Sorted! The Through Bolt from Screwfix did the job amazingly well. I just followed Kae’s blurry video and they popped out. Shame I can’t thank him :-( This is the type I used for my 6801 bearings with a 12mm inner diameter:

https://www.screwfix.com/p/easyfix-throughbolts-m10-x-120mm-10-pack/17558

Another home mechanic job ticked off the list! I just need to work out wheel building and suspension servicing and I’ve got the full house!

Cheers for the help chaps.

Cheers Davros – I was using this one:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/292484421224

I tightened it, whacked it, and it kept on flying out without the bearing attached!

If Kae’s solution doesn’t work, that is what I’ll try next….

Yeah I’m using one of them too. It slips out.

Following finding this thread:

http://forums.mtbr.com/specialized/replace-enduro-chainstay-rear-pivot-bearings-948414.html

I’m going try Kae’s solution:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoIMCVvf9sw

I’ll post up tomorrow….

Well, I gave it a go tonight. Both the sets of dropout pivot bearings refused to budge. By bottom bracket and the swingarm!

I was using a  sealed bearing removal tool (split collette type) but the bearings are so close together that I couldn’t get behind them to pull them out.

I’m flummoxed.

Yeah, saw that. They missed all the muddier sections…

Bumpity bump

Sorry, should have specified the Dawes Academy range.

http://dawescycles.com/product-category/academy/?product-page=1

No silly names there….

Good website called Chinertown.com. Loads of reviews.

I’ve been riding a 2nd hand Flyxii 202 for the last few months and it’s pretty good. Not the most u0 to date geo. But for an xc blaster it’s fine.

Check out the Dawes range. Better unisex colours than Isla and Frog and lighter (if you believe the hype).

I’ll have one to sell but not until the end of the summer! My monster loves hers.

I use one of these: https://www.decathlon.co.uk/500-smartphone-holder-black-id_8385553.html?_cclid=v3_5e64c0d0-ddd1-515f-a6ba-0e3203fee829&gclid=CjwKCAjw-6bWBRBiEiwA_K1ZDXoPOGER_94_viT7ydQo5gOhl3n2fMe8b59lKG4sEAYh9uBwP98UcRoC3UoQAvD_BwE

Sorry link thingy is broken on the Chrome mobile browser. Just Google Decathon 500 SMARTPHONE HOLDER

I’m afraid that’s four no’s. Thank you for coming. :-)

Have we mentioned the enduro fanny pack yet?  I’m so over rucksacks…

I’ve got a hemp. It looks a lot less nerdy middle-aged now I’ve shoved it through the washing machine a couple of times. I tend to find it a bit warm though.

Shwalbe Big Apple or Super Moto?

The MTP GORETEX LIGHTWEIGHT JACKET doesn’t have a hood and the arms are very short. I sent mine back.

The older one’s like zippykona is modelling above are between for riding but try to buy a long but narrow one to get the longer arms but tighter fit. The aren’t ‘original’ goretex thoguh and they  aren’t very breathable etiher.

That Andy Kirkpatrick blog had me riding softshells in the rain for a few years. I never looked back really.

I have one of the storage bottles. I have to use an extra velcro strap to keep it on over rough fast ground. I imagine they’re ok on road so long as you cycle around the potholes.

I was there about a year back with a friend on a Stache. there was a single rack at the front of the trailer that would take the 3.0 tyres. Wasn’t a problem as no one else was riding those tyres on that day!

Further to my earlier comments…. Just listened to episode 2. Bloody Mitch Ben playing Left Brain and singing one of his stupid songs. Who at the BBC actually finds him funny? He deserves to be on the kids stage at a festival somewhere, not on national radio and NOT in the HHGttG!

Otherwise it was ok.

I listened to the first episode this week and really enjoyed it. Lots of silliness that made me smile. More fun than much of the ‘comedy’ output on radio 4.

Very poignant that Stephen Hawking voiced the HGttG 2 and powered down at the end.

Just downloaded episode 2…

Local Friday night ride tonight in the slop and I’m anticipating getting the plus tyres out on Sunday to get through the snow (if I make it home from the mother in law’s birthday bash on Saturday night).

Rope in twice whenever you stop for a breather (two anchor points). Learn how your karabiners lock shut and check them twice every time. Three points of contact at any time whilst climbing. ie hand+hand+foot or hand+foot+foot. If in event of emergency hand+mouth+arse.

Its a privilege being up there. You’ll love it. 😁

Probably busy organising the Surly Dorset Gravel Dash I imagine…

W96H man myself. Got 3 other watches but the Casio is the only one with a snooze alarm…

Love mine. Probably the bike I’m least likely to get rid of (i have 5 bikes). In grey, which is IN FACT the best colour and lighter too 😁.  But Stanton are setting up their own paint shop so I may change to a burnt amber or crushed plum

Good: lovely forgiving frame, very adaptable (100mm fork = is an all day xc machine, 120mm fork = trail monster), lovely build quality, great community of owners, good customer service.

Bad: I can’t afford a Ti frame.

Buy one… The good thing about a high retail price is a good 2nd hand value.

Shimano AM9. Stick a Mycoal foot warmer in for rides over an hour. Toasty for me and i really suffer with cold toes.

BMW 3 series touring (rear wheel drive only).

I’ve had one for 4 years. Great bike. I have G Ones 38mm front and 35mm back. Tried a 38mm on the back and lost a bit of paint! I’ve ‘modified’ mine so I can run a shifter cable in it’s outer case through the frame and down the chainstay, and it seems to work fine.

reviews say it is a racy frame and not quite as relaxed as a long distance gravel touring bike, but I’ve done 100 mile rides o nit without complaint.

Frame seems pretty bulletproof, i regularly forget I’m on it and leap off something that I’d normally reserve for the suspension bikes!

If I had the choice now days I’d probably save my pennies and get a Sonder Camino ti because of the better clearances and I have flared drops on mine now anyway because they much better off road.

I bought a 2nd hand Flyxii frame for £100 to scratch a lightweight xc itch. It’s been pretty good so far, but i did my homework on http://chinertown.com

Stanton or Kona Honza i reckon .

Edit: doh, beat me to it!

I like your thinking but i don’t have any mates riding it this year. I suppose I could ask about, but none of them were even that bothered about the ballot as they’ve mostly ticked the Ride 100 box in previous years now.

Thanks all.

I think nedrapier sums it up nicely:

But I live in Surrey now, and the prospect of going into London to ride out to Surrey and back into London, then travel back out to Surrey again seems a bit perverse. Plus the money.

It’ll be my second time doing it solo too. I’ve entered every year but never got tickets on the same year as my mates! If I had a friend to travel up with and share some costs then it would be a no brainer.

So I’m definitely edging towards a ‘no’ for this year. Unfortunately the places are not transferable and you have to have photo id when you register, so no pulling a fast one. Evidently I can defer my place for a year but will have to pay full price this year and next! Nice….

I think what I might do is work out a lovely mtb route for the day which will cross over the course a couple of times and involve a pub lunch somewhere. I can ride it with a couple of mates and with the money I’m saving I won’t feel guilty about the lunch.

Or maybe I’ll just pays my money and ride around London…. Bugger it, I dunno!

I used some decathlon rubber strap cage mounts on some on one carbon monocoque forks that look a bit like the fattys. They worked ok. Only slipped diwn once when it started raining hard and the fork got slippy. Mext time I’m gonna put a couple of wraps of gaffer tape below to stop that.

Most of my 5 bikes, despite being leass than 5 years old have got obsolete standards (non-boost, 10 spd, etc.) so any upgrades to wheels amd forks are gonna cost big bucks! So my spending has been significantly curtailed due to a lack of shiny bits available.

But it actually feels quite good not feeling the need…

Got 38 on the back and 40 on the front. It’s capable but not comfortable off road and comfortable but not capable on road.

But then I’m not racing and some days only the cross bike will do!

Yeah I like them. Butcher, Purgatory, Ground Control, Fast trak. All good imo.

1 x dropper post

1 x right hand pedal

1 x light bar clamp

Body is generally working despite a couple of otb’s from hitting mud in the dark at the wrong angle (see pedal and clamp above).

Just have to keep my spirits up for another month until spring starts springing and I may have just about survived another winter.

I’ve resorted to using old and worn out drivetrains and rigid forks for most of my rides (unless I’m at a trail centre). It takes the pain out of listening to the crunch from the rear mech on every turn of the pedal.

I’ve tried it a couple of times. There is some difficulty getting sti shifters to work with mtb mechs, and you’re limited to cable brakes unless you want to spend big bucks. But the biggest issue I’ve had is that the two bikes I’ve tried this on (Felt Nine and Ramin 3) have not handled as well or ridden as comfortably as they did with flats and bar ends! The looked the biz tho…

Ditto for me. Found they held on to their water. When back to poly.

I’m in after 2 years of no success! Did it once before in the year of that hurricane, so looking forward seeing some of the route this time.

Just wondering if I need more than 10 gears on my cx bike…?

Nah, it’ll be fine. 😁

It’s an odd design of clamp but it’s been fine on my carbon knuckleballs with a addition of paste.