I had a similar experience getting my first full suss at the end of last year and seriously considered getting rid. It took me until a couple of months ago, to really "get" the bike, and now it's amazing. A couple of rides isn't enough when it's such a different bike to what you're used to IMHO.

Southern Spain with Freeride Spain would get my vote – although I've heard great things about other companies in the area too.

They're alright, but I've found the XT to last a good deal longer. All things considered, the XT seems much better value.

I went last sunday morning (it fitted in with visting folk in Nottingham in the afternoon). I'm not the best at being taken round the shops at the best of times, but apart from the carpark being really busy, it didn't feel too bad in there and the self service checkout meant we were only in there for 2 hours including some lunch and plenty of browsing for nic nacs. I'm not saying I want to go back any time soon, but I'm not haunted by the memory of it!

And why is it justice? I don't believe I've wronged you (or anyone else for that matter)!

Admittedly, they do use our neighbour's garden quite a lot, but we just wander in and do a clear up every couple of days. We check with them occasionally that it's not becoming an issue, and we still get on well!

I just hope the smell starts to dissipate soon, as cooking and eating in there isn't easy!

Yeah, we think it's odd too, but can't see any other difference in either of them otherwise. They still get on really well, and use the cat flap happily. It was probably just one of those things. It's a raised timber floor over earth / rubble (sheffield terrace), so anything that's left will be a nightmare to reach. I may have a look at the expanding foam option tomorrow.

sounds logical, ta

Surely if the screw is bent, only in a grub screw type is it possible to remove?

The New easton Haven Bars[/url], when they arrive, look like they'll be great.

There's some great stuff close by: Duddon valley / Blawith fells / Grizedale forest (not TNF trail, just the BWs). The VG book's got great routes in all these areas.

I used the Blue Groove 2.35 DTC on the front for some time and it was really good in all but mud.

Tootallpaul – we rode France, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey, Syria, jordan, Ferry across to Egypt (Sinai), Ferry across lake Nassr to Sudan, Ethiopia. Once you get into Turkey, there aren't actually that many route options down to Ethiopia and we bumped into lots of folk doing similar things en route.

I agree with Stoner on most points, although in more remote places, 26" mtb wheels are more easily repaired / replaced. If you are riding in more remote areas you may need to carry more food and water, though, and clothing for a larger range of conditions. We had anything from -8deg at night in Turkey to 52deg in Sudan. In Sudan we also had to carry nearly two days worth of water for blistering temperatures. I carried 12 litres, and still ran out an hour before we reached anywhere we could restock.

But.. it is amazing what you can do without and what help people will offer, unsolicited, on the way, so you can always get by if you don't have that "essential" piece of kit.

I rode from Bucks to Gondar, North Ethiopia with My GF in 2004/05 via the middle east. We both rode Kona Smoke Hardtails (when they had 26" wheels) with upgraded bits and pieces and front and rear racks. I would do as much as you can here before you go to really sort out what kit you can do without more than anything. We didn't and carried more than we really needed. The kind of kit that Tootallpaul has, plus a bar bag would be my choice, if you can fit everything in. I would also think about getting a bottle cages that can hold PET bottles, as they were amazingly useful.

As for tents, we had a Saunders Galaxy, which was great for two as you could fit a bike and panniers in each porch and was roomy inside. It was quite heavy, though, at 3kgs. It was worth it for us as we were sleeping in it most nights for 7 months.

I would go steel frame. We had a few crashes and I got knocked off my bike in Turkey. We had no major damage to the frames, but that was probably because they were so tough, and they would have been repairable had we not been so lucky.

Unfortunately, our website from the trip is no longer live, but this guy was an inspiration when we were doing our trip: http://www.alastairhumphreys.com/adventures/roundtheworldbybike/

not really no. And the pad chafes a bit.

18bikes are just about to start doing Transition and have always been good at getting test bikes in.

All hardtails on our last trip and managed the more off piste XC and the easier DH runs fine. I found that overheating brakes on repeated DHs was worse than the lack of rear suss.

I've worn mine about 10 times with, maybe, 5 washes with non-bio detergent. Mine haven't really been that waterproof since the first wash and are now showing visible signs of delamination. Not best pleased, so will be back with Merlin Cycles soon enough.

Mojo5pro – that's exactly what I think – but then the little voice in my head repeats njee's post to me over and over!

I'm about 12 stone plus camelback. I'm probably not that smooth a rider, but very rarely pinch flat and didn't have any issues with my old 717s in terms of durability.

I was set on the Flow, but a riding mate who works for JRA thinks that Crests will be better suited to me, so now I'm being tempted by such a drop in weight! I'm sure I'll end with Flows in the end.

Njee / MisterT, that's kind of what I've been leaning towards, but I do like the way a wider rim gives the tyre a nicer profile. It seams to get that kind of width with reliable strength, though, you need to take the step up to the Flow. As the Flow's no heavier than my current set up, it'll probably be fine, and tubeless may drop a bit more weight, but I was just hoping to drop a chunk more. Decisions, decisions!

Yes, same external width, but Arches are 19mm internal and Crests 21mm internal, so crests will give a better tyre profile. Flows are 22.5mm internal and my current 5.1s are 21mm.

Weights: Crest 340g, Arch 420g, Flow 470g (current DT 5.1s 500g).

Apart from being narrower, the Arches fit the bill. I guess I'm just hoping the crests would be man enough for my kind of riding as They tick the really light and nicely wide boxes perfectly.

Cannondale prophet with maxxis advantage 2.25 – just as I've had it most of this year.

My GF will be on her Rockhopper with Kenda BG front and Spesh Fast Trak rear – as it's been for the last year or so.

We ride in the mostly peak, so I can't see any reason to change.

We also have the Worcester Bosch Greenstar Junior 28i and after 3 years I'm still very happy with it. It gets hot quickly and I never feel the need for anything more adjustable or powerful.

A vote for Freeride Spain here. Much more XC than the name suggest, and I'm sure they can tailor rides to suite any ability. Great accommodation, food and guides.

How about Ardent up front for cornering grip and crossmark out back for straight line speed?

If you can stretch your budget, or find one a bit cheaper, the Genesis Core 10 would be very near the top of my list.

I have a couple of Atera Giro AF and, although it sometimes gets tight, I haven't found any bikes that don't fit yet. I find it more secure than the Thule, but probably not as user friendly.

Charge surface stuff is aimed at that market IIRC

I use an Osprey Talon 11, and it's very comfy. The bladder expands into the bag rather than into your back, so it maintains a good close profile even with lots of water. Noticeably more comfortable and stable than my old blowfish. The volume does get less with more water in, but it holds plenty for day rides all year round. If you want more capacity, the 22 doesn't actually look much bigger or bulkier when it's on. they don't come with bladders, but at £60 for the 11, it seems to be comparable to a camelback in price.

My GF's Nan has just gone into a care home. She's not eligable for free care, so her house and savings have gone towards her care. This will pay for less than two years care. Then she'll have no assets and be eligable. I don't really know whether anyone has benefitted from that.

I do agree with Porterclough, though. I don't earn a huge amount, but I'm very careful with my money. I save what I can and have a house with a very manageable mortgage. I have no problem with paying for my own care in my old age.

However, I have friends who earn 3-4 times what I do and have fewer assets, choosing to spend what they earn on holidays, fancy gadgets and rent. I don't have a problem with that and it's their choice, but ultimately they'll get free care in old age as they'll have nothing, and I'll pay for mine. Is that a fair and reasonable system?

I like both although probably prefer the fit of the singletracks. However, the STs always fail at the seams (in my and everyone I ride with's experience, anyway). Although lighter, the summits don't appear any less tough, but the waist popper isn't that secure in use. The new Altura apex does look very nice and, as it has a liner included, compares favourably in price to the STs. I'll probably give them a go next time round.

They're certainly tough enough to ride off road with. However the geometry of the 26" one at least is quite steep (72 degree head angle) so may be worth checking. I have an old 26" wheeled frame, as does my GF, that has been a long distance rough track tourer (totalled about 600miles in that guise), MTB with 100mm forks and front disc, single speed commuter and various other things since I bought it in 2004. It's a bit battered looking, but still completely sound.

I have found that they do ride quite heavily even with an ok build and aren't as nice as most of the other steel frames on the market. I'd say for general messing around on and commuting – great. For more serious MTB – look elsewhere.

Riding off road at least 3 days a week.

A skills course in a couple of months.

Lots of nice dry weather!

18Bikes do, but whether they do on-line or in person, I'm not sure. Top guys, though.

I don't normally post in these type of threads, as it seems futile (and probably is), but this time I feel compelled to do so.

My GF has now been a social worker for about 18 months. She works in Child protection. She has a caseload of about 15 children and doesn't have anywhere near enought time to deal with the cases she has. For example, this week she has been in court for 3 days for one child. Yet she is still expected to write reports and fit visits in for all her other cases into her working week (LAC & CIN statutory visits must continue in a regular manner and acn't be put off to a time when things are quieter). She works a minimum of 12 hours a day; has little or no support from management or colleagues (there appears to be a large amount of bullying by management in her department); and gets paid £22K for the privelege. This is for a masters level qualified graduate.

She is passionate about what she does, but the immense stress and pressure is already getting too much for her. She struggles to sleep as she can't stop worrying about her caseload. She'll have quit within the next 6 months.

I believe there are some serious failings in SS that do need to be addressed, but the ignorant folk on here who are demonising people like her are completely out of order. I couldn't imagine doing one day's work as a SW, let alone committing to a career in such an underpaid, under resourced and undervalued occupation.

I have the 2.25 front and rear on my Prophet. I've only ridden with them once, but so far am impressed. Pretty light, pretty quick, and pretty grippy. I didn't notice them to be overly big and therefore a problem for tubes. I ran a 2.25 Ardent before, which was the same size carcass. I only had 2 pinch flats with those in 8 months of riding on a hardtail, but the carcass itself got cut up very quickly. I'm hoping the Advantages are a bit more robust. They certainly feel a bit more rubbery in the side walls, so they feel like they will be.

A guy I ride with has a MKII Nomad and has 2.4 Advantages front and rear, so they will fit.

I'm 5'8" and ride a small. It fits just about right.

It was a very entertaining night – and the question and answer session was a little less awkward than at the Seasons do at the Showroom.

I've found new endura stuff to be pretty poor and to come apart at the exposed seams in the crotch area very quickly (and all of my riding mates have also). My older sets of shorts lasted a number of years and one pair is still going strong.