Even without wheels, that looks fast.

Very nice indeed. And I like that you haven't ruined it with loads of colour-coordinated anodized parts (Lopes link / QR aside). It's bling enough without needing to be tarted up further.

What were you riding before?

I like the look of that Kraftstoff M1.

Having come back from a ride, I can assure you that you're not missing out. It was terrible – sunny, a nice cool breeze, bone dry trails, fast, grippy…absolutely no rain or gloopy mud at all. I didn't even need to wash my bike when I got back. RUBBISH. :lol:

I'm not a fan of the clear finish where you can see the carbon weave (a bit too bling for me), but that orange is amazing.

Oldgit: Which did he prefer – the Mojo or the SL?

I actually like the matte 'nude' finish on the carbon 456 as shown. Will that be an option, or will they all come painted?

Great vid. Enjoyed your others too.

I tried to find Stainburn last winter but ended up parking in the wrong car park and spending hours slogging through a load of boggy woods. Must try to make it back up there sometime – the trails look ace.

Blur LT a good choice – I'm testing one this weekend (in the pissing rain, it seems). A Lapierre Zesty 514 would probably be perfect for you, and I know you said you don't want a carbon frame but you really should look at the Ibis Mojo and the Scott Genius. Some great deals to be had on 09 models: http://www.coventrycyclecentre.co.uk/products.php?plid=m1b4s1p849&rs=gb

Doubt you'd do much better than that for £2,500. Full XT groupset, Fox 32 RLs, decent wheels and finishing kit, etc. 150mm travel, about 26lbs.

Spend the rest on a holiday.

http://www.worldcyclingrecord.com/about-3/

'He has lived in Chiang Khong since 2548.'

No wonder he's able to cycle round the world in just 99 days – he's kitted his bike out with a flux capacitor.

Yes, you can top up the rest. For £1039 you really can't beat it. The only other bike I was considering was a Boardman Pro. Reckon I made the right choice.

I have a 2009 Ltd Race hardtail – really pleased with it. I managed to pick it up before Cube hiked their prices due to the faltering exchange rate, so it only cost £900. I couldn't find anything else with anywhere near the spec for the money – Reba SL, SLX/XT drivetrain, light wheelset, Formula K18 brakes, etc. The only change I've made is to swap the old EA30 lo-rise bars (too narrow) for a Ritchey WCS Carbon Rizer. I also had to change the old EA30 stem due to a product recall by Easton, so took that opportunity to shorten what I thought was a bit of an excessive 120mm down to 100mm. As an added bonus, supply issues with the EA30 meant I ended up with a free upgrade to an EA50.

This year's model has been downspecced a bit, if I remember rightly – Deore cranks and perhaps one or two other subtle cost-cutting changes. They seem to have changed the ar*e-shredder of a saddle that came with mine, though, so it's not all bad.

I haven't weighed it, but it's plenty light enough for me. It's really responsive, MASSIVELY stiff and scarily fast. It has a pretty racey feel to it overall and can be a bit twitchy when the going gets steep and rough, but it's always handled everything I've been able to throw at it.

Definitely worth considering.