Same thing here – post stopped returning to full height and quite a bit of rotational play.

Sent back to the shop and had the new spring fitted, but not the new seal.

Post action started to feel a little rough so i took it apart as per the instructions on the E13 website – its pretty easy to dismantle and service fortunately.

Found that the ball bearings that work with the cam mechanism had become rusted and pitted and that an internal circlip had been dislodged.

Returned to shop again and it was sorted under warrantly, another new spring and also the new seal installed.

Its all good now, but i bought a Fox Transfer, so the E13 is up for sale!

Chortlon/Didsbury are a 20/25 minute Metrolink ride from the city centre.

I lived in Chorlon for a while – a 2 up 2 down terrace with bathroom extension was £850 a month

Also try looking at the Heatons. I live in Heaton Moor and the city centre is a 9 minute train ride away. Couple of decent pubs/restaurants as well as the Savoy Cinema.

You could also commute by bike but that would mean going down the A6………

Should get something decent for £900.

I chucked a couple of 25mm Conti GP 4seasons on the winter bike at Christmas.

Feel grippy and fast in the wet – bit above your budget though at £32 each.

If you’re on a strict budget, ive heard that the Lifeline (Wiggles own brand?) tyres get a decent review.

I had the 125mm version for a while, install was pretty simple and never had any problems with it not returning or creeping up.

Return speed was a bit slower than others on the market. Only sold it on because it didn’t fit my new frame.

Now on a Fox Transfer, which is amazing (and gold!)

I went from a carbon Transtion Patrol with Mavic Crossmax XL wheelset/tyres and other fancy carbon bits to an Orange Stage5 29er with no carbon on it at all and DT swiss wheelset (heavier than the Mavic wheelset) and big Ethirteen tyres.

I was convinced i would be slower on the “heavier” bike.

Guess what? – i was wrong.

I think geometry plays an important part as does the fitness/weight of the rider – i lost about a stone in the run up to Christmas and felt like i could blast up hills!

There’s a good article about bike weight on the Airdrop bikes website blog. Check it out!

I’m 6 months into being diagnosed as Coeliac, as above the M&S bread is pretty good – they were doing BOGOFF a few weeks back as well!

Wife bought me a bread maker for Christmas (Panasonic SD-2500). Made the first loaf yesterday – seems ok, used Doves Farm white bread flour and followed the directions in the instruction booklet!

My dropper experience has been :-

1x KS E-ten
Cheap and functional but heavy, required maintenance after every ride to get the best out of it. Limited 100mm drop and external cabling.

2x Reverbs
Amazing when they work! Can be a pain to route internally if you have the stealth version. Unfortunately both went back under warranty, first one was replaced with the B1 version which then failed about 6 months later (retaining circlip disintergrated). Serviced for free by Fishers then sold onto a mate. Think he’s now having problems with it!

1x CrankBrothers Highline
Only used for about 6 months, seemed pretty bomb proof if a bit slow on the return. Lever was easy to position and nice to use. Cable actuated so easy to route. Solid post with no play at all.

1x E13 TRS+ dropper (current)
Fully mechanical post with 4 positions. Eye-wateringly fast on the return, good ergonomic lever although can be quite fiddly to set up. Had to send back on warranty as the post stopped returning to full height and the cable retaining bolt on the lever failed. Shop (Brink) sorted quickly and has worked fine since – does have some rotational play though.

If i had to get another i’d probably go for the CB Highline with 160mm of drop. A few of my mates have Fox Transfers, but they are so expensive!

Years ago when mountainbiking was more about jumping down stairs and riding “street” i pulled an endo (Google image endo mtb if you don’t know what that is….) in front of my BMX riding pal who was following close behind.

Unfortunately i had some rather vicious chain tensioners on my bike at the time with sharp threaded bolts and as i landed, one went straight through his front tyre resulting in a spectacular OTB.

He was not happy.

Maybe you should get some.

I think at first i will just be getting GPX files for routes from various internet sources and/or Strava.

I want to use the Garmin to “learn” new routes, so in the future i can ride them from memory rather than relying on the Garmin.

Does that make sense?

7mesh Revo for me

They do loose the DWR proofing where mud gets ground in (seat area) but i just chuck them in the wash, hang to dry then re-treat with Grangers Xtreme Repel and tumble dry for 40mins to reactivate the DWR.

Still beading water after 12 months use, still in great condition!

Look good too!

I’ve gone from stock Mavic tyres on a Crossmax XL ltd wheelset – (can’t remember the names, but the rear was a semi slick) to E13 front and rear and actually feel a lot faster!

Train to Manchester Piccadilly and back, then just drive to Edinburgh from your parents?

Think its about 35 mins travel time.

Driving in and around Manchester is a nightmare after about 3pm.

i’ve been using bib shorts with “stealth” pockets to carry things whilst out on my Stage 5.

Got the Sombrio ones and can carry a water bottle, tube/pump, multi-tool and light jacket at a push.

I hate riding with a pack and seems much more secure than fastening to the bike!

It’s technically not stealing until they leave the premises.

Maybe he’d just forgotten to pick up a basket on his way in and his trousers were the next best alternative?

I used to work for a (now defunct) newspaper & magazine wholesaler.

Unsold newspapers/magazines were returned, scanned in and credited back to the outlet.

There was a office team managing this, so say a shop had 5x copies of a magazine and only sold one, then they might only be sent 3 the next month.

Obviously if they didn’t sell any then they might stop receiving completely, and their allowance moved to another outlet, hence why you might not see that mag on the shelves in your local shop as much.

It was crazy when all the unsold magazines/newspapers came back and they were just chucked in a skip.

Company policy was that it was stealing if you were caught taking anything off the premises.

During my two years there i half inched a copy of the Dirt100 and that was it (even then i asked for permission from the returns manager!)

I think the new Sender/Cranked/Shredder magazines are the way forward, not everyone wants to digest their media via a computer/tablet/phone!

it costs £300 for Vaillant to come out and sort your boiler. That covers all parts/labour though.

Either that or a local gas safe plumber!

How old is the boiler?

I’m running an Ohlins TTX on my Orange Stage 5 (135mm travel). Its mint!

I’ve been running Rockshox Monarchs for last couple of years on various bikes and there is a marked improvement with the TTX.

There’s obviously a weight penalty over an air shock, but the amount of grip and stability that a coil gives you far outweighs this!

A few people have said that it can cause a bike to lose its playfullness but i’ve not found that.

It can take a few rides to dial in your settings (esp with the CCDB), but once you’ve found a good base line you’ll be laughing.

Just make sure you get the correct spring for your body weight/riding style.

£270 for eagle with bc discount is tempting

Dont think the BC discount will work on the Black Friday deals!

Gave in and chucked them in the machine, small amount of detergent and cold wash……

They still whiff a bit!

Have emailed OWN for their recommendations!

Black is a safe bet, but I think I’d have to have gone for the new fuschia.

Its not actually black, its a custom grey colour apparently.

I thought the 29″ wheels would take some getting used to, but it feels just the same as riding 27.5 (just with added grip!)

Can’t offer any useful advice to the OP, but I think we need to see this bike…

Just updated, pics a bit crap but you get the jist!

I’ve pretty much shunned carbon on this build as well – the only thing left is the carbon Renthal fatbar!

I’v got one.

Had it for 2 months and its mint! Spec’d with Ohlins TTX 22M coil and RXF36 fork.

Went from a Transition Patrol Carbon and i feel much faster on the Orange, even though (shock horror) its shorter in reach and wheelbase. I’m riding an XL with a 35mm stem and i’m 6ft 2.

I did worry about the weight at first, but for me its not noticable. I’m running a XM1501 wheelset (30mm internal width) so that helps.

It absolutely destroys rock gardens and rooty death, its also really predictable over jumps and easy to whip around.

Get one!

1. Unscrew remote from hose (hold the hose and twist the remote)

2. Screw one side of red barbed connector into hose (should have come with reverb)

3. Get a length of brake hose/gear housing and screw onto other end of red barbed connector (ensure hose/housing is long enough to go from bars to top of seat tube.

4. Undo seat clamp and remove post – gently! The reverb hose will pull the housing/hose through your frame.

5. When the barbed connector appears at the top of the seat tube, unscrew from your reverb hose, leaving the housing/hose in situ.

6. Reinstall reverb remote and send off for service/warranty etc.

7. To re-install, reverse the steps!

I had my upper right one out last Wednesday.

The dentist had to give it some welly to get it out!

My gum is still sore, but I can handle the pain – if it gets too distracting, 1x ibruprofen takes it away!

I always worry about dry socket – how bad is/was the pain?

I mentioned the play to the bike shop that i bought it from and also sent a video. This was sent onto E13 and they said to tighten the 10mm allen bolt.

If that didn’t fix the problem, they would need the post back.

I did tighten the bolt, but there was still a small amount of play.

Another issue has also come to light – the post is now refusing to engage in the highest position. I push the lever, release and then go to sit down and the post drops to the next position. I then either have to actuate the lever several times to get it to lock in position or pull the seat up with one hand!

Its strange because when the bike is clean it seems ok, as soon as you get out on a ride and get it muddy it starts to stop working properly!

I also changed the cable (inner and outer) and still have the same problem.

Afer some googling, it seems as though the spring was not “man” enough on some of the early posts and E13 are sending out replacements.

There seems to be two different versions of the post – they revised the lever on the new version and also changed the wiper seal to an SKF one. I imagine they also incorporated the stronger spring.

in any case, mine is going back to the retailer!

e*thirteen trs race front and rear for me.

Running about 24psi on 30mm internal rims.

Now this is where it gets shady… I had no noticable symptoms before I was diagnosed (by blood test then biopsy).

This sounds like me – no real symptoms for 34 years then boom, a couple of weeks of stomach ache and i’m coeliac!

Did you have any kind of withdrawal symptoms from the gluten when you cut it out?

This is what i seem to be having trouble with at the moment, especially in the mornings, along with a bit of toilet anxiety!

Actually in general Tesco’s gluten free section is excellent.

Yep, already been hitting the Gluten Free section in Tesco.

Hopefully everything should settle down in the next few weeks, i think i’m being to impatient to expect everything to go back to normal straight away!

Ultimately, I do make some compromises on the diet- I know I can drink most normal lager, and eat chips even if not cooked separately, I shouldn’t but I’ve made an informed choice there that I want some normalcy from time to time, ymmv.

I assume you are Coeliac Northwind? Do you not get any symptoms if you drink normal lager?

I think i’m basically in withdrawal from gluten!

I felt fine yesterday, but woke up last night a big sweaty mess and didn’t sleep very well – feel crap today. The anxiety is also doing my head in!

I also have quite a lot of stress with work at the moment which isn’t helping

We do cook from scratch most nights, and i have joined Coeliac UK and downloaded the app onto my phone.

2 pints

Sausage roll

Meat pie

Small egg custard

back to work until 5pm.

Volvo? Boxy you say? Had this about 2 weeks and bloody love it, the driver aids are witchcraft,
the cabin is a joy (if you don’t have kids, get the blond leather it’s gorgeous) and it’s just a nice place to be!

Is that the new V90?

Really do like the look of that! I wonder if they’ll bring a hybrid version out in time for my next company car change!

16 plate C220d Sport here – company car, standard spec with no additions.

Actually wanted a 3-Series touring but was told that they couldn’t get one within my allowance…..

I’ve never really understand why they give you both touch pad and scroll wheel interface for the infotainment system – seems like overkill, And the “picture frame” bolted to the dash does look a little out of place.

I can fit two bikes in the back (with front wheel off) one nice touch is the buttons that drop the rear seats are mounted on the boot sill so you don’t have to open the rear passenger doors.

Other than that the drive is fine and the car looks nice (when clean…)

I’m sure i read somewhere that the C-Class is being given a face-lift soon?

I’d go for the 3-series to be honest.

Try and find out who owns the road if you can.

We moved into a house on an unadopted road recently and have had problems with a “neighbour” parking across the front of our property making it hard to get the car in/out. When questioned said neighbour said they are allowed to park there as the road isn’t our property! What makes it worse is that they don’t even live on the road!

Another thing to check is the drains and sewage system as this won’t be maintained by the council.

Another vote for the Crank Bros Highline here.

I did consider the Fox Transfer, but got a very good deal on the Highline (sub £200!)

Its easy to install, the post action is smooth with a slight top-out clunk. No lateral play yet. The lever is also nice to use.

A couple of reviews have mentioned that the post action seems slow at first but I’ve not noticed that at all.

As mentioned above, servicing and reliability should be a hell of a lot better than a reverb!

I’ve sent two back – the first one was replaced with new by Fishers (via Merlin) last March and took about 3 weeks to be delivered back to the shop

The second was dropped into the Merlin, who sent back to Fishers and was serviced and lower circlip replaced under warranty. This only took a week and Merlin even posted the Reverb back to me at their cost, saving me from picking it up.

I wore mine for the first time yesterday at Grizedale.

Rode most of the off-piste stuff dropping down to lake Coniston.

It was muddy and very wet, but no rain until we had nearly finished the ride.

I’d say the shoes lasted about 2 hours before they became completely water logged. My feet were wet and got very cold, they were pretty numb when we finished the ride. They were definitely not as bad as a pair of five-tens though!

The grip offered was good and they sat well on my pedals

I used the winter inner liner with a pair of normal Endura socks.

The outers & liners are currently drying in the utility room – hopefully will dry quickly.

What about one of those Pole Evolinks?

https://www.polebicycles.com/bicycles/enduro/evolink-140-en-29/

I’m not entirely sold on its looks, but seems to get some good reviews.

I give up! I’ve shoved a cable inner through the outer and even that was getting stuck.

Then, finally thought I was getting somewhere. Then realised that the cable was emerging through a hole in the carbon tube!

Is it not one continuous tube? It feels as if I’ve got a small hole in there and that’s what the cable outer is getting snagged on.

I’ve had to remove the bottom bracket to get my fingers in!

The easiest way I did it was to feed the out as far as it would go, then run the inner all the way through & yank on it to force the outer round the bend in the right place.

I was going to try that tonight! Off to the bike shop to buy some gear cable then!

sell it and buy the alu version lol

Thanks for that!