I quite like giant and trek ( we own a few of each ) – I personally dislike spec cable routing esp on full sus – however its a bit of hate for the whole MBR up spec ass = anti spec bikes mabe? Oh and the fact that their brain / own brand / x fusion shocks are/were really really shonky and thats from real life experience from mates bikes / working in the biz – good warranty thou – they have had a lot of practice….

If I were buying a run of the mill bike i would choose Trek every day. Big brand bikes just arent that exciting for niche mongers….

paul

sounds like a badly joined chain – spoken to bike shop?

paul

I wouldnt knock the offerings from sony or my choice of pentax both film and dslr… Both are excellent esp at the lower end / beginner market – and have image stabilisation built into the body vs the lens and so you can use legacy / older lenses and get some benefit… just my 2ps worth… I do like nikon though re friends dslrs..

paul

waterproofs need care and even then i replace mine regularly and older jackets get used for shopping / dog walking and looking all outdoorsey in the pub….

paul

i sew and glue it – patch on the inside – works a treat

paul

theres ok stuff on hope bowdler – can be quite wet…

paul

scarpa / meindl were great for me – brasher / asolo less so. go try before you buy

paul

Personally i hate sram shifters -I dabbled with them x7/9 level = poor. The mechs bent / and had crap jockey wheels. Must be me but now back on my old retro xt/r stuff. Great

paul

suggest cheap steel deores… all i use

paul

ullswater singletrack is my favourite lakeland trail – proper hard either way…

nan bield is a tough slog…

Garburn / sadgill loop is good too in that area.

lovely pics

am jealous

paul

big can of worms there dude !!!

paul

or maybe they just want the revenue from the car park….

hed doctors = rubbish bolts

Yes – 80mm fork / 100mm fork all developed the scoring on alloy fork steerers – headset creaked – shame as the bearings are just superb and last years – hope the wedge design is retro fittable?

paul

NO – my 240s wouldnt take a road one – it 'worked' but when I fitted the cassette it didnt work… spacing slightly different – I knoocked bearings out the road un and replaced in mtb – worked a dream….

paul

I made 3/4s then normal shorts out of mine – tape and stitch – good job

paul

I have 240s – sorry i didnt see your post sooner – yep circlip inside the freehub… I have had to replace the inner bearing a few times = tool worthwhile – they are ace hubs apart from that stoopid dear tool…

paul

ok,

I have had one for years – its mostly with me on big / multi day rides.. I agree that most of the stuff you will never need…

However in its defence it has been used to adjust gears / change gear cables whilst cycle touring in iceland – and also when we split a nice alloy easton tent pole = leatherman saw / file was used there to fix it…

Have used the pliers on trail rides to straighten chainrings and to help bend mech cages back…

Best bit is using the knife / pliers on the tyres to dig out / remove stubbon thorns / flint / glass which you cant get enough purchase on to use your fingers… or maybe i am just weak…!

Also used the file to smooth off burred chainrings… the best bit is prob the pliers…

I do like mine – the scissors / knife are handy when camping etc but less so ' on the bike '

paul

is it an SDG bell air ti by any chance?

paul

noooo avoid the superstar ones !!

either – big climb t'other side – rode it on my 80mm hardtail in a group of hardtail / sussers – i wasnt last up or down ! I love it

paul

i use silicon spray – plumber / mould release / diy stuff = cheap and slippy! give it a go…

paul

I wouldnt buy NF again for 2 reasons -1) had some quality issues in the past – agreed their old kit from the 90s was / is awesome – my westwind tent is still amazing 15 years on as is my orig 'guide' jacket… 2)however its become a chav wannabe brand now in my opinion and for that reason i wouldnt buy it… Plus the amount of abuse i got from the canadians i knew whilst doing ski seasons for wearing my 'North Farce' jacket kinda put me off…!

I think its not seen as that 'core a brand now amongst the guys i know who are rather excellent rock / ice climbers around canmore etc… if the price was right then i may give it a look but that NF logo would have to be very small!!

paul

I normally use 2x big bottles with caps ( prevent crap )for water and a bag for clothes / medkit / dog food and doggie med kit etc on mediun rides or as a last resort a water bladder on the big rides… but i hate the weight my my back…

Also the dog has its own pannier system too on epic days!!

short rides = single bottle and a saddlepack…

a rucksack is awful in the heat but at least it offers some crash protection

paul

i agree coed y brenin is pants…. I reckon its only good for a night ride in shitty winter…

I much prefer penmac / nant y arian for a blast as more fun…wales has MUCH better natural riding than trail centres- try riding the elan valley area or other gems in mid wales or link up nant y arian with mach trails etc!

try cadair idris / snowdon or the wayfarer / pont scethin etc etc – try the clywyds / berwyns too !

paul

i use merino hiking socks = ace and cheap if bought in bulk – cycle socks = over priced and hyped up… have used in past and wasnt a revelation – do look good thou…

paul

none this year for me – last year was terrible esp for the dog ( ireckon more ticks are about the last few years -been outdoosey for 20 years )… however i am doing far less mtb miles this year and wearing trousers most of the time and applying liberal repellant… I got real sick last year too and was tested for lyme = negative but I am not so sure…

I carry a tom o twister all the time which are awesome – plus i douse myself in repellant either deet based ( prob give me cancer instead )or neem oil…

dog has had her anti tick stuff dose increased nad seems to be working…

have picked up loads in the q's and exmoor – mid / south wales and also the berwyns… none as yet from lakes / dales / peak but i know people who have.

i know a number of lyme sufferers – it isnt nice.

be careful people

paul

haha tiger you are so right ! its like monster PMT!

cheers

she didnt have a scan as docs said symptoms not severe enough and was in hosp for a day and didnt worsen – mate of mine is a doc and says dont worry..

just hard to live with esp as we were went to be on holiday this week…

shes just concerned re her memory / balance / sleeping etc isnt quite normal…

paul

not a fan myself – over priced n over hyped – used them myself in the past – wouldnt again even at trade prices

paul

er cut the bar down – assuming its the outer lock on jaw that did the damage vs inner jaw? use but monitor it?

paul

2- 3 hrs up and 20 -40 mins down.

ENJOY ! watch out for the voluntary ban agreement

paul

they recently gave me some sound advice for gratis on the phone – will use them for stuff in the future again

paul

I use shimano xts / hope XCs and dt swiss 240s… like them all.

alloy freehubs on expensive hubs can be a pain re cassette digging in – but I have never broken an alloy axle on the hopes / dts.

Shimano make sense re ease of greasing up etc and dead cheap parts BUT its a ballache when the freehubs die – I much prefer the rebuild of a pawl hope system or the star drive dts…

if i was doing a mega tour i would choose shimano re 'strong' steel axle and ease of maintenance ! normal riding – hope xcs rock – newer pro 2s I would avoid.

paul

sorry mate

i would 2nd lusso – i use their kit a lot = very good

paul

my pads failed repeatedly – wouldnt touch another product etc ever again for the above stated reasons

paul

drop me an email – i ride there every other weekend as my mrs lives nearby and i know it rather well inc the cheeky stuff…. want a guide? also check out eastridge – can do a monster mynd / stiperstones / eastridge loop…

paul

snowpaul at hotmail co uk

riding tonight – mate snapped a new seam chain – not on join – side plate gave way….

i always use hg73/93 – gave up on sram…

paul

its always the left leg upper bush that wears away the stanchion – very little oil in there and it does weep away over time…

i have worn 2x uppers out and believe it or not they were serviced…

fox = pants longevity but great performance…

paul