I just rode a Giant XTC 29er for a day and was impressed apart from the SLX shifting. I was surprised at the width of the bars when I first got on but found it fine riding. Are bars generally wider on 29ers to compensate for the supposed lack of manoeuvrability? Also had to invert the stem to keep the front low enough for me. Is this the right idea?

Yes that was probably my favourite Gorrick course by a long shot – amazingly never ridden that one before – but it was great – just the right mix of terrain.

Ade – try the SouthernXC at Wasing near Aldermaston for your next fix. Course is very similar to a Gorrick – pretty flat, nothing mental steep and with a bit of luck the bluebells will still be out.

Here’s the story from the guy that got run over’s team mate.

http://www.marathonmtb.com/01/04/2011/stage-5-man-down/

Remember they are doing the Cape Epic so pretty tough in my book regardless of the whining!

The cyclist is a bully plain and simple. He needs to wake up and see that just because he’s smarter than other people doesn’t give him the right to make other people seem small. I’d have punched him if he spoke to me like that.

Most of the course this year is based on the course thats been used for Rampage races (which claim the flattest course in the country!). Its all tight and twisty single track but its been widened in places for passing. Lap times at Rampages are between 11 and 14 minutes depending on dryness. Extra length is being added by going down into the woods and there will likely be 2 climbs (with matching downs!) Should still be lap times around 25 minutes though.

Tricky – don’t enter Open – thats my category! To really get yourself ready for race pace I’d recommend finding a little loop you can do in 10 minutes with no stops/junctions/gates/pedestrians; do a lap as fast as you can (10 minutes is nothing so really go for it); time it and then give yourself 15 seconds to catch your breath; then do it again; then do it again and again until your times really deteriorate; then go home to die. Then do it the next day as well! (not recommended the day before the race!)

Good luck and I’ll see you there!

You picked them up!??? You’ll get warts now! I didn’t stop to check if they were toads. The squelching noise under my tyres sounded ‘frog-like’ though.

And ‘Fornicating Toads’ doesn’t sound right…

I think I agree with crikey. I get cramp once a year – on my first race – once thats over it seems fine. If you’re cramping every ride maybe you’re not allowing enough recovery time (or maybe too much)

Yes, just so you can say XT/XTR spec in the description when you sell it!

More for Pedal On. Great shop and mail order too pedalon.co.uk

Yes I know its not a race and I know the legal issues of bridleways but still can’t the results at least be in order so you can easily compare times with other riders. I’ll bet half the riders are pasting it into excel and sorting it as we speak.

It just made me realise I’m not made for ‘sportives’. Maybe I’m strange…

And just to make it even less of a race the results are in some random order!!! And the award categories are inconsistent!

Thanks for a nice route but never again…

Yes I do. Is the ‘vibe’ better at the MTB events? I don’t know. Thats my question?

Ah but I do help organise XC races… Just trying out another side of the sport and seeing if I like it. I’ll stick to XC races even though I don’t win.

Maybe its because I do know the area (almost too well). It was a good course – well thought out, good variety of track and pretty sustainable – and the organisation was fine. It was just the atmosphere was a bit down at the end – Brass Monkeys and other XC races/enduros have a much better ‘vibe’ at the finish. Maybe its ‘roadies’ being roadies…

Fave spots along Skyline from Santa Cruz to San Francisco – EcdM (Skeggs) and other bits. Plenty of good stuff north of SF as well.

Toca’s Miracle – Fragma. 6.5 minutes of power climbing

Cross at Checkendon is still on …
http://www.ratmbc.co.uk/viewmsg.php

If your spin bikes also have a power reading then you should see a lower heart rate for a given output if you are getting fitter. As said above needs to be held for at least two minutes as there is a lag but if you set up the same test each week or fortnight you should be able to see a change. (Oh and remember to use the same bike!)

If your spin bike doesn’t do power then go to a different gym!

Yeah but look at the size of their packs :wink:

A Buff worn as a balaclava. Makes you feel very hardcore…

When I was about 12 my dad convinced me it was illegal to overtake someone who had overtaken you. I thiught I'd go to jail if I did it.

He was a boring bastard though…

All cross races are bc events so look ln the british cycling website events calender. It has region and type filters.

Vimeo for playback quality, but youtube for highest volumes. Youtube insight data is very addictive and you can see worldwide views and which other videos are linking to yours, and which sites are embedding or linking to your vid. The channel pages are good for identity. The music copyright checks are a bit of a pain but fair enough really. You can always disable comments and if you ignore trolls they soon get bored and go away.

Check out the videos of the Bordon races from the SouthernXC series.

Course is mainly flat-ish with one hill. Fast and fun in the dry…

+1 for tag alongs – just remember to never ride in the wet or your little one will never ever come out again!

Watch this and you#ll buy one even if you don't race…
http://vimeo.com/11695455

Joolze wasn't there so phtos were a bit thin on the ground. These are really good. Steve might be in touch…

Great pictures. I've reposted to xcracer.com. Good job.

Southern XC at Pippingford for me. Getting worried about hydration given the heat forecast, going to stash bottles in feed zone despite not having a helper.

Brilliant. Why do we need mountain bikes? Because I can't ride like that – skill!

More info here XCRacer Forum

Nice vid – never tried just placing the camera down – and it works. Sure the lab could keep up better with a smaller stick – still they are dumb.

My movie maker tips – fade out the music track at the end – time the clips to the lyrics 'falling from the sky' – cut all empty shots – even split clips with long run ins – make fade transitions really quick.

You guys riding in that were mad. I bailed – saw the four lap start and the state of the trail down to the lake and didn't bother getting changed. Went back this morning and its still a mudfest. The trails are completely wrecked with so many riders. Respect to anyone who rode yesterday!

Thankfully the child did not die,but serious questions must be asked of the mangement of the school, and heads must roll,for serious negligence for allowing this poor teacher to continue attending school.

Absolutely, all his managers must take some responsibility for not seeing it coming.

Problem is, as AA says,the kids never get the blame,somebody swears at you? Serves you right for confronting them over their use of mobile phone during class.

Not all schools are like this. Some have leadership which backs you all the way. Just choose your school carefully and teaching is fine.

molgrips – the tarmac start changes to fireroad slight climb so everyone is well strung out by the time the singletrack starts – the start is so fast my legs were screwed from the start and I never actually recovered.

Try watching the Elite race if you want to see fast Wasing Elite Race

If there's any bog left after the recent drought I'll be amazed – even the slippy climb might make it in!

Not bad at all… thanks for sharing

My tip for riding with dogs is to find a nice golf course with a lovely cool pond at the start of you ride. A damp lab runs much better! Returning for another dip at the end must be wonderful and I'm often tempted to join him!

Not much help to you maybe but freecaster have it…

Dalby World Cup

Have a look here …
Chawton Park Woods