Decent advice.

Basically pins kits from DMR are silly money – its 14 quid pins for pedals you buy for 40 quid.

So am looking to do more cheaply with other bolts.

I know the dimensions of King Pins – so I’m working back from those.

See your point though – if King Pins will fit, then bolts the size of King Pins will also fit.

Any thoughts on these?

https://www.accu.co.uk/metric-cap-head-screws/614903-SSCF-M4-14-A4-80?uk_google_shopping=1&c=3&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw6c63BhAiEiwAF0EH1Kti5aplW47dWHZnTz9MYt7AgkjmCtw8sQ_uJuHe3I91-tavawlMfBoC_PwQAvD_BwE

Wow. Incredible value. I’d snap up that 140 Riot if I needed a bike.

Agree with long necks. Very comfy.

I think maybe Endura Singletrack plus gloves.

Have nice bits of extra padding.

Get the most powerful you want to afford.

Weight differences are fairly minimal between low and high power brakes.

Even if you aren’t doing XTREME gnar your hands will feel better.

Not all 4 pots are equal obviously.

I think larger roters are cheaper than he best pound for £ investment you can make.

This is her…

Magenta

Cotic BFE max.

I bought a Sentier 29er, swapped the parts over. Great bike.

Covers ground quick, great geo (for me anyway) works great with a 130mm fork.

No regrets.

Got a Fox Rhythm on my Cotic.

Excellent. Very good small bump compliance, but decent progression curve.

Simple, effective adjustments for compression and rebound.

No need for anymore.

I look at the title and thought XR4s!

I run an XR4 rear and DHF on the front on one bike.

Decent in the corners and quick.

That’s my full suss.

Could run SE4 if want tougher.

My quick 29er runs nobby nic / magic Mary. Also a good mix.

Am going to run rekon on the rear for KAW and put the NN upfront.

Thanks for responses. I got the £29 Anker in the end.

Considered an Iniu, but the Anker looked a bit more solid.

I like my BFEMax, but the long chain-stays probably wouldn’t work for what you are looking for.

Have you considered your tyre choice – putting on some lighter and / or lower profile tyres might give you the pep you are looking for?

Woah. Strong reactions.

Take it that’s a no then.

The mavic sport socks I got from them are very comfy…

Just saying.

Kona Hoss.

Awful Dirt Jumper fork. Weighed a tonne.

Dreadful power spline BB

Maxxis Ignitor tyres. Nothing special.

Fundamentally, got the wrong size.

Kona said 6’1” = 20 inch.

Was a gate.

Interesting.

I just watched this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GX_uhdP3SM0&feature=youtu.be

Have me more of an idea of what I’m looking at.

I see it’s a about 20% on road.

Think I’m going to go a bit more mtb rather than the hybrid Conti and Schwalbe options…

Seems to be a lot of storied mid-sized brands that have gone to the wall over the years – GT, Cannondale, Gary Fisher.

I wonder if there is space between small, nimble brands with a regional following and your Giants, Treks, Specializeds, Canyons.

Norco are still killing it and Marin has made a partial recovery. I’d worry a bit about Whyte, but they’ve made some shrewd decisions about culling the range, so expect they’ll do well.

My Kona Rove is a good road bike, but they haven’t done anything innovative since the early Honzo and Process bikes- which must be 10 years at least.

 

 

The reviews are essentially qualitative for the group tests they pick 3 good options and talk about what their differences are, so you can think what would suit you best.

That being said, you need to know what you are looking for a bit in these situations.

I like that the off road cc reviews call a spade a spade. Their Onza Porcupine tyre review for instance.

Mike Kazimir will say if he thinks something is rubbish, but I don’t ride anything, or anywhere like he does, so limited use.

Just saw Botch at the Camden Electric Ballroom.

Incredibly tight.

https://youtu.be/4ORKSSYZKpU?si=cj-moEBD9huDfB_E

OFSTED/League Tables/Rating again!…

Not a go at you ajt123 as I know you have to work in the system you’re given. But it’s all about the school again – the edutainment/fun could inspire the kids to take geography (or another associated subject) further but no, whack that free spirit fun shit out of them. GCSEs are a stepping stone not an end result.

Just my rant at the system as parent of a child who didn’t fit the system.

I hear you Muffin man. I think the mainstream secondary school model doesn’t work.

We should do years 7 to 10 as a kind of junior high and years 11-13 as a Lycee / College / Senior High like they do in a lot of the European countries.

Also, we need a national system of schools for the massive number of kids with emotional and behavioural disorders and chronic mental illness, that our collapsing society is generating.

But I digress, suffice to say there are teachers who would rather be youth workers, instead of educators = ‘You pretend to teach us, we pretend to learn’.

Really appreciate the responses.

Their complaints are mostly about change. I’m quite light touch on most things, so it isn’t about excess accountability.

Context:

Basically, our curriculum in Geography hasn’t been fit for purpose:

Year 9 has been all human geography which makes it poor preparation for GCSE.

There are a lot of ‘fun’ topics that aren’t national curriculum, or contributing to skills.

It’s edutainment and the Ofsted report and SLT said that they wanted to improve challenge.

The school used to be pretty crap and is rapidly improving, but those changes haven’t reached my subjects yet.

I’ve actually ripped out and replaced a lot more in History, but the staff are more open to dialogue and change.

I’ve only touched Year 8 and 9 in Geo, and got one of my high performers to redevelop Year 7.

My two refuseniks agreed to work on 8 and 9 with me, but then made excuses instead of doing the work. Then I picked up the slack and they threw their toys out of the pram every week since Xmas, because I did what I said I would do.

I’m going to meet with my Boss on Monday.

I’ve got two thoughts:

If my boss will back me, we can get each of them in one after the other and double team them. Tell em to knuckle down. Maybe a bit like the moaning list. Let them talk and talk and talk – give them enough rope.

Idea #2. If I don’t get backing, or it’s equivocal I’m going to keep the money, but switch to process and accountability only in History and put the onus on curriculum on them:

Next faculty meeting, ask them who wants to be KS3 and who KS4 – groups – then give them 90 minutes to work out a plan which I’ll endorse, then say I’ll come back 15 minutes before the end.

This could result in 3 outcomes:

1. They’ll argue, remember that they hated each other long before I came along and they’ll realise they’ve got to cave.

2. They’ll come up with a good plan, that works and I’ll be happy, SLT will be happy and they will be happy.

3. They’ll come up with a plan that is unworkable, or that they fail to make work, but I have 6 months of reduced aggro and they get covered in their own shit.

Obviously as seasoned bullshit artists, they might sense a trap and refuse to walk into it, but the idea appeals.

I’ve decided I’m going to keep taking the money either way, but check out on caring.

Have you planted the crack yet?

Interesting phrase, what do you mean by it?

why is teaching different?

Hard to believe. But it is. As the manager your more likely to get put on the pip than they are.

100%

It’s like Football – if the players go out and are shit, or don’t try, or have been on a cocaine bender all week, then much cheaper to replace the manager than half the squad.

Some interesting thoughts.

It’s worse than your DT-IT faculty AJ as they don’t smile and nod, they argue and sabotage. I wish they’d just smile and nod.

I’m 41 and have been in the game for close to 2 decades, so it’s less about age and experience and more about being an in-comer – one of them has been at the school for 16 years…

BTR Ranger. Incredible bike.

Re: the OP you certainly won’t die in Surrey Hills or the Peak because of an XR4.

It’s a surprisingly predictable tyre and very quick for it’s size.

Excellent tyre the XR4.

I have mine out back with… a DHF 2.5 WT on the front.

It’s all about intended use I’d say… This set up is on my 160 enduro bike, and I’d want more of a carver on the front for that.

Would I put one on the front of my 130 Cotic, all-rounder. Summer yes, mud no.

It’s basically a better Nobby Nic in my view.

YETI DH bike

Now that’s a thing of beauty!

Feel your pain brother.

This is an area where ‘Standards ‘innovation’ has been a curse.

Reminder that you need to wear trousers over, or long shorts with long socks, or the water just infiltrates down your leg.

I second the Dakine Hotlaps 5l.

Hits the spot.

M Wave pannier rack.

Was 30 quid a few weeks back.

Decided I’d get for occasional back packing.

Retrobike?

https://ep1.pinkbike.org/p3pb14607692/p3pb14607692.jpg

Curtis

Nordest looks like a v good option.

I bought a bfe max and built up using vitus do at bike, so 130mm fork, with the aim of it being a tough xc bike to complement my Bird Aeris.

Done three rides since got it. Feels quick. Long chainstays seem to help climbing.

No regrets. Not much in stock. I got the last Magenta frame in the country. Not sure when next batch coming over..

Rock n Roll extreme (Blue)

You need to clean the chain properly first coat. Off the bike.

After that it’s a very clean ride. Rinse off the outside muck, use a cloth.

Oil on the inner links. Spin. Wipe off excess with a second cloth.

Mudhugger too!

Think it’s where you are in the country.

GF is from Yorkshire and it was very wet and windy when plain sailing down South.

I’ve done two days this week, so above average.

New bike helps!

Hah! That’s in Balfes bike shop in Reigate. Great blokes, sorted the headset installation for me.

Never named my bikes before, but my new BFE max is coloured Magenta… 

Cove StiFE – Pole position

Ragley Piglet – second place

Cove Shocker – honourable mention.

Great thread idea this.

I have the Spank bar. Very pleased with it. Back feels good and it rides well moto.

No issues with climbing. All good.

My son has the Merida. Excellent, Excellent bike.

I got it for him when he was about 120and he was 7. Will replace when he is 8.