My Secan takes a 27.5 x 2.3, maybe a bit more depending on tyres. Agree with the point about 29 over 27.5 for longer offroad but had a Gryphon which I liked and the Secan is a much nicer ride, and way more versatile.

Amen to that, got a blue one. Ridden a few steel and Ti bikes of a similar ilk and this is far and away the most sorted yet.

Running a 2.2 Ardent Race on the front and a 40c Rambler on the back of my Secan. Loving it!

Become a little bit tarty of late about any bag lashed to the frame so bar bag is the go to, although it feels a bit too on trend for my liking. Got a camel chops bar bag which is great. Otherwise it’s my trusty old Jandd or Caradice for longer trips. Don’t understand the full bike packing setup for local loops unless there’s a lot of shake down rides going on round here!

Err Gryphon, Fargo etc etc.

Yes Nigel did a really nice satin black. Or was it matt black?

darn you @honourablegeorge …..

Yep I get that. Most stuff is fine, its mainly the brakes that are the headache. Flat mount mechanicals or post mount to flat mount adaptors for hydraulics. Both look a bit crap but not paying silly money for GRX right now.

Upgraded Frame order turned up a few days ago, replacing an mk1 ATR Tripster. Obviously not a straight swap of components so going to be a bit of a frankenbuild until parts are easier to come buy. Time poor at the moment so will take a while, arrrgh. Got bars and seat post on though…..!

It certainly helped me to overcome a knee injury and get me to some kind of fitness where I started riding my other bike more. Went on it for the first time in months today and remembered how it gets you out on those shitty headwind/mud slog days.

Interesting. Also a Cllr in Lewes looking at similar and thinking of how secure lockers might combine with Bike Parklets which I’ve got funding for. Brighton are putting in a number of the secure hangar types.

Rutland Cycles. Very Poor! 🤣

Where’s the best place to get Rutlands?

Me also. October to November, frameset also, although plus headset and seat clamp.

South Downs riding round Lewes and Eastbourne. Ardents, possibly Ardent Race in the Summer and Beavers in the Winter. Works for me.

Ooh that’s what I’ve ordered now they’ve upgraded the fork. Wasn’t really bothered about the colour-matched fork but now I’ve seen it in blue I’m sold!

I only got mine because a knee injury left me feeling battered and not enjoying the ride like I used to. Been great, not only made me feel bionic but also helped my recovery and fitness. I now ride my other bikes more. I only ride the ebike when it’s blowing a gale, the wrong sort of mud or the stars aren’t aligned properly.

Like some others I don’t contribute as much as I used to and consequently don’t feel my opinion is that valid. Part of it for me is that with so many different standards now and new stuff going in and out of fashion at an increasing pace, the Forum reflects that in a slightly messy way. I don’t know whether sub forums in the bike forum would help or whether that’s unworkable? I end up trawling through loads of stuff to get to one thread that interests me or just miss it completely.

‘Toughen up Princess’ on my Jones. Got given to my girlfriend when we went to Swanage and dropped by. She didn’t think it was funny and gave it to me. Much more apt.

Really sad. Produced some beautiful bikes. Remember somebody demonstrating to me the lightness of one of his Nerve bikes by holding it up with one finger. Incredible piece of design and engineering.

I got one because after an injury and knee opp I just wasn’t getting the same biking joy I’d had before. I got an Orbea Keram because it had the same standards as on my other bikes and pimped it up for off road duties. Can fit a Chronicle in the front! It’s more than enough for the South Downs and has definitely aided my recovery. For all that I still prefer riding my previous bikes unless it’s windy, muddy or I feel like shit! Oh and I kept the pannier rack on so can I can haul a weeks worth of shopping up the hill.

Thought about putting a straggler fork on mine but by the time I factored in fork cost, new discs etc it didn’t seem worth it moneywise, would work fine though. Had no problem with 35mm tyres, mudguards and stopping power on the CX9s – even in the wet!

Agree with the above. Had the CX9s on my Cross Check for a few years now, awesome brakes, easily as good as mechanical disks. Still using downward shifters so not sure how well they perform with brifters? I’d probably go bar end shifters anyway if I do any more tinkering, been impressed with them on another bike. Cross check seems to get a different incarnation every couple of years on average!

Had them for a fair few years on mtbs and been faultless. Recently put some sub compact rings on my tripster, 2x with a clutch mech. Marmite looks-wise and stupid price but again faultless to date!

Almost Barfanged mine a couple of years ago. Glad I didn’t.

Wouldn’t get rid of my diamond and got rid of some nice bikes in the time I’ve had it. Infinitely versatile bike and as fast (faster) than a gravel or hardtail over the right terrain. Really like the look of the Stooges (and will be all over the Rambler if it goes on sale) but to echo Tazzy, I like my Jones and I still enjoy it!

2.4 29er on the front and 2.4 27.5 on the back has worked well for me on a Ritchey p29er and Jones Diamond for a couple of years. Occasionally with a Chronicle on the front. Mainly trails with the odd bit of twisty singletrack though the woods. Always rode rigid 29ers and this feels like the set up with the best balance for climbing, rolling over stuff and handling.

Also used Exotics in a range of conditions on a number of bikes. Great forks, only ever sold them when something more blingy like Niners came along.

Been riding gravel (without it being called gravel) since my Tricross 15 odd years ago. Still riding the same routes, different bike. Get very few if any punctures now but I’m not riding tubeless. Don’t think I’ve had a puncture in the last 2 years. Just think the tyres have got much better and I’m not having any problems riding at 25 – 30 psi. I’d probably like to go tubeless but haven’t found a tyre I want to stick with yet and definitely change between winter and summer tyres.

Edit: just seen the post above. Big fan of disc brakes too!

Over the years I’ve got more minimal, carrying most things I need in jersey pockets and occasionally a small front triangle bag or for longer rides an old Jandd half-frame bag. I did get hold of one of the Carradice Zipp Roll bags the other week though. I was looking to carry cooking gear and a few other bits. Haven’t tried it out yet but seems nice quality and well thought out.

I’m a Cllr with sustainability responsibility and we had a whole load of cycle infrastructure improvements and active travel measures proposed as part of the local cycling and walking infrastructure plans and the emergency active travel measures earlier last year. We were mostly ignored by the County Council who hold transport responsibility and seem to respond more to car parking moans rather than public realm, air quality and health arguments. Too much of a ‘them’ and ‘us’ attitude permeates discussions round these issues rather than looking for the wins (where possible) for all road users. Covid-19 seems to have made more people think about their lifestyle patterns and maybe this will encourage more cycling provision?

When I had BB7s copper grease used to work really well in tandem with the eccentric set up technique I had to follow every time I changed the pads.

Yep Daffy that is super impressive! Knocked off some weight with carbon forks instead of the Recons as they’re overkill for around here so willing to give a little on the wheelset. Edging towards a mini mullet anyway as I ride a Jones Mullet and it works for me!

Ha! I think you’re local to me. Was also thinking of going to DCR, have they quoted for a build? Thing is she might be on 27.5s in 18 months so don’t want to go too crazy now! The Vpace look interesting but imagine they’d be hit with import charges? Whatever they are now?

Thanks that’s a good call but ideally looking for just the rear wheel otherwise I start getting close to the realisation that it would have been easier and cheaper (but less fun) to buy a 24 inch wheeled mtb!

I’ll step forward with a positive answer, for all but the muddiest mud XC trails mentioned by the OP, Ardents.

I had a Raleigh Grifter and bent the forks on my second kerb hop…..still devastated.

Always ridden rigid 29ers and cyclo cross and didn’t really get the need for 650b. But having tried them on my 6 year old Tripster they work really well, 42mm a sweet spot for riding local loops in the summer. Just a nicer ride all round, only draw back is the slightly lower BB height. In the Winter the 700s go back on for winter road riding duties.

Very nice job and reassuring to know it can be done that well at that price. Bookmarked. (Hope that’s not tempting fate..)

Yes had a full replacement about 3 years ago after a rugby injury some years before that.
Main thing is I’m riding roughly what I was riding before; rigid 29er, gravel and road bike on singletrack and road. Longer miles do tend to leave me sore and it takes longer to recover than it used to.

Won’t go into the details but it took me longer to get back and had to have follow-up remedial surgery as the replacement didn’t go so well. Oh and I also crashed the road bike and broke my collar bone and fractured my hip.

Key thing is to get it done and then physio, physio and more physio! Oh yes and I finally got an ebike just before lockdown after hearing how they can help in recovery. It has and more than that has unexpectedly helped me ride my other bikes more.

Its been easy to forget over the last 3 years that before the replacement I couldn’t walk down to the corner shop without it hurting like crap. Embarrassingly I wear a knee pad for every kind of riding but at least I can ride and walk now. Before I could only do one of those things.