Mark W

'lo all, Long live my grind, my grind is dead. The grinds on both my front and rear rims have both worn ultra smooth, so the brake's not so hot at the moment. I don't know anyone around here with an angle grinder, so I'm thinking of buying one. Because it'd only be for grinding my rims though, I don't wanna have to spend loads. Basically, does anyone know how much to expect to pay for an angle grinder? If I go for a 'cheap' one, am I likely to end up with a grinding disc embedded in my wall and a broken angle grinder in my hand? Thanks for any help, Mark.

I seem to remember that happened to a few people with them when they first came out, but it seemed to die out? The first ones had really thin stainless bits like your's do/did, but they replaced that with a beefier one so it was stronger and gave more coverage of the chain. Either way, I mullered mine into a gabillion walls and rocks all around the UK, and they didn't even wear down. I think Dave (Tartybike Dave, that is) tested them too, and he fought many a wall with his and the Tensiles always came off the best?

Tell that to all the stock riders with Middleburns?

I dunno, I liked the feel, really. The back one was crimped then and is still crimped now, so I'm guessing that's not helping it :) Plus I had a shit set-up then at le derriere of the bike, but who knows...

If you're going to put it in 'eventually', who not just do it first? :)\ My rear Magura was bled with some standard blue Magura Blood, and it's been fine for 2 years. Not a single re-bleed or anything. Lever action's fine (apart from it's crimped like an...er...crimped thing). Just don't get the fuss about water and stuff?

Plus the Tensiles straight up rule? I freakin' loved mine. They're amazingly stiff, and just really, really nice. Plus, no pedal thread insert bits to die :S Plus you can get the nice choice of bash's's's's's with it. Proper! Mark.

Only a matter of time :S

Won't it give a bitchin' slow lever action though?

I wasn't having a go, by the way - just trying to stop it from getting all mental and going too far off topic :S

No pressure on street? No tiredness from riding other knackering sections? More mentally exhausted? Not straight-edges and stuff a la street stuff? The start of the second section seemed pretty tame, really, then there was the drop... but yeah, it was like how that grassy bank section in the Benito videos looked fairly tame but in reality was probably chuffin' hard.

Er... the Police issue has kinda been done to death in Chit Chat, so if anyone's got some views (and everyone seems to...) do a search for "Pigs busted me" or some innane title like that in Chit Chat and discuss it there, before it gets into another flame war. I know you were just putting it in as an example there Smithy, but just thought I'd better say before it gets all stupid in what otherwise is a useful thread...

Cooly cool :) Thanks. Just one more added to the download list :S

Is "Do The Goon" much different to "Do The Goon (Again)"? Or is there just some subtle thing?

I got about 20 of these last year from Jang in a space of about 3 weeks. I just don't bother opening them, really...

Was that aimed at me? If so, I was looking past the website? On group rides and stuff people seem to have a fairly shitty attitude towards the public, I just meant that you can actually get a written down account of it here...

When I was testing a proto cassette hub before, I was running a 22t front ring, and it was a bit of a mission getting a nice ratio at the back. I ran 22:14 most of the time, which I felt was "nicely" hard*. However, I went to 18:12 when I went to front freewheel, and it felt immensely nice. I also went from 170mm to 158mm cranks though, so that had something to do with it too. Anyway, it's a bit tricky, but I'd generally go for perhaps a little harder than usual, e.g. the 20:13 ratio. Because you've got 170mm cranks, it'll be a bit easier to pedal, so it'll probably equate to nearly the standard mod ratio? Mark. PS. www.customriders.com should be able to help you, or *maybe* Tartybikes.co.uk seeing as they're getting Profile stuff in. If not, www.wiggle.co.uk, www.winstanleysbmx.com, and there might be a few more out there. *Used to do roadie time trial shit, so I've got more leg power than most, I guess.

Apart from a few grammatical errors, it was a good article :) But yeah, pretty sound sentiments. I guess though it's the same with other sports too, although we're marginally ahead of others simply 'cos we're all heading for the same goal. With BMXing, you get seperate factions of street, dirt, park, flat, vert and so on, and they aren't all people heading for the same aim, if you get me. Trails riders, for example, can get extremely anal about their trails. Fair enough maybe, but there's a really shitty attitude within it. Same kinda goes for flat riders, but either way, trials is a pretty good sport just 'cos we all do the same stuff, really. I think it's a showing of appreciation really, 'cos even if you aspire to do streety stuff (e.g. Berridge) or do "big UCI" stuff (e.g. CLS) or anything in between, you're using the same skills on a bike that we've all had to learn and hone, so we all know what we're about. Which is...cool. I suppose the thing is is that members of the public don't get this. To be fair though, having read what others on this forum have said to members of the public it's not a hugely surprising thing they can be resentful. If you're nice to them, they'll generally find it harder to be rude to you, so it's often worth "giving in" in some ways for people who are having a go. Be a pacifist as opposed to confrontational. It's all about spreading the word, which is why stuff like the Bike Show is good. And the MAD Hop Idol thing. It just gets people interested, and the more people interested, the more riders, the more potential friends, the biking industry will take us all more seriously and we'll get more trials products made. Win - win situation. Mark.

Thanks very much, super good of you :ermm: :mellow:

Black and white picture taken of my new watch, which was given to me for my 18th. Gonna be engraved on the back. Got a clear glass bit on the back so you can see all the workings too. Proper wind-up, so I have to remember to wind it if I wear it, or just every night really. Mark.

Cheers again Mr. Michael :mellow:

i've got his MSN, but I'm in school so I can't use it :mellow: If you could find out for me though or whatever that'd be awesome :ermm:

The address, that is :( Yeah, if someone could PM me Jimbo's address that'd be cool. James Lim, that is. I've PM'd him but I need to send it at lunchtime or I won't be able to for a while :mellow:\ So yeah, PM's would be great :ermm: Mark.

Found the pics I made a year ago of my gloves (bearing in mind the gloves in the pics are well over a year old now, and look exactly the same - been through 3 comps, several roadtrips, several harsh falls, etc.): Sorry for shit, non-sensical stuff in there - it illustrates the points I was making earlier though. They're awesome gloves (N)