Junkyard, I certainly hope we do…

Peterfile, yep, that’s kinda what I was getting at. I have an interesting job which requires a lot of hours (events). I’m really good at it so it’s enjoyable most of the time but we’ve been crazy busy since October and I’m tired of working weekends. Should calm down a bit now though so I’ll stop moaning :)

Nah Jam bo, the wedding’s costing about £8k all in (including honeymoon trip to Fort William to watch the World Cup;), which I don’t think is too extravagant. Comment wasn’t really based around the wedding just how you (ok, we) get sucked into working, bigger house, new bikes etc.

Since writing the original post I’ve spent the morning planning my summer of riding. I’ve been on a DH ban for the past month to minimise the chances of me being in a cast at the wedding and I can’t wait to get out there again. Job provides me with enough cash to do that most weekends and travel the UK on uplifts etc.

Would be nice to have a bit more time to do stuff though.

RIP. Don’t remember ever meeting you Nick but you probably rode past me at some point at Mayhem. Very sad, hope you’re at peace now.

Ton, I think you’d be fine with any of them mate. It’s not like you’re gonna be doing 20ft huckster to flat at 40mph is it?

Im 6′ 6″ and currently 17.5 stone. In the past 2 years I’ve had:

Banshee / Mythic Scythe – large but was way too small

Orange 225 – Ben Cathros ex race bike, custom built for someon of my size. It was brilliant until it cracked on a weld. Recently had it rewelded by betd and gonna build it up again

Morewood Makulu – large – solid bike with ace suspension system, far superior to the orange – would be great for you Ton

I’d steer clear of any thing carbon really, if you’re gonna uplift it will get battered and I don’t think I’d want a carbon frame rubbing on some ally forks for 20 mins x 8 times a day.

Best thing is to go and sit on a few. Cockpit size is my issue, none of them are big enough really.

Bloody Hell. Go Terrahawk!

I’m 6′ 6″ and ride an Xl yeti 575. I love it, sizing is fantastic

DezB – Luther is the best UK show of this ilk me thinks

I enjoyed Homeland. A few slow episodes in the middle, bit of a bottled ending but it provided some good Sunday night entertainment

Yep, definitely someone to be admired. One of those people who just looks at life from a different position to the masses.

“Obree’s new machine is being assembled at his one-bedroom flat in Saltcoats, North Ayrshire, in the kitchen which doubles as his workshop. He has already scavenged parts for the machine’s shoulder rests from an old saucepan.”

I think we can assume that Graeme is single.

How many of us would have a kitchen like that though if in the same boat :)

Cool. Many thanks

Anyone? Looking to organise a DH skills day…

Sounds like when me and a mate were loudly slagging off a Damien Hirst piece at a Turner Prize preview, without realising he was stood behind us.

Shameless bragging here, but I’ll be producing the Turner Prize ceremony in a couple of weeks. Lauren Laverne is doing a live 30 minute programme too so I’ll be offering myself too her in every way possible :)

Nice to see that you are back rockitman BTW. I was beginning to think that you were trapped under something heavy and couldn’t reach the keyboard

I was mate… it was a downhill bike :)

A bit gutted actually… signed up for HTN and thought “this will be perfect for the fully rigid, Alfine hubbed Scandal 29er”. Then I cracked my DH frame and had to sell the Scandal as I hadn’t ridden it since last years failed attempt at the Kielder… So, I’m back on the Yeti… I’ll start shopping for a replacement drivetrain in the new year :)

Wicked, really looking forward to this, should be a right laugh as per usual.

Favourite moment so far was that crazy descent that Brant was standing at (think it was the 2nd winter sprinter?). My mate came down on a Ragley Blue Pig, completely ballsed it up, crashed and got up and slagged the bike off as “a piece of poorly designed crap with **** geometry” or something similar, having no idea who Brant was :)

41mph down Mastiles Lane descent earlier this year. Yes, that’s off road for those that don’t know.

Yeah, I’d say man up and go. I don’t mean that in a laddish way, I just mean bite the bullet. If you don’t go you’re only gonna wish you had.

I remember one thing from my failed attempt last year – didn’t make the 60 mile checkpoint in time…

DO NOT STOP. Not even for a second. You need to be able to ride for 10 hours+ pretty much without putting your foot down. This means riding every climb… no food stops… etc.

It was a living hell. I could have done the distance (was only 2pm I think when they stopped me) but the pace required to make the checkpoints killed me.

Cheers. Next connundrum, saddle is one of these:

http://www.pro-bikegear.com/publish/content/pro_2010/nl/en/index/products/saddles/special.-productCode-PRSA0015.html

Can’t see anywhere whether it’s 7 or 8!

I thought the allen bolt head was just so you can remove the lever no?

Thanks for the info everyone. Guitarhero YGM.

Think it’s the new ones, one of these:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=21670

trail rat – I’m happy to use something else… Superstar one looks OK. Think I may still need the DT Swiss one though to get the wheel out, although I may be able to release the other end with a large spanner

I stuck some road tyres and changed the gearing on the 29er about 6 weeks ago. It has yet to leave the flat.

Why? I dunno really. I’m finding that I have no motivation to ride it. The advantages talked about above – doesn’t need cleaning etc were why I did it, but I’ve found I prefer going out for a run.

Been taking the HR monitor and timing myself. In 6 weeks I’ve knocked 4 mins off my time for 4 miles so I’m getting fitter. Slowly.

UI did the same thing about a year ago on a pair of DT Swiss FR2350 wheels. Was gutted but have run with 5 ever since and never had a problem.

I love that Nick. Wasn’t there this year, but did it solo in 09 & 10. I’m really slow and just plod round for 24hrs… What I found was that the truly quick people – Matt Page for example are really nice and just see it as an opportunity for a short break if they get stuck behind… they’ll expend the energy when they get past.

It’s the knobs who positively have to get past…

I clocked over 60km an hour on the Mastiles Lane descent earlier this year.

It was only when I got to the bottom I hadn’t put my knee pads on

More than happy to provide the booze mate… what do you and your associate drink?

Have included email in contacts but also here:

georgedthompson at hotmail dot co dot uk

Cheers!

I took all the paint back with a blade… so should be OK.

Not sure I’d risk having it resprayed again. I’ll just touch it up with nail polish if it isn’t cracked!

Hi,

Sorry for the radio silence, been trying to sort this out with Orange. Have to say they’ve been really helpful, great customer service, particularly considering they have no liability.

I scratched the paint off last night and it looks like it might just be a crack in the paint… No evidence of a crack underneath that. Would upload a photo but no access to picassa at work and I didn’t do it successfully last time! Can email to someone though if they would like to upload.

I’d like to still get it checked to be 100% sure.

into de void… I’d love to take you up on your offer if it’s still available but no contact details in your profile. I live in Manchester & work in Preston so Chester ain’t too far away. When would suit you?

Thanks for the feedback guys. If it turns out it isn’t cracked, I will be mighty relieved. I am due some good bike karma having done someone a decent favour recently so hopefully I can call on it now!

Thanks Joe. I live in hope…

Downtube Rocky. Gusset that joins to headtube…

Have emailed them and not gonna touch it till I hear back…

What’s the best way to remove the paint guys?

It has just been resprayed…

It’s a DH frame :(

Right click and open in new tab I think is the best way. Sorry. Not sure why it’s not linking

Ah, I see. Thanks for the feedback. Gutted… 2nd hand frame :(

Can you see the image? I can’t!

Hmmm. Not having a good day. Can I not link to Picassa?

Ha ha ha. Not really… but slightly more applicable when descending

TBH if I was setting up a bike shop now (I’m not) I would have repair and sales of complete bikes as the 2 cash cows. You can’t compete with the internet for prices on components.

My local bike shop are brilliant – The Cyclery in Uppermill, Saddleworth. They have no problem with me turning up with new bits of kit bought online and then fitting if I need it, but I don’t take the piss… building 2 bikes next week and they’ll probably end up getting a few hundred out of me as I know there are some bits I haven’t got and will need – cassette, chainring and a whole host of others than I don’t know about yet…

A quick update.

Spoke with council and they can’t do anything at all but they were very helpful. It’s a civil matter which is advantageous in someways / disadvantageous in others.

No Party Wall Letter issued when they definitely should have as they are underpinning a party wall. Didn’t even make us aware that they were working on a party wall.

Their structural engineer came to have a look and told an independent witness he was expecting much bigger cracks accross the ceiling and where the ceiling joins the walls. Then in an email yesterday he declared that none of this could have been foreseen.

Have just sent a humdinger of a letter stating this and saying I now don’t know what to believe and don’t know if they know what they’re doing.

If this could have been foreseen (and I reckon it could) they have failed to follow any sort of procedure. If it couldn’t have been foreseen then something has gone wrong…

Just waiting for them to agree for paying for an independent structural engineer to come out and make his assessment.

Will update as and when.

Thanks again for your help.