Passed my test in early 1999:

Vauxhall Nova x2
Rover 414 si 16v
Peugeot 106 Quicksilver
Nissan Sunny GTi
Nissan Pulsar Gti-r
Ford Escort XR3-i
Company cars for about 5 years
Cavalier SRi
Escort van
Vauxhall Calibra
Renault Clio sport 172
Alfa Romeo Mito
Audi A4
BMW E46 M3
Honda Civic Type-R
Peugeot 206
Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo (current car)
Suzkuki TL1000 R (hibernating for winter)

That’s weird, it shows as a cost option on the frame deal but not the whole bike!

They are the only place that offer the factory wheel upgrade aswell, pondering the pro’s and con’s of going for the RS wheel upgrade or the factory.

RS is Alexrims voltar 2.5 rims
Factory is Easton ARC rims.. Both sets on Hope hubs..

The DB5 brakes appear to get a decent write up so they will stay.

Spec I’m looking at is :

5 pro in small
Standard forks and shock
Upgraded 1×11 XT drivetrain
KS Lev dropper (save me trying to fit one later)
Hope headset, BB and seatclamp
RS or factory wheels? Not sure which yet.
Colour TBC
I’ll be fitting a carbon bar and 40 or 45mm stem aswell.

Nice choice Mosey. I’ll hopefully be ordering mine in a couple of weeks. Will need to make a few enquiries to confirm spec and colour choice first. Sunset MTB don’t appear to charge for a custom colour.

I’m still finding it hard to resist mountain mint. When is yours arriving Mosey?

Some good points people.. Thanks. No closer to deciding really, I had a grey one about 5 years ago so perhaps a different colour this time. I do like the Orange colours but just fancied a change having had an orange Soul for the past 5 years.

I loved the Apple green but not sold on Kermit green, I’d love it in pink but not sure I’d be able to like it say 6 months! Plus I’d really like some Orange hope shiny bits.

Perhaps Atomic or Fizzy Orange, black hope kit but Orange hubs? This really shouldn’t be so bloody hard. Did you get it ordered today Mosey? What spec did you go for?

Meant to ask.. Is the Guide RS brake upgrade worth it or are the standard ones ok? Only thing I’ll not be going for straight away is the dropper post, hoping to get one soon though. I assume the stealth versions are easy enough to install? Been looking at the Giant ones today.

Purple would be good but not an option on the upgrade list.. It’s black or Orange.

Thanks for the responses.. I reckon the Mountain Mint would go with the Orange bits.. Like the GT40 of the 60’s? They were both designed about the same time.

I like Orange coloured bikes but my last 2 have been Orange so time for a change, Atomic Orange looks ace though. Is that 70’s beige on the other 5’s in that picture Woody? I didn’t see that as an option.. ; )

Any idea what they are weighing in at? Everybody enjoying them?

This is true.. Whatever way I go it’s bloody expensive for something with no engine!

Thinking Five Pro in black with black decals, Rockshox pikes and rear shock (worth it?), Orange hope shiny bits, Easton Arc wheels, Carbon bars and KS dropper.

Or fizzy orange with black bits but Orange hubs…

Evening chaps,

Thanks for the posts today, haven’t had a chance to reply until now.

I have been gifted a bit of cash from the tax man which is nice for a change.. Tax rebate for expenses incurred as a lorry driver.. Marvellous.

This has slightly altered the goal posts for the bike purchase. I originally wanted the new Orange 5 but it was waaaay over my budget, I had one a few years ago which I absolutely loved, sounds cliche but it just did everything really well, I was riding faster, jumping higher and really enjoying riding again. Anyway, with this extra dosh coming my way it’s brought the Five pro (with some upgrades) into the picture (still over budget but not by much all things considered).

So I now have to go and decide what to do.. Buy the Nukeproof frame and build it up as planned, this is the head talking here and probably the sensible option. Or do I go all out and get the bike I “really” want? This is my heart talking here, i love the look of the new 5 and have been looking at the upgrades list.

Hmm.. I wonder if I’d always think “what if” whatever I decide to go for.

What if I got the 5, it’s pretty much my perfect bike

Or

What if I saved some cash and got the Nukeproof??

Any 5 slating or Nukeproof loving is welcome..

I think some people have run the bike with 130mm but Nukeproof recommend 140mm – 160mm forks.

Thanks for the input folks. I have toyed with the idea of the whole bike but I already have some bits sitting wait him to go on.

Good point about the forks, I was thinking 140mm travel but the more I think about it the more a 150mm fork makes sense. Not site id benefit from 160mm though.. But never say never.

My thoughts have been confirmed then.. It’s a medium for me!

Right I have spoken to a shop today about a frame and they have a small and medium in stock. I’m pretty much bang in the middle between the 2 sizes. My previous bike was a 16″ Cotic a Soul which has a top tube of 577mm, I ran it with a 50mm stem and it felt great.

The small Mega has a top tube of 568mm and the medium has a 588mm top tube.. So I’m struggling to decide what size I need. I would have run the small with a 50mm stem and I would run the medium with a 40mm stem which would be closer to the Cotics overall length. I doubt standover would be an issue on either so which size do I go for?

I don’t want to feel cramped on the bike and I like to chuck them around a bit on descents. It will be my only bike so will need to cover all bases it that makes a difference. I’m a shade under 5ft 6 with normal sized limbs!

Please help! I’m saying medium as the top tube measurement is only 1mm more.. Where as the small would size up 10mm shorter on a 50mm stem and I don’t thing running a 60mm stem on a bike like that is necessary.

Budgeting around £400 for forks.. Couldn’t justify the Pike prices. So revelations or X fusions it it.

I’d have a similar build to yours acstevens, I was expecting it to be around the 30lb mark. I’m guessing I’ll need a small for my 5ft 5/6 height (although they do come up very short in TT) I’d also have it with the Canecreek shock, no brainer at that price!

Thanks for the input gents. Any particular bearing grease to use? Is there a grease nipple on the bike or is it a bearing out and regrease?

How did u find the revelations? I’m a bit unsure if I need the 150mm travel as last bike only had 120mm.. Plus the budget is restricting fork choice! Looking at the X fusion streat fork, just can’t decide on colour!

There was a bargain set of revs in classifieds last night but only 130mm..

Any pics going so I can get an idea of set up etc?

I like that.. My German sucks though, any info in English anywhere? Price seems good once converted aswell.

Id still take my chances at ignoring it. They tried it with my brother last year, he saw them issuing the ticket before his ticket ran out! So he just calmly removed it from his window and handed it back. The arsehole just smirked and said “worth a try” before walking away.

Same with a work colleague last year, I told him to ignore it which he did and he hasn’t heard a peep for months.

It boils my piss aswell mate, i hate seeing people just coughing up straight away to resolve it.

As my buddy says “f##k the barstewards”

http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/cars/article-2242801/The-trick-beat-private-parking-tickets-I-dodged-service-station-fine.html

Utter bandits.. The lot of them! Jog I say.

I’ll bet if you check the “PCN” it says
Parking
Charge
Notice

And not

Penalty
Charge
Notice

Unfortunately you have made contact with them, this is what they hope will happen!

I received one from a similar company about 3 years ago for overstaying my parking by a couple of minutes. I looked into the company and found it the “fine” is in actual fact an invoice which is not worth the paper it is printed on or enforceable.

I just ignored the 2 “fines” and letter from the “debt collecting agency” (which was actually the same address as the parking company) and have heard nothing since. The DVLA sell them your vehicle details so they can contact you in the hope an officially looking letter and threat of Debt collectors will scare you in to paying up. It’s a numbers game for them. Send out X amount of letters and hope that a percentage pay..

Only council and police parking tickets are enforceable.

I’d ignore it, don’t correspond any further and they will get bored. There was a bit on watchdog about it a few years back.

Have a rake around and see what comes up but there is NO WAY I’d be paying it.

Thought provoking thread this..

Sorry for your loss OP, it’s there time you find out who your real friends are.

I’m saddened to hear your story aswell MuppetWrangler and Teasel.

I am lucky in the fact that I met my best buddy in play school and we are still BFF today, that’s 30+ years of friendship and I’m only 34! I recently got my bike licence and purchased one of his bikes and he is like a kid at Christmas every time we go out. He said he was proud of me and loved me last time he was pished! Legend.. He went to Australia for a year about 10 years ago and I cried when he left as I never thought he would come back, I missed him but loved his monthly phone call to get all his news.

We were inseparable at school and remain very close, couldn’t ask for a better friend. The only other real friend I have is a member of this forum Alan Petrie (although I can’t remember his username ; ).. We have been pals for about 15 years and met through a mutual friend, we started biking together and the rest is history, he is as daft as a brush, a total scutter merchant to go riding with, a marketing mans dream with new kit and bikes, overthinks and underestimates his riding abilities but a proper good bloke.

The rest pass by like ships in the night so I can’t be arsed anymore, I’m the same with work colleagues, been called arrogant, selfish, rude, cocky amongst others, do I care? Not a jot! I’m there to pay the bills not make friends. I have met some good people playing ice hockey aswell who will be promoted to good friend status at some point.

All I ask is that people are honest, reliable and trustworthy. I grew up with 2 brothers and 1 sister but I really enjoy my own company much to my wife’s annoyance. I used to get frustrated at my family as they never come to visit us, we always have to go to them but I let it go over my head now, “we haven’t seen or heard from you in weeks” is the usual line.. I always say “well I haven’t moved or changed my number”.. “We don’t want to bother you” is the usual reply!

My older brother hasn’t spoken to me in 4 months because I told him to stop over reacting and taking everything personally at work (we work for the same company). I usually back down but not this time!

Sorry just realised how much I have rambled on, had to get the last few paragraphs off my chest!

Night all.

I had a pair of superstar wheels on my old Soul and they were fine, no issues with hub bearings or build quality.

I’m after some wheels for a new build but wasn’t ready to buy them yet.. 25% is to good to turn down though!

Damn you superstar and OP!

Nice bike mate and even nicer when seen in the “metal”, reet enjoyed our wee jaunt to Glasgow.

Looking forward to getting out and seeing how it is off road, I’m off to auction a kidney so I can buy one aswell.

Nice bikes on this here thread. As I have settled on a Stooge for my next bike I’m checking out wheel and tyre combo’s in particular. What wheels are people running? Width and size would be ace, I’m thinking of some nice colourful hubs but not sure where to get them.

Any Stooge owners in Scotland? Near Dundee would be ideal, i wouldn’t mind a look at one in the metal and possibly a car park test.

Will do Andy, I’ll email you next week. Have a good Sunday.

All sounds good to me so far, I’ll have a look at the recommended wheels, I’m inclined to go for the lighter set up as I’m not heavy on gear as I tend to take the faster and less rocky line.

Any ideas what I can get a set of pre built Rovals?

Good advice on the bars aswell as I was imagining I would need more height up front than 5mm spacer. That’s something that will work itself out I’m sure.

Is there anything of note on the BB side? How do I know what position to run it in etc? I’m I’m running 1×10 do I just treat it as a normal BB shell and fit it as normal?

Thanks for the reply Andy, nice to get the info straight from the guy who would know best. I like to chuck my bikes around a bit so running the smaller wheels is what I had in mind. How do they ride for Sunday saunters on the local cycle loop? Are the wider tyres really draggy? Or is it worth running something a bit narrower?

I appreciate it won’t be its natural terrain but as longs as it’s fun and not a drag I reckon it will be fine.

I was going to fire an email of in your direction next week anyway, what wheels are people running on the bike? I have always ridden 26″ on mountain bikes so this is a whole new experience for me and not sure where I should be looking.

Location wise I’m up in Scotland so nowhere near you or I would definitely be making a trip to see the bike and swing a leg over one. I was down that area a bit with work earlier in the year but working more oop north now.

I reckoned a 30mm stem would be a good start point to try and keep the reach on par with the Cotic which I always found fairly comfy, I would put some stem spacers on to raise the front end a bit as I did suffer with numb hands a fair bit so taking the weight off the wrists would be beneficial. Am I on the right lines? Still undecided on bar choice as yet, nothing too fancy, maybe a riser? Any progress on your motocross bar I saw mention of in a post?

Never ran an EBB either so I’ll do some research into that, I assume it runs a standard BB within the EBB?

Apologies for all the questions..

Ps, already decided it’s Magenta for the colour..

Thanks Tazzy, I was nearly correct then! It does appear to be very versatile, the ability to run normal width and wide tyres is good.

I’d definitely run it with 27.5″ wheels.. I think!

I did suspect I’d have to run a shorter than normal stem as the overall reach on the Stooge is 24mm more than the Cotic, I ran a 50mm on that and the ETT combined with stem length was 627mm. So I would need to run a 30mm to see how that felt.

I didn’t dismiss them as daft. I asked what the difference was between them and normal tyres/wheels.

Anybody else?

I am intrigued by fat bikes..

Oh here’s a thought.. Maybe I should enlist BartyP to “design” me a frame then get all stroppy when people suggest viable alternatives.

Thanks for all the responses so far. I hear what your saying about a HT 29er but I’m a short arse so ride a small. Most small 29er bikes look rediclous IMO of course. I couldn’t stomach owning a Lurcher, looks like a squatting dog! A bike has to look good, I like the looks of the Stooge mind you.. The Jones are a bit pricey to be honest, I was hoping to have bouncy bits at both ends so I can shred more gnaar.

It would be once a month for a pootle in the woods, it would be once a month used properly off road and more regular visits to the local woods.

I have been riding steel hardtails for years and just fancied a change but maybe it’s a case of if it ain’t broke…

I’ll look into the Stooge today though.

Ps.. Nice stealth ad.

Had 3 including owning the same frame 3 times. Sold them all in search of a change and now I’m bike less. I prefer the looks of the straight steerer version, does everything very well, last build was 120mm Rebas (perfect amount of travel), superstar wheels, Zee gearing, Deore brakes, Thomson stem, Carbon bars and seatpost. Weight was just over 25lbs.

I’d have another but I feel I need something different so eyeing up a Bird Aeris.

Dirt Box World.. And I have no recollection of how it came to be named that!

Or sometimes it’s “are you on that stupid forum with your cool biker pals”

Love it.. Saw somebody on one in Aberdeen a while back and though it was a genius idea. Can’t go wrong at £70 either, definitely more fun than walking.

Not sure if my thick skin could take that much of a mocking though!

You lot are totally out of control!

I walk across my yard at work to my truck everyday with NO Hi-Viz, even though the sign says I have to have it on!

I also use the wash bay before 6am.. Even after a memo was issued saying this was not to happen.

I climb on top of my tanker without raising the handrails…

I don’t turn up for work until bang on my start time (much to my bosses annoyance)

I never read work memos.

I ride with a tinted visor.

I filter to the front of queues on my bikes.

I don’t always remove my helmet to pay for fuel.

I’m a man with blatant disregard for rules.. Surprised I’m still even breathing.

That is very impressive.. A work of art! I wish I had the knowledge to do something like that. Great sense of satisfaction.

From a guy at my work:

“**** the bastards” (Apologies for language)

My old Ice Hockey coach:

“You can only piss with the cock you’ve got”

“If you believe you can or can’t… Your probably right”

Mine is more of a reflection on my place of work..

It’s like Mushroom management in here.. Kept in the dark and fed on shite!

Seriously though, some really good ones here. I live by the old “work to live, don’t live to work”. But I still spend far to much time at work, it’s a “perk” of the job being a lorry driver apparently, and the never Assume one previously mentioned.

Looking for a change though.

Oh yes please, perhaps a Rivita or Galaxy Caramel to go with it.. Or is that woman’s food?

Oops! There go the sexist pigs again! Sorry petal.

This thread is amazing! Gone from a simple request/question to sexism in the forum.

How did that happen? Sometimes this place drives me insane with daft topics and argumentative replies, and sometimes it is is pure gold!

Today is a gold day (as was the bus thread day)

If you have a problem, and nobody else can help AND if you can find them…

You should hire the A Team.. Or Dominic Littlewood!

I’m away to flounce into the kitchen and put the kettle on.

I agree with the Travel Lodge suggestion..
Pointless puppets, pointless song that doesn’t even flow.. “You’d need rocks in your head”.. I’ll bloody throw rocks at your head.

Any pay day load advert.. “Loans for the real world”.. Apparently!

Those stupid Muller ones with Lewis Hamiltons ex… I wish the columns she is next to fall and crush her every time and i always say “as if all that would get coverd when you tip yoghurt on yourself is the tip of your effin nose”…

The Kinder Egg one with that stupid little ginger gonk that looks like Chris Evans.. His voice makes me want to cut me ears off!

The one on radio for MCE insurance with whiney woman on about date night!

Go compare man can go compare which side of his face is damaged most when I finish thumping it.

Saying that I rarely watch TV as I’m away all week but these are just a few.

And relax!

This is STW so probably best to ask what you don’t need.

But you WILL need:

Multiple bike in all wheels sizes for all types of riding, seasons and latest fads, plus at least 3 others which do the same job as other bikes.
Tyres for mud, dry, damp, wet, ice, snow, mostly wet with dry bits, mostly dry with wet bits, rocks, grass, fire roads, commuting, beaches, enduro events, popping to the shops.
Dropper post (because seat posts only became invented when they came on the market)
Top of the range and highly unnecessary bling to pimp your “steed”
1,000,000,000,000 lumen lights.
Stupid looking bars so everybody looks at you.
Matching kit incase you get scouted by a pro team.
Cycling specific everything (aka overpriced base layers and jackets)
A big rucksack to take all your gubbins in for every ride…
A white Audi A4 estate with a private plate and a bike sticker on the back so everybody knows your totes rad and a cyclist.
A weird taste in beer.
Wood burner.
The need to ask the forum about pretty much every decision in your life.
Oh nearly forgot.. To be vastly overbiked for 99% of your riding.

Other than that a bike with round wheels, a helmet and gloves to keep your hands cosy in the winter, a sense of adventure and the rational to realise that there is more to mountain biking that trail centres.

The above is a huge sweeping statement and should be taken in good humour.. Apart from the bit directly above!

Welcome along and enjoy.