Belgium is fantastic! Not only the Beer/Choc/Chips/ the people ore fantastic.

But the number one reason by almost a metric mile is the Chimay Moto Classique – As you can probably tell a classic motorcycle race held on public roads, and I raced it this year! A Motorcycle race, sponsored by a beer company!!!!! FFS, on entry you are given a 1L bottle to ‘enjoy’ at your leisure!!!!!

Turn up the sound on this – only if you like motorcycles flat out – Check out how close people are to the ‘track’

Best Country Ever…..

When I used to stay in a hotel, we used 'Hotel du Soleil' in St Raphael. Its a bit of a trek from the site but its a clean and tidy little place with an odd (but satifying) breakfast….

Great event, couldn't recommend it enough. If you haven't entered for the main event yet you will be buried in the back with all the useless frenchies on the start.

Dont forget the weather, it October and its really warm (usually +25degrees) and the dust is incredible. Not like some of the uk events at that time of year.

IHN – Pop over and see us on the stand at Mayhem if you wanna look round a van that cost £15k….. Its got everything.

If not just message me up and pop over in the evening – i'm guessing your still in Glos.

Specialized – Roubaix front with 'normal' lycra backs. Ideal for this time of year and good value too. Whilst your there get the knee warmers too. They fit down to mid calf rather than just under the knee…. Lovely.

Yes – Just built my frame and its fricken sweet – Best trail bike I have ridden, buy one tomorrow.

Easy, go and see any of the hire places in Torbole and they can hook you up. Me and a mate did a fly/ride for a few days a few years back. It was super cheap – Check out the '601' down from the Altissmo and as a 'spur' off it check out the '6'. Super sweet decending….

There is even a bike specific hotel in Torbole. all very MTB orientated. If not Riva del Garda has loads of hotels and you can pay as little or as much as you like.

SRAM – (+) Brakes are waaay stronger than Shimano, shifting stays in line better too
(-) Feels a little like an Italian group, IE agricultural and makes more noise

Shimano – (+) Superslick shifting, easy to get spares newer groups now have hidden cable's, cranks are the stiffest out there.
(-) Not as nice to look at (IMO), brakes can be poor and soggy.

Both setups are excellent and as it has been said before see what you can get on a deal. I prefer SRAM but would gladly ride Shimano (and have done,lots)

To give it the full title Hobby Alkoven 570 – Its based on a 2.8 Fiat Ducato with an ALKO chassis…. year 2000 model year.

Sweet, looks like a double at the back. Cheaper on the boats then?

Not quite the same – We only have single bunks at the back but it does mean we are under 6m in length! Also the 'van has a dual floor so all muddy bike kit/'van kit is kept out of the living space. It means its proper toasty down to about whatever temp you like. No frozen tanks or anything.

We dont tend to travel light though, but we dont have to rely on sites when were in the alps. Best place to stop is the massive Aire in Digne le Bains at the foot of the great trails there!

We started off with a T25 westy but found it lacking in space (for 2 people with bikes let alone with kids!)

Our £15k budget went on this – We keep the bikes in a heated garage!!!!! Shower/toilet/blown heating – Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaay better…..

Definately Teams from 04/05

Why not just phone TF and find out the price?

We now have this,

but we did have this

I'm looking to get rid of my 53 combo, its been a brilliant van if your interested – Great in the snow! Its a little more than £1k but ultra reliable…..

Message me if your interested, but if not combo's are great little vans and great for running about in.

have you been using Shimano joining pins to reconnect?

If not this will cause the majority of problems, if not use the correct SRAM powerlink….

can i gently toss my hat into the ring for this one? If i'm free…..

I'll be up for some hardcore 'pie mincing'…..

Fairly obvious really.

But where was the mention of Bradley Smith, Scott Redding and Danny Webb! Flipping BBC your a cunch of bunts!

yeah, that was us – I peered over to check you guys out, I thought it might be. We would be interested in joining next time – mrs TM isn't very expirenced so is the ride fast or leisurely? Would it be OK to join in?

Look further up the trail, keep your head up, make sure you keep as much tension out of your arms and shoulders as possible. – just like riding a motorbike….

I have a box of nearly 100 Clarks inners if you want them 95% full maybe more? – Never really used them just cluttering up the shed….

Probably could do you lengths of brake outer as well…..

'Racing is life, anything else is just waiting…..

Le Mans

I was made redundant just before christmas- Not the nicest thing to happen but have taken it as a positive thing – So took an intensive adult learning course in site carpentry and passed today!! So now i’m a qualified carpenter and in the mean time found one of the best jobs ever back in the industry i was made redundant in…

Rather than chasing my arse all over the country (45,000miles a year) never riding my bike i’m working monday to friday and riding my bike more and more!

Redundancy is awful for a lot of people and I can sympathise but for me it has been a positive experience….

Its a pain in the arse and it will not help you find the travel your missing.

However if you would rather spend the evening in the shed rather than the pub…..

It might be too much oil. Check the volume againt SRAM.com technicall. Same with the lowers

Really dont pull the turnke apart….

The only thing to check would be the oil volume in the turnkey and in the lower legs – if this is correct then I wouldn’t start stripping that apart…

crown mounted? Is it an air fork?

could be a number of things – Do you have a remote lever?

there is but dont…. believe me.

Whats wrong with it?

Thats Numberwang!

Ronald McDonald called, he would like his bike back…..

Don’t leap up and down on the bars when your out the saddle….

Someone else whining about how Shimano chains are crap by the looks of things. Even though by there own admission that they are run too tight for too long. But its definately the manufacturers fault….

I’m Gloucester based if you want any help – I know my way around a bike a bit

Amen – I will not ride with anyone who wont wear one.

5’8″ 31″ inside leg Sz Medium with a 90mm stem is perfect….

TFT is always good – get it serviced up and sorted and your trance’ll be awesome. Had one for 3 years and it was awesome. Then the shock got sorted after I had the same problem, it was even better.

You can do it but it makes a bit of a pop – Perhaps send it away, and get them to make the rebound a little stronger as they do tend suffer with enough on them older Trance’s

Its passed air from the air chamber to the other side behind the seals-Need the main air piston O (x) ring replacing…

Who knows! In the camper to start with 😆

Would like to be somewhere in the south with nice wine…..