http://www.pinkbike.com/news/pinkbike-poll-will-you-consider-buying-a-275-bike-2015.html

in february I did the anual lower leg fluid service on my forks..
all parts on the mentioned pikes where fine, so at least in my case no damage on plastic or rubber..dustseals, stanchions,bushings all fine…
but ! sorry for slightly offtopic..
all my pikes (3) had some metall parts remaining from milling in the oil floating (in the lower leg assembly)…as they where brandnew, direct from the factory..

since the first day I use synthethic engine oil for my 2005 pikes,
until today no problems…
these pikes are still in every day use,
just for commuting now…but still perfect :-)

current alpines have a 30.9 seatpost…
so except this the rest would fit…
brilliant frame !

had both (older versions) and didn`t had any problems with them..
finally decided for the saints because of the deeper threads..

there was an thread on mtbr about the saint bb some time ago
stating that the bearings are different to xt/xtr ones ..
no idea if this is true , always thought that there is only a difference between the xtr bearings and the rest of the shimano range

The last 26″ hecklers from late 2012, early 2013 had tapered head tubes.

at eurobike 2012 they showed the 2013 heckler, still 26#, tapered ,ISCG05,and slacker headangle 67.5…
in spring 2013 the delivery of the first frames had just started SC stopped this model and changed it completely to 650B with 142mm rear and new colors and graphics..
only a few frames with 26# and tapered reached the european distributor

http://www.imbikemag.com/issue21/?page=109

what about this hora..
it is from the german mtb forum…
used litevilles are always cheaper there..
a mate sent me the link
no dents, no seattube “improvement”..should be about 1100.-..

http://bikemarkt.mtb-news.de/article/567055-liteville-301-mk10-l-raw-160mm-mit-push-tft-tuning

had on my QH at first QR and changed to 142X12…
couldn`t notice any difference..

cy wrote an interesting article in his “news” about
“why no thru axles on our hardtails”

some advertising from trek..

we spent several holidays in this area some years ago,
in summer and more often in winter,
fantastic area for climbing and biking..
during summer its quite hot there, so enough water and shorter rides are recommended..
few trails/areas where closed in juli and august because of the risk of fires (zone rouges)
you will find some inspiration in the “chemin prive” , the book is only in french and german and currently sold out, but you find it here..
http://danielgeiger.net/portfolio/cheminprive/

and ..it shouldn`t be a problem to find some guiding locally i guess

very good and reliable…

my old heckler on start of the “brazilian” trail in the valaise alps…

I`m looking forward to the pics…
also planning to take my fat bike with me to the alps this year..
together with the LT HT..

thats brilliant..
thanks mike

just some inspirations…
and examples for what is possible…

http://leh-sply-mfg.tumblr.com/

have also a Maxx-D, MK5 since last spring and very happy with it,
use it for everyday commuting, on and offroad, and for the nightrides as bar mounted light..
really like the long runtime even in cold conditions,

julbo makes sunglases with the same NXT lenses (adaptive) as speci did,
there was a thread about specialized nxt lenses in the mtbr forum a few years ago,saying that speci and julbo sunglasses comming from the same manufacturer..
after scratching my speci chicane with adaptalite lenses I bought these ones a few years ago, just wanted nxt lenses again…very pleased with them..

https://www.julbo-eyewear.com/en/6/products/sunglasses/outdoor/model/bivouak_4037.html

Starting with the new MTB standard, the goal here is much simpler.
Stiffer wheels and better tire clearance.
Sure, 20mm thru axles have used 110mm spacing for years.

fantastic !!

@jambalaya…my Bfe and PA have quite similar kits,mostly old parts…except..the PA with an old pike 140mm (2005),BFe with new pike 150mm…
wouldn`t say one is better than the other,just different..like them both
angles are a bit steeper on the PA …and after long days on the trails it seems more comfortable to me..but thats maybe only the 27,2 seatpost..
would be interesting to know what you think when your PAC is build up..

even in 2015, with all kinds of different wheelsizes, so far unknown new standards, and meanwhile rare 1 1/8 straight forks..the PA rules..
rides quite different to the BFe…
here is another special PA which mike found in his warehouse some time ago..

its late…
but this thread, about the meanwhile historic PAs, needs a pic..
(made as it was new some time back, my second pa)

“the more choice of bikes (wheelsizes ,standards, whatsoever) the better”
totally agree…
as long as we have the choice!

back in october I ordered a battery box, but never received it (sold out)..and got my money back,
so I made my own one, just as a quick and simple solution..
its since 2 months in use now and works perfect,
was even for one hour under water for testing, without batteries.. :-),and stayed completely dry…
the high capacity batteries take some time to charge (outside of the box), but runtime is really good !! no comparison to the original batteries which burned my floor..

some QH action pics from another thread in the 2souls forum…
(its not me…)

more here..
http://www.mtb-news.de/forum/t/pic-pic-pic-picture.604093/page-8

had a SJ first and now QH…absolutely brilliant!
since fall marc is (neccessarily) very busy with his “other” job,
so it sometimes takes a while until he answers…would just try again..
in their german forum they have a thread just showing 2souls frames in different colours..

http://www.mtb-news.de/forum/t/2soulscycles-galerie-wunschfarben-custom-colour-ral.637526/

a mate tried to learn manualing according to this vid…
we had a laugh at first..but he is quite good now, better than most of us..
with the stem turned in the right direction again.. :-)

nearly the same solution here..just no drybags..
since years this is my ERC, every ride carry…not for the short spin around the house but for the proper rides…
solved most problems so far,
for the alps I add a few tools, like foldable parktool chainbreaker (CT6.3),second spare tube, plastic sheet for slashed sidewalls..etc..

another vote for the baron…
very good…
for me better than the magic mary..

really like hope and their products…but..
had pro2 hubs and hated the sound,
tried it with too much grease….xxxxxx
finally sold them…
now …zooming silently through the woods again… :D

Northwind – Member
TBH you see very few people who believe 650b is bad, any more than think 26 is bad. The actual wheel size isn’t what pisses people off- if 650b had been the established standard needlessly replaced with 26, it’d be exactly the same issue

thats it for me..

wheel war five……
what if the OEM manufacturers decide to stop producing and developing parts for 29″, because 30.5″ wheels are the future and much better..
and tell you 30.5″ brings the trail alive…

http://spokemagazine.com/2012/11/30/wheel-war-four/

I was waiting for the new 26″ rockets, hoping the new ones will be available in matte green …and was ready to order and pay it ..not only to think about it
but for several reasons I´m definitely not interested in the 27.5 version…
following the logic of cy´s statement and all the posts here
the question for me is now…how long will it be possible to buy a 26″ soul and when will there be a 27.5″ Bfe…?

as it takes place today…
looking forward to some pics.. :-)

and…any advice here how to register succesfully to the uk fatbikes forum?
tried it several times but no response…

for me its the exposure maxx d ,every day in use during fall/winter time..about 2 hours a day/night… brilliant!
had before the lezyne power drive xl..really liked it, but had too many probs with it..(runtime and charging issues)

maxx D for commuting,just works, no faff anymore with chargers, batt. :-)
old lupine wilma for the trails..
old pikes , perfect since 2005
26″ wheels, with dt swiss 240 hubs
bell super helmet

back in 2008 I had an dare…was my DH bike
the old (heavy) one with with the round tubes..
really liked it !!

this is the distributor in germany..

Home

very good ..thanks, hoodoo !

another vote for the PA….
here as it was newly build,

the geo is exactly the same by steel and ti..
so not really optimised
reason for the limitation is just the material..

and with a 140mm pike… :D