researched it. You will find the cost is similar to a good paint job, also, unless all welds and frame tubes are made of exactly the same alloy, the colour they become will be different. Most of them seem to be in Birmingham, altough I can’t remember who. I do recall having a chat with Hope, who were helpful. Perhaps start there?

I did all the paint removal, using Nitromors, but Clive at Total Paintworks ( find him in the yellow pages) did more surface prep etc. It cost £220 which I think was great for a 4 pack paint!!!

It is wearing OK, not a powder coat but not totally fragile either.

Built this a while ago, but just had a re-spray:

Name of the company is Total Paintworks in Littlehampton.

My other builds:

and:

I love them all.

M&S money is part of HSBC isn’t it?

anything by the collective:

The Collective
Roam
Seasons

Those should keep you going.

I had one, which was stretch neoprene, and nothing specific, just a big one. Should work, but to be honest, you are better off with old inner tube or dark side grip tape. Just not as pretty.

saw a shiny bike go splat in the gully on Friday, on the first jump, front wheel did’nt grip on a front heavy landing.

Luckily he bounced.

I’ll get back to you on this….

Drainage is part of the answer, but you don’t always have the advantage of a slope. Maybe there is a way of ‘fixing’ chalk, by adding something to it? Perhaps a membrane , with chalk ontop, mixed with limestone chippings? Seems pricey!

Laying a sandstone path is possible, but seems like cheating, as well as taking possible character from the trails….there has to be a better way….?

sticky treacle with claggy clay like sloppiness and the grippyness similar to vaseline smeared on plate glass.

Thanks Rich,I’ll keep you posted.

considering exchange rates etc…Buy British! I have a Hope with stainless bearings. It has taken loads of abuse over the last 8 months, and I’m not a wippet, more of a hippo!

Texan Bar, the most chewy bar ever made, with a really dodgy catch phrase…

A man’s gotta chew what a man’s gotta chew…..hmmmmm!

Luckily it was last seen in the age of innocence (1970s) for me at least

I have 5-10s and all I can say is wow, it actually feels more connected than spuds in a weird way.

I am still at a loss, as there are two sets of tank traps, one near the star cross, and the other at the end of a wiggly gully section that has recently receieved a lot of new surfacing. Where is Stickler run then? (ducks behind a4 binder, as cowering behind my office chair might look a little odd in an open plan office)

no funny stuff either like: take a left by the pine tree next to the gravel track!

In one go, 94km ( Bucks 100) and was miffed it wasn’t. Otherwise, I rode Lakeland loop in 1995 on a p7 with all my camping gear on my back. Took 10 days and still wishing it wasn’t 5hours away by car 😥

I too would like to know where this fangled section is…?!

Gdansk or Krakow would be a better bet. Spent a weekend in Warsaw, and the only really imposing building is the Palace of Culture, which was built by the Russians, so all the locals hate it, so don’t comment on it. A bit like asking a Welshman, Scotsman or Irishman how much he loves the english.

Pros for Warsaw are: Great clubs and cafes. The new old town has some great places to eat, and there is a new museum about the uprising. The royal park with Chopin’s monument (My wife is looking over my schoulder, and guess where she’s from…)

Thanks momentum, I’ll take a look

Bearback, that is a fantastic photo! That is one happy hound!

Thanks JA, glad to be of service, welcome

can’t see the pics Dorset Knob…

I sense this might sway the thread a little (typing with crossed legs)

or camel trail in cornwall, and fab fish and chips too!

haldon has family routes, or just pootle around the Forest of Dean? New Forest as miles of forest roads, and hardly any hills

collies are cool, but not ultimately patient with kids. My dilemma is well…erm…a dilemma?!!?

My brother had a Black Lab, and she would run for miles and miles, so maybe it’s all about them liking biking too?

hmmmm,

primary motivation is for my son, who is mildly autistic, so a chilled out fluffy friend is the order of the day, but with potential keep fit whilst I ride the trails. Any other suggestions?

it has 4 paws a long pink tongue, slobber and a wagging tail, and might occasionally go….Woof!

Doesn’t that constitute being a hound?

Or would you prefer: canis lupus familiaris sequor

cheap option: take them in the car, and buy a cheap sheet to keep the mud off your interior.

sorry about the nightmares

thule roof system all in is about 150 for the roof rack plus 70 squid for each bike rack, where as their tow ball one is about 200 squidlys. I think you are heading for a world of pain and the horrible anguish of watching your beloved bike bounce down the motorway all the way until it goes under the wheels of a truck, from the miniature widscreen of your rear view mirror; if you go for the cheap option. it’s a bit like helmets….how much do you like your head the shape it is now? Pay for peace of mind!

Hi Poppa, Farley Mount is at present a work in progress, and if you go to the H2o Mud n snow website, there is a facebook page for those interested in helping in building some trails there. Hopefully this will be starting ( as in digging trails) later this year. The Hargroves ride is on still I think, but from what I hear, they’ll blow your legs off. Loads of bridleway riding to be had, and some great singletrack, but not that close together. Lordswood is not far away to get your twisty fix until our West Wood project takes off.

cheers guys, Nitromors it is then. I love that science officer gave me the organic chemical componenets too. I will expect 2D model, showing valencies and activation energy thresholds next time!

Thanks again everyone!!!

not sure thats clever, as the fram is butted etc, plus the faces for bearings etc could be damaged I think..but I have no Proof. It depends on the hardness of the alloy used in the frame construction, I suppose

Choice of:

SC Chameleon: Go and check them out, sizing is really on the small side
Pace RC 305: More XC but still plently stiff enough
Cove Stiffee: Slackest head angle, but all that own them seem to love them!

Unless you go steel, which means more options. Pikes are great forks.

I guess it’s like riding roots and gaps…most of the issues are in your head. Ride without worrying about what if and it’ll flow. Personally, I would start small and wear lots of armour!!! Try going to Esher North Shore and see how it goes…

exact opposite. The tensioner : singulator is pretty and works really well for me on vertical dropouts.

It does look oddly cool….but I like the Giant colour fip, it adds a definite BLING to the bike.