GT Black Sat evening with a couple of mates, first big ride on my new Cube LTD Race, looks like it is going to be a cracker. Then home for a few beers.

If you can afford it get an Islabike Crieg. My 10 yr old got one at Christmas and hasn't looked back since. He was on a 24" Beinn before that which was great but had begun to limit what he could do. The Crieg has enabled him to do GT red and improve on his skills, fitness and confidence.

As another poster said, I want the best bike I can afford for myself, why shouldn't my son also expect the same?!

I'm getting the Altitude 10 via the cycle2work scheme. Took one out from The Hub last month for a spin and really loved it. Shifts pretty well on the way down and climbs nicely too. A welcome change from the full-susser that I've been riding over the past couple of years.

Cheers guys, went round bright and early this morning. Fan-bloody-tastic!

Was up at GT this afternoon doing the Red with Prophet2 Jr, trails were nice and dry, even the climb to the Matrix was open.

First time I had been there on a Sunday afternoon, I'm usually finished by 11amish. Was distrubing to see so many "Sunday bikers" who like to do skids instead of controlled braking. Even Jr at 10 years commented on how bad some bike riders were. Good to see so many at GT though. Top panini at THe Hub as well.

For me the two best covers are Hendrix's "All Along The Watchtower" (already mentioned) and The Lemonheads fantastic "Mrs Robinson".

For me Isla bikes win everytime. More expensive than the usual kids bikes but worth every penny. My 10yr old is on his second and his Benin24 has been put in storage awaiting his kid brother when he is big enough.

Snow and slush on the way up at Glentress, hard work. Snow and slush on the way down, much much fun.

NHS was fine for me though I have heard that "quality" of procedure varies, few of my mates have had painful post-snip issues. I was back on the bike after a few days thankfully

As in don't use "beast", "burly" and "big rig" :twisted:

Coffee, working on job application listening to Best Of Iron Maiden, saying that anything post 1990 is new Maiden to me, just d/loaded the album last night. Memories……

Red Wine, Bread sticks
Youtube surfing Gemma Hayes, Radiohead, Blue Nile

Glentress for me Sunday morning bright and early. Hopefully not ride into another snow blizzard like last Sunday morning.

Working on a job application form whilst listening to Radiohead at Glast2003 on Youtube. Then I brought this up http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrLE3yBn2Nw.
Best version of The Bends I ever did hear.

Gemma Hayes. A previous STW recommendation that I picked up on….

From warmer days…

And from snowy Glentress today

Kilkenny City. More of a town than a city, but so many good pubs……

Done

Not mentioned yet?

Florence and The Machine
Sarah Maclachlan
KT Tunstall
Alison Krauss
Miranda Lee Richards
Early Maria Mckee, esp the Gotta Sin To Get Saved album

and for some unknown reason Taylor Swift has several great tunes……

Singlespeed commuter is about 12ft behind me, through 2 walls in the garage. The mtb is away in the bike shop for repair :cry: . For Wednesdays night bike ride I will need to borrow another man's steed :oops:

I have found myself chanting "Roots are my friends, roots are my friends" when trying to ride over wet roots.

The Gap Series by Stephen Donaldson. Get past the first book, the next four are top class. And the Hyperion books by Dan Simmons.

SPDs not flats.

First Monster Challenge round Loch Ness for me, part of a team and not as a solo entry I hasten to add. We did it last year, well organised team event. Good laugh, hard course, great scenery and beer in the evening.

Best album for me has to be Tunnel Of Love, not so happy memories!!!

But yes Racing in the Streets, topnotch.

Hiya, I use flats as well, Easton Flatboys, good pedals but I've never had decent shoes. Just got a pair of 510 Karvers and the difference is night nad day. Super grip, I was able to get up step-ups that I wasn't able to do previously, the 510s shoe pretty much stuck to the pedal like spds (I ride clipped in on my commuter). Jumps & dropoffs will come, like anything else on a bike it just takes time.

But I've never been able to bunnyhop, the shame.

This is is a nice picture!

Glad they missed me wiping out……

I love lamp

Back in May, me and two mates went for a weekend of biking, had it planned since Jan. Unfortunately 30mins into our first bike at KT Dr Bike’s new front tyre wiped out from underneath him, resulting in a super deep cut elbow. Three trips to A&E in 24hrs to keep getting it re-bandaged! Missed the whole weekend of top biking at KT & AE and super hot weather.

Perhaps KT is cursed for some??

I went from 100mm to 65mm stem and loved it. Hasn’t made any difference on the climbs and cornering is now fantatsic. Bike handles alot better now, has a real confident feel now with the shorter stem.

Hey Susie sorry to hear about the accident. I fractured my radial head at the start of Oct, was in plaster for two weeks and then in a sling for two further weeks after that. Was back on the bike over Chrimbo. Had physio for 8 weeks or so, helped at lot. My elbow was previously hyper-extending, so I’ll never get that flexibility back again. The elbow has about a 10% kink in it but it hasn’t impacted on my biking. Just ease yourself back into biking after some good physio advice.

If you are looking to use the s/s as a commuter bike then I would recommend 42:18. Gets you up the hills and also a wee bit of speed along the flats. Warning though, once you go s/s you will find yourself hurtling down the descents as fast as you can!

Converted my Spesh Hardrock that I use for commuting to singlespeed, 42T chainring 18t cog, a few weeks ago. Fantastic move, perfect for my commute in Edinburgh. Just loving it…..

The Breakpad in Castle Douglas, 40 mins from Kirroughtree, about 45 mins from Ae.

Hey Kevonakona, regarding Gypsies Glen, me and a mate are going to ride it for the first time in a couple of weeks, anything we should look out for? From the map it looks like a great bit of descent into Peebles.

I’ve been wearing 661 knee/shinpads for a year now and they don’t hinder my pedalling at all, uphill or downhill. Decided to get them after a nasty tumble and banging my right knee on a rock which then hindered my running for several months.

They don’t make you a better rider, but they do save you from cut’s and brusies. And if you use flats then your shins will thank you.

Again it’s a personal choice, it doesn’t make you any less of a ‘real’ rider IMHO.

I’m using Easton Flatboys. Got them thrown is as a freebie when I bought my Prophet2. Very durable, good grip & size (I’m a size eight) wearing Shimano MT40s. Weight doesn’t bother me, lighter than the Wellago flats I was using previously.

Cheers guys, BreakPad looks like a nice place and decent price. Looks like we have our kip for the night sorted!

Thumbs up from me and my non-decreasing love handles.

Hey Stu, I live around the corner from GT. We had snow the other night which has now turned to sheet ice, bit of an ice rink on the pavements. However I think it’s due a rainfall on Sat night with warmer temparures.