one on several occasions.

My eyes…..!

Quite sure the above answer is better, but if it’s a 73mm shell (and I think that it is), the instructions should say just one spacer on the drive side.

Just put a 5 together with SLX cranks at the weekend, I don’t normally carry such knowledge round in my head (sadly).

Thank goodness there are no test days near me.

I haven’t quite got over opening the email from Cotic with the picture of the shiny stainless one. Fair put me about, that did. Shouldn’t be allowed!

Thanks chaps. Went for PTFE coated + SP41.

Swearathon due to commence at 10am sharp on Saturday.

The nutter with the saw would probably be given a job such as, oooh, let’s say Minister of Transport or advisor to the government on bike policy over here.

Excellent article, Stoner. Thanks.

L2 about 10 years ago repeatedly. 18 months of hell (beautifully iced by ex-wife upping unexpectdly and tryimng to get the house, but that’s another matter). Physios, doctors, osteopaths all shook their respective heads. Then one day it just eased and that’s when i strated biking. Never stopped since and now look at it as a rather odd silver lining.

Keep your chin up, I know it’s hard when you’re in pain / immobile.

Jedi – we’re talking about coming back…..

Not sure about the “little lady” phraseology, however – Mrs Ononeorange and I went to Jedi a while back, while she’s not a newbie as such, she only learnt to ride a bike a few years back and wanted to improve basic confidence and skills. I may be technically illetrate as a rider but have much more experience. We were therefore unsure whether the disparity in our experience would work with two of us and one trainer. No need for concerns – we had a brilliant session, I finally learnt how to tackle drop-offs and we both learnt a heck of lot in approach, confidence as well as specific skills such as pumping, cornering etc.

Just afterwards, we went with the bikes to Sardinia and the transformation in Mrs O was remarkable – so much more confidence.

Given the above, both go for it and approach with an open mind and enthusiasm. What you read on here about Jedi is not hype in my opinion – it’s true.

There’s always someone somewhere with a big nose who knows and trips you up and laughs when you fall.

IMO.

cynic-al – Aluminium Soul +1!!

boxelder – yes, could hear the saw high points catching (and could see them too). Edge of the rotor was scuffed.

iruk / al – yes, a fair bit of paint in the dropouts – the file will be out tonight. Thanks.

Success!! (Sort of).

Rotor was definitely marked as 160mm, but a combination of substituting a spare Shimano rotor which seemed to be fractionally smaller, a bit of clouting, lots of minute adjustments and copious swearing and it now turns almost freely – a slight bit of rub but small enough that I reckon it will wear in – before it was half-jamming and I could hear / feel each saw tooth snagging.

Thank you very much to all. Really appreciate it. Sorry Mowgli, the brake is staying.

Now to work out IS/Post brackets at the front for a 180…..

Thanks everyone – apologies for the delay (been offline).

Yes it was the same brake kit from the Inbred, and yes it’s a Hope rotor – but I take your point they’re not all the same. I may rob abnother 160 to try. (it was the rotor with the brake previously though and fitted fine).

Inbred was s/s – horizontal dropouts. Thanks too 18 bikes – may try that route with a shop.

I think a little bit of clouting now and if not some filing and see what we get. Mowgli, if it doesn’t work I promise not to clout the caliper and you’ve got first refusal!

Mowgli thanks. Apologies for the delay – we lost our Internet connection and I have had to borrow my wife’s very slow “devil device” (iPhone).
Not much overlap – but enough to clatter loudly and stop the wheel quickly. I wondered if I was possibly a bracket short. That brake has always been weak regardless of bleeding so tomorrow it’s hammer time and if that fails will have to consider a new hope tech.

Cheers

Perhaps I’ve got my terminology muddled Mamadirt bit it’s just bolted straight in from the side through the frame lugs and straight into the caliper – I’ve got some washers to centralise the pads on the rotor but they don’t “lift” it up. Thanks though.

Always find this brake bracketry lark confusing.

No it’s a rear, it came off my Inbred (same wheel and rotor being transferred). I think it’s a number 3 so should be OK. It “almost” fits but no matter how I adjust it the rotor just fouls the top.

I have to award full marks for the thread title! Good work!

I’m with TJ on this – don’t particularly like Shimano stuff generally, but the pedals are superb – I bought second hand 520s from ebay for a few quid (they looked to have had a hard life) a few years back and have hammered them hard and just used and used them on my singlespeed. I’m not a light rider. Finally replaced them with some new XTs (extravagance for me) a couple of weeks ago as the slop in the driveside bearing was getting really bad. The new ones seem incredibly good, give me another 10 years and I’ll let you know if they last well too!

Are you not getting cleat-confusion with all this Eggbeater / Time swapping around that you’re doing?

Thanks Hantsnightrider. That’s sorted it – I have ordered a 73mm x 113.

Just not used to all these different sizes – I’m more used to the hollowtech external BB kit. Althought I must say I’m very impressed how the square taper stuff seems to last and last though no matter what you chuck at it. Cheers.

Reading that makes me feel so much better – laid up with a knacked Achilles after trying (repeatedly admittedly) to get under 52 minutes and failing – I think I should give up with the running!

As above…..a saddle you can’t get wet??!!!!