BigDL

Why be a knob?

Presumably an ebike KOM?

Please please please don't pop a Lithium battery because someone on the internet said so. If you have a thermal event, you will *** bricks. We've had a few over the years and that's in a controlled environment. I would hate to have one at home.

If you’re saying to pop the swollen battery with a pin, then that is incredibly bad advice. My team deals with dozens of device battery changes a day, but we have a protocol that kicks in with swollen batteries that requires special handling, packaging and shipping rather than dealing in house with them as the risks are very high of a thermal event. If I’ve misunderstood your advice, apologies and ignore the above but sticking a pin into a swollen lithium ion battery is not something to ever do.

Could you perhaps do it by battery capacity, almost like go as fast as you like but you're restricted to X or Y capacity battery for the event, so battery management becomes important?

For Sani this year, because we're doing the trail, which is where the e-bikers are located as well if I understand correctly, I had to select what type of bikes we were riding (e-bike or regular). Presumably they use this info to separate the motor supported guys from the non motor supported groups. It did get me wondering though about the extra organisational ball ache of providing enough charging points for e-bike batteries and creating rules about how many batteries you can use etc. - presume it's just another layer of complexity, but maybe balanced out by the increase in entries as folks who maybe wouldn't do events without e-bikes now have that option.

Stopped in at the Chain Reaction Retail Store yesterday to say cheers to a couple of the guys there that I have dealt with on and off over the years. The store is in "everything must go" mode, although 99% of stuff is gone already. A few components and clothes at 80% discount in a couple of areas and maybe 4 or 5 bikes for sale at 60% discount. Was reminiscing about what a part CRC played in the promotion of mountain biking in Ireland. Sponsorships of trail centres and riders, support for community groups etc. the public used to be able to go up to their warehouse in the old days pre new retail store and there was always someone to fetch items for you to look at, try on etc. Really weird to not have them in Northern Ireland now in any way. When the merger happened, the owners received significant cash as part of the deal, so at least they got the benefit of their work I suppose.

Price match is not always possible for a small LBS, so then you must decide if you’re willing to pay a premium to keep a local relationship. Before CRC fell to bits, my bike mechanic used to sometimes send me there to buy the parts for cheaper than his cost price and then he charged me his hourly rate to do the work

interesting to read in that article that strava has been profitable for the past four years. Seems like the move to restrict non subscribers access to some features a few years back has paid off. Hopefully he’ll not be pushing to sell ads and our personal data Google style

Bought and paid for years ago. He reckons that they must have had heaps of stuff in warehouses for years and years. He said that they tried to return stuff that they his employer hasn’t stocked for 5 years

They announced this last week - Said that the international market post Brexit was costing them money. The aim is to consolidate and focus on the UK market. Had a friend over for Dinner recently who works for a fairly large importer and wholesaler in the UK. Said that CRC/wiggle are sending truckloads of old stock back to suppliers to try and offset debt. Literally stock that they received 5-10 years ago in some cases, with no warning and no prior agreement.

Very cold riding here at the moment - sunset around 4pm as well. Makes for nice pics though

Bought a hardtail last year and only rode it a bit. Had it cleaned a few weeks ago. This thread has inspired me to take it out this weekend again.

Good choice of phone 📱

Android or iPhone ?

Wow - The is stunning

Thanks - been an interesting 18 months or so medically but tentatively back on. Flights booked for Sani so at least have a goal now

Freezing cold night ride time now. So peaceful in the forest alone at night. Saw a couple of foxes but otherwise nobody.

Haven't read the article as I never click a link to the Daily Fail, but I'll jump on the bandwagon and say the Oke is a ****

Love the Blog - have bookmarked and will read thoroughly and share

My wife keeps telling me to look at one of these.

that's terrible news. RIP

Machines

Thank you - appreciate that. I’ll put some pics up but don't want to spam the forum 😂. I don’t mind crude posts either. Lots of emotion but emotion won’t shift the kakhouse full of stuff

Appreciate that - thanks. I’d rather give the stuff away than have a normal FB marketplace experience.