Whats orange and sounds like a parrot?
A carrot

Whats brown and sticky?
A stick

Love it! Vicar-friendly Tourettes

Err, totally dry and really fast on Good Friday… add 3 days of rain to that

Take both tyre choices and if you make the wrong decision, miss one of the uplifts and change tyres maybe?

Some of the tracks have seen better days though I have to say, especially the bottom section of corkscrew and most of ski run. We were doing the top sections of corkscrew 1 & 2, flatland and sheepskull, then picking some of the unmarked steeper looser runs at the middle and finishing up on the ski run tabletop/road gap, made some great runs with a bit of everything

Tom – ED209

Nerd out

Good Friday: Uplift day at FOD
Monday: Gentle pootle through local woods with 11mth old daughter in the bike seat

What a contrast

Just downloading it now. I tried to ignore it, but when trying to join a game it kept saying ‘can’t find a server to join’

I’m guessing I need to have this update to continue playing online. Anyone know this for certain??

That’s an awfully big BMX

I’m not politically genned up enough to get deeply into this, so I’m going to respond to the thread title…

Yes I would think so – she was Prime Minister. Not a bad result for a career-minded lady :-)

I went for Halo 4XRs, the pair weighed in at under 1900 grams, seem tough, accelerate quickly, been doing full on dh tracks with them and they are still true. Freehub sounds pretty cool too!

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/components/wheel-sets/product/review-halo-4xr-wheelset-11-45050

Just a thought!

Cheers for the info amt

Sorry to hear this. 2 likely possibilities:

1) Opportunist Stroud smack-head scum. I’m not running the place down, I’ve lived here all my life and love Stroud. But as with all towns it has its share of undesirables. Sold it on for a tenner. Now making its way onto ebay / gumtree / trade-it etc

2) Group of lads, 1 opportunist thief trying to impress his mates. Steamed down the high street on it, legs akimbo, rode it to the canal/river and dumped it straight in

I’ll keep my eyes peeled and let friends know.

Me too

Is it me or does that look like a false pair anyway?

flatboy – brilliant :lol: although I think they are favouring lethal injection more these days

Nice bike btw…

I had been using this:

http://www.discount-supplements.co.uk/sports-supplements-energy-nutrisport-energy-boost-4-1-5kg

Seems to work for me

However, having read some of the other posts on here, and done a bit of further research I reckon I’m going to try using milk from now on

The BB is low, there’s no denying it. With 160mm forks it is manageable, you adjust your climbing style slightly and just have to plan ahead a little more. I’m used to it so don’t really notice it now

I am using a 1.1/8″ steerer, its fine. Either an onone smoothie mixer headset, or hope do a mix ‘n’ match which I am using, standard 1.1/8 top, and 1.5 to 1.1/8 reducer on the bottom

I’m going to do the usual and recommend my own bike… so how about this? I considered the RC506, amongst others, but went for the EG and I am exceptionally pleased with it:

http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/FRTITELGUV2/titus_el_guapo_frame_and_monarch_shock

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/mountain/product/review-titus-el-guapo-frame-10-36835

It built up to exactly 31 lb with a ‘modest’ build. I think the quoted head angle is with 150mm forks, I have Talas RC2 160’s so I think its a little slacker with these, although I’m not 100% on that

I’ll be on a Titus El Guapo that is about 31 lb and goes uphill quite nicely. Might just go over and try riding up the fireroads / push up the steep bit, give it a go ya know. If my balls are well and truly busted by dinner time I’ll know to book the uplift next time

Cheers for your help peeps

I rode my Anthem to work along the road this morning and I was woefully overbiked. Should have ridden my road bike. I rode my El Guapo through the singletrack in my local woods on Sunday and again was terribly overbiked. Should have ridden the Anthem. I took my road bike to the shops yesterday to get some bread – massively overbiked. Should have borrowed the missus’s shopper. Honestly if only I could pick the exact right bike for the exact right situation I’m sure I’d enjoy my riding a whole lot more

Finally some like-minded people on the nonsense expression ‘overbiked’

Sorry, off topic, but I did post a lot earlier in the thread right on topic

I’ll do the usual and big-up my own bike…

I was in a similar position a few months ago and went with the El Guapo. Yes the slightly low BB does cause a few pedal strikes, but the benefit of this is fantastic, planted cornering. You soon learn to adjust your riding to account for the BB. Not that it was a major issue anyway. It built up to exactly 31 lb with 36 Talas RC2s, Halo 4XR wheelset and SLX brakes / drivetrain. For a 160mm bike it climbs superbly, really firm pedalling, and it’s not too heavy. Descending it is far more capable than me, and soaks up all the drops and jumps I attempt and if only I was good enough to fully exploit the handling

I love it, but I don’t think you’ll go far wrong with any on the bikes you’ve listed to be fair

weeksy – my financial advisor is free. They make their money from the policies they set up for people

OP – home insurance sounds too much, mine is £30, and it includes my 2 ‘expensive’ mtbs as named items. Electricity, water and food may not be enough depending on the size of the house and the size of you…. Also I would total up what you expect to pay in annual car maintenance, tyres, servicing, MOT etc. divide it by 12 and include this in your monthly budget. TV license £12ish. Life insurance (if you croak it, mortgage gets paid and house goes to someone you love) £20-30 if you think you need it. You need to be as realistic as possible. In my experience its very easy to do a monthly budget, be optimistic and then get bitten on the ass.

But, a house is the best thing to spend your money on, I’d say you have enough. And if you are generally good with money you’ll manage

I hear ya dude!

I have tried 2.25s at varying pressures, currently I’m running them at 35psi front and rear, I’m 15 stone in all my kit.

I find them skittish in the wet or dry. Can’t really explain it, they seem to ‘ping off’ rocks, roots and loose stones, squirrel around on hardpack and get clogged up easily in the wet. Not feeling them at all. Should have stuck with my usual high rollers but the NN rolling speed/low weight claims and good reviews tempted me!

If you’ve got a double specific front mech you’ll be fine.

I have bodged a 2×9 from a 3×9 SLX, and switched the 32 for a 36. I have the original triple front mech and the shifting is a little clunky and it was very difficult to get the mech into a position where everything worked without the chain rubbing on it in certain gears.

Some might say that because of the extra travel you end up with a generally heavier and less ‘pedally’ bike that is not as easy to lug around trails that don’t need the extra travel I guess. Slower steering too because of the slacker head angles

But I for one don’t care too much, I like loads of travel, I’m never going to be super-fast so I’d rather plod up the climbs and along the flats on my 160mm FS and never be left wanting on the downs! Thats my take on it anyway

Biggest I’ve used is 2.4 Nobby Nic Snakeskins, but there was still bags of room left

Depends on its size/age. I’d agree probably whippet/collie, or if its a big-un – greyhound/collie. But that face is classic whippet puppy, including the shape of the white bit.

Whippet/collies are quite common lurchers, and they are awesome dogs. Fast as whippets, but they tend to have less prey drive – which effectively means they are less likely to sod off into the distance trying to kill stuff and more likely to stay around their owners.

Hope this helps

Any bit of any Beautiful South song, but specifically the Rotterdam chorus, the intro to Perfect 10 and that pencil case bit in the song about Jennifer Aniston

Both great bikes, can’t go wrong wither way to be fair. But here’s my El Guapo before first ride last weekend. Awesome, pedals great and is fantastic on the way down, soaking up drops, jumps and cornering brilliantly. Built up to exactly 31 lb

Have fun with the Covert, post up when its finished

PS hope the photos come out, my first attempt at attaching photos on here…

Stroud’s a great place to live, although the nightlife possibilites are a little limited. Same as any town though really, there are some rough spots and some great spots, but definitely more of the latter. I have an 8 month old baby girl and I’m more than happy raising her here, some really good schools. Anyway onto the bloke stuff

Great riding and loads of groups; to add to the above-mentioned groups there’s also The Bramblers and Stroud Off-Road Squad not to mention loads of independent guys who you just know from the local spots.

Local woods – standish, cranham, popes, penn (selsley), stinchcombe, north nibley, leckhampton, painswick beacon area and more. Also you’ve got easy access to Welsh trail centres, Redhill 4x and downhills, and FOD which has enough purpose-built trails/downhills (with uplift) and natural singletrack to keep you going back for ages.

I’m surprised you can get somewhere cheaper in Stroud than Bristol though. Gloucester is the cheapest around here, but then its Gloucester so it would be

If you’re looking at houses or want any general info drop me a mail(should be on my profile), I’ve lived here for 37 years so I’ve got a pretty good feel for the place

In my opinion, there is definitely no such thing as a no-strings relationship. I have heard this many times before and it just doesn’t happen. Seriously don’t embark on this if you are expecting no-strings. As soon as you put your pudding in her basin you have strings, if not before

The work side of things sometimes does and sometimes doesnt work. I’m something of an expert having had 4 work-related relationships in my time. No matter how much you both say you will remain professional, prepare for both your productivity to suffer as the excitement of the (no-strings lol) relationship develops

The reality of the situation is that when it comes down to it you are going to do whatever your ‘little head’ tells you to do, so just let it happen and enjoy it while it lasts!

Great stuff, thanks guys, looks like whichever way I go I should be alright!

Tits – Cwmcarn not Cwmwarn!!

Just shortened my SLX brake hoses for a new bike build and used these:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=1741

Could be what you are after

Paul, its a 2012 Titus El Guapo, I’ve had a damn good look and I’m pretty sure the 36T ring will fit without fouling any nice frame-related bits.

perth yes you’re right, I’m keeping the SLX 22T granny. I have the XT ring now, so its gonna be a case of fitting it and fiddling around with mech position/settings etc. to get the best shifting performance I can

Thanks again peeps for the help

As I’m going for a cheap-ass Blackspire bash I doubt it’ll have bolts, but you never know I guess. I’ll see what turns up and take it from there, I’m in no rush!

Thanks for your help peeps!

I’ve got 2 whippets that I can’t train to do anything let alone run along by me on my bike. I’ve tried a few times but in the woods it lasts about 5 seconds before they get bored and p*ss off to chase rabbits and squirrels. And horses, deer, kids the list goes on. Jeez they’re a liability

Anyone want two whippets?

Mojo – it does make sense, hadn’t thought of that! Just picturing having 5 foot wide bars now and going along with my chin on the stem.. . :D

Ha, good work Rich, I’m sure not many people this side of Dirty Dan need super-wide bars (esp not 915mm?!) but I like the feel and they look pretty cool so thats good enough for me!

I think you’re probably right there bro, but I have a disproportionally long torso in relation to my height so 70 is about as short as I can go without feeling cramped!

mojo – 70mm

DezB – thanks, did a forum search and not much came up funnily enough, hence why I started a new one, must have cocked up the search maybe

Yean I’m gonna give them a whirl at 740 although I have a feeling thats going to be a tad too much for the tree lined trails I ride a lot

Cheers!

I’ve just bought a Titus El Guapo (see links) and am currently building it up…

Bargain at 799 including shock. My large frame including the shock weighed in at 7lb on the nose

Review included too…

http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/FRTITELGUV2/titus_el_guapo_frame_and_monarch_shock

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/bikes/mountain/product/el-guapo-frame-10-36835

Get ’em while they’re hot!