I recently sold my SC on FB Market Place.

Initially looked at EB, but the fee worked out to be about 17% of potential price once uploaded with reserve etc.  I put on FB, it did take a couple of weeks and a few time wasters but got about the same as Ebay, cash buyer, collected etc.  Have sold two bikes before on Pink and that was easy.

Similar to many on here, I didn’t know they were still a thing.

Over the years I have ridden many of the Merida events then it was Scott, CRC and then Hope.  I used to enjoy them, not a bad price with t shirt, pasta and well organised but not heard much of them for a number of years.  Last one I rode was in April ’18, first one in 2008 I think, possibly The Lakes and I am sure it was a tough 100k (unless my story has got embellished over the years)

@ Jamj1974 used to be great place, although not been for years as no longer local.  Was probably about 1990 for me.

Riding around on our 26inch fully rigid hardtails, 3×7 with thumbshifters… ahh they were the days!!  or were they?

I think the group you ride with and where can have a hugely different effect on how you feel.

A group ride on a canal can sometimes be a very relaxing affair, great scenery , slow pace and usually quite gentle with very few steep inclines and a pint at the end.  This type of ride against a few of you heading to Bike Park Wales for a full on day out with body armour and full face helmet are both very different.  Both on Mountain Bikes, both outdoors and both in groups but the general vibe can be different.

It could be worth going back to basics, i.e. the canal ride or the gentle ride in the park, and finding out why you first enjoyed MTB and get the buzz back.  I doubt many of us went out for our first ever MTB ride went to a hardcore trail centre but probably around the local park.  I spent many a weekend in Sutton Park in the ’90s well before trail centres were thing.

I think the best way would be to get and ride and chat with other riders.  You will most likely find that other riders will have some sort of group chat set up.  My LBS has a ride evening and they usually have (when weather permits) have beers and pizza from their shop so that’s a great way to meet others.

I set up a small WhatsApp group sometime ago and we have about 25 in the group mostly local to Midlands.    Most in the group will ride at least once a week, albeit not all together.  Some stay local, i.e. Wyre Forest, Worcs, some a little further to FOD/Cannock, and others will go at the drop of a hat to anywhere!  The guys in the group are mixed abilities and ages.

This Sunday a couple of us are riding a 26 miler in Shropshire, last weekend was the Gap in Brecon and Climax a few weeks before that.  Others keep it more local.  Although 5 of us head to Scotland for 6 days later in the year.

In short, get out and ride, meet and mingle and be open for a beer.

Depends on your budget.  I have used ElevationAlps.com a few times and they have large 10+ chalets as well as smaller suitable for 4 and all quite plush and very secure.  Have also used Skimorzine.com, these are far cheaper, still secure but not quite as plush and they have catered and non catered (or did when I last used them)

Looks fantastic, I think I need to water my money tree!  Looks like it will be great fun for ‘messing about’ on in local woods and trails.

Love my Stooge, very versatile.  I have drop bars on mine at the moment and use it for gravel long distance rides and dare I say the words road….  I have a set of road plus tyres for it and rode Ride London.    Also have ridden trail centres on it and get some looks when I speed past a carbon full sus!

There is luckily only one of me!!

Hi 

Not sure how you have tried contacting the insurance company but if all fails, I would take to twitter in instagram.  Companies do not like being ‘criticised’ on social media.  I’m a  mortgage and protection broker, ie. One of these people that advise on this kind of stuff. 

A new financial service legislation came in this year, called consumer duty.  It is a new set of guidelines set up by the FCA (the regulator) to ensure companies are being fair, (although still questionable in my opinion).  Companies need to ensure  ‘Firms must take all reasonable steps to avoid causing foreseeable harm to customers; enable and support customers to pursue their financial objectives, and act in good faith’ – regulators words not mine.

Even if there has been a merger/takeover there will be a department somewhere that should be able to assist.  Who was the insurance company?Even as a broker, insurance companies are painful to get hold of sometimes, press 1 for this, 2 that…… etc but someone somewhere will be accountable.  Feel free to message me the insurance company name and I’ll see what I can find for you.

Stu 

Thanks, just messaged you

Stu

Unfortunately I’m not a member of Komoot, and think it is a member only gpx

That be great, thank you.  stuart@sjfinancialsolutions.co.uk

Not until Jan, not an area of ridden and although I’m not local, I’m only Worcester so thought we would go explore.

One aim for ’24 is to do a natural ride a month to somewhere never ridden before – or that’s the plan!

Thanks all, appreciated 

Thanks, will give it go on FB.  It’s on ST and Pinkebike so fingers crossed.

I went to Spain a few years ago in Oct and used Basque Mtb.  Absolutely brilliant riding.  No trail centres or bike parks, the guys at Basque just guided us for a week and the trails were superb.  We took own bikes but think they have a contact for hire if needed. https://www.basquemtb.com

Mine was £750 last renewal with Vitality, but they have written to me to say they have stopped providing car insurance so have to go elsewhere from renewal (1st Nov ’23).  Looking about I am looking at £1100!!  6yr old BMW Diesel Estate

Please bring back the ‘Mega Sack’ annoying but comical voice over. It really gets on my other half’s nerves when I keep attempting it myself

I purchased a paid of On off road trainers for my first (and last) Ultra. The first pair didn’t last more than 100 miles of trails before the top split, emailed On customer service and within 48 hours they replied, apologised and they sent me a voucher for a new pair, no issues at all with these. Also a bonus I purchased in sale from a shop and On sent a voucher for the full value.

Very comfy and I’m no expert runner and can’t fault them.

I use an Alp Kit frame bag and bar bag and an Apidura saddle bag. All great and can’t grumble. I’ve ridden various multi day rides with no issues. The only issue I have with the Apidura is it is rather fiddly to attach. I’m using an Alp Kit saddle and have big paws!
Would show you a photo but struggling to work out how to attach an image!

A really awesome looking bike and although I ride a Pace steel HT, my mind is definitely going towards something new. Not helped by a mate who has just taken delivery of a Nordest Ti, belt driven and it is amazing to ride and looks as awesome as this. Absolutely love this.

I’ve got one, albeit not a full on mtb, but a gravel bike. Absolutely love it. I’m in Wyre Forest and see a couple of Stooges mtb about.

Hey all,
Although a subscriber, I rarely look at the forums, glad I did. As well as being a geek of a mountain biker, my career to fund this addiction – Mortgage Broker – boooo I hear you say. In brief, advise and arrange mortgages for anyone looking to buy a home, buy to let, get a better deal etc as well as advise of life insurance, income protection and critical illness cover.

Well, as you can imagine, CoVID19 has had a massive impact on my business, not many buying properties at the moment. But, in short a summary…

Mortgage Broker since 1993 and running my own business since 2005. Voted best overall advisor firm 2020 and finalist for the Nat West local mortgage hero 2020 (event canx due to Covid19 but I’m sure we’d have won).

Home

https://www.facebook.com/SJfinancialsolutions

Always happy to take a call/email and assist where I can. Let me know you found me on ST and there is no cost to you for any advice. Love to hear from you and if I can help in anywhere, give me a shout.

Stu

Stuart@sjfinancialsolutions.co.uk

I’m using Specialized winter boots, rode in the snow today at Long Mynd and all great, comfortable, toasty and dry. Had them couple of years and wear them with either walking socks or waterproof socks. Expensive but I managed to find them 50% off in the sale.