North Devon is hillier and steeper than South. Compact works well up here. Perhaps consider the new SRAM groupset with big cassette range. I believe a number of entry-level road bikes will be fitted with it for 2011. Will a 10spd mtb cassette work with a road chainset? A lot depends on fitness really. Can you get a demo of different styles? Certini in Saltash could probably provide some demo models.

I'd be wary of the Shimano double/triple shifters. My Tiagra one gave up after 10 months and the mechanic in the shop reckoned he'd seen loads fail when being used as a double. Madison kindly exchanged for a double specific model which felt much smoother to use.

Double 105 on my bike now which feels lovely and crisp compared to Tiagra (which never really felt bad), although with a cross setup (46/36). It does leave me a bit undergeared sometimes, but I find the 36 inner far more useful than the 34tooth I had on my Defy.

SW cross series also starts this Sunday 😀

I'll buy it if it's heavy and I get to **** Tony around the head with it.

So basically then, all bike mags are shit.

If you're worried, I'll have it.

I think the free gift in the sealed bag trick is to stop the Morrisons readers

I think it's done so people buy it instead of looking through it, seeing it's shit and leaving it on the shelf.

I live at the beach. It would be considered odd if I didn't wear shorts.

Mine looks like this only with less mud. Also now has a different saddle, tyres and pedals.

100mm Rebas up front with a mix of LX, SLX and XT running kit. Please also note the comedy 190mm head-tube.

My ideal job would be millionaire playboy.

Rugby player, student, gym manager, ski bum, gardener, student.

I never actually got a real job until my mid-30s. 😀

Book an appointment with your GP practice nurse instead. A&E is for accidents and emergencies.

My XL trance said 22" on the box, 21" on the website and actually measures as 20.5". I'm 6'6" and it fits bang on, so large is probably the way forward.

Likewise new Jake the Snake. Seems they've made all the changes that I'd thought would improve mine. Looks fast too.

Come back with your mtb. There're plenty of us who can show you the goods for free.

If you can ski, don't bother with snowboarding. Just buy some fat twins. You can do everything a snowboard can but faster with more control and style.

To offer a different perspective, I've had loads of crap experiences from independant bike shops.

Ride Yukon?

I'm 1.97m and 115kg. I used to love Burton Canyons (wide version of the custom)when I was snowboarding. Used to go through about 3 a season though. I haven't had much interest in snowbaording for a few years and I'm pretty sure they're not made anymore.

I've been a best man twice now. Both speeches, I hinted at a little naughtiness in our past and dropped a joke that only a handful of us would get, but both times without actually dropping the groom in the shit.

Other than that, I was just nice about the bride. First time around, I was also very complimentary of the bridesmaids.

Last time I did it was when my mate married a Finnish bird and I was really tempted to do the whole speech in an Arnie-Terminator accent.

Ideal. That should work out well for my QED weekender (if I ever do it).

Race details on the fully sussed website. Race is in Abbeyford woods.

Will you be doing the xc race there on the 15th? I'm at a wedding.

I don't suppose you've got a gpx file or similar of your ride there? Been thinking of driving that way to have a look around.

I saw one one ebay a couple of months ago. Immaculate with EC90 fork Going for £350 and didn't get one bid. Madness! I would have snapped it up straight away if it had been the right size.

Mind you, I was well impressed by the look of the the new Kinesis carbon crosser at 24/12 last week.

Think we're gonna go with Champion Systems. You only need to order a minimum of 10 jerseys and they're a good price. They also supply my mate's club (Yogi, Plymouth) and he reckons the quality is excellent.

I'm just having to convince my mates that two-tone blue argyle is the way forward (one has already said he thinks it'll make him look like a jockey).

If you're curious, just try it on your mtb. I did last year and am now hooked.

Bar-ends are ugly, as are flat pedals on a xc race bike.

If I was selling that, I'd strip it and ebay the parts.

Cardiology III Stethoscope will be ideal for students as it's good for general work with adults and paeds. Copy of Davidson's p&p of Medicine might be appreciated too (don't forget the booze either).

Litman stethoscope and a massive box of booze.

We even got ON THE TELLY[/url], innit.

What do you do at Haldon?

That would be ace. Thanks, Coatesy.

Yep. Details HERE

There's also EXMOOR EXPLORER in a couple of weeks.

Similar enduro type events coming up in devon (or nearby)?

Newnham 60 at the end of September. Off-road sportive around Newnham and up onto Dartmoor. Coincides with the National XC and floodlit SW cyclocross on the day before. Should be a good weekend.

There's also the last round of the SW xc series (Okehampton, 15th August) if you fancy something a bit shorter?

Lots of local GPX here.

The tossers in turquoise were from Cambridge Uni. I got caught behind one on cottage return who refused to yield whilst moving at about 5mph. Quick sportsman's elbow corrected the situation though.

I thought the course this year was cracking. Much better than last year which seemed to place too much emphasis on climbing. This year, as in 2008, offered something for all types of rider. The finish line seemed really sparse at 12:00 on Sunday though.

Give it a year or two and you'll be swimming in carbon frames with disc mounts.

Bad Gastein is an Austrian favourite of mine. Loads of varied terrain on different sites around the resort and very few flat sections so snowboard friendly.

There's also a large population of very good-looking Swedes that live there too.

Most of my Exmoor rides start from Porlock which is only 15mins from Lynton/Lynmouth. Some mega riding around there.

Hogsweed would be my first thought.

Sam at singular is a top bloke to deal with

Met Sam at 24/12 last year and seemed a top bloke. His bikes were bloody lovely too.

If I was considering a 29er (which I am), I'd be inclined to wait and see what some of the bigger manufacturers and importers bring into the UK for 2011. I reckon next year'll be when they finally start offering a good range of options.

The Clif climb sucks. Good riddance. Personally, I'd love to see everything exactly as it was in 2008. Perfect course with something for everybody.

Weather down this way seems to be improving and is forecast to be dry from Friday.

Nice and sunny in North Devon today.

That may have changed considerably in the last few minutes.