Hmm the rentals are quite *exciting*.

Will need to factor that into my demands.

Anyone got any info on US run grading?

I’m looking at a map and can’t see any red runs. Also, how do the gradings stack up compared to the French alps? I seem to recall that a Chaminix black was (in general) quite a bit more ‘interesting’ than one from Andorra.

At least two of the three palces you mention must be a significant drive away. If they are beginners, are there not some nice trails more local to you to ride?

I’m not anti trail centres, but it seems like a lot of driving to look for some easy routes. If you showed them around their local area then they would have somewhere to start exploring.

Silly question but have you checked to see if the plotter manufacturer has a 64 bit driver to download?

Saxonrider – is that by the woody? Takes me back……

Thanks Will, made it to London Bridge dry but got rained on at the other end.

Can someone tell me what it’s doing in Central London as the windonw is a good 3m away and I can’t be bothered to scoot over and look.

@emsz – I read the book, enjoyed it.

No way I’m going to the film, because if it’s done well it’s going to deliver the impact of the book but in much less time than reading it.

Can’t see how you’re going to feel good coming out at the end of it.

All very mumsnet this…..

Got in a bit worse for wear. Cat was annoying me.

http://www.catsaretwats.com

Elfin,

The chainsets are alloy and made by Stronglight, and a drive side replacement is about £30. The brakes are dual pivot and seem to work as well as the decent Shimano ones on my road bike.

80% come back with problems? I’d be amazed if that were truly the case, and it would go against the anecdotal evidence of myself, several other riders I know and a mate who works at a major chain.

I find the tyres fine. Maybe my handling skills are poo ( ok. They are) BUT I don’t find it a problem swiching between the Brompton, the road bike and the mtb’s. In fact if your whole handlings argument is broadly illogical, like saying riding rigid, or CX will ruin your handling skills.

I’m sure that there the other quality folders are good too, but if you commute on the ever more crowded trains of the SE then I think a brompton is a pretty good choice. Not seen anything else that folds and stores as well.

If you can get handbrake for mac then it should do what you need.

Whatever you think of Han Rey’s abilites you have to admit:

1) He has made the most of what talents he has got to make a living doing something he loves.

2) He has used his fame/position to do some good in the world.

Before slagging him further ask yourself if you have managed as much with your life.

I’m a fairly regular commuter, summer – suit (except dress down Fridays) now it’s wetter I’ve gone for a flouro waterproof jobbie. Biggest adjustment is to remember to cycle for transport and not try and take down the courrier that’s jsut sped past…

Having livend and ridden in Copenhagen where noone dresses up in anything other than normal clothes to cycle to work, it’s alwys interesting to see so many of my fellow cyclists dressed for a club run in lycra etc. I often wonder how far they are going.

Yup – although it’s generally that I get into something else for a bit – recently have been trying to improve my swimming (I’m a slow learner and it’s take me a lot of effort to get to the point where I’m just slow rather than laughable).

If you’re not enjoying it, do something else. If you’re not enjoying anything then it’s probably time to recruit some help from your friends….

I did a similar thing – although not as high. My wife strongly sugested that I should go to A&E.

I went in expecting an X-ray, but the nurse prodded it hard and said “if it was broken we’d be peeling you off the ceiling right now”. Top diagnostics!

But it was better in a week or so so you should probably get it looked at.

I’ve lived nearby for the past 6 years:-

* You can live in reasonalby nice places nearby.

* Riding is good (for the SE) – Surrey Hills in riding distance, quite a lot of N Downs available for an easy local loop.

* Town centre is dire, but Reigate is pretty good.

Lively night ride scene, – there are 3 groups that I know of and I’m a hermit.

Trains to London fast and frequent. Gatwick close.

If you have to live in the SE and like riding bikes, then you coudl do a lot worse.

S2L rider here.

Honestly it’s the best bike I have *ever* bought. The sense of freedom it gives me is just fab, I commute into London a few times a week, there are three stations I can now use which are all a little too far to walk to. I’ve now got a lot more flexibility on where I start from and finish up ( I used to drive to a station further away as it had parking). Plus a beer or two after work is now not a problem. It was a lifesaver last week as car was in being fixed and I had to get somewhere that was awkward by train, but easy to get about 3 miles away. Probably saved me about an hour and a half a day.

Does it go as fast as a carbon road bike or ride steps like my superlight? Well no. But the smile on my face as I trundle over London bridge is as big as I get from any of my other bikes and I’m saving time, so it’s ‘free’ ( use special busy worker / parent logic here).

I’ve even trained clients to expect it when I turn up, it’s never been a problem ( don’t take it to first meetings but after that it comes).

I dropped the standard gearing down a bit as I have a bit of a hill in the morning and don’t want to sweat in the suit, I find the brakes/gears/tyres fine – only thing I’d do is lighten it with ti forks/rear/seat post. The front mounted bag takes the laptop etc and is smart enough for work.

I’m a convert (can you tell)?

If you’ve got a bleed kit, then go for it. They are pretty simple, stick in some new seals and give everything a clean up.

Even if you don’t have the equipment, then there is a certain joy in maintaining your stuff, rather than just binning it when it needs a bit of TLC.

Train to Glasgow, ride to Ardrossan, ferry to Brodick (Arran) bimble around Arran and get the ferry from Locranza over to the Mull of Kintryre (cheesy singing mandatory).

Hoof it across to get the ferry to Isaly. Go to some distilleries. Maybe do a bit of Jura too then there is a ferry to Oban via Colonsay – it used to be once a week or something, then back down to Glasgow.

Ooh which bits on Reigate Hill? – I’ve not been out in a while (on hols and focusing on swimming)Not as good as Leith/Holmbury etc but you can’t beat riding from the door….

Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp. Or what’s a heaven for?

Funny, I don’t find my Brompton realy that twitchy at all. OK it doesn’t ride like a full sus or a carbon road bike, but I’d advise anyone to spend 30 minutes riding one before commenting. It’s a revalation in personal transport (at least during this dry spell).

Well it was raining pretty heavily here this morning so I’m ashamed to say I opted for a run instead 🙁

I think I’m going to spend the money I was going to use for an uppydowny seat post on getting me some coaching.

I think it has more chance of transforming my riding.

Thanks all. Llandegla would be good, but it’s a bit too far from here and then back to Warrington.

Cool thanks everyone.

Honda Accord, – I can get a bike in the boot with the seats up and the laod cover over it. No evicdence of a bike in the back at all. Makes it handy for stealth ride on whilst on work business….

Actionsports.de seem to have them in stock.

As Momo said, Dalby is on the North York Moors – if you are travelling all that way you should consider getting out and riding the natrual stuff there (as well). I’ve nothing against trail centres, but unless you knew them well, if I blindfolded you and dropped you in the middle of one, you’d probably not even know which part of the UK you were in, they seem so similar.

What’s the riding like around there? Is it worth a quick trip to have an explore (live in Reigate)

I have no practical advise here, but check out the relationships bit on mumsnet (check out the loss of libido threads and the husband of 20 years cheating type threads for perspective).

Also look for the columns by Dan Savage who has some quite good advice on this kind of thing.

A personal perspective – based on no experience or knowledge (so probably with no value): You have three honourable options 1) Fix your marriage – do you think your wife would agree to councelling? 2) Leave 3) Get your wife to agree to your seeing someone else

Buy the one you want. Secretly inside there is the one you want, you can look at specs, colours, even try different ones. But then buy the one you want, because it’s the one you want.

Just make sure that you wait to board until all the cars are on the ferry, otherwise you will look like a dick, especially if you have stood next to a big yellow sign saying as much for 10 minutes and are dressed all gnarrr. Just sayin’.

There are some gnarr bits, and lots of dry, fast draining trails. I think the riding aound there is actually pretty good (live there for best part of a year before movign to the lakes). it depends on where you are comming form, of course.

I’ve got an old heckler (pre 2006) with an even older shock (2001 Float R) – no propedal at all (hadn’t bee invented). It actually isn’t too bad – ok, if you get out of the saddle and really honk it then it moves but smooth pedaling – even out of the saddle doesn’t cause too much movement.

Sorry BadBrains lot – my memory fails me.

There is no concept of ‘fault’ in sorting out financial matters if that’s what you are worried about.

Check out mumsnet for lots of real world experience (maybe just lurk…)

Check out the North Leeds Rides thread on BikeMagic.com – or John Hooper (John_drummer on here I think) might be along to advise. Think they were Tuesday, thesre is also the BadBrains lot who are usually around wakefield somewhere – used to be a Wednsday night. You’re also not that (45 min) from Calderdale, I seem to remeber there was a Thursday ride round there.

The only trail centre in even remotely striking distance is Stainburn – probably not to be ridden solo at night unless you are a riding god.

As for staying – that’s budget dependant. Not that much in Pudsey – there is a travel lodge on the way to Bradford (easy walk to goo curry houses on the way down to Bradford) or the Corn Mill Lodge is near by.

Leeds, I think the Malmaison was always good. There is the usuall selection of Novotel/Hilton etc. etc.

For Pudsey curry I’d recommend the Polash in Bramley, but can check with friends who still live there.

If it’s light and you want somewhere to mess about the woods in Troydale are good.

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=424017&Y=432450&A=Y&Z=120

I miss it round there.

It all depends on if you need to work and/or what you do for a living.

If I were a man of private means, and able to spend all my days riding etc. then I think that the lakes would be hard to beat.

Travel to the Borders and other ‘good’ bits of the country is reasonably easy, plus it’s just gorgeous.

If I had to work (as I do) and in IT (sigh), then one of the Northern Cities (I used to live in Leeds) are pretty to hard to beat.

As it is, I’m pretty happy where I am (Reigate, Surrey) is pretty good, easy to get about, good trails (for the SE) and generally ok.