Thanks for the replies. I wasn’t aware they’re illegal… they seem quite readily available on legit looking uk websites.

Anyway, it is mains powered with a 12v transformer. I’ll try taking a look inside and trying a different transformer if I can find one. Turning it off and on again doesn’t seem to have any affect.

Gumtree is a good place to look for local bargins. My make picked up a spesh in great condition for £300 I think. Nothing fancy, but great for the price. Watch out in London though, loads of the posts look dodgy!

Also doing this route, not this weekend but next. Anyone know what the conditions up top are like at the mo? Much snow/ice around (enough to effect descending)?

PeterPoddy, now they’re the kind of pictures I wanted to see when I clicked this thread, not loads of blood! :-S

I don’t have a blog, not yet at least, but… Porridge Pancakes! I’m trying them out!!! 😛

The almighty faff!

@flatfish. As always “other skills courses are available”, but I think a lot of people on here have used Jedi and understandably recommend him highly. I think this thread has been quite balanced really.

How did I guess before opening this thread, that it would contain the word “Jedi” at least a handfull of times already. Any rightly so, he really can transform your riding and mental perspective in an afternoon. Obviously practice, practice, practice is invaluable, and picking up tips om here, on specific things, then trying them can help. Bit after the day with Tony, all my practice now seems to make more difference faster. A lot to do with the mental barriers that were removed.

I hate taking the road on the climb. It always seems like harder work and takes longer. Whenever I see anyone taking it, I always end up beating them to the top. Certainly not willy waving here, as I’m sure I’m slower taking the road as well. It’s obviously longer than the singletrack, and I think you put in more effort on the steeper tech bits but get mini rests where it undulates. The road just seems a relentless boring drag.

I had real trouble when I tried, ended up taking them to the LBS to sort. But that was the first time I’d done anything with hydraulics so could have been me, but I think hey did say they were tricky. Was a while ago no so don’t remember specifics. Someone with dome expertise will be along and give you some useful advice I’m sure!

For a short loop you can start the xc climb and the cut along a track/road to your right that takes you past the big drop off on the dh trail and to the start of the final xc decent. I’ve only done it once so maybe someone else can jump in and give a better fracturing of where exactly the connecting road starts from. Could be a good option though to get some nice flowing decent without any lung busting climb. Shouldn’t take you that long and you cam judge your mate’s ability. Then if he’s raring to go, just start the xc loop again and carry on.

Thanks for the replies!

5lab, I think you’re probably right about the tv only taking 1080 and 720 via hdmi, from what I’ve seen. Bit rubbish though given the native res. I’ve tried the VGA port but still can’t get it right with that. The laptop doesn’t give me 1366×768 as an option when I connect the VGA cable.

ce9adp, that overscan setting did the trick for 1280×720 on hdmi. Works fine now for video, but would have been nice to get the full res.

R

I’ve seen someone use 1200 grit to polish metal railings on a boat, and was very supprised that it actually did “polish” it and bring up a shine! Having seen that and read your post, I’d probably agree that it’s ok.

Baggage handlers hey, no respect!

For the record there’s nothing better than the sound of the mountain on a chairlift, so music is always off. Only use if it if I’m riding solo anyway and not all the time.

Sounds a good trip idea. I may be in the same boat this year, so I’m watching for suggestions with interest.

You have hubs, and mentioned rims. Don’t forget spokes!

I’ve just been rejoining using the old pin. Should I be using a new pin then? Is that something I can pick up a pack of from my lbs?

How would I know if my chain tool has this “stiff link” position? What does it look like??

Thanks!

Depends what he wants it for. Is it just for riding round the neiboughood or does he want to get into mountainbiking? Also how old is he?

If you go to Halfords or look on their website at the Carrera or GT bikes at that price range you get a MUCH better bike, especially with some of the discounts they have at the moment.

+1 for the dealextreme/magicshine light, for a really bright light at a cheap price. It says 900 lumins which it might not be, but easily bright enough for anything I’ve done night riding yet, and lasts 3 hours on full. Yes, you can get brighter and you can get better made and you can get built in batteries, but not anywhere near that price, so for a first light on a budget it’s a no brainer.

I’m going to watch this thread with interest, chiefly so I can recommend something to my mate, who has yet to make it through a ride without picking up his front or rear wheel, spinning it and muttering “that’s not right, that”.

Personly, I’ve had Hope Tech X2’s for a coupleof years and they’ve largly been brilliant and maintenance free. Only trick I know is leaving the old pads in while pushing the pistons back home before fitting new pads. As long as they push all the way back (with a bit of persuasion) all is good.

That first video has some great riding. Pitty it’s ruined by the start that shows them all like complete plebs!

I do

Yes, I ride a lot of the local trails both ways. Keeps things interesting!

Cool thanks!

Yeah, my question is, as long as it’s smooth with no play, should it just be left alone?

I new someone would say that! Thanks! 😉

For what it’s worth, I used to have a Nikon D70 and sold it to get a Canon G12. Haven’t had it that long yet, but so far I’ve been very impressed, getting much better pictures than the D70 was taking. I’d still like another DSLR in the future but for now the G12 is managing well. Compact enough to take biking and snowboarding, and has easy DSLR style manual controls, rather than hunting in menu systems. I’ve had good results for action photos too, although I’m sure it doesn’t use phase detect.

MM in a team?? Try solo before you try anything like what you’re saying! 😉

58mph coming off dart moor on my way from le to log. Hardtail mtb with road tires. Only got up to about 45 since.

If you were “seriously ill” wouldn’t you go to the hospital?

There is a difference between 1, 2 and 3, but how noticeable it is I think depends on what pressure you have the shock at, and also maybe the geometry of the bike (I’m no expert so I could be talking cr@p but just going on personal experience).

Lately I’ve been riding on 3 for most stuff, even rocky decents, but I think I need a bit more pressure in there to be honest.

If the previous ice cleared, which I think it will have, then the fresh snow will probably be quite fun to ride. Not been up there yet, but we have a foot of snow in Cardiff, so that’s probably a good indicator. I’m taking the bike out tomorrow (not cwmcarn) along with the snowboard!

Looking like the incident with the snow plough may have been another set of cars on another hill, do this is looking more like someone else had hit it with their car and then just left without leaving details. Not good.

I use maxxis minions at pretty low pressures a lot of the time and don’t get pinch flats. Had real problems with them when I had conti mountain kings with flimsy sidewalks, if they weren’t around 40 psi. I’m pretty light though at 72kg.

One thing Jedi taught me was that landing rear wheel first is a bad idea, and boy is he right! Did it slightly over a drop on the black at cmwcarn, just before a corner, rear wheel first equals zero steering ability. Made it round but probably stained my pants!

I rode whites on Saturday before I did cwmcarn on Sunday. Whites was harder going and a lot wetter. Mostly slush rather than crunchy snow, but still with the patches of black ice. If you enjoyed cwmcarn, give it a go.

Same as above. It had stayed colder than I had expected, so more crunchy than slushy, and there was a fair amount in the trees completely dry. Plenty of sketchy bits of ice to watch out for but all pretty much ridable with decent tires, control and a bit of nerve.

If it stays at freezing and below, which it might, it’ll probably be similar.

I loved it, but my mate hated it. Depends whether you enjoy the challenge of a tricky ride, and don’t mind the possibility of landing on your arse!

Noted

You’ve got to account for all the extra peddle strokes when your rear wheel spins on the ice! Sure that’ll add up to an extra Km or two!