Ha, well spotted! We cut the ties this morning to asses the damage, I thought it may be cosmetic until we moved the cable and he stood on the pedals.

I had the GTI for 9 months (before it got stolen) and have had a few cars since which were supposed to be sensible and good on fuel but ended up being deathly boring i.e. didn’t keep any for longer than 9 mts. Mine had DSG which was fantastic, really cant think of anything that comes close for the price.

I decided to buy a 2010 S3 which I thought would feel as quick but with extra sure-footedness of 4 wheel drive (pedant mode Haldex pedant mode off). It was lovely but just felt boring and not what I was after. In the showroom was a Factory Works Clubman and once i’d took it out for a drive I knew it was exactly what I was after. 211BHP, eLSD, Brembo 4 pots, adjustable suspension and with a burble a Golf cant get close to (maybe a R32 with non resonated exhaust). You get my point…….

Feels faster than my GTI, handles as well but its trump card is that its returning 36.5 mpg whereas the Golf didn’t return above 30 mpg when doing my daily drive.

Sure they are expensive but for me it ticked all the boxes.

I’ve had a mk 5 golf GTI in the past which was fantastic (especially with DSG) so imagine the mk 7 will be excellent.

Just recently I’d become bored of my current car (Golf GT diesel) so was set to buy a 2010 S3 on Saturday, it was nice but didnt feel exciting, almost too planted.

There was a Clubman JCW in the showroom and after a test drive ended up buying it! Proper marmite car but was 100% more fun than the S3, felt quicker then the GTI, can do 40ish MPG (if I want to drive like a granny) and very rare. Everyone will think I’m bonkers but I have a VW Caddy for MTB/Dog duties so thought why not.

Really wanted a new megane 265 but the depreciation is silly, also fancied a 135i but mpg and insurance is unbelievable.

On my HT (Soul) I run a crest front with a flow back and on the full suss run Flow F&R. (I ran 355’s on the HT prior with no issues and the crests are stronger)

Id go for Crests over the flows for the kind of riding you describe.

In ref to he comment above about them being soft, id agree. But the flows on my Alpine have about 20 dings, still run true and have never burped and that includes time spent in Alps etc. I used to run all manner of Mavic rims and would never go back. The mrs agrees also, her bikes run Stans (flows on FS) and they have lasted a year without issue including time abroad (still look great in white too)

f’ing excellent.

Great edit, great riding and great soundtrack. This is what MTB is all about.

Makes all the ATGNI stormtroopers who ride in Surrey in full armor look even more over-dressed.

Never been to ‘the Surrey hills’ but I defo agree.

Blower -is that first clip in the crash section above Heptonstall quarry?

Had a Five AM (as well as a mojo, blur LTc etc) and can safely say my Alpine 160 is by far the best bike I’ve had.

Since making it lighter (kept coil shock and dual ply tyres for alps) I have not ridden my Soul on even local loops, as long as your fit enough it’s pedal able all day, mine weighs 30.5lbs with reverb but mine is built pretty light at mo (no paint, xtr 1×10, tubeless EXO tyres, modified forks removing internals that are not needed, hope m4 with race levers etc). I know I could get down to 29 lbs with lighter pedals, carbon bars, foam grips and lighter tyres etc but there is really no need.

The Alpine just feels so stable at high speed but is nimble enough for alpine switchbacks, even with the 1×10 it doesn’t feel sluggish on the up.

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Untitled[/url] by jonathan.truesdale[/url], on Flickr

Thanks for the heads up Frogstomp. Saved myself a fair amount of cash!

did anyone else hear the comment

“this man is potentially more explosive than the London Olympics…”

Genius, I didn’t here it but definitely sounds like somthing he’d say.

As we get closer to the top guys you can see the speed ramping and Gee looked super quick, then Gwin comes down making those that came before look s l o w.

Red Bull coverage was great but miss Rob Warner letting loose.

Agreed, I don’t miss the lag or downtime of freecaster but reckon Rob is on a tight leash whilst working with RB

Not sure about this pic but as Grum says there are some excellent pictures in your flickr stream!

I’ve had 600rr and r6.

The R6 felt more focused than the 600rr with the Honda better all round I.e in slow traffic when you fancy a super quick commute. Wouldn’t want to be on either one for more than an afternoon and I’m only a young’n without arthritis!

The mrs didn’t like been on either though!

I had this in my 160. Replaced the shock mounting hardware which sorted it.

It was honestly doing my head in, god damn clicking on nearly every pedal stroke when going over bumps, I even tightened my chainring bolts on my crank so tight it snapped my bash guard off, I then picked the bike up and threw it down the valley side it got on my nerves so much!!

Good tip Ewan. I can’t believe the physio didn’t recommend me a roller, all the research i did post physio pointed towards a roller.

i’ve heard its better to spend money on a decent roller as the cheeper ones deform and become useless?

Hora, I hadn’t cleaned the bike for about 8months and it’s been ridden nearly every week so had started to look a bit dull. I buffed it up (spent no more than 2 mins) after a muddy ride on Sunday using brasso and it’s come up lovely.

More polished than raw…..

Sorry to sound like a coc*but I’ve just watched the video and it doesn’t look remotely technical?

This is excellent, I’d love someone to comment on my riding (which can be appauling at times).

I think they would end up meeting my good friends Mr K and O :D

Don’t know where you are but I happily travel 12 miles to give business to Barry Firth (firth cycles – Queensbury) when I have 4 well known and established LBS closer.

I build and service my own bikes etc but for anything that requires specialist tools always take the bike there. He is also an excellent wheel builder

Try and get some of these descents in…….

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/calderdaleers-name-the-descents-first-ride-with-gopro-content

Thanks guys. So, we will do the dog and gun and the phesant for lunches and Sienna’s and lakes bar ad bistro for the evening meals!

I’ll even report back on what we think :-)

Cant believe people have missed this

Would you call the bleep test knackered brakes a race fair deal?

Brilliant!

Apologies for rubbish pic :D

I can say this bike is the fave ‘AM’ bike I’ve had (I’ve had a five am, mojo, Blur LTc etc etc prior to this)

It’s accompanied me on many ‘self propelled uplifts’, local blasts and to the Alps etc and I love it. Obviously if I want to get some miles in I’ll get on my soul but I’m more than happy climbing on the Alpine (seems to climb better than the five AM)

Mine is fairly light but cost a fair bit to get it to 31lbs (Raw frame, 1 x 10 xtr, tubeless, Ti spring etc) so this prob helps when going up but I know of 2 people who have an Alpine as their only bike so would have no issues with it being my only bike.

Well done for beating the other rider….

Thats exactly what it feels like, I didn’t even know that there were segments on this little ride. Its a bit pointless really.

Im pleased with the Withers Road climb section I got KOM on as I know a few of those names in the list will have been on CX bikes. I love beating CX riders :D

Can I have your autograph?

If you can catch me

Damn this thread, downloaded the app last night.

Just done a local blast without thinking there would be a segment on the best downhill section, would have pushed a bit harder. Oh well, I only beat the best time by 40 seconds on a 0.6 mile techy downhill segment. Boooooom, I love this app. ( I think my mrs will get tired of calling me KOM very quickly :) )

I got the same message yesterday.

The Mrs had a MK5 Gti until it was stolen :( and now has a GT TDI 170.

Anyone that says the GT is as fast as the GTI has clearly not driven both, the GTI is very quick but also handles fantastically (GTI beat a Imprezza WRX around fifth test track). Our GT has bags of torque but the power doesn’t deliver effectively to keep pace on twisty country lanes, which reduces the enjoyment factor.

Ours had DSG and can easily say it the car I miss the most out of all the cars I’ve owned, DSG is fantastic.

As mentioned above the only downside is the fuel economy I averaged 28MPG over the time I owned it

Its normal. I run my saddle lower when on flats compared to clips, about half an inch too!

Appreciate Andy McAndish takes good pics but needs to learn to spell (anyone else notice the mistake?)

We easily get 2 bikes plus camping gear and dog in the back of our Caddy.

We really only use it for bike duties but the Mrs prefers it to the Car (Mk GT TDI) due to driving position and how the power is delivered 1.9 PD TDI compared to the car.

Doesn’t have a DPF so no issues with short journeys if needed and we get 55 MPG (approx) which includes 50/50 shortish/longish trips.

Did 60 miles around the dales yesterday morning on mine. I have the ‘top of the range’ :D ready built version in cherry red. I love it.

It’s got a 105 groupset which is basic but for commuting and the odd training ride it’s fine.

To put it in perspective my previous bike was a Dura Ace equipped titanium Merlin Metalworks which weighed around 16lbs, this ‘budget’ bike with full guards weighs 21lbs . Guess which on I prefer…… The big G

A few pics from a trip around the islands of Indonesia

Appreciate that they are not up to the quality in the above posts but taken with a mixture of point and shoot and Panasonic G1 with kit lens

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fix the net[/url] by jonathan.truesdale[/url], on Flickr

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old man[/url] by jonathan.truesdale[/url], on Flickr

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P1020479[/url] by jonathan.truesdale[/url], on Flickr

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boys on a bridge[/url] by jonathan.truesdale[/url], on Flickr

Technically not a very good shot but its my desktop background, self shot with camera on a towel on a sun lounger

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P1020424[/url] by jonathan.truesdale[/url], on Flickr

I used to go to the gym with Rashid. He is a lovely lovely guy.

The main problem is that your photos are not very good.

Just back from a couple of hours of Hebden Tech.

Largely ok – Some ice on the Pecket Well descent and parts of Blue Pig – All rideable albeit slower than usual

Church lane all bottle ice but easy enough to stay on to top as long as you sit and spin.

Aly’s wound and zig zags descents were perfectly fine – Mud all frozen which is an added bonus

Where in Calderdale?

Bad luck for your mum though!

I owned the five am prior to my 2011 160.

My 160 with coil weighs under 32lbs now ( 1×10 xtr, tubeless with maxxis exo tyres) and is ina different league to the five. IMO climbs as well as the five but (as said above) a different league.

Id say do it.

We were in he same situation 3 years ago and we’re both happy we decided to spend the extra on ours (We went for walnut)

I think the worktops were about £2.5k, the kitchen needed to be fitted first and then a couple of guys came round and made a custom fit worktop out of chipboard. 2 weeks later they came back to fit the worktop.

TBH we have neglected it and it still looks great, we should really seal it every 6 months but have only done it twice since it was fitted. I know it will easily outlast the kitchen as it can be stripped back down and re-sealed to make it look brand new.

We also considered granite, I really like granite in the right kitchen. Wood was better suited to our 1860’s cottage IMO.

Most of it is legal

This gives you an idea:

I remember reading somthing where Santa Cruz ran 2 identical bikes which were ridden at same time in same conditions (when new VPP was released). One was washed after every ride the other just brushed off.

The bike that was washed required it’s bearings/linkages replacing ahead of the other.

I still wash mine though (only with a hose mind)