Similar observation as in IGMs post above.

The paint work on mine is cracked above the shock mount but as IGM points out there’s no weld there. Mine’s been like that from a couple of months after buying it and is now over 2 years old and still going strong.

Waiting (hopefully?) for an EXO version ….

Reviews by people who ride in a similar way and on similar terrain seem to be pretty reliable.

See too many dogmatic reviews though that reflect a particular tester’s viewpoint without an appreciation that not everyone wants the same out of a bike.

Also see too many reviews that don’t fundamentally understand engineering and come out with all sorts of crap ….. that’s probably the topic of a different thread entirely :-)

Rab Alpine Jacket perhaps?

Picked up one cheap in a Cotswold sale – windproof, very breathable, shower resistant, reproofs very well and pretty tough. The full hood is great for puncture/mechanical/food stops – rolls away quite neatly when you dont want it. Mine is great for showery or drizzly days.

Material is soft to the touch so is OK over a short sleeve base layer for milder weather. There’s no insulation at all but it works well with one or more base-layers.

Unfortunately reflective bits are very limited but I guess you can’t have everything.

Had great days out at both road races and the women’s XC …… some of my photos are here on Flickr [/url]

+1 for a Mobi washer.

I’ve got the slightly smaller one (15 litres?) and that does 2 bikes easily unless they’re really filthy. Power this with the external battery pack (and torch) and it works a treat – no messing with extension leads.

Tick!

Sits back to await parcel of shiny things arriving at the front door :-)

Going to the women’s race on the Saturday.

Got a travelodge booked about 8 miles from the venue and then riding in.

Security by all accounts for bike parking at other events was fine but probably won’t take the best bike though :-)

Put about a year in on DMR vaults. Still running smoothly. Platform feels better than Nanos (bigger and more concave) and bearings are way better. However, for the money the Nanos are a pretty good choice.

Both use with Teva Links and Shimano AM40s. Both give good grip – Tevas have the edge for comfort, speed of drying, support-when-pedalling and hike-a-bike.

Another vote for the cafe in the pottery down the road.

Always make a trip to Laggan Stores too for trail treats – the guy who runs it is a real star.

Service at the cafe at the trail head is bloody awful …. food is ok but they’re just unbelievably miserable. A smile costs nothing :-)

Always preferred mine with air back and front – feels a bit more playful. Just gone for a fairly firm custom shock tune to give a bit more support in the bends – quite happy to give away a bit of plushness.

Put quite a lot of time in on Maxxis tyres with EVO sidewalls – seem to be quite robust with a good weight saving over dual-ply.

SLX chainset hasn’t given up yet and is much lighter that a DH version.

Other than that it’s all fairly standard stuff – all in weight about 33-34lbs.

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IMG_4700[/url] by Simon_R[/url], on Flickr

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IMG_5481[/url] by Simon_R[/url], on Flickr

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IMG_2653[/url] by Simon_R[/url], on Flickr

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P1010961[/url] by Simon_R[/url], on Flickr

Had a similar issue …. finally tracked it down to the rear hub that had cracked around a drive side spoke hole. That was after changing bearings (hub, frame and B/B), greasing threads and checking the fram for cracks!

Running an Ikon on the back and an Ardent on the front – seem to find grip in most conditions with a nicely controlled slide if you push them. Nice and quick rolling too. Don’t get much gloopy mud round our way though even in the depths of winter so that probably favours these tyres.

Thought the first few episodes were good but it then turned into more of a challenge to get through it rather than something to appreciate! Interesting, well shot, great story but at the end of the day I wish I’d spent that 26 hours out on the bike, sorting photos, etc.

Courtyard Cafe in Hope – great coffee and good value.

Right next to 18Bikes too :D

Just bought a Decathlon synthetic bag – seems like a bit of a bargain for what you get. As far as I remember the one I got recently was this one here. I’ve had one of these too for a year or so now.

There’s several ratings to choose from depending on how spartan you’re feeling. I’ve used the s15 down to just below 5degC in conjuntion with a light primaloft jacket and although not toasty warm it was bearable. I bought the warmer one (s5) for when I’m feeling a bit nesh.

Another vote for the Fender Bender.

Neo guard always seemed to work well to reduce mud and spray but it did trap a lot of cack. Fender Bender seems to work just as well without acting as a crap trap.

Short on freezer space so ours go in the fridge – that seems to keep them pretty mould-free. Give a bit of a sluice out with fresh water before and after use. Use sterilising fluid every couple of months just to make sure.

Pop them in the dishwasher – works a treat!

Alternatvely clean them up with some brake cleaner, let that evaporate and cook them in the oven for about 1/2 hour.

Obviously depends on how tolerant your partner/flatmate/parents/etc are of you putting bike bits in kitchen appliances.

Vancouver Island and Sunshine Coast road-trip perhaps?

From Vancouver airport to the ferry at Tsawwassen.
Ferry to Swartz.
Work your way up the island to Comox (visit to Hornby Island on the way!)
Ferry Comox to Powell River.
Back down Sunshine Coast and ferry to Horseshoe Bay.
Quick detour up the Sea to Sky to Squamish.
Back to the airport at Vancouver.
:-)

A few of mine …

Descending Mount Potts (NZ)

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Near Erewhon[/url] by Simon_R[/url], on Flickr

Swaledale

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IMG_0414[/url] by Simon_R[/url], on Flickr

Peak District

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IMG_1850[/url] by Simon_R[/url], on Flickr

Amber Valley, Derbyshire

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IMG_3703[/url] by Simon_R[/url], on Flickr

Minch Moor

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IMG_3981-1[/url] by Simon_R[/url], on Flickr

Hello again. Pics should be in your inbox.
Cheers,
Simon.

Hi again MrsMugsy,

RF stem measures in at 90mm – can’t quite judge the angle but it looks like it’s at least 10 degrees. I’ll try and sort out a couple of photos and mail to you.
Stem is a bit dusty and the bolts holding the faceplate on are a bit rusty but it’s only on the surface. All bolts have been well greased and are nice and free. The rest ofthe stem is in great condition – just a bit of wear on the underside where it’s in contact with the headset/spacers.

Cheers,

Simon.

MrsMugsy – I found a Raceface Turbine stem with a 25.4 clamp in my magic box-of-spares at the weekend. Think it’s an 80mm but I can check when I get home. It’s been in storage for a while but is in pretty good nick – the finish is a black powder-coat. I was going to put in on the classifieds when I got round to it …

Rides pretty nicely in the wet – there are some deep looking puddles but none seem to hold too many nasty surprises. If anything there’s more grip when it’s properly wetted – seems to get quite loose and dusty in the dry.
And yes it does punish drivetrain and pads …

Mine’s about 50 mins from door to desk direct and a bit slower on the way home. Aim for 3 times per week depending on how much pedalling I might be doing at the weekend.

Summer time return journeys can be 2-3 hours if I take in a few cheeky trails in the way home :-)

Has to be one of my favourite places to ride in the UK …..

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IMG_5119[/url] by Simon_R[/url], on Flickr

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IMG_5134[/url] by Simon_R[/url], on Flickr

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IMG_5140[/url] by Simon_R[/url], on Flickr

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IMG_5165[/url] by Simon_R[/url], on Flickr

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IMG_5170[/url] by Simon_R[/url], on Flickr

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IMG_5172[/url] by Simon_R[/url], on Flickr

… and importantly

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IMG_5108[/url] by Simon_R[/url], on Flickr

There’s a useful bit of info on a previous thread here

This website seems to offer a reasonable solution for getting the mapping bit sorted.

Put this onto an Etrex 20[/url] and that would seem to be a reasonably cheap way forward.

Not made the GPS purchase yet …. accidentally bought a frame last week so that’s diverted finances for a few months :-)

I’ve been going round the same thing too.

Just gone for an Inbred for myself …. complete bargain at £139 at the moment.

Looking forward to a big shiny parcel arriving early next week :D

Now for the difficult bit …. choosing some tyres ………

Penmachno has to be my favourite trail centre …. almost feels like a proper day out in the hills. Top marks to the trail builders … it feels pretty natural and isn’t groomed to death like some other trails.

The lack of any facilities at the trailhead actually adds to the experience (in my opinion) … gives the place an entirely different feel to the more commercial set-ups.

PS Conwy Falls Cafe does the best coffee for miles :-) – ideally placed for that post-ride brew

And some more ….

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IMG_3703[/url] by Simon_R[/url], on Flickr

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P1010554[/url] by Simon_R[/url], on Flickr

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IMG_3875[/url] by Simon_R[/url], on Flickr

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IMG_4536[/url] by Simon_R[/url], on Flickr

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IMG_0414[/url] by Simon_R[/url], on Flickr

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IMG_2628-1[/url] by Simon_R[/url], on Flickr

….. sorry … got a bit carried away ….

Bottom of the Garburn a couple of weekends ago

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IMG_6074[/url] by Simon_R[/url], on Flickr

A remarkably quiet day on Loughrigg

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IMG_0392[/url] by Simon_R[/url], on Flickr

And another from Kentmere

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IMG_6110[/url] by Simon_R[/url], on Flickr

We stay at the Rosetta two or three times per year …. always seemed fine to me. Just booked in there for Easter so I hope it’s OK.

With the van we normally head for the hardstanding in the lower field – not sure whether that makes any difference.

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IMG_5081[/url] by Simon_R[/url], on Flickr

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IMG_4503[/url] by Simon_R[/url], on Flickr

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14052011286[/url] by Simon_R[/url], on Flickr

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14052011288[/url] by Simon_R[/url], on Flickr

….. Pooley Bridge also gives you the option of some of the Ullswater trails for a shorter day out on the Sunday.

Struggled with the same problem and now settled on a campsite over in Pooley Bridge (there’s a choice of 2).

Used to be a great site in Troutbeck but it all seems to be static caravans now. Windermere Hostel is reasonably handy too but we’ve struggled to book in there in the past.

Going to do the Mosedale – Kentmere – back over High Street route so we can finish with a descent into Pooley Bridge.

Doesn’t look a bad place to stay to do Nan Bield loop either – just means a few km on the road past Haweswater to the bottom of Gatesgarth descent / climb up to Nan Bield.

I was very sceptical about the “magic carpet” ride quality of Ti frames … until I bought a Ragley Ti.

Seems to have an aluminium feel in terms of pedalling stiffness and weight but none of the harshness. There is feeling of compliance in the frame that takes the edge of trail chatter but without the flex of a steel frame.

We’ve stayed at Innerhaven[/url] a couple of times – not cheap but well worth it. Really nice place with secure bike storage and drying room. Also route advice on tap courtesy of Andy and Aneela McKenna.