Used Candys for years without complaint. Great in the mud and the new version are supposed to be better made (my old style ones only fell apart if I didn’t bother changing the bearings in time). I’ve changed the bearings after one fell apart recently, and they are going strong again.

I have a pair of the Eggbeater 3s that I got in December from TheBikeChain from my wife as a present, and really like them (currently going cheap at Merlin too if you login in as a VIP customer).

Not terribly cheap, but they work in the mud and the 2, 3 and 11 versions have a 5 year warranty, so are better value in the long run.

Just common sense really. In car parks I park so I can drive out 99% of the time – it is far easier than edging out whilst not able to see where you are going, particularly if parked by a larger car / van.

I guess the problem is people who are too rubbish at parking to reverse into a space, so prefer to reverse out so that they have the whole road to reverse into.

Hope Hoops are cracking value.

Pro II Evo with Stans Crest were on my shopping list, but I’m currently thinking of the Pro3 SP-XC6 with Crest. The latter are lighter but not suitable for heavier riders.

Thanks for the suggestions folked. Got a suitable spot booked now. Looking forward to it – not been to Mull for about 8 years, and Mrs PixelMix has never been. :)

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110501[/url] by pixelmix[/url], on Flickr

Pleased with the flash on this one. Taken at Dalbeattie

120mm up front is supposedly fine – lots of people have done it, including pro Giant riders (on the Advanced which has the same geometry).

Can’t comment on the shock though. Post up if you do it – would be interested to see.

Nothing by the sounds of it! Ah well, random choice from what google turns up then…

Bump. Anyone?

o2 here for broadband and phone (we don’t really use the phone but the packages do include free calls). We were on BT for phone but left after they consistently messed up the billing.

No complaints with o2 speeds, router or pricing (especially if an o2 mobile customer).

PS – another advantage of those sizes is that they are common, so you can easily get a ring to try. I have a 44t XT outer I’m taking off the bike tonight if you want to try it. 9 months use and in reasonable nic apart from the odd dunt on a rock. I have other spare chainrings at home too – one might be a 42t.

42:16 or 44:16 will be fine for the road. I’ve run a 32:12 for a while on the MTB with skinny CX tyres which gives a similar ratio. You can get up most road climbs with that, and it isn’t too spinny.

I have run an equivalent of 48:16 for a while too, but it’s not ideal for standing starts uphill.

Having the tube in for a while makes a huge difference. I couldnt’ get my 2.25in Nobby Nic inflated a few months ago. Gave up after wasting Co2 cartridges and swearing for at the track pump for too many evenings.

Had a slow puncutre recently so gave it another shot, and got it inflated first attempt with the track pump. Having a spare set of hands to apply some gentle pressure to the tyre beside the valve makes a big difference too (or zip tie the tyre bead on near the valve).

You might want to add a some waterproof troos and a spare top in case it tips it down – you can get cold pretty quickly once you get wet.

If it makes you feel better Northwind, there is a photographer who must have a cracking shot of me munching on a cheese sandwich shortly after transition since he insisted that I grin for the camera. Grated cheddar goodness.

I suppose I didn’t mind it so much when I was out riding but hanging around between my laps was pretty miserable and was sapping my will to go out and ride.

I know the feeling. Did 10UTB as a pair and was struggling for motivation late on as I felt cold and wet when stopped, so thought I would feel similarly at Glentress. Not stopping for long on Saturday kept me going I think (stopping after a few hours to put on a fresh top and my jacket made a difference too, as did my waterproof shorts (the latter possibly would have been counter productive for Rich up there 8O ))

Not a bad rant. Sweeping generalistaions, asterisks, but sadly lacks random capitals.

You would be annoyed if a driver branded all cyclists as ****s, so it’s not really fair to brand other categories in the same way. Some people are ****s. Some of those people driver cars, some ride bikes.

Anyway, this driver does sound like a right twonk. Worth a call to JVR property management? (Might not be worth it if the guy driving the van IS JVR property management).

Better presented results also now available here for those who are interested.

Nice one – thanks. I wasn’t aware that you could get a full length liner. Seems to be a choice between Gore, Nokon and the Alligator i-Link system, all for around £50. Done a bit of searching and seems to be lovers and haters of each.

Lots of people suggest that the Nokon kit creaks and the coating peels of eventually so I’m veering towards the Alligator i-Link or the Gore I think.

Would also be keen to see some results soon.

Excellent event. Course was spot on, marshals were great, and the little details made all the difference. Liked the signs round the course and the free bike wash was very handy. I don’t think I saw a grumpy face all day, despite the rain. Only thing it was missing was better info on lap times.

Weather forecast is looking reasonable – certainly better than 10UTB. :?

I’ll be pedalling slowly on my Anthem as a soloist this weekend. Thought about taking the rigid SS as a backup bike since I don’t have any pit helpers, but I don’t think I’ll bother. This way I have any excuse for long stops between laps. :-)

I’ve had both and liked both. The Inbred is about 1.5lbs heavier, but slightly less harsh.

If racing, get the Scandal, but if just pootling around, I’d go for the slot drop out Inbred (assuming you are paying full price for both and hence the Inbred is cheaper).

I see that there are no 16″ Scandals left, and I don’t think there are any slot drop Scandals either. Alternatively, could be worth waiting for the updated Scandal which I think will have replaceable dropouts if you want to run geared or SS in future (the current slot dropout frames don’t have replaceable gear hangers).

Edit – 3rd gen Inbred info here (also notes equivalent Scandal due September)

Tubeless = needs UST tubeless wheels
Tubeless ready = works with Stans etc

EH?

They’ll each work with each other, just some setups are easier to get working in the first place than others.

Okay, maybe I could have worded it better. The intended use of the Schwalbe “Tubeless” tyres is for UST rims, and the intended use for the “Tubeless Ready” tyres is with tubes, or tubeless setups with sealant.

Correct.

Tubeless = needs UST tubeless wheels
Tubeless ready = works with Stans etc

It doesn’t always work instantly – the Fox manual will tell you that sometimes the fork needs to cycle through the travel a bit before it locks. Bounce up and down on it a bit first after turning on the lockout before you send it off for repair.

Chocolate Chute to WoL – is that where you go along the estate road near Currie Kirk then take the right just before the bridge? There are two trails there, the first one being at the gravestones and it has a nice off-camber corner to drop.

Yes, that’s the one. Turn right when heading up the Kirkgate, and Chocolate Chute is on the right half way to Balerno, just before the bend in the road at the bridge. Haven’t ridden the other path you mentioned, but I think I know the one you mean.

Edit – between to it by 13th

Why not go 2×9? The only difference is that you will have slightly bigger gaps between gears.

Personally I am about to go from 3×9 to 2×9. Lots of XC riders now use 2×9 or 2×10 – no point in having gears on your bike which you don’t use, so losing a few gears at the bottom and the top is a good way to save weight and increase reliability.

Spend the extra and get stainless steel ones from Charlie.

Having used alloy ones on my SS, the £9.99 ones from CRC are too soft. Stainless steel for me from now on.

PS – If you don’t want to spend as much as the Hope, I’m sure Cane Creek, FSA et al do some too, although I’ve no experience of those.

I think the Hope Integral would do what you need (integral being the same as semi-integrated). I haven’t used the Integral one, but I have a regular Hope headset on one bike and it has been fine after a year in the mud.

I’ll be changing my integral on my Anthem to the Hope one in due course since it sounds a bit gritty sometimes.

TJ and others – well done for organising this. I have other commitments on the 19th, but as a rider who rides in the Pentlands once or twice a month, I’d like to say thanks for your efforts.

Mew – Frengers

See http://www.sxc.org.uk for Scottish XC. Next round is on Sunday at Comrie. There are rounds in Perth, Glasgow and the last round at Drumlanrig. All of those won’t be too much over an hour away.

Getting some from The Bike Chain, as they are one of the few makes that make the sizes I want (26t and 38t).

Got the 26t and it is very light and blingy looking, but still waiting for the 38th so can’t comment on performance. Everything I have read suggests that they are a decent enough make.

As we are drifting a bit, what does everyone think of the new Scirocco?

I’m biased (since I own one) but I like it. Different enough from a Golf and still relatively practical.

Mountain bikers have no business buying coupes though.

Easily takes a bike in the back (one wheel off and seats down) or I stick roof bars on when needed. I’ve actually had two bikes in the backseat and bags for a weekend away a couple of times (including my friend’s farm gate sized bike.

This is all made possible by the fact that it is actually a hatchback rather than a coupe, but nobody told VW.

Back on topic, the Mini Countryman is the worst bit of car design I’ve seen in years. Each design feature seems stuck on – there is no fluency to it. I feel ill from looking at the above pictures. I can live with the looks of the Mini Cooper etc (although they are terribly packaged with tiny interior space). Agreed that the Fiat 500 and VW Beetle are examples of how redesigning classics can be successful.

Think I chatted to to you early on Nigel. I presume you were on the orange niner? I rode alongside for a bit along the bottom firetack section, but you stopped shortly afterwards to fettle your gears.

Good effort with 9 laps!

Is the issue not partly that it is not to be ridden before the Olympics, for fear of it being trashed? I’m sure I read somewhere that bits were fenced off before.

I’m a serial internet user. I occasionally amaze myself by how much I can achieve if I make a point of turning the computer off for a while. Got to be slightly more productive than spending the same amount of time watching TV though I reckon.

My Giant XC lock ons that came with the bike are lasting well so far. You can get them for £10 or less if you look around, and in a few different colours for the lockring.

I have been known to ride my full-sus with Crank Bros Eggbeaters to the local post office in jeans and a t-shirt whilst gently resting my trainers on the pedals rather than wearing SPD shoes.

Are people going to mistake me for a scrote? Do we need a secret hand signal?

Thanks for posting that Chris.

12 laps is indeed impressive. Rob and Rob were flying in the pairs too. Pleased with our 21st placing in the pairs. Lap times confirm that back to back laps at the end was hard work on the legs though. Think my teammate probably had the right idea in hanging up his bike after our 8th lap.