And another option…

3×3

I’d agree with you Re: fs bikes. I wouldn’t want one on mine.

Gearbox the way to go for those.

I’d want an IGH for my mud bike.

I was riding up Pitch hill in Surrey the other day. The bloke on the Status next to me didn’t seen to be struggling.

Never washed them with anything harsh or indeed much at all.

Stored in a garage.

Not happening to any of the other tyres,inc the rear tyre.

It’s a Maxx terra, so not super soft compound. As I say tread is fine.

Weird.

dander
Full Member
40psi. Front and rear.

Absolutely. If you need massively expensive and convoluted insert and tubless set-ups, what;s wrong with just upping the PSI a bit?

A lot of princess and the pea style behaviour.

I put more in my rear than my front on my hardtail and more front and back on my full sus. That’s about it.

Terrorvision at the LCR in Norwich.

Twas great.

As above shuuuuuurly a new shed!

Still, any excuse for a flash new bike…

Bump of my own thread.

Has anyone had any real works experience with either:

Merida Matts JR+

Or

Scott Roxter

The boy swung his leg over a Scott Roscoe 24 today and was very enamoured.

Not paying 600+ notes for a joke ds bike at this stage though!

Cheers Alex

7 is a funny age for bike-sizing. Our’s is on an on XS 26″ with 24″ wheels, which I had painted bright pink 🙂

You are not wrong fella!

Did a height check yesterday. 123cm.

Reckon he will be close to 130 by his birthday (September) which does put him at the lower limit for a lot of 24ers.

Now they are a bit bigger they want to make their own choices and enjoy riding enough that as long as a bike looks good they will want to ride it.

Also a very sound point. I’ll sound him out this summer.

Cheers Alex

Hmmmn, starting to reappraise the Jett. Could get the lad a 24 inch and get more years out of it…

You have to take the cost in context.

My context is below inflation pay ‘rises’ since 2010 (I’ve moved up scale, but teachers are 20% worse off than if it had tracked cost of living) plus current absurd overall inflation rate.

Bike inflation is running much higher than general inflation.

Prices are rising 10-20% a year. Technology isn’t improving 20% a year, so while bike stuff is better than 10-15 years ago, it’s much worse value than 3 to 4 years ago.

Not in the market for a new bike, but cost of parts worries me. Getting harder to make smart choices.

Or maybe that new Airdrop that just landed….

I’ll tell you what, that Spectral 125 Al6 looks like the smart pick:

Sensible tyres
Full slx groupset
Good fork and shock combo

I can’t see the Aether beating that. Geometry very similar.

I like my Bird, but if it was my money, that’s what I would get.

Birds are very hard to beat for an all rounder UK bike.

I found the AM9 a bit of a barge at below warp factor 5 when I did a test ride. It did have very, very heavy tyres on it mind.

Aether 9 looks like much more of an all-rounder.

That being said, I agree the Spectral does look rather good. But both you base specs 125/160mm are pretty heavy and the 125 Al5 fork isn’t great.

If your budget is over 3k you’ll be fine.

I also fancy a 24 or 26 BMIX….

Personally, I think it’s a mix of horses for courses and preference.

I’ve got a 29er hybrid, 27.5 full suspension and 26 hardtail, tried a few 29ers as well.

I actually prefer the smaller wheels for more technical, but 29ers are faster rolling.

In a few years I will probably get a 29er marathon bike, for endurance events.

Ultimately, try some bikes and chose the one that you get the most fun from.

Acer and Ribinia are both very nice

Btr Ranger. Best bike I’ve ever ridden.

I would really like a modern take on the Yeti ASX:

I’d go 130mm out back, 160mm up front. 64 degree head angle, 77 degree seat tube.

The mud clearing benefits of the elevated chainstay, but with a little progression added by the linkage and better bracing again side loading.

I’d got raw with murdered out graphics and parts.

Bonty Xr4 is a great tyre.

Nobby Nic killer…

Best Bike Park BikeThis might be useful reading…

Whyte G180.

I mean, I wouldn’t have one, because of the standover, but seems like a solid option.

I mix brands. It is sorded, but so, so finger lickin good! ;-)

Binning my Aggressor an Xr4 on the rear, combined with a DHF was a breakthrough.

Nobby Nic?

I came to say DHF. Because it’s the smart choice!

But why limit to Maxxis?

Higher end Suntour are great vfm.

I’ve got top whack Durolux R2C2 and I think they give my mate’s Lyriks a good red hot go.

Certainly it’s very serviceable.

MoCo on rockshox I’ve got lots of experience with, they are OK, but nothing to write home about… reliable.

It’s not April yet, is it?

3m mastic tape. Get tonnes for the money, easy to work with, quietens and protects.

Well, that’s hardly unusual in this peculiar decade.

C-eem to still be trading…

CandB

CandB seen lights are gvfm

Mud guards make a big difference bang for buck..

I’ve been broadening my taste lately.

Two bands I’ve come back to a lot are:

Igorrr

Camel Dancefloor

And Zeal and Ardour

Vigil

Shorts have been tip top, gloves don’t last long. I bought some trousers yesterday. Think varies depending on the product

Want to buy my essentially unused tyre?

I mean, this has Arms and a Hood!

https://www.tredz.co.uk/.Endura-Singletrack-One-Piece_224084.htm?sku=727252&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=google_shopping&gclid=CjwKCAiArOqOBhBmEiwAsgeLmftaXCWp-oBL6fWpCwILPS26prsQ4BUPDCammdOMuu760mkQk408MxoC0iwQAvD_BwE

I really like the idea.

Bit more flexibility than an all in one, plus can wear the jacket of your choice.

That being said the price is literally insane. It’s more than a fully D30 suit of armour!

Gucci.

Readers. I put on a Bontrager Xr4.

Has transformed the ride.

It’s incredible how much the Aggressor was holding the bike back.

Low speed compression adjustment plus putting oil in the foam rings has greatly improved fork performance too.

That central derailleur DH is an abortion on wheels.

Purge the unclean!

I have similar needs.

Vaults have always been good for me.

The new Shimano Xt in ML might be good.

https://bike.shimano.com/en-US/information/news/deore-xt-flat-pedals–pd-m8040.html

Vigilante 2.3 on the rear, High volume, more like a 2.4.

Could go light casing, High grip?

Clear well.

Forekaster sounds like best bet 2.6. No personal experience.