Oh yes they do a 5 degree too, hadn't noticed. I don't find the sweep a problem, I had some Eastern bars before with a 5 degree sweep and they felt, well too straight really and certainly too narrow.

Salsa Pro Moto … http://www.billys.co.uk

11 or 17 degree backsweep … mine are 17 and really comfy 😀

Aye, I've got a tugnut on an Inbred, it really is very nice. I've got an On One tug on a cx single speed and that works ok too … just doesn't look as nice.

Pays your money etc.

Cheers for that stuart … was it really 4 times 😉

I'll see you later in the year then … oh, I've been building lots of new sections you might enjoy.

Cheers
Stuart

A weekend in wales, great idea. I'd say it depends what type of stuff you like riding. If you fancy somewhere with a bit of everything consider Barmouth. It's not far from CYB, theres plenty of good riding out in the hills (Pont Scethin perhaps) and the place is a bit more lively than Dolgellau.

Looks a lot like this

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=12528

Aye get in touch with Tegid.

Take the 456, it's made for it.

Riding a bike that others may view as not fit for the job in hand is always good and sort of rewarding … single speed it before you go and you'll have even more fun 😉

You might be surprised what you will pick up. A good instructer will soon spot any basic mistakes you're making … it's amazing how many riders don't position themselves properly on the bike for a start. Braking technique is another area where most people can make big gains … I could go on and on 😉

Bit further north but you never know http://www.forestfreeride.co.uk

Cheers
Stuart

Should just be wet … it rained rather a lot last night 😉

My advice would be try one / some. I'm 5' 7" and sold my 29er as the whole thing just felt too big. However I know a few folk who are shorter and they don't seem to have a problem … so there's every chance it's just me. In the end I built a Carver 69er which I really like, it feels like I've got the best of both worlds but again that might just be me.

If I were going to have another dabble I'd go for a 16" frame too.

Not much use to you but it's something 😉

Ok, they're very well made but if I'm honest seem to be getting a bit long in the tooth. The led light isn't bad but it is very much a spot. The halogen can't really cut it these days.

I tend to use the led as a headlight with the bigger battery but use something more up to date on the bars. The led with big battery has a run time of 8 hours which is handy.

If you're wanting it for proper off road I'd possibly say don't bother but as a versatile set up for on / off road I'd say buy one.

Hope that helps

Just been looking at the same thing myself … have a look at http://www.spacycles.co.uk

Sputnik rim, xt hub looks fair enough.

I need to renew mine soon, I'd been looking at Bigfoot services in Brecon. REC 2 day (16 hr) course £150.

My Carver SS weighs nowt … depends if the whole 69er thing suits.

Beans on toast, proper harvest grain bread mind … tea and an apple.

Oddly, the Adventure Cycle Touring Handbook always makes me want to get out. There's much more to it than just a handbook, some very interesting stories about peoples travels. I think they've just released an updated edition too.

Tis brighter than a vision 2 imo … I was out the other night and didn't need any other light, it was more than ample.

There are some interesting bits, mainly on the last leg… but yes, mainly doubletrack type stuff.

Come and do the, Welsh ride thing in May instead (see Home page). Atleast that way it'll be your fault if it's no good 😉

I'd ask again on Friday. I'm in mid Wales, the MET office said it would snow last night then turn to rain this morning … all it's done is snow, we've now got 6" more than we had yesterday, it's also drifted badly in places. Forecast says wet and milder at weekend but who knows … they don't seem to 😉

I've got one and from what I can tell it's the same as the Deal Extreme light. Can't fault it though, certainly bright enough, seems well made. All I did was make a new strap for holding the battery.

Must say that they seem pretty poor at answering emails though.

Go to Nant, but buy a copy of OS Explorer 213 … loads of stuff to ride there. Perhaps ride from Nant to Mach', do the ClimachX then ride back. Makes a superb big day out. You could also head for the highest rideable point in the Cambrian mountains.

So much scope, if you want any route pointers email me and yes the Bullit would be too much bike.

Stuart

Taylor, how much did the frame bag set you back all in? … will we be seeing it in action in May?

Stuart

Jedi … I've just thought. What size plug is it?

If it's a 10 or 12mm then you might just get away with re-tapping the next size up. You'd have to run a mixture of plugs but it's not the end of the world.

If it is 10 or 12 and you're not in a desperate hurry let me know as I've got taps, I could pop one in the post to you. If you need it in a hurry a tap should set you back about a tenner. You'll need either 12×1.25mm or 14×1.25mm.

Cheers Stuart

Don't grease the spark plug thread, the grease can't take that kind of heat and will become a horrid gungy mess, it'll also make the plug run hotter and stop it earthing through the head … instead, rub a pencil over the threads this will lubricate them without causing problems.

Better than a helicoil would be a 'Time Sert' made by a company called Wurth. There's plenty of car garages out there with them, have a ring about and tell them you'll take the risk of doing it with the head in place.

Cheers Stu, I'll go and break the pump out.

Come and do the, Welsh Ride Thing at the end of May … as seen in the current issue of Singletrack.

3 days riding and 2 nights out under the stars carrying all your gear. A proper mini adventure. Email stuart@forestfreeride.co.uk if you're interested and I'll keep you posted.

Cheers
Stuart

Tried steel, On One carbon, Bonty carbon and Exotic carbon. I'd say carbon does make a worthwhile difference over steel.

The On One carbons do feel more rigid than the Exotics/ Bonty but the exotics might just win in the comfort stakes due to the extra flex. I haven't found the flex to be any problem whilst riding, even on technical stuff (where all the full sus riders stood, looking over the edge with no one giving the section a go) 😉

Stuart

I've got some Gusset Chutes on an Inbred. Can't fault them, the really nice thing is that both pads move (floating caliper) and grab the disc unlike most mechanical brakes which require the disc to bend. I've also got Middleburn cable oilers on full length outers so that helps keep things as they should be.

They take Shimano 525 pads so you should never get stuck.

Stuart

Sorry (again) … I should have said, it's the bar mounted Deal Extreme type one.

Cheers
Stuart

Thanks for the input ladies.

Teagirl, we do various things over weekends already, guiding, skills courses inc' girls only, etc. You're right though, getting a 5 day pass can be just about impossible.

Miaowing_kat everything we do is well run 😉 and certainly female friendly … we instruct more women than men by 2:1.

I think it sounds like it could well be a goer, I'll do some working out and get details up on the website http://www.forestfreeride.co.uk early Feb.

Once again, thanks.
Stuart

Cheers folks … as ever, a world of wisdom 😀

Stuart

http://www.forestfreeride.co.uk

Mid wales, so 1.5 hours away from you.

Cheers
Stuart

It's not a North South thing … just hang it up like a U.

Depends what you're after really.

http://www.cheaptents.com is worth a look, they have cheap festival and family tents but also what I'll call proper tents. I've not seen them have a sale but the prices are fairly good all year round.

I had something like this a few years ago. Pretty much tried everything. Turned out that there was a tiny filter (like a thimble) in the fuel pump which was getting blocked. If you removed the fuel union from the pump you could get to the filter and lift it out with a little screwdriver but you couldn't see it.

I put it down to 'bad' fuel as even after a new diesel filter, fuel lines and the addition of a second filter inline the thing would still block every so often.
Try priming the system with the engine running (primer on top of fuel filter) and see if there's an improvement as you force fuel through … doing this helped me find the problem/filter.

Good luck.

You can always come and partake of, The Welsh Ride Thing at the end of May. 3 days and 2 nights of self supported riding through *Wales. Take a look at the latest Singletrack and email stuart@forestfreeride.co.uk if you fancy it.

*It is a different country so slightly exotic 😉

Stu's right, even DH can look crap on telly so XC really doesn't come across well. I think 4X is the only thing that can work on tv.

Aye the sizing is odd, I've 2 pairs of zyme 3/4 both small. I pair has a little room and fits great, the other pair is a touch snug … 30"-32" BTW.

FFS people … I don't get along with 29ers which might be 'cos I'm a short arse but that doesn't mean I now think they're all crap. I don't own anything with rear suspension but I don't believe full suspension to be the work of the devil.

It's bikes-it's all good and if you want to see something which looks soooo wrong you should see my Carver 😀