Did you just send your bike out on it's own then ?

Couldn't unfreeze all the padlocks and doors to my mtb this morning so was forced to ride a 'girl's Raleigh something or other' you know the sort 'all condition tyres, one brake working (sort of), 2 working gears, rigid forks, slipping seatpost with turning saddle etc.,' but it got me to work and back -16 miles – through deep snow, packed snow, slippery ice and all !
A well meaning relative gave it to me about 3 years back, I pumped the tyres up and it's sat around most of that time doing nothing. I'd planned to just ride back part of the way then leave it against a wall but I ended up bringing it home…..a bike's not just for Christmas, it seems.
Got my 'proper' bike ready for tomorrow now but will it be as good ???

Here wait a minute. Did I miss something ? Are you giving up riding or something or just dying ?

"On the trail you'd just pop a tube in until you get home & then add some sealant & re-inflate then…."
So you STILL have to carry a tube then ? I had a new bike some years ago that had a tubeless wheel set-up but I changed straight back to the 'normal' set-up where you have to carry a tube…oh hang on…???

When you said 'flats' I thought "good it wasn't just me who had to put 3 patches on tubes today!" AND I wasn't even offroad, just riding across the ice and snow to work.
But when it comes to flat pedals – that's all I use now (my knees just won't take anything else) so welcome to the 'other' flat club !

I've got a Kryptonite which is great – wouldn't want to carry it far but it looks serious, and I use various others as well. Last one I brought was a cable lock with a built in alarm.
Felt this was okay until speaking to a cyclist recently who had 2 bikes stolen – locked up in a secure garage with a ground lock, two motor cycle chains and another couple of bike locks !
Certainly fit some sort of alarm up as well – one that doesn't go off when it feels like it, ofcourse.
Just NEVER get careless and always take the time to lock it all up – everytime !!

Jetwash ? God no just 3 buckets of collected rain water thanks to water butts everywhere. Quick chain lube and it went to sleep again. I was in a bit of a rush so, no doubt, when I actually look closer at the bike it will look terrible but I'll be out on it in a day os so again so maybe then I'll clean it properly ! Considering what I'd ridden through it wasn't bad at all. Probably the last bit being on a wet road helped !
Thanks for the message.

Shirley the weight ???
Well it always makes my decision easier – usually go for XT 'cos I can't afford XTR. Deore are MUCH heavier AND don't last very long usually, or so I've found!

Jimbo, (stu from HR here) if you've got size 7 feet (which I don't think you have some how) you can use a pair I brought a few years ago and decided they were c£ap !
But then you read some of the comments here and you start thinking "well maybe I should give them another go…if they fit you can 'try before you buy'!

Had a Labrador on my calf this year ! Not sure how long he was there but it seemed ages ! So maybe….

I think goog, Bushwacked wanted suggestions made by actual users. You know, mountain bikers who use a forum like this one perhaps !!??

Cheers Ian

I can't believe it ! Usually when someone says they are doing the SDW at anytime there's usually some moron comes on saying how easy it is and how they did it on a unicycle blinfold or something !!
Well done guys, VERY good advice !

Some great advice there guys. Some I knew from the previous breaks but I never did any of the deep breathing stuff – obviously 'cos it hurt – but I've just done some and it was just bearable so I'll stick to that.
I had decided not to go to the docs but after reading qwerty12's post I think I will this time !
Cheers all !

I've had loads of 'Dale forks and all were fine but, like ANY fork, they do need a service occasionally. AND, as you've found out, it's not cheap. I've just paid £200 to get my Pace forks done (needed a new steerer and top brace too though). Look around at other forks but you'll be hard pressed to find a fork as light as your dale one and it's all tucked out of the way so is less prone to the crud that other forks suffer with. Add it up and stick with the Cannondale. You'll probably have to send it off somewhere but a hell of a lot of forks are NOT done in your local bike shop !

Mate of mine used to loosen his stem to fit his bike in his car for mtb races. This particular time I was chatting to him AFTER a race when I noticed he'd got his forks facing the wrong way. Thought it was riding funny he said ??

Good of you to NOT send it anyway ! Haven't seen a 'dale crack for a long time now – just Konas and Oranges. Happens to 'em all at sometime I guess. Being a Rush it can't be that old so surely it's covered by warentee ??

…oh yeah, forgot to say I used to fall off a lot more in those days !!

Used to race a lot on Conti's 1.5" cross country tyres which was great in the days of V-brakes 'cos it stopped all the build up of mud you got on anything bigger. Mind you I was on full sus which took the shock of riding on the high pressures you had to run so they didn't snake bite.
I suppose you being on a ss will be running no brakes with no suspension and be hard enough to take the pounding so go for those 'cos they only weigh 400 odd gms at the most !!

Still…on the bright side it only lasts 7 or 8 months !

Cheers guys, when he got here the back wheel just wouldn't spin – though he had been out for a ride ?? – he did say the uphills were a bit tough !! – anyway after spending time levering the pistons apart then trying to work out which way the pads should face – shorter bit to the front ?? – he left with a spinning wheel – NOT perfect but spinning anyway and my advice to 'slam' his brakes on hard a few times and they SHOULD be fine – probably !

Can't believe ss'rs use TYRES – call yourselves PURE cyclists !!

Cheers for that tip baldspot (are you an Indian ?) You don't know my Apache mate – 'flies over handlebars' do you ?

Strange that some people on here obviously NEVER eat or stop riding FASTER than anyone else AND no doubt BETTER than anyone else !
The rest of us HAVE to eat sometimes and don't really like the suggestion we are 'posing' or only go to Afan for 'Drop Off' and not for the trails – like I would travel 4 1/2 hours for a sandwich !
I've only used it a few times but I've been more than pleased with the food, I guess, if you live on the doorstep the menu would seem limited but that could be aimed at ANY of the fast food options "do you want fries with that ?" And most other alternatives when you think about it.
My mates and I will miss it – where the hell are we going to 'pose' now ??

I'd at least get different forks put on if the bike is as 'good' as you say. They should change them as ANOTHER good will service. If they were brand new they'll just send them back as defective anyway.
Hopefully, you were just on a run of bad luck and once another set of forks are on you'll look back and laugh with the owner of the shop !!

A 'mate' of mine talked me into doing the South Downs Way on the back of a tandem after I'd entered an orgainised event as a solo.
I was map reader so I told him a turn was coming up and we only went a couple of yards past the 'bush' we had to go right at but he moaned and didn't talk to me for the next 60 odd miles until we called it a day at Ditchling Beacon (near home !) It was the hottest day of the year and he got heatstroke so didn't even recognise paths we'd regularly ridden !
I miss my tandem – but not my 'mate'.

Thanks Chunky. So…..do you prefer the normal Kit Kat still ?

Hey stumpy, I put Speedkings front & rear on the other day but took them off the next day as I thought they dragged (rear tyre on the way they suggest). Was it just me being rubbish that day or what ? Also I find them a real pain to get on my rims (Spinergy). How are they with you ? I have to use tyre levers to put them on even !!
This from someone who was looking at the low knobblies compared to the 'draggy' Trailrakers which are now back on for Wales this weekend.

Course, if he was on a mountain bike he could make a tie using an old inner tube ! See what I did there ?

See it's in the right forum now ….

They do a Mars drink in the £1 shop – Horsham anyway – not sure if it's the 'refuel' but it's worth a look – not particularly knocked out by it but if it does help on recovery I might get some in !

Not sure but I think it was even £1 for TWO bottles. Ofcourse, I might be wrong on all this…

I had to read this one and I'm not interested in road stuff but what is a 'ight road rim'?
Is it the same as a right one ? Isle of Wight ? Might ? Tight' bright, fight…..?? It's slight isn't it ?

I seem to remember that the titanium was supposed to come from Russian Migs ?? Either way, mate of mine had one and that cracked too – I think it was the same place as yours Stirling. Don't know if he's still got it – lost contact with him about 3 years ago – but he did say that of ALL the bikes he'd had (hardtails and full sussers) he would choose that one. Can't remember if that was BEFORE it cracked though…

I can't remember the last Shimano cassette I brought and I run 3 bikes and ride every day. Sram for me but NOT the cheapest one – probably the same with everything you buy, shirley !

So….nobody likes the Soles then ? To be honest, I've put them on 3 bikes we've got 'cos they are nice and easy to setup and change pads (no more draws of various pads) etc., AND I ride just about every day and raced just last month with no problems but I sometimes feel a little 'under braked', so was thinking about the change. Maybe 3's aren't the BIG change I was hoping for then. I'm only 10 stone and 5' 6" so shouldn't need too much stopping but I might get back to you baldysquirt. Have a good holiday. I'm off to Wales in a couple of weeks and as long as my Hayes stops me, I'll let you know….thanks everybody for your advice.

Cheers everybody, that's really helped. I'm sure I've got an old rear mech kicking around. Shame though, adding the extra bits – just like a 'geared' bike really – adds the bit of extra weight I was hoping to lose in this project !
So….why was I making this bike singlespeed again ?? Lighter ? Cheaper ? Less dangly bits hanging down ? mmmm…probably not then !
More pain for my knees ? That's the one !
Oh shoot !

I had a pair of Specialized tyres that I brought from a 'high end – big head' shop in Horsham and the knobblies just peeled off on my second ride. The shop didn't want to know (they 'are racing' tyres' – I couldn't afford to do one race then chuck my tyres) but Specialized sent me a replacement pair. I put these on a bike I was selling – looked really nice !
Importance of keeping receipts I guess. Good luck on your case.

I've got a Gemini that I also love and they stopped doing that to make way for the Prophet and to show there's no bad feeling my favourite shirt has PROPHET emblazoned in big letters on the front. I've always ridden 'dales and they will always make frames that I'll want to buy, so don't worry, just enjoy…..

Brilliant course and great conditions for racing. Many thanks to Rory and all the guys for doing the business.
Just about to put this on the big dog forum but did anyone lose a cycle computer during the race. One of our 'massive team of supporters' picked one up.
See you all next year, can't wait !!

RORY RULES UK !

I'm starting at 11 but don't tell anyone….hee hee!

Oh yeah – this being the bike forum – yeah good bike the Specialized Stumpy ! That's what you meant, right ?