Both trails you mention are an option, the Ardgarten route is mainly on forestry road but has a good section of singletrack on the descent to Lochgoilhead. Another option is the Fire Tower trail at Lochgilphead which is about 1.5hrs from Helensburgh.

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-6N6H6H

How wide are the bars? They look quite narrow.

I sometimes question why we bother commemorating these things, after the full horror of the holocaust was revealed vereyone said we must never let it happen again. Sadly we all sat back while it happened in the Balkans and only intervened to late imo.

Really? I have never heard of a bicycle killing anyone.

TJ – I think the article is refering to cyclist deaths.

I have that app above "WunderRadio" works a treat on a 3G signal although you will suffer the occasional drop for a few secs. I walked home on Friday from the office (45mins walk) and had an uninterupted signal of Radio4 all the way home.

Looking at that you appear to be tailormade for having a 29er, it just looks wrong.

I've only ever used RR, came in handy once when I damaged the cable riding – the gears automatically dropped into the largest cog which enabled me to continue riding albeit with a slightly higher cadence :wink:

10 weeks before I got the all clear for mine, was an awkward break. The previous one was 6 weeks (not the same bone).

Feel sorry for me, I have no interest in football but live in Glasgow and come from the south. Thanks to this idiot I can't leave my house for the next week.

Despite the fact that the only English players on show were in the Celtic team?

oh dear, poor show.

I'm borrowing my mates Alpine at the moment, he's running an RP23 and Vans upfront. Claimed weight is 31.5lbs, definately no problems as an all day bike, we are both 6ft and the bike is an 18" with a 50mm stem which seems spot on.

I'm a serial tyre changer and never had any issues getting tyres inflated. Occasionally I have to press on the tyre just above the valve to help but that's it (819's with UST tyres). I use a track pump as it's faster and easier, never had to revert to a co2 cannister.

I've got the 2.4 UST on the font, it is massive and does weight quite a bit but it does seems to roll well and gives plenty of grip. Thinking about chucking a 2.2 on the back (currently have a 2.4 UST Mountain King).

I run the front 30 and the rear at 35.

have you googled the number to check?

dave wiens doesn't do much training on the road

So? What's your point?

i just find the worship of lance to be strange

So it's not really Lance you think is a cock but anyone who thinks he's done a good job?

Tried GPSLite on the trail this evening, put it on lock and left it in the camelbak, results seem quite accurate apart from the height which appeared to be 50m out. I checked it at the end at sea level (we were right on the coast) and it said 49m! Distance was spot on and looking at the map it was very accurate. It was on for 1hr50mins and the iphone was reporting 20% battery power left. This was not a 3GS iphone so the newer iphone may be better in that respect.

MF – I'll test it tonight, going to use the GPSLite app and check it everynow and then. It's only a 1hr40 route I'm doing so should be no issues with battery life.

And sticking on topic, "Paper Toss" is an outstanding way to waste hours with the phone.

what's the iphone like when using apps like trailguru etc when you have the phone in your bag – can it still get a good signal??

nasher – how do you find the froggy for climbing and general trail use?

I realise they are heavy but I'm considering getting the froggy frameset with the air shock and taking over bits from my current bike. Current bike is c32lbs so not that fussed about weight issues.

HR 2.35 LUST doesn't count as 'not too hefty'

Are you kidding? I had a set and they were about 720g each!

conti rubber queens in 2.2

Cynic mode – this justs put the focus on the assailants and takes away the heat from the failure of the social services?

I had a set of LUST High Rollers but they wore out pretty quickly, currently using Conti rubber queens and I'm impressed so far. The 2.4 is huge – it just fits in the Pike I have.

Fine on the back, not so sure about them on the front.

for CFH

I tend to run more in the winter when I get less biking in, the first run always hurts but it does ease of. Stick with it.

a week or so of bad weather and you lot forget how good the summer has been so far?? I must have had a record number of consecutive dry rides (that sounds wrong!) this year.

Mate has a 2007 Medium, I'm 6ft and find that it's an ok size.

"small bump compliance"

Just to add balance – I personally think Carron Valley is not very good, the surface is like being on a cobbled street.

EdwardH – Glasgow, takes about an hour for me to get there. I'll need to look into starting at the train station to vary it.

Navigation is easy and it takes about 1.5hrs, if you have Kenny Wilson's book it'll point out the only bit you can go wrong at which is a right hand turn off the road that comes down from the dam to join the start of the singletrack section.

+1 for the Arrochar loop, a frequent after work ride for me. A bit of a slog up the forestry road but you get 2 good fast descents and the singletrack section is some of the best anywhere.

Have a look on the retro bike forums or post a wanted ad there.

i had a threadless adaptor on my puch and it was UGLY – but functional !

Fair enough, my singlespeed is a proper frankenstein monster so it adds to the appeal.

I got the "Threadless Stem Adapter" from Freshstripe to enable me to fit any stem I wanted. Using it on an old Spesh Hardrock that I use as a singlespeed commute bike and it's been fine so far.

I was there at Fort WIlliam on Saturday also, I recognise the pike's with the orange on them. Agree about the grading, it's not a trail centre red but it's still superb. Joining the proepr DH track at the end is also a bonus.

the exact same happened to me, it was the front chainring that needed replaced.

Get a good book and go back and wait at the A&E.

In what way?? I'm thinking on changing to X9 as I quite like the action of the X0 my mate has on his bike.