Less than 10

well suggesting to his people they should consider injecting themselves with bleach

I’d (somehow) forgotten about that pearl of wisdom, it really should’ve been the end of any credibility he’d managed to achieve but the fact he’s got a very real chance of being voted in again says it all

Are these XO1 chains compatible with Shimano?

For comparison it’s  XX1/XTR,  X01/XT,  GX/SLX afaik, I stick to same brand of chain/cassette, I don’t see any reason it wouldn’t work but haven’t tried personally. I use the ebike exclusively for riding steep techy trails up (on emtb/boost)  and down, that will undoubtedly wear out a chain faster than someone using it for general all round riding/commuting

Sounds like you need an XTR/XO1 chain. They last ages. I’m at least 4000km into my XO1 chains and still virtually no

Obviously not riding the sort of trails in the conditions I’m using this ebike, I was told to expect 6-800 miles by the shop mechanic when I bought it. I rarely ride trail centres and never use the ebike for riding local cycletracks/bridleways/ road. I’m also on the 3rd cassette and 2nd GX AXS mech (warranty). 1st chain was changed as it was worn/stretched but was shifting ok, I stupidly binned it before I’d tried riding with the new chain which skipped straight away,  2nd cassette actually bent on the 3 biggest cogs after about 10 rides, shop refused to warranty that when they replaced the mech. 3rd cassette and chain currently working perfectly but not a chance I’m expecting any more than 800 miles at best from the chain riding steep techy muddy off piste through the coming winter. By steep I mean climbing stuff that wouldn’t be possible on a normal mtb as well.as descents

Is there anything else I need to consider purchasing at this stage

If you don’t already own one a chain wear tool, an ebike will go through chains a LOT faster than a normal mtb. I’m on the 3rd chain in just over 1000 miles since I bought the ebike

Re 2nd runs I think it’s a shame they don’t keep it running until everyone has had a chance of 2 runs

Brendan Fairclough said that he’d missed a trick on the last jump of his 1st run but wasn’t prepared to risk serious injury or worse by doing it all again in the hope of getting a couple of extra points and finishing a place higher. I don’t blame him in the slightest but I’d be really p****d off if I was Ben Deakin and Ollie Wilkins for not getting the best dig crew award, the graft they put into building the step up onto the rock (and the run into it) and cutting the drop and landing on Jordie Lunns chute was off the scale

@potheaddo you by any chance know the dimensions of that bottle please? :)

Not off the top of my head but I’ll check it when I get home. As its for a Bird I’d take Ben’s advice to be honest, if anyone should know what works I’d guess it’s him.  I’m pretty sure YT charged me £45 when I bought it with a Jeffsy a few years ago

but to not have a UK round at all, that’s a massive disappointment

100% agreed. There’s not really another UK venue that currently has the facilities/ infrastructure to host a world cup DH despite there being a few tracks that would be world cup standard. Hopefully it’s not the end of world cup DH racing in the UK

Mixing on one axle is a bad idea, front/back not so much. I assume it’s FWD, and you’re putting the all season tyres on the front. Unless you’re driving like a hoon, I don’t see a problem.

Costco see it as a problem, point blank refused to fit the new cross climate tyres I’d just paid for to the front wheels of a fwd car, then removed the rear wheels with well used summer tyres and put them on the front before putting the new cc’s on the rear. I had to swap them back myself afterwards (this was in late October quite a few years ago), and before anyone says they’re right I’ve used winters on the front only (in winter) for years without issue. Obvs all 4 wheels is the better option but I’ve never lost control of a car in snow using them only on the front

Pretty sure a Fox 38 is 200/203 minimum rotor, shouldn’t need an adaptor

Just checked and t’s actually 180 so ignore the above

Not sure about Canyons but YT do a version that fits into a tight space on the Jeffsy which could be worth a look, 600ml bottle

https://uk.yt-industries.com/products/parts/bike-accessories/bottles/335/thirstmaster-4000-bottle-set-jeffsy-mk2-3-izzo-mk1-szepter-mk1/

It won’t fit a Whyte E-160 RSX , I’ve already tried

Do people really take ebikes on an uplift?

Rob Warner had a vid on YouTube a while ago when he’d turned up at BPW  with his ebike, sure the driver told him that loads of people (possibly half) using the uplifts were on ebikes these days. I was at Glentress with my nephew recently and their uplift van passed us several times, at least 3 ebikes on the trailer each time. Personally I wouldn’t even think about it

I had trouble getting a new Big Betty Supergravity to seat on a mates bike a couple of months ago, tried several times with an airshot with no success. I was about to give up then tried with the track pump by itself and it worked straight away, obviously no where near the pressure of a road tyre but could be worth trying

and curiously Fort William is dropped and absent. Track to long and venue too far out on a limb for the euro section.

I’ve read about WB/Discovery wanting shorter tracks a few times now but Brosnan won in 3.54 yesterday while Bruni won Fort William in 4.08. MSA is on the calendar for next year so I’m thinking there must be another reason for dropping Fort William. They could start at the long boardwalk if track length really was the issue as the top section is basically red grade trail centre in difficulty until the rock garden starts. I hope they get another World Cup but I must admit it’s not a great track for TV

Re used olives in the past with no issues

I wasn’t a fan, found them too soft for summer use

Found this with Michelin Cross Climates, front pair on a fwd van lasted less than 7000 miles. They are better than summer tyres in winter but not a patch on proper winters in snow/icy conditions and don’t last very long if used in summer. I went back to two sets of wheels after the trying the all seasons

I am still waiting for my first emtb (orbea Rise) to arrive,

A mate of mine has been waiting over 6 months for a new battery for his Rise (warranty claim, due to water ingress according to the shop he’s dealing with) , last he heard was basically ‘we don’t know when we’ll be able to get one’. He’s not a happy man

I have a fear that if I try one I will want one.

You will want one, but treat it as a different sport to non assisted mountain biking. I’ve had a Whyte E-160 (which is heavy by ebike standards) for about  15 months now and it there are places I’ve ridden that would definitely be more fun on a normal bike but on the whole I’ve got no regrets about buying it. The weight makes it a handful on slower steep techy switchbacks and also on fast stuff with quick changes of direction, but being able to do 8000ft of climbing in a day where I’d usually manage about 4500ft,  as well as an hour on turbo after a 10hr shift at work makes it more than worth buying to me. It also means climbs that wouldn’t be possible on a normal bike aren’t just possible but are actually fun to attempt.  I’ve no plans to get rid of my trail bike but the ebike has been a game changer for me personally

Also, how are the enduro trails on the opposite hill at the minute? Never ridden them before and I don’t see a huge number on Trailforks.

I haven’t been for a couple of years but Tweedlove held a race there earlier this year. Pretty sure they used a fair few of the off piste trails (on the opposite hill) that were closed for logging last time I was there and I’d say it’s definitely worth a day there if it’s been 15 years as the trail centre stuff is some of the best in the UK, especially the black. Just had a quick look at Strava and the majority of the enduro trails have been ridden recently so I’d say go for a mooch, the stuff I’ve ridden there is top notch

Also, any idea if there’s any cheek/off-piste in Whinlatter?

There used to be a few good off piste trails at Whinlatter but last time I was there most of it was either blocked off or completely gone due to storm damage and tree felling. One started high up on the North loop and ended at the valley bottom, way past the end of the trail centre but afaik only the top section is still rideable. Coombs Wood nr Penrith is worth a look for STEEP off piste tech, not a big area but fair few trails

Which route did you take from Keswick to Ashness Bridge?

I think its called Walla Crag but not sure as I was following a mate who’d done it before, its the off road bit that was reclassified as a bridleway. I’m not saying don’t do it but its not for me although lots of people seem to like the loop. I thought the descent to Rosthwaite (the rocky footpath to the right of the bridleway) was ok but I found the rest of it boring

Skiddaw /Ullock pike is worth doing, although Ullock Pike is a footpath. Personally I thought the Borrowdale Bash was one of the worst/most boring rides I’d done in years but many people disagree, each to their own I suppose

Pretty sure the vid I saw last week was of a totally silent rear hub, which is the total opposite of my rear

Not silent hubs after all, must’ve had sound off on my phone when I watched it

1 pair of Crank Brothers Mallet

LOL. I didn’t mean to be harsh, but back in the day when lots of YTs came with E13 hubs, a few of my mates had issues with them, I did freehub rebuilds on a few sets, and definitely formed the opinion that their hubs were not suited for outdoor use.

Personally I was expecting issues from the E Thirteen wheels and cranks that came on a Jeffsy I bought in 2019. The BB (30mm pf41)  was absolutely hopeless and I eventually replaced the front hub with a Hope Pro5, surprisingly the rear hub is still working fine after nearly 5 years and 1 set of bearings and the cranks haven’t snapped like many people said they would. I doubt I’d buy them as an  upgrade but I’d have no issues buying a bike with them fitted. Pretty sure the vid I saw last week was of a totally silent rear hub, which is the total opposite of my rear

Troy Lee resist pants, sealskinz mtb socks and Shimano ME7 shoes did the job for me last winter

but Trump himself is looking old & tired compared to 2020 even, if he lost this time I dont think he’d be as desperate to get the job, especially now he has that immunity decision from the Supreme Court

He will want the job, if for no other reason than it will enable/help him to get revenge on people he feels have wronged him over the last 4 years

Galfer

think they are techincally illegal now, but there’s nothing to stop anyone buying a ‘legal’ assault rifle, taking the stock off and fitting an after market bump stock.

It was actually Trump that banned bump stocks after the shootings from the hotel in Las Vegas. The Supreme Court recently overturned the ban and they’re legal to buy once again

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68419279

Been using a 530 with top cap mount for years, never damaged it and it’s only come off once in many many crashes (I found it after the crash when it came off), best option I’ve found so far

Suggestions – other than the usual obviously properly hot destinations

Madeira? Did a week end of September/start of October last year, was in the 30’s most of the time and didn’t have a drop of rain all week. This was a riding trip so didn’t see much of the touristy parts of the island, the riding (mtb) is absolutely amazing although a guide is pretty much essential if you’ve never been before

Wideopenmag has a provisional schedule. If it’s true they’re running 14 DH races next year!

Sure I’ve read that every round of the DH and Enduro world cups will be in Europe

. I think the Jawbreaker is now called the the Racing Jacket after a lawsuit with another wearables company.

I have a pair of Racing Jackets that I used before I bought the Jawbreakers and now use for driving with black iridium lens and unless something has changed lately they are different. The Racing Jackets have two separate lens while Jawbreakers are a one piece lens and are far better for riding in my experience

Oakley Jawbreaker with Prizm low light lenses.

+1 for these^^^^^

Having clicked on the “hamsterley future plans” page, I cannot see any actual plans – has anyone got a link?

Click on the ‘proposals’  link in the future plans link above

Work on the new blue has started 

Where in the forest is this being built?

I’ve only had a quick look at the plans on one of the notices in the forest but it did look like a few of the off piste trails will be removed to build the cabins/lodges. Personally I don’t see the area being popular enough to justify building 70 of them and if the prices are similar to those I’ve been told Glentress are going to charge I can’t see it working at all but the Go Ape thing should be popular enough

Failing that, continuing the old tradition of recommend what you have, get an Aether 9c frame for £500

I was about to suggest the aether 9c which can be built with Deore spec for around £2500 but most sizes out of stock by the look of it

No, I think you’ve answered your own question. It shouldn’t be banned but use of adequate PPE and/or ventilation should be enforced.

A few of the lads still smoke in there as well ( it’s more common than a lot of people on here seem to realise), funnily enough non of the non smokers are bothered in the slightest and in the 11 years I’ve worked there nobody has died from inhaling 2nd hand cigarette smoke

Smoking is one of the few, if only past time that can have such a negative impact on others not willing to participate. The smokers still want to have their tab in the beer garden, because they can. Irrelevant if it negatively impacts others.

So if anyone is that offended by others smoking they CHOOSE to go to another establishment that CHOOSES to not allow it on their premises . I no longer smoke cigarettes but as a welder I spend at least 8 hours a day INSIDE a factory where there are FAR more hazardous fumes than would be produced by smokers in a beer garden. I wear an enclosed air filtering welding screen when I’m welding but many of the other lads that don’t weld arent supplied with them, should welding indoors also be banned?

An mtb mate who’s recently gone down some conspiracy rabbit holes – think started with covid/antivax now BBC & Disney boycotted for wokeness and riots etc he said he thinks UK is headed in wrong direction and if he could he’d move his whole extended family to USA as only Trump is protecting western culture or something ?

I had a similar rant from a lad I occasionally ride with last wkend, I’d already heard his anti vaccine/covid was a hoax stuff but he went full on Trump is gonna win by a landslide and will save the western world if ‘THEY’ don’t kill him 1st. I asked him who exactly ‘THEY’ were? He started ranting about the radical far left and I quickly ended up telling him I didn’t actually want to hear his conspiracy theories after all