Good effort

Well done for catching and for not giving him a kicking. That would have felt so good but you guys would have been in trouble then

Nice to get one back 🙂

Thanks guys

Any updates tomorrow would be great

Will get booked tomorrow

Those who worry about the weight are all anally retentive and therefore can’t take a dump.

Fair point 🙂

I think the science tends to understate the benefit of bike weight , especially mountain biking. Even through one pedal stroke no one applies uniform power so there are minor acceleration / decelerations every single pedal stroke which mount up over long days out

No doubt a lighter bike (and lighter wheels in particular) makes a difference

That said it is one of many factors. Your fitness, your weight, bike stiffness, suspension action & tyre rolling resistance are all obvious other factors

I have a 35 lb bike and a 26 lb bike. Not scientific but a couple of years ago I did timed full out climbs (1 week apart) to the top of Cwm Carn. 26 mins on the ‘light’ bike 34 mins on the ‘heavy’ bike. Weight was just one factor of course.

All things being equal a lighter bike will climb & accelerate faster and will be easier to move around and slow down.

That of course does not make lighter better. Depends on your riding priorities.

Oh and to the’ have a dump’ crew. Since when did having a lighter bike stop you having a dump? Surely you can do both?

So the moral is stay clear of me at events. 🙂

Kimbers – were you on the Kona (132)? Good to meet you BTW. Maybe see you in Salisbury?

Results out.

I caught and passed rider 129 on stage 1. Despite that he is showing as 2 seconds faster than me. I timed myelf over a minute faster than I was recorded. Other sections look about right for me.

Was a great event but not good if the timings are off. Can only assume it was the passing that caused the confusion

Reckon that cost me 2nd in the Sport cat 🙁

Thanks guys, though I gues we still don’t know what the initials are for 🙂

For rebound, turning clock wise certainly seesm to give more damping.

That would imply that the LSC & HSC sticker is on the wrong way round 🙁

Thanks P20. I have that but it does not esplain the damping setting controls. Appreciate you sending on anyway.

No manual

S seems to give more compression H gives less.

Also shows H & S for the rebound adjustment as well as the LSC & HSC

Loved the event. Just signed up for race 2 now. Very lucky with the weather. Would love to do stage 3 again knowing the track.

Pity the timings are so long in coming. I am also nervous that mine will be off a bit with me passing the guy in front of me on stage 1 and then him dropping out (I assume). Twice the end time keeper shouted after me referring to me as 129 when I was actually 130.

Neil – was good to meet you and chew the fat on all things biking 🙂

Just back guys. Great advise all round.

Will see if I can get some time with Jedi set up

Thanks guys. All very help full advice

Sounds like I have a wealth of reources on my doorstep that somehow have passed me by 😕

Sorry Steve. Stockwood springs? Where is that?

Not sure about the BMX track. I am sure there are but I need to look. May need to hit that before the kids get up 😳

Was thinking of giving Jedi a shout also. Aftershock did you use Jedi specifically for doubles or just recommending him as agood coach in general?

Great product design but very poor quality for the price

Loved my knee & leg protectors (Bone?) in terms of fit and protection

Falling apart slowly from about the 3rd outing. Got them at 30% off. RRP is £100. Shocking quality for that price TBH

This has been a good thread. 🙂

Think there is not a lot to add here but I will emphasie 2 points already made

Focus on smoothness, and think about the basic techniques. Speed will come.

Look as far ahead as you can.

The only other point I would add is go a little faster than you are comfortable with for certain sections. Slowly that ‘comfort’ speed will increase

Yes dlr I did that cycling as I emptied the air pressure as well and your right it took a few releases to clear it

However I think the source of the issue has been a very, very tight seal. As I was heading out today it completely pulled away from the top of the lowers and was ‘stuck’ on the stanchion (air chamber side)

This was very clsoe to home so went home lubed the seals up and pushed it back into place. Then I needed to set the run the air pressure at the recommended level.

Now I have a totally differnt issue. The seal is popping up periodically – stopped me going out today as I did not want to risk it coming away un noticed and dirt getting into the fork. Any one have tips on what I need to do to get it to stay put?

No worries at all Beb and thanks for the comments. The TRC discussion was helpful for me as well. I debated if I needed it and opted not to go for it as I doubted I would use it

Thanks all

Been through all the recommendations above several times (appreciate all the pointers). Alas the end result is that they are still way too firm. Now used 3 different shock pumps to make sure I had the right readings.

Even with no air in there they are pretty firm. Guessing that they would be close to correct sag with no air?

Basically seems like there is an issue. Will hopefully get it resolved quickly by R53, otherwise my easter w/e riding plans will take a hit 🙁 . Will be pretty angry if that is the case after shelling out that much cash.

Will keep you posted

Thanks Guys

Steve was that straight out the box?

Geetee – your recommendations have helped but they are still super firm even at a much lower than recommended pressure. I usually run a spring rate up in my coil forks (firm rather than Medium) so I do tend towards firmer settings.

Another bed in ride tomorrow and if they still feel pretty firm at around 50% of recommended pressure then I will call R53 on Monday

Geetee

Is this the move it 10mm gentle up and down a few times after you are done thing? Did that but will rest and have another go

Are you running close to the recommeded pressure?

Thanks Guys – much appreciated

Loco will keep an eye on the website

Boxfish I hope one day I can be as cool as you. Love the devil may care attitude 🙄

I like knowing the names of trails as it helps me describe where things are to other riding buddies and for thenm to describe stuff to me. My job means I regaularly have to ride on my own so it’s good to get an update form my riding buddies on what they have done and any ‘new’ stuff they have found. We all know Leigh Woods pretty well but if we find a new trail that is not close to a named route it can be a pain explaining where it is

Like ‘Son of Knicker’ – certainly better than ‘that one a few yards down from the knicker trail.

Hoping to check out that new (?) trail off to the right near the end of what was the rim trail.

What do you guys call the one to the left of the Picnic table? The less steep but rockier / faster one than comes out maybe 50 m further up the climb back up? Is it just one of the Picnic table runs. I always consider the Picnic Table to be the one that starts with the steepish rocky / rooty chute.

Really is a pain figuring out what people are referring to in LW or if you have to describe oit to someone else. I always wanted to find ‘Jerry’s trail’ turns out that was another name people used for Knicker trail. Looked for it for a long time 😳

I have thought it must be more than one old guy. Last picnic table clearance was big job for me and my mate and we are not slight chaps :oops:.

Would genuinely like to ask them why they do it and what they hope to achieve

In the meantime I will enjoy the great trails and consider them a minor inconvenience. Hopefully that is all it will ever be. Fear it is an accident waiting to happen though.

All the local trails are great at the moment and the LW off piste and 50 Acre complement the ‘groomed’ trails nicely

Stick Man has been stupid busy of late. I do tend to ride very early. I have not met him but have spent many hours over the past few months clearing his handy work. Notaably from The Picnic Table & Rocky Horror. Thankfully he seems to be oblivious to Knicker Trail.

TBH it is a total pain but makes me even more determined to ride locally.

My experience is that you will get back to and proabably beyond where you were fairly quickly if you work hard. Exactly how long is impossible to say. Depends on age, how unfit you have become, weight gain and how much (& hard) you can now train.

My mate packs his bike away from around Nov to March every year. He does some stuff to keep fit and healthy and generally gains around 0.5 to 1 stone (12 up to 12.5 – 13 ). He started this around 6 years ago and every year he is stronger than the previous for his key events in July / August. He is 42, takes the first few weeks steady and builds from there.

Good luck

Both events?

What’s there other. Out there for 2.5 weeks may even want to do both 🙂

Hey Guys

Good effort helping take this forward.

Cannot help on Q’s 1&2

On 3.

I frequently pay £30 for an Innerleithen uplift. That gets me 8 uplifts to ~ 2/3rds of the way up the hill with a push up track for the last 3rd.

It takes all day and you can only sign on for a full day

The draw is simple though. The DH tracks are amongst the best in the UK and therefore it is dificult to commit interest to hillend without knowing the quality of trails.

Assuming they are very good I would have thought £15 to £20 for half a day (4 hours) and £30 for a day (8 hours) unlimited uplifts would be a go-er. Maybe?

Maybe some evening slots in summer £10 for 2 (3) hours.

Maybe a season ticket option for locals?

Tracks need to be good enough for non locals to come though.

Other thing would be a good cafe at the bottom.

I really hope this is not true.

If it is I will absolutely post some opposition. A great place for biking (amongst other things)

Anyone have a central link (I will search for one later – just being lazy)

JW was a model professional, an exceptional straight up tackler and a very good kicker.

As an attacking threat and backline ‘conductor’ he was limited at best.

The English media & fans probably over rated him (in general)

As a professional rugby player (who to my mind moved the definition of that up a notch) he will be missed.

Rode clipped in for years

Switched to flats a few years ago. Now I ride > 80% of the time on flats. Love all the advantages listed already

Use Time ATAC’s for racing & longer, less technical rides.

Good shoes make all the differnce though (5 10’s here also)

I forgot to refit mine for the Real Ale Wobble. My 2 mates had theirs
on. At the end there was no doubt which of us had not used one

They do work very well especially if riding faster

All year round here too

Woolie Boolie’s. Great piece of kit

Yes – all the best Gareth

At least 2 of mates go primarily to acquaint themselves with the Cougar community 😳

Love the comment above

some people seemed to be there more for the beer than the riding which I found a bit odd too

Sent that to my group. Comic genius

Saturday night, pants man in the mosh pit was awesome

That was pure class. As we were recounted stories over brekkie I nearly spat my coffee as that one was brought up. The thing was it just seemed to make sense at the time.

Hit 53mph coming off the Galibier. My mate passed me. He claims he topped 60mph. Certainly seemed possible giving the rate he pulled away from me. No doubt I could have gone faster but did not have the bottle

Another awesome weekend

Definitely roughest I have felt on the actual ride. Did seem to lift a bit up the first climb.

The ‘long’ ride was pretty short this year. Even in a hungover state it was a 2.5 hour ride, certainly not the claimed 35 miles (35km’s maybe ?). Enjoyed it but did feel like I was a bit short changed in terms of ride time (I know actual riding is almost incidental)

Top night both Friday & Saturday. Stone Croft mosh pit was class on Saturday 😀

Thanks guys. All very helpful

I did want to give the business to my BBS but > £100 price difference is hard to pass up on

Think the Sektors win it for me. Tick all the boxes and bike24 have been excellent in the past

Done the Etape in 2009

Really glad I did as it is a great event and a good one to have done. That said it is expensive and the finish being often very far away form the start is a real faff.

Did the Marmotte last year and will be doing it again this year. It is a tough event. Enjoyable, well organised and it is great to start and finish from AdH.

These events are great motivation to train & get fit. Will probably aim for 1 a year for a while now