big_scot_nanny

wishing you a lottery win!

i just opted for the bank loan option, so glad i did. what an adventure and all this time later i still have that new bike grin. folk do zone in on the cost (and visual appeal or lack of) but for me, the whole thing is so solid, well thought out and so wonderfully ridable, its worth every penny.

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almost 8 years in and still besotted by the jones. recently trying out wide straight bars after forever on jones loops. wow!

i actually surprised myself that i quite like it.

but its designed for racers or folk that get given their bikes and bits. i get its an exercise in seeing how technology can help improve any given problem and this is elegantly done. the price of actually smashing that rear mech is eye-watering even with that clutch thing increase the ‘undamaged window’…

to me, mountain biking for mere mortals is about some form of durability in incredibly trying conditions (ie scottish winters). i want stuff that works and for me – and it already exists. so the industry isnt targeting me.

i get these things will trickle down eventually but to me this opens up a whole host of other things. when does it get daft? electronic brakes? voice activated electronic pedals?

as a biker thats been riding since 1986, ive accepted some total junk in the past but the overall standard of bikes, components and clothes are amazing now. im not convinced there are many huge technical issues left to solve. its all marginal gains these days.

the chain is very smart though!

ive been veggie for 15 years and my wife has been for more than twice as long. quorn has been a long term ‘meat free’ option which i dont mind but vivera kebab meat and heck super green sausages are fairly recent discoveries that are vegan and absolutely fantastic.

i think your taste buds sort of forget what meat tastes like (i was previously mad on salami etc) although you think you remember. it was very easy for me to make the change. inspired by a heady mixture of reading about late sixties counter culture, animal welfare and health all factored. i also get that its a bit of bore socially so dont bang on about it too much.

however, more and more, there as really tasty options out there. but these products are definitely very tasty! and jackfruit is also incredible!

carl stones stuff is amazing – this track is out this world.

[ video]<span class=”skimlinks-unlinked”>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eBT6OSr1TI</span&gt;[/video ]

my bibs last one ride

(and then they go in the wash!)

i only wear my bibs under my shorts these days which seems to make then last for ages. my endura bibs are 9, specialised around 5. and i tend to wear my biking clothes till they literally fall apart.

the actual bike bits get replaced more frequently than the things i put on my body.

as former student there, im totally gutted again.

no idea what happens now. it was a fantastic building.

i recently made around £800 selling my star wars stuff, i’d rediscovered sack loads (yup i was spoiled!) in my parents attic. ebay was a nightmare though – endless questions about serial numbers on the back of legs, whether the weapons floated and all sorts of time wasting. figures all seem to go for around £5 if they are complete and in good nick. the whole process took months as well.

i think darth vaders tie fighter went for about £85. £50 quid sounds like a quick and easy deal to me.

like loads of others here, i started riding mountain bikes in the 80s. i had loads of bikes and was always interested in weird and wonderful stuff – trimbles / kliens / niskihi aleins /tomacs drop bar yeti etc…

all the wild experimentation was all under one wheel size though other than that weird Cannondale with the 24″ rear wheel.

i never really thought about what difference a wheel size would make as it wasn’t an option. i sort of messed about with running my thumb shifter upside down, weird scott at-4 bars and a wider front tyre but always figured wheel size was one of the few things bolted down – non-negotiable.

so getting a new bike 6 years back, it just happened to be my first 29er. being almost 6ft 2″, i guess i fit into the slightly taller / longer legged end of the scale and i totally love it. the miles disappeared, my time on the bike doubled, i rode stuff id never managed up or down before. we are all different, ride different stuff and i suppose looking for something that works best.

and our bodies are locked down in terms of sizes, within that there has to be a sweet spot on the exact balance and proportion of that network of tubing and rubber we jump on top of. only when we try something new can we really work out whats best for us. whats too far (36er?) and what not enough…

giving customers all these wheel size options has clearly been a shot in the arm for the industry. and its provided feedback on what folk actually do with there bikes when you roll out the shop. and how often we all go back and buy something new. my guess is the industry just has everything on a rolling boil. the whole wheel size option/debate is a door that cant be shut now and that’s a great thing for folk that love biking.

I don’t have any real solutions, just a bit practical experience. be selfish and by that I mean, we all kind of owe to ourselves to find the experiences that really give us a sense of fulfillment. for many here, it’s clearly bikes. for me its bikes – time away from the clutter of my other life (by no means bad but clutter all the same). time apart and a sense of independence, and adventure. alone and completely self-reliant. arriving back home after a journey with no point other than the journey itself.

it works for me but everyone has different requirements. maybe its cooking, or watercolours, or ultra marathons. I’ve had times when I feel I’ve lost years in a booze haze, times when I don’t really recognise what the hell I was doing but I know the key to some sort of satisfaction is definitely mental and physical stimulation. the themes are around broadly healthy stuff.

I said I had no real point but to anyone facing difficulty, keep looking – I hope you find that sweet spot!

I’d love to see a cool animation version of Voltaire’s Micromegas (in a late 60s illustrative style!)

Tomorrowland – Sequence of the Negative Space Changes

another wingnut/kool aid drinker here. have a big all day enduro version and a smaller hyper 3.0. and as others have said – a great pack. really solid and innovative design that really works. having access to the side pockets without removing the pack is great (getting a camera in/out, ditching gloves, munching on a snack).

cant really see me ever seriously considering anything by anyone else. and for a bit of balance had a great evoc pack before the wingnut, it was a solid and simple pack but nowhere near as good as wingnut.

weird looking if that matters (goes with the jones) and me i suppose!

im really liking the IXS stuff.

try wayne at eds bikes? he’s nearby and very helpful.

http://edsigns-yorkshire.wixsite.com/edsbikes

im always dreaming of going back to single speed – love the sense of simplicity and accomplishment. but I’m currently enjoying my x11 11/46 cassette a lot as well.

i think the best way is having gears but not being as reliant on them if that doesn’t sound totally bizarre.

you somehow cope better with one gear that you’d think, don’t scrub speed of as much on occasion and hit things faster (sometimes clearing stuff you’d make more of a meal off with gears). it makes you stronger and read the trail better (or more aggressively)

gears seem to bring out the lazy side but also make other riding practical. ultimately the right answer is different for everyone (what you want from riding, where you live etc)

admitted i ride alone most of the time (live rurally) and clearly have loads of time for internal mumblings…

and i realise I’ve actually not evolved this discussion at all!

again a different take on brutal but what a snarling bitter song this is. all wrapped up in a late sixties pop song.

john cage bubblegum

I think its great that businesses are at long last standing up to the NRA. anything to challenge them surely has to be a good thing in my eyes.

And yes, like one or two others on this thread, I’m a tree-hugging veggie. I’m well, use to basing my purchases on avoiding animal testing policies and things I generally disagree with in my tiny blinkered world view!

Dirt Wizard (3.0) up front and a Geax Gato (2.4) out back.

Pretty much perfect for comfort and grip through some pretty hideous Scottish conditions.

I’m vegetarian as is my wife. i absolutely love the Scottish highlands and im starting to go back up more regularly again having got back into biking, walking etc – now ive got more like-minded friends etc.

the one factor i personally think lets the highland down (painting very broad strokes here) is the lack of vegetarian food. after a few days of pub options (mac cheese/ veggie burgers etc) its pretty limiting. of course, small villages further north are providing what the majority want to buy and there’s never more than ‘a V option’ on most menus.

whilst i personally would welcome more options for veggie (and vegan) travelers I’m not sure its interesting enough for many to make it a viable business.

sounds like a good trip. only thing id suggest it take the general wind direction into account.

sorry, this was what I initially thought this thread was about in my dyslexic mind!

<span style=”font-size: 0.8rem;”>in my dyslexic mind</span>

the holy mountain

I run a nate on an 85mm rim fat front or a ranger/dirt wizard on a 45 arc 29+ set up on my jones.
Fat front great for fun half days and when it’s properly hideous.
+29 for longer days, bike packing and when I’m wanting speed.
Both are great, I love being about to swap depending on mood/conditions etc.

me! email and details in profile

Nothing to add other than wow! Sounds an amazing trip – a place I’d love to go.

And maybe grab a Mulatu Astatke compilation as a soundtrack.

mice and sun loungers

I just bought a Wacom tablet. Under 100 quid and offers a far cheaper way of integrating painting and drawing with the mac. And it’s good fun.

2017 has been a good year for tunes.

Some highlights so far…

Joshua Abrams & Natural Information Society | Simultonality
Caterina Barbieri | Patterns of Consciousness
The Myrrors | Hasta La Victoria
GAS | Narkopop
Wand | Plum
Bitchin Bajas | Bajas Fresh
Rafael Toral | Moon Field
Bruce Russell | Metallic OK

Also patiently waiting for
Roland Kayn |A Little Electronic Milky Way of Sound
to drop through the letterbox, and finding the 14 hours to listen to the whole thing.

queensferry with a twist of leith…

very scottish and sweary

have a friend who has a daughter in a class with a kid that is gender neutral (both 10 years old). being good parents they wanted to discuss this to deal with any questions or confusion. and amazingly none of the kids are remotely bothered which seems like a great blueprint for the future…

as far as the parents on the bbc – they toiled to pinpoint the actual issue which they have which i suspect its no more their own hang ups.

colin at back 2 fitness is great – sorted me out a few times…

Home

a torque wrench

for me, its natural trails instead of trail centres every time. i love exploring, finding new stuff and to be honest, i want to get away from everything (riding alone 99.9) and be out in nature. im into finding overgrown trails snaking through forests or over moors and hills. and being in scotland, i can go everywhere.

having said that, i do think trail centres are great as an entry point for beginners, families, learning skills as well as creating more of a community of like minded folk. some of the riding looks great fun and challenging as well. its just never been something ive thought about too much despite living 20 miles from glentress and inners…

op – otherside of the pentlands from you but will keep my eyes peeled.

Another thing to consider at this time of year in that part of the world… Midges!!!

ok…

a guy I use to know once was caught short whilst out biking. for reasons known to himself, he decided to ‘lay a cable’ then work out a wiping strategy. after the ‘event’ he surveyed the ground and settle on trying to wipe himself using an acorn. thinking that a ‘slow rotation’ would work. funnily enough, it didn’t.

the end

and only a front brake?