Ahh I see what you mean. Not a huge amount you can do about that then, just regular inspections/lower service. Good to know though!

I’m Leominster based, but I haven’t really ever ridden the MTB from town, only ever the roadie. There isn’t a great deal of elevation change in the surrounding few miles though!

I usually drive to hopton/bucknell/mortimer forest/bringewood/long mynd a couple evenings a week to ride though. Normally have space in the van too. Drop me an email (in profile) if you want to tag along. :)

Speeder – that’s good advice, cheers. You managed to shear off a stanchion leg though?? Or did I read that wrong? I’ll give them a check over regardless.

Hmm, cheers legend, his definitely does look different. I’m seeing him tonight so I’ll double check what he’s got and tried so far. Thanks again for the advice!

We stayed here: http://www.lochy-holiday-park.co.uk/ it was good. Walkable distance to town. Couple of minutes walk to the bus stop to take you to Nevis Range. The bus is free btw. Good showers etc.

if you can navigate, look at Nant to Mach.

That is a fantastic ride :)

I think as an actual trail the Climachx is a little dull, just with a fantastic final descent. However, if you can find anyone who knows where they are going then the Dyfi is 100% awesome. Check out Dyfi Mountain Biking on facebroke for a willing guide maybe?

The Syfydrin is a good loop. I like the non-trail center, middle of nowhere bits of it. And again, if you can find anyone who knows where they are going you can add bits to make it amazing.

I would volunteer for both but I’m riding the Long Mynd this weekend.

I have some other IS forks, and appropriate mounts, lying around so I will get some of them to him to have a try. Cheers for your comments guys.

I thought as much. So if we are saying that all boxxer-specific->PM 203 adaptors are the same dimensions, why isn’t it fitting?

I’m still thinking that trying a regular IS>PM adaptor might be a winner. I think the spacing of the bolt holes is the same (51mm)?

Ok, I didn’t realise avid mounts were any different to regular mounts. I’ve never used avid brakes. I’ll let him know to try a different brand.

Northwind, if you’ve got one knocking about that could be really useful!

Nah, the mounts have up arrows on them, he’s definitely been putting them on the right way.

Legend – tried both 203 and 185 boxxer-specific mounts…. I thought they should have worked too.

Only tried the boxxer-specific mounts as far as I know. Maybe it is a regular IS mount? It definitely changed in 2010, though I thought they went from boxxer-specific mount straight to regular post mount.

I will get him to try a regular IS 203 mount, cheers for the input fellas.

He’s tried both the 203 and 185 boxxer-specific adaptors STATO. Hence the confusion. Not really sure what other options there are tbh? Surely other aftermarket boxxer adaptors (Hope etc) will be same dims as the avid ones?

That was my first question to him too, Northwind. But it is:

Scaled, that sounds logical to me. Don’t most adaptors come designed for a specific sized rotor though? Or can you buy generic PM>IS ones?

I got a doctor’s note for last years, cost me nowt. My mate copied the general wording and created his own then got our campsite owners in Allemont to print it out for him about 10mins before we went to register.

No. Green.

This.

Another vote for Raceface ambush. Had mine going on 18months, they’ve been through tonnes of abuse and are still fine. I got them after my POC ones snapped in the wash too!

Only downside to the RF ones is that they are a bit chunky. Currently in the market for some slightly less meaty ones for all day kinda rides. I like the look of these, but not convinced the zip would last that long: Oneal AMX Zipper

That will be really nice.

Personally I would go for standard j-bend spoked wheels. Flashy proprietary wheels look nice but are more hassle with spares etc.

And I’d go 1×10. I have an aversion to front mechs.

shimano chain

There’s the problem. I’ve always found SRAM chains to be far more robust.

Though breaking twice on the first ride does sound like some other issue is present. I’d double check chain length to be sure.

The Bridges Pub, in Bridges is usually good for a pint and a snack mid-ride, if you’re route goes out that way. Not had a proper meal there though.

6th time here, and as usual I can’t wait! Favourite event of the year by such a long way.

I’ll be on my trusty BFe, which has seen me through it with varying degrees of success for 4 out of my 5 previous times. Took my 160mm bike last year, got my fastest time to date, got wild on the downhills – but I think the HT is just as fun, and even more wild.

Snap. 2.2 Rubber Queens in UST flavour, run tubeless always. They are excellent in the majority of conditions. Used that setup while I was at uni in Aberystwyth too, so I know they do well in that kind of natural terrain.

I have used the Mountain King 2s also, but the 2.2 in those is considerably smaller than the 2.2 in the RQs. If you are going to go MKs I would advise going 2.4

Oh, and as with all Conti tyres, get one of the Black Chilli compound versions, not the cheap ones :)

I really liked my Fabia. I could get 2 dh bikes in (no wheels on), with plenty of room for kit. Cheap to run and insure, and reasonably easy to work on.

I went down the “I need a van” route tho, and bought a Vito. I love it. Yeah it’s going rusty, and yeah the doors don’t seem to fit quite right and some scrote had a go at the drivers door lock with a screwdriver, but vans are brilliant.

I think a van would lose its novelty after a while…

They don’t :)

It really is like an ice rink with braking bumps when it’s wet

Those are some good mods in that mtbr article, cheers. I had seen the lupine ones, I imagine they could be adapted to work with other lights. I don’t think producing something that could hold a torch-style light will be too difficult.

I was thinking similar. Might be time to get creative. I had thought there might be a proper aftermarket one available, but maybe not.

Cheers Mrchrist, Refuge is a definite option.

Markyboy, stayed somewhere out on the road to montriond last year, it’s definitely more than 5 minutes to SM lift on a dh bike :P

That does sound like a great place, but ideally looking for somewhere in morzine itself, closer to the lifts. :)

I bought the Panasonic equivalent (DMC-FT3) as all the review I read seemed to think it takes better photos. It has been bashed around a fair bit and still works and looks excellent. It does take surprisingly good photos too.

Think it’s Antur Stiniog is it not?

I love mine! Really would rate it as a one-bike-for-everything.

Yeah it pedals surprisingly well. I did the Dyfi Enduro on mine this year, it was fine :) Seat angle is quite steep and suspension design is good so very little pedal bob and climbing traction is good, and I’ve got the CCDBA on mine so no lockout etc.

Frame is fairly heavy. I didn’t actually properly weigh it but read somewhere its ~8.5lbs with the CCDBA. But my build overall is only 31lbs, which is fine by me.

It goes downhill like a very fast thing too.

The trial is definitely a good idea. I’m not for the unnecessary culling of badgers, if it wont help. But the trouble is there doesn’t seem to be any clear evidence one way or the other.

Once the trial is done with, if there is proof that TB in the area is reduced then a more nationwide cull has to go ahead. The TB testing and movement laws are incredibly strict and can cripple a farm, even one without TB.

Had a TB test on our herd last week and we had one inconclusive (having never had a reactor, ever). Now we have to wait 60 days for another test before we can sell anything, and we had 7 bulls booked into a sale today. As we are a small farm it’s cashflow issues like this that can cause a real headache, all for the sake of a cow that certainly doesn’t actually have TB.

The NHS should not be operated for financial profit, it should exist to maintain the general health of the nation, the wider benefits of which should be evident…

This.

Otherwise we end up like this: http://beforeitsnews.com/economy/2013/03/60-of-us-bankruptcies-due-to-medical-bills-while-78-of-those-bankruptcies-have-insurance-coverage-2500492.html

It may not be perfect but the NHS is one of the fairest and most efficient healthcare systems in the world. That this (and previous) government has so covertly and deliberately dismantled it is a disgrace, as they are doing it to line their own pockets.

If the general public were more aware of what was happening to the NHS there would be outcry. Makes me wonder why the media aren’t reporting it more.

+1 Pivot. Lovely bike.

Just curious, how come you got rid of the Mojo HD? Even though it’s 160mm an XTR build will be sub 30lbs, and they pedal so well. As far as one-bike-to-do-everything goes they are one of the best?

The stally was a bit of an impulse buy, by my dad, quite a few years ago. Nowhere near as tidy as the one I posted, it’s been a yard ornament for a fair while. But she does run well, and does float (but the prop shafts, for the actual propellers are missing. AFAIK the rest is there). Getting it out of the river that day was, uh, interesting.

Haven’t got many photos of it, this is only one I can find just now.

I do feel that giving out my address would somewhat reduce my advantage over the Zombie horde, as a human horde would be arriving on my doorstep! :wink:

‘Buy experiences, not possessions’ is a phrase I was once told.

Do a skydive over the great barrier reef, landing on the beach in Cairns. (Might be pushing it for £1k, but that would be the kind of thing I’d do)

This is a fairly regular topic of conversation with my mates too. I’ve decided I would survive reasonably well, because:
– Live on a farm, reasonably isolated, easy to see the zombie horde approaching over the fields.
– Own a collection of firearms
– Bikes and skills to maintain them.
– And have one of these (It’s got to help, right?):

Zombies, come at me bro.

agentdagnamit – that forest east of devils bridge is called Myherin. Sadly I never got round to riding it while at uni in Aber, but I know from friends that have that there is most definitely some very good stuff in there.

If he manages not to break down I think you might well be right.

Not overly fussed who does actually win, I love watching it regardless. Would be nice for Guy to finally get one though.