There's a huge difference between how the frame looks in the flesh and how it looks when subject to flash photography. Most people didn't know what it was because they couldn't see any graphics.

Rode mine last night, seems perfect, flies up hill, flies downhill, no complaints so far. Definitely looks the business too, though I guess if you're a luddite that expects your On-One to be made of pig iron, then you would disagree. Either way, I win.

To be fair, I did say I'd done it both ways and wasn't sure which way was easiest, the path we took between the two options I offered you didn't exist last time I went up there. The heather-grass push avoids having to climb the summit and lower your bike down the cliffs and it avoids having to go over Scar Craggs, so it has it's merits. You're definitely not a real man if a bit of a slog through some grass and heather puts you off!

You mean a 'relatively easy' way up Blencathra surely? I've made that mistake before when showing people around, it's best to describe the climbs as 'The easiest way' and 'an efficient way to gain altitude', rather than using words that can be used against you a couple of hours later!

Route synopsis' or it didn't happen.

:-)

Polar gives much higher calories than Garmin for me. But when I convert .tcx files into Polar the training diary software re-works the calories out for me, so they're comparable. The key is to ignore the absolute numbers and use them to compare one session to another. They seem accurate enough in that context.

So in summary, don't use it to see how many pies you should have for tea.

That's not Peachos' bike, I just emailed him a picture. it's all mine!

The brakes are US spec 2009 Louise Brakes, which are black, apart from the inner caliper half, which is red. So they're black from the otherside. The hoses; Magura supply them both (more than) long enough for the rear of a bike, so I've tied them up, they will be cut to length when they need bleeding, though I may do it before if I can be bothered. I'm running the same brakes on my other bike, they also need the hoses cutting down.

The wheels are borrowed from my other bike too, hence the colour clash with the calipers; I'm sharing wheels short-medium term until I've got the money for a rear hub gear, hence the rest of the drive-train being ripped off a third bike as well.

Awesome!

Tyre clearance is loads, no problems with the RQs.

My 456 I think you'll find! THe Bat Bike is born!

Ours moved in with us 19 years ago, still hasn't got bored of us.

Just had an email saying my frame was shipped today and will be with me tomorrow. :-)

letmetalktomark – don't worry, you're not alone!

Which were awesome…..

They're due for delivery on Monday/Tuesday next week, awaiting the bolts and swap-outs before they can be delivered. I just received my brakes and headset, forks in the post tomorrow. Headset looks very good, will go with the frame perfectly.

It looks awesome btw.

My Syncros Factory FL seatpost is about 3.5mm thick.

You mean let dead dogs lie surely?

Ha ha, that is a good photo, but it's all a bit MBUK! Or do the trees grow funny round those parts?

Too right, it's the same at running events as well, crap photos that convey nothing other than, 'I was there'. Expensive too. I suspect in a few years this bubble will burst as wives start telling their husbands to get proper jobs that earn some money and all the crap photographers that seem to have sprung up recently will be gone.

Right there with you Binners.

Did Skiddaw and Ullock Pike yesterday. Today was Grisedale Pike, Coledale Hause, Coledale, Causey Pike, Rowling End.

Looking for ideas for tomorrow??

Surf mat – what are these national events you speak of?

No, but don't worry, I'm right about this.

Ha ha, typical Singletrack not having a clue about what looks good and what doesn't!

CRC Returns? I've only returned one thing to them, a month late. Posted at 2pm, email saying ti was processed at 10am the next day, money back in account 2 days later.

Ok, cheers, hopefully JE James will be able to give me the dimensions for that headset, so I know. On One reckon 2 weeks for Hope, and more for the other options, so was hoping to get something sorted before then in case they decide to deliver the frames before then. Maybe someone should have made a steel ring, like a lower race that converts a fork steerer from 1.1/8th to 1.5" tapered, that would make life so much easier!

But even a heavy headset is quite light in the scheme of things. Does anyone even make a carbon mountain bike headset??

Anyway, can we answer my question please? I'm concerned that I will arrive at a point in time where all my bits converge and I'll be unable to ride due to indecision over a headset!

Can someone have a look at that headset I've linked to and advise on whether it will fit? The blurb suggests that it will, but I'm concerned by the use of the word 'integrated' in the name. Does that just mean the bearings sit inside the 1.5" headtube, or does it mean it is an Integrated Standard fit? I've contacted JE James, but not heard back.

Thanks.

When the bike explodes you die as shards of steel/aluminium/carbon slowly make their way to your heart. It's not a good way to go, so I advise you put it back as you found it.

Bump?

You would then have to put it inside the bottom bracket axle, and then you wouldn't be able to transfer the torque to the frame, so the motor would just spin itself. It would also be very tricky to get the electrickery to it too.

Is this an appropriate headset for the 456 Carbon Frame with a 1.1/8th inch non-tapered steerer?

http://www.jejamescycles.co.uk/fsa-gravity-sx-integrated-headset-no-55-1-1-1-8-id57583.html

I had this from Jon today:

"We'll be stocking a Hope reducer headset from Friday (around £55). There are some very nice Token ones on their way in the next fortnight that should be more like £35, and as soon as they are back in stock we will also have the FSA Gravity SXE that should be £25."

Regarding delivery, what happened was the original, "Due 31st May" Mediums were listed as sold out first, then they were listed as available with a delivery date of June 10th. I assumed from that that the ones you can buy now are a second batch, but I don't know. Would be good to get my mits on my frame asap, but I'm waiting for forks, seatpost and brakes to make their way across the Atlantic and I haven't ordered a headset yet.

There is a minimum weight limit, the bikes can be made light enough to house this and still be at the limit I think? I was under the impression that the UCI were introducing X-Ray scanners to catch this, but that riders could swap bikes during the race.

most boring thread ever

What's with all this Pace nonsense? They were just being **** for the sake of being ****. None of their 'ground breaking' ideas have gone anywhere and their current bikes are awful.

Ahhh, but being clipped in isn't cheating and your better technique is just compensation for crap pedals. It's not actually a better technique, just different.

They're going to ban SPDs from DH?

WHAT THE ****. SPDs are like taking your stabilisers off, it's when you become a proper cyclist.

Sounds like thinks have changed a lot there since I last used them in 2001 then!

I was charged double price for a free hub, £20 to fit it, then a £15 'emergency' labour charge for them to do the work the same day. They knew I needed to ride, so took me for one! They still spent a couple more hours fitting pedals to some new bikes they'd got in before doing it for me.

Then they hired one of my friends a £200 giant piece of junk and sent him up the DH track on it. When the inevitable crash happened and a seat rail popped out he was charged £40 to 'replace' it, before putting the seat in a vice and putting the rail back in right in front of me.

Good things have changed, but I still make sure I have all my tools and spares with me when I go so I don't have to use the bike shops up there.

I saw, but they're priced similarly to one of the new lights, which also comes with the battery I need, so not sure I can justify the expense.

Do they sell the batteries for the newer lights, the ones in the aluminium case, that work with the old lights? I wouldn't want to buy a replacement battery as the design of that one is the reason my light isn't useable in the first place. (Water ingress)

Is this the same for the Carbon frame does anyone know? Won't want to have a lack of rear mech stop me when it finally aRrives!