Messages

Don't know much about the full suspension ones but i have a Trek Superfly 6 hardtail and its a great bike for trails and will cope with plenty of rough stuff. If you are doing lots of drops it seems full sus is the way to go.

The trail close to my home house is a down hill trail through a forest. Few jumps and heavy enough landings in it. Just hoping to get a bike that will stand up to it for not a fortune. Realistically though I'd say it would be maybe twice a month maximum that I'd get over to it. So would I be safer with a hard tail or go full suspension? Or start hard tail and see how I go?

There is a third way, go hard tail, see how it goes and consider a suspension seat post.
I have this one on my mtb https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01HMXE8ZU/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1&psc=1 
though I never had any ambition to do any jumps,  avoid hazards at all cost.

Ha, I didn't even know this type of suspension seat post still existed. Great job. How do you find it. I do remember the early dropper seat posts resembled this a lot. The newer hydraulic seat posts  inadvertently offer a little bit of a cushioning effect.
     There used to be a spring suspension system on the steerer tubes of early mountain bikes way back. And i think specialized have a version of this now for somebof their road bikes.

It really depends on what your willing to spend!

Starting at Halfords as they have a sale on. Both hard tails and both good solid bikes. A boardman
https://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductMobileDisplay?catalogId=10151&langId=-1&categoryId=165499&productId=1407067&storeId=10001

And a voodoo. https://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductMobileDisplay?catalogId=10151&langId=-1&categoryId=165499&productId=1378487&storeId=10001

Thanks. Both getting good reviews, especially Voodoo one. Have you owned/ridden either?
Also I'm 5"8 so what size frame would you recommend?

Yes i own a Bizango, though its the older model. Brilliant bike for the money. It can handle nearly all the trails locally in Rostrevor/Castlewellan. I also have a full sus Giant Anthem, which i use for open mountain riding. Both are great. But the Giant was three times the price and i ride the Bizango more frequently!
             That Bizango has good shimano hydraulic brakes and sram 1x11 shifter along with the ok Suntour fork.  Everthing else tyres,wheels are fairly solid. Size wise id say 16. But go to the shop and try it.
              Its £550 at the minute and i think you can get a further 10% off. So for a shade under £500 you will not better it.
              The boardman is something similar. Brakes not as good, with shimano gearing as opposed to sram. Slightly smaller 27.5 wheels. Still excellent for price.
            If you do buy it from halfords get someone who knows bicycles to have a quick check to make sure its built properly.

Cycling buy and sell on face book have a number of bikes for sale. However, i would thread very carefully around a used mountain bike. You could get a fantastic bike but these things are quite sophisticated now and they do quite often get hammered around the trails! A few replacement parts could cost a small fortune.
            If you are only using it for a little bit of trail riding and roads/paths then an inexpensive hard tail is a good bet. If you really get into it then you can upgrade to a full sus later.

It really depends on what your willing to spend!

Starting at Halfords as they have a sale on. Both hard tails and both good solid bikes. A boardman
https://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductMobileDisplay?catalogId=10151&langId=-1&categoryId=165499&productId=1407067&storeId=10001

And a voodoo. https://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductMobileDisplay?catalogId=10151&langId=-1&categoryId=165499&productId=1378487&storeId=10001

Your last 2 lines sums it up precisely Main St.

As Pat Vaughan of Castlerea put it
"I had my house burned,one brother killed and another beaten so badly that he suffered all through his life.
But it was worth it.....we put our flag a flying"

And yet we have to move on from the two Gardai murdered from Castlerea in 1980 by a republican group (saor Eire) raising for the cause? While it took longer, the killers were still released under GFA.

I don't mean to be rude but i'm not understanding your point here, specifically how it relates to the proposed STATE commemoration of the RIC.
              I can understand  how it must be unbelievably hurtful for family members to have seen/known that those who murdered their loved ones walk under the GFA. Saying that , the GFA was agreed by the 2 governments, all the main political parties (bar DUP) and gained a majority vote in both NI and the Rep.
            For me, there was no need to commemorate the RIC specifically. They are holding a commemoration for all those who died in the war of independence and that is the best vehicle to remember all the participants of the conflict.
         Anyway i suppose the entire shambles, will give the government a heads up on sensitives that are still present particularly when addressing the civil war in any future commemorations.

[Flanagan is a balaclava wearing volunteer when compared to John Bruton]

The backlash has started but really what did Fine Gael expect? Leaving aside the Brexit process apart (and that was for purely selfish economic reasons) they have always been the party who gave off a feeling of subservience to British rule. Charlie Flanagan being the prime exponent of it but only one of several within that party.

Flanagan is a balaclava wearing volunteer when compared to John Bruton and his antics when Charles Windsor came over here in, what, 1995 or so.

I wouldn't argue with that, Bruton despite having retired years ago I see has since come out in the media to tansplain and justify the decision. Meanwhile Micheal Martin appears to have no opinion on it which in itself tells you something about his leadership which has been all about clinging to the coat tails of FG.

"Tansplain"   Brilliant. There is definitely a bit of Tansplaining going on in this thread.

In all honesty the whole thing is a shambles. What is the benefit of doing it?
     I could understand if it was a remembrance of all those who died as a result of conflict fair enough, but to specifically commemorate the RIC and by association the tans/aux is daft.
     Perhaps there is some sort of commemoration for the loyalists who fought for England in the American war of independence? 

Yes, fantastic by Kilcoo. A real controlled performance, especially as they had a few dubious decisions called against them. Defence outstanding. Daryl Brannigan on a different level. Lavery pulling the strings up front.

Hope all goes well for your treatment and have a great Christmas

Sorry for you loss Pj can only imagine how you feel . Don't know why I feel the need to post on the forum but the black dog has got a grip of me and probably has for quite a while though I didn't want to admit it. i have sought help but it's not easy , things appear very bleak at the moment , to the outside it would appear that I have an ideal  life but the truth is my heads is  in turmoil, used to love Christmas but really dreading this one .

A work colleague confided with me that he suffered from depression. I could hardly believe it. He had a good job and a lovely wife and family, he was in his mid 30's and what i thought in the prime of his life. To the outside world all looked fine and well.
           He said it was an accumulation of things. Started with a family dispute and then other things added to it. None of the problems were particularly serious but all together he couldnt cope. But thankfully he got professional help. He knew enough to know things werent as they should be.
            He spent some time away from his family to recover and thankfully he has made a recovery although he said it is a constant struggle but crucially he now has some idea of some coping mechanisms and access to help should he need it.
            I think this is the key. Don't try to go it alone. Talk to someone you trust and get professional help if you need it.
            I hope everything works out for you

Three identical strangers. Fantastic if slightly disturbing documentary on channel 4 last night.
      A true story of Identical triplets seperated at birth who find one another. I assume you can get in on their player.

https://m.imdb.com/title/tt7664504/

fellas, I'm after recommendations for a waterproof jacket without breaking the bank.

Not a bad jacket here..

www.wiggle.co.uk/endura-luminite-dl-jacket/

Hang in there PJ, things will turn the corner for you all. As the lads said keep the lines of communication open with others.

Promoted:

Cork and Down

Relegated

Leitrim and Louth

I dont have the same optimism for Down. Away to Tip, Cork and last day louth. The tier 2 business has to be a big motivating factor for promotion but i dont see where the big improvements can be made.



     

Well done Kilcoo. Been denied a few Ulster's so this will be all the sweeter.

Yeah, just about got over the line, when in truth given their chances, Kilcoo should have finished easy winners. They've been trying for an Ulster for a long time and fair due this was their day.