based on how my boys first birthday went, a cardboard box will do just fine…

Not wrong there at all… But six years on it gets somewhat more complicated!

Have a look here http://emmyjane-design.blogspot.co.uk/. I make all the stuff

Lots of ideas there, thanks.

Ahhhh the days…. 1990 to 1998 Sterns, laserdrone, club UK, Swansea (can’t remember the name) and of course the big all nighters – Fantasia, Universe, Tribal Gathering and Helter Skelter to name a few…

This one was particularily superb, even got a pass to dance on stage whilst DJ Gachet was on…. Bloddy amazing when you have several thousand ravers seemingly going with you 😀 😀 😀

Sorry link only… But great tunes!

I’m also looking for a six year olds bike. Looking at one of these for £250.

Bop-it… Genius idea!

Morning Jimjam, bought some two weeks ago and posted here…

Went out last Saturday morning during the cold snap and was massively impressed. First time I’ve ridden in the cold and not had problems with my hands. Not too sweaty and very, very comfortable. Highly recommended.

Mine is fine. Lots of wet, muddy rides and no problems so far. Plenty of comments about how good and bright it is and for £8 you can’t go wrong.

Why the assumption that a Facebook post gets read? I miss most posts and my profile is private, it’s not exactly critical reading is it … 😐

Every decision made so far has been wrong, hand it in like a good man and make it someone else’s problem.

Cheers Jon very handy. As it happens £1500 is all in, the 829 is discontinued now and can be snapped up for £1500 so I’ve stretched my (allowable) budget that far. After my last purchase I’m keeping my wallet under tight control…. 😳

Still, I’m starting to get the feeling this is a highly desirable bike so might have to take Gotama up on his kind offer.

Hmmmm….

Dirtbiker that’s exactly my thought. Same drive train and gearing but one turn of the cranks sends you that little bit further, it takes a little extra to get the wagon wheels going but once you’ve got your usual cadence you should be riding faster than you would on smaller wheels.

Had a go on a mates new Giant 29r this morning and it was the same, a little effort then wooffff, you’re off…

Jonstanley, not sure what you’ve ridden by way of other 29rs but I’m curious whether the Yelli gives any typical 29r advantages away with it’s slack angles? Does it still gallop down the trail?

I like that. Very nice.

Guys, could we have some pictures to brighten up the thread? HT 29r only.

Hey Gotama, I ride around the Devils Punch Bowl and often pop up to Peaslake. Fancy hooking up for a ride one weekend? I’d like to see your Yelli and it’s a good excuse to pop over that way for a ride.

Cheers guys. Steps out for a few hours and…

Thanks for the list Clink some bikes to read up on, the Transition does look very nice but a bit toppy for my budget. Already done the ‘big’ purchase.

That Highball looks lovely Shortcut, it’s in the right ball park so must go take a spin.

Mini-hijack: where’s the border between a trail ‘HT’ and an XC? Just head tube angle?

Point it down hill and do you get that ‘yippy’ sensation or ‘sh*t’ best watch my line…

Leaving figures aside my classification for an XC bike is light, fast but probably (not always) a bit twitchy due to geometry and weight. Good for racing. For a Trail bike it’s still quick and nimble but feels more planted and secure. Slightly heavier and probably slacker but mostly it’s a combination of unique rider size (weight, leg, reach etc) combined with a bikes unique feel. That’s why testing is so important, what’s good for one is not necessarily good for another and what might be a small difference can make a whole world of difference on the trail.

That’s why we like discussing this so much… lots of opinions! 😉

Haven’t read this thread and starting from the end backwards…

Grimy, that is a well formulated post that reads very well, you address your position clearly and at heart I agree with you, but I think the bottom line is this… Regardless of whether it changes the institution of marriage or not, is it fair? Will gay marriages stop hetrosexuals getting married because they no longer see it in the same light? I suspect not and it wouldn’t bother me (I’m married already).

Whatever our personal opinions we must live in a fair society and gays relationships should be given the same rights and stature. I struggle with their adopting children as it seems wrong, but that’s a personal demon that I know is unfair… Christ knows they’ll be much better parents than a lot of hetrosexual couples! I think I just worry that school will be a nightmare for the kids, it’s a difficult enough battleground to grow up in as it is.

Some lovely bikes there but I can’t help thinking that white rims are, well, a bit boy racer… Past an old Ford Capri today finished in blue with white wheels – it looked just like Druid’s ragley. Not that I don’t like the Capri, but it was a generation thing 😳

OP, have to recommend the Gloworm X2, only a few weeks to show but build quality is first rate so I’ll be surprised if anything fails in the short term….

X2 thread from a few weeks back

Yes mate pleased to live ‘in’ the hills, albeit a little west of the popular ‘three peaks’ and oh yes, nice and dirty today – the sandy wet type that kindly lets you hear your drive train wear away 😳

Whilst there are many places one could argue are better than where we currently live I can’t see us moving from Surrey. Major transport links, the coast, the Capital etc all within an hours drive and the Surrey Hills are not only beautiful but offer some pretty good riding. Once I’m retired then anything’s for grabs….

You know what Yoshimi, that’s a great idea. I might pop down to the store tomorrow and pick one up exactly for that purpose, better take the A6 as the TT’s a bit small 😉

What annoys me is that people who own 5s tend to treat them like a Jaguar E type i.e. clean, polish, only take it out on that special dry sunday once a month. (I have never seen a five that isn’t sparking clean and shiney)

Here you go… a nice muddy one for you. This is what mine has looked like after about ten minutes on the trail on pretty much every ride this year… Bloody weather! Looked much the same today but I like the idea of it working so I tend to clean it afterwards 🙄

Blimey some passion on this one…

I’ve ridden a few 29rs and some were great others not so, in fact I was so blown away by the last one I posted about it…

After a very cool ride…

I completely agree with the argument about speed, definitely very quick bikes. I also noticed the ability to hold grip on lose surfaces such as sand, a real benefit especially if you often ride on sandy surfaces as we do. I’m in the process of negotiating the purchase of a 29r as bike number 2. I love my full sus 26″ and I’ve yet to come across a 29r that tempts me away from it for all round trail bashing, but I want a more XC oriented 29r as a stable mate. The speed and climbing ability is addictive and I want some if it… 😀

ask1974 – looks good, the best orange i have seen but one question, how is that bike so clean mid-way through a ride?

Mashiehood, thanks for the nice comment. I feel I must respond… that photo was taken last winter when it was about 4 weeks old, I live about 5km from there but mainly it was just a very cold morning (evidenced by frost on the ground), all the mud was good and frozen!… Some of the best days to ride IMO, trails are immensely tacky offering huge grip and there’s nothing like a sunny winter morning… Can’t wait for the temperature to drop again.

Bregante, not sure that Five owners are exactly “evangelical”, most comments I see are negative with owners just defending their choice. I tested several superb bikes before buying mine. Anyone of them would have made an awesome purchase but the Five just suits the way I want to ride perfectly. The only other bike I’ve ridden that descends as well is Transitions Covert, I’m sure there are lots more though.

I was pleased to support a British brand and I’ve got my eye on a clearance Whyte 829 for number two… British all the way 😀

Even with no pictures of one they still look bloody awful.

Each to their own but I disagree. Maybe not pretty but far from awful and a darn sight nicer than many others…

I really bought into this and still have the program on my planner. Weeksy your story is interesting, I’m 16st but would not consider myself a porker however there’s definately weight to shift. I don’t train hard but ride twice a week so I’m getting fairly fit, but food is the big evil – it’s all just so good 😳

Diets are very hard to keep so I think I’ll give this a bash as I’m encouraged by your experience. I often go hours without food so a day should be manageable especially with your advice.

Nice one 😀

Whilst MFs comments are a bit strong I agree with his sentiment. If you have a bad experience In a shop dragging them through the internet is not going to change a thing but could be very harmful to the owner. If you haven’t spoken or written to the manager / owner to bring this to their attention then you’re going about this in the wrong order.

I worked in retail for years and I’m fairly sure I upset a few people in that time, but every day I went to work with only the best intentions to help anyone who came in the door. Sometimes personalities clash and people walk away upset – we’ve all been there.

It might be that a few members of staff need a kick up the arse, wouldn’t it be nice to see your LBS transformed rather than out of business…

+1 for Troy Lee. Very comfy.

Thanks Mike.

That my friend is very, very nice. Loverly in a right kind of way. Quite jealous …

Good work 8)

Get yourself a Humax Freesat receiver, ideally the one with twin tuners and recording facility. Then something like Western Digital WDTV will handle the media side.

This is insane riding…. Absolutely hooked

Interesting looking at the comparisons of height vs size; I’m 6′ and went for the 17″ as the lower stand over makes my Five feel amazingly versatile. I think you need to look at inside led, whilst I’m 6′ I have a short leg at just over 30″ . Test rode both 18″ and 17″ and there was no discerable feel to the cockpit so went small for greater versatility.

Love it 😀

Kids and general work/life responsibilities keep me fairly sensible, in fact on a recent trip to the Alpes I decided that [proper] DH just isn’t for me no matter how much I wish it was. Just to hairy. That said my passion for riding requires sailing close to the wind and attacking trails with as much speed as I can… Last four rides have seen me over the bars at least once pushing it a bit too far… 😳

Andy Stand?[/url]

Those antenna you speak of are illegal, just so you know. Perfectly ok to buy them but you need a licence to broadcast a signal, even if it’s ‘re’ broadcasting and a weenie signal, so turn it on and….

However the bigger issue is that they only work if you can place the antenna in a location with a good signal, otherwise all your doing in amplifying a poor signal. Doesn’t work.

Femtocell is the answer if you’re with Vodafone (sure signal), but even they are a bit hit and miss.

Bump

Troy Lee Designs EG5550. Bought some for the Alpes and extremely comfortable, only £40 as well.

Blimey never heard of NS before, anyone built one up? BFE looks good and I love the Green. Thanks.

Bolt through.