[Anyone seen this before? Pretty interesting..]

http://forums.mtbr.com/frame-building/trials-bike-done-667097.html

Nice Yoke!

[Best looking mod?]

Thats really nice!! I'd have a black seat on it myself though .. Is that a peg on the front or just something on the floor?

Think we're on a similar wavelength here guys..

Could even weld a shim onto some bmx bars and use a 25.4 stem? - I imagine you could get this to look alright and still keepin the 'trials' look with the 'long'(er) mtb stem!

Check these bars out.. 35mm clamp and NO brace?! Think i'd be wanting a brace for trials.. maybe an old school clamp on brace..

Like these. I rekon Those 7.5" Renthals with a shim clamped in a 90/100x0 Thomson stem would look cool on this imaginary trials/bmx hybrid i'm thinkin of.. Still keepin an element of the trials look with the 'long(er)' mtb stem and the not so common 'braced' bmx bars.. setting it apart from looking too 'Bmx'y'!

Would love to see something like this.

Guessin most people have come across this site before? Some of those early mods are mental. Whats with the 24" front wheel?!

Right, it's way past my bed time..

[Best looking mod?]

it's got a seat, clearly a bmx :wink2:

Haha a leather seat no less! I think it just looks awsome.. Love the frame pad! probably rides like a sack but heh..

if I ever went to a mod I'd get something close to how this monty looks, just with more modern geometry, parts and a disc mount.....again I can't see many people agreeing haha

I am in total agreement.. Bigger triangles just look better I used to have an X-alp.. it was my first trials bike! In Orange and white.. Iv'e even thought about picking one up and bringin it up to date before aswell.. But i havnt got the money and really i know i'm a little too tall to run the bar/stem i'd like on that frame. Do it Ali What would you change for geometry?? There was a guy round this way ages ago used to ride an old monty x-lite with loads of stackers, like a 70mm stem and some risers.. it looked well short but he used to bunny hop to back wheel so high and just general did cool smooth lines.. Looked like he was havin fun with it.

Isitafox.. what is that frame?

EDit: I had the older Steel X-alp.. not quite as nice. That 219 Aluminium one is much nicer.. Love it when the seatstays meet the top tube..

[Benito Ros - Slow Motion]

What is that boy with the hat doing? Catching? Haha!

I think he has something to do with the immensity of the moves.. it looks like he's channeling some sort of Chi up Benitos bottom enabling him to have more thrust..

Something for the UCI to keep an eye on..

Edit: If you pause at exactly 6.00 it's clearly obvious.

[The Car Thread]

I'm not sure? Bought this one through Retro-bikes about 3 years ago? If you dropped it off to me while i worked at Mud-dock cycles in Bristol then yet it was you!

Last one i bought before that was a black one that i bought off someone at the bikeshow at N.E.C in Birmingham yeeeears ago! Could've been you?

Oooh they are just the nicest frame ever though.. I know i'll want another one just to look at if i sell this one!

[The Car Thread]

I'm in the process of vanishing.. :cool2:

I read your'e back in Notts? Back at the same house? Still got a bike?? Nah don't want a car for a bit. Im a Physcalist gosh darn it!

I'm selling the Golf because.. i like to hurt my own feelings once in a while .. I've been thinking of selling the Pashley just to really slap me in the face.. :'( Again it's beautiful but i just don't use it enough!

Nah, really i'm planning on going away a bit this summer and i just want to change things up and feel abit more free. It's abit like your'e tied to an invisible string when you've got something like a car..

Also Iv'e been trying to cut down on my car use as much as possible anyway and want to establish my working life around simplicity so better start as i mean to go on. Theres always another way! Really have hardly been using it except the odd trip to Bristol or into Derbyshire and running a few errands.. I work from home so it's just hardly needed!

When i do use it is when i'm collecting bikes to fix which it isnt ideal for anyway and so would be better off with a van for that. Did think about a tow bar n trailer but don't have a driveway to keep it.

Lately iv'e been running about anything up-to 10 miles with one of those kids buggy trailers on my bike - picking up and dropping off bikes!.. And now i'm set on putting some money into building a more purpose built trailer.. Something like the 'surly bill and ted' flat beds! Maybe with a nice 1000W electric converted bike?! That's a point.. Can you Tig?! Or know anyone who might fancy a job?

I'm not gona give it away though because i know that i'd never find a car that good again for much less than £1k.. and the Reg is just too good! (A)

Edit: Above VW Golf as is + very nice Pashley 26Mhz (King/thomson/Middleburn/XTRetc) .. will swap for £1600 :wink2:

[The Car Thread]

Funny you just posted that Jolfa! because i was just about to stick a post up asking if anyone wanted to buy my Golf..

1986 1.8 Golf Gl - 'Champaign silver/gold' or whatever the colour is.. the cool retro 5 door. Just like this one. ( Edit: but without the sunroof and has the older style rear badges.. (which iv'e removed anyway and filled the holes with bolts) not the round vw badge in centre) Grandad spec interior. Burgundy (hammerite) mk3 biscuits with silver lips and make-shift-fit mk1 centre hb caps! ( one missing.. but can reveal the secret of how to make them fit.. pretty sure must be one the only people to ever(bother to) do this..)

48,500 miles on clock and paperwork but done more like 65/70,00 i'd imagine? ( Clocks stick on random numbers once in a while?)

Starts first time -every time! Fires up on the twitch of the key - it still surprises me! Lovely engine. Runs very very well. Pierburg running sweeet. 10 second count down from cold and revs drop like clockwork.

Done minimal miles in the years iv'e owned it (since 2007) Was stood for nearly 3 years while i was at uni ( but was turned over periodically) and when used mostly just to pop around local.. but i cycle alot so not a heavy driver!

Timing-belt done by a renowned expert mechanic!

Lowered on those cheap German coilovers. Back d.side piston has popped through the old plate thingy - currently not really being driven due to this - apparently very easy fix.

No radio. No power steering. Windey windows. Now has an ignition after being hot-wired for ages. And a steering lock! ( Thieving g*ts! - luckily battery was flat and they left it - But they took the radio.. which was the reason the battery was flat.. electrics aint my thing (A) ) My fault.. i left the boot unlocked.

Heaters work very well hot/cold - but one the fan 'slats' have come out along the way so it's just a big hole.. but it works fine and is easily replaced with one from scrappers?

Good body.. most panels are very nice! Had a *little* bump on the nose couple years ago though and bonnet is ever so slightly lifted.. still latches and releases fine.. adds to the charm?. New grill/ bumper ( got old one with chrome trim - still fine as far as i can tell but garage just replaced whole face. New radiator too! few scuffs here n there.. couple scratches like, couple dings ( nothing 'major') not showroom by any means but pretty darn tidy and could be much nicer with tlc. Solid body. No rot and the arches have recieved many compliments!

Home-made - wooden slat roof rack using drilled original vw roof bars - has come in very handy many many times and looks pretty cool.

M.o.T bout to run out but it usually passes without many issues.. Emissions have always been very low! Had a new drive-shaft/c.v thingy into the gear box last year. Most the exhaust replaced couple years ago. It had that laser alignment jobby done to it last year to get the tracking/camber n all that right..

Great car really.. i love it and trust it.. have drove few long distance trips to Ireland and never missed a beat. It just works. Engine could probably be tuned by someone to get abit more out of? Will do 100mph+? and sit at 85 happily.

But i need a van really because one day i'm gna get pulled over having old bikes piled up on the roof rack swaying about!

Best bit about it.. D558 VVV can easily be made to look like VW

Needs a little love.. but for anyone who loves mk2's it's gna be worth it.. Easily tuned to go faster but keeping insurance low!? Left side screen wash hose has split.. needs replacing.

It might be a lot.. but just to gauge interest ( because i'm reluctant to let it go!)

Looking at the price iv'e often seen these go for with low miles.. I feel like i'd want £1300 if i do all the jobs and get it m.o.t'd etc, but would take less as it is.. (But much less and i'd rather just hold onto it.. because i just trust this car and i know it's history and it's been extremely reliable! + it's gotta be abit collectable with that reg one day??)

The old man i bought it off literally was going blind so couldnt drive anymore.. and for the last 10 years of his ownership he had done less than 1,000 miles a year. He said all he used it for was to take his wife to hospital in Harrogate before she passed away. If i remember rightly - He was technically the 2nd owner but bought it in the first few months of its manufacture or something? He clearly kept it well and kept it serviced.. with a folder of all the work done to the car and the m.o.t's etc.. ive carried that on aswell.

Also, its RHD but somehow with LHD wiper configuration?.. so to add to it's character.. visibilty in the rain is down to a minimal Also only has d.side little chrome mirror.. otherside is blanked.

Laugh away.. in my eyes it's the best car on the road (A)

[Best looking 24" street trial bike?]

I bet it rides so sweet tubeless!! I love what youve done with it man.. looks awsome. You mean to say i was riding around on a ddevil bike?! You mustv'e put the wrong dust-caps on..

It was soo nice for dipped 360's.. (A)

Enjoy!

[Cold hands!]

Just realised those Pinko gloves are apparantly womens! :$ I bought them through that shop but via ebay (they only had one pair listed) and it didnt mention they were ladies in the title so i didnt realise till looking again on that link (which i got to by typing pinko merino glove on google and just grabbed the link) and i wouldnt of known from the design particularly. Anyway.. maybe they'll be usable because often merino gloves are 'one size'.. i'll update incase anyones actually interested in them. If theyre no good i'll send them back and get those others i think.

I'm interested to hear your experiences so let us know how the gingko biloba works out and what the Gp says

[Cold hands!]

Glad to hear it's not too concerning to you.. I think best thing is just to impliment few things to aid the circulation and keep conscious of it - i.e prepare for it when you know youre going to be in cold enviroments etc.

I was walking up in the peaks on sunday.. we walked along the top of Lose Hill at Castleton at around 1500ft in quite a blizzard! It was a last minute thing and i wasnt able (and didnt really think i'd need) to take my 'massive ski gloves' and all i had was the gloves i had linked you to first.. the chunky wool thinsulate ones. Its was wet with very high winds and very cold along the peak, wind-chill mustve been minus 2,3 or more? Snowing and hailing and even in those conditions the gloves did very well until they were soaked through, when obviously the cold wind was able to get through and the hands did start to feel the cold at that point. However as soon as we were descending and out of the harsh wind they were relatively okay again as the water came out of the wool. Obviously its not ideal to get those type of gloves thoroughly soaked. I'ts very unlikely that i'd be riding my road bike in those conditions, and even in the rain theyre still very warm (basically until theyre soaked and it's windy/or youre traveling at speed)

Anyway.. just thought i'd share what i think is a very good deal.. Ive just ordered some of these..

Not sure how many they have in the sale but reduced from £60 to £18! I'd imagine they must be of fairly good quality with considerable material ( the double cuff looks toasty!) to be sold at that price even if some of it was for the name? Also found a nicely shaped suede leather driving glove new in a charity shop just yesterday and iv' ripped out the polyester lining.. Gna try the Pinko merino glove inside that with a fingerless padded-palm cycling over the top of it all! Hopefully will be tough/warm/breathable and comfortable cycling in mild-cold, dry-damp/wet conditions which is what most of my winter riding is done in

Also iv'e found those Ralph Lauren merino gloves i was on about before on sale.. theyre abit thicker than most the merino 'liners' you get. £21 aint too bad but really those Pinkos look like the best deal with the longer cuff!

Let us know how the gloves get on! For extra toasty.. I'd be tempted to get a pair of those Pinko gloves to put inside them on the very cold days! Don't find discounts like that every day

[Cold hands!]

I wouldn't panic too much.. i think it's normal for many that the finger tips (and other extremeties) to be the coldest parts but it may very well be that you do not have the greatest circulation so you just need to do some extra things to help yourself out.. Obviously we're in the colder part of the year so at least we have spring and summer to look forward to

Theres loads of info about it seems and iv'e suggested a few things that iv'e heard over the last 6 months really? I myself have not tried The Ginkgo Biloba but ive read it around thats its definetly a big help.. Apparently coupled with other things it can do just the trick if its not a severe case. Or if you have not developed the phenomenom due to some other reason like trauma, infection of vein problem causing DVT etc (which i think is my case as i had a terrible ankle ligament damage, which seem to develop a tissue infection and cause vein issues around my inner ankle/foot and has left small marks - which look like signs of Scleroderma and DVT, which can be really serious. I'm only just realising this after over two years of ignoring it'. Luckily it seems that my body has dealt with the most part of it as all the aggressive signs of infection/swelling etc totally went away after about 8 months but i'm left with what seems like a bit of 'Symptomatic' Raynauds and some unusal skin marks around the area. I have changed to an extrememly health conscious diet over the last year or so.. including detoxing, fasting, cutting out sugar,salt and caffeine completely and i have to say i feel better than i ever have and the problems seem to have been dealt with.

Sorry for the life story.. thought it might be usefull incase you've had something trigger this yourself.

Also.. Garlic and Ginger! For a few years now ive been health conscious and I eat a fair bit of garlic.. (boiled) every few days and i drink ginger tea fairly regularly anyway so if you dont particularly maybe try to impliment it in your routine? Dont get me wrong.. i'm no expert by any means! Just trying to be freindly, share your concern and what ive been told as i do also have noticibly poor ( but by no means severe) circulation.

I'm convinced that a good topical cream/ointment would be very beneficial even if only to cause a warming sensation.. its may not actually 'improve' our circulation literally.. but at least encourage it. I'm going to start looking about for something.

The cold water 'remedy' seems to work well for me when i get cold hands. It sounds strange. But it may not be that cold but due to poor circuation my hands feel cold.. so by putting them in water that is far colder than the actual enviroment in which they felt cold in.. it seems to stimulate the body to try and warm them up more by sending more blood there.. leaving them feeling relatively good back in the 'normal' temperature. It's certainly restores a more usual looking rosey colour rather than a strage dull purple which they can sometimes go?! It seems to me to be a case of getting the body to send the blood there as much as actually warming up the 'dead' hand on the radiator or something. But i do then try to keep my hands warm after doing this.. if that makes sense?

In terms of the cold showers.. i'm only just really getting into that myself but the benefits are well known and widely advised. People have been doing this for general health for a very long time and it'd be beneficial to anyone. Especially someone who need a bit of stimulation. It's not the most pleasant and what i do is have a normal warm (30-35degree) shower for a few minutes.. get the cubicle nice and steamy so the enviroment is actually quite warm, then i just suddenly switch the water right down to cold and wait for the shock! i find that frantically rubbing the area thats being subjected to the cold water helps deal with it .. kind of match the extreme tempertaure with and extreme reaction.. ( so gasping and yelping, squirming and rubbing like a mad man help counter act the coldness! Like when you 'shin dig' the pedals so bad you have to dance around to counter act the pain! ) but have now started to be able to just relax and withstand it. After the initial shock.

But i have a ritual of washing my hands,face, forearms,neck, and feet with cold water every few hours and theres clearly helps stimulate the circulation ( Like a mini cold shower) and is also extrememly refreshing and quite adictive! Like i get to a point after a few hours where i know i just need to go and do it to liven myself up if iv'e started to feel a bit 'dull'.

Obviously, after using cold water.. still then try to keep warm! So toasty clothing, warm socks / cuffs etc and i find a good wooly hat helps loads. But you said you dont have much trouble other than your hands so maybe just try get a pair a wooly fingerless?

You said you already know about keeping kidneys warm and stuff. This is a ancient wisdom And one of the best bits of advice for i got for just general warmth.

Anyway, can't really share much more than that. But i hope you find some effective solutions and it doesnt cause you too much bother

I terms of gloves.. i know theyre not that good for technical riding but those first gloves i linked are extremely warm for general everyday use and 'relaxed hand' riding like road. But i do hope youre new Enduras serve you well

All the best,

[A cool edit of J9 showcasing our sport.]

Thought that was actually quite enticing for the sport even think it's inspired me enough to dust the cobwebs off me old steed!

Girls got some skills.

Nice one

[Worst production trial bikes thread...]

I still have one of those in my shed. I kind of liked it at the time but I knew very little about bike geo and was a complete beginner and didn't make much progress on it till I switched to an 04 Echo Pure. Compared to the T-Rex the Pure felt like it was cheating things were so much easier.

I think it looks nice appart from the mini seat.

I know it's not that bad.. but theres just something i dislike about it wherever i glance at it and also it's the geometry as much as the aesthetics. Like i always seem to know which bikes i'd like to ride by looking at them and seeing the overall geometry all at once. The t-rex is everything i wouldn't want in both terms.

But i don't doubt many people like them and i know it's not stereotypically 'ugly'.

2004 Echo Pure.. Great bike! Had one myself.. Lovely geometry

[Cold hands!]

Yeah man.. know what you mean about the spd's.. i bet you can guess what i do to combat that...?? Thick Merino socks with a Gore Windstopper over-sock (not over shoe) Neoprene overshoes are good for freezing but i tend not to bother riding if it's icy.

Never tried silk liners.. Merino has never let me down. I'm currently wearing merino socks, long johns, base layer and top

i like to keep warm (A)

Sounds odd but the cold water stimulates the circulation. Have you ever taken cold showers? If not i'd pre-warn your wife.. she'll think youre upto something strange when she hears you start moaning and gasping for air

Jeez, i have written a lot.. good job iv'e not got any work on today.. o wait

Got carried away. I tend to do that. Aye i dont bother drinking/smoking these days. rather stay healthy and feel good.

Anyways, All the best mate..

Edit: if you get 'white finger' the cold water might not overcome that as easily.. but for general 'cold hands' syndrome i find it works well.

[Cold hands!]

The wife has pointed out that I may infact suffer from Raynauds, whilst I don't suffer symptoms anywhere near as bad as on the wikipedia page, she has pointed out that my hands do go pale when they're cold; I think I just haven't noticed it before! A relative of hers always had cold hands in the same way but was only in recent years that he has had a diagnosis of Raynauds.

I left the house this morning with normal temperature hands, drove to work (about 8 minutes) and almost instantly my fingers were cold. Got to work and despite it being warm my fingers are still cold yet my palms aren't. I'm going to keep a log of relative skin colour and temperatures between fingers, wrist, forearm and ambient and go see the doctor.

In the mean time I'll try with the windchill gloves with a silk or merino liner if need be, thanks all for comments and recommendations

Though iv'e not been diagnosed by a doctor as such.. i'm fairly certain i suffer from Raynauds also. Very often my freinds comment on how my hands or feet might look purple and sometimes i clearly have the tell tale 'white finger' thing also. I know i suffer from circulation problems and iv'e always suffered in the cold. When i was young i used to have ashtma that was triggered by the cold and was once found out on a winter sunday morning football match having almost turned blue (why did they give us thin polyester kits in the middle of winter eh? ) I'm a very lean build and and not *particulalry* muscley these days ( less and less as i ride less trials) and over the last year or so iv'e realised i certainly have circulation problems if i dont take extra measures to help it.

Edit: No need for my life story and probably no bandwidth for it either.

Anyway, i'm just saying i know exactly what your saying about your hands.. i'm actually feeling it right now as i'm typing ( sitting arms raised at a computer is obviously not good for a start!)

Heres a Few things i've found in the last year or so do help.. not sitting too long with arms raised ( like now) doing a few finger push ups every so often just to get the blood circulating in the hands and get the heart rate going a little.

Excersize. Jumping and Fast walking is especially good if you have same problem with your feet.

Cold water! Believe it or not but put your hands under very cold water and after you'll notice they turn a lovely plush pink.. thats because it increases the circulation. I do this quite regulalry ( every few hours at least.. face, arms back of the neck and feet too only takes a few minutes and you can see the blood rush to your extremeties!) ( Cold water showers are very good for you as it's always been said.. but you gotta seriously man up to take 'em! it's actually suprisingly refreshing and seems to give you an energy boost too!

Iv'e never tried that ginger&pepper cream i linked you to but iv'e heard good things about topical creams.. I'm going to be looking into some home-made remedies - I'm sure we can make something ourselves. Simply Ex.Virgin Olive oil really does seem to help against 'windchill' ! This is why i'm interested to start looking into the natural topical applications more now also.

In terms of general warmth.. it's very important to keep the kidneys warm! i often tie a thick jumber around my waist when i'm sitting around not really doing much - especially this time of year when it's cold. I even borrowed a freinds military grade scottish kilt which was amazing! I understand what the kilt is all about now.. In cold climates Its very importantant to keep the kidneys warm.. it also increases strrEngth and powAHR! I'm looking out for a danny-mac inspired winter cycling kilt but it's yet to surface Read- up about the importance of your kidneys & Chinese medicine. If you drink and smoke a lot this will not be doing you any favours.

Also the wrists.. get some toasty layers going with nice cuffs! I find this helps the hands immensely. Maybe some old school 'grebo' wrist bands? Like tennis players.. Infact, thats my next purchase.

And in terms of clothing.. Wool. Real 100% wool. Honestly man.. Its the stuff of champions. Layer it up. Im wearing half a farm yard right now still have to do the cold water thing periodically though.. for the extremeties!

(Also cotton/merino first layers purely cause it's less scratchy and doesnt smell like polyester when against the skin) I shop in charity shops because otherwise this would all cost £100s

Don't waste your time with polyester rubbish.. you want something that can actually retain heat in its molecular structure and that something begins with W and ends in...... (A)

Yes it's not 'waterproof' but thats why it's so good to have against your skin.. because it will 'wick' the sweat away from your skin 'through' the actual fibres thus allowing it to breathe. Water is not the enemy. Infact having cold wet hands will actually improve the circulation. But theres a limit and an XL Neoprene glove for example would be good to slip over the top when it tips it down.

If nothing else Please try cold water for 2 minutes next time you feel the cold hands.. 2 minutes later you'll notice they feel warmer and the circulation has improved. And if when your'e feeling man enough.. Cold showers!

Sorry for the long post.. I genuinely hope this helps!

In terms of gloves.. I'm sure The Endura windchills with a thick merino liner would certainly do a good job

[Cold hands!]

Has anyone mentioned wool yet?

Is that the stuff that grows on the backs of sheep who live outside in all kinds of weather?

Sounds dodgy to me..

[Cold hands!]

I cant understand the logic of how latex gloves could add any warmth whatsoever? To add warmth you need to create a pocket or layer with a material that can actually retain heat? Knitted wool is perfect. Thats my basic principle?

For some reason i'm reminded of a t-shirt i saw once with the (contentious) illustration of the evolution of man.. with the guy at the end turned around saying 'Go back.. we went too far'

I dont mean to be annoying but i'm totally convinced you will not be fully satisfied with those Nylon/ Polyester gloves. I have only bothered to write all this stuff because i know your problem as we've all experienced it. And after many years of riding i can say with confidence.. only wool is both warm and truly breathable and Leather is water repelleant and breathable. And neither will get offensively smelly like most 'cycling gloves'. These manufacturers of plasticy fabrics only rant on about things being waterproof and breathable so much because theyre trying to convince us they are.. because they know, we know, theyre not. And if they are breathable.. theyre not warm ( Like a mesh). Because nylon can only be breathable if its got actual physical gaps. They might have done it as well as it can be done .. but (from my experience) it's just nowhere near comparable to actual Wool. Especially Merino. Simple. Thinsulate lining is very warm and quite breathable.. but it will soon get smelly if its wrapped in synthetic material.

However plastic materials can be much tougher.. ( Although if someone made a decent Leather cycling glove At a reasonable price i'd be on it!) so thats why i found that using the above mentioned set up to be the best solution for performance/durability and cost. I'm not saying use the exact stuff i do.. just highly reccomending that the basic idea is (from my experience) a winner! And it won't smell rank and need washing all the time. And iv'e had plenty of 'cycling gloves' ..

Of course it's totally up to you. But i just feel (and know - having worked in cycling shops and understanding the actual cost of most of these cycling items) like people are getting inferior products and being ripped off for the privilege.

Also i'm trying to start a new tribe of Wool wearing bicycle bandits to re-claim the north!

I'm going to experiment with a few set ups like a good double layer Merino Glove, in a thin (breathable) synthetic liner (only for durability doing more intensive riding and in wet conditions) inside a leather fingerless like this maybe? Or maybe just a straight up Merino inside these might work nicely?

Maybe go for the studs for extra ghetto points? Check out the price..

Anyway, that's my pennys worth..take it or leave it i won't be offended. But i do wish you happy warm hands and all the best in everything else! Best is best.

[Cold hands!]

The problem I've always found with winter type gloves is that they're always really thick - Personally I can only use thin gloves (I prefer not to wear them at all)

My favourite solution for winter MTB riding has always been to put on a set of surgical latex gloves on underneath my normal riding gloves. Zero loss of dexterity/sensitivity, and they are completely wind/waterproof. Because they can't breath at all, any sweat is trapped and your hands stay pretty warm. Over a long ride they will get a bit manky inside, but they're so cheap and small I'd always stick a couple spare sets in my pack so when stopping for food I'd just swap them out.

You can pick up big multipacks for bugger all

I won't lie.. this sounds like my worst nightmare! I really dislike any un-natural material against my skin especially when i'm going to be sweating! Even loose fitted polyester nevermind tight fitted latex!!

The Skin has pores for a reason.. it wants to breath! Wool is literally perfectly design for this job right down to every molecule.. It's made by the same force that made everything in the universe to do exactly this job! Why on earth would we not use it?! Don't get me wrong- it's only been the last couple of years that iv'e realised wearing plastic based fibres is basically ridiculous and the sole reason things always smelt bad after excersize. It's un-hygeinic and that bad smell is bacteria - which you want to get away from your skin. I can say with certainty that after now only wearing clothing that is 100% cotton or wool i very rarely smell bad even after sweating.

The exceptions of what i wear that are not natural fibres are obviously shoes (although i try my to wear leather/suede uppers as much as possible - suede with mesh NB trainers are good), Over trousers and Waterproof jackets for when its properly raining.

The beautiful thing about Merino is you hardly have to wash it! Just let it air out on the line and it'll go for weeks without a wash! Polyester goes about 3 hours before it starts smelling? No comparison?

Although natural fibres and un-natural fibres look similar as a fine thread theres a lot more complexity to natural fibre such as wool on a microscopic level with regards to its (perfect) suitability to be touching your skin and still allowing the skin to function as it should. Whereas something like polyester, as i understand it, although it may been formed in to a fine thread comparable to wool or cotton.. its still kind of like a solid strand and has no absorbtion/conductivity/breathability exept for the 'gaps' which are left between the 'solid' threads. I wouldn't even consider latex as a viable option for sweating in for prolonged periods! I honestly mean no offense but that seems horrible. I hope you find a better alternative!

And i hope you wash your hands when your on those food stops (A)

However i have considered using XXL Rubber gloves with the palms cut out on top of my Merino gloves for when it's torrential! I Have yet to do it though.

Cant say it enough... Natural Fibres

You could also consider a topical cream to the skin to help generate heat and circulation? Anything that makes you go hot? Apparently simply a little olive oil can help.

[Cold hands!]

Edit: NO WAY. I just wrote you a massive essay response then went to edit a tiny spelling mistake and stoopidly deleted a big chunk of it then posted it.

DOH!

I'll try to re-post somehting later.. The gist of it was.. Natural Fibres! Specifically.. WOOL!

'Cycling specific' winter gloves suck and theyre way expensive because they got a bit of reflective tape on them?

Ive been riding something *like* this all winter. Although what iv'e got is from M&S and is around 90% Natural wool outer with the Thinsulate inner and same style leather palm which is quite grippy. By far the warmest glove iv'e ridden in and strangely even in the wet they dont get cold. However - certainly too bulky for any type of serious technical riding - but is extremely warm for relaxed hands riding - road etc.

Other than this, on the *not-so-cold cold days* I wear a Long cuff 100% Merino glove, inside a thin silky synthetic lliner - inside a fingerless cycling glove to give it grippy palm and give the whole thing shape/fit with the velcro wrist strap.

Works amazingly and is much warmer than any crappy synthetic cycling glove. The key really is Natural Wool. I did write a whole essay about how wool is perfectly designed to do the very job right down to its molecular-quatum-thermo-dynamics but i'm not writing all that again. Safe to say it's been R+D'd by mother nature herself and is truly purpose built.

Try either of these.. i say the key really is Wool. The first glove is very warm - i rode to sheffield on a cold day in January and it was Too warm! The Merino/Liner/Fingerless set up - i even ride trials with that on colder days! Its a very warm set up considering its dexterity! I use a Liner thats snug over the Merino and glove thats got plenty of room for the both to fit inside

Hope this helps

Edit: These are the Merino gloves. I didnt pay that price - i found some at tK Maxx for £14 and i knew that was a good price for such quality Merino gloves. With Merino a little goes a long way and Theyre the thickest ones ive found and are much thicker than those EDZ at 9.99 which are the thin 'liner' type by the looks (and price) of it. The Ralph Lauren ones are certainly good quality and even though i'm sure some of the extra price is for the brand i actually think most of it is actually in the material and quality of this glove. If i couldnt find some more at £14 i'd be tempted even at £30 after having used them! I've done a fair bit of trials in them (with the fingerless glove set up over the top) and they lasted fine up until i gave them to a (non-riding) friend who had no gloves this winter. I'm looking to get some more..

These seem interesting - those inside a nice fingerless cycling glove might be pretty nice but i have a feeling there'd be less Merino overall than with the R.L's.

Also These look pretty thick and are apparently dual layer - at £15 i might try these myself!

Interesting what it says in the description on this item..

All the best with your quest

[Best looking mod?]

[Worst production trial bikes thread...]

The old school onza Woodstock frame looks like this as well

That was also pretty ugly if i remember rightly? Really not a fan of box section wavy stays.. Aesthetically just way off for me.

And how they almost always meet into some dog-leg, horse-hoof style oversized dropout

I'm sure it's all there for added *performance* but it sure scores low in the Hubba Hubba table

Another reason i like steel.. Tidy.

Anyway, enough negativity from me It's getting out and enjoying Stuntin' that counts. But i do find it helps when the bike's abit gorgeous too.. :$

Edit: Actually the production woodstock's not too eyefensive. I remember it being abit different.. Maybe it was a proto i remember seeing around way back.

Either way.. my contribution is.. Anything with wavy-box stays and dog-leg drop-outs.

[Worst production trial bikes thread...]

Weren't those coustellier v1 St Blaize frames the same as a T. rex? A local lad has one and I cant see the difference

Ah yes, no.. i meant the first one which was the ridiculously short cock-pit 'street' frame with a head angle of a chopper which literally made you ride like a t-rex!

I know it's not That bad looking but i just don't like them.. not even to look at.

Although i dont *mind* Zebdi's i think it's those wedges.. coupled with the square tubed wavy stays and the ridiculous head angle.. it's just a frame i really dislike. Like when you see one being ridden you just know everything about it is wrong!

Anyway..

This did come before the Coustellier style T-rex right? I may have got muddles up here..

[Worst production trial bikes thread...]

Yikes! I bet that was uncomfortable to ride.. not neccessarily because of the geometry more the 'standover aesthetics/subconcious knowledge of how nice your bike looks' thing that contributes to how enjoyable a bike is to ride..

I think i'd feel like the thing wants to turn me to mince meat if i mess up whilst riding that..

Certainly not my cuppa tea. Although it has gave me ideas for a portable travel bike..

[Worst production trial bikes thread...]

The Onza T-rex ( the original one) was a pretty awful thing to look at and just as bad to ride.

I kind of like that ExPloziv thing in the middle.. obviously the b.b is abit too low but i like what theyve tried to do.. bit of inspiration from mototrials and i can sort of see a bit of the Ashton justice in there so i kinda like?

T-Raptors rode amazing with risers! Had a nice flex to them too.

Although many of these monstrosities are clearly awful to ride i kind of like them for their madness. But the (original) t-rex.. i just hated that frame. Total H.A failure

And anything with a wheelbase over 1080 i start to not like it regardless.

Edit: I ride a 26mhz.. I could probably get on with that Explosiv thing.. Where were they from~?? (A)

[Sun at last]

Looks like he's on the head of a giant snake?

Nice pic..