I am! I had to log-on the laptop at 11 last night and have only just finished.

The joys of working in high-availability IT eh…

*sigh*

I tell you what, for a normal 9-5er it does feel odd cracking open a bottle of Chardonnay at 5 am..

Due to injuries/operations I’m still only getting to know my Tracer (despite having it since October).

However, one thing that (in my opinion) really sets it apart from similar bikes is it’s versatility.

For example, stick it in 5.5” mode and to me it feels a whole lot snappier and taught than in the 6” mode. As such I use shorter travel for trail centres and the 6” mode for high speed straightline descending rock-gobbling fabness in the Peaks (and occasional DH days).

I have Lyriks on mine and it’s insanely quick on rocky, loose descents..

Here’s mine with the seat post stupidly high after cleaning it.

I’m 6’2” and the Large is perfect.

Opinons on Tracer 2? I’ve not ridden one but from what I’ve heard on MTBR they’re at least a pound heavier. Personally, the extra weight has put me off them as they’re now quite a bit heavier than a Nomad for example.

Hmmm, I was using 2.35 high rollers with a reasonable amount of air in them. Surprisingly I only ever dented my old DT5.1’s the once and only when flatting just before launching a drop off..

Probably!! :-S

Interesting, I was quite surprised that I’d managed to do it to my front rim without blowing the tyre though. A rear dent would perhaps be more likely?

I did try running an E13 DRS but we had to cut a few lumps out of it as I recall. I don’t actually remember getting it to work that well at all actually.

Have you tried the dedicated Giant forum on mtbr? It’s worth a shot..

Yep they’re the sort of thing, thanks!

The yurts look cool too! Only 25 miles or so from Whinlatter so not too bad..

Boo, both already booked!

Are there any of those funny cabin things in the Lakes (like the ones near CYB and Glentress)?

Cool, basic is fine! I’ve been looking at cottages and most of them have double beds it seems :-/

That’s copying!! Who’d have thunked it – more Intense’s on here than most other bikes…

Wow, proper Intense!

Shiny red!

Is it even more middle class to mitigate the risk of such injuries by getting Ocado to deliver to your door instead…?

In my defence, I don’t have a car..

Anyone?

Well we’d love to splash out but our wedding budget has taken a massive hit recently as we’re no longer receiving help from parents that was promised (which would have been fine if we knew they couldn’t help from the start, and planned accordingly…. anyway..)

We can still pay for the actual wedding, but the honeymoon may well be dependant on wedding gift donations!

You have a point but unfortunately we don’t drive so are extremely limited as to where we can get to easily :-(

Hmmm, well I know of people who have turned up at say a Thomas Cook desk and picked
up holidays.

It makes some sense I guess in that there must be last minute cancellations etc..

Hmmm, well I know of people who have turned up at say a Thomas Cook desk and picked
up holidays.

It makes some sense I guess in that there must be last minute cancellations etc..

Btw the lyrik is about the same weight as the 36…

Don’t discount RS Lyrik RC2DH’s .

They’re the ones with Mission Control DH damping like wot boxxers have and are flippin ace.

Check out the 2010 bike radar review!

Hmm, I see what you all mean about needing a white saddle – I’m just convinced it’d turn brown pretty sharpish!

I think I might go for the white pedals although they do seem to chip easily..

That pompino looks lovely!!

Hmm, I’ve only just got the White MRP too – would be an expensive swap to black :-S

I would have loved to have competed for last in Masters with you guys!

I’m absolutely gutted to not be doing it now :-(

Just fudging typical that I crashed and broke myself whilst practicing the course (and haven’t had a crash in 3 years).

I’m not the only one either – Henry’s (Sustrains) smashed himself up too it seems..

I was but broke my hand practicing the course :-(

Two of my mates are still racing though – although it looks like 70% of entrants are pro, semi-pro or ex-pro!

I think the general rule is:

price new / 2 – 10% per year thereafter

or something like that!

Well it’s not really anything like a DH track is it?

Still that wasn’t really the point of it as it’s supposed to be open to non-DHers (although looking at the line up there’s a suspicious number of ex-pro, semi-pro and magazine riders!)

I was doing it.

I went to get familiar with the track the other weekend. Conditions were very, very slippy and everyone was struggling (even some Steve Pete Syndicate pro guys that were there).

I ended up landing on a slimy root, bouncing into two trees and breaking my hand!

I suggest Maxxis Swampthings as a minimum! Good luck!!

urk, sounds nasty!

(and yes, drugs are bad )

(the Wanga’s for sale for £680 at halfords at the moment – amazing bargain!)

No worries Northwind, you are right!

It’s erm not my preferred hand no..

And yes, I received a lecture at the hospital yesterday about not being the man I want to be now so I can be the man I want to be in 2 months .. It sounded very poetic but that may have just been the combination of paracetamol, codeine and tramadol :-S

… Oh and as I’m getting married at the end of July there’ll be a biking embargo of 6 weeks prior to the big day (in order to allow any bones to heal in the event of a big crash etc)

I might as well give up until mid August! Oh well.

What are you guys off the bike for?

Oh but I do have to work! I’ve got tomorrow off (had Friday, day of the op off as ‘holiday’) but then working from home Tuesday and back in office on Wednesday!

I also managed to nearly chop the end of my finger off in a rotor in October.

Since getting my new frame and forks in October I’ve ridden them about 4 times!

I use Endomondo to track my MTBing, commute to work (if I’m bored) and walking etc and I’ve never had an issue with losing the signal etc

It’s great – download the app and give it a try!

My Intense Tracey VP

Sorry, Tracer VP

The AM41’s aren’t as bad to look at in real life. I’ve just got some and they’re brilliant. They have a full cover over the laces and not too much mesh, so are quite good at keeping the mud/rain out.

Highly recommended but definitely get a size or two bigger than normal..

Endomondo seems pretty cool; automatic upload to the website, online community where you can challenge friends etc

Sore throat!

Urrgh

At least 6 weeks off the bike and even then we’re talking only gentle spinning on the road.

Oh well, lots of scraping and removal of scar tissue (I had a major off 4 yrs ago) but thankfully it looks like there’s no damage to important bits etc..