I wouldn't fancy The Gap itself on a full rigid but over the lip and down through the rocks is only a hundred yards or so. The rest of it is eminently doable on full rigid.

The Quran, or is that too inflammatory?

An early run around Cwmcarn for me although my enthusiasm is dampened by this crap weather and having just had an idyllic week in Chamonix!

allthegear – can i ask what tariff/payment plan you're on?

billysan – a 10Gb cap is pretty sizey! Looking at the Orange price plans I'm thinking about the £35 tariff (excluding tethering charges) which is 750mb.

oxnop – I like your thinking, but as I'm now doing less travelling (woohoo!) it's a bit pointless for me to have both.

The tetherberry page looks interesting although I hadn't considered a Blackberry. I really have been out the "smartphone" game for too long!

Thanks folk. It looks like Apple do support USB for tethering (a few details here), but price plans are harder to find. I will of course ask in store but I'm not holding out for accurate information!

Alini – that looks interesting, particularly as I have an iTouch and while on the move my missus [who does the same job as me] is likely to be with me having internet requirements. Hmm.

Oh dear, guilty on all accounts. Troop > British Knights > Bavarian Dancing Boots > Travel Fox. IIRC, the Travel Fox were pretty cool and not too dissimilar from these[/url], although mine had more suede than patent leather.

Let's not mention the BK tracksuits, eh?

Off to Chamonix for the week. Anyone else heading out there?

Similar take here. I'm 5-11 and ride a 17.5 with a Domain fork. The back does tend to get a little sore after a few hours but it's a great trail centre bike. My local ride is Cwmcarn (I only live 20mins away) and its great for both courses there as well as the cheekier stuff nearby. It's the short chainstays that does it; the bike just begs to jumped, twisted and get into all sorts of trouble. I'd thoroughly recommend, but climbing on it is simply a means to an end. It's on the singletrack blasts and descents where you can let rip. For longer day(s) it wouldn't be my choice of bike though, certainly not the one-to-rule-them-all.

+1 for someone Cardiff based looking for a similar level of tuition. Email in profile if anyone wants to hook up, share costs, etc.

Admiralable – I'll send pics your way also.

Steve – I'm outta town for a couple of weeks (in Les Arcs and then N. Wales). I'll drop you a line to arrange viewing and photos, but if I recollect it's 17 inches, bright lime green (not as gross as it sounds) and the only downside is a significant scrape on the drive train side that I'll detail in the photos. All else is fine and it's been recently serviced.

Sorry Pook, but no – too much hassle.

Whereabouts are you based? I have a Carrera Zelos which is actually a pretty good bike with Hope brakes, RockShox Judy fork, Deore gears, etc. It's surplus to requirements so you'd be doing me a favour taking it of my hands. Email in profile if you're in S. Wales.

Got a pair for Christmas. They're way too big, baggy and weird so all mine have been used for is standing in the bath :?

The Alpine it is then, and the book is now ordered! It sounds a lot more flowing then I thought. For some reason I had it down as much more twisty-turny and switchback oriented where the Stiffee might have been the better choice of bike. The pic of the Holy Trail looks great, as do those on the linked threads. Anyone got any more?!

@Bobby – I don't drink anyhow and there's no way I'm paying 5euro or whatever it might be a for Coke on the hill!

See you in Geneva then! :D

Ha – excellent. The Goatshed for me, you?

A week with TrailAddiction Saturday, off to North Wales (based in Betws-Y-Coed) for a week after that and this week managed to score a cheap week in Chamonix after that. Today's a case of happy packing and fettling. Happy days!

Shorty121 – have a look for walks around Lake [Lac] Montriond; it's truly stunning with picture postcard/chocolate box Alpine vistas. There's also a fantastic little restaurant at the head of the lake (edit: the trout is good!).

On the suit/tie question, it's not as clear cut as one might hope. I recently got feedback on an academic job (a lectureship post) I went for and was told that my suit was off-putting and gave off an unwanted corporate air. Although the other candidate got the job because of his/her willingness to take on managerial/admin roles, impressions do of course count.

I've always played safe in the past on the basis that one should appear respectful of the occasion. Apparently however the audience for my presentation were somewhat startled by both my outfit (navy blue, not luminescent green) and my presentation that I felt was confidently delivered. Surely it is not a prerequisite in academic posts to be nervy, squirmy and unconformable? Do I really have to wear linen and Jesus shirts?!

I like the look of that second video, particularly if taken with a bit more speed. To the OP, are you setting up a business out there? Is this a "clever" piece of marketing? If so, it's working!

A suitable parapraxis for an MTB forum.

Sue_W: this should have gone in the classifieds as I'm looking for a pad not too far from Bangor! Can you send details to email in profile?

I've had a torrid time with my Gravity Dropper having had to return it twice due to mechanical issues. I've been out a couple of times having received it back, but I would definitely say hang on for the Rockshox assuming the damned thing works properly!

I'd opt for the Marin but do be sure to have a test ride first, if only on the "genre" of bike, so to avoid buying a lump that you resent riding uphill!
(FWIW, I ride an Alpine 160 that ticks all your boxes although is a tad pricier).

RealMan – I'll take that off your hands assuming bladder is clean and all is in good condition. Paypal gift?

Quite a few: Hesse would have to be up there having read the lot in one summer; Huxley and BNW; Michel Foucault's Discipline and Punish; The Hashish Club (vols 1&2); Gilles Deleuze and Felix Guattari's A Thousand Plateaus; more recently Merleau Ponty's Phenomenology of Perception, Bergson's Creative Evolution and Hakim Bey's TAZ (The Temporary Autonomous Zone).

As someone who has never ridden clipped-in, do those who have changed to flats think clipped-in is a mistaken way to ride? Not trolling, just interested.

Me too yoshimi, with a snowboard strapped to my feet :roll:

Should probably add, although the Alpine is good to go for all sorts of riding up and down, I do have a Stiffee for titzing around trail centres, jumpy duties and riding that an Alpine (and I guess most FS's?) can flatten.

What's all this slogging, compromise and no to 30mile days talk? I've done 70mile off-road days on mine, I climb fast, descend fast and am rarely caught going-up. For the sake of comparison and to give a trail centre-oriented example, if you like shooting up the Twirch, playing in the park and then heading up to the top for the downhill run back down this bike is for you. This is the most versatile bike I've owned and I'm in no hurry to replace it.

I haven't been around long enough to say whether or not it's worse, but I know many in the biking industry don't post here as they find it too snipey and inward looking. For me, the genuinely useful advice, observations, tips and bike related discussion outweighs the trolling, and occasional descent into bile and drivel.

Just got back from a cheeky Friday B&B break. Had a gorgeously dry ride around Brecon, The Gap, Talybont, the mines up on top, down to Pontiscill, and on to Merthyr. The bike only needed the most cursory of a spray down. Sweet!

In one word: able.

Afghanistan?

Yup, I agree, the language in Edinburgh is a stumbling block. Seriously though, if you are doing it, the very best of fortune to you.

My list/rant:
– More "aggressive" returns from bank recapitalisation
– Temporarily tax the hell out of fags and booze [personal whim 1]
– Raise VAT
– Government advertising
– Cut unnecessary tax credits
– Over 75s TV license
– Clampdown on benefits abuse and create localised 'work for benefits' scheme (as well as improving the environment, the feckless are less likely to vandalise their own work, and perhaps take more pride? For those truly in a bind, it is better to have the regularity of work than be at home)
– Don't know enough about about the NHS to offer meaningful comments, but I've not heard anyone calling for more bureaucracy
– I'm sure money can be skimmed from the military, but I would like to see more investment in psyops (psychological operations) and closer links between universities and middle east cultures experts (also area for direct funding)
– Cut the international development fund, although conflict prevention may be a useful pot to enhance funding for
– Personal whim 2: if the government are going to claim that it was never a right for government to support students through university, I'd like to see this backdated in the form of a gradate tax to those who were completely subsidised and earning over X (£40,000?)
– Not sure I can bring myself to raise the working/pension age!

Being based in Wales I ride many of the same areas as you. I also spend five weeks or so a year in France so having sold a "freeride" bike I was looking for a bike that would handle all I could throw at it, but also be enjoyable for pootling along country lanes on weekends away with the missus. I opted for the Alpine and am very happy with my choice. I guess I was looking for a bike that covers the broadest range of riding and having tried both the Zesty and the Alpine, I preferred the burliness of the Orange. With seat up it is comfy on drawn out forestry road climbs and despite slack angles it is delicate enough for technical climbs despite not being a light bike. The only criticism I would levy is that "it" does not handle tight switchbacks well given the long wheelbase. Aesthetically I also wanted a bike that would not date and given the lack of go-faster stripes and paint schemes found on other bikes, there's no danger there!

Perhaps something to do with circularity, harmony, order, reliability or trust? An Alpine 160?