The MTB thread

All this recent talk about mountain bikes made me think: "How many of us orgs go mountain biking?"

So what bike do you have and where do you go? Any good trails to recommend? Tips?

I have a Specialized Hardrock Sport 2008 (That's not 29" wheels, just a very small frame!) called Colossus, from the X-Men.



I ride round Swinley Forest a bit, but am a tad unfit and probably need new MTB pals that I can keep up with.

Get some Disc brakes Gary, they are much better and reliable than pads, unless they are that good. I tend to find that pads for me just slip when wet. I have an old barracuda summit that is front suspension but hardtail with disc brakes all round. Does the job, gonna get into doing some trails now I have the car.

[Luckypants]

MY mate is always trying to get me to go out with him, but only since he got fit. As I am extremely unfit, I think I will not be doing this! I really should get out, I live in the middle of a forest and only 10 mins from a DH track and 20 mins from LLandegla MTB centre.

I have a 10 yo Marin Eldridge Grade that is way better than me.

i have a £1500 marin indian fire trail, i think it was top of the range back when i got it

it looks great hanging up in the garage covered in mold and dust

I went into a bike shop at the weekend and spotted one of these:


I have no use for it, haven't ridden a mountain bike for ever, and I'm totally unfit....


but it's calling to me

That is fit.

Originally Posted by plowsie

Get some Disc brakes Gary, they are much better and reliable than pads, unless they are that good. I tend to find that pads for me just slip when wet. I have an old barracuda summit that is front suspension but hardtail with disc brakes all round. Does the job, gonna get into doing some trails now I have the car.

Not going to upgrade my bike to discs as I need new disc ready hubs to go with the new brakes. It'll cost almost as much as I actually paid for the bike, not worth it for the Hardrock frame.

Originally Posted by rigor

I went into a bike shop at the weekend and spotted one of these:


I have no use for it, haven't ridden a mountain bike for ever, and I'm totally unfit....


but it's calling to me

You tart, just cos it's carbon fibre!! Get one and go with me to Swinley. I need unfit people like me to keep me company.

Originally Posted by Law

You tart, just cos it's carbon fibre!! Get one and go with me to Swinley. I need unfit people like me to keep me company.

I'd need you there at Swinley to resuscitate me!

[rictus01]

Vosper Types 1 & 2
Between 1943 and 1945 two Vosper designs appeared, the "Vosper Type I 73ft", and then the Type II


Vosper Type I
Length: 73 ft (22 m)
Engine: 3 Packard 12M engines for a total of 4,200 hp
Speed: 40 knots (74 km/h)
Range: 470 nmi (870 km) at 20 knots (37 km/h)
Displacement: 47 t
Armament:
Four 18-inch (457 mm) Torpedo tubes
Oerlikon 20 mm cannon
Two 0.303 in Vickers K machine guns (optionally two 0.5 Vickers MG)
Crew: 13

Vosper Type II
This design remained in use after the war.

Length 73 ft (22 m)
Engine 4,200 hp
Speed 40 knots (74 km/h)
Range 480 nmi (890 km) at 20 knots (37 km/h)
Displacement 49 t
Armament
Two 18-inch (457 mm) Torpedo
QF 6 pdr Mark IIA (57 mm)[1]
20mm Oerlikon
Two 0.303 Vickers MG
Crew 13

RCN MTB
These where used by the Royal Canadian Navy 29th MTB Flotilla. Originally designed as Motor Gun Boats (MGBs) carrying a 6-pounder {57 mm, 2.24 inch) to engage enemy small craft they were redesignated as Motor Torpedo Boats.

Scott-Paine Type G 70 foot boat.

Manufacturer: British Power Boats, Hythe
Displacement: 55 tons
Overall length: 72 ft 6 inches
Breadth: 20 ft 7 inches
Draught: 5 ft 8 inches
Maximum speed: 38 to 41 knots (new)
Armament:
auto-loading 6 pounder gun (57 mm, 2.24 inch)
Two 21-inch (530 mm) torpedo tubes
.303 or .50 Vickers machine guns
20 mm Oerlikon or 40 mm Bofors cannon
Powerplant - three Rolls-Royce or Packard 14M supercharged V-12 (three shafts)
Power - 3,750 hp total
Range - 140 miles (260 km) at 25 knots (46 km/h)

quite fancy a type II, but storage is always a problem...........

I got me a specialized fsr xc not too long ago. loving being back on the bike! been to glentress in the Borders a couple of times and then was up at laggan forest at the weekend just there. just so much fun being out splashing around in the mud on a wet day. the legs are slowly getting used the exercise again.

but laggan does have a fun north shore style board walk type bit. it's about 1m wide and doesn't even go high or have any drops, but I was poo'ing pants, also some good fast bits there.

anyone up for an off season day out to glentress? suppose it's the Borders so people can come up from the south or down from the north!