Trek Fuel EX8 with Maxxis ADvantage 2.1

Will most likely be right near the back as I'm unfit as ****!

None on my Ex8 after 2 years (touch wood!)
Quite a few paint chips tho!

Ah go on then

Good luck Andy!

There's a few of us down 'ere in Cornwall so there'll be plenty of folk to show you round the trails (when you have time)! :-)

Cool, been meaning to try this as I tend to use my HTC Hero for route tracking these days since my Garmin Edge broke. Agree, mapmyride is too clunky…always preferred Garmin's one – I'll try it out!

Likewise, CoPilot's maps are all stored on the SD card too

I've got CoPilot Live on my HTC Hero (Android) and it's actually pretty good. It did have problems with loosing GPS signal occassionally (even tho the phone was still picking it up) but the latest update seems to have sorted that. Admitedly, sometimes the route choices aren't quite as direct as what TomTom would choose but it's fully featured and runs as well as a dedicated SatNav unit. For less than £30 it's a bargain IMHO.

That would be an ecumenical matter

Cavedale's harder than the Beast by far. Only had 3 attempts on Cavedale and it was always that first bit after the gate that got me – never found the right line through that bit.

No interest in horse racing however have entered office sweepstake – ended up with 'Flintoff' @ 66/1…I don't have much hope!

Is it a Trek/Gary Fisher? Trek and some other bike manufacturers only sell via bike shops to ensure the bike meets their safe assembly requirements…so it might be a requirement of the bike company that your bike is assembled properly by the shop?

I got bored of the Simpsons a few years ago – just the same old jokes over and over again. :roll:

Same with Family Guy to a lesser extent although I can still watch the repeats and enjoy it!

Used to love South Park but not watched it in ages!

Here you go – not 'Woodcock's' route (as far as I'm aware, although I've not seen that route tbh), but the route we did last year.

Find my post half way down the thread with GPS links

Do a forum search as there's been several threads recently – I've included info on the route we did last year on one of em :-)

JBarrykellett – yeah there is a gap between the sidewall of the pannier and the cover flap. Plus the zips are not waterproof either. Have to say that they could be much improved. I'll see how I get on with them and swap em if neccessary.

Andrew – yeah I thought it was you but wasn't sure lol!

Mark – think it weighs around 37lbs

Barrykellet – an ample amount of anti-seize grease by the lbs!

Soma_rich – they're £750 rrp.

Heathenwoods – don't recognise your STW name – which one of the Derby massive are ya? :oops: You're right though, not a phrase you'd hear in the Midlands!

There's a food station about halfway round with bananas (and flapjack I think) and energy drink but it's a good idea to take some supplies with you anyway.

Planning a similar trip for later this year – sounds like I'm planning in the right direction which is good – just wish I didn't live in Cornwall now as it's gonna be a long drive up! :-)

Do you have an OS map? If so, try the bridleway network south of Derby around Ticknall/Swarkestone (not sure where you're riding from) but can easily get to it from the city centre via the old canal path.

Otherwise there's a decent road/off-road route west out of the city via Markeaton Park, alongside Kedleston Park, Mercaston, north to Windley, Hazelwood, Chevinside and then back to Derby.

Or…north out of Derby via Breadsall, loop around via Long Eaton and Coxbench, up to Drum Hill, through Morley towards Stanley and back into town via Locko Park.

9/40 for me too…could this one put me in the lead with 10?!?

I've got a road Shimano HTII BB on my Scandal at the moment. Didn't intend to buy a roadie BB but it was the only Shimano HTII BB the LBS sell (and they sell a shed load of MTBs)! Was a bit dubious at the time but it's been fine over the winter.

Not a problem with mine either (2 years of using ADvantages)

Buy the latest ST mag, it's reviewed in there this month :-)

There's some info HERE of the Scottish C2C I did last year if that's any help.

Gav – willing to say where in Kernow you have in mind for this project (out of interest)?

:-)

I'm in Tim!

The Winning Automobile Team :wink:

Got a Kona UTE on the way courtesy of Cyclescheme/B2W.
Due in at the end of the month…can't wait!

The Track at Portreath, Cornwall has a BMX track and pump track, (and dirt jumps, and slopestyle course)…but it is 100 miles away from Exeter!

Ah that explains it!

I'm off back to sleep. :-D

mrmo – Must be post-lunch tiredness setting in but I've read that several times and I can't quite understand what you're saying lol!

I mean 'possible PSA' as it's showing on my account so it might be showing for other people as well – I guess that's what your saying too?!

:-)

Likewise, I have a 2008 EX8 which is quite literally one of the best things I have ever bought!

Absolutely love mine, the only problem being (which I've mentioned before on similar posts) is the wheel bearings which are not particularly well sealed. The rear isn't too bad as the cassette protects the hub to a degree but I've found the front wheel to almost seize up after very wet rides where I've been through axel deep puddles. Obviously, I try and avoid that as much as possible now but will replace the frint hub at some point in the future! It may be something that's been fixed on 09/10 bikes but be aware of it.

I wouldn't worry about the chainstay breakages – as mentioned it was an issue on a few first production EX's in 2008 but was quickly strengthened. It won't be an issue on 09 bikes.

My transfer fee was 5% of the original voucher value I think. Could have been 10% tho.

81 is the number you'll be seeing in a blur that weekend…probably as you burn past me! :lol:

Aren't the newer Pompino's 120mm spacing at the back and Alfine's are 135mm?

There is however a new Pompino on the horizon with 135mm spacing and disc brake tabs which I've got my eye on for a future perfect commuter!

Gah! Just as Collins & Herring were finally hitting the big time(!)*

*if you listen to their 'proper' podcast you'll know what I mean :lol:

rnagain – we did our Scottish C2C over 5 days, I don't there is a particular established route but ours was around 220 miles off the top of my head. I did it with Stevethebarbarian off here who planned it following some advice from the STW massive.

The route was:

Day 1 – Stonehaven to Braemar – 60 miles. This included the plan of riding to the top of Mount Keen which is the highest Munro you can legally cycle over. By the time we all got there, it was getting on so we missed it out…except for Stevethebarbarian who, still recovering from a broken collarbone, decided to do it on his own! No GPS log of Day 1 unfortunatley.

Day 2 – Braemar – Kingussie – 34 miles. Day 2 GPS log

Day 3 – Kingussie – Fort Augustus – 34 miles. Day 3 GPS Log

Day 4 – Fort Augustus – Cannich – 36 miles. Day 4 GPS log

Day 5 – Cannich – Dornie – 37 miles. Original plan was for us all to finish the C2C at Kyle of Lochalsh, but as our hotel was at Dornie, when we got there we were too knackered to carry on and come back so we finished there (however me and one other bloke did carry on to KoL the next day so we could say we did it!) Day 5 GPS log

It was a good few days riding with some amazing scenery to be seen! Here's some photos :-)

A Scottish off-road C2C? That's what we did last year having done the English C2C off-road the previous year.

Thanks for the suggestions folks!

Cheers folks. Could possibly have access to a digger with a small bucket so that could work. It's not going to be huge but I want a good size to play about on and keep it interesting – likely to be my 'little' project for this summer :-)

Have read in the LLB guide about using a fair amount of water to help bind the soil to make it solid – this could be a slight problem as our water supply is pumped up from the watertable below. I'm sure it'll rain enough this summer (again) for that not to be too much of an issue tho!