Have fun Doug. What dates you there? You must know La Plagne trails pretty well by now.I want to go back for another trip down La Varda.

many years ago cycle touring/camping with GF round France on a tight budget. Got stuck with no cash one weekend & spent two days living off a baguette and some fruit. Found a man bag by side of road, cards scattered and 100FR note in wallet. Spent couple of hours tracking down owner as gendermarie was shut. Response: “oh yeah I left it on top of the car” and shut door in our faces. Rode back to campsite hungry, past restaurants with menus advertising fact we both could’ve had dinner on that 100FR. C’est la vie.

Haven’t seen the adverts. I took a group of riders from t’south to Hamsterley after they got washed out in the Dales. They enjoyed the new ‘red’ trails after we made a loop of the best black & red bits. I go to Hamsterley because I’m from Co. Durham and visit family. The other riders? I’ve got to say if traveling that far from London it would be natural riding in the Lakes or push onto Seven Stanes. Invest the money in the trails (@ Hamsterley) and build something good enough to attract through reputation.

Another Scott Voltage FR20 (2011). Lot of bike for the price, hence so many in this thread, and the reason I bought it. Flogged the stock forks & put some 180mm Totems on it and took it to Whistler: perfect. The Reverb only goes on it when off to the Alps, just in case there’s some pedalling 😥

Cycle touring or transporting bike on car & camping?

When I cycle toured I usually secured bikes to a tree or right up against the tent. More problematic with a single bike: I’ve heard people use d-locks with ground anchors (the ones usually used to secure dogs on a leash), which is ok if the ground is soft. Edit: as described in post above.

When car camping with bikes: I carry 2 big 13 mm chains and lock around a tree or through the alloy wheels plus an array of cables and locks.

According to my Garmin, when I face planted in my MET parachute,I was doing 28mph. Split the helmet in two, front to back, snapped tendons in left AC joint and extensive bruising around left hand temple. Chin guard all scuffed up but in one piece. It saved me a broken jaw. I look like a knob in my replacement MET, but a knob with a full set of teeth.

Update (see previous post above): SanDisk have replaced my Ultra 64GB Micro SD card under warranty. In the meantime I purchased a San Disk 32 GB replacement.

I posted a review on the GoPro website’s 64 GB SanDisk card section (they sell them), listing my issues. GoPro support emailed me out of the blue, they’d read about my problems. Offered to talk me through a manual firmware upgrade and then let me know there was another firmware update: released 23/04/13 (v.2.39). Thumbs up for GoPro support.

So new firmware upgraded, 32 GB card in place. I’m going to run it at Cwmcarn tomorrow and see how long it keeps going.

GoPro hero black 3. Fried my sandisk ultra 64 GB micro SD card last week. The card’s going back to Sandisk for warranty replacement. firmware was up to date (10 days ago). Going to try 32 gig card & see if there’s any ongoing issues. Thanks for heads up, I’ll check firmware.

Again I think we’re losing sight of the OP opening argument. We’re not debating levels or rules but someone creating noise in a communal environment. Subjective personal comments are a side issue and not part of the debate. Again people are projecting their own taste onto others in the argument that;

I’d rather listen to music in a beautiful environment than the whining of those too passive to actually get of their backsides to communicate with others.

Its this assumption that one is the harbinger of good taste is what I was describing. Why should someone have to “get off their backside” to ask you to turn down your “beautiful” music? Again the assumption that people that you are sharing your environment with, don’t have the right not to have to listen to your music. There has to be the possibility that the people sharing your campsite haven’t traveled with the purpose of engaging with you?

If you do, then you need to be at a sight where the rules match your expectations.

Again you are positioning blame towards the victim. Fundamentally this discussion is about the arrogance/ignorance of people that feel happy to create noise pollution in a communal area.

Turners Farm in the Lakes last Easter, I had to listen to a family’s music blasting out.

Did you “have to” listen to it because you failed to ask them to turn it down ?
Or because you asked and they told you that they wouldn’t ?

I did ask them to turn it down but it was a bit of an ongoing battle: a slightly feral family who didn’t communicate very well. But this is beside the point. The issue is a discussion about other people’s total lack of empathy for others peace of mind. Whether it’s running your engine to keep warm or playing audible music it shows a total disrespect for your neighbours. The blame should never be levelled at the victim of anti-social behaviour but at the perpetrator.

People not interesting because they listen to music, lol. I must be a right boring **** then.

+1

Turners Farm in the Lakes last Easter, I had to listen to a family’s music blasting out. Why? If you want to listen to music buy some **** headphones. Who on earth thinks they’ve been booked into a campsite for a DJ slot. Inconsiderate MTFus.

Surely people go camping in the mountains to get away from the urban sprawl/noise pollution? That’s the great thing about the NT site at Langdale & Wasdale Head; you can’t park next to your tent.

Scott Voltage with 180 mm Totems. In the park, Whistler.2012

By the lake down the road from BearBack’s chalet. Whistler.

For 2013: Chatel & surrounding PDS. No Enduro riding on this bike.

anything resembling hard pack would be good?

Haa! You’ll be lucky. Riding around north North Kent (just a few miles north of Dartford)last night and conditions were atrocious. So cold that snow hasn’t melted in areas and therefore tons of standing water & axle deep mud.

Head for some elevation (we’re heading for Surrey Hills this weekend in the belief that some terrain will have drained better).

ndthornton – Member

And seriously – what is “trolling”?

Assuming this isn’t a troll double-bluff question, trolling is where you post contentious/annoying/offensive questions/statements solely to wind people up and get a response/fuel an argument etc.

I rode on snow fields at Les Arcs (deep slushy snow, very steep descent) and though good for a laugh I wouldn’t push up to ride down it.

Mine seized. I bled the remote button & hose using the bleed kit that came with the post. It worked fine after that.

It can’t be any worse than its been. Hopefully it’ll get freeze dried over the next few days.

Bee eff eee. Its grass not grarse, bath not baath & glass not glarse, right where did i leave my scon.

Anti-dropper post fundamentalists amuse me: I first started using a dropper in 2007 (imported gravity dropper from the USA). The grief I used to get from the rest of my group was crazy, I didn’t care as I enjoyed the advantage. But lo and be-hold they have all subsequently fitted droppers. We have a new member and after a recent ride he went and bought a dropper; our group no longer stops to adjust saddle height and he was constantly caught out.

mine was under the bar & I snapped it off with my knee while climbing (first ride on a new build – very small cockpit).

Just for the lever: £41 from ebay seller

Very annoying, but better than going back to the pre-seat dropper days.

Sunday morning: Snowdon Rangers

Sunday afternoon: Penmachno

We keep them locked in the apartment. There is a ski locker type room but it’s shared between that many apartments I wouldn’t leave a bike in there. You looking at a DIY trip this time? If your in resort at the same time give us a shout as I’m sure we could sort out some mega point to point back country stuff up around Lac de Roselend with 2 cars

I’ll be in Chatel for a week at start of July with ‘the crew’, 18 of us, big bikes, catered with guides. This query is for family bike trip. Will probably camp like last year, though that apartment price was pretty good.

Doug – Member

Wallop, stopping in similar but slightly smaller apartment in the same block as this. Literally a few hundred meters from the funicular and 5 mins walk from town centre. Has own pool.

Wotcha Doug, just nipped over from t’other site…sssh. Where did you keep your bikes? In the apartment or is there a secure garage?

tymbian – Member

Thread steal….what size Bfe for a 5′ 10 rider, bike to be flickable..small frame with 50mm stem, large with 35mm stem? How easy is the Bfe to manual? ( I’m considering a Bfe or NS Surge )

I’m 5’9″& went for small Bfe with 160mm u-turn forks. With a 40mm stem its tight (have caught the bars with knees when climbing out of saddle). But it means if feels very maneuverable. Built to be a fun freeride bike & it is. If I get sick of the tight cockpit I’ll stick a longer stem on.

[/url] Cotic Bfe[/url] by butahada[/url], on Flickr[/img]

Small Bfe with coil Lyriks up front.

I stayed at the Bryant Hotel last summer as a birthday present for Mrs T. Its on 40th and overlooks Bryant Park,with open air cafes, shows films in the summer (ice skating in winter) and is generally a nice place to chill out in. Rooms are large and clean, bathrooms are luxurious. Always try and get higher up the building (= quieter).

Had previously stayed at the Hudson (v. close to Sth end of Central Park) which is a painfully hip boutique hotel with tiny rooms and the lowest lit reception area I have ever had the pleasure of stumbling into.

BearBack – Member

Think we’re good for accommodation

No probs.. feel free to touch bases if we can help from a guiding point of view.

Brendan: If you’re in Whistler I’d take that offer up. BearBack guiding was the icing on the cake when we stayed with them last year. By the Friday they had us riding stuff we wouldn’t have attempted at the start of the week.

We’ll be going back to BBB for more in 14.

Yep. Found the hex head inside the lever today and now it’s as tight as a gnats chuff.

Oops. Standover: make that 80 cm. middle of TT to ground.

ska-49 – Member

Nice build! Looks like fun.
Might want some bar end caps for the gnarcore stuff.

Lost the caps doing gnarly stuff, or rather crashing on the gnarly stuff. Given what I’m gonna do on it I would expect more of the same.

nmdbasetherevenge – Member

Looks great!
I’m thinking of a small, be great if you could measure the stand over at the centre of the top tube for me

70 cm. That’s with 160mm forks on it.

[/url] Untitled[/url] by butahada[/url], on Flickr[/img]

This is a small: I’m 5’9″. It feels compact and therefore nimble. Though with a 45mm stem the cockpit is a tad cramped. Result: I snapped the remote switch for my reverb today. I caught it in my shorts on a steep climb. Doh!

On the climbs I’m obviously quite upright, chin down to keep the front wheel down, but on the descents it feels great. Really in control and makes you look out for stuff to launch off. Did 18 miles XC on it today, it was fine but it’ll come into its own on the freeride/trail centre days.

@ Bedgebury, Kent come across 3 riders 1/2 way round the singletrack, one with puncture. I attempt to pump up her tyre (no tools) when she says she’s had a slow puncture for ages. I stop pumping and ask if she has a spare (obviously not). I grab spare from cameback & ask if they have a couple of quid towards it. I don’t have change for a tenner, so I say they can keep it, its all good karma, what goes around, comes around (I have also fitted the new tube & pumped up tyre for them). On hearing my comment about good karma one of the three laughs derisively at my comment! 🙄

If you don’t know the routes in Swaledale don’t bother; head for Hammersterly trail centre (its 20 min drive from Darlo). There’s been some nice all weather building on the red trail and if you link it up with the black it makes for a good ride.

Red & Black @ Hamsterley

[/url] Bfe[/url] by butahada[/url], on Flickr[/img]

finally managed to post image. What’s going on this HT? Bits ripped from old alu HT & broken up FS:

U-turn Lyriks
Bonty TLR wheels
Race Face Atlas bars
Saint levers & XT calipers
Reverb Post
Dynasys SLX double & bash (22/34)
Various bits from SS

Hopefully finish it after work tonight for ride tomorrow am.

anyone use vari-focals sports glasses? I’m long sighted and its a pain if I’m using a gps, trail side repairs, fiddling with a GoPro or phone (ie I’ve got to rummage in the camelback for a set of old reading glasses for close up work). I’d love a set of vari-focal sports glasses.

edit:

Such lenses are not recommended for sports use.

from sportsprescriptionglasses.co.uk. Answers that question.

SE London yesterday, I stopped at a pelican crossing for a mother & child. Guy behind me shot through, missing the woman & child by an inch. She shouted at him as he rode on. I pull level and said he’d nearly hit the woman & child to which he replied: “F**** off you c***, it’s not of your f******* business. F*** off I’ll have you, you f***** c**** etc etc etc.”

I need to learn to ignore other road users bad behaviour and just keep out of their way. Sometimes I’m a sanctimonious tw*t.

Again SE London: commuting, cleared my runny snotter by the usual means and a woman in a saab pulls up next to me and lowers her window;
She says “that’s disgusting”
I reply “its got a lot to do with what’s coming out of your exhaust pipe”
She screeches back “get a mask then”. Fair point I suppose.

torihada

Tell us more

Nothing to tell. No longer a member. A group of us who first started with BFB moved on. We progressed from the early days when we were all clipped in, thought carbon was the future & thought you’d never need more than 4″ of travel to now: hooning around the Alps, DH days and getting a taste for Whistler. We still ride local XC (we started from BFB shop this am) but we all know each other’s abilities and are immune to the mutually obscene language/slagging/banter.

Who’s bigfoot bikes?

Small bike shop in SE London/Kent borders (Hayes). The main draw was the club. The road section has got huge. The MTB side fairing less well, mainly due to riders progressing and organising their own thing. I first started riding with BFB when Sparky was at the shop and the original owner still owned it. A group of us still use the shop as the starting point for Sunday XC rides. Sadly the shop lost its way, weird stock choices and servicing didn’t cut the mustard. There seems to be a battle going on at the moment regarding who owns/controls BFB club.

Ridden two years at Les Arcs with TA. We wore FF & pressure suits (with spine protectors). If you’re using the lifts I don’t see why you wouldn’t wear it. When we had to pedal on a day excursion we ditched the suits for knees & elbows only. One of our party did then go over a cliff (luckily ended up in a tree 40ft above the river) mashed his leg up pretty bad.If in doubt stick it on and sweat it out. Here’s one of our videos illustrating why we wear armour:

I’ve got ultra mag lites on the FS & nano techs on the DH & HT. I prefer the nano techs, but that’s because the grub screws are grippier than the thru pins. Either way my SS pedals are still going strong after a ton of abuse.