220 rides
460 hours
5031 miles
484,925ft of ascent

And I set my biggest climb 6099ft and biggest ride 110 miles

Pretty pleased to be honest.

All OK here.

Coffee in Drop Off Cafe mug, Christmas music on, Wife getting ready, Step Daughter 1 and BF not seen since last night but there is evidence they came home.

MiL and BiL due shortly.

Gin and tonic at the ready.

Should all be uneventful which is good.

Riding tomorrow with Step daughter 2 – and kids Boyfriends before lunch. Apparently one of them is competitive so I will be turning myself inside out on the climbs.

Have fun boys and girls.

I did it for the first time last year. Actually quite enjoyed it although there are a lot of people really going hard on the descents (which are very steep, very fast and extremely dangerous as witnessed by a couple of big offs the aftermath of which I was witness to).

So if you get in – take it easy out there. It is not a race and dry stone walls are pretty hard.

Having said that it was a great ride and I really enjoyed it. Not so much the six hours to get home afterwards.

I’m running the Wolftooth one and can confirm it is a big improvement on the standard Thomson one which is barely fit for purpose.

Yep still going and still very popular. I was riding with them in October.

Really enjoyed Episode one although I was a little perplexed by the Celeb thing which I kinda understand but does seem very pointless – just don’t bother.

Episode 2 – really?? what was the deal with the Army thing – completely pointless all the going back etc. it just got dull very quickly.

Re-using your old pins would be why you are having problems. Use new pins or quick links. Also think about buying a decent chain tool.

So yes – looks like consensus is on ham fisted and then enhanced by not having quick links or the shimano pins.

Booking army land.

They are booked a long time in advance. As I understand it the booking may at any point be unbooked or re-prioritised leaving the venue un-available for MTB races despite them having been booked in advance.

Maybe you should try it some time.

No you aren’t being fleeced for the other 364 days of the year.

Bike shops have to pay for:
– Rent
– Tax
– Heat
– Light
– Wages
– Coffee
– Tools
– Water
– Holidays

I assume you all work for nothing. Do you? Do you really?

Just because they are doing it for one day doesn’t make it a sustainable business model.

To be honest this actually works in my favour as I am available on 18th but not this coming Sunday. I should however be very tired after 2 weeks of lots of riding as I shall be enjoying not very employed status for December.

Hmmmm.

It is a real shame when this sort of thing happens and unfortunately the Gorrick chaps are a little bit at the hand of the MoD when it comes to using the land, and I don’t believe they are the only ones to have had surprises handed to them at such short notice.

I am quite sure that had the team known earlier they would have been looking for alternates or taking action to cancel as per last year when there was a short notice move to Checkendon after booked land got pulled late.

Lets face it, this can’t be easy for the Gorrick team either so personally I am going to hang in and show support for the team that has brought us so many good races over the years.

People who set out to cause offence then say ‘No Offence’ at the end of what they were saying in the hope that this will make it all better. No it doesn’t you halfwit. Either cause offence and take the consequence or keep your opinion to yourself.

Children that walk slowly and erratically in busy areas. They will get rub over. Adults that do the same.

Food that doesn’t look like the picture of the food. How is this not misrepresentation?

People that sue for stuff because they can even though they did something stupid.

People that do stupid things because they are legally allowed to and then moan about it.

People that moan about stuff – suck it up buttercup.

Bad food. Work canteen comes to mind at lunch time.

Stupid high excesses on hire cars.

Anyone that asks how much that was when pointing at my bike when they have a really good idea it was very expensive.

People that ask the same question repeatedly and respond like it is the first time you told them.

Being bored at work (I am right now as you can tell from the length of this list).

OK I’m bored now.

Oh and most of the stuff already mentioned too.

I’m heading for Gran Canaria in December in hope of some winter sun as I don’t have any work to do, need to ride up some hills and need to keep on top of the tan.

I know it will be windy.

It isn’t yours to sell. You should check with the insurance company, best bet would be to ask them when they are going to come and collect it and check whether they want you to dispose for them.

I hire cars for 5 days a week working away from home so have an annual policy with carhireexcess.com since using them I have not had to claim though.

Worth a look.

One of the things they will likely be after is a demonstration of your knowledge of best practice around the gasses being stored, perhaps some suggestions on things that could be done better combined with the risk (opportunity for things to go wrong) and impact of failure.

Is how I would look to tackle it.

Safety and gas storage have to be a pretty dull and dry subject – so one of your focuses should be keeping it interesting, relevant and holding attention.

Having said that I don’t know anything about the subject but thought I would put in my two pennyworth on the subject.

Good luck.

I would get a 29+ hardtail built for me by Sam at Naked Bicycles. He’s a top bloke and the bikes are just lovely.

http://www.nakedbicycles.com

Me too – XC and Enduro would be good. Bring back the pink camo I’d have one of those.

This is just another heart breaking story which doesn’t quite give us enough information upon which to base a judgement.

How did he end up single with four children? Are they all his? Why is he the sole carer? What happened to their mother/father if they aren’t all his? What is his background? Has he ever worked? What is his educational background? Can he perhaps work from home? Does he need help filling in the complicated form? Perhaps a journalist could help!! etc.

On the other hand… why is the rent where he lives so expensive? Is he tied to that house/location? How many people are claiming for houses they don’t need in areas’s they don’t need to be in? Are the children really going to be made homeless or are they simply having to downgrade accommodation to fit within the cap?

So the Guardian has given us half a story is clearly the only conclusion I can draw.

So I did it last year and 2015.

In 2015 I used a Specialized Camber Evo and last year I was on a Pivot 429sl. Both with 120mm on the front. Tyres wise I had no issues with Butcher and Ground Control 2.3 in 15 or WTB TrailBoss and Nine Line. On Day 3 a lot of folk had punctures in the first 5 miles so take it easy on those descents.

I would also back up the first ferry and meal plan A option if at all possible.

Additionally if you get a Water Taxi option then that is great fun. I was never hungry or especially bored.

Take a battery pack with you for bonus charging time.

It is great fun and I will be there again.

Any questions please do ask. Email in profile.

Sounds good – will give it a go next time I am there!!

I was made redundant at the end of 2011, decided to take some time off, did LeJoG and then took more time off. After about 12 months of doing not much I started looking for gainful employment and had a hard time of it.

Since then I have started contracting, had to roles to date (first was close to 2 years, second has seen me through 2016).

Contracting has been kind to me and let me do a lot of biking, I am currently working away from home and living in Dublin during the week. Riding here is ace and I am loving the increased income.

On the West side of the road is actually the place where Trail Centres in the UK started. On the West side of the road is the Original Coed-y-Brenin and the Red Bull trail.

Riding bikes is (unless you’re a pro or want to be a pro) about fun, fitness and meeting your own potential in what ever way you deem appropriate. I do it mainly for good fun, fitness and because I can.

I’ve got used to it!!

thermal 3/4 bib knicks and baggies if I am off road. Vest, roubaix or windproof jersey. And then add extra if needed. I also have toe covers on the road shoes and less vented shoes/boots on the mtb.

I also wear windproof gloves or thermal ones and a buff to keep my head warm.

You may need to accept a change in hub and a change in seatpost as many of the options out there are 30.9 and either 142 or Boost.

My thoughts would be Santa Cruz Tall Boy and Pivot 429sl, Niner and Turner are all worth looking at if you have the cash to spare.

Netflix works abroad. Prime – not so much unless you have a VPN to pretend you’re in the UK.

Go for it. I am – in my case I am doing The Pioneer.

These things need to be done to make life worth living. In my case Mrs S has not long got back from 7 weeks in Peru and Equador doing cool stuff while I was working so I am pretty guilt free for my month!! I have also left her for the odd couple of weeks to do BC Bike Race.

Yep there is some guilt but the life experience of doing these things and the well being that comes from them is great.

That seems like quite an expensive way of losing not much weight. Have you been through the rest of the bike for weight savings yet. Don’t forget XT uses heavy steel bolts and XTR Race and Trail both use alloy or ti bolts (this is where a lot of the saving comes from) having said that I have some XTR Trails and like them a lot.

There are, I am sure, lighter brakes out there.

Not much has changed – as the others say give the trolls a go and be nice to soldiers avoiding where ever possible.

There are a lot of great trails up there. Have fun and be safe.

Its 25 years for me. How time flies. 1990 Stumpjumper for me.

Dog walkers that don’t pick up after their dogs.
Drivers who ignore me when I’m riding the bike.
People who moan about dogs that are going to kill them – they won’t stop and talk to the dog.

I have been doing some similar research with the view of possibly getting away the week prior to Christmas what I have come up with so far is:

– Club La Santa on Gran Canaria actually have an MTB training week from 16th December.
– Lava Trax on Tenerife

Not much else at the moment but I am still waiting to confirm my work schedule.

Way more comfortable and you don’t get any bare lower back where your shorts and jersey somehow fail to meet.

Your friends will probably be grateful for this.

BMW for me – I just prefer them.

I have one of those little caddy things in a bottle cage with a couple of tubes. CO2 canisters and a multitool in a jersey pocket. Quick link on my key ring.

Job done.

5 day weekend scheduled next week in Italy with Riviera Bike.

Going back: No, Yes, No, Yes, Yes, No, Yes, Yes, No, No, Yes then it goes a bit hazy.