Not sure that bike weight comes into it for jumping

My Banshee Spitfire comes in at 15.2kg as my “big bike” 160/135 27.5

and my carbon Top Fuel comes in at 14.2kg as a downcountry/trail bike.. .could shave a kg with a few upgrades most likely… But it seems to jump better than the big bike, I put it down to the suspension more than anything, not weight… that being said… I feel much more confident on the big bike attempting bigger jumps. The Top Fuel is easier to get off the ground, but in a bike park situation getting off the ground isn’t so much of an issue IMHO.

if I’m going to a bike park I’m taking the big bike, but Top Fuel is definitely solidly built but the geo and suspension doesn’t really lend itself to any get out of trouble moments as the bigger, slacker and arguably more burlier bike

google podcasts has just moved to youtube music

I wouldn’t think twice about swapping wheel/tyre/cassette/disc combos straight on

however

I had to ride my NP digger to work today, 45mm Schwalbe g ones… 1600g wheels, and it was faster than my Vitus Mach 3 on  38mm GK SS’s and 1800g wheels… (Vitus had another puncture in the stupid GK’s)  so I’m now just wondering if the digger should just be the all rounder? it has less top end and wider gears (1×12 vs 2×8) but easier to keep moving, even though the tyres suggest otherwise

id be concerned about the second layer being able to shift about on the first

that fidlock compact is awesome, bought one as soon as i picked up my medium top fuel, as it was super difficult to fit any of my other fidlock bottles of any significant size. And riding packless/bum bag less is definitely a bonus

all current shimano cranks are hollowtech 2 / 24mm bb compatible

If you run into any issues with it, you’re not getting any support as the seller thinks they sent you a 530…

yup got the Arvada on my Top Fuel, decent spec little saddle and comfy, did feel a little alien at first, cant remember what it was but not got nay complaints with it

a 3year old battery that’s discharged completely should bee replaced IMHO

re the Bonty comment, because their range of tyres is incredibly easy to understand, and i found even their Xr4 which is an all round trail tyre, to work actually pretty well in all conditions, likewise their xr3/2 XC tyres have also been great in dry conditions were my mates are all running Minions/Michelins etc

if it hasn’t been mentioned, unite components on 50% off everything

get your short cranks in

I was using the Drumeo app for a while, seemed pretty decent with lots of courses and extras, huge amount of content

Pretty much the only time I ride on flats now is on my road/commuter bike. Anything slightly rough I’ll stick to clips.

Going back to flats makes me slightly nervous nowadays must admit.. i definitely have picked up lazy habits in 18 months

I really like the DMR V twins, I found them perfect as a newbie to clipless and still have them on one bike.

Would have them on both except i grabbed some Nukeproof CS in the sales.. and after some adjusting also like those.

The hope are supposed to be lovely but couldn’t justify it.

I’m only familiar with SPD, not  Crankbrothers, Look etc..

Disclaimer, i look after the mobiles at work, and I’m the only user to insist on having an android. theres about 65 company phones in the wild.

Anyway, my point, you’ve done well keeping the 6 alive this long, no idea how :D

We buy the iPhone SE 2022 and and 13 as our entry level and mid tier devices generally and haven’t had any massive influx of returns, unlike the models between 8 and se 2020 which just seemed to come back to us within a year.

So yes, i don’t think you can go wrong with either choice that suits you

Bannana industries and Bird have some deals on atm on certain tyres

looks like the XR4 and SE4 have been directly replaced.. I didn’t check out the 2 xc examples but probably mostly the same.. and the SE4 equivalent video mentions 2 compound options…

looking at doing similar

Amazon have car boot organizers with compartments

ive also seen storage doodahs that hang on the back of the seats in front

One Up V3?

new fox transfer is out too, neither bargains but potentially some of the best

not saving, but budgeting

been using “you need a budget” YNAB for a number of years to make me consider my spending, and that works for me, to a degree

smoked for 20 years

hated it, couldn’t give up, never understood why it was even a legal thing, been smoke free at least 10 years now

great idea, smoking killed my mum at 55, probably contributed to my dads health later in life, my daughter has the occasional cigarette. no idea why…. would put it out of reach of my lad

Smoking doesn’t need to be a thing, freedom of choice? well the current smokers have got that freedom of choice so there should be no argument.

Although I guess you could say the same about alcohol in some universe, I would argue smoking is way more addictive as I was stuck with it, yet i can drink as little or as much as I want with no addictive side affects, I know this isn’t the same for everyone. I guess smoking isn’t the same for everyone either, in my mind smoking is way more dangerous than drinking.

We have been heading this way, with it being phased out of public spaces 20? years ago… It seems weird to think you could sit on a table in restaurant chuffing away while a stranger on the next table is eating..

i’ve ran my shimano and 510 shoes, both with shimano multi release cleats on my dmr v twins and nukeproof cl’s with no issues, i haven’t tried my Leatt shoes with NP cleats and spacer on the DMR pedals yet though, only the NP pedals.

in that scenario i have had no issues with cleat and platform interface.. but the platform is adjustable on the vtwins so perhaps i just had good luck

@nickc ive got the 2 and 3 on a set of wheels, was actually surprisingly good for me in all dry conditions, even fairly steep loose stuff, but it became a one trick pony when it got damp so i prefer a 4 up front for all round conditions, if you definitely arent ever going to hit anything particularly steep where you need to drag  back brake on loose or wet stuff, then yer you can probably drop down to the 2/3 combo i would say

@didnthurt don’t you mean Kenda Nevegal?

Bontrager Xr3-XR4 combo

it sounds like you should just leave it as a hybrid set up and buy something for off road riding, even a modern gravel bike sounds like it could be more competent for off road use

not a fan of switching lockouts on anything, so always set my compression up to a happy medium, if i were racing xc then id probably want bar mounted lockout to on the fly switch between open and locked

only other time that id possibly consider using a lockout would be insanely long climbs, which would end in a stop and recoup, like 30 minute climbs, otherwise it stays open

i guess what I’m saying is if you aren’t actively locking and unlocking as you ride, not just, for climbs, i mean hopping into sprints locked out and unlocking for short descents and then sprinting again, i don’t feel you should be overly concerned, especially on a short travel efficient bike.

if i was doing a lot of climbing on something heavier and longer travel, with heavy tyres etc and felt a lot of bobbing, i might reach for it then if every minute amount of energy saving was wanted

being able to drop just a smidge to keep pedalling and semi seated across rough surfaces is nice

plus when hitting real rough stuff like roots and unweighting or jumping is ace to get it out of the way

something that shouldn’t be that close to the surface ?

yer the new advisory about location

I considered hard when i had mine installed in August, and went loft, actually the ideal location would be the shed at the bottom of the garden

I read that storage is pretty safe, and Lifepo4 even safer

I understand they are now VAT free, but i know on my Giveenergy setup i canno0t add a battery without it being recommissioned by a registered installer, or have access to the installer’s login to set it up, which obviously i don’t have…

the G1800s are amazing, got them on my NP Digger and smashed them through some blue trails, jumped on them all sorts (granted not very high). Big fan of DT wheels anyway, and or hope hubs… not been overly sold on hope rims

Shimano all the way

Balfe’s bikes still have the top fuel 9.7 carbon xt/slx/deore build on sale, great bike… bought one

it reads like an issue with a specific batch or something?

again the bontrager range

have used xr3 and 2 combo which was good in the dry, and the se4 and 5 when it was sloppy, new bike came with xr4s front and rear so i think my summer riding will be xr4 front xr3 rear simply just because the 4 really does have a decent amount of extra bite for when you really need it

Ex smoker here.. the smell now really irritates me… Its also significantly worse if its tailor made cigarettes, baccy doesn’t seem to be as obnoxious

However.. i don’t think you can really say anything, the smell travels a long way, well, you cant say anything until your on real friendly terms with them… Especially when its winter and raining they will be stood at their back door.

The best thing you can do is be selective with what windows you open

i use

COOSPO Heart Rate Monitor Armband,Bluetooth ANT+ Armband Heart Rate with IP67,Optical Heart Rate Monitor for Peloton,Strava,Zwift,Polar Beat,DDP Yoga(One More Bands) : Amazon.co.uk: Sports & Outdoors

with my edge 530

Mavic crossmax XL r 29 carbon XD driver..

799 at merlin

https://www.merlincycles.com/mavic-crossmax-xl-r-boost-carbon-wheelset-29-307532.html

I’m tempted but realLy shouldn’t

^^ they do a two pot version too.. if you find clarks ebay store and watch them, they sometimes send out offers :)

Not an XC racer but

The SPD comment above is a big game changer, not for weight, but being able to securely pedal a hardtail through rough horrible stuff rather than just roiling through can make a lot of difference in maintaining speed