Thanks Gotama

Yeah … Saw the forecast … bit disappointing but not much we can do about that, shame though … last time I did it it was glorious sunshine …. let’s hope it changes this week … which it sometimes can.

Here’s hoping

Hi jonnnblue

If you are considering buying a frame only and building it yourself I have a brand new, boxed medium 4560b in supa raw
… obviously less than one one

I got it … from taking the dog out twice a day and throwing his ball via one of those launcher things. He’s now 4 and it’s never really gone … but it is the same movement over and over again (RSI). I found that thick girth grips, got mine from superstar helped when biking plus a strap from the chemist designed specifically for the job … about £15.

There are times when it’s worse that others … that white bold cell injection treatment sounds very interesting … NHS or private … sounds expensive?

I think for me the biking wasn’t really the cause … it’s the dog, bless him

I went for genetic digest too … good price (about £35) and more room on the drops than midge bars.

If the flare is too much on the digest then genetic do a similar one with slightly less …

this one

http://www.sjscycles.co.uk/genetic-flare-drop-handlebars-318mm-clamp-black-prod37030/

There are other straight post with the equivalent setback or even more … just a ‘fit’ thing really.
I love the Thomson stuff as its well engineered and high quality but IMO their layback seatpost isn’t aesthetically pleasing … ruins the line of your frame … just a visual thing though … makes no difference to functionality!

Thanks andyparle … it was … sadly sold it in a stupid ‘weight weenie’ phase … one of my worst decisions!
Never yet found a fs bike that climbed as well and felt as planted coming down … and I’ve been through loads

here’s mine in raw … looked amazing IMHO!

OK so the panaracers are a bit much … but kinda liked them on this :oops:

I might be wrong but I think he 57mm refers to the stroke so it could compress too much?

I think …

I had an intense 5.5 … brilliant bike, climbs really well and descends even better.
Wish I still had it

For me … That would be my choice … and it’s an intense!!

Here’s mine … love it. The wheels are a bit over the top for ridgeway type duties and commuting … but they were an offer I couldn’t resist. I also changed the bars … genetic digest … spend way more time on the drops now.

Yep … could just be so different I guess … need to try it on the trail as at the moment I’m just testing around the streets.

Thanks all …

It feels like it’s coming from around the headtube area. I might try taking the headset out and making sure all the faces are perfect then refit the headset.. It’s completely external cups as its a narrow headtube.

Everything looked like it was seated properly when building it.

I’ve also got Easton Haven carbon bars on at the moment so might try some allow ones as they are quite flexible in themselves.

I’ve treble checked most other things!

I bought a London Road rival 22 on the CTW scheme. Really pleased with it. I was scheptical at first re SRAM double tap as I’d only had shimano up to then. Got to say I’m a convert … really easy to use and feels crisper to me … on the downside … louder too!! … I’m not a proper roadie though so my experience is fairly limited … great bike though for the money and works out about £470 overall … also the service from Planet X was superb!

perfect … I’ll get on with the build then …

Thanks everyone

I was looking to buy a pair of cowchippers for ages but found them difficult to source in the uk at a reasonable price.
Opted for a pair of ‘genetic digest’ … wider and with slightly more flare but brilliant bars … very comfy on and off road and now spend more time on the drops than ever before?

Just a thought

here isn’t too far out:-
http://www.ibikeride.com/england/2057-bradbury-clumps

or here
http://www.moredirt.com/trail/United-Kingdom_South-West/West-Woods/761/

I’ve noticed quite a few on my commute.
Totally understand the increased visibility angle … on the road.
What I don’t get is that some folk use them on my commute … and it’s all cycle path?

Hi
Big fan of the bel-air here too.
Had them on both my mtb and road bike use to comfort but found that on long rides … SDW or lon sportives they had a bit too much give.
Replaced the road one with a Maddison Flux … very much like the spoon but not quite as had … cheap and look good too.
Found it to be perfect alternative … and even bette long distance.

Thanks all
Looks like there was part of the headset still inside the headtube like you said.
New one ordered from Hargroves so should be sorted soon.

Thanks for the advice

Similar here … had that orible cold/cough thing for a couple of weeks … So feeling a bit better I
thought I’d give cwmcarn a go again as I haven’t ridden the twrch trail for years.

Bl**dy hell! …. Had to stop about 8 times before I made it to the top …. wheezing away like I’m a 40 a day’er.

Got there in the end and the down part was as good as I remembered … If a little bare now … still, lack of trees meant extra oxygen and boy did I need it!!! It’s amazing what a simple cough/cold does to you.

London Road for me
Good value for money at £799 with the Rival 22 groupset … especially if you can get it through a C2W scheme.

I’ve changed the bars on mine for some flared genetic digest and its great on and off road.
Not the lightest at 9.5kg but not bad either.

and unlike the London Road thread … I’ve had no issues with the fit of the seatpost :-)

finally got the photo to work!

Bel air or Madison flux for me.
Swore by the bel air until I did the South Downs Way in a day … it ran out of support after about 10h in the saddle … went with the flux from then on.

I’ve recently fitted a pair of genetic digest bars to my London Road.
Really comfy and I now use the drop part far more than the hoods which was all I used previously. They are very much like on-one midge bars but longer on the drop section so far more room. Pretty wide though so probably a no no for roadies but it’s more of an all rounder for long Ridgeway rides.
Not a bad price at £35 … Very light too.

http://ep1.pinkbike.org/p5pb13095805/p5pb13095805.jpg

I went with the Planet X London Rd, sram 22 groupset.
Bought it through the c2W scheme … use it for commuting, some road stuff and mostly the ridgeway with 32mm tyres … Quite a bit of clearance left.

Not the lightest at 9.5kg but about average for that kind of bike.

Love it!

Was £799 and then you get the c2w advantage … So cost should be £465 on the c2w scheme calculator

TimP

I had a tricross before I bought a London Road.
Great bike but mine did exactly the same … so swaped the canti for some trp mini v …. perfect after that.

Hi

I know this isn’t answering your initial question but I’m thinking about trying some flared drops as they are supposed to be better off road than normal … but still not sure … what was it about yours that you didn’t get on with?

Iv’e tried Midge bars but way too small for my hands!!

Looking at your new bars they seem to have a shorter drop … does that work better?

don’t know whether this will help but I read somewhere that your seat height and the top of your bars should be about level(for off road stuff) … bars slightly higher encourages you to get on the drops more often?

Changing the stem for one with more rise might do the trick.

gardron … That link is perfect …cheers

I’m hoping that it will be better for climbing than putting it in the granny when things get steep … I’m not really a spinner … never been too good at that but for the usual trail centre climbs like whites level or torch trail I seemed to be ok in the middle ring until recent years … But don’t like that pause when you have to stick it in the 22.

Plus I have this uncontrollable urge to try 1×10

That’s good news, thanks …. which cog do you recommend I get rid of from the slx cassette?

Everywhere seems to say the 16 or 17 … Is there a definitive answer or just any.

My cassette is 11-36 …

Finale Ligure?
Less than 2hr from London … great riding, plenty of towns and cities within an hours drive and now that Gove has completely fu**ed up the british education system … why not.
Plus you get to see that big yellow thing that makes you feel good … can’t remember what it’s called now … Oh yeah … The sun!!

… Sorry … just being a miserable barsteward … too much rain and grey skies

Thanks everyone

Rocketman … Perfect!

Just ordered what I need from chain reaction and probably saved a small fortune :D

yep … we thought about renting bikes but British Airways from Heathrow were one of the cheapest options and allow up to 32kg hold luggage … that’s how we transported the bikes last time.

As for begging more time off … wish I could but being a teacher … we already get way too much time off (thought I’d get that one in before everyone else does)… so getting an extra day is a definite no no … honestly … these kids turn up to your lesson and expect to be taught … it’s so bloody inconvenient :wink:

Cheers guys
For such a short weekend I’m pretty sure driving from home Swindon, is out. I’ve done it a few times on ski holidays to Chamonix and it’s a pretty long trip and don’t think I’d like to get on the bike and do ppds straight away on arrival …. Even with the uplifts.
We flew from Heathrow last time … Landed about 22.30 and hired a car … Just not many left open at that time

I’ve just tried skiidy for a quote … Private is 400euros … Ouch!!!
Shared is probably much cheaper but hire car is looking most likely …

Thanks everyone … Will look into skiidy gonzalez then …. Looks like it could be an option … But if the car hire is about £120 then that’s about the same as 2 X 60 run though it is £ not euro!!

Thanks again all

Unfortunately can’t do an extra day … Work won’t allow it

Thanks all
Did it a couple of years ago and enjoyed the whole experience.
I was a bit shocked at the free beer too … Didn’t stop me having a few on the way round though!

Might book the flights and hotel in advance then if you can still take part albeit unofficially.

I’ve had a quick search through the net …. Looks like I would need to replace the free hub body with a wider one.

Think I’ll just sell the wheels and look for a different alternative … Probably cost less too

I thought so but I’ve tried the 11 speed on there and it runs out of room … Is a shimano cassette any narrower?

No … You have to buy a full bike … Well, according to Planet X you do.

I bought their London Road Sram Rival 22.

Great bike … Love it and it will cost me about £478 including the buy it fee at the end of the year.

It’s only a couple of miles commute but with sammy slicks fitted it’s a great Ridgeway bike.