My targets are for next year now, top 10 in solo at 24/12 to celebrate my 50th.
Wales end to end, pub to pub in 5 days and to actually get to ride abroad without a volcano to stop me 😆

OK, feeling really dumb now, thinking I was wrong somewhere I put the rim and hub back into the calculator and come up with 259mm.

Skulking away now in shame at my general dimness.

mmb I did wonder if 2mm would make a difference, it's my first go so being careful.

Daft, I didn't think about asking LBS, doh!

nickc, it's an old Hope XC hub with a Mavic xm819 rim

Primal Scream, cry myself blind.

What tyres for…?

I'll have a look at Sarn Helen.

Thanks surfer I'll do that.

I didn't hear about it. Time pressure stops me doing the events that I'd like to do and this year seems to have been unavoidably busy.

Next year I will mostly be riding 8)

+1 Filthy, but extend that to all sex offenders, no need to keep it for true believers 👿

Mine doesn't. None of them come with a cast iron guarantee that it won't p*ss down as soon as I pitch it. 😕

Just learn to ride down hill properly

It's not that you can't ride it with your saddle up, it's just more fun with it dropped and I love the ability to drop the saddle without stopping.

Sure ain't purdy tho. 😆

I did ask politely several times "rider on your left" then used the other left, commonly known as right. 🙄

On the whole a great event, marred only by having a stinkingly bad back for the last two weeks.

It's funny isn't that good enough.

Made me smile, though I feel like seven sorts of poo!

Cuprofen max strength, cheaper than Nurofen, with a trip to a decent Osteopath.

*You'r valves and logos slip out of alignment under heavy braking.

It's such a pain when that happens really spoils my flow.

Just about to have an 819 built, bit heavier but strong and proper ust.

Better the devil you know?

😆

Team Raven will be there, just the 12hr for us beers at midnight 😆

We've got 2 newbies with us, always good for a laugh.

Planning to get there Friday afternoon.

Got a petrol one you can have if you want to come to Bath to collect.
Old, but works well,slight leak from the carb nothing serious.
Moving to a place with no lawn 🙂
Let me know

That why I just been struck by lightning? 😯

May be I'm just paranoid about the rise of that sort of unpleasant g*t.

Looks disturbingly like Oswald Mosley, a notorious and unfortunately quite popular 1920's fascist.

Nasty person

Yup, all of the above, except the Mersey trout one.

Does that make me bad or normal? 😈

This is brilliant IMHO
Simons cat

Trek EX9 if I was paying 😆

I've had great service from Trek, they were brilliant when I had no end of trouble with a Fisher, admittedly I was the original owner.

Be honest and trust that it is in their interest to get you sorted and happy.

Off to check my '08 EX8 now! It's been ridden hard and so far put up with everything I've thrown it down and up 😆

It's good fun and not far from the motorway, so as long as you have time, do it. I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

I use bikehike.co.uk. Works well with OS, imports and exports GPX files too.

Glad to hear it, best radio station on the airwaves IMHO

Even better if they gag all presenters and just make them play music 😆

I'm dehydrated from the wind 😆 but what a great event.

Thanks to all who helped and to the competitors that were, as ever, so friendly. What other sport cheers on their rivals?

+1 for Rubber Queens, though I have gone through the sidewall on mine 😆

Always use wheel milk sealant and pull out the thorns when I feel like it, also can't understand not using it.

nickegg, how do you find the RQ's on 819's? I was wondering if the rim would be a bit skinny for such a wide tyre.

Sorry, couldn't be ar**ed to wait for the site to load.

Since I was 16, with a bit of a gap due to work, travel etc.

Going tmw as it happens 😆

I had a lot of back problems on a hardtail, osteopath said it was compressing my spine. Went full sus and it's been much better, still have to make sure it fits though and I still do lots of stretching also.

I know I'm rising to your bait ton, but I'm proud of my country, though I don't give a fig about football, I hate to see England lose at anything.
Ducking now, 8)

I blame it on the foreign manager, not the total lack of commitment from the disinterested talentless players, but hell what do I know.

+1 for doing 'em both. Mix it up, push hard then slow for recovery, then push again.

I like to do at least one long moderate pace ride and a short hard ride each week, more if I have the time.

The technical stuff will get you 'faster' on techy trails but not really any fitter.

I think ebay's your best bet, they are essentially middle men making a cut out of desperate or gullible people IMHO.

Hi shanta, yes can't quite stretch to the 9 myself at the moment.

All the above comments still apply IMHO

The QR15 upgrade is well worth it, when you can afford it, I just changed the lowers and the front wheel. The bike is fantastic anyway, I'm sure you'll enjoy whichever one you choose.

I'd go for the 8, which is what I've got, I just think it's better value.

If I was going for new now it would have to be the EX9 for the bolt thru fork, makes a mind boggling amount of difference. I fitted as an upgrade and it cost £300 2 years ago.

Rubber Queen 2.2 will come up about the same size and I love it.

I found the ADvantage a little fragile for my clumsy riding 😆