About 30lb 456, pike airs, crossmax xls, e 13 drs, xt cranks, deore brakes and rear mech, ea50 bars and post, vice stem.

I had one for a couple of years, ran it with a 140mm pike. Went uphill nearly as well as my 456 and downhill better. Not that heavy, but definetely SOLID, all day rides were a bit of a drag. Was the old type though, with square stays, new ones might be more forgiving. £500+ for a frame is a bit steep imo.

If thats what you’ve been wearing for the last 20years, why bother changing. Possibly avoid the skin tight jeans though if you’re on the large size.

I dont feel any pressure to change the way i look at 39 and wouldn’t anyway, its no one elses business. Do tend to sport a little less sag in the jean department these days, dont want to show the world my pants quite as much as i used to.

Those photos don’t do justice to the steepness of that drop. That could have ended really badly.

Another good ride today, lots of ups and lots of nice downs. Nice to see you all.

Captain, let me know when you’re free (Wed evenings 6ish and Sun mornings 10ish are best).

CG, will look into routes/dates for an Andover/North Hampshire day out.

If you go the hardtail route, but still desire a full suss, get a HT that you can swap all the bits off on to a Full suss frame later. I could probably swap 99% of the bits from my 456 inbred to a 5 inch full susser, flog the frame for £100 ish and only take a £75 hit on the frame (yes you can get a good frame for that little). Over 3 years or so, £25 a year for frame use, not bad value for money.
Going this route you could spec pretty high end kit, have a custom build and still not break the bank. Once you’ve got the hang off mud plugging and tested a few frames you can then buy your dream frame.
Only issue i had to get around doing this was getting my head around the fact that my frame is one of my cheaper components. (forks twice as much as frame, cranks same price as frame etc.)

Did Gee just slow up and let them both past in the semi so that Dan could get points for the overall series? because thats what it looked like.

Over 30 miles would be pushing it a bit, especially if its a similar pace to last week with a decent lunch stop. Dont really want to be out that long.

82-89 various bmx’s
89 Alpinestars cromega DX e-stay (still got it in original spec)
91-02 various nicer bmx’s
02-03 bmx injuries, ouch
04 orange sub zero
08 on one 456 + road bike + bmx
in the pipe line cx bike for the winter

Where’s the meeting place? Please bear in mind i dont know this area at all, so road number and landmarks please. What time? any idea how long it will take from Poole?
Is there a food stop or are we packing sarnies?

Thanks, Rusty

Greetings and welcome.

My two penneth. Echo the hardtail suggestions, but it sounds like you’ve got your heart set on a full-suss, so if you really want one, get one. There’s more chance of you riding something you really want.

If you do go full-suss, 6 inch is a hell of a lot of bike for this country and you’d need big balls and big skills to get even close to its limits. You see a lot of middle aged men dressed as stormtroopers wobbling around the woods on 5/6 inchers who would be far better off on a hardtail or light 4 inch susser.

I came in from the other end of the bike world (bmx)5 years ago, and got a hardtail and have upgraded everything (is sub zero to 456 upgrade or downgrade?). Still wouldn’t have a clue what full-susser to buy now if i was to get one, there’s too much choice.

Do demo days, borrow bikes from shops and friends and just try to get on as many as possible, even if its just to discount a few.

If you’re thinking about Elsworths, i guess budget isn’t an issue, as it would probably be over 3 grand for a decent spec build. If thats your budget, taking a couple of hundred quid hit on a second hand hardtail would be worth it to get you out there now and not waste money on the wrong bike.

Nice dilemma to be in, wish my budget was that big.
Good luck

Mine is in the state yours was, ball park figure for that amount of work? Was it a 2 or 3 seater beforehand. Do the back seats slide forward? Insurance go up or down?

I’m hoping to spend under a grand if i can and don’t know which way to go with it.

Anyone worked out how to get at the rest of the photos yet?
Good job it was last week, car park today was summer rate, £3.10 for 2 hours, £8 all day. Beach was busy too. Even windier than last week.

Hoping to make it, if not then Purbecks on Sunday if anyones free.

Started bmx in ’82, first mountain bike was alpinestars cromega DX in ’89ish (still got it in original spec, for sale if anyone wants some old school humour), forgot mtb and concentrated on bmx until big injury in 2002.
Started mtbing again as a SAFER alternative in 2004ish. Still got a lovely bmx race bike though for special occasions.

If you’re under 25 you look a bit rough to be fair. Otherwise that back didn’t seem to be creaking too much last week.

Lubricate with cider regularly and there’s years left in you.

20 years site work, last 5 instructing and lecturing in FE.

Pluses – reasonable wage, steady income (compared to building), long holidays, local govt pension, short hours (9-5) compared to building, job satisfaction from good students improving, you get loads of extra qualifications (A1 etc)

Negatives – internal politics, you can’t lose it with people with no repercussions, unrealistic targets, some disinterested mouthy students, the realisation that its a business not a service, wearing a tie

May make an appearance at this as i haven’t been there before (chicken poxy daughter dependent).
Will try and rustle up a couple more if i can.
You haven’t got that pig flu there have you, i’ve heard its rife! Or was that the news getting carried away again?

Anywhere within a couple of hours of Poole, i could probably make. Not this week though, little’uns got chicken pox.

lucero, pedro the lion, maritime, seafood, onelinedrawing

A doctor or a landlord?

With a strong easterly, its not only freezing, but you have to pedal your hardest to try to get down to old harry (horizontal rain and granny ring down hill anyone?).

Nice work with the camera rocketdog.

Anyone who fancies some more of this, let us know when you’re coming down and i’ll try and rustle up a posse. Unless its rainy and windy in which case you can go on yer own.

How’s the back feeling Mr Fart? Cider take the edge off?

Started with about 20, finished with 14 i think. A few dived off early.

Liking the photos. Its a bit grey and cloudy here this morning, so i think we were lucky with the weather. Every one get home in one piece?

Anyone home yet?

Thanks Rich for putting on a great day out.

The missus had the bath run and the tea on and i got home in time to kiss my little girl good night, doesn’t get much better than that.

Nice to meet you all.

Rusty

Don’t be shy with the tea, we like that

If you go out and lock the house, the area behind your shed will smell of wee

The pub IS a reasonable place to be on a Friday afternoon

Chippys never tidy up

If we don’t know you’re behind us you may hear some swearing

Ice creams go down well on a hot day

Hooray i’m a stereotype, my white van is currently sitting in the disabled space in front of our building and the radio is tuned to talksport.

Then again my avensis does both of them too, so maybe its pilot error.

Yep, i’m in. Fingers crossed my front wheel doesn’t fall out (Knackered maxle issues).

I can see 9 barrow down out of the office window and it looks warm and hazy.

There will be plenty of ice cream opportunities, but last forecast i saw was for showers.

Car park was still cheap last week when we went to the beach, i think it changes at start of May.

Ride have got a Santa Cruz and Yeti demo day over their on Sunday, so it might be double bubble if i can clear it with the missus.

xherbivorex, 247 spyz, oh i feel old because i know i have their albums on CASSETTE (couldn’t play vinyl in my XR2).

My kinda favourite funk metal band were Heads Up!, not sure why, but the times i saw them at the Marquee they were great.

Are you still going to shows? Most of these bands were in their prime at the turn of the 90s, so like me you must be pushing 40.

to see live again

leatherface
kyuss
quicksand
shelter (are they still together?)
midway still
descendents (not sure of their current status)
seaweed
soundgarden
fishbone
mordred (funk metal still makes me smile)
primus
bad brains
alloy
disposable heroes of hiphoprisy (they were so good live!)

Bands i missed i’d like to see

Marillion
sugarcubes
refused

‘RATM in small venues’- saw them at the underworld in ’92? (sat on stage as i had my leg tattooed that day and it was all swolen up) before killing in the name was out and the ULU just after. Before that saw them supporting suicidal tendencies at the town and country (now forum) when no one paid much attention to them.

I’m in if my forks are fixed. Its on the doorstep so it would be rude not to.

Still clear skys and sunshine here today, so looking good if it holds till Saturday. Just need to find a new Maxle for my pikes as mine is knackered/broken and the wheel kept coming loose on Sunday which is a little unnerving to say the least.

We did a few hours yesterday, weather was lovely, just hope it lasts till the weekend. 9 barrow is no fun in the wind and rain.

I probably won’t do the full ride either, i’ll nip off home a bit early if i feel too knackered, there’s loads of different ways back to the ferry and if the weathers nice they’ll be groups of riders all over the place so no-one should get lost or have to get home on their own.

Getting a sax lobbed in your direction by a big bloke in a nappy was a little odd. Fishbone, great band.

Don’t know who propagandhi or ALL are? – cheeky beggar,. Was wearing an old ‘rather be flag burning’ shirt yesterday at the farm with my little girl.

Spoilt for choice here (Poole). First choice is Ride cycleworks, for organising rides and top service. If they haven’t got what i want, bikelab or Primera probably have, as they always have top kit in both and the service is good in both. All within a few minutes walk.