Flood risk may be a deal killer if it’s in a flood zone and appropriate mitigation is unfeasible. You can check if it’s in a floodzone on the EA website.

Looking for a new house you put local trail quality and a man cave above things like it having enough bedrooms and being convenient for work.

I had a call today from ‘Orange Departments’ about an upgrade. When I asked if she was from actual Orange she yes yes ‘Orange Departments’. I asked her name and said I was reporting them to the TPS at which point she hung up. Works every time.

You have a weekly reminder in your phone to ‘charge lights’ the day before the weekly evening group ride. You still forget to charge your cheap chinese 5000 lumen death trap until an hour before you set off. It goes out halfway down a descent.

Try festival kits. I made the porter for Xmas and it was awesome!

I always find CEWE easy to make and of a decent quality.

If you’re in the northwest head to the Currys/PC World outlet in Manchester. It’s at the junction between the Mancunian Way and Ashton Road. It’s basically where all the internet order returns go to.

We recently got an AEG drier and fridge for less than half price. I hear they have an auction on a wednesday night where even better bargains are to be had.

Commencal Super4. Tried to like it but I just couldn’t get on with it. It was heavy, It climbed like a pig and it kept throwing my into the undergrowth. Sold after9 months.

Fives, Alpines, Patriots, SC Bullets. Occasional Ellsworth and Nicolai. Don’t know anyone with a trek, spesh or canyon. All 26ers! We don’t like change ’round ‘ere.

Why bother. The Alpine’s ace as it is! :D

Cotic >X<. Love mine.

I got one last year. Very pleased with it.

[/url] IMG_0743[/url] by Aaron Cousins[/url], on Flickr[/img]

[/url] IMG_0753[/url] by Aaron Cousins[/url], on Flickr[/img]

It’s had a few upgrades since the photos. Hope M4s, floating rotors, SLX double and stinger

Most levers will push away from bars due to reach adjustment etc. my Hope Techs and Avid Juicys both push away especially when reach adjust used to wind levers in to bars.

If they work just ride it.

Ahead of the trend Mugboo!

On Tuesday night my riding buddy described his ancient Patriot 66 as his cross country bike. He loves it. I’m fed up of all this being on the ‘right’ bike marketing crap. Lets just ride what we have and :D

16 miles each way on a mixture of bridleway, canal and road. 300m descent on the way in/climb on the way home. 3 or 4 times a week on a Cotic X. Takes anywhere between 50-60 mins on the way in and 60-80 mins on the way home mainly depending on wind.

Started doing it a couple of months back and wish I’d started years ago.

Ride…throw it in the garage…lube the chain….ride….throw it in the garage.

Happened to my float 160s last summer. Mojo very kindly repaired it for free even though it was 6 months out of warranty. Drop them an email with a photo.

I’ve found 50psi a good compromise for my Cotic X (Conti Cyclocross Race 35c). Not too draggy on the road and not too brutal over the cobbles. I was running 35psi initially but pranged the rear rim. doh!

I’m still experimenting with the position of the hoods. Having them higher puts me in a much more comfortable position but comprises brake lever position on the drops and I have been getting a bit of pain at the base of my hand (not sure if this has anything to do with the hood angle or if it’s just my hands aren’t used to drops).

Thanks Nicksee. I’m pretty sure it’s not the pivot bearings as there’s no lateral play but I will remove the shock and check if the swing arm moves freely (in the right direction).

I’m assuming there is a difference between a shock bushing and the shock bolt and central sleeve available from orange and it could be either of those two? Am I correct?

Brompton’s are pretty rapid. Small skinny tyres are easy to spin in top gear with low cadence – not sure why. I often keep up with roadie commuters and fixie types on it.

I’ve recently dropped the Brommie/train combo and started commuting 25km each way on a crosser. Best thing I ever did. Already feeling the benefits on weekend MTB rides with extra power and stamina.

I’m looking forward to riding Llandegla on my Cotic X. I reckon it’ll be a blast!

It wouldn’t worry about a tapered head tube but the maxle is definitely a worthy upgrade if you can find a frame with one. BTW you will love it…no gimmicks, just loads of fun!

Just realised the Honzo is a 29er. Wheel size will need to match too.

Buy frame only and take the parts from your HT? Front travel will need to match though unless you budget for new forks.

That’s enough taking the p155 out of Matt’s 29er! At least he didn’t fall of it today. He does look like he stole his Dads bike though. Those wagon wheels didn’t seem to help tame the boulders on the ice cream run. I told him he should have got an Alpine! How do you do smileys on here? :wink:

Get a Cotic X if you want drops. I love mine!

I’m 5’10” with 32″ inside leg and I ride a 56″ Cotic X. I tried a 54″ but was a bit cramped with too much toe overlap.

I also tested a 56″ CDF which felt bigger than the Cotic and a little too big. 54″ Day One felt right but again too much toe overlap. Get to an Evans if you can. The Manchester velodrome store had CDF in medium and large.

I recently tested a few including croix, day one and the cotic x. The cotic suited me best purely down to comfort. I’ve been commuting 50km per day on it for 4 weeks and I love it.

My commute is 2/3 off road with cheeky bits of singletrack and I’m amazed what you can do on the bike. I did buckle the rear wheel in the first week though!

Alpine 160.

Maybe a bit too much for down south though!

Thanks all. I can assure you that I am genuine. The spare key went missing during a house move last year along with lots of other bits and bobs that will probably reappear next time we move.

I borrowed an angle grinder from a pal and it was off in no time (quite alarming really). I’ll be replacing it with a better lock and keeping the spare key somewhere a bit safer.

Looks like I missed the small window of fine weather this morning though. Very wet and windy here now.

‘Specialized, Evans and Cycle surgery’ I can quite happily live without any of these.

Thanks for the input. The canal gets quite muddy in short stretches but as 90% of the ride is road or hard pack Marathons may well do the job.

I am intrigued by going tubeless though!

Harry Hall in Manchester accepted my Halfords voucher a couple of years back, however I spoke to them recently and they no longer accept Halfords scheme vouchers as it was taking 6 months for them to receive payment. I’d suggest giving local shops a call – you never know.

Brewdog is expensive but the beer is ridiculously good, especially if your looking for something a bit different from 4% bitter. The darker strong stuff that comes in half pints is great if you like something different.

Port street beer house (M12EQ) is good. If you want a proper old fashioned pub then head for Lass O’Gowrie on Charles Street just off Princess Street.

Earlier today I collected my brand new Cotic >x< from Bike Doctor in Rusholme and my first impression is…Wow.

I’ve only ever ridden mountain bikes but wanted a quick commuter that would make me more inclined to bike the 25km commute which includes the Ashton canal and Tame Valley Way (75%) with a bit of road through Ashton and Stalybridge.

I test rode it earlier along the section of the Pennine Bridleway that runs through Saddleworth and I’m very impressed. It’s fast, light and gobbled the muddy bits and cobbles no problem. I can’t wait to ride it into Manchester in the morning. I already feel at home on it and on the drops bars.

The road.cc review gave it a right good kicking (the reviewer was probably comparing it to a road bike) but having read the cyclistno1.co.uk reviews, based on my first impression I would say they got it bang on (from a mountain bikers perspective).

I test rode a couple of Genesis (CDF and Day One)(albeit only around Evans’ car park) and I couldn’t image tackling cobbles and mud on them but the Cotic was very comfortable.

The only thing I’m not looking forward to is the decision on Saturday morning whether to go out on the mountain bike or grab the >X< and tour the Dark Peak.

Totally agree that the volunteers sections are the best at Gisburn. Homebaked is a peach!

A mountain bike should be a reliable, solid friend that’s built to last and just works with minimal maintanence. No fancy gimmicks to justify the marketing bulls+#. That’s why I love orange bikes.

Who cares what a bike looks like or if it’s got the latest fad technology. They’re for RIDING, not poncing around trail centres.

Shimano M520 SPD pedals
KMC X9 chain
SLX chainset