Was my 5th time this year, but another very wet weekend! Lots of fun though!

Benji’s bike: Santa Cruz Heckler (or was it a Superlight?) with pace forks?

A really fun event, despite the crap weather!! Am really hoping it continues!!

Thanks all, ended up having a fun couple of rides through the woods – found the stuff on Pale Hill which was fun, rode Manly Hill a bit which was also fun but overgrown in places and then the guy in the visitor centre told me that the new blue sections are all good to ride as they were all bedded in but hadn’t been opened officially as they were waiting for signage so these were perfect for my other half’s lad!

Thanks! Will also have a look on Strava Heatmap!

So wasn’t getting anywhere with the headset spanner so took it to the LBS who brought out a long breaker bar and got it out pretty much instantly! So I’m off to get myself a 1/2″ breaker bar (although I do like the idea of King Dick adjustable!!)

Thanks all!

Have tried hitting the spanner with a rubber mallet but might upgrade to a proper hammer!

Thanks all, it was full fat coke from my hangover stash! Will leave it and go back to it tomorrow. Tool is locked in place with a crank bolt & washer, but think my issue is use of a 32mm headset spanner as it’s the only thing I have that fits the BB tool!

What is the latest news on Stanton – did they ever manage to find a new backer?

Yep, can can second the MSR Trailshot – a great bit of kit!

Thanks guys! Will have a conversation with Upgrade and let you know how i get on!

Cheers for the replies – will have a look at the CTC website. As for being the wrong tool for the job, yes I’d agree. He used to have a hybrid with an MTB triple chainset on it which was perfect, but when he upgraded his dad persuaded him to get a discounted road bike from a friend’s shop which was a mistake.

I’ll report back (probably in a couple of weeks mind…) on how it goes!!!

I ride up Leckwith Hill on the road bike from time to time and it does look like there are some tracks in there, but I’ve never had the chance to go in and explore.

I’d be interested if you did find anything as it’s only a couple of minutes from the house….

Cheers for the ideas and recommendations guys…. I think Frogstomp’s idea is what we’ll end up doing….

Martin B, when I get around to changing it I’ll give you a shout. It might not be for a few weeks mind…..

Mackem, yes please as long as you’re sure it’s going spare… Have you ever used J-tek shifter?

Have a talk to Daz at Lavatrax. He should be able to sort you out with a bike and it’s definitely be worth paying for a days guiding as he knows some cracking routes…..

I run Vittoria Randonnuers on a pair of Fulcrum 29er wheels in a old MTB 26″ wheel frame as my Frankenbike road bike. I’m 15 stone in weight and had no problems since I set it up this way a couple of years ago, even on fireroads and some fairly potholed back roads.

I was using 35c tyres, but have just dropped to 28c to fit a mudguard in. The 28c feels like it rolls faster and I’ve haven’t suffered any snakebite punctures or loss of grip since I started using it a couple of months ago…

Yep, got one in the summer for my Heckler. Not really tried air shocks before but wwith all the vould say it compares very favourably with all the coil shocks I’ve used previously….

Not a 2.5, but usually run 2.35 DHF’s front and rear. Works fine round South Wales. Can’t remember ever trying it in thick claggy mud mind….

My phone out of my (badly zipped shut) camelback on a night ride round Whites Level. Did another lap that evening but couldn’t find it.

For some reason I went back early the next morning and started running round in the opposite direction. Found it next to the trail near the start of the Darkside, which was a godsend as if I had ran any further I would have died…..

I take the bolts out completely, insert a pedal spanner in the gap and then screw the bolts in from the other side (need to tilt the saddle forwards to do this). This generally forces the clamp open just enough to slide out the two halves.

Took me a while to figure this out, but the seatpost is about 5 years old, has had quite a few saddle swaps but I haven’t had problems. I might have a look for any stress fractures next time I swap saddles though….

Hope that makes sense. If it doesn’t, let me know and I’ll post some pictures for you….

How about drinking a pint of water beofre breakfast to flush your digestive system out?

Loft conversion in progess[/url]

Hopefully a photo of the loft conversion being carried out. It’s now complete. The window underneath the loft window is the room concerned. Somewhere I’ve got some photos of the work in progress saved so will dig them out and see if there’s any photos of that area.

Think it might be worth checking the roof to see if any rain can get in under the tiles. And seeing if there’s any one I can borrow a dehumidifier of to see if that solves it…..

Cheers for all the responses!!

First Direct. Been with them 12 years or so. Have a current account with the Nationwide and a Credit Card with the Co-Op.

I know from an ethical point of view I should be using either the Co-op or Nationwide, but find dealing with FD so easy that I’m reluctant to move…..

I have a Squirt PS4 on my keyring, which has proved useful for fixing toys/sunglasses/other minor things… Was very impressed that the phillips fitted the tiny screws in the wife’s sunglasses. However the scissors are pretty cack and I’d rather have some tweezers.

I also have a couple of Juice S2s, which live in my camelback and my commutng rucksack. I think the scissors are btter on these and the pliers are more robust for larger stuff. However it doesn’t have tweezers which would be good…..

Has anyone ridden the Blue route at Afan? And if so, how doea it compare to the Penhydd? Looking for a route to take a novice on and would have probably used the Penhydd a few years ago, but am now unsure. May take him to Cwmcarn but go up the fire road instead of the usual climb…..

Cheers

Saw one of the Charge 29ers going at a good price recently but can’t think where. Will have a look to see if I can where…..

It would be worth checking what parts of Skyline are shut as you may end up on a part that’s closed. Do a search on here as there was a thread about this a couple of days ago at this. Sorry, on my phone so hard to search for you…

Was in Cwmcarn car park about a month ago loading my bike into my car when a couple of guys in a Fiesta drove past. It looked like the guy in the passenger seat was holding a camcorder pointed out the window. I wondered what it was for and when I stood up to have a better look they sped off. Should have taken a note of their reg and reported it.

Will try to be more observant in future….

I’d say look at the Osprey Range. I’ve got a Quasar from their 24/7 range which i really like and use for commuting on the bike (only a short distance mind!), but they also do some specific bike commuting bags which I like the look of. I got mine from Go Outdoors for about £30, and it’s very well built when compared against much more expensive bags….

How old is child in question? Have been for a weekend, but I didn’t make the swimming pool as I had to leave early (from what I remember the report was it wasn’t as good as CP). Indoor play area was great for our 18 month old son. I think he’d still love the indoor play area now (he’s just turned 3) as there’s a lot for him to do…

I thought the accomodation was nicer than Centreparks. The swimming pool and indoor play area are about a maximum fifteen minute walk up a hill from all the accomodation, but there is village centre with shop & pub in amongst the accomodation.

Clydey Cottages near Newcastle Emlyn are supposed to be very good aswell….

Something like the Toro with a remote switch would be good – I use an old Lupine light which allows me to switch (without taking my hands off the bars) between really bright for pitch black sections and then dim it a bit for on-coming cyclists/walkers/cars (just because I’m nice like that….)

I’d then suggest using an Exposure Flash as a back up around town for visibility from the sides…..

Buy a Water Rowing Machine[/url]……

White bread, spread, tartare sauce, pickled red cabbage, fish fingers…..

Was a great event. Seven and a half hours both days. Some tough climbs but the descents were worth it. Had forgotten how much I enjoyed the Gap descent!! And winning the camcorder was a bonus….

Chainline, cheers for the offer…. Any idea how the course is holding up after the recent rain…..

Just wanted to say had a great time at Nicholaston on Saturday night, so thanks for recommendation….

Jonah, cheers for the recommendations. Booked in at Nicholaston for Saturday night, so will hopefully give one of the pubs a try…..

Cheers guys. Unfortunately Three Cliffs require 2 nights stay at the weekend and we only want to go Saturday night. Will have to see if we can get into Hillend on a Saturday but with good weather forecast I have a feeling it’s going to be a busy weekend….