Thanks Goan,
Sounds fine, not worried about the distance, more the work rate. Finding my XC racer-buddies pace round GT black about the limit for 1 bottle of go-go juice!
Had a fairly bruising stack at Inners last week, so will keep tabs on when the Gypsy one is. Cheers.

Um, apologies for asking again, think I posted in the middle of a private e-flirt… 😳

Will anyone be my friend?? 😥

I'll be up for whichever day does this Gypsy Glen – may have car / rack space for one other (from Edinburgh, Bonaly area)

I might tag along too, if numbers aren't yet prohibitive. How much effort are we talking, compared to, say, GT Black for reference? Just to guage di-lithium requirements.

There's recycling centres dotted all over the place in south Scotland – some bigger ones have tyre sections, dunno how developed the scene is in the deep south; council websites usually give a pointer.
+ handy for the back wheel if you use a turbo-trainer; maybe a winter cycling club would have them. Unless the tyre-nazis attend – 'which tyre for my turbo?!'

LOL, Gold Star for mastiles_fanylion:

Revolutionary biscuits of Italy
Rise up out of your box!
You have nothing to lose but your wafers
Yum yum yum yum yum!'

Wasn't that Alexei 'Bolovski' Sayle?

Well said.. if it weren't for bikes I couldn't eat biscuits (as often)

Sainsburys white choc + raspberry cookies; one of my 5-a-day..

I like 'Home'

last section with Cunningham taking the Junior world c'ship never fails to raise the pulse

Liked Max Cavaleras' suggestion of swallowing a hand grenade, maybe right before riding off a high, sheer cliff

I've had no probs with the MKs till now, + the brown sidewalls of the protection models suit the Pitch lovely. If it's not dry though, there are issues – thought black chilli was THE grip-giver.
Should qualify the above a little – this was a s/track slope that had large stones set into it, not bedrock. Should've taken a photo of the angular edges… Won't affect my enthusiasm for Inners in the slightest (unless it's raining!)

You probably wont remember it Simon – I've traversed it before with no probs; it's on the main XC route, the other side of a hump you ride up & over, with an escape route to the left – wish I'd bloody taken that, then I'd be revelling in the lovely warm glow that comes after a well spent ride. Hope you get a decent time in tomorrow.

Tyre pressures..? Dunno, didn't have problems anywhere else, which included the black section, which did involve more than a few dabs on my part.. Front just seemed to tuck under as rolling down the rock face, I'm sure my body positioning contributed, or something. Will now consider the Mountain Kings as 'cautious' in the damp. Had 3 laps of Lee Quarry 2 Saturdays ago in lashing rain with no real probs either. Anyway, look forward to conquering it on the next visit – a set of Trail Rakers on the way for the coming months.

Thanks guys, do 'mind a couple of 'red or black' signs on the route right enough. Definitely want to go back & see if Mcmoab can be done dab-less, doubt it with SPDs on. Lovely section though innit? Wish I'd had time to section it a few times. Attempted to ride back up the big slope, but thoughts of what to do if you stop overrode the old synapses. Good scones at the cafe too.

Good to see I weren't the only one getting some fine weather. Where was your 1st photo taken Simon – did the black on Tuesday & I don't remember that bit?!

Yeah – my first visit; a little out of the way from Edinburgh, so stopped the night in Newton Stewart on the way back from Manc-unia. Liked the trail lots, not as relentless as GTress black, but better use of natural features I think. Only regret was not having photo-sensitive glasses going out of bright sun into shady woods… Won't be saying that in a months time!

OH I had my hozelock & gave it a going over first, + tarp lining the boot – just my OCD talking! Lee Quarry tomorrow anyhow so deep clean ahoy after that, bike + car!

Got to say, the torrential rain didn't seem to affect the place too much, nice 1/4 wheel deep streams, a bit slippy in the sheltered areas but fine in general. Couple of new bits since I last went round. Good time, gettin good lines through the canyon riding them walls. Just wish I'd brought the roof bars instead of mucky-bike-into-clean-car nightmare! Can't believe there's no £charge for the place…

Anyone get a canoe down the canyon this evening?
Drove down to Ramsbottom tonight from Edinburgh; Jesus there was some weather through the south Lakes + north Lancs, some of the heaviest rain I've driven through in years.
Guessing it'll be muddy tomorrow, supposed to be clearing later in the day though. Be up around 11am if anyone's considering it.

A little bit of info on 2010 model within an earlier thread –
http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/2010-specialized-pitch-pro

Pitch pro was my first foray into full sus – probably overkill for a middle aged, low mtb experience bloke but I've enjoyed every minute. Climbs ok for what it is, & the extra confidence heading downwards is huge (think it's mainly the chopper-like rake). I don't / won't do big jumps etc., but it seems to handle all that no problem from other users on the forum. Can feel a little heavy on the uphills if your legs are tired. Fit & finish are fine as far as I can tell.

Hoping to head there this Friday, for the 2nd time – looking forward to it, just hope it'll stand up to the monsoon conditions that are (apparently) fast approaching. Might make for a decent-cautious ride, but thought the big dipper was slidy 5 weeks ago; ride to the conditions, I suppose. Be good to have the signs correct my original route (+ take 20 mins off circuit time!)

Wasn't there a downloadable pic for replacement purposes somewhere..?? – remember seeing the thread before the unhappy events of last xmas.

???
Think that sounds positive… God knows.

Have you tried 'ProBikeKit' – their own-brand stuff's generally ok quality, + changeable lenses for £12 I think – riding with yellow or orange lenses on a dull day's really good for morale. Plus their delivery speed defies logic (frequently arrives next post!)

On Kenny Wilsons route 41

My longest served + most used tool in the garage; the same original unit used for motorbikes, cars, various bicycle washing, plant watering etc. etc. for around 10 years. Wouldn't be without it. Only ever had to replace the lance-end bit once (about £3 off t'internet) + easy to carry in the car if needed. Proper wise investment.

According to Billy Connoly, the act can easily be replicated by dipping a toe in the North Sea

Looked at some self catering in Alghero for our holiday this year, which I'd have loved to include some MTB'ing; was truly staggered by how expensive it would've been for 2 of us – going to Corsica instead for less than half the price. Can you give us some links / names for reasonably priced places / packages?
I'm sure the mag (SingleTrack!) did a feature on some Sardinian trails a few months ago, with a well-known rider??

Silly, ground-too-wet attempt at the Pentlands on Sunday afternoon, serious gales higher up constantly blowing me off-track. Gave up on the way to Allermuir before anything nasty happened…

A Lesson Lived is a Lesson Learned, as Hatebreed say

Calling Cocodemer:
Is the build still happening from this weekend – had an e-mail from Colin McPhail a while ago but nowt since…?
Cheers.

Had a xen-like experience last November, heading home for some testing riding around Loch Maree; Thursday night, around 5.30pm, darkness falling, saw no other traffic between Bruar – Carrbridge, north or southbound… Surreal yet strangely enjoyable. Steady 75, enjoy the moment (it wont happen again)

Only in my head, probably. Hi-ho, hi-ho….

off-topic p.s. why do the smilies only work half the time?? ❓

I dunno, have managed to bugger my fave track pump on my pitch's RP2 shock ( :oops:), though presumably forks are at lower pressure.

Gecko – if you're Pentlands bound sometime, e-mail me at profile address, have a shock pump you're free to use (<1 minute from Bonaly bridge-over-bypass). Otherwise, I'm sure any bike shop wouldn't mind giving you a few breaths if you take the forks in…
Rob.

once had a mad collie used to see me coming then start running to hide in rushes & spring out at the opportune moment. Last time, I involuntarily growled "ah, go forth & multiply" in my loudest deep anger-tone, dog pulled up short & aint seen him since.
In short, let them think you're more of a dog than they are! & no resorting to violence unless totally necessary..

Apologies for minor hi-jack;
Re 'Nibbler'; I've walked up and around white hill for the last 12 years or so, I'm sure that wee wooden sign, says 'Nibbler', appeared there 4 or 5 years back, before the mini-DH trails were really established. Always assumed someone had buried a pet there by the same name..?

Bikechain – go on, tell, tell! (I don't ride them DH's by the way, just can't believe there are yet more secret gardens up there!)

Remembering where you've been while:
a) bunging your kit in the washing machine
b) sweeping the floor where you removed / dislodged said kit

Went for a couple of laps this morning (semi-bearded bloke with severely clashing dark clothing/sky-blue helmet on a Pitch Pro, if anyone noticed…), found it a very decent work-out with plenty challenge to keep things interesting. Accept that fire-roads are a necessary evil to get you to the good stuff, but still loved the climbs, though there seemed some odd choices here and there that broke the flow up a little, those curiously sized / spaced speed bumps as has already been said. Be interesting to see how it develops under the traffic it's going to get, slip-fest in the muddy section through the trees, hopefully riders will exercise the caution muscles when it's wet through the 'swoopy canyon'.
It's quite tight in places compared to, say, GlenT, but no less enjoyable. Also got on about the best I ever have in a 'black' section, up the top. That slab slope is THE quick-hit rush. It's kinda like Laggan up there, if rather less intense.
Well done to all involved, you can really see the work that's been put in. Hopefully will join one of the dig days in the next few months; stumpyjon – will you keep posting the dig dates?
Cheers.

Where's the best place to park, at the reservoir? Hoping to experience Gisburn this Saturday morning while down (not) visiting relatives in Ramsbottom.

Ought to qualify that by saying it was my absence of map reading ability that was the problem Higgo; your map was fine, if I'd only looked into it with a bit more detail, close-ups at trail junctions, reservoirs etc. But now know for next time.
Night course in outdoors navigation looming, I fancy…!

Apologies couldn't hook up with you guys, if you went. Didn't get there till 11.30 after a frustrating few hours of XC trying to achieve Higgo's route over the tops from Edenfield – so many wrong turnings… Should've taken less than an hour. Spent most of my energy getting there, but enjoyed the course, esp. the black bits. Just wish I'd driven over & had all resources ready. Next time..

Hopefully will have taken the route up that Higgo sent ( :-)), will keep eyes peeled. No doubt will get lost somewhere so timing is anyones guess!