you’d have to be very hamfisted to knack up full size crank threads with kiddies pedals
😀

Saw on an Ian M Banks interview, he loved Consider Phlebas and really wanted to see it made into a big budget movie….As lots of people have said Phillip K Dick (especially Ubik), Ursula Le Guin, Alfred Bester, and lets not forget Arthur C Clarke..

Much as I like Planet X stuff, the AL30s had awful seals. I’ve got a pair in my shed, bearings went after 9 months…I had some Fulcrum R7s and they were very good, but I like Shimano wheels, easy & cheap to service with the old cup & cones. RS11s can usually be found < £100??

The Dispossessed by Ursula Le Guin, the best book I’ve ever read about the political and the personal and how they cannot be seperated

that’s really very good

Another old git here! John 00 Fleming has been around forever and produced every sort of Trance…

I’ve used them for a few months now, (Schwalbe Ultremo tubeless) and found them to be excellent. Bit of a pig to fit. I reckon I’ve done over 2500 miles on them and had my first noticeable puncture the other day. Pressure dropped to about 50psi. Put a few drops more sealant in and reinflated, still leaking. I was ready to write it off, but when I removed it i fount a shard of metal still sticking through on the inside. Removed that reinflated and it seems fine now. Probably getting a bit thin now (they are a race tyre) I’m thinking I’ll try Hutchinson Fusions next as they are supposedly a little tougher. I have Shimano RS61 wheels

Love rusty chimenea detail, reminds me of the Mandelbrot set 😀

…and the Yorkshire Teapot, shouting “put the kettle on!”…I was only there for a coupla hours with the kids, but a really good do, well done to the organisers & competitors

Shower before you set off, wear proper technical clothing that wicks away sweat, deodorant when you get there, & bob’s your uncle. I’ve done this for the last 3 years………mind, there’s a few empty desks around me 🙂

More work ones:

Traction

Bandwidth

Both of the above are used incorrectly and out of context.
😡

Terrible awful news, but I can’t agree with the “in the good old days” stuff.
Horrors like this this have always happened, society in general is less violent, and generally, the younger generation are a lot more pleasant and well behaved than when I was growing up..
It may well become “old news” fairly quickly but that’s because our news media is sensation driven.

The bell ends are usually (sweeping generalisation coming) fatties who can only get any speed up downhill after supping a can of Monster.

Nowt wrong with that Trek…Even as a happy owner of 2 Genesis bikes though, I think they’re not the best value…and they don’t seem “bothered” about MTBs as a company anymore.
If you do want to go more for a longer travel bike, have you considered a On one 456? Lots of people love ’em.

Old photo, but still using my candy apple green (?) Genesis

7700ft of climb in 60 miles is a lot mind…have you made a will?

Basically trail will be slacker head angle & 120/130mm fork, probably easier to ride fast downhill on technical stuff. XC usually 100mm fork , lighter & easier to ride fast uphill :D…that’s very basic though and people will no doubt point out that their trail bike is faster uphill than my XC bike …etc

The good news is you’ve plenty of choice. For £1300 you could get a light(ish) XC hardtail, or a slightly less light trail type hardtail..
For a grand, what about the Boardman pro 29er?
Or look at the German direct sales bikes, Canyon, Rose, Radon (I’ve just got one of those)
Have fun deciding! It’s actually one of the best bits (imo)

Rutland Cycles?

I bought Ultremos from Germany also, and they’ve been great, a revelation really…but I think you’ll struggle to get them cheap now, being replaced by the Schwalbe One Tubeless I think. Hutchinsons seem to be well reviewed though?

Dogs are always happy…bstuds
🙂