[Yossarian]

Right...  Fatdoc's DH thread has been contaminated by those of us who chose to use our pedals for things other than just standing on.

How about a new thread for discussion of up and down mountain biking, for those with a pedalling disposition.

Feeling inadequate with only six inches or less?  Don't worry - help is at hand!

So, who's up for this Snowdon mission? Adam, me...?

Quite fancy a weekend in the Lakes too at some point.

[fatkid2000]

Didn't Fatdoc suggest Snowdon?

War in the cycle camp??

[Yossarian]

I dunno.  Did he?

I remember some Snowdon related talk starting with Cofe's account of his day that culminated with a descent of the Ranger Track.

But either way, I am up for any type of mission there.  It would be nice to do something that involves something other than merely walking up and riding down though.

Also, had a bit of a exploratory ride up a track that runs up north of Capel Curig.  Was great fun coming down.  Think there's potential to make up a loop to Trefriw and back.

[fatdoc]

for clarity...

me.. snowdon = the beris push up... fuck riding it.

then the same path down...

why... only place in the UK where you can let the bike go..

now... Cofe's adventure of two in a day, is awesome. But I'm fat, and want beers in the eve before and just one sweet (faster) descent....

oh lordy... NO.

no competitive descents.. I wantthe full on beardy *  full MTn* mtb thing here..

[tlr]

I'm in, I'm happy with less than 6 inches thank you very much.

[Norton Sharley]

Me too.

Snowdon, yes please.

Lakes, up there loads after 1st March, so if anyone wants to hook up let me know.

Trail centres, good ones - yes please.

Peak District, I hear there are one or two good trails.  Who's up for some night riding after kids bed time?

[Yossarian]

Excellent, excellent.

I have a mate who is keen for the Lakes - we would probably make a weekend of it, so I will try to suggest some dates soon.

Would love to hook up for a  Peak sesh sometime, but being about 200 miles away might make a mid week evening ride a bit tricky.

[Bubba]

Trail centres, good ones - yes please.

I'll give you a shout next time my Brummy XC crew have a meetup - they're a great bunch of lads, you'd really like them I think. Do the usuals like Penmachno/Coed/etc.

Peak District, I hear there are one or two good trails.  Who's up for some night riding after kids bed time?

I need to get some lights for this - on my rare days off in the week I'm stuck for something to do whilst most people are asleep or indoors. What's the minimum lighting setup you can get away with? I take it a Myo XP on it's own won't cut it.

[fatdoc]

mate of mine has just imported the 1500 lumen sets in jejames. they go for a few hundred there which is well under the asking price of such powerful a system.  He got it for £50!!!

cant remember the model / make... tbf it was at a party... i was pissed 

otherwise lumicycle are a good UK brand. I use light and motion.

[Bubba]

Pray tell more Jon - £50 sounds like a bargain - if you see your mate again spill the beans...

[Norton Sharley]

18 bikes have a sale on of Hope lights but there 4 pot at about 750 real lumens for £200 aint going to compare with 1500 lumens for £50.  Sounds too good to be true that.

Why not borrow some of someone who never uses them - Dolly

[mrconners]

one of these


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SSC-P7-1200-Lum-LED-Bicycle-bike-Head-Light-Lamp-Torch-/170514393162?pt=UK_SportsLeisure_Cycling_Bike_Lights&hash=item27b373284a

and two of these fellas

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Police-Security-SSC-P7-LED-Torch-900-Lumens-Light-/150519906481?pt=UK_SportsLeisure_Camping_LightsLanternsTorches&hash=item230baf80b1

Blinding.

[Bubba]

That's a bargain - would just the first one would be enough?

[Norton Sharley]

Careful, my experience of mates having cheap lights is that they don't achieve the lumens that they say on the tin.  And if Hope can't achieve them then these guys have no hope at all.  imho led lights are coming down in price rapido but you gets what you pays for .....

Borrow Dolly's lights ....

[Palomides]

There's huge discussion threads about P7/XPG torches over on the bikeradar.com forums - loads of people have ordered them direct from bestofferbuy.com or dealextreme.com and seem really happy with them. It seems that the chinese manufacturers quite happily knock out torches with the latest and brightest LED units in as soon as they are available, whereas the EU/AUS/US manufacturers take quite a bit longer to get units out.

This means that you can get something awesomely bright for about £35...

... but you have to wait 6 weeks for delivery, the build quality is more hit or miss than with name brands and any warranty issues will take ages to deal with.

I've only looked at these things for commuting lights, as all my local woods are stuffed full of really fucking big wild boar at night, but I haven't even bothered ordering one just to see, as for commuting a standard headtorch and bar light do me fine.

Here - over 40 pages of "What lights" discussion
I recommend starting at about page 35

[Norton Sharley]

Sure, all good stuff, but you are considering these as a commuter light which, as you suggest, is entirely different from what is required of a technical singletrack light.  It's no use having 1000 lumens of light if it's all directed in one narrow beam and that is where the mtb light companies are specialising in developing lenses suitable for our needs.   I don't disagree that a couple of these babies pointing in slightly different directions are probably ample for most night time users.  I would be interested to see some of these cheap torches in action mind.

[gingerninja]

as all my local woods are stuffed full of really fucking big wild boar at night

where do you live?

[fatdoc]

I spent a wad on the light & motions as I near always nite ride on my own... and they do this really damn cool lite beam where they only light up the trail... nothing above shoulder height... makes the trail glow but nothing else... feels wkd to fly along trails like that..

those cheap lites are as far as I can see what is described by John H above...

to a degree I see what norton is saying... I'm no fan of Hope.. as I've broken near everything I've  ever bought from them... ( apart form the best seatclamps in the world.. obviously) but at least you get a fair ( well used) and efficient after sales service.

[Palomides]

as all my local woods are stuffed full of really fucking big wild boar at night

where do you live?

I live in southern France. The first winter I lived here local hunters shot a 216 kg boar in the woods near the village.

[Yossarian]

I go riding with some bores... None of them weigh 216kg though, despite their best efforts with the sausages and chips.

I got a new hardtail this week - it's a very tasty Whyte 19CS.  Swapped the quite ridiculous Conti Race Kings over for a pair of Panaracer Trailrakers, and have installed shorter stem and riser bars. See, I can be a bore too.

Looking forward to riding something under 30lb for a change. Nearly under 20 actually....

[Yossarian]

Right, I'm planning a weekend in North Wales 1-2-3 April.

Plan is to ride Cofe's Ranger Track route on the Saturday, and then a loop from Capel Curig to Trefriw and back on the Sunday.

Maybe a lap of something at Coed y Brenin or the Marin Trail on the Friday pm.

Anyone keen?

[Yossarian]

Anyone? Anyone? Bueller...?

[robertostallioni]

Its his day off.

[Norton Sharley]

Keen, yes.  Able to plan that far in advance, no.