Shez.sheridan

Okay, I need to replace a snapped spoke - no problem, only its on the disc side of my front wheel. I can't remove the disc as I don't have a star shaped Allen Key, so, is this something every bike shop carries - or a gimmick so that I have to dole out for a specific key - as if I have to order it, there's no point sending it here. I can collect it in a few weeks when I'm next back? Cheers TF pe-ople Derv

183% I'm joking..

94% on my second time... I'm in work & my boss is lurking, so I had to rush it...seemed to work better though?!

Later beaten by a harmless chicken

Who was attacked by a shark...

Yeah, thats what I did, I was running about 18psi front/back, and spent the day trying to gap about 6-7ft from one thin wall to another. I managed it a few times...but my rim had other ideas - I have creases in the sidewall now after straightening it out..lol. When I run 27psi I can't quite make the gap, but my rim survives...b*stard!?!

Ok...my second topic for the day - a long time since I last managed that one. I've a try-all rim on a profile hub on my mod...and due to the low pressures and quite a harsh grind, I managed to fold the sidewalls in several places (I've bent them back, but I want to build a new one up) After weeks of stroking mt bike in anticipation, my new try-all rim has arrived. So I need to get strarted. Now I am in Italy & bikeshops here aren't really up to speed on trials, hence I'd rather pit my wits myself and get it done... So, any tips on how to build up a good solid wheel? If the worst comes to the worst I can always build it up & get the shop to tension it correctly? Cheers & buona notte Derv

I remember with a FSA Powerpro crank, I drilled the shit out of it as that b*stard would not budge..then a few pedal hops did the trick - depends on whether you want to keep it though I suppose. Derv. I second the rubber mallet method..

I run a Monty mod with a profile hub. I bought my bike last year off a guy who'd jut fitted a new chain.. Originally as you can expect, there was an acceptable amount of chain slack, although now (probably after the chains stretched a bit) it had got to the point where you could touch both sides of the chainstay with the chain, at the same time. To resolve this, as the engagement is still good, but not as immediate as it once was; I moved the wheel back a tad with the monty tensioners (by one notch each side)..now I'm not too sure whether it's over tightened. The engagements instant i.e. the chain is tight, I can only push it up 10mm max with my fingers..& with my hands, if I spin the cranks as fast as I can, it will only backpedal just under 2 full crank revolutions before it stops. However my profile hub still runs fine (although I'm sure there is a larger load placed on it).. Is this too tight? Cheers Derv.

This guy's riding is just fecking ridiculous...there's people who are born to be good at things, and then the rest try to be good at something they are not supposed to be good at - like me....with practice I will always improve - but it just there comes a point where it just ain't natural. More videos please...it's like a 30 second orgasm . Derv.

If the chassis fecked mate - just imagine the cost & labour involved in switching/dismantling all of your car, and transfering it to a new chassis - if the chassis/crumple zones are affected, there's a good chance there's a lot of damage/weakening both visible & non-visible; to other surrounding structures. Frankly, I'm not suprised they'd write it off... Sorry to hear about it though... Derv

I managed to restore the folder - but it deleted everything from the desktop - turned off my widgets & they didn't return. So, I 'system-restored' to 10:30 this morning - all my nearly all my files on the desktop are back (missing some that I produced the other day) - phew. But now, my programs don't work properly....takes about a minute for my processor to remember what to do after I enter my password on the login screen for XP - - Illustrator - doesnt open fully, crashes without an error report just before it's finished loading up. - Photoshop - loads up fine, says I have to re-install the software & crashes everytime a file has opened. - Word - opens, but wont open files. - Quicktime - works fine. - W.M.P. - Works, opens files when you click directly on their location, when you try to access my library, it freezes & displays nothing. Any one have any clue? I have been on quite a lot recently as the server we use here has it's own firewall & travels from another server; my applemac didn't like it, but my laptop did - until today... I work for Fila - cars, one day I hope....the wage ain't too bad as I get my rent/bills included..free shoes....lol Derv

HELP ME PLEASE I was investigating where all my memory's gone on my hard drive (C:)....I clicked on a folder, then properties & asked it to show me all of the hidden files... then it scanned all the files & all the shit on my desktop dissapeared - including all my folders. I clicked on the folder I chose to change to hidden files, and changed it back to read only & my files are still gone... Agh - should I system restore? Derv..

I tried editing this to make it look more dynamic - it took literally less than a minute - pasted your image into a new file - copied your image again (so there was two of copies of your image) - posterised the top layer - applied motion blur to the top layer - then applied a layer mask (allows you to rub away parts of the layer) to the top layer. - then rubbed out a bit of that layer to allow the your original image to show through in places.

I usually run my tyres quite hard when I ride as I find it easier to control the bike gapping on the thin walls etc - however, I found the switching technique so much easier when I reduced the pressures as it gave me a bit of extra bounce . The usual problem I have riding is that I'm too stiff through my arms/shoulders, this goes for every move, even when bunny hopping etc; it's harder as your making the bike do all the work - the other night I just practiced hoping up & down on the spot with my front wheel on a wall (rear wheel on the ground) - I found practicing this alone very useful as I feel I finally got the hang of loosening my arms/shoulders & jumping the bike as a unit - then I tried static wheel swaps from front wheel (resting on the wall) to backwheel, and it worked far better. Derv

I found that, as the lower the angle, the more you physically have to throw the bike forwards...which I was putting too much emphasis on at first - i was trying to use my forearms to launch the bike forwards. I just found leaning as far as possible over the front wheel; as soon as you jump up, the bike kind of wants to travel forwards under your shoulders anyway...

I've been trying to static wheel-swap from front wheel resting on a wall, to backwheel whenever I've rode recently..I could manage about 10 inches once just before Christmas - I tried it again last night & I managed to backwheel to just over rear wheel height (20") many times (however I seem to pull to one side still), and higher to both wheels. I ride a 20" bike, and eventually I want to be able to hop to front wheel & swap like on all of the vids - but how the hell do you put that into it...knowing my luck I'll get the wheel stuck on the edge & propell my self over into the imminent faceplant.. Is it easier/same technique on a 26", or is there no difference..and would it help to be learn to hop on the front wheel first - I imagine so, but I can't even manage one yet...

Right I've had enough, my monty has ate my knees for the last time - I think it could be a combination of my etnies & pedals more than the bike; but the problem still stands - my bike is mullering my knees. I used to wear pads many moons ago, and I need some suggestions...which should I go for? Same with gloves, I may as well wear fingerless ones as I run my original GT ones into the ground - anyone have any suggestions on a good pair of gloves? Grazie mille per tutti in advance, Derv.

I received quite a few massages in work over the last few months...it's amazing how good the human body is at adapting to problems - if you have a problem, you may not even notice as the body tries to find other ways to work around it (changing posture, restricting movement etc..); you usually only notice problems/tenderness when the body finally gives up and cannot find another compromise.. I'm no expert - when you give a massage you are looking for areas of tension (where the muscles are knotted together - relaxed muscle is soft & plyable), superficial muscles are easy to massage, but deeper layers (usually the source of the problem) can be quite difficult..it can take 2-3 mins for our massuse to work through just the superficial muscles on one spot (our massuse doesn't even ask me where the pain is, she can finds it with pinpoint accuracy - it's crazy). Think of muscles as layers of pastry (I don't mean get the rolling-pin out), your trying to iron out all of the harder lumps by simply applying pressure to physically move/breakdown the hard points..but make sure not to overwork the muscle/apply a ridiculous amount of pressure (especially if it's a recent bruise/cramp etc..) as this can cause pain/damage to the surrounding tissue. I find the combination of trials-riding & excessive computer use (both inside outside work - I imagine this will apply to a great number of others...lol) means I have problems in certain points of the shoulders (e.g. using a mouse all day - your shoulder is not designed to spend all day extended) & fore-arms (braking/using shortcuts on the computer etc..) Derv.

I've looked for this photo for weeks - this was in '99' I think..

Here was my favorite location although it doesn't exist anymore (the council here were planning to reinforce the banks of the nearby stream with the rocks..) This is a later pic took my my friend...I love the contrast/focus Derv

Reet boys & girls, Does anyone have any constructive advice regarding how I can learn to wheel-swap to backwheel/side hop from backwheel.. I've been trying both the past few days but seem to be going nowhere:- wheel-swaps - Should I start small (under 12") or bigger, as I have tried both & I just keep landing on my bashguard as I cant seem to throw my weight up rather than forwards. Side hop - I can side hop from both wheels onto things just over 1 & 1/2 foot high, however when I try to do it from back wheel I find I cant shift my weight sideways & throw my front wheel/my arms forward to get both level for the landing, at the same time..... Cheers in advance, Derv.

I've got this TSG one, it's in a bit of a tw*tish combination of colours/graphics though - I've only ever worn the thing once, and I need to start more as I expect it's debilatating my progression somewhat. Helmets are life-savers, but I can never ride with them - I tried snowboarding last week for the first time, and I had a similar experience....although my head was freezing without the hat I had in my bag, and the numerous hoods on my combination of coats/jumpers; I couldn't use them....I found they were uncomfortable, restricted my vision/head etc. I think the thing I dislike most about helmets, is that I find them so distracting...the extra momentum/restrictions placed on you're head - I know there'll be a day when I will regret my laziness though...

Okay, about a month or two ago I bought a secondhand 221ti - nice bike, rides great - however, it was missing one spoke up front (non-disc side, straight laced) before I got going - no problems...or so I thought.. Then once I'd finally got it over here to Italy, I did a 360 static spin & bang...a spoke snapped on the front disc side as I shifted my weight (I'm not a fat knacker, honest...well actually, the pizzas & age will slowly get the better of me if I don't get this bike up & running soon). I ordered some spokes from cleanbikes...simple enough - to complicate matters, I tried to 180 on my backwheel onto a small tarmac mound &....you guessed it - snapped another spoke, this time drive side on my rear wheel. So, today my spokes arrived after a delay on the original shipment from Spain, via the UK to here..as you can probably imagine...I thought life was simple, but the fact I changed my order once or twice, and (stupidly) forgot to tell them that my rear wheel was re-built onto a profile hub, means that I am still non the wiser as the spokes I have received are not the correct sizes. Can anyone help me out here as they need the correct spoke length, I will measure then tonight, but any help in the meantime would be much appreciated. Cheers Derv.

Race is always going to be a touchy subject, like sexism, there is and never will be a complete balance. I agree that there are some rediculous examples of hypersensitivity, the craziest one I have ever come across is the 'blackboard' is no longer allowed to be refered to as the 'blackboard', it's the 'chalkboard' - political correctness is driving society crazy and I think our country is heavily influenced by the societal structure of the U.S. primarily.....for me something becomes racist when you put it in the context of race - the 'blackboard/whiteboard' thing is a good example I currently live in Italy, which is a little behind in the times....in Veneto the region where I live, it is reknowned for having a mildly racist standpoint - but race is new to Italy, not to the uk....and the differences are perfectly clear - there is a developing 'blame' culture - remember these advertisements.."Had an accident in the last 6 months, was it your fault; yes? Well sue the s*it out of your company anyway as everyone else is doing it..." These advertisements don't exist here (fortunately), however they have slowly filtered into the UK over the past few years from america where people take legal action for someone sneezing in their general direction. The same goes for our attitudes to race, justice etc.. Getting back to the issue of race, people perform on pre-conceptions, if you put your hand in a fire it gets burnt - result: you don't put your hand in the fire again. The same goes for race, since we are old enough to speak/understand, we are taught that race is an important issue, we are taught that it's a subject that we have to approach with caution - so it becomes an issue, we all fear to talk about it, the subject makes us uncomfortable which means we perform un-naturally......to me, it's more racist to fear talking about race, than it is to speak about it....hence I find the 'blackboard' example racist in itself, as it puts an otherwise normal object into a racial context... Long typing - must carry on working, my design manager's becoming suspicious... Ciao Derv