The President's speech in Independence Day. Pure cheese

IMO it's far better to be wet and comfortable than wet and overheated

The weird thing is I notice I am uncomfortable/damp from sweat before I feel like I'm over-heating. On a ride at the weekend – on a long steep draggy grass climb – I stopped to put my jacket ON because I was cold. I already had a base layer and a cycling jersey on. I was still sweating of course. I used to get hot, sweat, then get clammy. Recently I seem to be foregoing the "get hot" bit. Maybe coincidence, but I tend to sweat a lot in air-conditioned rooms too, whether I'm hot or not.

If I know if isn't going to rain a lot I do wear a windproof rather than waterproof. It is excellent. You can see at the end of the ride how much sweat is produced because it is damp to look it even with no rain in the air at all.

The only option then is to cool down by opening up the zips and vents

Cool down? But I'm not hot, or even that warm. I'm comfortable, but getting steadily soggier

To dress appropriately you need a base layer for sweat wicking

Always do. I used to work in the outdoor industry so know all about the principals

So boys, keep it zipped

Yep, do that too

I will replace my old thermals and see how that works for me.

turnaround your attitude and cycle harder

😆 To ride harder I need to ride faster. To ride faster (at night) I need better lights. This is going to be expensive 😆

I wondered when someone would ask the big boned question, but no I'm not. I'm average build. My base layer is a Duofold jobbie that used to be popular in the outdoor world 10 year ago or so. I have had Merino before – albeit cheapo – and it was OK. Maybe I'll try it again.

Funnily enough I did have a pack on but my back wasn't the sweatiest bit of me

Cheers

If I wear any less underneath I would have nothing on. I wear a thermal top and that's it. It too was soggy. That was kind of my point. I don't feel to be over-heating at any stage. My body must just sweat for the fun of it 🙂

Sorry, I forgot to put this on the "rhetorical questions" forum 😆

Good points:
Light (for a 6inch fork)
Easy to service (I'm told – never had to yet!)
Plush

Bad points:
Divey, although to be fair this is only a problem for me when braking hard. When riding I don't find it an issue.

I've read countless comments that they are flexy, but have yet to notice it as a problem when riding. Maybe I have never ridden long travel stiff forks so not got a comparison.

In summary they are an ace long travel XC fork that I have used happily in some very rocky terrain in the Sierra Nevada, Scotland, Peaks, Lakes, Dales, Wales etc. I've done (not many) 6 foot ladder drops with them too.

…and we've soundproofed the airing cupboard…not very well, obviously 🙁

Don't always trust the plumber. I don't feel we were very well advised on its position. It was installed in the airing cupboard next to our bedroom. Great, we thought, warm towels. However even though it is supposedly a quiet boiler it wakes us up all the time. Wish we'd kept it downstairs in the utility.

Remember also that combis will fire up any time the hot tap is turned on. If I'm up early for work and want a shower/shave, on comes the boiler which promptly wakes the wife and kids up.

Knowing you've always got hot water is good tho'

I'm bowing out of this because of course you're all talking spring rates and I have air forks 😆 😆

I sometimes think too much emphasis is placed on preventing fork dive. In my not-very-techy head a "plush" fork will dive under hard braking unless there is some serious (low speed compression?) damping. But surely the more you try and add clever damping the more it impacts on how plush a fork is and how easily it gives up its travel, particularly at the start of the stroke.

My fork is super plush, I get plenty of travel out of it, it is great to ride but it dives like a guillemot when braking hard. The latter issue isn't really an issue because I only brake hard at the bottom of the hill 😉

Oh, Sorry Hora, this is no use to you at all 😆

Am I missing out on all this suspension tweaking, lucky that my forks "work" or just too naive to realise they could be better?? 😕

A 2mm headset spacer above the notched nut but below the crown did the job

I meant below the notched nut

mmm, I keep re-reading your post and can't quite picture what you mean. However, I had a problem recently where the headset kept coming loose after the LBS fitted some new bearings for me. The problem was that when I tightened the steerer nut fully it was not locking onto the notched nut used to tighten the headset. The notched nut came loose on rough descents and thus so did the headset.

Anyway, here is a pic before. A 2mm headset spacer above the notched nut but below the crown did the job. Only had one ride since but is was a bumpy one and the headset remained tight. PS the crown is very soft. Be careful.

If I didn't laugh I'd cry. Google do some stuff so well and then…this??!

Cheers anyway

Some bikes spec'd 717s with 2.35 tyres (e.g. my 2006 Whyte 46). I've stuck with 2.35s since. The only scare I have had was on a tarmac bend at speed when the wheel suddenly felt a bit insecure. I guess it was the tyre. Used them in the Sierra Nevada a couple of times without noticing any probs tho'

Have since upgraded the rear to a 719 but that was because my fat and heavy landings were dinging the 717s

If you do her in now you might get a free trip to Australia…………or have they stopped that scheme?

😆

well I've got no lady to romance so may as well come out with you bunch of stunners

I shall make an effort and shave then 😀

Never. Not even close. Am I not trying hard enough?

In the sense that I opened an account with Alliance & Leicester who are now part of Santander, yes. I moved because of a very attractive interest rate which has now of course lapsed.

No complaints, but I do prefer the more hands-on and personal approach of my last bank (Natwest).

Are the internals of an M475 freehub servicable for a keep me running for now type repair ?

"officially" no but I'm sure someone on here has done it.

As for chainrings and chain, my advice is to replace it all if you can afford it and then get into the habit of replacing the chain regularly. I have had untold issues when replacing bits out-of-sync. Even the LBS couldn't understand why the drivetrain was slipping on my bike when the chain ring did not look worn at all. When I replaced it for a cheap Deore one all worked fine

I'm 95% approved for this, so put me down too. Looking forward to it already (mmm, very close to Valentine's day, isn't it??)

I've had a heart-rate monitor from Aldi for £13 or so. I've never had a "good one" so I don't know if the Aldi ones are "good" or not, but it has always appeared to do what is was supposed to

simply, it's because you are not fit enough

sounds like a fair assessment. Get out and practice long draggy road climbs and you'll soon get better at them. Next question

I was to the right (behind) Hora

Pook

Did we really need to see pics of your sofa stains? 😆

I should be OK for the 13th. I already told asked the Boss. Looking forward to it. I will bring my fixie single-speed unicycle with flat tyre and buckled rim; I can't have Will doing all the hard work by himself

Thinking of giving my bike a paint job with a nice "stilltortoise" graphic on the downtube…or should I just bring a typewriter label again?

cheers all. Nice to find some real people behind these STW tags. Lots of fun had today.

Very disappointed I was the only one with a name badge tho'

OK, the urge to meet some real STWers has overwhelmed the desire to avoid nasty wet slush-drifts. I will be there (provided I get the kids in bed in time to actually put my bike back together).

I will trust the judgement of those who have been up there in the last day or two and cry off myself. I'm all for adventure but I don't get out on my bike much these days so I want to be on it as much as possible (as opposed to beside it).

I've got a busy afternoon at work but I will try and think of a White Peak alternative and post details on here if I get chance. Ooh! Splinter group. I reckon most of the area around Chatsworth should be clear – if wet and muddy. Not "classic" like Kinder but I'd rather ride a lesser route than push on a better route.

I reserve the right to change my mind (again) 🙂

seriously though, I think they are over-designed and unwieldy. The hoses are too delicate as well

they were the first people to design a hoover that didn't look stupid.

😆

What?

What is the riding to walking ratio likely to be?

judging by the rain in Leek, there could be some paddling too

mmm. Full susser just in case it is clear, or nice light bike for pushing and carrying duties (with no suspension)? I will be debating this until tomorrow morning. I may even bring both and debate it in the layby 😆

Robdob – Pitch Pro
Will – SS Tricross
Podge – Specialized Rockhopper (black)
Skiprat – On One Scandal
MarkB – Chameleon (cream)
stilltortoise – Whyte 46, or Bianchi fully rigid if we 😀 really are walking

currently 18 voices and only 3 are relevant to the OP.

Eh? All of us who have kids now didn't have them once upon a time, maybe even going through the same process as Alpin. Surely that makes our comments relevant to this post. Do we all need vetting before replying to posts on here? Some of us have work we'd rather not be doing and this is our relief.

People will tell you its not a hassle

You have clearly never spoken to any of the parents I know and certainly not me. It very much is a hassle…and a bind…and infuriating…and stressful. Still love 'em though, and nothing can beat those cliched special moments you have with them

IT…TURNS…YOUR…LIFE…UPSIDE…DOWN!!!

My wife and I had disposable income, several holidays a year, nights out, lie-ins and were care-free…oh and of course bike rides. The summer of 2008 was spent mostly in hospital with our oldest whilst my wife was heavily pregnant with number 2. Looking back I wonder how we coped, but, what can I do? I love them to pieces. Do I really miss spending £50/60 between us on a night out when we can stay in with hot chocolate and slippers??

All said and done though, I have known I wanted kids since before I was old enough to know how to make them (25 :lol:). For me, there was no question and I wonder if those who think about it too much perhaps simply don't want them. Nothing wrong with that.

I bet the Tissington Trail is rideable 😕