i love my Sutra and I think the bar end shifters are one of the best features.
ok its not lightweight and its no speed freak, but its sturdy,tracks really well and is very capable of a bit of off road.
Great fun to ride

today I did…..
35 miles in the p#ss#ng down rain, popped back home to change my Humvees to jeans and went to watch rugby with our kid – did 7 pints of Ossett Brewery Pale Gold a cheese and ham buttie and then cycled home.In Yorkshire.
Gap jump over a canyon ? we all have to start some where.

i’ve got two
silhouette of a clunker on my wrist and a skul inside a chainring on my leg (original Bad Brains MBC logo)
My advice -take the inspiration then design your own, then refine the design with a decent tattooist (expect to have the p### taken out of you when you roll up asking for a bicycle related tattoo)

from experince (my dad has lived in sweden for almost 30 years) most of the trails that remain accesible will be compact down for skiing etc. the ones that aren’t will more than likely be too deep in snow to even consider.
I reckon studded tyres would be the best option – I’ve used 2.3 home made studded tyres and they were ok.

To be honest I’d be more concerned about the temperature and staying warm than what tyres – its f##king freezing !!!! you wont want/be able to be out for much over an hour

3 chains is the way to go (mainly because the cycle promotions one day sales do packs of 3 at bargain prices) – 1 on the bike 1 ready to go and 1 soaking in degreaser. on a rotation basis
use a powerlink and change the chain every time you clean the bike. Chainset lasts much much longer as it is a worn chain that wears the rings and cassette not the other way round
chain stretch is due to the bushings wearing rather than the links stretching
alsocorrect cleaning and lubing of chain is another way to extend the life of your chainset. Its the internal parts of the chain that need the lube most – best way to get oil to these parts is to thoroughly clean the chain and then spray with GT85/WD40 and leave to evaporate. wipe chain with a cloth and apply lube to each individual link. residue from GT85 ‘carries’lube into the chains internals.

some people call it OCD

You can bend the mudguard support to accomodate this – I’ve done it myself – if you bend the support and use a spacer between support and frame it puts the mudguard in the right position.
Failing that, drilling the mudguard and fitting a bolt through is the best option , and it looks pretty neat. you can overcome the issue of the bolt head catching the tyre by using a dome headed bolt as in the picture above.

Simples

I’ve been using eggbeaters for over 5 years and other than a bent axle from a crash I’ve never had any problems. OK they need regular maintenance but its not difficult.

On the subject of changing from eggbeaters back to shimano – I originally changed from shimano to eggbeaters as I was having trouble with my knee and thought the additional float could help – it did. Recently I built a hackbike using an old frame and various bits and bobs left hanging around the shed, including shimano spd’s. IMO they are awful comparedto the eggs – you feel like you are clamped into the pedal and I could also feel my knee starting to ache again.
If you look at the time atac pedals the way the cleat engages looks very similar to the eggs so one would assume the float is pretty similar. Mate of mine has ben using them for years and swears by them.

The Ride is good, as is Privateer..

not £9.00 good though.

I bought MBUK the other day. I’d finished this weeks comic (Cycling Weekly) and had an hour or to kill on a train – mint sauce was pretty good, the article on the west highland way was pretty good and the article on riding the himalayas wasn’t too bad.

Rest of the magazine was the usual tosh aimed at someone other than me but I did get a free neck tube which came in handy on the way home – had to clean my specs and blow my nose.

On the whole I’d have to agree with Ton on this – although I dare say STW is a bit hit and miss lately. But its still the best mag by far – its got Mike Ferrintino writing for it to start with.

why not just wash your bike after each ride ?

this may noy be as straight forward as it seems – depending on the tubes used to build your frame, the wall thickness may be too thin due to the butting/tapering of the inner wall.
That said it is a fairly straight forward task for a frame builder to perform Ellis Briggs at Shipley do it for app. £15
ELLIS BRIGGS
whereas Bob Jacksons would charge double that

click

this book includes all the OS maps for each section of the ride plus route descriptions etc.

well i commuted to and from work yesterday in a combination of baggy pants (Humvee 3/4’s) roadie top ( some Lance armstrong number my missus got me ) full finger XC gloves specialised MTB helmet with peak removed and a pair of touring shoes riding a touring bike with a pannier

I was unbelievably confused – one minute i’m zooming (for me) along smoth tarmac – next I’m pootling along singletrack

fella on a carbon road bike said ‘morning !’as he whipped past me up a hill (he was wearing full lycra – obviously he knew what he was and lived by the rules)

on way home fella on hardtail with the widest bars I’ve ever seen passed me on the towpath – he muttered something in response to my ‘alreet’ ( he was wearing a snug but not tight blue top and some loose fitting shorts that matched – he too looked like he knew what he was a possibly lived by the rules but wanted to portray a moody image by only speaking when spoken to)

The guy that stood next to me waiting for traffic on a fully rigid mtb in full lycra was determined not to engage in conversation or make eye contact, at first i thought he maybe uber niche and living to a set of rules that only him and his clan knew about – and then i noticed he didn’t have a beard and his bike could have been from halfords so obviously he had no idea about cycling at all and his chiseled calves etc were probably developed in step classes (tuesday and thursday in the gym at work)

I also noticed a few female riders – but I’m not sure if they were riding along the same path as me, also i’m in a relationship so didn’t feel the need to consult this forum on the best way to stalk approach any of them, and instead just gave a cheery ‘morning’ one of them even smiled back – as far as i can recall both were wearing acombination of cycling and gym clothing with 😯 trainers ! I had to ask myself what kind of f##ked up rule book did they get with their bikes ?

This morning it was p##sing it down I wore a red jacket and rode a green bike – no one spoke or acknowledged anyone else . Not sure if there appendices to the rules for certain weather types – i’ll have a look before i go to bed after I’ve spent half an hour deciding if i can get away with some retro gatorade lycra shorts and a wool jersey and if so am i allowed to smile at roadies or should i just stick to ….

… wearing what the f##k i like and smiling and nodding if i feel like it and riding a bike on or off road as and when I please.

commuted to work by bicycle every working day from age of 14(part time and weekend job outdoor catering 😉 ) – 30(shortest route was 8 miles, but I would quite often set of early for an afters shift and 30-40 mile before work or after if on mornings).
When I was 30 I jacked in work to look after the kids while missus got a proper job – eventually learnt to drive at 30 and used car for a couple of years whilst working part time (dropping off and picking up kids etc.plus it was a v.cool lilac and purple customized beetle). got a full time job and shortly after crashed car so commuted every working day again by bike for a few years.
Finally got a proper job and now do a combo of cycling and trains with the odd bus but very rarely use the car.
Current commute (on a very nice Kona Sutra) = approx.10 miles to Leeds train station. Train to York etc. But on odd occasion do cycle home from York (37 miles).

Before I learnt to drive I used a bike for everything, commuting, shopping, going to pub, racing, visiting mates , I even used to take the kids too and from school, one sat on the top tube on a piece of pipe lagging while the eldest sat on the seat and I stood up to pedal. I rode to work in all weathers – I didn’t have an alternative choice –
Best times had to be some of the early mornings setting of in the dark and arriving to glorious sunrise. Some of the most memorable include one misty morning when out of the mirk i saw an elephant walking across the road at 05:45am (unbeknown to me the circus had arrived in town the night before). Caught numerous couples ‘at it’ when returning from a late shift.
Apart from a couple of accidents (one fairly serious) think the worst was when we had loads of work on and I was doing 12 hour shifts including weekends. I did 23 shifts without a break – one night I was that f”ked I fell asleep in my dinner. Also up there are the days when you felt like sh#t and had to drag yourself out of bed at 4:45 pitch black, rain battering the windows etc.

But on the whole commuting by bike is f##king A. and to be honest I do have guilt trips about certain car journeys i have made/make

Heres a couple of pics I took on Pen Y Ghent

no idea who the riders are – but if its you and you want a copy just email me

are you cycling from Ingleborough to Ribblehead ?

it is possible , but you would have to replace the brake levers and the shifters.

you big soft bugger 😉

I was pretty laid back with my lads when they were young, but I do believe I’m pretty more tolerant of the grandson – he’s on his way over as we speak 😆

not ridden a fargo – but just yesterday I had a Kona Sutra delivered, which is quite similar.
First impressions are good.

I've got an 18" Life – I'm 5'9" and it fits me really well.

I've run it with both 100 and 120mm forks and in my opinion the 100s are better.

It's a great bike – rides like a dream. I've had it a couple of years now and have used it for everything from 12 hour solo to quick blasts to the shop to touring round Cuba.Very comfortable and capable. The frames really well finished. Not too struck on the new colours but each to their own.

just finished reading David Byrne's Bicycle Daries.
Bit boring in places but otherwise kept me very entertained on thedaily commute.

But for a book to be truly enthraling it must lend itself to reading whilst walking and also reading in another room whilst all those around you watch TV and take presedence over w@rk

about 25mins – walked in took one look at the place, asked about PPE got told they didn't think it was neccesary. called my missus to explain situation – walked out.

i'm sat waiting for a new touring bike to be delivered today.
I've already got a beard and my sandals are by the door (wearing flip flops at the moment)

I'm getting a bit worried too. Rather than getting excited about tear arseing around the countryside at break kneck speed on a really nice mountain bike, I find myself getting quite excited about the fact that tomorrow I'll be able to take a leisurely ride to the farm shop and fill my new panniers with lots of meat and fresh veg and take a steady ride home, possibly via the pub for a nice ale.

Old age or just another string to your bow ????

can't pin point one – think it depends on when and at what age

from my childhood
wind in the willows – kenneth grahame

teens to young adult
anything by George Orwell – I also read quite a lot of political stuff, which won't be a surprise to people who know me.

I'm also a big fan of Kerouac. First book my wife bought me was On the Road – read it from cover to cover in one sitting (I was on the dole at the time).

Cormac McCarthy tells a good tale, my favourites in no particular order, Outer Dark, Child of God, Blood Meridian.

Book I really enjoyed a few years ago was 'Stone Junction'by Jim Dodge. I've also just read (i.e. yesterday ) Fup by him which is quite funny.

it's impossible to have just one,depends on what mood your in.

memory of a free festival
width of a circle
bewlay brothers – the lyrics to this are out of this world
cracked actor
panic in detroit
candidate
stay – the guitar riff at the beginning always gives me shivers – must be played loud
neukoln
hello spaceboy
.. i could go on all day.

teach her to do it with a satchel and you can her out on a paper round before shes four.

Seriously though. Well done – I'm in the process of getting my one year old grandson obssessed with bikes. Having spent a few weeks substituting cbeebies for Tour De France on Eurosport,We've just completed the sitting on grandads bike holding the bars shouting 'bike' and making wooshing noises (wind in the ears rather than an engine)faze and are just about to enter the riding in a baby seat faze.The ongoing brainwashing is going well, but I'm not sure he's as keen on the Vuelta as he was the Tour. Can't wait to actually go riding with him – if he can get to do four miles at three I'd be well chuffed.

i use a carradice saddle bag and a camelbac cloud walker to carry a fair amount of kit.
I've looped a lightweight bungee through the loops on the saddle bag so you can strap your waterproof to it.
In the main compartment you can easily pack an extra layer or two, socks etc. and still have room for other stuff.(at the moment mine has a jacket a pump a gillet a first aid kit a space blanket, zip ties, and a t-shirt and there is still room for more)
You can also quite safely carry a fleece or similar under the main flap of the bag.
tube,tools and spares fit in one of the pockets on the saddle bag – snack bars and sweeties in the other.
then you've got your camelbac/day sac to carry your clothes for the B&B – couple of pairs of socks, some kecks, a pair of lightweight trousers or shorts, couple of t-shirts and a small wash kit
Only thing I've struggled with in the past has been packing some footwear for off the bike – flip flops seem the easiest and lightest option.

having the weight on the bike is noticable, but by splitting the load bewtween your bike and your back you have, in my opinion, reached the best compromise.

Have a look on here – Bike Packing[/url] for some more ideas

mtb seasons last from 1985 to the day i die.

exactly.

RIDE BIKES, DRINK BEER, EAT CAKE

been our club motto for 18 years.

You don't have to do it , but I certainly don't need someone preaching about it being a stupid idea.

That the one from the IMBA UK Malham thing a few years back where the farmer turned everyone back?

thats the one

you can't be that bad if you came 16th 😕

This is a pretty good site for turbo training workouts.

http://www.turbotraining.co.uk/turbo_trainer_sessions.php

when I was younger (and before anyone starts, a lot thinner and fitter and better looking and with a full set of teeth and full head of hair) I used to ride a 15 mile road circuit that had 7 short but steep climbs that helped loads with my climbing. Ride as hard as possible up and over each climb recover on the decent ride at moderate pace to next climb etc.

The path changes from BW to FP as it crossing a parish boundary.

You are not missing much to be honest, (part of it is tarmac). It does go right through a farmers land and he's not too keen on MTBers using it .

There is a perfectly legal and far more intresting trail(imho) to follow up and over Arncliffe Cote that brings you out less than a mile an half away on the road out of Arncliffe.

It starts at the same point but heads away and up Noth East(as opposed to North).

plastic coat hangers.

email me and I'll have a word see if you can use our car park at work – couple of minutes by bike from train station

have a look on here – Bikepacking[/url]

I'm thinking about making my own lights (for something to do more than owt) and I've got a few questions – roughly how much would it cost ?
what tools do you need ?
any major do's and don't's ?

+1 for greasing the rear quick release skewer

I've had a few steel hardtails over the years – currently riding a sanderson life with 100mm reba's . Used it for XC racing,enduro stuff like mayhem,12 hour solo etc. bit of touring -Cuba and some UK stuff – andjust general dicking about on. Can't fault it – last time I was in love with a bike so much was back in the early 90's when I got my first clockwork (which is now my SS).

washing up liquid all over chain – two old nail brushes held either side of chain – scrub back and forth until all chain has been thoroughly scrubbed – rinse with water – remove chain – wipe dry and apply WD40/GT85 – wash rest of bike – wipe chain again with a clean cloth – refit chain – apply lube(to each individual link one at a time)

i've had mine a few years – they are tonnes better than you expect them to be.