Don't you go getting any silly ideas about exortionate entry fees, young man 😉

Yup, me.
Took it for it's first outing on Sunday. Was out for just over 8 hours (though not all of that was actually riding the bike), so got to 'get to grips' with it quite well.

It's definately a perch, rather than a sofa, but it's very unobtrusive and at no point did I feel uncomfortable.

I've not ridden a Charge Spoon, so can't compare it to that…but I have ridden various Planet X, WTB's, Flites and a few Selle San Marcos (with varying results) and it's just as good as any of them.

It's light too.
Oh, and it's still white, despite being properly covered in mud and then ignored for a couple of days 😀

I think the longest that's ever been recorded on my computer during a 24hr race was just over 22hrs. Obviously the more the better!

I've always tried (and often failed, but that's a wholly different story) to not "stop" properly – if you sit/lie around for long you'll start to seize up and it'll be twice as hard to get going again.

Your body will probably try to shut down in the wee small hours – eating will be difficult, concentrating will be hard and you'll probably have some shocking laps with awful riding. It's OK, it's part of the challenge – during the part you have to start really telling yourself to MTFU 🙂

Remember: you *can* keep going, even though your body has convinced you that you can't…it IS meant to be that unpleasant 😉

If you can find someone to help out it can be a great help but, when it comes down to it, it's you that has to be hard. I'm sure you'll have no serious problems. I also reckon there'll be a great atmosphere in the pits with everyone being in the same situation.

Tow bike would be good, not essential unless you're really in it to win it during a muddy race, but helpful. If you can keep as many of the parts interchangeable, but it's no biggie.

Eat anything you can, anything is better than nothing and don't force down gels and sickly bars making yourself feel ill. Come those early morning laps when your body is revolting against still being up and riding the energy in a babybel you managed to eat will be better than the mega-nutrients in a powerbar that still in your jersey pocket 😉

Oh, I forgot to mention CARBOCAKE[/url]. So ridiculous it becomes awesome. 😀

whatever cereal bar is on offer in morrisons, with the occasional proper "energy" bar thrown in…and an extra energy gel if it's hard going

if i'm on a ride where i'm likely to stop i like to have something made by ginsters in there, right now i'm loving the limited edition pork and apple pasties 🙂

What are you comparing it to?

I used to race a planet x uncle john and have found the rodwell is shorter, stiffer (especially with the much wider seatpost), faster handling, lighter, with a lower front end and is a nicer shade of brown

it's also got some nice features you don't notice at first like a nice shaped top tube that gets flatter towards the seat tube – making it much comfier when shouldering the bike

IIRC (and I could be wrong here) the shop soiled ones had got a scratch on them in transit, nowt huge or awful. (Brant'll know more about that though)

you guys are idiots for putting this on…

the very best type of idiot 🙂

it was awesome! Nice one!

gutted about puncturing, but had loads of fun racing through the field and the post race bacon rolls were good too 🙂

Been using the 5920g since April – several hours a day every day and it's not done anything wrong yet. If/when it eventually dies I'd happily get another 🙂

Might try the battery removal hint mentioned above as it's usually plugged in

mate, i'm a grandad, i need a bit of comfort nowadays…….

you'd be amazed just how comfy that is – laidback seat angle, Ti frame, seatpost and saddle rails = cushy

*ahem*

seems to do the trick 😀

mudguarded 'cross bike – usually with 25c slicks on, unless the weather is being particularly wintery

most of the kit on it is cast offs from the race 'cross bike, to keep the costs down

http://www.twinklydave.com

like 'confessions of a window cleaner' but without the sex,

or the window cleaning

…err or the humour

"Injured?
How much could you claim"

do they know about something I don't 😯

good grief you use scissors to cut gaffer tape – you are not a real man 😉

anyway

How much are the bribes this year?

2 hours

it was dull

I've got one of these BLT Fantom things out back – it's on it's 2nd winter on the commute/training bike and has put up with long, wet rides better than anything I've used before.

The backet is pants (it's currently being anchored down with a couple of elastic bands) and it's a bit bulky, so can catch on my leg occasionally while pedalling, but it's very bright and hasn't missed a beat yet.

If I drove round russia I'd want to change everything after 35000 miles 🙂

75,000 miles for the 1.8 petrol version.

cost me £250 including full service and new water pump from a main dealer (though I stole all the free filter coffee, so it worked out slightly cheaper…) a couple of months ago

it just rings like a, err, phone.

I think it does anyway, I can't be sure as no-one ever calls me :sniff: 😥

Yes, my SS version has just done it's 2nd strathpuffer (with a season of 24hr, enduro and xc racing in between) and is as smooth as the day it was first fitted.

No special treatment, just cleaned along with the rest of the bike. Ace.

You can write in an entertaining way too, don't forget. In fact I used to like your column in the mag.
(So you're a 'published author' too, that's more than the vast majority will ever achieve!)

Out of the three options you've decided on, I'd go with "photography"…and save the exercise based ones for thrashing out any frustration 🙂

Guitar Ted[/url] knows his stuff

TwentyNine Inches[/url] if you like it that big

Jeff Kerkove[/url] (*the* most professional, immaculately dressed, polite bike racer, ever)

Shedfire[/url] the inner workings of a…person from Yorkshire

Simon – were you being supported by someone called Bruce (err, I think!)?

If so, can I get in touch to get some contact details for him: he gave me the brake pads out of his own bike during the race (as well as helping out with mechanical faffing) and I need to get some back to him, as well as passing on loads of thanks!

cheers
Dave

If any 2 teams, soloists etc end up on the same number of laps, then results should be decided by way of a last lap snowball fight.

🙂

Can I just say that this thread has been ace for those of us who aren't local (but are travelling up for the race)

I feel slightly better prepared just after reading it 🙂

(and if I don't do well, I'll be blaming the advice from here 😛 )

A Ragley
🙂

(yet) another vote for the full lap – esp if it's the same course as last year 🙂

it's supposed to be tough and us soloists won't get quite so dizzy 😀

2nd (3rd?) trail_rat's beer bucket idea – some stirling work going on there!

hope it's all OK to go ahead 🙂

People here are allowed to go – but have to take it as holiday/flexi leave. I get the sneaking suspicion that people will be 'forgetting' to add it to their holiday records though…

I can pretty much guarantee I'll be the only one in tomorrow as I only live 4 miles away and will therefore be to blame for everything that goes wrong 😕

Well all I can say is that I really hope it goes ahead! Even if it turns into a bit of a long walk (but still with the occasional riding section, hopefully!)

I'd love to help out in some way, if I was't 370 miles away I'd be there like a shot!

From now until the race date I shall be praying that the roads stay passable 😕

yup, managed to slither the 3.5 miles into work on the cross bike…though I'd forgotten to take the slick rear tyre off it from last night's turbo trainer session, making it a bit wheelspin-tastic 🙂

I can't see it being called off, the worse the weather the better the race 🙂

Only thing I'm worried about is actually getting there – driving across the highlands could be *interesting*

One of terrahawks and one of mine had the wire bead snap and rip through the carcass, puncturing the tube. they tyre wouldn't sit on a rim afterwards (long walk home): you can just about see it sticking out in this pic

My second just popped off the rim while riding along a flat, straight bit of road – again the bead had stretched and it now simply will not stay on any rim. If you manage to get it to not pop off before inflating the tube, anything over 20psi just blows it straight off (anything under and it just flops off as soon as you try to ride)

Can't be a dodgy batch either, as I've had mine (sitting unused) for a year, terrahawk only got his a few weeks back.

don't go for the schwalbe snow studs – 2 of mine have developed the same fault as terrahawk's.

one even rolled off the rim while i was riding, nearly throwing me in front of a car.

avoid, normal tyres would be safer.

alternatively – CRC have some studded conti's, which i shall be trying in the next few weeks

I think I've got 'Commute envy' 😕

got michelin energy's on the front of my berlingo that have lasted really well and have offered good grip in all sorts of conditions so far

on the back i've got some cheap barum brilliantis things and they're awful in comparison

Jane's Addiction supporting Nine Inch Nails earlier this year.

I predict good things for those young, punky upstarts 😉

You'd probably have to order it direct from the US, but I stil love my ickle dinottes, their about a quarter of the size of the hope thing, weigh lots less and kick out a nice amount of light. Plus mine are 3yrs old now and stil going strong.
I don't even notice it when it's mounted on my lid

The 200l AA battery version is only £75 quid too

You sound pretty smothered already, so I can't recommend much…maybe try layering socks rather than one thick pair (I tend to run either thin coolmax or merino liner socks under a thicker wool/sealskins pair).

Some warming muscle rub might help…and applying it would probably help get the blood flowing before you ride, which can help. I use this stuff[/url] when it's proper nippy out, it smells quite nice too 🙂

IF you can (obviously it's not always practical) warm up before heading out on a turbo trainer – that works wonders!

A kids tv show called 'Children of the Dogstar', that I've just found on youtube

It's still unsettling me now 😀