Wow an unexpected positive response!

rusty trowel/DrP, it'd be great to meet up for a ride. All of a sudden I'm looking forward to this move a whole lot more!

ctznsmith, err, that's North Wales :wink:

megastream, you did see the Cardiff photos[/url] posted up a here while back, right? 8O

Key rule: nothing sung or with a significant amount of words. Soma FM Groove Salad fits the bill as do long mixes from Little White Earbuds, and other "tech-house" and Detroit-type sounds.

Do not buy second-hand, or at least without trying-on. I have a pair of Salomon Dialogues which are comfier than an old flame after 8 pints :P

Good move on the THE Carbon – that's what I have and was going to recommend. I wear knee pads (661s) for XC and arsing around in the woods on jumps and things, and Dianese knee/shin pads for DH. I've done a couple of seasons DHing in the Alps and would not trust myself not to wear full body armour (again Dianese).

I'm quite sure existential nihilism does not help.

Agreed – and thankfully there's the warm embrace of friends, family and the world as-it-is (with mountains and hills) between conceptions of a power "beyond" and anomie, absolute relativism and solipsism.

There's little you yourself can do. Have a read of blogs and pages at wqd.netwarriors.org/ for accounts of how folk quit drinking. Although it's US focused, there's much useful information if you can take the AA/higher power stuff with a pinch of salt. Your friend may just find it useful to post on there where he is not accountable to anyone, and can relay problems anonymously and without reprise.

Yeah, I think the tabloids also got their hands on these. Cardiff really is like this but then again St Marys Street, the street where most of these are taken, used to be a lot worse with kniving, prostitution and heavy drinking. That was a couple of hundred years ago when it was the dock area but it's still interesting that overall behaviour has improved!

I haven't seen anywhere as bad (some might say colourful) as Cardiff and that's saying something given that I'm from Hull. I think that's because carnage tends to be focused on one street with virtually all drinkers heading to Chip Alley (Caroline Street) at club kick-out time. It's a very surreal experience to walk down there at 2am sober!

Beat that!

I'm off boarding on Saturday but must admit I'm a hankering for a blue sky weekend on the bike. I guess my dilemmas aren't so bad! :lol:

I use Windows Skydrive: http://skydrive.live.com/

Three Valleys on Sunday!

Bike: Alpine 160
Tyres: Maxxis Ardent 2.25 front and back
Type of riding: currently South Wales trail centres, and out and about around Talybont, Brecon and Black Mountains.
Your thoughts on said Combo: love them. I was riding Minions before but these were way too grippy for my Welsh needs. I also tried a pair of Spesh Captains but these sadly gave me one pinch-flat too many. I've been running the Ardents for three weeks now and they inspire confidence on the downs but do not punish on the ups.

If proper ill then no, but if early symptoms then yes. I find that a good blast out clears the system and prevents onset of something nastier.

33 – university lecturer

All good here, but do not use if you're into file-sharing. They're rolling out deep packet inspection checks on 40% of their customer-base.

https://nodpi.org/2009/11/27/virgin-media-in-bed-with-detica/

Cheers A – much appreciated. Here's to blundering through and hopefully not looking like a boob and annoying my contacts in the process.

andymcstay@gmail.com

Err, leaves on trees aren't even moving in Cardiff :?

So who's up for some post-ride E's then? Just to keep the buzz going, like :wink:

The Alpine is the perfect bike for me. It flies both up and downhill, and is shed loads of fun in freeride parks. My main reservation on buying this bike was whether it would climb well and if it would be too weighty for all day riding. Tbh I never use my hardtail now as my Alpine is a joy to ride for two to three day camping jaunts in the Beacons and Black Mountains, trail centre blasts and uplift days. There are lighter bikes out there and the slacker angles do mean you have to shift weight over the front on the steeper/rocky/rooty climbs. This does not seem to make a difference to the speed I get up the hills though, and is amply rewarded by the downhill sections.

No idea what the precise weight is but I'm 12stone and a bit (numbers aren't my game!) and I'm man enough for it. There really is nothing not to like about this bike unless you have ambitions for XC-whippet status.

So this isn't a thread about Cannondales then :oops:

I'll pass on the babysitting, thanks :wink:

Off to buy a new waterproof as the old one is worn out from dendix-rubbing (dry ski slopes) and is a bit baggy from weight loss! Prize goes to Lionheart – that looks like a damned good hobby for wet winter days. Now I wonder if there are any kayaking clubs on the River Taff …..

Methinks a dawn runaround Cwmcarn may be in order tomorrow.

Still deciding. Either up and around Talgarth/Brecon/Talybont for the weekend, or Afan/Glyncorrwg/Margam followed by Cwmcarn Sunday morning.

Deore XT Thumbshifters

+1. Never tweaked – still working perfectly.

Surely something to do with fans and temperature?

Don't discount the Alpine as being too much bike. I was in the same situation and tested the Spicy. It was a fun ride but I prefer the extra chunkyness of the Alpine. It climbs as well as any other bike I've ridden but you do have to be prepared to move your weight about on the really steep climbs/six inch plus rocks and roots. I wouldn't describe myself as especially fast but I've never been passed on a climb, and that's even fully loaded with sticky downhill tyres. The downhill more than makes up for the tweak in technique and I get the same kick out of the Alpine as I did with my Patriot.

Although I keep a hardtail for pootle days in the hills with the better half, I haven't taken it out since acquiring the Alpine – there's no point and it's too sweet to ride!

Yes, but begrudgingly. On the basis they need extra funds, I'd prefer them to charge more for ancillary services such as food which I've always thought generously priced.

mtfu, you're either in or out.

:lol:

Brilliant. I love the idea of Jesus telling his disciples to MTFU. 24hr marathons, pah! 40 days and 40 nights is where it's at.

Not only do Google rule advertising, but they're also masters of marketing. Do try to keep it in perspective folk, as well as remembering precisely how they make their revenue. No such thing as a free lunch, or some such.

'[…] if I try and live my life according to what I believe to be true i.e. try and be a true Christian and when I die I find it was all a con, then the worst that's happened is I've hopefully led a good life – however, the flip-side is that if the Bible teaching is correct and it is the case that Heaven and Hell does exist and that a decision is required which can't be made after death then I wouldn't want to have not made an informed choice.'

That sounds suspiciously like all non-Christians will burn in hell, even if they've lived a good life. That's a club I definitely don't want to be a member of.

THIEF WITH A SMALL C**K, across the forehead – Inglorious Basterd stylee.

The SW massive are being rather generous – WTF is he doing opening and going through your rubbish?! For the sake of civility offer your magazines but kindly state you're not keen on him going through your paper waste.

Ubuntu is fine for what it is, but don't expect to find drivers for all peripherals. Check the Ubuntu forums before you install.

Truly a forum of fanatics – not an innuendo in sight!

If you run Firefox download Ghostery; quite a revelation.

As of last winter my tights, under baggy shorts.

On snow or plastic? Either way, bend ze knees! Like biking, if you listen to the instructor and are able to visualise what you want to do, you should be fine. Have a Google around for Neil McNabb's video and book – he has a useful four-points theory that works well in practice.

Knee pads are also useful, although mtb ones with shin guards will not fit under your boots (my 661 Evos have now replaced my snowboard-only pads though). Your arse will be sore tomorrow. The irony is, if you get into it you'll decide to buy arse-padding when you begin to least need it.

So did anyone buy the Alpine 160 over the Orange 5 and why?
And where do you ride over here and how hard!

In choosing the 160 I imagined a continuum of riding I do ranging from coastal road riding with the SO to uplift assisted blacks and natural stuff in the Alps. As I already possess a hardtail this is at least the first half of the continuum covered. For the second half I wanted a bike that I could pedal uphill and be able to take virtually anything I can throw at it whilst in France (where I spend a month or so each year). Although the 160 might come unstuck on the nastiest of stuff, that's probably too much for me anyhow! The bike also had to be a riot to ride on White's Level, The Wall, at Cwmcarn, and around Talybont, Brecon, etc.

So, the upshot for me is that the 5 is too close to the middle of my continuum. A 160 makes sense as I get to turn the slider on to full without sacrificing much else.

I think that makes sense!

Yup, I have a 160. I can't compare as I only took the 5 for a spin around a carpark. However, the 160 is fine for all day trail riding. The only criticism I have is that it is doesn't fare too well in tight singletrack turns and is more suited to those who like speed, jumps and DH flavours. It does however climb well. I have the AM version although I kitted it out with the Hope upgrades and the Sunline bars and pedals. The bars are really wide, although they can of course be cut down. I don't know about the weight but it is certainly not light. I'd guess 32lb. For once All Mountain is not marketing jib, it's what the Alpine is, a proper do-it-all mountain bike.

Is there any particular reason you are dissatisfied with the 5?

Penhydd and The Wall today. A damp morning with a torrential downpour early afternoon. Sunshine all day after that. It's easy to forget how good Penhydd is!

I've owned a Patriot (7+) and now have a 160. The 160 has no right to climb as well as it does, given what it can do on the descents. It's an awesome bit of kit that will last me for many years. I can see why some would say it is overkill for the UK as it really comes alive when driven down rocky steep downhill runs. If you have a hardtail as well for pootling days out I'd say go for the 160.