Methinks there’s a bit* of a difference between being a ski bum and being a pro adventurer.

*possibly an understatement 😉

I long ago acknowledged my skills, talent and stories of skiing/rock climbing/mountain biking are barely enough to impress my family and friends, never mind people who might pay to see me do it and hear me talk about it. Fair play to those who possess the magic

The real challenge is doing it and running a family – that is pretty much impossible even when talented in your field unless you are a truly selfish bastard.

That reminds me of riding with a bloke once who was shaming me with his fitness. I asked him how he managed to ride so much when he had a family to raise and his simple answer was “I’m selfish”.

Saw them at Megadog at Leeds Uni in ’93 or so. The Chemical Brothers – then called Dust Brothers – were in support. Belting gig.

Thumbs up 🙂

Some info from Five Ten that may be of interest

The Impact High is not technically waterproof. However the leather upper will wisp away small amounts of water. A very wet ride tends to soak the shoes weighing them down.
We are releasing a new Impact in Fall/Winter 2016 which will have a treated upper for improved water resistance and a primaloft lined interior for more insulation.
Currently we do offer the Freerider Elements, and the Impact VXi which both have treated uppers to improve water resistance. I have provided links below for your reference.
http://www.fiveten.com/us/freerider-elements-dark-grey-orange
http://www.fiveten.com/us/impact-vxi-team-black

Taken on recent family trip to Oz
Aussie birds at sunset by stilltortoise[/url], on Flickr

This guy kept following the camera, posing all the time. Really pleased with the composition and detail of this.

Pete the Parrot by stilltortoise[/url], on Flickr

I guess it’s the big baggy enduro jersey thing.

Completely. It is a fashion thing. I’d no more ride MTB with my jersey pockets rammed full than I’d ride my road bike with a Camelbak on 🙂

Back on OP, if I do a “playing in the woods” ride I often go out with nothing other than me and my bike. I’m an easy walk from home. Otherwise I tend to take a fairly large pack.

Today the postie delivered a new rear mech after mine sheared into two pieces at the weekend.

My copy and paste skills weren’t so good earlier. Let me try again.

Jekkyl, Pico de Veleta could be what you’re after

http://www.cyclefiesta.com/multimedia/articles/pico-veleta.htm

http://www.cyclefiesta.com/multimedia/articles/pico-veleta.htm%5B/url%5D

Climbing the Pico de Veleta is one of the great cycling challenges in Europe. The mountain is the third highest peak in Spain, and also the highest paved road in Europe. It perhaps lacks the fame of Tourmalet, Ventoux or Alpe d’Huez; but Veleta is longer and tougher than all of them.

Pico Veletta, Sierra Nevada. You can get a long way on road and then dusty double track I *think* all the way to the observation station at the top. Options from there on down are pretty expansive. I’d recommend a guide to get the most of it. I went with Ride Sierra Nevada a few years back but there are loads of recommended options if you browse some old threads.

Bear in mind softer compounds can result in less grip than harder compounds in very cold temperatures

I was out at the weekend and whilst it wasn’t the very coldest snowy day I’ve ever ridden in, I had absolutely no issues with the grip of the Stealth rubber.

I’m surprised there’s not more of a market for this kind of MTB shoe to be honest. I’ve used SPDs extensively in winter and it gets a bit boring when the cleat gets iced up. The grip from proper flats and shoes is so good I’d much rather use them in the snow and ice…provided I can find a pair that will keep (most of) the water out.

Anyone had any experience of the Five Ten Impact High? If that’s reasonable weather resistant it could be a good choice for winter.

^some good tips there thanks. I did wonder whether more/better socks is the answer, but the other problem with my 5.10s is the ridiculous time they take to dry out after a soaking, hence why I was thinking of a more weatherproof shoe but still with the sticky sole.

I think that the cheap, soft soles on boots like that would get torn to shreds by the pins on my flat pedals. Could be a false economy unless you resoled them with Stealth rubber 🙂

*bookmarks thread*

I was going to ask something similar. I ride flats more often than not these days (even in Summer) but my 5.10s soak up water like a sponge; not great when riding through winter puddles. I want to get some winter riding boots but would like to stick with the 5.10 Stealth rubber. I’ve not seen a great number of options. Suggestions?

2 rides in and thoroughly impressed. The climb mode is now a useful near-lockout (with threshold blow-off) and the mid-stroke is loaadddss more supportive. It feels and rides like my bike, but with the support to go harder and faster. On the rocky descents it feels like a bigger bike with more “get out of jail free” capabilities.

Bloody love it!

I did my first time trial this year and despite the horrible, truly foul wet and windy weather I actually enjoyed it. I was disappointed in how fresh I felt at the end compared to the horror stories I’d heard.

Must. Go. Harder.

My first time trial by stilltortoise[/url], on Flickr

Go on hols. Suffer it…

…and pass your illness on to everyone else on the ‘plane who is hoping to have a relaxing break 😆

Interesting output comparison tool on their website (scroll to bottom of page). From those pics the top end Six Pack is actually too bright; lots of glare off the trail.

[EDIT] – love my Diablo. If I had the spare cash I’d have a Maxx D as well.

Just got my shock back in the post this morning following a PUSH tune and had exactly the same positive experience as you lot up there. Respect due to them.

I just hope the shock is better 😆

I’ll echo Jekkyl. Cumberland Brook, Charity Lane, Danebower Hollow, Midgley Hill and 3 Shires Head are good year-round options and can be built into a lovely route from Macclesfield Forest, as big or small as you want. The approach to Cumberland Brook can be a little muddy after lots of rain and once into the rocky section at the bottom it can be like riding in a stream, but plenty of grip and not muddy at all. The northernmost descent to 3 Shires Head is best avoided when wet and Midgley Hill can have some big puddles but I don’t remember it ever being unpleasantly muddy.

I guess just because a former pro reviewing a 2k mountain bike finds an issue doesn’t mean I’d ever notice lol

Very true 🙂

In my experience I didn’t even know my old (and first) full susser had an issue until I rode a different one. It’s like wine (bear with me). That £5 bottle of Shiraz in Morrisons may taste great to you, but you may find the Merlot is even better for the same price and you won’t know unless you try.

It’s a STW cliche, but do try some – not one, but some – before you buy. Everyone’s first full susser* is the most amazing bike they’ve ever ridden, but ride some back to back and you may be able to pick up on the differences that will make your enjoyment even greater. As a great example I rode 2 of my shortlist back to back at Cannock a few years ago. One was a Yeti ASR5 and the other an Orange 5. Both were 5″ travel full sussers but they could not have been more different in character to ride. Neither were bad bikes but one suited me much better than the other.

Failing that, there aren’t really many bad bikes out there anymore. Whatever you get, I’m sure it will be a hoot.

*supermarket special excepted

Does no-one here still enjoy the satisfaction of clearing a ‘nice little climb’???

Yes, absolutely. There are climbs for which a dab-free ascent is just as much of a fun challenge to me as the descent. That said I’m not averse to giving way to downhillers.

Optimistic? If I focus on the positives, the things I can change and the things that are important then yes I am optimistic. If I worry about all the things wrong with the World I get a bit overwhelmed and frustrated about how little I am able to or have the energy to improve.

I keep my expectations in check and that keeps me happy and grounded.

This is as close as I got to watching Dune. I still have the 12″

I found BT very helpful and courteous, but I did use Twitter to complain in the first instance. Try that route.

Didn’t you have a Bandit once Jedi?

Transition Bandit 26″

Wallows through mid-stroke, especially sat down pedalling, not enough platform in climb mode, very little support when trying to “pop” off jumps and basically giving up travel too easily. I’ve fettled with spacers and varying the sag and still can’t get it quite right. it was due for a service so thought I’d treat myself to the PUSH tune since I’m lead to beleive from TF Tuned that these are exactly the kind of problems the tune is designed to sort.

It’s a done deal now. I just needed to reign my enthusiasm back in for if/when it made little difference 😆

Thanks everyone. That’s just what I needed 😉

(I’ll report back with my findings…)

You’re being diddled. I pay less than that for BT Infinity 2 unlimited broadband and I’m paying “list price”.

After reading this thread and having a bit of a panic I’m relieved to say my shock did get to its destination *phew*

[edit] via Royal Mail

Still doesn’t look appealing. I think that with the pump strapped to the down tube it all looks a little busy in that main triangle.

What’s wrong with the saddle height?

It’s a bike whose geometry looks designed more for going down rather than up, but a saddle way up high contradicts that. I think it’s because the front centre looks so short.

[edit] the other thing that makes it look odd is the angle of the linkage. Compare that with the shots on their website

Tasty looking bike and an ace video. Definitely the type of riding I’d love to be able to do if I wasn’t so old, unfit and lacking in skills.

What makes me laugh with that first photo is the saddle height. It’s like Marin have tried to do something zeitgeist with the geometry but still want old school XC riders to buy their bikes.

Ace question 🙂 but as with all hypothetical questions there are lots of “it depends”. If I really was stuck doing the same 30 sec loop of riding over and over and over again I think I’d get bored fairly quickly. If, as someone said above, this is a Groundhog day moment that I can refine and make perfect then the first one that springs to mind is a lovely set of berms in Dimmingsdale Woods that Jekyll of this parish showed me once. I probably can’t quite do it in 30 seconds yet but with practice I might 😉

The more I think the more pop into my head, but it would definitely be something swoopy and flowy with perhaps the odd little jump.