Jamie_Neal

I agree Interesting bits in there. I'm still slightly confused as to how making something as rigid as it can be reduces vibration............

Although when I swapped frames, it took me a few rides to get my brake set up properly and it was still far better even when set up badly than when I was using a booster before - probably just me though. Some movement must be good for absorbing the vibration from the brake rather than having it as rigid as it can be - like bending your legs when you jump off a wall.

And the latest incarnation of Planet X's Jack Flash had them (just to add to the list)

Personnaly, I find a less stiff brake gives better bite and hold without having to pull on the lever so hard. Although I only have a couple of frames to base this on. 1) 04 Echo Control with Control booster: Silly stiff booster run with magura with a water bleed, Koxx blues and a medium to dead grind. Worked well when the pads were new to 3 months old and gradually went downhill. would improve after a new grind for a couple of weeks at best. Very little flex at the lever. 2) 07 Adamant A1 with built in booster: Same magura, bleed and pads and rim used (no cleaning/regrind between swapping the parts over). Fair bit more flex at the lever but the brake is sooo much better in wet or dry conditions. I was really surprised at the improvement considering how bad my brake had been on my Control. It has taken a couple of rides to get used to the additional lever pull. Arm pump issues: Personally (again), I've found not much difference although with the added flex (all be it small) I do have to pull the brake a bit further and the release point is not quite so well defined but I have found that under usual riding, I don't have to pull the brake as hard so I think it has actually worked out a bit better. I just hope the built in booster on the Adamant stops enough flex to give the frame as long a life span as my Control. Also, my friend recently snapped his Czar 07 with a built in booster and his brake was ok. He now has a Gu LE which has no built in booster and his brake (again, the same set up and no alterations between swapping frames) has improved. Take from this what you want, but personnaly, no booster gives a bit more flex, a better brake and no more noticable arm pump.

Cool vid and nice attempt at the rail bail that turned into a face plant. You'll have to get some filming done in Swansea when you get back.

Awesome vids especially now you can watch them - thought it was worth a bump.

Nice vid, you look more comfortable on 26" although the Leeson was nice. Loved the balance line.

Looks nice but very pointless for xc in Wales as it would fill up with mud very quickly and end up weighing more than my Patriot. Fine if you live in California or if they did a trials one. Good to see new things being tried though.

I've done it as well. A 170mm Louise caliper (with a homemade adaptor), a 203 Hayes disc and an 04 HS33 lever with a water bleed and it was on a jump bike. I found any overheating problems could be compensated for by the TPA although these were few and far between anyway.

Like the cable routing he's using - good way to save scratching anything. Not so keen on the amount of stem stackers, the +20 mount for the rear disc (just get the bigger caliper to start with) or the dropouts. Apart from the new disc mount it looks pretty much like the old one - but why change what works. Are they going to do the longer geometry version that Ali was riding/testing or is that it? Jamie

Gald to hear the trip is going well except for Max's guts, forks and your gurns and hair in those photos. Jamie

The FSA ones are pretty low. As for headsets, I know there are ones to be had but I can't remember who makes them - not much help I know.

Nice. The xc tandem sounds fun as well.

Also, don't worry about the falling off side of things, I did a fine job of falling off enough at Hook Woods to save anyone else having to bother for the rest of the series. As well known sites go, how about Porthcawl? Plenty of rocks and didn't the Marty/ins organise one there a few years ago or have Bridgend CBC got a bit more picky? It would also give a Welsh round and its not too far from Bristol/Brum. It could also be another show case like Blackpool, nice and easy for spectators. I would suggest Swansea/the Gower but its probably a bit far west (although very handy for me). I was thinking of Ogwen but I'm guessing that getting the National Trust to agree would be interesting. Jamie

The other issue when considering this is that the rider usually moves the bike around quite a lot when doing a flat gap and cannot really be considered as a ball (or whatever is used in these examples). When drop gapping, the rider probably does move in more of a parabolic shape although they still do move the bike a fair amount on the take offs of large drop gaps. Would make an interesting study but its too long since I've had to do this sort of maths.

Nice - can't wait to get mine built. Is it the long and if so, how does it ride with the trial tech stem - I'm thinking about one (white with white bars though). What's the reach from the bb to the centre of the stem (I'm 6'4"). Mine'll have contol forks.

As for comps, I do wish there were some closer but hey, its been worth travelling. Alternative formats would be good but at present the formats are governed by the rules although there have been changes recently but not as substantial as to the format. Speed trials is good for spectators as has been proved at the bike shows but to set up and run a comp as a speed trials comp would be a nightmare if you had more than a dozen riders. It would have to be done in heats and only on one section otherwise you'd have too many variables as far as I can see. The bike battle style is good but again if you had loads of people turn up they'd get limited runs unless you set up different courses but then you'd probably need more than one judge on each section and getting observers isn't the easiest thing. Not really trying to be negative, just trying to work out how they could work - suggestions welcome! What about duel trials (as opposed to speed trials) - two people riding on the same course and the faster person would get the advantage as they can pick the easier line - could get a bit dodgy and observing again probably wouldn't be that simple. Jamie

Pilates, Polymetrics

What have you started Tim? With regards to the organising, having spoken to Barbra after the Fort William comp I understand why pre-entry is required and how much preparation is involved. (Also having experience of organising a couple of events in Swansea) For comps you need to guarantee the attendance to ensure the event is worthwhile - if you only get one rider in each class, whats the point. In order to do this you need an idea before the day of the event plus it gives time to produce all the necessary paperwork - punch cards etc. This is actually the first year I've been to comps in about 7 years and I have found they have helped my riding no end - if only by showing how bad I actually am. They have been well organised and you make them as fun as you want them to be - I have had a good laugh at all the ones I've been to (especially Tim's dancing in Blackpool). The travelling can be an issue and having a car and a couple of people to share costs is helpful - especially when going to Fort William from Swansea although Dave's driving does cut down on the journey times. I definately think an event/more events in cities/towns would help the sport - Bristol would probably be ideal. In Swansea a group of us did do a couple of events to raise funds/promote the need for a permenant facility (skate park, dirt jumps and a trials area) but Swansea council were pretty useless and basically said no to funding from them. The events themselves were a success though and consisted of a temporary skate park (marquee flooring and ramps built for the day), a trials area (a few pallets, boxes and we were planning on skips but they fell through at the last minute) and some dirt jumps. In all it cost roughly £9000 to do and most of that was on the skate park. Cheers, Jamie

Very cool. Should have had a cruiser with a coaster brake and a 3spd hub - just to make it look cleaner.

Nice, good to see you're spending your summer wisely!

Nice riding, good video and yes a Swansea ride will happen at some point.

Nice and so smooth. Loved the nose up/pigeon/whatever onto the round thing onto the end and the sloping walls part way through.

C: Leave it that side of the stem but put it under the top tube.

Still probably worth getting money for the right length cranks as it does say they are 175. If the mounts work, is it worth fiddling with them? Still good value for the money though. Although its definately worth checking exactly what you are getting - in writing.