+1 for marshals and running of the event. Some of the marshals were great for standing in the rain all day and still shouting encouragement every single lap.

The natural sections would have been great if they had been a bit drier, and were a good addition to keep all tastes catered for. I enjoyed the muddy section at the bottom of the course as it was satisfying to get through without at dab. Struggled a bit on some of the slippy top sections, but they were a nice challenge. Could have done with a bit less fireroad for my taste (lower section seemed a bit of an slog across dull open ground), but still enjoyed the event. My pair plugged on slowly for 10 muddy laps.

my mates rab and rob are leading the pairs by ten minutes apparently.

I think we were parked beside them in the car park – seemed to be going well.

Was glad the bike shop had let me down with my recent bike repair. Having to borrow their demo bike was a stroke of genius. Don’t think it will be the same again after 6 laps of mud and rain.

Anyone seen the results? The link on the website doesn’t seem to be set up properly yet.

In my most memorable ride in a properly heavy thundery downpour I rode down the pavement/verge on a 60mph rural road as I thought it would be safer than riding on the road in bouncing rain.

It ended abruptly with me going over the bars because the pavement/verge I was riding on suddenly narrowed. I landed hands first on the road, and looked up to see my bike bounce of a passing car, which turned out to be an unmarked police car*.

I can’t guarantee that this happens in all thundery downpours, but it is a good reason to take the train home.

*NB:- best type of car to hit. I didn’t pay for their dented front wing and missing wing mirror, and got a lift most of the way home.

10UTB here too. I’m in a pair, and we won’t be “racing”*, just riding for fun and kicking back with a good bunch of friends who are also in pairs/trios.

*I don’t have my race bike with me this weekend, so that’s my excuse for my slow times.

I did it last week. Good fun grassroots racing with a range of paces. Courses balances out to be equally fast on mtb or cx I reckon. Definitely singlespeed friendly too it next week’s course is the same.

Had the problem with my Knife, which has a more flexible base, so is probably worse. Seemed to develop with age, and lube on the rails did little. About to chuck it anyway since I’ve since bent the saddle rails in a tumble.

Never done 10UTB, but doing it this year as a pair – not aiming to be competitive, just have a good time with a bunch of friends in other teams.

10 @ Kirroughtree was really good fun last year despite the rain, so hopefully that won’t spoil things too much.

Our friend with a gazebo could find he is very popular…

I’ll be on a blue Anthem X2 (or possibly an Inbred if the Anthem isn’t back from repair), but I’m sure I won’t be the only one.

I’d guess mine is about 24lbs (certainly lighter than my Giant Anthem X2), but then I do have no gears and Pace rigid carbon forks on it, so it is pretty minimalistic.

If you want reasonable weight for reasonable money, Charge Spoon/Knife saddles are good weight for the price, some SLX bits throughout aren’t far off XT weight, and tyres can weight a surprising amount.

Post up a photo so we can see the current spec. Sounds like you should just rag it until you break bits, and every time you replace something, make sure the replacement bit is slightly lighter.

I’ve just ditched a worn racing ralph on the rear of one bike for an equally smooth Crossmark. Plenty dry enough in Edinburgh for that. Even a few showers this week seem to have left the trails dry and fast.

Where are you riding OP? The Somme?

Think I’ll stick with my £12 bike bag that covers the wheels, the frame, the drivetrain and basically everything except the bars and the seatpost.

Thanks TJ – I wasn’t aware of that, and it sounds like the best option if I’m to get it checked out.

You can tell I’m a bit naive about the whole Doctor / A&E thing as I rarely need to visit either.

I agree that A&E for a 3 week old injury isn’t ideal.

Think I’ll MTFU for a few more days and call my GP if things don’t improve soon.

Think we’ve covered the full spectrum in 3 answers there!

I figured there is little point in going to the GP as they won’t be able to tell if any of the bones are broken.

Currently veering back towards MTFU, but wary of causing long term damage if I have broken a small bone in my palm.

Bumpty bump. STW diagnosis required!

Any thoughts from people with very minor hand injuries?

Hurt my hand in a tumble at a race a fortnight ago. Very slight swelling and a bit of pain a few hours later, but no obvious bruising, and it is only a dull pain if I prod a certain bit of my palm (centre, towards my wrist) with my other hand.

Doesn’t sound like my scaphoid is broken (from what I have heard) and I have full use of my hand and fingers, can make a fist etc, albeit 2.5 weeks later, my palm is still a bit sore. I suspect that my wrist is slightly sprained, but it isn’t bad, and I’m sure it will sort itself out shortly.

Considering getting it x-rayed just to check, but I have a nagging suspicion that it might be a waste of everybody’s time. Is it possible that there is just some tissue damage to my palm which is taking a while to heal, or that a slight sprain in my wrist would extend to that part of my palm?

MTFU comments welcomed.

Im on flickr as Pixelmix. Flickr account has just had a load of average riding photos with friends dumped in it so I could share them after a weekend away, but it isn’t normally like that.

Slightly better stuff goes on the photoblog, but it isn’t exactly groundbreaking or anything.

I’ve heard that Spanish meat will make you strong like Contador an ox.

A few options:-

1) Are you sure it is moving, or do you just have a tight/loose spot? I find that because the splines on my current cog are a bit big, it doesn’t necessarily sit centrally on the rear wheel, so can cause a tight spot and a loose spot where the chain is a bit slack.

2) As above, have you checked your chainring bolts to ensure the chainring isn’t causing tight/loose spots?

3) Try a chaintug on the other side also. Although generally not required, if one side is moving forwards/backwards, it could cause the axle to be at an angle, which will tighten/loosen the chain.

I’m 5ft7in and a bit, and I am happy on my medium. Lots of seat post out of the frame, but then I ride my bikes in quite a XC setup (high saddle, long top tube/stem).

Really enjoy riding it – feels like it is on rails sometimes, and I run out of balls/talent before it does. Definitely worth getting a test ride.

I have a 2010 model which was a good deal. The 2011 ones have had a reasonable price hike, so I might be looking at a Canyon if I was buying tomorrow, unless you can get a good deal on the Anthem X.

Mine is currently off for repair under warranty (not spoken to the workshop properly yet, but it sounds like an improperly installed bearing has damaged the frame, and according to the workshop, it is not a fault they have seen before). The dealer got the parts through from Giant very quickly, which I guess is the benefit of a big brand bike.

It doesn’t have to be older, just simpler. A cheap On-One hardtail frame or similar, with 9 speed gears and a rigid fork can be built up pretty cheaply, and with some big volume tyres, will let you tackle most of what you currently ride. This way you can still benefit from disc brakes without breakin the piggy bank, and it will cost next to nothing to run.

Hmm… I’m torn, I’d like to try Schwalbe, but they appear to have real lifetime problems, i.e. wear fast and are susceptible to sidewall tearing.

If it helps, my Double Defense Racing Ralph rear tyre is just getting worn now. It is a year and a bit old, so I consider that reasonable life. No sidewall tears as the Double Defense is pretty solid (and hence also easy to inflate with stans or joes tubeless).

Can’t comment on your other options.

Nice one, thanks Gecko.

Probably struggle for 6pm myself, so hopefully there will be a relaxed attitude to sign on for the later race.

Bumpty bump.

Anyone doing this? Might pop round for a pootle if I can be organised enough to take the bike into work.

Any thoughts from those that did it last year? I’ve only got a full-sus with 2.25″ tyres, so might be struggling for pace against the CXers! Should be a good laugh though.

Just a reading fail – I replied to your original question before realising you had already had it done.

I’m off to hide my head in shame.

IGNORE – should have read the last post properly.

:oops:

3 months ago I booked a train ticket to Fort William for a ride to Inverness this Saturday. Predictably, this lovely dry spell will come to an end just in time for that ride. HTH.

PS – If you are going tubeless, I found the 2.25″ a pain to inflate unless you get a Double Defense or Snakeskin version. The standard version is very loose and floppy.

I’m on 2010 2.25″ Nobby Nic up front and Racing Ralph out back, and pretty happy with them – find them very predictable.

I ran 2.1″ last year and would prefer those for the weight saving and slight reduction in rolling resistance, but I got a good deal on the 2.25″.

No experience of the 2011 models. The treads look pretty much identical on my friend’s pair, but the compounds are different I believe.

RaRa combo will be good and fast for trail centres or the recent dry weather etc, but a bit lacking in mud.

The plastic bit covering the unused hinge hole that falls off my fridge when I open the door. It always falls off when I’m grumpy. I’m sure it knows.

Peddle/pedal
break/brake
leaver/lever

This too. Also, people who write defiantly when they mean definitely.

Kept an eye out on my own 3hr jaunt, but clearly missed you all. I passed a gaggle of what were presumably the Hervelo ladies on the Water of Leith on my way home, but couldn’t see the rest of you. Stunning riding out there this evening – glad I got another ride in before the forecast rain. Black Hill and Nail Trail were as dry as you will ever see them.

Ski-ing Doo is supposed to be good, but is small, and I don’t think it is open too late.

Winking Owl / Too Hoots is okay (bar upstairs, club bit downstairs).

We only survived a night in The Vault on a stag weekend by getting a lot of shots in, but it was a good night in a funny way.

Didn’t like Cafe Mambo and left pretty quickly.

If eating at The Old Bridge Inn, just have a few beers there before / afterwards.

Note:- alcohol consumption may have clouded my judgement in all of the above.

I know what you mean. I won a years supply of Tetley tea on twitter before easter and it’s still not here.

That’s part of the plan. They’ll send you one teabag on the 31st of December.

Hmm, this is a toughie. Can’t remember what I had before the M-Trax, but I’ve had:-

M-Trax Titanium rigid thing – Crazy light, and pedalled all over the Pentlands whilst I was a teenager, after being passed down from my Dad
Trek 4300 2003 (with silly heavy RLT forks)
Trek 6500 2005 (to replace the 4300, which was subsequently demoted to commuting)
Specialized Epic Expert 2008 (to replace the 6500, which was subsequently demoted to commuting)
On-One Scandal (built with bits from the Epic, as I thought a hardtail would require less maintenance)
Giant Anthem X2 2010 (current bike, after deciding that full-sussers are quite nice after all)
On-One Inbred singlespeed (current bike, to save some wear n tear from the full susser)

Passed my licence 10 years ago, but was a student for a chunk of that. Hence, my only cars have been (in Mrs PixelMix’s name):

– Nissan Micra (suprisingly good, very reliable, nippy round town and round twisty roads, but out of power on motorways with bikes on the back)
– Mk 3 VW Scirocco 2.0 TDI – Comfy cruiser, or twisty road rocketship. Good fun, and still get 50mpg, although I wish I could afford to run the 211bhp 2.0 petrol.

Apparently our next car will “need” to have 5 doors, so I’m thinking Golf GTI or GTD.

Some serial car swappers up there!

The Mercat is a bit tidier these days than it used to be, and has a space downstairs, so you should be fine in a big group. Teuchters is a few minutes walk away, but is a nice little pub with a reasonable range of beers. It can be a bit tight for space at peak times there though. I don’t drink in that end of town terribly often, but I’m sure the locals will be along shortly to sort you out.

The floral clock (with cuckoo sound) is in Princes Street Gardens, at the bottom of The Mound if I remember correctly.

Cannon is really a gun, and goes off at 1pm at the Castle.

If the weather is good, worth taking a walk up Arthurs Seat / Salisbury Crags or Calton Hill for the view.

If you do a tour bus, give me a wave – I work next door to R L Stevenson’s house, so get hundreds of tourists peering in the window every day.

Unfortunate timing on the weather – it has been bone dry for about 4 weeks, but looks set to piss it down this weekend.

I’ll be home too late to make it back out in time, but I’m planning a solo spin up to the Pentlands later on, so might bump into you all. Enjoy.

I am a short arse male at 5ft7, so I’m under 60kg. Perfectly healthy, love a good cake and don’t look anorexic.

Bike must be well under 15kg too.

Can’t believe you lardy folks are churning up my trails. Grrr.

If you ride on the tarmac a lot to get to trails, yes the SS will mean you get dropped/bored, but if your riding is all off road, you’ll be fine. If anything, you’ll be waiting at the top of the climbs since you’re forced to power up them.

For the same reasons, I built a brand new singlespeed Inbred up with second hand carbon forks, probably spent less than £600 times for a reasonably tidy build. Got some bits off here slightly used, a few bits from the parts bin, and some new bits from the LBS / online.

I’m now half thinking of adding some 100mm forks to make it more fun all year round, but it was ace over the winter and on muddy trails – didn’t feel guilty at all about riding it a couple of times a week and washing it once a month.

Not ridden or walked the RRW, but if you are thinking about making your own route, you could use bits of the Sustrans route (7 I think?) for linking sections too. It is similar to the RRW in parts.

If you decide to go further west than Comrie (i.e generally along the RRW route), there are some good trails around Dounans by Aberfoyle for a play around.