Really liked the look of the 661 recon, but when I tried it on I was a bit surprised it didn’t wrap round further than it did. Thought it would give a bit more protection than it did.

3 months is a joke. In reality, its 3-5 days delivery, then 2.5 months sat in a warehouse in a box because their claims department isn’t big enough to cope with the volume. My specialized cracked and a new frame, with new headset, seat post and seat clamp was back in the bike shop, built up in two weeks. You sorta get what you pay for with these direct buy bikes in my opinion. If it was from an lbs you could at least go in there and complain, plus the lbs would be more interested in keeping you sweet for future purchases

They’ll be going on a hardtail (whyte 19) which only ever gets taken round north Wales trail centres and the occasional tow path. If I’m ever doing anything too adventurous I’d take the full suss.

Which are the ones which ‘everyone’ goes for then? There are seemingly endless variants out there! I’m thinking you’d want a 2.35 42 on the front and a 2.35 60 on the rear. Folding is prob lighter than wire I guess as well.

looks like a nice but bodged solution. dont shimano do a super wide range cassette in their budget range? why not just make an XT version of that?

surely if you dont need the 17T cog, ie the gap between 14? & 21? is acceptable, then we can remove every other cassette ring all go back to 5 speed and all the bumpf we’ve been fed everytime shimano stick another cog on the cassette is all lies.

I’ve got a set of m778s. Bomb proof, light, never missed a beat. Very good wheels

I guess some 110-140 revs would be perfect. It’s an oversized head tube and steerer isn’t it? Fancy reducer headset required

I used the search function but nothing came up. Take it from that old thread that 150s too much, 140s ok with a bit of messing, but best just to leave it as it was designed, as the people at giant knew what they were doing

You can find a good set for under £100 if you shop around. Cheaper than buying a new pair of overshoes every weekend. Seal skins waterproof socks are another way of doing it. Not as warm as a goretex boot, but much better than overshoes

take the plunge and buy a pair of specialized, shimano or northwave winter boots. i tried to do it cheaply and bought a set of overshoes for about 30 quid, they lasted one ride/crash before they were destroyed. ive got shimano MW81 i think, couldnt be more happy with them

Will they work with shimano discs? Got centrelock hubs and discs, so would prefer to just use them

Bit of a curve ball. Skoda fabia or octavia vrs. vw mechanics at about 3/4 the cost

I did however used to have a focus st-3. Now that’s a car. 25mpg tho.

I’ve got an 09 golf 140 gt tdi. Really good car. You do pay a bit of a premium for a vw over a vauxhall etc but you’ll get that back when you come to sell it and chances are you’ll save money in garage fees, as the reliability is bombproof

I feel an expensive ‘money saving’ exercise coming on.

Yer that’s true. For that price you wouldn’t mind the messing round. Are these the models from a couple of years ago tho hat had all the reliability issues?

to be fair its not some place selling £80 heaps, and leisure lakes is just down the road if i decide to use them. so LoCos really that good? worth the messing if they’re that much better than the competition

so thats 165 with all the faffing + a fortune in postage. LBS it is then

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g188671-d265122-Reviews-Academie_Hotel-Bruges_West_Flanders_Province.html

Hotel Academie. Stayed there last month, was very impressed.

Steel is real etc etc. The full suzzer has hardly been used since i put this together

Fly in loaf is a good real ale boozer, just down the road from the philharmonic as well. The other end of town you’ve got the slaughterhouse, always good live music.

Are nobby nics a no go then? Seen a couple of places where they’re going cheap. Prob just being a tight arse, should just spend what needs to be spent on some nice maxxis high rollers. Guess they’re popular for a reason!

Very possible. I’ve got a 09 golf and there was plenty of choice when I bought my rack.

If you need a plasterer a bit quicker send me a message. good mate of mines a plasterer based in Southport

There was a couple in the smaller carpark. Took them out about 7-8 years ago I think

Lots of trail centre snobbery here. The Marin was one of the 1st trail centres -remember the pressure washers -but it could do with a bit of a refresh. That half mile fireroad decent about 2/3 of the way round could be turned into something better surely. Do Marin still throw money at it?

It’s not bad but not worth a special trip. Llandegla is just up the road and much better. Shame really. Wouldn’t take much to turn the Marin into a really good trail, just need to add a few features and cut out some of the endless fireroad

Grizedale is worth a visit. Well doable on a hardtail, you can easily do a couple of laps in a day and its got a nice little cafe and bike shop. The Marin is still fun now and again

Get onto Pauls cycles and have a look at last years or even 2011 giant trances. Brilliant bikes, great value at full prices and they always have a load of previous year stock massively reduced

http://www.paulscycles.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b4s1p3507&tbv=GIANT_TRANCE_X1_Mountain_Bikes_Full_Suspension

Where else are you goin to get full xt and fox for 1800 quid. I have this exact bike and its fantastic

Cheers, good to know that. Might save me an awful lot of messing about!

Cheers. I saw that on the website, wasn’t sure whether oem ones could be converted in the same way.

reckon i’m gonna try the diadora polaris, bout 50 quid cheaper than the mw81s which are the other option

The diadora Polaris are only 75 notes on bikediscount.de, which is a bargain if they’re any good

shame isnt it. look like lovely forks

anybody at all?

anyone?

I’d say try to find one new or as close as, and times by about half. It’s got to be a decent saving from new otherwise buyers would go to the shop. Also a good plan to include any bits that fit the frame but not your new bike, front mechs, seat posts etc to tickle the price up a bit

makes sense. so if i’m planning to run 3×10 i need a long cage mech.

Decided to go for a genesis latitude or altitude depending on what I can get my hands on. Anyone had any problems with either of these?

it sounds like it could be a bit big. been on the ragley site an assuming the sizing is the same as the current models its saying I should be after a 16in.