Been night riding for 4 years now,started out doing 6am rides 2 times a week but we were limited on routes as we had to get to work after and decided to start riding after work in the evening instead.
Started out as a once a week Wednesday ride then added a sunday night also to get away from the joy that was x-factor at the time.
Gradually upgraded our kit, i’e lights and now we rarely venture out in the daytime unless we hit a trail centre at the weekend which is pretty rare.
TBH night time riding is the norm for us now.

I use a Camelbak Charge, got it free with an MBR subscription, shop price about £79 so was well pleased with that.
It’s a 10L pack with a 2L bladder, holds loads and the bladder sits low round your waist.
So far no problems with it and it’s really comfortable.

“Rob – no he wasn’t ill as such but he’d been off the bike since January due to a problem he described as ‘muscular’. It appears it was more serious than that.”

Very sad news, being 44 myself and riding with others a year or 2 around my age, we always moan about aches and pains especially after a few hours on the trails but just put it down to being “not as young as we used to be”. Makes you think doesn’t it.
Thoughts to his family.

Whatever the manufacturers decide.

If they told people they’d go faster by rubbing horseshit into their helmet there’d be a queue at the stable door a mile long.

Erm….which helmet…… 😯

You must have a massive garage or shed…

“Every time someone starts a wheel size thread, a kitten dies.”

Always brings a smile to my face. 🙂

150 miles only for me this month but alot of these miles have been slip sliding away in the mud, do they count as double then???? 😀

I’m also an MTBer and only ride mostly with MTB like minded people but I’ve been close to contemplating a CX bike for winter.
As tomhoward our usual trails are so cacky at the mo, we are running out of options of where we can ride without the need for constant slip sliding corrections and cursing all the way round.
It’s a case of just getting on with it at the mo but boy I have been tempted.

I have a Trance 27.5 2, the “stealthy” one, at 6ft 2″ I ride a large and it feels great, rides well and gives me more confidence with the slacker angles and more travel.
Being the height I am it looks right too.
I also own an Anthem X4 26er which I use for the flatter longer rides where I’m not pointing it downhill so much. Both bikes are great and both come in to their own on certain rides.
For comfort, looks and “funability” the new Trance wins hands down though.

“I have returned a helmet to CRC before, I ordered 2 sizes to try and see which was the better fit.
You’ll have no problems returning yours.”

I ordered a large and medium Bell Super, returned the large last week via collect plus, no problems, refund received within 3 days.

However they took 10 days after ordering to arrive and I have just placed an order for some gloves and after 2 days they are still showing processing in the order status. I’m sure CRC used to be quicker than this normally 3 days maximum wait until goods were received.
Maybe it’s the new years sale rush and the wrong time of year to expect a quick turn around?

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/bell-super

Had mine for a few days now, loving the fit and feel of it, in between sizes so I chose the medium and think it was the right choice too. Managed to fix my Ultrafire light to the lid using one of those Livestrong type wrist bands and a velcro strap that I got from the Olympics.
Overall really pleased with it.

I use the smart lunar as above and yes I get complaints if I leave mine on off road, great light though, it has an all singing and dancing mode that’s just mental.

Thanks z1ppy, seen something like that at my lbs, I’ll check one out.

I’d love to take my dog for a run/ride but he’s a daschaund/jack Russell cross and it would probably kill him. He also has a tendency to want to wee up any bin, post, tree or bush in sight so we probably wouldn’t get very far. I think taking them up the woods or your local trails are fine if you can keep control over them, but not at a trail centre where others are involved.

Thanks Chunky, used an old inner tube with a cut out through the middle to strap it on the 661 recon but the contour on the Super is alot smoother and it doesn’t quite work. Will try and adapt the go pro bracket possibly.

Decided on the medium, now just gotta work out how to fix my Ultrafire 502B light to the top, anyone with this lid have any tips?

Do people really order things and THEN ask what they’re like? Especially something like a helmet where fit is so vital?

Yep,but i ordered a large and a medium so I could decide which was the right size. The decision to buy one was never in doubt as they have good reviews, just after opinions as to whether with my in between head size I would be better in the long run having a medium or large.

well the new lid(s) have arrived and I’m in a bit of a size dilemma
my noggin is about 59cm diameter which is on the tail end of the medium and the beginning on the large,
the medium fits ok but then again the large fits with a bit of tightening of the adjuster but does sit alot lower
will the pads soften up on the lid after a few rides, i don’t want to feel like I’m riding with a gold fish bowl on my head.
anyone else have the same size head and what size did you choose?

trawled through the web and lots of sites say the bell super comes up large and many have opted for a medium.

I’ve been running an MJ-872 for 2 years now without a single problem, so I would highly recommend one.

(hopefully I haven’t given it the kiss of death)

The IXS Trail was my other choice if I couldn’t get a Bell in my size and the style I wanted, liked both of them but decided to opt for the Bell.

Prouster, what size was your recon?

I’ve ordered a medium and a large to compare the sizes, currently use a 661 recon which has always seemed a bit bulbous.

Lashed it down in Kent last night half way round our normal weekly ride, still got wet with waterproof gear on, good luck sleeping out if it rains, can’t wait to hear the report, and see some pics too?

Ordered an Edge 510, £75 reduced retail price, still cheaper than the latest Wiggle offer, mines just arrived, good price, great delivery time, looking forward to testing it out.

TDC

This has nearly coincided with “wind down your window and hurl abuse and obscenities to a cyclist” day too, which is what I had to endure a few weeks back whilst riding steadily and in total control of my bike up a hill on the way home from work, so wanted to catch up and find out what the woman’s problem was but she didn’t hang about.
Also driving home the other night, glanced across at the traffic lights to a car whose driver was happily watching Channel 4’s 8 out of 10 cats on his smart phone that was placed on a cradle to the windscreen. I could see Jimmy Carr as plain as day on the screen, obviously he’ll turn it off when the lights changed to green i thought……….. nope……..Idiot.

I think they look the nutz……….

I have one on my Anthem and trance, does a good job on both bikes along with a crud.

early days for me but i take a size 43 in normal shoes but ordered a size 45 defrosters so i can wear my woolie boolie socks. even a shimano size 45 used to cramp my toes but these seem quite wide at the top, just need some rain and cold nights to really see what they do, won’t be long i would imagine

why did you keep hitting trees with it????????

My Bruv has a CREE XM-L T6 LED 1200 Lumen Bike Light & Headlamp Kit and runs this along with a Maxx D and rates it very highly.
Nice colour in blue too 🙂

I got some when they were on offer from Evans, only worn them once so far but very impressed, really really comfortable and the thought of dry feet and warm toes through the winter makes them worth the money. Top buy!!!!

Up at 5.45am this morning for a commute to work on my Anthem X4, hate getting out of bed early, hate early morning rides as I never have any “fuel in the tank” but after getting to work I’m so glad I did it. I will leave work at 1pm and will head for the north downs and have an extended ride home exploring, all part of the fun which makes it worth while.
I’ve been considering upgrading to a 29er, possibly a trance 29er x1 or a canyon nerve al 29 but I always love riding the Anthem after a ride out and think do I really need a new one?
I was also thinking of maybe a “standard” Trance X2 to give me a bit more travel and slacker angles, I think I need to do a few test rides.
Any thoughts?

Firstly arrange to ride out with a mate then you seriously can’t let them down if you are both banking on each other for moral support out on the trail.
Secondly its taken a few years to build up enough winter weather clothing to keep myself warm and dry, that now makes all the difference.
Went out last night at 7,30pm only rode a short off road route of about 15 miles, it was cold and windy but quite firm, but I was glad to get out in the end.

I wisely kept my old hardtail when I bought my anthem x4, it’s a Gary Fisher 1999 paragon. Last couple of years I’ve upgraded the components and now it’s a great winter hack for when I don’t wan to keep hosing down the full bouncer.

2 litre Bladder (although tube froze last night)
2 tubes
3 levers
2 multi tools.
puncture patches
chain tool
spare chain links
whistle
snickers bar (other chocolate bars are also available)
mobile phone
foil blanket
anti sceptic wipes
pump
zip ties

……weighs a ton.

Last ride for 2012 for me and my Bruv, got some nice bits for xmas ( reverb, superstar bars, grips, rotor, seal skinz, bender fender) first time I’ve been able to get out and test them. Well pleased with everything i got, really windy this morning but luckily not much rain. Out for 1.5 hours tracking on endomondo said I’d only rode 1 miles……. Happy new year peeps, here’s to some dryer trails though.

So excuse the dumb question if i order a 420 long post with 100mm drop, can I assume the length of the 30.9 post tube is 320mm, hoping I haven’t ordered one that’s too long.

@DT78,

Thanks for that I’ve ordered a 420mm long with 100mm drop as I ride a large Anthem X4, I think my original connect post is 400mm so it should be ok.

Dave

DT78 “And if you are worried about weight – buy 2 posts and swap between them depending on the riding you are doing. That’s what I did for my anthem”

What size did you get for your Anthem?

Dave

ps various encounters too with foxes, badgers, rabbits (very dumb animals)although haven’t encountered any large cats yet………

We cycle in a section of woods where in the last 3 months, someone has hung themselves, a dog with fatal shotgun wounds to the head has been found and a reported flasher has been sighted, still won’t give up the weekly night ride though although there are usually two or three of us that go out together.
We have been doing it for nearly 2 years now, actually prefer it to riding in the day, much more exhilarating. I will also vouch for not wearing a head torch mounted on the top of the skid lid, I hit a branch at speed, nearly ripped my head off. 😕