Ummmm… actually… are you sure?

Start or 2000 to end of 2009 is 10 years, so that would be the first decade for the second millennium. Or did the new millennium not start until 1st Jan 2001?

Shhhhh!

mtbfix, I hope you ran back inside, put on all your cloths, including your holdall! I'm thinking Cool Runnings here…

I wouldn't be afraid of rabid dogs and madmen, but I will pass on this story of my mate's solo night ride up Cwmcarn a couple of days ago…
Took his single speed up for the first time, and had trouble with the chain coming off on the steeper bits, so after hitting his balls on the stem for the 3rd time, he took to the road. Back on the track (after the concrete slope) his chain gets caught up and completely wedged between the front sprocket and the frame, and wont budge. So, he abandons ride, gets back to the road and free wheels down. Going pretty fast, decides his light should be on full, instead of low, so cycles the switch though flashing, then off, then… shit it won't come back on again! Pitch black, going about 25mph, panics, slams on the front brake with one hand in the bars, and goes straight over the front wheel. Returns to the car battered and bruised. Moral of the story, apart from don't be a tit and slam your front break on with one hand, is solo night riding can be hazardous if things go wrong!

Bike: Orange 5 Pro 09
Front tyre: Maxxis Minion DHF 2.35 60a Single Ply
Rear tyre: Maxxis Minion DHR 2.35 60a Single Ply
Type of riding: XC, South Wales trail centres, Brecons, Cardiff local trains
Your thoughts on said combo: Very happy, since I've put them on, haven't really thought about them, and I guess that's a pretty good sign. Plenty of grip in all conditions ridden so far (dry, rocks and roots [wet and dry], torrential rain, grass, mud).

All of the results sheets where headed Technical Riders even though those three sheets where the Enduro results. I was a bit confused at first, but the other sheets (that I didn't photograph as I did enduro) had different section columns (black run etc).

Bad luck boldermansam, I was lucky and was told my a marshal as I rode out that I should do the July section first as it would be shutting at 1pm.

EDIT: I used the spreadsheet from the summer event to do some preliminary analysis, and I'm hoping that the average times from yesterday will be a bit slower than those (and make my time a bit more respectable)!

I thought it was a great event. I've not been to many but thought it was pretty well organised, good atmosphere, don't mind paying £30 for that ( was camping so didn't pay any extra for parking).

Graham, don't know if something fell off your plate, but I normally get a huge slab of lasagna with the jacket and salad for £6.50, and that's pretty damn reasonable. Long live the drop off!

… that band in the evening was pretty comical though! Didn't know drums and a bass playing along to pre-recorded tracks was classed as a live band.

Here are the pictures, sorry they're not very clear, but I think you can make out most of it.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/41514811@N08/4163495290/sizes/l/%5B/url%5D

http://www.flickr.com/photos/41514811@N08/4162736311/sizes/l/%5B/url%5D

http://www.flickr.com/photos/41514811@N08/4163494664/sizes/l/%5B/url%5D

As people predicted I think there were some mess ups with the times… they appear to have mixed my times up with some really average rider! 😉

I took pictures of the enduro results, if you want to know any times.

krag, I just called the drop off and reserved a place. Give them a call.

I'll be there, heading up tonight in a few hours. Two riding mates have weaked out, so I'll be going stag.

+1 for Hope. Tech X2's on my 5 and love them. I've ridden Hayes Strokers and they're pretty average, wouldn't recommend.

From my experience, worrying about tires can be a lot in the mind. The more you think about it, the more you notice every little slip, and the more you worry that you've got the wrong tires. Granted, there's a lot of difference between tires, and you need to find good ones for what you ride, but try not to over analyze them. That's just my opinion.

I ride Minion 2.35 and I know they're great for me as I've ridden really well in very bad conditions. Sometimes I get a bit shaky and start thinking "are these tires ok?" but have to remind my self that it's not the tires, it's me!

I measure the brightness by holding the light 1m away from my eyes, turning it on for 10 seconds, then measuring the size of the coloured splodge on my vision, and also the pain (on a scale of 1 to 10).

It all depends on the rebas… are they the ones with the pink lettering? If so, I've burn them and sell it with the darts 😉

So it returning a good idea then? I'd kind of thought of that as a last resort given it's back to Hong Kong. How much is that going to cost??

Just got back from a holiday in India. Experience some traffic in Delhi and you get a bit of perspective. Cars, bikes, people, cows, dogs, all doing stupid things, in all directions, as quickly as possible, and as close together as possible! An experience, and I return to the UK with a new appreciation for how organised and well behaved our roads are!

The whole issue of global warming; whether it exists or doesn't; whether it's caused by man or natural; is to some degree irrelevant.

This guy's opening statement implying no need for alternative energies is the most ridiculous statement I've read in a long time! No matter what happens to the climate, we're still going to run out of fossil fuel and then we're all **** if we haven't make alternative arrangements! By the way, what happens when the oil runs out and we can't make plastic?

I'll go against the grain a put a good word in for skyline (the long version). It's a good ride if you want to test your endurance a bit and don't mind climbing (2000m elevation compared to 900m on W2). Yes there's a fair bit of fire road in there, but then what about that bast@rd fire road climb on the wall!? …that seems to go on forever!

Having said that though, if you want the most single track, ride Whites, July (shortcut skyline) and Penhydd. Do W2 only if you can be arsed with a neverending fireroad in the middle!

Stating your tire pressure without at least saying what tires, tube/tubeless and rider weight is a pretty pointless exercise IMO.

My dad waited 11 years for his Morgan! Didn't get written off though, but decide it was impractical with the British weather so sold it after a year!

ddmonkey – I'll be at the mashup too, can't wait, but don't think i'll be changing my tires. Currently Minion DH F/R 2.35 60a. The way I see it is I'd rather be more confident on the downs, and any extra drag on the ups just makes it a bit more of a challenge! Just think to your self how much better you're doing that all those guys taking the easy option with lightweight tyres!

After my last torrential ride, I was contemplating going the whole hog and just wearing a full on wetsuit, with booties, hood and gloves! Anyone tried this?? 😉

get them, best £50 i've spent <eom>

I'm not sure I'm happy about using plastic bags, they're so un-envoronmentally friendly, even if they are being reused. I would prefer some of those bag-for-life ones, probably the tesco ones with the ladybirds on them. Obviously with some waterproof spray.

No problems with downhillers and no doubt a full day of it will batter your muscles as much as an average xc ride (all be it in a different way), but I do love uphill! More or a challenge!

Rode the Brecon Beast in Sept and it does the Gap road backwards, and I was very surprised to see that 95% of people that I saw on that section pushed the whole way, didn't even attempt it, and only one other person that attempted to ride the whole thing! Granted, I felt like I was going to die at the top, and there was still 40km to go, but it's the achievement… or is it just me? Fair enough if you've got a massive DH monster, but that wasn't the case there.

I'd look at the Orange Crush if you can work it so you pay the extra (I think it retails at £1,050 so only £50). If not, I've seen somewhere offering a "limited edition" version specifically for the CTW scheme at £999, but you seem to loose a lot for that £50, mainly the Fox forks which IMO is one of the best bits for that price.

I'm no expert, but I didn't think the shops had to pay any 10% to the scheme…??

Might be worth a go then. When asking about difficulty I was thinking more of would be be worth doing rather than would it be too hard 😉

I think it's a 90mm as standard on the 20" but I'll check when I get home tonight.

Looks interesting… Might consider coming over from Cardiff. Wanted to get some riding in this weekend. It's called a "challenge", any idea how "challenging" it will be?

this is the best paint scheme you will ever see on a bike!

Is he blind? It looks shite!

Maybe only of limited help as I haven't ridden a Santa Cruz, but I was in the same boat as you last year (going for first full sus). I demo's a 5 at Afan south wales and never looked back. Felt absolutely awesome and along with the reviews I'd read I didn't see any point in looking further. I'd highly recommend the 5, but then see what people with a comparison say, and I would recommend trying to get demos before actually buying if at all possible.

Good luck

Left Llamberis after 9, back before 2, and that was on the snow, pretty bad conditions. as long as you leave before 11 I don't think you'll have a problem with light. I'd leave at 9 though, in case of problems.

Snowdon… tick.
Scarfell… can you do Scarfell on a bike? Isn't it all footpaths?

I have one for my etrex and it's great. No problems with stability, it's solid as a rock. Battery cover locks on securely. I'd recommend it, much better than getting out a pocket every time.

Mine just arrived today!! Ordered on 9th Sept, quite a long wait, but from what I've heard on here, it's not usually that long. I had to prompt them with an email, when it has been saying "waiting for supplier" for ages when the site said "in stock". Anyway, trying them out up Cwmcarn tonight, can't wait!

Anyone know how long you should charge them for first time round? Presumably till the red light goes green? How long will that be? (excuse the impatiens) 😉

Looking good then! 😀

First, pick a good name… maybe something like… Off-Two… Apple… just thinking out loud…

According to Hongkong Post, mine left HK on Saturday. Do you think it'll arrive this week? How long are the strikes? 🙁

+1 Mech Hangers! Rararara!