Exactly TJ, though it’s not a must. This girl I’m with now plays tennis and even though it’s her thing, i’ll play the odd time with her.

I’ve convinced her of a trip to Scotland including bike hire for the weekend! :)

Cheers Solo. I’d honestly given up hope. She came and watched me race last Sunday, even at this early stage she is showing an interest in what I do, something that no previous partner ever did.

Keep the chin up Solo, it’ll happen.

Just recently met a quite wonderful woman on plentyoffish. Was at the end of my teather with it, was just about to close the account and concentrate on buying nice toasters when she popped up in the search. Few mails later and we’re now 3 weeks in and everything is very very good.

It can be a total headf**k, I must admit, but the right person is out there for you. You dont need anymore cliches than that.

Col

Interesting topic. First off, I know the OP, and I can assure anyone on here it’s a genuine topic and it has raised decent responses so far. I’ve been on two coaching session over the last 3 years when I started riding again. I found one beneficial, as it really pushed me further than I though. But the biggest improvements have come about riding with faster guys, watching them and asking them how they do things.

But back to the original point, I have seen an increase in conversation amongst fellow riders about going on coaching courses, and most aren’t sure why they want too. Want to get faster, want to have more fun, but you need to define it. I’m shite at cornering fast, and can’t really jump with confidence, so those would be the things I’d need to work on first.

An inverter/variable speed drive will work perfectly. Usually for a fan application, step it down a frame size kW wise, as an inverter will ‘boost’ to get a fan going but wont require much to keep it spinning.

Very nice footage Euro. Was there at the weekend. Didn’t quite manage to complete every jump, but helmet cam is good for when you dont:

A bit of both, seen it last minute, wasn’t carrying enough speed, and not slow enough to stop :lol:

I feel your frustration. After renewing my GXP cups on my Meta about 3 months ago, I thought that would be me for another 18 months or so. No, they shat themselves about 2 weeks ago. Now on Shimano externals. Lets hope they fare better.

Can echo a lot of the comments above. Ran them for a recent XC race, but had them straight back off again on the local slippy trails. The only tire I pinch flat on a lot. I have the SC version.

‘Comedian’ funny on a panel show but not in real life shocker…

The nipple is breaking, as in the whole spoke comes away from the rim with the nipple attached to it.

The one that is very loose at the moment, a lot of the threads are visible. I don’t think it’s just a case of tightening it up with a spoke key…?

It’s the nipple that is snapping. Was quoted £25 to rebuild the wheel with new brass nipples.

Thanks.

I was lead to beleive from guy who has been replacing the spokes that just replacing the nipples would work. Now I’m not sure.

I’m off to Scotland for 3 days and don’t want another snapped spoke when I’m there. One is loose and just needs tightened but don’t want to touch it….

I’ll bite.

I broke up with my ex of 6 1/2 years (1 year engaged approx) almost a year ago, though in this case it was my doing. Mixed with falling out of love and some personal issues, it was still very hard to re-adjust to life. Moving back in with my parents for example, was and still is, a pain in the hole! Met me current gf last November and it’s currently where I am now, my life has changed in so many ways and there might be light at the end of the tunnel for me yet.

The big thing with this relationship is that we have our own time, she plays tennis and has her own circle of friends (I meet them too) and I have my time with my biking, football and a few other things. We share the same interests in that we like sport and keeping fit. We’re running a 10k tomorrow night, bring on the competitive streak. But my point is, part of the problem was living in each others pockets and not having our own time. 5 nights a week watching tv and starring at the walls. Not a good way to have a relationship in my book.

Good luck

Will download the demo on Xbox Live. Haven’t been impressed with the previous installments, mostly because of the arcade handling.

GTR2 on the PC really has ruined console driving games forever.

A few things that I can’t post here.

Couple of monumental c**k ups in work, and the fact that it isn’t Friday 5pm. Thinking the SLX cranks I fitted last night aren’t fitted correctly and it will all go horribly wrong soon.

Actually sometimes I hate it.

FML

My neighbour called at my door at 2.30am this moring, can you believe that, 2.30am! Luckily for him I was still up playing my drums.

I’ll get my coat.

I’m finding this hard to believe, that some people are almost applauding this fella for ‘trying to fix it’ by sleeping with someone else? Jeez.

I can’t imagine what it would be like to be cheated on or to do the same to someone else, absolutely disgraceful.

Girlfriend has booked a family cruise for late September and Egypt was on the itinerary but has recently been removed due to ‘civil unrest’ expected in the region at that time????

Can’t believe it’s taken this long…..

2009 Commencal Meta 5 frame – seat tube/top tube weld

I think I’m pretty qualified to respond to this one.

First off, your life is far from over dude. You can work through it and acheive whatever the dam hell you want. Now, that’s easy for me to say to others, but can I tell myself that? Not a chance.

I was on various anti-depressants over a 4-5 year period. Some made me feel okay, some made me feel exhausted. I’ve now been of them since last June/July, so almost a year now. I stopped immediately, not recommended, but I went through a big lifestyle change, so I was pre-occupied with that. Recently, I have been struggling again, but refuse to go back to the medication. Why? Because other things in life give that same ‘boost’ that they give. Exercising. Getting out my bike and riding with mates gives me a huge lift. And spending time with my girlfriend generally makes me feel great. When I’m not doing those things, I find it tough, but that’s to do with my outlook towards life in general.

If you want any more advice, drop me a PM.

Lifer, tongue in cheek comment. I’m certainly not going to be changing my bike to make me better/faster.

I can confirm I AM NOT REMY ABSOLON. Nor do I wish to be, he’s French, bless his onions.

*Heads off to the classifieds on SDH to have a look at large burly bikes*

Punctured as in physically punctured! ;) Though it does look like the back tyre in flat. I think my lungs were left on the last bit of singletrack

Glen, that’s me punctured on the last lap of my xc race, start/finish area. No photos, but plenty of videos:

http://stcolin.pinkbike.com/channel/GoPro-HD-videos/

muddy, thanks for the post.

Interesting point on the Meta, as recently It’s been bugging me. It felt much more at home in the XC race, albiet too heavy and a little too slack, than it did at the downhill race. The downhill race was part of a short DH Ulster League developed to help being new riders to the sport (one day events, short courses, low costs, no uplifts etc). Course is in the video below, and Ben Reid also raced on the day.

http://dirt.mpora.com/news/norco-prototype-update-ben-reid.html

Thanks for all the responses.

jackthedog – interesting point about being saturated with all these videos. Though good porn on tap is no bad thing, Shirley? :D

I think that I am a smooth rider. I’m 6 2″, and I even dwarf my large Meta, so I have to be smooth. Think of me as the Peter Crouch MTB

Generally I ride with people my own level, around my local XC trails, but do ride with better (much better) riders as often as possible. Does push you on no doubt, the dh race proved that. I hit jumps and drops I wouldn’t do if I was just out for a recreational spin.

Maybe I should stop watching all the DH videos on Dirt….

I have come along way over the last 2 years, even that is difficult to say, so I should be happy with how I’m progressing. It’s the very technical dh trails that I get frustrated on. I get days were I put it donw to my bike (Meta 5 btw) and others just myself. I have looked at coaching, thinking that I could improve that way.

But you’re right, I need to start just enjoying it again and not always on a mission!

CRC site was playing up on Monday. Couldn’t select any of delivery method other than ‘free delivery’.

Went to the LBS instead, 10-15% more expensive, but got the bits I wanted in my hand, no fannying about.

Lost my faith in CRC, especially after being hit twice for card fraud.

Shout here for RXSport online. I have had my Oakley Tens for about 8 weeks and they’re fantastic. Only when it gets really humid do they mist, and once they get a bit of air circulation, they clear very quickly. I have transition lenses in and they work very well. My prescription in -2/-2.5. I measured my own PD, and even though they felt funny when I first wore them, I used to them now (they give you an odd fishbowl effect compared to normal glasses)

I had planned on using them just for riding, but I have been wearing them as normal sunglasses and my headaches that I normally get on very bright days, have gone.

Money well spent, for me anyway.

Urchinboy, trails are in Co Down, Northern Ireland. Great little spot, don’t get down there enough even though it’s only 30 minutes from my house.

Latest video from me:

http://www.pinkbike.com/video/193553/

GoPro HD, chest mount.

Raleigh Cougar was my first big bike, ie, without stabalisers.

Raleigh Activator I was my first 26″ wheel bike. Elastomer suspension FTW!

Is MTFU what you’re all looking for as the answer? ;)

I know that I need to make time for it, and 30-45 minutes is all that is required 3 x week.

Genetics, eh?

I’d go all body building forum here and post an upper body photo, but I’ll save myself the embarrassment :)

Small terrace house, no garage, not much space.

Jamie, from memory, bar was 10kg, 5kg on each end. Goes back about 4-5 years though.

As a side, this could present a problem. I currently play football 3 times a week (2 training, 1 match), cycle around 3 times a week (1-3 hours depending), so fitting in weight training could be tough. I don’t mind training every day, but can’t see me lasting too long if I do.

Thanks for all the posts btw.

I seem to have hijacked the OP’s thread, hopefully it helps them too.

Going and lifting dead weights isn’t something I considered. But is that something I can do at home on my own? A good friend has been going to the gym for years, big strong guy. I went along for a couple of months. He basically had me lifting weight I could barely move, and I found it seriously uncomfortable. Put me off. Can;t bench press more than about 20kg, and I’m not joking.