No worries Grumm. If you go for it one day just shout up if you want company. Its only 45 mins for us from Dunoon to Arrochar, and we don't need much of an excuse to do the cobbler again!

Rob

Grumm,
rest of the pics here[/url] will give you an idea. Route for the Cobbler is about as straight-forward as it gets: Follow path up from carpark. 3 hours later stop at the top, admire view, recover. Turn round and return to carpark (in significantly less than 3 hrs!!!!)

Well worth doing. The steps are a real challenge. I managed only a few bits, but Stewart (white Fox helmet & Orange 5) cleared the lot.

Very nice.
Not quite as good a photo, but I take your Windermere cloud inversion, and I raise you a Loch Long cloud inversion, taken from the trail up to the Cobbler.

Rob

Or take any handlebar clamp for a computer or other set of lights, add a couple of zip ties and some 'Blue Peter-esque' inginuety, and you can make your own.

I used my old BLT mount, drilled 2 holes through the plastic, zip ties threaded through, and job done.

Rob

If you've an old cassette kicking around you can make some yourself.
The spacers between the largest sprockets are 2.5mm, so split the cassette and retrieve the spacers. There are wee tangs on the inner face that need removing with a file, but its pretty soft aluminium so only takes a few minutes.
I replaced my naff plastic Hope spacers this way.

Rob

XT shifters here with old stylee Hope levers mounted 'wrong way round'. Takes a bit of faffing & fettling to stop them fouling each other but works fine if you don't use the shifter windows.

Rob

Have one of these for my granddaughter……
SteadyEddie[/url]

Dead impressed. Steering is limited to a few degrees either way so a reduced risk of faceplants. Well made, lots of room for adjustment as they grow.

No snow here in Dunoon but frozen mud and a damn cold wind. 3 of us did a rapid loop of Innellan & Toward. Great views over the Clyde to Bute, Weymess Bay & Largs.
It was so cold even the deer & owls stayed in for the night!

Rob

That's the tricky bit sam, I keep having to slim down the shims to avoid excessive pre-load. Lots of faff, but it's keeping it alive so far!
Rob

Mmmmm, food for thought. Been looking at CTC website. Does seem more, er, friendly.
Keep the insights coming.
Thanks chaps.

Rob

Gary_C, have been using a similar, if not slightly more GRRRRRR solution to the bolt bottoming out.
Rather than a washer, I've been shortening the spindle, only by a few thou' at a time, with an angle grinder! Gives a bit more end load onto the crank and shoves it hard onto the end of the splines. The face of the bolt then stops the wobble too.
Seems to work for a few weeks at a time, then another treatment with the grinder. Have to get creative with the spacers though, or it just clamps the BB solid!

Glad it's not just me with the problem, just good 'ol RaceFace!

Thanks everyone for the info, much appreciated. The BC site is indeed very useful. Looks like we'll be getting offical.

Cheers,
Rob

Still fit my red DCD if I'm going somewhere really rocky. Simple and it works. Def in the hall of fame.

What about the Overburys Pioneer? Looked way ahead of its time.

Not dead straight, the clamp head is set to the back of the post. I don't like straight posts either. Would estimate 40mm layback. Can take a pic of my P7 if that helps?

Rob

Nukeproof Warhead. Seems 'bombproof' (pun almost intended) so far on the tandem and on the P7. Very high quality finish, excellent clamp, and very cool logo!

Rob

No worries. If the weather is crap you can pick me up on your way past Arrochar car park, I'll come to Edinburgh instead 😉

[gets up to check the tandem/]…….
….but then I sit at the front, it'll only break at the back…..

[sits back down again/]

Rob

Slight hijack:
Steviegil, us from Dunoon are planning to do the Cobbler on Sunday 13th if you're interested. Stewart & Sinclair did it in the summer…
Flikr linky[/url]

Rob

Superb, top list.
Done number 4. Me & buddy flying along Baslow Edge many years ago heading down into Baslow. Know it like the back of my hand. Then pass a huge monument. MONUMENT??? WHERE THE HELL DID THAT COME FROM? Yep, took a left turn that I'd never even seen in the day!
Happy days, or should that be happy nights?

Rob

Many years ago near the bottom of Stanage causeway, Paul (now mechanic at Cotic) snapped his bars and ended up in the ditch. He neatly repaired them with a stick rammed into each end and then centered under the stem clamp. This was after he'd asked Sandy if she really needed her bars on the back of the tandem! Cheeky boy!

Rob

I service my own RC40's and they're pretty straight forward, and the pace manual is very good. If you need parts talk to Tim @ Fork English 01751 476815. He's the most helpful bloke in the world and knows the forks, their manufacturing history, and potential issues in intimate detail, can't recommend him highly enough.

Rob

My NATS summer solstace ride in the peaks back in about '97.
4am start in Bamford, up to Whinstone Lee Tor for the sunrise, then 70+ miles and 6000ft total climbing before finishing about 8pm. Utterly knackered, but fantastic memories. Must go and find the photos……..

Rob

Hi fotherington, Rob here from the Kirroughtree gathering. How's things?

Sandy & I took Nancy the tandem round Hawkshead/Iron Keld area yesterday. Most of the trails had rivers coming down them, and anything grassy was soft/slippy/boggy. But as said above, its rocky so still happily rideable, just take EVERY item of clothing you own, especially shoes, you're going to be getting very wet. Just watch out for any fords, they're going to be damn deep.

Have fun.

Rob

Right, does it look like this…..

if so I've 2 spare in my toolbox. Drop me an email (address in profile) and I'll post 'em out to you.

Rob

Think I've got some from my old Orange X2. Will see if I can find them in the garage and let you know.

Rob

Another fan of Mudlovers here. Almost as good as Gore, but can't justify the extra ££'s.
As mentioned above, the only point crud can ingress is by the mech. My old Gore cables (which lasted 7 years) came with a rubber concertina that covered the bare inner, completing the sealing.
Just fitted a new set of Mudlovers(previous one lasted 2 years)and I've added a short section of thin tubular rubber over the exposed cable inner, which will hopefully do the same job. It'll squash up as the mech shifts, then spring back out. Hopefully that should keep the crud out.

Rob

I'd buy XH558! Then when grahamt1980 goes out chav hunting with his paintballing spitfires, I could come along and carpet bomb the neds too 😀

£45million should keep me in avgas and paintballs for a few months.

Thanks for that link MicArms, been trying to find replacement lenses for ages!
Anyone else found that the outside corners of the lens can snap off, or am I just ham-fisted when swapping lenses?

Rob

Also missed the Hitler thread first time, thanks for the repeat, absolute genius.

steviegil, where abouts are you? We do the Lock Eck loop a few times each year so if you want company drop me an email: cowalmountainbikeclubATyahooDOTcoDOTuk It's not the most technical ride you'll ever do, but the scenery is stunning. We've found it best to start at Glenbranter, so you get the big climb done at the beginning, and more importantly get tea & cake at halfway (Benmore Gardens). If you're feeling fit at the end you can also divert to finish with the red grade singletrack sections at Glenbranter.

Kunstler, you certainly didn't want that upper path! We last tried it about 18 months ago and it was overgrown then. Stick to the lower forest road. Not got the KW book, but I hope it includes the nice zig zag descent from Whistlefield to Inverchapel and doesn't make you ride along the main road.

Because the forestry is so active here the trails change frequently, some becoming unridable bogs, but many new trails & link paths appearing. The OS maps can't keep up. Infact we keep finding new trails all the time. Feel free to email if you're coming over, we can show you around.

Cheers,
Rob

Cool, put a £1 coin in the slot and the trolly has pnuematic tyres.

Shinty = war with sticks.

Just watching it makes me wince.
Nutters. Incredibly skillful, but you're all nutters!!!!

Rob

Kunstler, it was indeed lovely & sunny here in Dunoon yesterday. We were up Kilbride Hill & Camels Hump and the views were fantastic.
Where were you?

Rob

Hope you mend soon young Dave.
Best wishes from Rob & Kevin the Hippo

I doubt he'd tell you it was a bit shit then!

The electrics will be the best in the world (he did that stuff)! Might give away any other stuff though!

Jon, drop an email to ButtyJim. He's no longer at Jaguar, but seeing as he part designed the X-type diesel when he worked there he might have some insider info.

If you've not got his email let me know and I'll send it onto you.

Cheers,
Rob

Glad it wasn't just me who crashed into a tree last night! Stiff knee where I smacked it on the fork crown and sore ribs from the saddle as I tried (in vain) to eject off the back!

And having spent many years trying to keep up with JonEdwards (also in vain!), he does know what he's talking about!

Happy cornering 🙂
Rob

Other alternative is the old style Hope universal caliper that bolts into the dropout with a hollow bolt

It then runs a torque arm up to the brake boss. It only runs a 155mm disc but I used it on my X2 then P7. Works best with a Hope hub because it needs a modified axle.

Have it all sitting in the garage if you're interested.

Rob

Just been through all the photos, brilliant Simon & trekster, thanks for sharing.
Glad you had a good day today. Saturday was one of the best riding days ever 😀
I woke up with pretty tired legs this morning, despite that apple pie & coffee!

Hope to meet up again sometime.
Cheers,
Rob (black P7)

PS – Kevin the Hippo has achieved a lifelong ambition by getting his photo on singletrack! He's as happy as, well, a hippo in mud!

Brilliant day out, thanks all. Looking forward to the photos.
Andrew, thanks for the top lines through the rocky bits, really chuffed with clearing them.
Electrogirl, I'll put it in writing for you – you were steaming down that last singletrack section, awesome stuff 😀

Hope the chinese was good. Certainly better than my naff carry-out from Girvin on the way home! Did get to eat it while watching the sunset over Ailsa Craig, so not all bad.

Hopefully out for a wee ride on Nancy the tandem tomorrow. Will be thinking of your poor tired bodies ripping round Dalbeatie.

Remember to keep it rubber side down.

Rob (the black P7)

PS Kevin the Hippo says Hi.