What the bike shop is probably implying is that they don’t want to exert any more force in getting it out for fear of breaking the frame and you expecting them to stump up for a new frame. I guess the amount of force you give it yourself is related to how lucky you feel.

Thanks a lot, done now. I’d have been at this all day!

Ooh just pressed Alt and T and it does! It disappears when I click back on google though.

What’s that, please be aware that I’m a complete point and click jockey. 🙂

Get plenty of savoury food such as pork pies, sausage rolls, sweet stuff such as bars , jelly babies and gels can make you feel sick after a while. Fresh water alternated with electrolyte drink will also settle the stomach. And by the way, DON’T GO OFF TOO QUICKLY.

stains on his shorts. nice wee rainbow over Huey’s shoulder.

Thats an impressive trick, wish I could wee in colour.

Try this place, perfect for a quiet relax, 4 miles from Nant Yr Arian the cottages are lovely but you may want 2 for 6 people.Pengwyrnydd[/url]

Looks like Cargols are snails, sort of makes sense if you think about the shell.Grandmothers snails in salt and pepper, think I might give them a miss.
Slow typing strikes again, doh.

Cargols de la padrina (amb sal i pebre)

225.41 Miles in 12 hours, did the National 12 Hour Time Trial in 2009. Most knackering thing I’ve ever done both physically and mentally.

Thought so, the arrow pointing towards the camera definitely says Pendle so that proves it.

What about train to Hope then NW along the Roman Road to the top end of Ladybower, up through Rowlee Farm to Hagg Farm then down to Derwent Res. Up Cut Gate via Slippery Stones then down to Langsett. Through to Penistone via Thurlstone and call in at the Huntsman on the main road (it’s my local) for a selection of 6 real ales which includes Taylors Landlord, Black Sheep and other guest beers. Generally food on on a Sunday which is simple and cheap. 1 mile wobble along the Trans Pennine Trail brings you to Penistone Station and home via Huddersfield. A grand day out.

I can’t imagine trying to camp on the top of Tarren Hendre in those conditions, I was up there at just after 6.00pm on Saturday having ridden (pushed) up the forest road from Pennal with Paul Pomfret, Chew and Slugwash, they carried on along the ridge but I dived off down to Dolgoch and was in the Railway for 6.45. Wise move from what I hear 😕

On the subject of prizes,at the raffle on Saturday I won what I thought was a Singletrack water bottle, imagine my surprise when I looked at the bit of paper inside and found a free Subscription. Well chuffed!!Thanks again to Stuart and Dee for their seamless organising. Weather made it pretty tough this year 4,500m of climbing and 110 miles to get the 15 controls, legs stiffening up nicely.

My sentiments entirely, now stop calling me shirley

I’ve found these RAM mounts very sturdy for motorcycling which probably need to be tougher than bicycle ones. Available in the UK

While on the subject of food, the Railway at Abergynolwyn is serving food tomorrow night from 6 until 9. No other cafe or shop in the village, the landlord is kindly getting me some milk in for breakfast, ring him if you want likewise.01654 782279, I’ve warned him about our potential state of disrepair 😯 Is it possible to cheat in a game with no rules?

Yep, I’ve spent many happy hours round there with the Mach lads before they moved on to bigger and better things in the Dyfi, I organised a TQ from Bro Dyfi in 2001 which used a lot of the going in Pantperthog but it’s changed a bit since then with the felling.

sorry dnf, this is a reply to Stuarts post.

Thought I’d share a bit of local folklore about the area just North of the Dyfi Bridge. If you choose to do the climb on Sustrans Route 8 the cottage on the right is where Led Zep wrote and rehearsed Led Zep III. Bron Y Aur stomp and all that. Its a swine of a climb but if you go straight on at the T junction at the top there is an overgrown track that leads to Pantyspyddyd and then up some more until it clears at the old mine workings, this will get you onto the ridge. Me, I,m with Tiger, the climb from Pennal is much better despite the main road slog.

Went into Evans Castleford today, I was looking at some Gore 3/4 shorts which were on the wrong hanger, small on the shorts, large on the hanger, showing the wrong price, when I enquired whether they had my size I was met with a flat “nope” if they’re not on the rail we haven’t got them. He then went back to chatting with a colleague who was doing a word search. I blame the parents.

Does dizzy85 refer to your state of mind and the number of words you can spell?

The price list makes interesting reading. Session Charge, check, Bike Hire,check, Helmet and Shoes, check, badminton racquet to tw@ anyone overtaking on the inside,check. 🙂

Weather forecast is better for Monday as well, what about starting late? Turn up for raffle, drive to caravan, spend evening listening to rain beating down on roof, start Sunday.

You need to be very clear about the accreditation process at Manchester, 1 or 2 of the coaches can be particularly grumpy and it really is a matter of luck. Don’t think you can just rock up for a taster session and do the blue ticket by demonstrating you can get round without falling off. One of the criteria is that you can ride safely in a group which also involves passing by the lead rider going up the banking with the follower riding through underneath, you need to demonstrate looking over your shoulder before during and after this manouvre. It also means that if you are there on your own with a group of strangers who are complete novices or don’t want to play ,you are stuffed. I have been 3 times and each time I’ve made my desire to do my accreditation known to the coach. As I’ve been on my own the response has usually been, you’ll be lucky with this lot! Next time I’m taking some pals who will be thouroughly schooled in the procedure. Back to the question, once you have your blue ticket you can proceed to the improvers sessions which should be easier to progress from as everyone is trying to do the same thing. Then when you get your Pink ticket, you can attend the structured training sessions or join the LVRC if you are over 40 which runs their own training sessions. The answer to whether you can just turn up and ride is generally no as the track is booked up but if you join a club, you can ride with them. Sorry if I’ve got blue and pink mixed up but it is definitely a 2 stage procedure. I tend to think that the Velodrome is content for numpties to turn up and have a pootle round for a tenner, the coaches only seem to be there to get them going and keep an eye on them rather than encouraging the riders to progress.

Is any one taking a trowel for burying their number 2? I’m undecided yet.

Why would you want to bury your riding partner, this event is getting weird 8)

Has anyone seen this tent/shelter option, using an inner tube instead of poles, what a brilliant idea. here

Is anyone interested in stopping off for food before we get to Stuart’s place on Saturday, last year we had an early lunch at the Aleppo Merchant in Carno, if Stuart is planning to do the raffle at 12.30, then I could enquire whether they would be willing to serve us a late breakfast or somesuch as we would need to be away from there about 12.00 to allow for fettling time. I’m guessing we will start about 1.00. Meeting at 11.00am would seem sensible, I realise not everyone is coming from the East but as Carno is only 6 miles from Pennant it’s about the closest place I can think of. Let me know via here or e mail and I will enquire.

Perhaps not the biggest but quite impressive, not my photo but I’ve ridden the trail, it’s above Lago D’Idro in Italy. Squeeky bum time.

Ian I know how you feel, it struck me at times on the WRT last year that I was taking it far too seriously in getting all the checkpoints when everybody else seemed to be either down the pub in Ffair Rhos or having full breakfasts in Pontrhydfendigaid. Seemed a daft idea to try to win an event with no competitors. Hasn’t stopped me entering this year though but I will be more tested this year due to less local knowledge.

Specialised BG grips are very similar in appearance and performance to Ergon for 1/3 of the price, got them on all my bikes and ulner issues have all but disappeared. Still wear good mitts though.

For top class pies try Mays Store in Colden, if you are riding clockwise, it’s about 1/2 mile off route as you come down the hill from Egypt. She also does a mean cup of tea and flapjack as well as almost everything you can think of in a village shop. It’s on the right, blink and you miss it.

He’s a she but still quite rapid and will have done 18 of the 21 tops by then, the riding bits of the route include Walna Scar, Stake Pass at the top of Langdale then up the road to Honister. The runner will take a more direct route but I’m working on catching her on the downhills.

Is £65 FOR 25 Conti’s any good to you? Lex’s Cycles in Penistone, also £30 for 10.They appear to be pretty good at mail order.

Depending on where you live, most A roads, especially old ones, have white stones every mile. Find your nearest 2, zero the trip and ride from one to another, if it is wrong, adjust the wheel circumference number until it is correct, then ride with your wheels on the ground at all times. 🙂

Gogledd Cymru it is then da iawn

Funnily enough, I’m doing a similar route to that tomorrow but not the bit from the road to Cam End as it is a footpath. The best way is to go down towards Horton until you get to Selside and then pick up the Pennine Bridleway which has a new bridge over the Ribble then North to Cam End and onto the Roman Road. You should be fine on a CX bike, loads of 3 Peak competitors do it.

Interested to know how the area is now, planning to ride the Packhorse Trail on Monday on the way back to Penistone from Mankinholes. Any up to date info?

10 places behind a dead Italian isn’t bad. I’d have tham under trades description though, calling a 8.75mile TT a club 10. If you want to go faster then the most cost effective add on is a pair of tri bars, can be had for about £30 if you just want to get fitter then do a 10-15 min warm up then ride as though you are just about to throw up then put more effort in for the last 5mins. If you’re not completely spent going over the line, you’re not trying hard enough.

Off tomorrow morning for long weekend at our static caravan at Devils Bridge, if anyone fancies a bit of non Nant Yr Arian riding on some less used but equally fab trails, let me know and I’ll show you around.

Forget my ill informed rambling, the grid ref date is the 28th, just found your e mail.Doh.