last year i used dog-tag insurance, and took a doctors note. that was all I needed to race.
Don’t think it sold out last year, due to other events on the same weekend, but not sure if it will be like that this year.
Stick with the website, it will be worth it if you get entered. As long the weather is better than last year!

What bars have you got cr500dom? And what condition are they in?

I’m in for Grizedale, and probably rd 5 if its where I’ve heard it is!

Thanks for the replies, I’ll start by looking at rhino three bars I think.

Cheers bookwyse, do you think I would get away with using two or three bars? Or do you think four is best?

It’s a little more than 10 mins to Ambleside from the beach hill, and it’s a crap road!
But a great place to eat is the swan at newby bridge, just head south from the beech hill and it’s at the end of the lake.
Or if you nip over gummers Howe, you’ve got the masons arms, and the hare and hounds in bowland bridge. Both great pubs with good food. Although the masons is quite expensive.

Had my first ride since a knee op in November this morning :) only 20 miles on the road, but still very happy with that! Having a brew, then off out to drop some cards off with mates and godchildren, and hopefully a pint or two in the eagle. Merry Xmas.

I’m in! First time at the ard rock for me, so looking forward to a new event to race.

Here’s mine, 124 mm of rear travel, 26″ wheels and a whole heap of fun!

Sorry to be smug and all that, but as of today, all of the Christmas wrapping has been done in our house!

F.r.e.a.k.

Yep, but organised!

Sorry to be smug and all that, but as of today, all of the Christmas wrapping has been done in our house! :D

Picked up a copy yesterday in my local newsagent.
Specialized have done well, getting three bikes in the mag, but they cost £7000 each! Utter madness.
No santa cruz though, will everyone be selling their bronsons now?
Still a good read though.

Looks like its dried too fast and crazed. Was it skimmed on to bonding by any chance?
If it doesn’t peel off with your fingers, fill the cracks with polyfiller, and paint over, it should be ok.

You could drive to the dubs res track, it’s about 5 mins from Windermere. Ride up past dubs, on to garburn, over the top down to kentmere, then back up past kentmere hall, on the Bw, that brings you out near high borrans, and back to the car from there. You will probably need an os map if your new to the area, just to get you back out of kentmere. Or if you have more time, there are plenty of options in kentmere to have a longer ride.

Thanks andy, ill start looking at the etrex.

We tried that yesterday but, the accuracy wasn’t that good good. Just after something better suited to the job.

The problem with the phone, is getting signal around where we live. It’s ok for strava but, but crap for geocatching.

Different Harold I think kimbers. He wasn’t racing, just tagged along to do some riding.

What a week! Didn’t get to ride the mega track at all, stories of the mud and unrideable tracks bellow ADH, put me off.
And I never saw the the lift up to pic blanc open, so missed out on the glacier.
I was in the last group of qualifiers, sun out tracks drying, great fun. Started on the second row, far left, got pushed in to the flags, and watched everyone fly by! Bugger! Got going again and passed a few up top in the rocks, dh bike was paying off as there was some interesting lines taken. Got passed once on the lower track by huez, and finished 34th. Not bad for my first go.
Mega challenger was horrible! I bailed out at ADH, as I couldn’t change gear or brake as my hands were so cold. Well done to those who finished, it really was crap weather.
Great week despite the weather, and the sun came out on the last day, so had a great day riding with my dad and our mate Harold.

Megavalanche women’s and challenger event was grim this morning, started in a snow storm! But heavy rain lower down, bloody freezing everywhere.

Last qualifier race for me, so got plenty of time to get to the start. . Setting off in half an hour. Now what have forgotten to pack?

Cheers, that looks bob on.

Driving this route next week for the megavalanche. Coming from the lakes so does any one have any tips for a decent hotel to stop overnight about two to three hours south of Calais?
Sorry for the slight hijack!

Ill be there. Driving down Sunday with my dad, and picking a mate up at geneva on Monday afternoon, as he’s watching some bike race in Yorkshire on the Sunday.
First time for me, stopping at le bergers in alpe d huez, and can not wait.

A selection of photos on pinkbike now.
http://www.pinkbike.com/u/glendavonbaron/album/sam-houghton-2014/

Ill get photos done later tonight, it’s a good night for a ride so I’m off out on the roadie bike.
Eddie fiola, good job fella. Lots were struggling to do even one lap this year! Cramp seamed the biggest issue.

Hi rollsroyce, sorry couldn’t find any pics of you or your mate. Ill be putting a few up on pinkbike tonight so feel free to have a look, i might have missed them.

Another good day at the sam h. Didn’t get to ride this year, but i was up at style end taking photos for a while, if you let me know your numbers ill see if i have any of you lot.
Postierich, i defo have some of you i recognize from the pic above, ill mail them to you if you like.

Well that was a great day out! Great waether, really well organised event, lots of friendly people riding, and stage 3 is the best 5 minutes I’ve had on a bike in ages!
Thanks to the organisers, marshals, and track builders.

Had a mooch about this afternoon, and although nothing is taped, stage 3 looks like it’s gonna be superb!

Stage 3 does look great, a lot of tree felling has been going on below carron crag, so be interesting riding the black Dh with no trees.
Not looking forward to stage 2 so much, always found it hard to ride fast down there. Think that’s where ill be doing most my practice runs.
Suns out and it’s actually warm, hope it lasts until Sunday.

Section 1 is not being released until Sunday, as its on footpaths.
Section 2 basically the last descent of the nf trail, starting near moor top, and finishing about half way down to visitor centre.
Section 3 is the black Dh, with a new section added at the top from carron crag, and finishes on the bottom part of the nf trail final descent.
Going for a ride up there this afternoon to have a look I think.

After being at deepdale to witness joe garners wonder goal last night for the mighty north end, nothing else today will compare!

Tune!!

Just a word of caution, the Windermere ferry will be out of action that weekend, and the Windermere/brathay marathon is on on the same day, so there are some road closures around parts of the lake. Best approach grizedale from the south, at haverthwaite, and drive up through Rusland to avoid the runners.

I’m in, as above, extra practice is always good, but if you’ve never ridden here before, grab an os map and go explore the bridle ways through the rest of grizedale and surrounding fells. You’ll be glad you did!
Avoid the north face!!

It looks like a passenger ferry is running from Bowness bay, witch will take up to two bikes, if there’s room. Google Windermere ferry closure, and you’ll find the details. ( sorry, not sure how to post a link from my phone.)
The two campsites in hawkshead are nice but its a hell of a climb to get to grizedale visitor centre.

There are youth hostels in hawkshead and coniston, and a decent campsite at saterthwaite, which is probably closest.
Just so you know, the Windermere ferry is going to be off, so if your planning on riding you’ll have to go the long way round.
It’s also the brathay marathon on the same day, so accomodation could be getting full, and some roads will be closed around lake.
It’s not the best day to be having an event in grizedale to be honest!

Thanks for all the replies, longer outer cable has been put on.
I’ll get out tomorrow night for a spin and see if it helps. If not I’ll try a couple more links in the chain.

Ok so checked all the above, and can’t see any issues with any of them. Would chain length make any difference to ghost shifting?