Jon Hood – Member
amplebrew: that was my initial feelings, but not sure whether thats my “fox brand is better/pimpier” marketing brain wash preference – but which is better in reality

I think it’s very much down to personal preference on the forks. Neither would be bad forks, I’ve just had a better ownership experience with Fox and I reckon the black forks look a bit nicer with the black frame.

The main thing for me would be the Shimano gears.

I’d personally go for the 2011 version as I would prefer a Shimano Drivetrain and Fox forks.

MoreCashThanDash – Member
This cropped up in another thread a few weeks ago – try a search it should pop up

Previous Sante Fe thread

The Niner looks really great 🙂

Bet you can’t wait to take it out for a spin.

It took me around a month of riding my Big Unit to fall for the bigger wheels.

My bags arrived today and they’re fantastic.

Really happy with them, thanks Duffman 😀

I just love getting out on my bike.

I don’t train or have any particular diet, it would start to lose the fun for me if it got too serious.

I cycle 14 miles a day round trip to work and then just get out on my days off.

The length of my rides is very much dependant on the weather and how I’m feeling at the time.

What do you call a Mexican carpet fitter?

Underlay underlay.

What do you call an Irish hairdresser?

Tim O’Tei.

14 mile round trip on a Kona Big Unit singlespeed.

For the distance covered, it’s not worth getting a more road orientated ride.

I’m a huge fan of my Endura MT500’s.

Not too sure if you can use them with road cleats though.

I don’t think you’d go far wrong with any of the Endura overshoes to be honest.

I’ve just paid import duty on my Steve Potts in within the last month.

I paid the following on what was marked up as bike parts (Frame, fork, bars, stem, seatpost.)

The price for the ‘parts’ was $4465 US dollars which is around £2878 (This included the postage)

My import duty and VAT was £751.82.

Hope this helps.

Rob Zombie – Hellbilly

Dogs are just great!!!!

Love these threads 8)

Here’s our two boys…..

Rossi the Springer

Oli the Tibetan Terrier

GlitterGary – Member
Amplebrew- Now THAT really is impossible.

I did think that they were biting off a bit more than they could chew with that one!!!

I can’t wait until next months edition of MBR.

There going to teach me how to ride my 29er like a proper mountain bike 🙄

I did it South to North due to there being a better chance of a tailwind as crikey said.

I used a Specialized Sirrius with flat bars, used youth hostels and did it in 10 days. I carried everything between two rear panniers and a bar bag.

If I was to do it again:

I’d use a bike with drop bars as I had nowhere to escape any head winds.

I’d do it in 14 days and give myself longer to take in the sights.

I also found the hills down south harder than in Scotland, which suprised me.

You’ll have a fantastic time doing it, I was gutted when the ride came to and end and I had to return to normality.

I’ve been running Crest’s on Hope from JRA for well over a year with no problems; I haven’t even had to true them.

I ride my bike to:

Give me time to clear my head and think about stuff
Get into the middle of nowhere
To experience the numerous sights and sounds
Keep myself fit
Get around
Get to work

I’ve been cycling since I was a kid, but really got into mountain biking from the age of 14 when I bought a very brightly coloured MBK ‘all terrain’ bike.

Used to spend every night after school riding along the sand dunes and forest tracks between Crosby and Southport.

I managed to save up enough money from a paper round to buy a Saracen Sahara in 1992 and then joined the Liverpool mountain bike club and it took off from there. Joining a club opened up a whole new world to me as due to my young age; I couldn’t drive myself.

My poor Saracen Sahara got stolen and my folks house insurance helped fund my favourite bike; a Marin Bear Valley SE. I loved my Marin to bits and spent all my paper round money on ‘blinging’ it up with anodised blue bits, project two forks and a ‘snowflake’ front wheel from Formby Cyclesports.

I then moved onto the St Helens ‘Woolly Backs’ mountain bike club, still relying on club members to drive me to destinations afar; as I was still too young to drive.

I haven’t been part of a club for long time now, but still ride my mountain bike most days.

I use GT85 as well, gives my bike a really great shine.

I just cover up the rotors and calipers with a plastic bag before spraying.

It certainly seems to make cleaning my bike easier.

If you’ve got a few mates to get a group buy together, this place will do 36 cans for £59.99 with free postage.

These look great, just ordered two myself.

Thanks for the heads up 😀

Mine are:

Nevis Range (Although I’m not keen on the 10 Under The Ben route)
Wolftrax
CYB

Have a look here

I think that’s what you’re after.

The instruction download has all the torque settings.

H & R Insurance [/url] are pretty good, I’ve been with them for 15 years now.

I love the Sesame Street version 😀

I started riding to work 2 years ago and got a bit of a shock at how quickly things started to wear out.

I think commuting is particulary hard on bike components.

I’m running a RaceFace Atlas 32t chainset with a Surly 18t sprocket on my Kona Unit with no issues over the last year.

The Flying Ox – Member
Pinebank Chalets are very good. Used them every time I’ve been staying in Aviemore. Nice and friendly owners, pretty cheap, the cabins are clean and warm, excellent pub next door and close to Aviemore for a bit more socialising.

+ 1 for Pinebank, we’ve stayed there quite a few times now.

The accomodation is near to pubs, shops and Rothiemurcus etc is only a very short cycle ride away.

There are quite a few holiday homes on the Silverglades estate which is still within easy walking distance of shops and pubs. Rothiemurcus must still only be around 2 – 3 miles away.

We’ve not long come back from Aviemore ourselves and stayed on Silverglades. We used Cairngorm Higland Bungalows and got a good deal.

Thanks for all the great comments 😀

I’ll post a few more pics once i’ve got it built up.

The weld halfway down the seat tube is a collar that has been fusion welded in place so the seat tube area is stronger.

The seat tube itself is tapered going from a .035″ wall thickness to a .095″ wall thickness at the top of the collar.

The logo on the down tube is just a decal, so potentially could be easily removed.

I haven’t really worked out the spec yet to be honest.

I was probably going to go for straight XT or XTR group set with Chris King / Stans wheels; but that might change. I have already got a Ti CK headset to go on it, so that’s a definate.

I ordered it in September last year, so just over 12 mths to get everything built.

The price for the frame, type 2 forks, ti stem, ti post and ti bars including the postage and dreaded import duty was £3800 which I think works out cheaper than buying a Moots for example.

I’m sure a Moots frame, stem, post and bars is around £3700 and that doesn’t include any forks.

Just to confirm that it is a 29er.

The stem was $425, so approx £265.

timc – Member
whats that cost then?

The frame was $2950.00 and the Type II Fork was $700.00

I pretty much sold all my wordly goods to pay for it!!! 😯

I’ve taken a few more pics this morning, although I’m still no David Bailey!!

My torque wrench is much cherished.

Tracker1972 – Member
Thats not your stuff on his blog, destined for the UK is it?
Steve Potts blog
Edit- The “the old days again” post.

Yeah, that’s mine 🙂

Post from USA was pretty quick, only took just over 6 days to get here.

Just need to sit down and finalise the build now.

It’s even nicer than I thought it was going to be and was well worth the wait.

I’ll take some better pics over the coming week.

Mine arrived last week and I live off the mainland UK.

Crell – Member
KISH are lovely frames, and if you’re thinking of one of those I’d also be looking at Eriksen and Potts which are only slightly more expensive.

A Potts frame is $2950, so around £1900.

flange – Member
I’m in the same boat, getting rid of my astravan and car to get just one vehicle. I’m surprised at the cost of transporters, thought they were much more than that.

@ Amplebrew – I’ve just had a look at the Renault site and they look as expensive as the t5, do you have a link handy?

I’ve also been looking at Discovery 4 Commercials but they’re a bit thin on the ground and quite expensive. look massive in the back though

I got a quote for a Renault Trafic from Arnold Clark. They were by far the cheapest at the time. Have a look here[/url] to contact them.

honourablegeorge – Member
@ rick & ample – Cheers. Just need to persuade the Mrs to trade her car in for one now.

That’s cool, good luck!!