Mole – Member
Enjoyed that. Did the guy at the end break his ankle?

worse: snapped his achilles tendon.

Fakin ew, jellied eews gavna?

Good stuff boys.

I know, I’ve ended up riding with a bunch of cockney chancers. 😉

Actually the groups probably 80% ‘saaarvarn’, couple of midlanders, a german, an italian, and a couple of proper northerners and they’re all game for a laugh.

wiggles – Member
Rubber_Buccaneer – Member
Coke, whores and pron

Coke.horse.prawn

classic.

I think it would be inherently dangerous; a bum bag (sorry I’m not American so I’ll use English) sits on your lower back, just above your arse. Not spread out but a raised ‘sausage’ of gear; tubes, waterproof, tools? In an impact where you land on your back the bum bag could be the first point of contact between you & the ground, focused on a specific point on your spine.

Wear a hydration pack. A lot comfier and would give a small amount of protection to your back.

Or carry nowt. Keep a bottle of water near the van drop and be prepared to walk back to car park if you get a flat/mechanical.

Fantastic to watch. The ski cross yesterday was superb; three skiers crashing over the finishing line. How big did some of them go on the final kicker, immense. I’m afraid I was unable to watch the curling….snooze.

haven’t seen that one before. v. good

You know there’s no such thing as a stupid question. Sometimes I’m saddened at how much keyboard bile there is out there.

As per subject header: wait until the site is back up, sometime later today?

Compress the dropper fully. Then release seat clamp QR and raise the post until there’s enough seat post (below the collar) showing to clamp in the stand. Tighten up QR. Clamp in stand, keeping remote cable clear of clamp.

7 am, start: 2.5 hr ride this am. Lucked out as the heavy rain started as we finished. First ride of the year. Commited myself on Sat am so no quitting whatever the weather. It’s the only way at this time of year.

As others have said, I’ve never regretted a ride, even in the foulest conditions, only regretted it when I’ve wimped out. I’m learning to love the mud, and see it as an extra workout.

Thule euroclasic g6 led 929: 4 bikes with 4th bike adaptor. Have carried 2 adult FS and 2 kids MTBs. Also had 4 big bikes on it for 2 trips to the Alps, one to the Pyrenees and numerous Welsh & Scottish trips.

Pro’s: more fuel efficient than when i had 4 bikes on the roof*. can get a roof box on the car. carrier is light. will take up to 60 kg of bikes. it has a tilt function, so hatchback access is easy.

Con’s: expensive, especially with new tow bar. it’s easier to fit a bike to the car roof (as long as you have a mini step ladder).

* for my car I worked out once I’ve done 15,000 miles with the bikes on the car, the fuel saved will have paid for the carrier/tow bar. only 9K to go.

_tom_ – Member
You could always rent a DH bike for a day or two to see how much different it is riding that in the park!

our group were talking about just this for next Whistler trip: take our enduro bikes for BC stuff and hire DH bikes for a couple of days in the park. there’s plenty of hire choice in the village.

Oops.

Mad Pierre – Member
After our “trip of a lifetime” 6 years ago we’ve been back another 3 times! All staying with Bearback and we’ll be going back again I hope – sticking to our once very 2 years current average!
It’s ace.

It was thanks to MP that we chose BBB. Great advice. Thanks again.

I got hit by a car in Central London few years back. Volvo turned across my lane. I ended up on the ground unable to breath (broken ribs). While lying in the middle of the road I could see car tyres passing close to my head. Then a couple of legs as someone stood over me as protection. To cap it off someone then kept sticking something in front of my face (I’m still lying down). It was the driver trying to give me his business card. The Good Samaritan stood over me told him to **** orf.

With air back in my lungs, my first response was “is my bike ok?”

Nick – Member
Just ignore him and be happy, life is too short etc

+1

6 of us did BearBackBiking in 2012. Had hoped to return this summer but it’ll have to wait until 15.

We spent the week in the park, each morning with the BBB guide (Mark). Fantastic guide/teacher. He progressed us each day onto more technical challenges. Without the guide I wouldn’t have ridden the containers, fade to black, big drops on A Line, GLC & Drop in Clinic. Other guys there were out riding BC stuff around Squamish. We’ll be trying that next time.

Chalet is great, food is good, repair facilities excellent, short walk from Whistler Village (quicker on the bike) and you get to swim in the Lake at the end of the day.

We had friends who stayed in the village and they blew their budget in 3 days having to eat out. BBB all the way, you won’t regret it.

ebay’s your friend. Got both my kids “high sleeper” or “loft” beds. One from ebay & another online. If they feel a bit wobbly bolt them to one wall for stability.

Hi folks, anybody out there know if you can build the hope hubs onto mavic en 821 rims? I’m pretty sure they’re both 32 h, so the rim doesn’t use mavic specific spokes? Any knowledge gratefully received! Thank you.

Interested on what you pay in the end. Exact wheels I’m going to build up when I resurrect my 6″ FS. I expect to pay more as my mate isn’t the LBS manager.

Stolen bike rescue via STW

really? i’ve got various superstar pedals; orange, black & white. as long as they still spin and the pins are still ok who cares if they’re chipped or faded?

Mackem – Member
People tip guides?

That’s never even occurred to me, I’ve paid for my holiday and assumed the guide must be getting paid what he feels is ok from that. I’m not tight either, seriously, never even thought about a tip.

We always have a whip for the chalet staff and the guide/s. They’re usually the ones that have made the holiday enjoyable. We all know they’re not making much money, so stick your hand in your pocket and show your appreciation.

14yrs old: 3 days at home, in bed with terribly painful belly. GP 3rd day, straight to A&E, all the student/junior Doctors in the vicinity then paraded past my trolley to prod my belly to understand the classic signs/patient reaction of appendicitis/peritonitis. Operation that night. One week in hospital with a drain. Wiped out for the next month. Never thought I’d be on a trolley praying for the Doctor’s to put me under.

As above. My car (a mitsu outlander) has a nose weight of 100 kg. With four large bikes and the rack weight, is getting on for 80kg.

I have the Thule Euroclassic G6 Led 929. 3 bike with add-on adaptor for 4th bike. Costs an arm & a leg. The rack weighs 19 kg.It has a tilt function when loaded (vital for hatchbacks/tailgates). Friends with cheaper racks have said next time they’d buy the Thule 929 after using it.

oldnpastit – Member
What about the outflow from Sizewell B?

One of the few times I’m actually allowed to use LOL.

grum – Member
The best riding in Les Arcs is on the numerous and scenic footpaths – go for it!
How easy is it to find decent trails in Les Arcs without a guide?

Personally, I’d say tough. I’ve been twice with TA in 09 & 10. We rode some excellent trails that I couldn’t find again. With a good TOPO map (and maybe some gps routes shared on any mtb sites) you could hunt some of the trails out, but that makes for fractured & frustrating rides. Following a guide seamlessly from trail to trail from mountain top to valley floor is the only way to do it.

There are marked trails at Les Arcs, but 2 days would be more than enough on those when theres so much more hidden stuff out there. A good guide not only knows the trails, they will tailor the riding to your abilities, know how (and where you are) to get you off the mountain if it all goes wrong. They’ll know good lunch spots and which trails ride well weather dependent. As our guides got our measure, they would take us to certain features to ride (or fall off) and harder trails to test us, which was right up our street (or trail).

After Chatel/PDS last year spent mainly in the bike parks and a couple of days so-so guided riding, we’re returning to Trail Addicition, Destination X for BC guided riding.

If you’ve only got a week in the Alps you want to wring out every drop of good riding you can. Guided riding does that.

I assume four of you wont fit into one car as you’ll stick the bikes in the car as well?

My suggestion would be: Buy roof bars (for the widest car) and 4 thule proride 591 bike racks. All on one car. I’ve had 4 big bike bikes on the roof. Cheaper than 2 cars and probably not that more fuel hungry than a van.

On your return keep them for future trips (unless a friend/ brother-in-law has subsequently bought a van and therefore flog them on STW classifieds or on ebay)

brakes – Member

I do. North London (shove it Binners). Although I can get to decent riding in under an hour so it’s not a total loss.
For what it’s worth prior to this my local riding was the North Yorks Moors, then Hamsterley and around Durham, then Grenoside (Steve Peat’s patch).
I plan on being closer to the trails with my next move…

Typical that I spend my youth in Co. Durham with the Dales & Moors on the doorstep and the Lakes an hour away. Its only when I moved to London that I discovered mountain biking. Up until that point I though all geography south of the Peak District was crap. Since riding mtb I’ve discovered that the North Downs, South Downs, Kent, Sussex, Surrey Hills, Woburn are interesting and at least I’m not living in the Fens. Its also quicker getting from SE London to the Alps than NW Scotland.

jairaj – Member

How old were the Lyriks you tried?

Don’t have personal experience of dual position but from reading around seems the initial version of Rock Shox’s Dual position system was rubbish but they have improved around 2012 (I think). Haven’t read many recent stories of people complaining about the dual air system.

I think you’re right. They’re the 08 Model that came stock on the Trek Remedy. Jeez, just realised they’re coming up 6 yrs old.

Probably Destination X with TA this year (did TA Les Arcs 2 years back to back, a few yrs ago). Did Chatel, PDS last year. Wont be going back to PDS again. Trouble is Whistler ruined us for the bike park experience (Chatel is knackered, Les Gets was good but a mission to get to, Morzine was OK, liked Morgins (once it had dried out) but, really we all thought it was a bit …..meh!). So ditching the big bikes this summer and off in search of some natural trails with pedaling and uplift, hence Destination X.

I have a set of Air DP Lyriks which I converted to coil. I found the DP unreliable (they failed twice). I have a set of 140mm Talas 32. I’ve just converted them to straight 140mm float due to Talas failure (again twice). I was thinking about a set of DP Pikes but I’m again concerned about reliability on DP air forks. I think with the dual air position forks you need to service them according to Rockshox & Fox’s timetables (if you ride regularly, probably monthly? rather than my reckless annual service)

bickie – Member

Thanks everyone for your help on this, think the guy was just handling stolen goods and trying to sell on, he’s known to the police so hopefully will prevent him trying it again soon. There’s been a few similar cases to mine in the last few days so as Torihada says it does make a difference…..

Great news Paul. Good start to 2014.

All I know is the bike was recovered this am by police and original owner due to ID it. What this shows is its always worth keeping your eye out and posting your concerns on forums like STW. With all us eagle-eyed bike nerds out there, the perps will start to feel like they’re living in East Germany.

Well done to Dylan08; your detective work has led to the recovery of a stolen bike. Thanks, on behalf of my mate, to the STW searchlight.

zigzag69 – Member

Summary: Do Sligachan as an out and back to Camusanary Bay in the morning. Nip up and do the Quirang after lunch.

Sounds like good advice, thanks

This one is why we ride in a group; who else is going to take the piss out of you?

Nobeerinthefridge – Member

Torihada, that list looks excellent, but if you only have one day at fort William, don’t bother with the XC, just do the gondola uplift, the red DH is fantastic. And if you have two days, go somewhere else for the second day!.

We’ll be riding the gondola accessed Nevis Red and the DH course (some of party will hire DH bikes). It’ll be our last day in the Highlands before the slog back to the SE.

I’m also planning a trip to NW Scotland for 8 next July. Itinerary so far:

1. Laggan Wofltrax.
2. Kinlocheven loop 26 miles finish Ciaran Path
3. Torridon circuit: 29 miles
4. Torridon. guided
5. Torridon. guided
6. Skye. guided
7. Fort William. red XC & DH

I’m also compiling a list of routes based on gps files in case the guiding falls through. So far I’ve lots of stuff round Torridon, but only 2 routes on Skye: the Sligachan loop (anti-clockwise) and the Quiraing (a spectacular but short loop). It’ll have to be one route on Skye and that seems to point towards Sligachan.

Any experience of the two routes? Cheers

b r – Member

Not sure how yours was, but next time fit it on the opposite side, so it’s under the bar.

I’ve snapped two that were fitted under the bars (2 different bikes). Got my replacements off of ebay. Easy to fit as long as you do a re-bleed.