You're right sheppie_hill, some of the uphill bits are erm, shall we say, hard work in the wet! Can't think of a better way to end the day than the Boat :D

Yes matt, I do have a 90.

Interesting ~ I asked same question a while back: here

:-)

Pre-entry only I believe. Entries close on 23rd September. Might be worth a call to confirm though if you're not able to pre-enter for whatever reason?

Steve, will mail you this evening.

There wasn't a huge amount of fireroad although the link to the final descent was a longish stretch. Don't know where they're planning the route to run this year but it's bound to be similar to last years I would imagine. Anyway, climbing on singletrack is much more 'involving' than fireroad climbs :wink:

Yeah, she may be in the box on the way to London Village, but what about the IF ?

You're right mamadirt, it is a bit of a mess with the felling in the main mtb area but trails will be cleared again and new ones found :-)

It's an ongoing thing being a working forest; the Doughies area is due for harvesting before long unfortunately :cry:

I'll be marshalling again at the Enduro so I'll be cheering anyone entered along and hopefully pointing them in the right direction…

Weekend in Crickhowell, walking Saturday and taking a group of 'novices' for a ride over Crug Mawr on Sunday.

Next week in the Classifieds:

WANTED (to replace similar recently moved on to new pastures): 1 female able partner, must be excellent cook and willing to do manual labour, best if partially-sighted and hard-of-hearing. Long-limbed and over 5'10" tall. Company vehicle provided.

24" wheels ~ you know it makes sense :wink:

Either that or spd her jimmy schoo platforms…

Like said above, the bosse's father is suggesting 215mm thick (block on side) which is pretty wide. If it is retaining earth, ground, whatever then my advice is drainage. You must allow drainage through the retaining wall.

Good riding on Cotswold Escarpment above town, Forest of Dean about 15 miles away, good access to Mendips & Quantocks to the south and to South Wales parks (Cwmcarn, Afan, Glyncorrwg) and natural (Black Mountains, Brecon Beacons) plus Worcestershire Alps (Malverns) just up the road.

Makes me think back to the scene in Crocodile Dundee where he's walking through New York saying G'day to everyone…

I mean, you don't say 'Hi' and expect an acknowledgement from everyone you walk past in the street so why would you while using a bike as a means to get from A to B. Now, out in the hills may be different…

Personally I acknowledge other cyclists, motorists that pass me courteously, and friendly walkers. Others get blanked (unless they are of a category that SFB would photograph in which case they get the pervy stare) :wink:

SNAP :!:

So where do you suppose the drain-off from the bike wash or from using 25ltr jerry cans goes?!?

Saddle pack with tube, multi-tool, & mini-pump plus energy bar in jersey pocket for me. See it more as a 24 hour event than a race though :wink:

Whereabouts in Lydbrook you staying? They claim to be one of the longest villages in England and it stretches for about a mile and a half from the River Wye up to the Forest.

You're very close to the Pedalabikeaway Cycle Centre http://www.pedalabikeaway.co.uk/ which has a small bike shop & cafe plus tagalong/child trailer hire and an 11 mile off-road family trail.

Just up the hill from there you have Beechenhurst where there is a nice cafe, a childrens play area and interesting waymarked walks (and a climbing tower).

Ross-on-Wye has a small outdoor shop (Escape) just off the main street and a bike shop (Revolutions) which is pretty good for bits & pieces, plus cafes, banks, supermarkets, etc. Chepstow and Monmouth are both worth a visit (and can be combined in one trip along the Lower Wye Valley taking in Tintern Abbey) – Chepstow has 559 Bikes who advertise on STW.

At the bottom of Lydbrook you have the Forge Hammer (great for Indian food as said above – eat in or takeaway but not so good as a family pub) and the Courtfield Arms which has a nice outdoors area for kids. Loads of other pubs within a short distance.

If you want, I'd be happy to meet up with you and mark up a map with pubs, places to visit, walks, kid-friendly rides, etc.. I work just down the road from Lydbrook and live in the area.

Strangely enough I sorted my 'spare' tyres out on Saturday when I put the mud tyres back on the bike for the summer. Amongst a pile of about 20 I have 2 pairs of IRC Mud Mads, a few TrailRakers in 1.95 & 2.1, some Tioga Mud Race (see a theme developing here…) along with some Fire XC Pros, a 2.35 and a 2.1 Nevegal, a pair of Kenda Kharisma, a couple of Twister 700x32mm CX tyres and a pair of Conti Grand Prix 700x28mm. Plus of course the ones on the bikes…

Anyone want to buy some tyres?! :?

Happy Birthday; and hope you get that back sorted soon!

People don't use the search facility in much the same way as they don't read the posts in a thread before replying :!: :wink:

Taken from MIAS website:

My name is Keith Worrall and for those of you that do not know me I am the external moderator for all of the MIAS schemes.

I have been involved with the MIAS scheme from its creation and I became one of its first level 6 instructors.

For the last five years I have been assessing courses under the guidance of ABC awards as a qualified A1 assessor. Using a combination of the two, my aim is to provide each instructor with a valid assessment and to add my experience where required to make an effective course. I also look at each course and report on best practice when it has been observed for possible transfer to other courses.

Finally I aim to visit the majority of courses taking place around the country and meet with you.

If you wish me to visit your course for it quality approval and assessment then please feel free to discuss your needs using either my email [deleted] or phone me on [deleted].

An assessment of your course should take place at least once every 18 months.

coffeeking, if you click on your username at top RH of page you'll get all your posts and topics started…

MIAS is a recognised British award and is regularly used by Local Authorities and Education Authorities for their staff. The course covers group management, risk assessment, and health & safety as well as riding skills and guiding. Have to say I'm not aware of any of the UK MTB Guiding awards being tested through the courts but Duty of Care and Negligence issues should form part of a good course.

Other Award Schemes are available! :wink:

Mmmm. Some sound comments above but I think you'll find it should resolve itself within 9 months though your riding and running may be curtailed for a while after that until they're old enough to join you…

:wink:

As my kids would say… GET A ROOM !

I'd agree with Brian Murphy's comments, that's a classic! LOL at the complainant's addy :lol:

Ah, the Sheep Badgers & Morris Tossers Convention. Kitted out in finest ti sprockets and leather bar-tape streamers to the highest EEC standards. Bling it on…

Bring your wellies. Although a lot of the Forest drains pretty well, it's been pi55ing it down all day here :(

If you call into the Pedalabikeaway Centre (as bike shop on map link above) they can point you towards some decent riding. Fit some TrailRakers or similar though !

Time & place. Excellent!

My watch packed up some time ago. For the first few days I was totally lost without it but now I don't really miss it and am even wondering whether to bother replacing the battery or not.

Surprised no-one on here has asked how you managed to slip and lose it though… :wink:

More like 20 blokes hit town on a do, just one of them 'gets lucky' and his 19 mates all go home and tell their mates they got lucky, who tell their mates, and so on…

Elite level XC riders should not really be walking down/mincing down relatively easy descents.

and

…and hopefully those that broke themselves heal quickly.

Is it just my weird sense of humour or is there a certain irony putting those two sentances in the same paragraph? :wink:

Prices? DEAN start at around $2750 frame only…

Yes, although some have aluminium rear triangle. A number of people consider that with full suspension the stiffness of alu is better than the relative springiness of ti, so why make a ti full sus. Of course, that may be a massive generalisation given that metals come in different thicknesses and can be worked in different ways. Price and market is what probably limits the models available.

I believe DEAN make one, also Merlin (or is it Seven?).

Just booked the ferry, we're off to Slovenia for a euro roadtrip. You can't do that in a B+B.

Why not? It's not hard to find accommodation even when not pre-booked. Have done many a 'road trip' finding accommodation on the hoof so to speak, all over Europe.

Having said that, I've always fancied a campervan myself; just never taken the plunge! Watching TdF and seeing them all parked up along the route gives me the bug every year!

I was surprised that Nic Roche led him in at the end being as how Roche is in the yellow jersey team though as it happens it didn't matter. None of the teams really led a chase from the peleton although Astana made sure they stayed in touch without knackering themselves for the mountains. I reckon Cavendish was hard done by but Thor is showing himself to be a right whinger over the last couple of finishes. It'll be interesting to see how Cavendish reacts in his riding from now on – which will be more important, finishing the event or finishing in green? Columbia HTC probably reckon to get more kudos from their teamwork in the Points Series than the likelyhood of Hincapie finishing the GC in Yellow although it did make it interesting as the peleton finished yesterday watching what was in effect a slow-mo sprint!

Look to the darkside. Arm warmers & knee warmers are inexpensive, take up little room and are very effective. Should be in everybodys kit pile ~ unless you're, like, a really gnarly rad dude :wink:

Well, their timing is impeccable…

Assuming you're riding on-road rather than off-road, then yes, a road bike with full mudguards and rack eyelets is your best bet for commuting duties IMO. That's what I ride anyhow :wink: although I do sometimes take the mtb and take the 'scenic' route home :D

Personally, I like to keep my back free of bags for the commute; much more comfortable. I use a rack bag rather than panniers. Like others I take clean work clothes in each week by car plus I also take in a supply of energy bars and fruit for the week. I keep a pair of shoes at work but take in clean undies each day. Only other stuff I carry each day is some lunch, a spare tube and a small toolkit in the rack bag plus a frame pump. I always ride on road with a flashing rear light. Always. I also wear a yellow gilet or waterproof for the commute.

I tend to leave plenty of time for the ride in to work, arriving early to allow 'drying' time because I always carry on sweating for 10 minutes after I stop riding (no shower, so it's a stand up wash down in the disabled loo for me!). Light breakfast before I leave (cereal) then banana or energy bar when I get to work. Snacks throughout day, another banana or energy bar 20 minutes or so before ride home. Plenty of water throughout day too. Works for me on my 15km each way rural commute.

Oh, and get into the habit! Don't put it off just because it's raining or you don't feel like it :D

Like BigDummy, I too parade proudly in my lycra. Also like him, I have the body of a god; however, in my case, it is the body of a buddha…

Can you not take in a small cupboard, a box, or a bag in which you can leave your kit in the shower room but which could easily be cleaned around by the cleaners (I assume that you have various bits of clothing hanging all over the shower room making it difficult for the cleaners). Have a chat to the cleaner and find out what may be more convenient for them.

The real answer though is MTFU :wink:

You know he was only crossing the road to see his flatmate …

Boom-tish
Now, who's coat's that jacket?

… needs to be given new life/course design.

It is due for a revamp (and renaming!?!) after the forestry work is completed. There are also plans to waymark a 10 mile mostly singletrack loop based on the Royal Dean Forest Cycle Club Enduro course :-)