I just bought a Whyte Gisburn, £500 off RRP at Cycle Surgery. I was looking at several cross and gravel bikes but once I saw the price drop on the Gisburn it was a no brainer.

I have no intention to race the bike, or use it as a commuter. This bike is for fun up on the hills of the Tweed Valley :-)

Thanks Hooter. Sounds like it would just a bit too big for me as well.

A balmy 5 degrees in Edinburgh this morning. Quiet roads as schools aren’t back so the 14 mile commute was quite pleasant.

Looking forward to the end of the month so daylight begins to become a welcome addition to the commutes.

I ran 120, then 130 and finally 140 forks on my ASR5. I had most fun with the 140s. Climbing didn’t seem to be affected too much and the bike was much more fun on the descents.

I went teetotal for 3 years. When I started it was just for a month but then I kept extending it by a month, then three months and so it went on.

I eventually went back just because I had enough of being teetotal. No regrets on not drinking for that length of time or going back on the booze.

I gave up booze when getting back in shape after a bike accident in which I had put on weight whilst out of action. I certainly lost the extra pounds and not drinking helped getting back into shape.

I had a Paddywaon for several years, over 7000 km commuting, loved it. However this year I bought a Dayone SS, it is a fantastic bike for commuting. I currently do a 27mile round trip, four days a week. The Dayone just eats up the mileage. Really fast on the flats and the downs. Not quite as nimble as the Paddywagon on the climbs. Extremely comfortable bike to ride. I have full length mudguards on the bike which I never had on the Padfywagon, it does make a huge difference in the crappy Edinburgh weather.

26 mile round journey, four days a week on a single speed. That’s built over a few years, originally was a 12 mile round trip. Best way to start and end a work day in my opinion. Almost helps you sleep soundly at night!

I have been riding the Golfie for about a year now, off and on. For me Broon Trout and Supersteep would be equal to the entry level Golfie trails. I would go for New Wolf, Repeet Offender, Flat White and Greg’s Joliffe (spelling?) as a good intro. Should be nice and dry so that will help.

Enjoy!

What moonsaballon says, I have had my SR2 for a year, only attach the chin guard for going down the trails, leave it in the backpack for all the climbs.

I have a Zero AM, sounds like the same build. Also in stealth black (no fingerprint marks in the frame).

It’s a truly great bike, I have gone from a ASR5 and a Strive to the Bird and it is a more fun ride than either. No slouch on the uphills and it’s a real flyer on the downs. I ride it at the Golfie and Inners off piste and it is more than capable for the trails.

No regrets buying the bike, would recommend to anyone who is looking for a hooligan HT.

Riders notes available on Tweedlove website now
http://tweedlove.com/events/2016-event-info/king-and-queen-of-the-hill-scottish-open-champs-2016

150 miles

I have been commuting on my Paddywagon for about 4 years now up and down the hills of Edinburgh. Love the bike, it’s so great to ride. Currently doing 26 mile round commutes on it, just keeps going :-)

I’ve used the Spesh Gel gloves, commuting and a 100 mile road ride. I’ve been very impressed. On the 100 miler the finger numbess was there up until mile 15 but then I got used to the gloves and the rest of the ride was numb free, which to me was a great result.

The numb fingers has occurred on all my bikes, all which I have ridden for years and nothing has changed on the bikes.

I got size medium, I don’t have big hands and the gloves are a nice snug fit. The only issue is trying to get them off as they are quite snug so can be a bit of a faff.

So thanks to the guys recommending the Gel gloves. Probably not to everyones taste but they certainly work for me.

Endura MT500s. I have been impressed with them. Comfortable to wear, good grip. My hands don’t overheat even in warm temperatures and at the weekend in a heavy downpour the gloves got soaked through but my hands didn’t get cold. Pricey but so far they seem worth it.

My Bird Zero AM arrived yesterday, looks amazing.Sunday until I can ride it!

I am 5’10 and the medium Strive fits perfect.

Thanks for all the posts. It looks like CRC and Wiggle come in at the same price for the 520 and cadence with all the other sites not too much more expensive. No big discounts though.

Ah, I only have a 610 so that scuppers that idea!

or can you combine a Garmin cadence device with a Forerunner610? mmm must google that one.

I have been using the Exotic carbon rigids for a few months now. No issues with them, however I haven’t used any other rigid forks so I can’t compare.

Kona Paddywagon. Usually there are a few available second hand which would meet your budget. I actually bought mine a few years back brand new for just over £300, it was a previous years model.

We got our replacement shapeshifter in less than a week after reporting our issue. It was through the Canyon UK office that I arranged it. Customer Service was pretty good.

Thanks for the input guys. One question, I have a BT Openreach box that the grey cable goes to from the wall socket, with another cable then routing to the Homehub.

I take it that this is the modem, would this now become redundant looking at some of the routers that have been suggested?

All the wireless devices that are used in the house are less than all less than 18months old, mix of Android and iOS, all uptodate with the latest OS releases.

I have ridden my rigid SS at GT on a mix of Red, Black and off piste stuff. For the Red it’s totally fine. On the shorter Black and off piste stuff if it’s good fun. However if it is long trail like the Boundary or bumpy one like Ho Chi Min then it is more of an endurance than enjoyable.

I had a terrible time on the Golfie stages so my results were mince. However happy to say that Prophet2 jnr was the youngest racer on the day and he managed to come in the top third overall. He actually would have placed in the top 30 of senior men and he is still 15.

I have a lot to live up to in 2016 KQOTH!

How’s about a stage that runs down Gypsy Glen. It would be good to have all those gates open for once :P

I’ll go against the trend and say the only part of my singlespeed drive train that hasn’t needed replaced over the last three years are the SLX cranks. They are proving very reliable, and that was after previously been used for two years as part of a 3×9 set-up.

Cheers, just bought off Game for 12pounds.

Sorry I don’t have a gpx of the ride, it was preStrava for me.

I have done the GT-Lee Penn-Inners-Gypsy Glen a couple of times. I wouldn’t bother with it if you are coming up for a short visit as the slog from GT to Lee Penn is nice but nothing special. Gypsy Glen is a great ride, several variations on how you get to it from Cardrona Forest as well.

The link from the Boundary onto the Lee Penn climb is not obvious at all unless you get shown it!

26″ wheels with 100mm fork.

Cheers guys, spotted the bolt now!

The brakes are the Tektro R538 brakes that came with the bike.

Cheers guys, looks like I am sorted for telling the family what I want for a Fathers Day present this year :-)

Bump, anyone got recommendation? I’ve quote from UPS & Fedex but it would be grat to get first hand rcommendations,

We moved to just outside Peebles a decade ago. Never regretted the move, love living in the Borders. It has it’s drawbacks (long drive to Edinburgh for work, not the best infrastructure, silly new Borders railway) but TBH living there is fantastic. Scenery is superb, so rich and varied in places to bike, run, walk. I’ve lived in a few places before, major cities and small towns and the Borders beats them all. And I get to ride my bike everyday as I drive to the outskirts of Edinburgh and cycle the rest of the way to work.

Cheers Jakebeach!

Instagram, search on #glentress. That will give you the best up to date photos.

First Bus will take you from Edinburgh and should stop outside Glentress if you ask the driver.

Taking a bike on the bus, to me that would be tricky. As previously mentioned you could hire from Alpine Bikes but if you are cycling on a regular basis then that would be expensive.

Some local forums might be an idea, TrailScotland have guys who sometime ride mid week and could offer lifts?