Have a look at these things. Got a good review on bearbonesbikepacking. Id go with a seat pack though

http://www.freeparable.com/monkiiwedge

Iron levels maybe? Low iron levels kicked six layers of crap out of my dad for years till he finally went for a check up. Simple change to his diet sorted it. Definitely agree with above about seeing a doc and starting from a sound base.

Is a clutch mech really that good???

Yep they do a great job of keeping the chain from flapping about. SRAM mechs do the trick too.

I’d go 10 speed if you can and maybe try the 1×10 route with a NW chainring and expander cog on the cassette. SRAM or Shimano – down to personal preference but dropping the front mech is brilliant with less weight, less to go wrong and less decisions to make while riding.

Like this? These are on the bay with 12 hours to go and current bid of £80. Like most of them for sale 2nd hand, you need to collect them but keep looking and one will turn up close enough to you.

That’s an exercise bike, not a spin bike. Which do you want? I can’t see why someone may want a spin bike, but can’t comprehend anyone who rides a real bike wanting an exercise bike.

Helpful.

Spin bikes use big heavy flywheels to replicate the effort of riding. I got an old ex-gym spin bike off ebay last year and it’s been great for training. Never got on with rollers or turbos but a spin bike with a chunky 40kg (I think) flywheel was just the thing. It does take up a lot of space and is a bugger to move about. I would say £200 would get you a stonking used spin bike. It’ll be rusty here or there and might need a new brake cable like mine but will no doubt have years of life left in it.

My all time favourite Larson cartoons. Cant decide which I love more.

This place is terrific. Super friendly, lovely food, devastatingly expensive but then that’s Paris.

http://www.lilotvache.fr/

Mate of mine have just been through this with an old established jump site in South Bucks that was going to be turned over. While it was a clusterf**k to sort it out it was well worth it. We now have an approved site where we can largely dig to our hearts content. Get in touch with the landowners, hopefully it is the Forestry Commission, and start a dialogue about ensuring that jumps are built to a proper standard. They can be remarkably helpful – our lot were. In fact, the key issue was ensuring that someone responsible was “managing” the area, which largely means stopping idiots building poor jumps and picking up the litter every now and then. Good luck with it.

Commencal perhaps? They have some pretty good deals on last year’s models ATM. Small sizes are on the small size so will fit 5’2″

http://www.commencal-store.co.uk/PBSCCatalog.asp?CatID=2352730

Riding along my driveway I flipped the visor down on my motorbike helmet one frosty morning to be confronted with a spider on the inside, just millimetres from my nose. It was tiny but from that distance it looked huge, all covered in hair with great fangs dripping venom …… I panicked and just let leapt off the bike which carried on nicely till it hit our fence, then almost throttled myself getting my helmet off. Couldn’t find the spider – reckon the force of my scream disintegrated it.

Thanks for the comments. I went ahead and bought it and built it up this morning. Should be one happy little boy this afternoon. Scratch homework though.

Yep, I have them on my fat bike and 26er hardtail. Easy to fit if you follow the instructions. The shift up is noticeably slower but it works fine and they’re not wearing any faster than a normal cog. The green ones look pretty cool too.

I like Oury grips – nice and fat though not as grippy as newer designs.

Ive always wanted a 1957 Chevy Bel Air in convertible flavour. This one would do nicely.

The blatant racism is more worrying than any creepy crawly or slithery snake…

Yep. Sadly my erstwhile adoptive nation is about the most comfortably racist country on earth. It does however have lots of good riding.

Out of Sydney head to Oxford Falls/Garigal National Park just north of the city. Like anywhere it takes a while to learn where the good stuff is so make sure you say hello to riders you meet. Everyone will be more than happy to let you tag along and show you the best bits.

Couple of lazy links below. The second one has some great trail maps.

http://nobmob.com/rides/oxfordfalls

Cheese.

That is seriously quick
kph

Ah …

Coming down I reached 75.3kph I tried everything, but it stayed glued at 75.3kph. That’s off Port De bales into Luchon.

That is seriously quick. I managed 72mph on a smooth road descent near Morzine. Got to the bottom and thought it felt a bit fast so I hit the top speed button on my bike computer and there it was. I didnt zero the tripmeter on the thing for two years.

Me to my then 5-year-old son: “That bike’s getting a bit small for you.”
Him to me: “No, it’s the same size it’s always been,”

You need to be assertive and get your women under control. Just say No! in a firm tone of voice.

Ever tried that tactic with your mother? Mine came over from Aussie for a visit and on day two insisted on visiting Ikea. She spent £40 (which is like a million Aussie dollars or something) on a few bits and pieces. We. Were. There. For. Four. Hours.

Since one of my brake cables popped out of the reservoir at the end of my driveway I always, always, check the brakes in the garage before rolling down the hill into oncoming traffic … again.

Converting a box trailer is a great idea. Or an old horse box. This one already has the de rigueur colour scheme.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Twin-Horse-Box-Trailer-Painted-In-Land-Rover-Blue-And-Cream-/181513695569?pt=UK_Sporting_Horseboxes_RL&hash=item2a430f3151

What bars are you running? Big wide ones will turn you into a windsock and probably be really uncomfortable after 3-4 hours in the one position. Consider fitting some cheap narrow flat bars and some long bar ends to get you lower and give you a couple of hand positions. And check your seat is as high as it should be to get proper leg extension and not damage your knees.

I like my Altura Pocket Rocket. Not goretex but its tiny packed up, pretty cheap and very waterproof.

@highlandman …. snooooork!!! :lol:

OnOne Inbred 26? Not the lightest frames out there, bit flexy and the paint is wafer thin but they’re cheap as chips and have nice geometry. I’d have a Cotic Soul in a second if I could afford one of course, but the Inbred will do till then.

Cheers all. Think I’ll head over to the local track and speak to the folks there and ask to ride a few different bikes.

DWH – not sure if you can PM here (cant see how) and no email in your profile. Email me if you have pix/details.

Heaps of great writing up there ^^^ though not sure if anyone has mentioned Isaac Asimov. I was obsessed with the concept of robotics when I was a kid and read everything I could get my hands on that had his name on it.

Heap of lightweight tents HERE Not exactly the cheapest site but it might help you decide what style you’re after and you can then go hunting something cheaper.

And these.

These.

Mine was brilliant for the two weeks I had it. Only issue was using it with a sprinkler, as you have to open the valve at the sprinkler end once the hose has filled with water and expanded.

Then it snagged on the edge of the steps and went bang and that was the end of it. The outer skin is pretty flimsy. I called to see if they would replace it but they wouldn’t as the instructions do state quite clearly that it is made of cling film and will explode at the merest hint of rough handling.

I didnt get the chance to use regular hose connectors on it, but the x-hose ones fit a normal hose so imagine they do.

How about Crete – the rustic, undeveloped west side rather than the east which is slowly turning into a British packaged tourism enclave. Fly to Chania. Beaches are lovely. The locals friendly and welcoming. Rental property is good value and there tavernas everywhere that are cheap and healthy.

Swinley riders facebook group here:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/SwinleyforestMTB/

My son rode into a dense patch of nettles last week and stopped on the other side to bemoan their existence, leaving me to stop in the middle of them. They heard my screams in the next village.

Ignore it and man up like Lemond in the 86 TdF.

Kentucky Fried Chicken. I think that was when they changed it to KFC.

fast forward to 5.04, turn it of at 5.14. Why do these videos needed to be accompanied by drivel?

This. Way too much waffle. And one more more close ups of yet another of his deeply meaningful/ironic/philosophical/etc tats I’d a hurled. Rather impressive jump though.

Mine’s a ’97 Klein Quantum …..

I had one of those for 4 years till some arse-hat left the apartment doors open and someone got into our flat and pinched it. Lovely bike.