Sorry, * there we go. 😉

Depending on your strengths you may find a ‘granny’ ring is entirely necessary in XCO races.

I find this elitist nonsense quite depressing, and not entirely encouraging to new riders trying XC racing.

I think if you’re using a granny ring in an XC race, you probably shouldn’t be racing….

*coughBS*cough

No result up yet (I have seen?), would like to think I had a decent result.

Brutal as always round Hengrove – I think I may have some footage of you/us going over the first rail.

Tricky – where did you get the photo from. I rode Hengrove today, top 7 sure were strong, good course except for the fricken headwind!

Nigel Slater – it’s not irrational, he’s a ****

New Lower Price?

Thread Hijack!

I was just thinking of getting rid of my medium Giant Omnium – with Mavic Ellipse, Miche Primato Chainset, D/A sprockets and Deda bar/stem.

MSG me for details if youre interested

I used to ride at Newport and now Ive changed jobs its just not getting used anymore.

/Thread Hijack

Don’t quite know where to start with all that….

*facepalm

I dont care that you dont want it done, I just can’t understand your desire to prevent other people from the benefit.

There are some people who have taken much of this information and use it in an intelligent way, but none of it is secret, none of it is a black art and all of it is available to everyone to learn for themselves.

I completely agree, but then a lot people earn money specialising in a field. Just because the info is there doesn’t mean most people can interpret it to apply to them.

This thread seems to wave wildly from people who’ve had experience by having a fit done and finding benefits to others that have no experience of the process claiming its all snake oil and completely useless.

Most of the bikefitters I know are experts in the field and have a long history of improving performance via diet, training and, as painful as it may be, fitting people to bikes. If you are looking to improve, then this forms another part of the puzzle to extracting the best from your body. If you visit a proper fitter, they will change your bike and how you interact with it but they should also give you the info on how you can continue to change it as your body changes.

Remember, this is all optional, you dont have to buy it. But because someone else decides thats what they want, its not your place to tell them they are wrong.

Back of the net!

Thanks for the tips

Was out this evening up and down the escarpment, awesome trails in perfect condition. I have ridden across from the top Frocester toward Selsley before, but it looks like the trail pixies have been out cutting in some super flowy trails. That means more must be in there somewhere. I’ll start to head toward Nailsworth over the next few weeks then and jump into those woods and check it out.

‘Made in the same factory as’ and ‘made to the same quality as’ could be 2 completely different things….

There are 2 massive manufacturers in China that make all Giant, Cervelo, Scott, Trek, Ridley, Colnago and Specialized carbon frames, plus literally hundreds of other brands

*snigger

Ours is a full service motorhome with a rear garage that will take 4 bikes, plus BBQ, plus toolbox, Plus spares and comes in under 6m. I have driven it all over the alps and the UK into race sites and such like. we get about 25mpg, and itll happily cruise on the motorway at 70mph if you wish and still return that. I quite like driving it, the elevated driving position is good, and itll hustle along B roads surprisingly well. 2.8fiat engine is enough on the hills, and isn’t too noisy.

It’ll sleep 4 adults comfortably for a decent trip or 6 if your very good friends (over cab double, dining area double and 2 rear bunks) Full blown air heating and enough hot water for a decent shower post ride is ace. Its warm enough in the winter for trips away, I’ve slept comfortably in it at -8 without really noticing. External gas point allows us to hook a BBQ into the gas supply(LPG from the pump

I know what I would replace it with, if I had too and it would basically be the same

*this isn’t mine for sale – just an example of it

Motorhome Perfection

Dammit, missed that…

Ill keep an eye.

Ta

Oo, what was it and at what price?

Cowbells? My wife brought ours along one winter and got complaints. Cyclo-cross should be performed in silence it would seem….!

I’ll be at a few of them, I love ‘cross. Proper outdoor sport for men….(and women, obviously)

Yes – think this year is my 10th.

The 58/55/53km Sunday is the ‘big’ one but all courses are pretty good. I usually do a 40km on the Friday to open the legs then ride the Sunday.

My number one race of the year – sunshine in October, plus beachside beers. Ace. You’ll see me there as usual…

Yours by quite a large margin. You’re very lucky to not be injured and also not on the receiving end of a large repair bill to his car.

Some days it seems like every thread on STW is about paypal problems.

Bravo Sir, well played.

Surely its time for….

Yup damn expensive, but worth it. On STD van tyres we used to find the rear end was very wayward, tramlining on the motorway sliding around in corners. Fitted the Michelins and it stopped all that. It may be because they are just better quality. But the sidewalls are stiffer, but give a nicer ride and they can be inflated to a higher pressure. Also with the Motorhome being loaded all the time they have a higher force rating. Quieter everywhere and seem to run less hot, ie on the old van tyres, i couldn’t put my hand on the surface if we stopped at the services, that worried me – if that ever had a blow out, it was stick your head between your legs and kiss your ass goodbye. Michelins are also Mud and Snow rated too.

Proper motorhome for us. We had an ace Westfalia T3 high top. Loved it for being a VW and being part of the scene. But the truth was, it wasn’t big enough and everything had to be moved to do anything. We sold up and bought a 2000 Ducato Hobby. Its under 6m long, has a garage and a fixed over cab bed.

LH drive is perfect for us, easy to drive, easy to live in (when we sold the house we moved into it) everything has a place in it. Gas outlet for a BBQ and an awning so outdoor living is ace but double floor for winter protection. Our biggest ‘upgrade’ for us was proper camper tyres, make the world of difference. Having a toilet and shower is wonderful especially if your racing, come back, shower something to eat and head home. No restrictions on toilet use, no point. If you only use a cassette for night time use the stench will build up over a few days. Use it every day and they are fine and clean and never stink. Chemical ‘tea bags’ are cheap and very easy to use.

I wouldn’t want use to go back to a van conversion, too much of a compromise.

These are my experiences, yours may differ.

*double facepalm

We bought Mrs TM a 2002 E46 325I with 86k on the clock for £3250 a few weeks back. Returns 30+mpg, and is supremely comfy. Will be buying another for me when the Mini needs to go back and leap off the car finance ‘merry-go-round’

Any Diesel will always have the spectre of a failed turbo hanging over them and you’ll soon wipe out any ecomonmy savings if it does go.

A truly engaging and entertaining man to listen to, glad to have met him if only once. He looked at things, said ‘we can do it better/different’ and went and did it. The world will miss people like this, it his type of eccentric inovation that moves it forward by small steps.

I very rarely comment on the RIP threads, but this man was different.

Lego is ace and always will be – couldn’t care one bit if this is true or not….

Rolled a soft top sports car….

Just got from there myself, at least 4 or 5 riders getting patched up. Take easy out there it hurts…. RTC – FTW!

Oh and thanks to Gloucester Ambulance service for being awesome, Gloucester Royal Emergency for being super nice and patching my head back together!

I’ve been trying this for about 6-8 weeks – As with all competitive cyclists I’m always looking to lose weight and after loosing about 15kg about 18months ago I found I hit a level and only ever lost or gained small amounts.

I have found I haven’t lost a great deal more weight, about 6kg but I’m certainly leaner, ie ribs and jawline are much more pronounced. I found I always train on my fasting days and I feel really strong, I have also found when I do ride I am much more able to ‘feel’ my hunger level so can eat accordingly.

I tend to eat my ‘fast’ allowance in one meal, so can focus my hunger on, wait till mrsTM comes home and we can eat rather than small amounts in the day. Unfortunately, I’m an all or nothing person and don’t do moderation very well, so for me I can be hard on myself and say nothing to eat till 7pm suck it up. May not wot work for someone else.

I know I’ve rambled, so i’ll finish with this. MrsTM’s parents are both diabetic, controlled with pills (type2 maybe) an have found with the fasting they have reduced their overall medication by about 80% to achieve the same results.

*facepalm

80kg ain’t a skinny roadie … that’s a roadie that would get dropped up most hills

Quite handy up some Belgian hills as I recall…

*Edited*

Its compatible.

You are using Shimano cables…….

Love my 2009 Advanced frame – I would have replaced it by now normally but it’s just too damn good.

Ridden over the cobbles of Belgium – comfy. Ridden local road races – punchy and stiff. Giant post is limited but it’s light and the clamp works well, never felt the need to replace.

Hymer-tastic

IMHO I would aim for something German like a Hymer or Hobby as the quality tends to be better. The Brit built stuff doesn’t seem to age well.

When your traveling in Europe you see loads of Dutch and German Hymers that are plenty old enough to be in your price range…..

Think about a coil shock rather than an alternative air shock….

S’wat I did on on my fuel EX – still pedals great, resists bottom out good over the small stuff.

Coil FTW

As long as your under the *max pressure set it up so it works properly not how the long since revised hand book suggests.

What frame is it?

Have you spoken with TF or just emailed them – Phone them, tell them what you want.

The truth is to ‘custom tune’ an RP23 it all needs to come apart. You are actually only seals away from a service. TF may be quoting for a PUSH tune on that shock and that is new components but will make a proper difference.

Are you sure you want (need) a custom tune, custom only really works if you know what your looking for. IE set it up for YOU. Ride the bike, enjoy the sunshine, dont worry about the suspension.

Look out for the Western League too.

Mostly Bristol/Gloucester/Cheltenham based