Looking forward to the next update!

Yes – definitely VERY tidy clean!

I’ve always run multi-release cleats on Shimanos with the tension wound right down (just out of habit, really) and very rarely have problems with unexpected releases. That includes on the s/s where I really do need to pull up as well. They do start to release a bit easily when they get worn, but I just replace them then and they grip fine again.

Ping out fine in a stack too.

Coming up from Hertfordshire with a couple of mates – doing the longest one on my elderly but lovely Orange 5 and really looking forward.

PS More pics please as it progresses.

Used to use them – went over to Avid 5 and 7’s but have been driven mad by Avid brake’s “attention-seeking” ways – so looking to go back to Hope. Take ’em – if you just want brakes that stop without demanding constant attention.

Good luck with the recovery. Hope it’s before September.

Currently also building a black Soul up – bought off the Classifieds and a real dogs’ dinner mixture of bits (until I can afford to replace ‘n’ pimp), but can’t wait to get her rolling!

My Mrs did a training day last year with Dales MTB/Nicola and loved it – she really got a lot out of it. I did the mechanical course which was great too – can’t say too much what a great bunch they are and what a beautiful place. Must go back and do some proper riding with them soon.

Thought about the boat pick-up angle on Etive – and have dug out his number. It’s Donald Kennedy and he’s on 01866 822430 or 07721 732703 (working hours). He’s a helpful kind of chap and you could probably work something out with him (he’s based at Taynuilt quay).

And there is a gate on the road – about a mile before you get to the country park there’s a metal barrier locked across.

Sorry yes, read my first thread again – I meant the Etive bit was easy in a non-technical, underwheel way – the hills are hard, indeed. Mrs Ononeorange had a minor outbreak of Tourette’s at each climb!

One other thing – there a number of river crossings early on, easy enough in good weather but if it’s been wet before could be problematic.

Our mobile phone suddenly started bleeping halfway down Loch Etive as coevrage came back, from a point where it was pretty much downhill to Taynuilt, so not a lot of use!

Mrs Ononeorange is 5′ 4″ and is delighted with her 14″ Orange 5. Fits perfectly. If you’re from around the Chilterns, I’m sure I could wrestle it away from her for long enough to allow Mrs GDRS to have a try.

Just back from a storming ride aound the Chilterns at Watlington. Tracks are so fast at the moment – lovely.

Can’t wait to get the Soul built up.

PS to avoid the A85 into Taynuilt, keep straight on through the park, when yuou get to the road turn right for half a mile, when you get to the smokery go through the car park out to the riverside walk at the back (hidden!), down to a fields and over the rather ornate pedestrian suspension bridge. Straight over the next field brings you onto a tiny road – turn right and this drops you into Taynuilt via the Bonawe furnace.

Did this ride with Mrs Ononeorange last month. Awesome. Definitely go from Victoria Bridge, as it descends far more that way. It’s a great easy track to begin with (we cut up through the first on the main track and then dropped through the farm to the first river crossing). After the loch, it’s a long but gradual pullup, then once over the top it becomes more technical for a while – although the trickiest bits can be walked.

After the lodge it’s an easy track again, along Loch Etive, although if they’re tired by then it’s very undulating for the last 5 miles (to a Southerner, anyway!).

We met a school party of I suppose early teens with teachers, they were tackling the other (hard) way, yours should be fine, it’s a big day but absolutely stunning. Recommended! Enjoy.

Looks good.

But I agree with CF, Boudicca needs a better bench.

Bridleway was blocked by a local farmer creating an embankment round a way; it turned out to be right on the county boundary. I emailed both county councils (addresses on ROW section of their websites) and one of them cleared it after a couple of months.

I just wish I had a LBS….nearest one to me is 45+ minutes drive (would take the train but it’s replaced by a bus every weekend) which hardly makes it local. I suppose it’s the end-result of poor LBS’s which have now gone.

D’oh! Thanks.

Just checked – it’s got a 5 on the caliper. Presumably I need a 145mm rotor then (didn’t even know they existed!)?

Could be interested too – I think I just sent you a message through your website. No rush either. Cheers James

Cotica?

Reba?

Thanks – I was thinking along those lines – cheers for the confirmation.

Thanks – what size pipe did you use?

Many thanks ladies and gent. I will let her know and hopefully the last little “wrinkle” from our glorious summer rides can be removed.

Cheers!

Great – thanks everyone!

Thanks guys – appreciated.

Presumably, you ride the on-one / DMR(?) with no reliability / general faffing problems?

Cheers again

I run SRAM on a couple of bikes and have never had any of the problems described – mine are X9 and around 2-3 years old. I did break one chain recently, but to be fair it was in the snow we had so was pushing harder than usual. Change chains pretty regularly as they seem to stretch quickly.

Other bike came with Shimano so it has that on, but I seem to be adjusting the gears almost every week – the cable is so pernicketty (spelling?) and is forever moving out of adjustment, it’s a real PITA to be honest.

In sum – I would go for SRAM every time based on my experiences.

Good on you straightliner! That was a serious effort on a singlespeed. Did you do the whole lot?

A great day, thoroughly enjoyed it.

Riding the 121 (hopefully!) here too. Can’t wait!

It rained here heavily this morning but nice and sunny now. Plenty of time to dry off completely.

Wine gums or jelly babies here. I must say the jelly beans sound rather good though – although I’d probably eat them all on the way there……

9-10am start time: What they’ve done before is let small groups go as they’re ready as post above says.

Singletrack – not a heck of a lot of it in the Chilterns, but plenty of quality offroad riding.

Was an engineer (when we had more of a steel industry), now in something entirely unrelated.

Downhiller? Not flippin’ likely! I like going up hills, me.

Done them for the past few years, my backyard and have thoroughly enjoyed them. Pretty well organised, very well signed, the new start / finish venue at the sports club in Denham gives a lot more space and facilities. It’s a great way to learn new routes in the Chilterns, mostly offroad.

There is a hard core of “race” riders (who I assume do the short course) who tend to push through everyone right at the start to get a good time, but once they’ve gone through everyone’s very pleasant and it’s a great day. I’m really looking forward to Sunday.

I’d be up for it but please can it be the latter half of June? (Demanding already!).

Ride the Chilterns as much as possible (I live there having moved up for the riding a couple of years back from London) and have generally found people friendly and pleasant – of course you get the grumpy few, but largely a pleasant experience. I found the Surrey Hills to be more sullen when I rode down there.

I do think the grumpy virus does get incubated somewhat though by the sun. Other trail users seem more friendly in thre wet and cold. Odd.

…and when will they be ready?!!

Thanks guys.

Weatheractive (I think) used to do the forecasting based on sunspot activity. I think.

Always used Hope hubs, no complaints at all just to balance the views. Reliable, easy to change bearings, minimal maintenance.

Can’t comment on Shimano hubs – never used them.

As it seems comfortably far away at the moment, I could be interested in having a go on the s/s, if the diary’s free. Anyone else up for it (apart from skankin_giant)?

Yes. Get on with it and post up a picture of the finished article.