I shot this set at the monaco GP earlier this year – http://flic.kr/s/aHsjHEZchb

Shot this pano a little further down the road after a day lazing on the beach

You might be able to make the odd bit of money here and there if you attend events and contact magazines beforehand to see whether they’ve got a photographer there or not.

Generally they give you brief on the sort of images they’re after…

Or do it after the event on the off chance their interested.

I run 2.3 up front with a 2.1 at the back. Supposedly reduces rolling resistance but i can’t say i’ve noticed.

When the back wears out, which it’s doing quite rapidly, I’ll be moving the 2.3 to the back and slapping something wider on the front.

I recently sheeped my way into the wide/short combo – Going 780mm with a 55mm stem. I prefer the way the bike rides now and although the steering is a little slower (most noticably when climbing tight switchbacks)I really like the planted feeling going downhill.

Depending on your budget, this might fit the cheap stem criteria – Merlin Cycles – Easton Haven 55mm Stem

It’s oem, hence the price. But looks good…

If you haven’t downloaded it before why not go for the free trial of Photoshop Elements?

There’s a wizard which is quite good and stitches reliably, i think you click file>’new’>’photomerge panorama’. I’ve used it lots, the pic linked was about 10 images stitched – linky[/url]. Sorry I can’t seem to do the embedded pictures for some reason.

Another +1 for the note 2, although scaredypants comment about direct sunlight is right (i think it’s a general flaw with the superamoled screens Samsung use).

Have you looked at the HTC one? I think that’s nearly as big and is supposed to be very good.

Or, if you’ve got plenty of space in your trousers get one of the Samsung Megas

+1 for the Troy Lee XCs.

Slight thread hijack.

Not sure if it was anyone on STW but when we were at CyB a bunch of 8-12 blokes went past us on the most hilarious collection of retro rigid bikes. Some looked like they might’ve been lurking in the back of a shed for a decade or so.

I hoped to spot a Raleigh Marauder but didn’t…

Some of our less MTBey friends did the ‘red fox’ run, i think it’s called cwflm coch or similar. They didn’t seem to think it was too challenging.

We did Dragon’s Back on day 1 and then MBR day 2. I thought day 2 was a bit short – we’d finished and were driving home by 12.30 so perhaps string another of the shorter reds on?

Was also there last weekend, we did Dragon’s back and MBR.

All in all i’d say it’s not too rocky, the first section which is designed to give you an idea of the worst of the trail is probably the most ridiculous because there’s a drop every few yard.

As people have already said, it’s more crazy paving than anything else. We ran middle(ish) pressures and didn’t suffer from any punctures and still had all our fillings at the end.

Not sure what you’re planning to do it on but my missus did dragon’s back on a Specialized Hardrock running standard crappy suntour forks and On-One Smorgasbord tyres and she survived. I ran a Specialized Purgatory Control up front and a Specialized Sauserwind on the rear, as far as I know neither are particularly thick/heavy tyres.

MBR has a few loose ascents (brutus springs to mind and a random fire road half way through. The 3rd or 4th stage on MBR/The Beast has a few rock gardens, if you could call them that, but after you’re through it’s significantly smoother. The last stage, beginning of the end, was also fairly rocky from memory.

Further round Dragon’s Back/MBR you’ve got Lurch and Pugsley’s Bottom which are both ‘armoured’ trails. They make you think a bit when you’re at the top but by the time you get to the end of the stage you’ll wish you took them on a bit quicker. 😀

If you’ve ridden Afan, you’ll think it’s more rocky than White’s Level of Y Wal but a lot of the time it’s completely fine.

A quick you tube search will see you right if you want to guage what the worst of it is likely to be.

Enjoy!

Don’t think there is. There’s a horsebox parking area on the left as you go in and further round parking for coaches/minibuses.

Street view doesn’t show anything either – http://goo.gl/maps/CztQg

edit: while i remember, if it’s your first time and you’re planning on doing the red it starts after stage 10 or 11 of the blue. Look left as you come out and you should see the big ride swinley post.

Cheers.

That’s a good idea for the future, this time we’ve got to meet people at the visitors centre because they’re hiring bikes though.

Thanks for the advice chaps, have a good weekend!

Thanks 5thElefant.

Sounds easy enough so i think we’ll give it a go…

Presumably we’ll just reverse the route to get back, do we follow the route shown on the map in the link below or is there a more direct route?

Google Map

Cheers Wrecker, I’ll take a look.

I’ve got the specialized air tool. Would recommend it.

Is it essential? Depends on how willing you’re willing to walk with a flat or if you’re hoping someone with a pump will come past.

For the cost and size is said it’s worthwhile. Pump plus a couple of inner tubes and some tyre levers take up no space in your bag and you won’t be cadging of someone if you get a puncture 🙂

*edit for typo

Queen Elizabeth Country Park (red) on Saturday.

Purbecks Middle Route (Courtesy of old STW story) on Sunday.

Good for getting used to short stem and wide bar combo.

Also all in aid of Mrs STS who has been in training over the last few weeks for her first visit to CyB. I suspect this might be the last time i’m asked to organise her birthday celebrations though…

Glad to hear 🙂 I’ll quit my worrying and stick them on the bars tonight…

Thanks for the advice chaps.

Thanks for answering 🙂

Judging by what you’re saying the plastic feeling might be because they just came out of the packet and hadn’t had my sweaty paws round them for very long.

Do they also soften up after a few uses?

I’ve never changed a set of grips before so don’t really know whether there’s a ‘breaking in’ period or how the feel of them changes over use.

What’s your budget? Are you open to other suggestions?

Only reason I ask, I had a 135i m sport coupe which I gave back to the dealer because the 2nd hand value dropped like a lead balloon.

Tax was about £375 a year and it returned 30mpg on the motorway, 25mpg round town.

You can pick up a relatively new one, with super low miles for less than £15k.

Best car i’ve ever had… 0-60 in 5.2 and pulls like a train because of the twin turbo.

Insurance is a bit pricey if you’re doing 30k miles though, hence the return.

Thanks for all the responses 😀

I had a chat with the LBS and they initially recommended a 70mm but they also said that the older stumpies are good with 50mm stems too.

Think i’ll try and pick up a couple of shorter ones from ebay to have a go with. As people have pointed out above, there’s no point buying an expensive stem and finding out it’s too short.

Thanks for the reply, much appreciated.

Just tinkering really. I’ve had the bike for a few months and am finding the bars a bit narrow for the way i like to ride. Convention seems to say that you shorten the stem as you widen the bars so looking at doing both at the same time.

Plenty of room for the saddle to go back so shouldn’t encounter any issues.

So are most stems much of a muchness? Presumably as long as it fits the steerer and bars is just down to taste and budget?

For me: New Urge Helmet and Nukeproof knee Pads

For Mrs STS: Full finger gloves and Raceface knee pads.

It’s a good day but will make tomorrow feel long before a weekend away on the bikes 😀

Thanks psling & scruff.

I’ll get in touch with them and hopefully get something sorted.