These are Shimano rims and Maxxis LUST tyres that have mounted and blown up fine before whacking in the Stans.

Which says to me it’s the Stans. Which seems ridiculous.

Confused am I!

I’m a fat c*nt.

And have you got a problem with that?

It’s bloody disgraceful that nurses, firefighters, cops, binmen and other essential workers are paid such low wages while certain desk jockeys earn so much. Good luck!

Absolutely.

As the son of a teacher and a nurse you have my absolute support.

I do work for Aston Hill in Wendover Woods. If the FC went belly up, what would actually happen to the woodland there?

Aside from their commercial motives, they are a substantial national land owner (a very precious resource) and protectorate – I for one am incredibly pleased that they’ve been left alone.

Oh yes – don’t see too many Audis and dandies on t’Hill – a lot more vans and working Land Rovers. ;-)

If they grip on wet roots and hold a good line through a fast loose corner what more do I need?

You know of a tyre that grips on wet roots?

Where? I want!

chris_mbuk – are we talking about the same Alpines?

Dialled Alpine:

Orange Alpine 160:

Those Shimano wheels still look so bling…

New Treks look ace tho. And I’ve always liked Giant.

I killed two pairs of Spesh shoes as a guide in two seasons. My old Shimanos are still going now. Their gloves also seem to disintegrate – I get the impression that their stuff is well designed, but put together on the cheap. Cost of R&D maybe?

I also don’t like Specialized’s idea of routing a brake hose on the underside of a downtube. Does no-one else find that is rockier climes their downtube gets a hammering from flying rocks? I’m sure there’s a reason for it, but common sense tells me it’s baaaaad.

I *also* don’t like the fact that on most Specialized sussers the seat-tube is interrupted.

Nice riding bikes though – I’ve owned two.

Got mine courtesy of The Army..

Still got them now, 18years after joining up..

They never go away, you just grow to love ’em..

The TA ‘developed’ mine. :-(

Mine are also on the inside of my leg caused by over-pronation which so far nothing (physio, podiatry, bio-mechanics, gait analysis, orthotics) seems to have touched. Deep massage helps lots, but hasn’t cleared it up completely.

My quest for injury free running continues!

Had mine for years and still trying to shift the damn things. Tried most of the above, but apparently mine are ‘special’ – read into that what you will.

I love my Five. Perfect? Probably not, but for 80% of riding I’ll do it works very well. More importantly, I still love riding it.

…I have worked in the bike trade for 11 years, and overall I have enjoyed it, but I am in the process of changing lifestyle and will never work in retail again… sweet

Ditto that. Sometimes having a fat c**t telling you that your labour rates are too high, that they can get components cheaper from a dodgy grey importer but expect them fitted for next to nothing (before screaming off in a company car leaving you with nothing but the reek of meat-sweats mixed with expensive cologne) does tend to make one see red.

The alignment bolts can bend (after a few years of use). A chain tensioner is a good idea. No idea on the weight – mine’s normally covered in a layer of sh!te, so changes regularly. :-)

I’d agree with SAFK above as well – whack on some different tyres. I was running a bigger Conti Vert on the front and an Edge on the back, but have recently got some Trailrakers.

Edit: got a boingy 100mm coil fork and wider bars on it too.

Endura MT500s in large. Most warm and snuggly.

(I’m 6ft and 160lbs)

Poppa – yes, but not many. Got more recently – I guess my tyres are getting older – which is also prompting the decision.

I know the one. I may take you up on that if that’s OK. :-)

Yes. I have one of the first bikes they made and it’s my winter steed of choice (probably the bike I ride the most, realistically).

For round my way (Chilterns) it’s a fantastic singletrack steed. Totally recommended.

Cheers Jimbo – where do you get yours?

Poppa – I never have in the four years I’ve been running UST… Is this bad? :oops:

Scienceofficer – that was my thinking too, hence buying them in the first place.

ir_bandito – how’s the belt-drive? :P

Yes – I have Lyrik coils which wind thru from 115 to 160mm. I spent last Sat PM downhilling at Aston Hill, but have also ridden several two day epics on it, as well bombed around the quick, flat trails of Thetford.

Stupidly, stupidly adaptable bike. :-D

I’ve got an ’08 Five and have friends with an ’09 and a ’10, some of whom know the good folks at Orange – they say that the geometry hasn’t changed an awful lot. To back that up, my ’08 is designed to run a 120-160mm fork (the ’08 Five AM came with a non-adjustable 160mm Fox Float 36) and the current ’11 Five is designed to run a 140-160mm.

The primary changes between 2008 and 2010 have been the downtube (slimmer and lighter) and the swingarm (slimmer, lighter and now designed for a 12mm bolt-thru as well). Obviously there have been quite substantial structural changes for 2011.

I wouldn’t worry massively about which year you have, unless one is strikingly better looking (and let’s face it – they’re all pretty ‘functional’ looking)

When I was in the Territorials, the general opinion of the National Guard was not that high.

However I will the be the first to admit that this is not exactly a sound base on which to make a comparison; obviously the NG and Delta et al are somewhat different animals.

My impression otherwise has always been that the US Special Forces are very competent. Maybe not up to the standards of the SAS and SBS, but very competent nonetheless. You don’t get through something like SEAL or Delta selection (or even the Ranger course, come to that) without a great deal of self-discipline and military competency.

…and charge people money for to come and play with themselves?

I if wanted to come out I certainly wouldn’t pay for it. Come to that, I wouldn’t pay to play with myself either.

Russian ladies in Dubai, however, are a very different prospect that involves a different sort of quarry and no limestone whatsoever.

I’d pay for that. :-D

Weird – just been to their website and seen where they are. I used to teach kids to MTB at an annual summer camp there.

Docrobster – it’s similar enough. ;)

Balfa – They’re ’07 Manitou Nixon ITs, which an A-C of 520mm.

What you’re describing is exactly what’s happened moving from a 120mm Manitou Minute to the 145mm Nixon – it’s less ‘fun’ on the flatter stuff, but definitely more confidence inspiring when it gets a little steeper, which is as predicted. I think what’s surprising is how marked the difference is. Interesting that you’ve noticed getting more pedal strikes.

I’d also agree with your idea of a happy medium – it’s time to watch the classifieds for something a little more adjustable.

Cheers – Pikes (or Revs) are probably the direction I’m going to go in.

Time to save a few pennies.

That’s how I’d read it, but it doesn’t actually *say* that, which is where the ambiguity lies in my eyes.

I’d also imagine naked driving violates some law somewhere. ;-)

However, it does make me wonder what it’d feel like driving naked with a beaded seat cover…

The Highway Code (section 97) is suitably ambigious:

Before setting off.
…clothing and footwear do not prevent you using the controls in the correct manner

But after scanning over the above I admit that my driving instructor may have been wrong.

Did you not read any of the other responses?

Nope. Unfortunately Monday is a work day.

I’ve been doing it on and off for most of the summer, shin splints are a thing of the past.

You have to be preparred to go back to the beginning though and start again because if you are the sort of runner who lands on their heels (like i was) your calves will have the shock of their lives when you start!

There’s the reason I wear orthotics… Maybe it’s time to re-evaluate.

I’d love to go barefoot all the time. Except I wear inserts for over-pronation.

And yes, driving barefoot is illegal.

The one that fits you better.

Tried ’em out Sunday!

With a 65mm stem 120s are definitely nippier on flatter XC and I’d not go longer, but they seem pretty OK at the moment… Can’t help thinking about 130mm would be ideal.

Anyone running adjustable forks? If so, what travel are you running at and for what sort of riding?

Depends on how strong your bike’s head tube joins are…

Superstar get their pads straight from the manufacturer and miss one piece of the distribution chain, hence the cheaper price. The cheaper price also depends on where they actually get their pads from (obviously crappier pads are usually cheaper), which without knowing is impossible to comment on.

Disc brake pads are also not particularly cheap pieces of kit either – their mark-up is in line with any other bike part you may buy from an LBS.

Yeah. Nice. :-D

Unfinished?

It has to be done.

De La Soul?

I know you got soul!

Apologies Mr.T!

Starr > Star > James