Wasn't the Troutbeck side of it a BOAT anyway?

Another vote for the Petzl Myo XP – bit heavier than some of the other Petzl torches but great performance and amazing battery life. I bought it to do the Three Peaks challenge a couple of years back (we did Snowdon in the dark), and it's performed brilliantly. By all accounts the new model is even brighter. It was fairly pricy when I first got it, but I think prices have come down and there are deals to be had if you have a look around.

Probably the most useful and well-used bit of kit I own. Can also be used for biking as the strap will fit around a helmet. I did a night-time loop of Loughrigg Terrace the other week with just that and a single CatEye commuter LED, and it was fine.

Forgot to mention – again it's a bit of a trek from Tenby but google MarReg trail for ideas in North Pembrokeshire – covers most of the bits I mentioned above.

Agree with all the above. Not best served by trails but spectacular area nonetheless. Learn to surf. Road riding around there is all pretty good – not much traffic and great scenery, not many big climbs, but lots of short sharp ones. A few short stretches of bridleway in N Pembs (Between St Davids and Fishguard), including some quite nice coastal stuff, but none of it really links up, and a lot of it is very poorly maintained – remember having to scale fences and wade through a knee deep bog on one particularly sketchy ride!

As others have said, it's a fairly easy run up to the Brecons or Cambrians, and despite the lack of local trails I'm sure you'll have a blast.

We spent many weekends there when we lived in Holland – great place, especially outside main tourist season.

Avoid the obvious tourist traps around the main square for food (OK for beer though!) and just have a wander – it's a beautiful city at night and some of the best places are just neighbourhood bars in the back streets. If it's busy it's probably good.

Couple of recommendations, although it's been a good few years since I was last there:

This place on Wiijngaardplein (near the Begijnhof) is a fantastic old building and certainly used to do great steaks and seafood:

http://www.maximiliaanvanoostenrijk.be

Cambrinus has a fantastic beer selection:

http://www.cambrinus.eu

The bar at the Straffe Hendrik Brewery is worth a visit too:

http://www.halvemaan.be

Other than that, if you're there early enough and it's open, would recommend a visit to the Basilica of the Holy Blood on Brug square for a genuinely spooky experience! Evening boat trips are also good fun, but doubt they're running this time of year.

Have fun!

37

Susan Boyle's eyebrow roadie

I first started out riding about 20 odd years ago on the a particularly remote stretch of the coast path on the north coast of Anglesey – 100% cheeky singletrack and great fun but I genuinely didn't realise I was doing anything wrong at the time – never really saw anyone else so it wasn't an issue (almost killed myself a few times mind!). Where I live now (Kent), there is a great but very underused right of way network – barely see anyone on the bridleways never mind the footpaths but here's loads of bits of bridleway that can only be linked up by going cheeky. Never had a problem round here.

Funnily enough, the only time I have ever been challenged was the other week in Ambleside – had just come off a particularly wet evening ride round Loughrigg and was desperate to get dry so took the short cut over the little bridge back into town. Met a couple of dog-walkers and got off the bike each time to let them past. Second guy complimented me on my lights but pointed out that I shouldn't be riding there – just feigned ignorance, thanked him for the advice and rode on.

+1 for Harris

Mull also recommended.

Mmm, seems to have turned into a bit of a vw frenzy, dont understand at all, have these people never driven a transit ?

Yes.
Didn't like it.
Bought a T4.
Sorry

Mmm, seems to have turned into a bit of a vw frenzy, dont understand at all, have these people never driven a transit ?

Yes.
Didn't like it.
Bought a T4.
Sorry

Another T4 – ours is a 1995 Westfalia Poptop with LHD – comfy, well kitted out, will do 75 all day and get about 30-35 mpg. Second vehicle AND holiday home. Love it.

Depends how long your allen key is ;-)

Depending on the type of wheel you may not need a new hub – just replace the axle with a solid one.

I reckon The allen key skewers which Eck recommends would also give you much better grip – I run something similar on my roadrat.

Switch to a nutted rear axle?

BigJohn – I think that's a common perception but they're a completely different animal. Just really versatile – I've done stuff on mine that I would never attempt on a real road bike, and they're bags more fun and better handling than a standard hybrid.

Re the fork – from Cotic's website:

"Disc mount positioned on front right ; brake forces always go into the dropout and there's no interference with mudguards. Max rotor size : 160mm."

I think the idea is that in a conventional set up the directional force could potentially force the wheel out of the dropout when braking hard. If it's front facing it's the opposite way round.

I absolutely love mine. I've got the drop bar version which I run singlespeed with Schwalbe cross tyres. Fast on road, an absolute hoot off-road. I actually ride it far more than my MTB.

If you give it a chance it's far more capable off-road than it's given credit for – will do anything that an early 90s MTB would do, and more. It's really got the feel of the bikes I started out riding back in the day.

Sorry if I'm being dim but if it's got horizontal dropouts why the heck do you need a tensioner? It appears to be a singlespeed / hub gear specific frame. You should just be able to tension the chain by moving the wheel back!

If the chain is falling off a lot it suggests that either the chainline is out or the wheel isn't clamped tightly enough – you could either go for a nutted axle rather than QR, or get a chaintug which will fit onto the open end of the dropout. On One used to do them, or just do a quick search on ebay.

Alternatively just do up the QR really, really tight!

Thanks for that. Was intending to build it up using some 100mm MX Comp Airs, but notice that All Terrain are also doing some CroMo rigid forks for £30 which have got to be worth a pop, so may end up fully rigid if I do get one.

Another vote for Marzocchi MX forks. Running the same set for 4 years now and not had to touch them.

Salsa chainring on the singlespeed – ditto.

Rhyno lite rims – not light at all but incredibly tough. Taken huge hits and huge loads touring and still completely true.

Shimano square taper BB – goes without saying!

Oh God… don't get me started.

Captain Corelli's Mandolin is probably the worst offender. If only for the woeful miscasting of Nic Cage and his terrible cod-Italian accent. Film itself was really bland and schmaltzy.

On the factual side, Perfect Storm didn't even get close to doing the book justice.

On the positive side, I think the recent Channel 4 adaptations of Red Riding were really well done – didn't stick exactly to the storyline but really captured the dark feel and sense of menace from the books.

I also think the film of The Constant Gardener was pretty well done.

I was thinking along similar lines – MX Comp airs and some suitably burly rims. A lot of people seem to be running these with huge forks (and then complaining about how they climb ;-) . I thought the whole point of them was that they were designed to give slack angles around a 100mm fork.

Anyone running one with shorter forks got any experiences to share.

Have to agree with takisawa2 – 115K is nothing for a Golf. Our current '98 Mk IV is up to 160K now and still going strong. Barring a couple of electrical problems and a new driveshaft it's been completely reliable and still drives box-fresh. Our previous Mk II 1.8 Driver (lovely car) did 190K without any problems before being retired to my father in laws farm as a general run-about. Only reason it's not running still is some local yokel nicked it, and although it was recovered, my father in law didn't want it back as apparently the culprit had been caught in the act of "doing unspeakable things with chickens" in it… and before you ask, No, I don't know either.

We're now looking to change it for something bigger due to expanding family, but I'll probably be looking to spend about 6K on a Passat estate or perhaps a bit more on an A4 Avant.

Go. Have been to their Christmas gig at Brixton academy several times now – last year being the most recent – and they have never disappointed. Shane is not as f***ed up as he would appear and the band are tighter than ever. Cheesy as it sounds, the moment when they hit the middle eight on Fairytale of New York will bring a lump to anyone's throat = I think it's Jem Finer's daughter who does the Kirsty McColl part these days. Has really become part of our festive celebrations, but will be missing this year due to the arrival of our little one.

I'm a big fan of Islay malts. Lovely seaweedy smokiness. Bowmore – my favourite without question. Also really like Caol Ila and Ardbeg.

If you've not read it would recommend Iain Bank's book on whisky, Raw Spirit .

I was out there for a surf trip a couple of years back and really wanted to get out riding on one of the flat days but struggled to find anywhere renting decent bikes. A shame as the landscape is absolutely awesome once you get away from the main resort area- particularly along the west coast around Famara and the Timanfaya national park. Don't miss the view from Mirador Del Rio in the far north.

The surf there is unreal too if that's your thing. Great waves and was wearing boardshorts and a rash vest in January! Bliss.

Have to say that area is not on my radar. Loads of trails within half an hour or so though- some suggestions:

Bluebell Hill / Detling
Holly Hill
Mereworth Woods / Plaxtol
Ightham Mote / Greensand Way/ Oldbury Hill

Further south you've got some good trails around Wye, Chilham, Charing etc

Kent is one of those areas where the riding isn't that obvious, but if you invest in a decent OS map, there's bags of potential.

Thanks for all the responses – looks like I'm not the only one fending off the forces of progress ;-)

I think I'm going to look for a replacement ST crankset- any recommendations for stockists?

Speshpaul – in answer to your questions:

Why replace the chainset?

It's the OEM one which came with the bike – (Shimano Alivio I think) – it's about the only remaining bit I haven't replaced or upgraded (been through several sets of chainrings though). Worked fine until I stripped part of the drive-side pedal thread due to poor spannering. Holding for now but paranoid it's going to give up the ghost mid ride.

Why change the frame?

No reason other than I'm looking to get a steel, singlespeed specific frame at some point.

Problem I've got is that I need to replace my chainset, but will probably be changing the frame within next 6 months. If I do go down the external BB route, I'm going to have to get the BB shell faced on the old frame, aren't I?

Would agree on Crib Goch as the most dramatic ascent.

Try coming down via Rhyd Ddu though. Is known as one of the easiest routes, but you'll probably have it to yourself and I reckon it has the best views – particularly this time of year, as it gets more of the sun (southern face). The first section down from the summit is particularly great as you see the ridge snaking away ahead of you.

There's a pub at the bottom, and if you time it right you should be able to get the bus back to your start point at Pen y Pass.

In my experience, unless you have a particularly good day / early start, if you go up and down on the North side this time of year you may find it pretty gloomy and oppressive on the return leg.

LL61 5UJ

Us locals call it Llanfair PG ;-)

Surfing (the proper stand up sort, not in a kayak!) or if you're not near a surf break then stand up paddle boarding would be a good compliment to your kayaking.

Would fully expect to push that first tarmac section up out of Ambleside on an SS but seem to remember the rest of it being OK. I'm up during w/c the 9th November, so still a few weeks off. I may stick some gears back on if I get time between now and then.

If not, any subsonic booms you hear in the vicinity that week will probably be my knees.

Thanks. Pushing fine. I'm currently running 32:16 – worth adding a tooth at the back?

Have barely been out last 3 weeks due to holidays and family duties. Wife is taking baby out later so hopefully going to manage quick blast around Mereworth (Kent).

Really going to have to get my lights sorted to start building up the miles during the week – am starting to get new dad blimp.

Are you thinking CX as in racing or CX as in general "do it all" capability?

I'm running my drop bar roadrat with a 42:18 ratio, tektro mini v's and Schwalbe Smart Sam cross tyres. It's brilliant. Great for the typical "quick blast" rides I do locally which are a mix of tarmac and offroad- eats up the miles on road and absolutely rips through woody singletrack. To be honest, my other "proper" MTB rarely gets a look in these days.

My next upgrade will be some Avid road BB7s as I'm fed up with the rim brakes getting clogged, but apart from that I'm changing nowt. Really would be my desert island bike.

Another big vote for James Yorkston from me. Would recommend catching him live.

Eliza Carthy, Laura Marling both good.

More rootsy / country perhaps, but for oddball collaborations would also recommend Robert Plant & Alison Krauss's Raising Sand album and Ballad of the Broken Seas by Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan.

I also really like Seth Lakeman's first album, Kitty Jay. Shall I get my coat now?

I think the votes for Kent are a bit unfair – either that, or the two previous posters never picked up an OS map. By South East standards there's actually loads of pretty good riding there if you know where to look – I think I read somewhere that Kent has more miles of bridleway than any other county apart from Yorkshire. True, it's lacking in super technical rocky descents, but if woody singletrack is your thing there's stacks. The trails are also virtually empty and refreshingly free of the "all gear and no idea" crowds you get in say Surrey.

I spent 3 years living in Holland, and that really was poo for mountain biking – obviously great for general pootling about, and the cycle path network is fantastic, but apart from the serious roadie contingent, to most Dutch people a bike is a form of transport and nothing else. While the infrastructure is totally bike friendly It's also incredibly overcrowded – virtually impossible to get up any serious turn of speed on the cycle trail network as it's packed with all ages from 8 to 80, all of them on identical 3 speed bikes and refusing to break into a sweat.

Love it as I do, I think one of the most frustrating parts of the country to be a mountain biker is probably north Pembrokeshire – virtually no bridleway network and surrounded by incredible coastal singletrack, but virtually none of it legal!