Shoot the breeze here.
Am looking for a reasonably good quality, 2nd hand, v-brake compatible back wheel for the spare/guest hard tail bike I am soon going to build back up. Would be into taking a pair of such wheels if that’s what you have hanging in your garage looking for a new home……..
Cheers Sunil
My mate Mark is due back from Brazil in July and is looking to buy a basic but descent used MTB, rather than hiring a bike everytime he is back. Budget is about £300 and for that the bike must be simple but good condition with no imminent repairs! size 17-18 inch, hardtail, v-brakes preferred, basic – but not too basic (i.e. entry level rockshok) fork. His old bike was a mid-range Trek which he liked, not fussed about make though – so if anyone knows somebody looking to offload something reasonable, let me know – ideally with a pic that I can email to him.
Cheers, Stephen
Hi all,
I have mentioned this to a handful of members who all seemed quite keen.
http://www.fynefest.com/index.html
It’s the 2nd weekend of June, (Sat 11th & Sun 12th). Tickets are only £8 and £10.50 for the camping ticket – that’s per tent and for the weekend.
I’m heading up early on the Saturday with a friend, we’re taking the bikes as I’ve been told there are some crakin’ rides around that area. Also, can someone please give me some ride info on Auchindrain.
I hope to see more of you there, it could be a nice club weekend away…..Bevvy and Biking!
Barry
On 22 May you can donate £5 to charity and ride the new bit of the M74 before it officially opens. Not sure it’s for me, but thought I’d share.
18 riders, two snapped chains. Continue reading
The ‘Fred’ is a fundraising ride of over 1000 riders riding over some of the hardest roads in the lakes. It raises funds for the Dave Rayner Fund (raises money for young road riders in England ). Fred was secretary ofe local road club and died at 50 so the other charity is Macmillan Cancer Care. It spends 112 miles combining Kirkstone Pass (highest pass in the lakes and site of Britain’s 4th Highest pub), Honister Pass, Matterdale Edge then a couple more minor peaks and at 100 miles you hit Hard Knott Pass with its sections of 1 in 3 (it is argued which is the steepest climb in Britain, this or Rosedale Chimney in Yorkshire). It manages another 1300 foot summit and another wee hill before you finish tho’
On Saturday afternoon Chris Johnstone, No Helmet Al, Gerry Cleary and myself headed down to Coniston for Sundays Fred Whitton Stag Ride. As you may know Gerry and I have been going out a bit at the weekend and on the Thursday Road Rides. You may know that Al has been out training in Australia from November to March and his ridden Sportives here and in Flanders since. Chris has also been training regularly. He trained once in February, once in March, once in April and also once in May. Good Prep!
The Fred starts on a nice easy climb then as seemed to be the way of the day had a wee climb up and descent before you reached the real climb. Kirkstone was the first and tho its the highest is probably the easiest…. to go up. On the way down we saw a rider lying down wrapped in a sleeping bag at the side of the road- never a good situation- waiting for emergency help. There were two crashes on that corner.
Honister was the next real climb of note. This one was tough. The descent was miserable. A few hours and more two passes later we got to the timing dibber control at Whinlater Pass. The marshal was advising anyone coming through on our time to turn round and call it a day as the second half was twice as tough. Red rag to a stag bull! We climbed the next few passes and hills fearing a change in the weather and the sting in the tail of Hard Knott followed by Wrynose at 100 miles .
Hard Knott is the daddy of them all. Think of climbing the Crow Road to find the Kyber Pass has been placed on top. Except someone has tipped the whole thing up so it is twice as steep..It has two genuine 1 in 3 sections lasting about 100 metres or more each. Almost everyone on a double chainset has to walk. I think the Kyber Pass road climb is maybe 1 in 6 at worst. Double it then make it last.
On the descent of Hard Knott, I was coming down behind Chris and was just thinking how steep it was and suddenly a few corners later I couldn’t see him. Each time I had a view ahead I scanned the riders in the distance, still descending, I could see Gerry, Al but no Chris. I was beginning to assume the worst…. But he showed up- probably glad that as we hit 106 miles or so there were on two named climbs to go the Wrynose Pass and Little Langdale. The former was a bit of a let down after Hard Knott. No one in threes here; I could swear it never got steeper than 1 in 5? To put this in perspective Alpine passes sit about 6 – 8%-maybe 1 in 16 to 1 in 12. All safely over we rode the little climb to Little Langdale and flew down into Conniston. never has there been a more welcome cheese pasty and mushy peas – yum!
I spoke to Gerry last night.S: How you feeling? GC:Like I just got off a flight with jet lag… The more I think about it the more that sums it up …
Aldi have their bike kit today.
The track pump for 4.99 is unmissable if you don’t have one.
SS
Hi,
Despite the change in weather, heading up north this weekend to try some new routes. Plan is to do the Glen Affric rides in Kenny Wilson’s book. Can anyone (or Sanny??!) give any tips/advice about them? Or, and other nice rides around there?
Cheers,
Sam
The rear Hayes brake on my Bianchi keeps going tight (ie brake pressure constantly on) despite several bleeds (last one done by Alpine). Seems to be heat related (hot conditions make it worse), so I still think there is air in there somewhere. Anyone out there particularly good at bleeding brakes and want to have a go at trying to cure my problem?
Alternatively, anyone got a cheap rear brake set-up they no longer have a use for? It’s getting close to that stage…
JB
Nine of us turned up for last nights Beginner Ride. Unfortunately, the only official beginner was Claire. So, we split the ride, one half led by Luke whilst myself, Claire & Sandy headed along the Westie.
We all met up at a couple of points along the way, and after grouping at the bottom of Flux, we headed up Rosie’s, then a left towards the pylons. Luke & co did a few of the trails in the woods, whilst I tried to convince Claire to do Jackies Root, but she decided to wait whilst Sandy and I had a quick blast. A regroup at the hole in the wall, then we started heading back, with Luke & co branching off to tackle the steep trails at the castle. The rest of us headed back, via Snakey and opting for the road back.
The majority of the trails are nice and dry at the moment, although on Tuesday, that crackin’ descent after Dawns Pinky Root is still very bogey, it tried to eat my front wheel and left leg, but just managed to pull free…..there was chatter about leaving me!
A big thanks to Sandy, as Claire felt he was great at communicating & coaching, he spent a lot of time riding alongside, whilst I led the way…..and luckily I didn’t have to sleep on the sofa. Also a big thanks to the other GMBC members who showed their support.
Barry
