Great boots – had a set for years – not as good as my similar aged scarpas… found the older tread design a bit prone to slipping on the heel but maybe just me – would buy again though

paul

dt240s – replaced the drive side bearing 2x but they have had starship miles on them… front hub fine

other bike has Hope XC hubs = fine apart from the odd bearing change over the years

I dont rate the newer hopes as much !

paul

Protec

I have used burton years ago too and giro as well – try before you buy think giro is overpriced vs other brands

paul

I have had the same headset scoring steerer issues – def not loose headsets casuing it – I run 80mm fox ( crap ) forks… replacing 'fab' rubber o ring stops it for a while then it wears and it eats the steerer and makes the imfamous 'chris (king) creak' when honking on the bar ends… see it aint just long travel forks that suffer this ' leerage' problem..

Still love the bearing quality but tbh i reckon king could do better… hope my alloy steeerer doesnt sheer off now…

paul

I was there and heard it – big bang it was – amazing no one was killed

paul

nuke them from space, its the only way to be sure….

paul

sorry to hear re theft – will keep on eye out on the 'bay

good luck getting the rest back

paul

grumm,

I have zero xmas spirit at present as working with the great public has reduced my compassion to nil…

to reply – hardly the same comparison is it? Hmm a legal mtn biking hobby vs an illegal nasty drug taking hobby laced with often anti social activity to fund said hobby..

EG

like the local known smackhead who stole an old dears purse in the supermarket and then rang her at home to say it had been handed in so he then went round and robbed her house when she went back to the supermarket… obviously an upstanding member of society who DESERVES all the sympathy and attention of society..

I am sick of STWS tolerance at times. Lets have sympathy for victims of crime and not the perpertrators

Junkies are scum – probably were misunderstood individuals who needed support but they choose to stick a needle with a known noxious addictive agent in their arm. Zero sympathy. If you have ever suffered at the hands of an addict then maybe you would feel as I do.

Anyways merry humbug xmas

I would love our local smack heads to all die out – am sick and tired of them / swearing / acting like tossers and being generally foul and abusive and border line criminal and aggro begging…

flame me if you want but its their choice and I am fed up of taxes being wasted on such scum trying to treat them and tying up ambulances when they OD – leave them to rot

bah humbug

paul

hello chaps

correct ! I have sorted it – no obvious leaks now – maybe a seal hadnt seated properly.. will see

cheers

paul

they are superb – i love shimano brakes – still running old skool xt 4pots…

paul

hardtail, 2.2/3 tyres and a decent set of low gears…. the lakes are superb but unforgiving weather wise at times and very technical in places – if you want something tamer re weather try the scalextric tracks there…

paul

I really like my michelin Energys on my van… nice grippy and seem to last very well – costco tyre prices are very good when combined with 20 pc off offers…

paul

we are screwed….

as a species we are far too short sighted. Climate change will happen – we as a species are just changing how quickly this happens. TOO many people in the world trying to live excessive western lives full of consumerism and take take all the time.

Overpopulation = wars for resources be they fossil fuels / water and food. Think mad max…

we are doomed i tell thee…

paul

hello

I know both marmoset and ti pin man from riding – both very decent types in the flesh so to speak.

I have bought 30 quids worth of cds of him and I do trust him – I am sure the cds will turn up in the post in the next week or so if they dont I am sure he will sort something out for you.

paul

Helmet / gloves / glasses and camelback to protect the back…

I have worn arm pads to protect a broken elbow from being hit by a car on the road bike ! But not now… too much faff and heat in the summer. I ride very much within my limits and I find out that I rode outside of them when I wore pads increasing my chance of a stack….

horses for courses BUT no good for me on 4-6 hr rides as weight and heat pissed me off no end…

However it seems de rigeur for trail centre riders thou – that and walking on the uphills pushing those big All mountain scalextric bikes MBR told you to buy…

paul

james has it sussed – exactly what i do

paul

How on earth do people snap chains so much? I regularly see people on trail sides fixing chains… is it poor shifting / chainline or more likely crap joining? not a rant – just genuiinely interested…

Ok i am a 11 stone xc rider and I use shimano chains = xt/xtr with a sram or connex joining link – I honestly cannot remember the last time I snapped a chain – must be about 8 years ago and that wasnt a shimano…I used to get bent side plates now and then on cheap sram chains but thats it…

paul

dead easy to do – pop ciclip and neoprene seal up – degrease fully and lube up = forget for a LONG time…

I do mine once a year or so or when it sounds dirty which is very rare only needed to really clean it out once after a long wet winter in the peak – and that was like 3 years ago…

paul

ok

I always post this – EX army goretex trousers from ebay – get german ones and they have a high back with braces = awesome – not cut too great for riding BUT 25 quid ish and totally waterproof and bombproof unlike various cycling trousers i have had in the past which were meant to be waterproof….

oh can cut them down into great waterproof shorts

paul

I have bib german army gtx trousers = absolutely brill – cheap at 25 quid brand new – AND they work and seem bombproof – no need to buy bike specific ones at 60 -100 quid -cut them down at they are superb – a bit baggy but nev mind !

paul

OK

my 2ps worth – based on 6 seasons and 400 + days on the snow…

Like and ridden very hard my RIDE / DRAKEs – toyed with flow and moved back to ratchets – Technine / snowpro ok – seen WAY too many burton plastic heelcups bust and the odd disc fracture – had a disater with some burton step ins – AVOID ANY STEP IN of any brand – ratchets are superior in my experience..

I liked flows ease of use but A bugger IF you had to release say on a ledge and you couldnt drop the back due to no room – one SCARY couloir moment convinced me NEVER ever to use a binding system which requires the high back to be depressed – a ratchet system is easier as you can kinda dig the board in and just feels more secure if you are on a silly steep slope…. the alternative is putting the board on with the highback floating in space…

dont need to spend tons…

hope that helps

paul

go penmachno in my opinion or have fun in delamere – i prefer dealmare actually – more technical and harder but shorter climbs – I would love to show you 'my' trails there but i am off the long mynd – far better for the views – I would go penmac if i were you…

paul

i rode there last night on the way home – was well foggy – reasonable fun despite closures – i am glad its so popular for newbies but its not my cup of tea if i am honest BUT in the winter trail centres do have an appeal and the cafe can be fantastic

paul

Shimano – full length outers / sealed cables = job done.

I hardly ever need to touch my bike now despite some hard useage – I dont jet wash it and water doesnt get in the cables etc…

I had x7/9 on a bike and it was ok till shifters imploded in under 4 mths. My current xtr shifters are 6 years old…. sram mechs arent that durable based in limited bike shop working…

Dont like HT2 bbs thou…

i have bought a few pairs of trousers of a badbadwolf guy i think – reliable

cheap – cut down legs = fantastic and cheap – much better than bike brands

paul

Not big or clever – STW towers should pull the pic as in my opinion its going to either A) encourage les autres B) be seen by the press and used as a chance to make bikers look foolish / stupid which I think in this case would be justified.

Having known a really good kayaker die a few years ago – messing around on a flooded road / field its not really on…

dont care you are qualified or not – its not a good advert for biking in general.

TSK TSK

paul

patch it and use with a tube???

paul

odi yeti hardcore

I had some and unimpressed to be fair… pref pedros wax lube…

may give it a go again – just didnt strike me as being great in the summer…

paul

HOPE led 2 – superb and great service !!

paul

just a thought – look at sony / pentax ./ samsung bodies ( i own pentax ) as they have image stabilisation built into the body = cheaper lenses not requiring IS in lens… plus if K mount pentax trillions of old and VERY nice lenses out there on ebay…for very little….

paul

hmmm

spd for me all the way…

admit eggies are better in snow / mud BUT tbh not a real problem for me – disliked release of egggies and rapid wear. I have spds on commuters after hard mtb use which are 7 years old or something with zero maintenance..

BUT if i was racing seriously i would go for an eggie for lightness but i wouldnt feel happy with foot movement – like atacs but spd now for me…

paul

Had that myself – hate sram shifters – took it off and replaced with shimano to match other bikes…

paul

We use Ruffwear packs with hydro bladders built in – dog loves wearing the harness – handle is dead useful lifting her up n over stuff… pack works best hiking but well enough for 6-8 hr bike epics but the panniers attach via clips at top and velcro underneath – velcro is the weak link and often comes loose when running at speed – dogs a collie – so happens a lot – working on a fixed solution at mo to make more secure..

whole set up is 80 quid rrp I think – email me as I can get discount via a friendly supplier…

snowpaul at hotmail co uk

paul

I am with the poster – bad form and any damage / wear to pads etc should be accounted for – beer / cash / sexual favours – that kinda thing…

shame on the guy who took it out !

paul

Can I suggest the cheap as chips transfil sealed outer kits for about 4 quid?

normal sp 41 outer and cable and the sealed transfil kit = awesome

paul

ok hope do one i found but i also need a bigger disc +20mm to work – bugger…

paul

Hello

I use a Pentax K200 body and old KA mount lenses that I had from my old p30n / k1000 manual… Got some very nice shots with them too. As others have stated metering modes may be restricted with K lenses but I really like pentax build / ease of use / and availability of nice lenses off ebay at often cheapo prices – Oh along with sony / pentax have their shake reduction built into camera bodies and not the expensive way that canikons do….

I highly rate pentax – have a look on the pentaxuser website too for far more detailed advice than i can give ! Think pentax dslrs def underexpose the shots so factor that into your decision – albeit better than overexposing !

paul