2.25 and 2 Beavers working well for me and sidewalls seem to be holding up well to various thorns and flint. When they do slide, seems to be nice and slow and easy to correct. Mind you my cross bike with Cyclo X Kings in 40c just slice through the mud. Isn’t thinner better in mud or does it depend on the mud?

Like reggiegasket I’m using a jumpstop and Surly chainring and have dropped the chain probably a couple of times in a year jumping logs. Really works well for me on 1 x 10.

So now this thread is being advertised on STW?
Slightly surreal and confusing….

Tried the copper grease, tried different rotors and all sorts of other things I’ve probably forgotten. Nothing entirely eliminates it.

Interesting about the distinction between pulsing and juddering. Suppose it is more pulse. I used to have a Tricross and that was more judder before fitting a fork-mounted hanger.

Agree with tehtehetc, maybe some flex is to be expected? Same brakes on mountain 29er steel forks (STIs) and carbon forks (STIs). Exactly the same set-up and completely different feel.

There are a few threads on this including in the Tripster thread so worth checking those.

Like you I’ve tried all sorts of set-ups on several bikes and like others found compressionless cable makes the difference. Personally I don’t think they’re any better or worse than BB7s but a lot less faff and better clearances. (On the outboard not the inboard!)

Tried some different pads from Disco Brakes and they made some difference, stock ones wore down really fast in the mud and grit.

Latest trial is HyRd on the front which seems ok so far and certainly no difference in feel and modulation between it and the Spyre on the back which surprised me.

Main problem has been judder on carbon forks. Nothing has really sorted this and I don’t know if it is the QR not being tight enough or what, but it’s not particularly confidence inspiring.

I don’t like them, but I’ve not tried one. Just feel the need to voice an opinion for no reason.

Was wondering that myself. Aside from offending the ‘collar and cuffs’ brigade imagine the feel might be different? Done it with a mini V and a Spyre front on a fold-up and it’s fine.
Think I might try this unless there is a truly obvious reason why it shouldn’t be done!

Darn it mboy are they that good?! In the wet? I’ve had the Spyres on 2 bikes for a year with Jagwires and for me they haven’t been that much better than BB7s except much easier set-up and adjustment. And the pad wear……..Always been put off by the Steam Punk aesthetics and half-way houseness of the Hy-Rds and thought that I might as well wait until the Shimano hydros arrived. But having seen the price and need for new levers……….

Been running the landcruisers which go well in most stuff but tried Cyclo X Kings in 42 at the weekend after recommendations on Tripster thread. Good grip and fairly light. Will keep them on for the Winter if they stay relatively puncture free.

Love the ease of set up on the Spyres and the modulation, less impressed with stopping power. Not sure if better pads would help?

image by Birdage[/url], on Flickr

Yep they are real bog masters, mine was going great guns through the swamp until I hit something and got thrown in a slurry, pond. And if that isn’t fun enough you can then join the road and overtake a few carbon roadies. Hilarious.

Sorry for slight highjack but for anyone in the area I’m organising one in Lewes in January. If anyone is interested in a table (£5) email my profile and I’ll let you know when details are confirmed.

Just another tosser, (unless he gave a prior undertaking not to be rescued, in which case it’s cool)

I run 42-11/36 on a Tripster. Probably my incompetence or bad luck but have always found front mechs a pain and making such big jumps brutal. Understand the ratios might be bigger but I shift less often with one chain ring.

Oh yeah and my riding time has decreased dramatically!

Set up a weekend bike cafe but had some funding as it is a community project and have looked at the possibility of a full time cafe as I was made redundant.
Minimum around £20k to set up and probably around 2/3 years to just break even. That’s the nutshell according to my research and chats with friends who own cafes. We break even but don’t pay ourselves so work that one out!

Been using a Deuter one with netted side pockets for the last 5 years. Holds glasses, bike pump, change, bike tool, cravat, tyre levers, lock, spare links, brake pad, sometimes small binoculars and other detritus.

Find it easier to get out of the saddle on climbs then when wearing a rucksack and it winds up my riding buddies for some reason?

Been running the Gomas over Summer, 2.4 on the front, 2.25 on the back. Really good, grip well, don’t drag and went onto Blunt rims easily. They don’t come up big, Hans Dampf seem bigger and agree they are sketchy in the wet. Not going to use them through the Winter.

Tried all sorts of hooks but have found leaning the bikes against each other in pairs, front to back, takes up less space and means I can have shelves and storage above them. Depends on handle bars, position of pedals etc.

Got some Open Pros built onto disc hubs which performed well.

No..

Kind of moving beyond ‘Comedy customer service’ now……unbelievable.

Loved the first series (Season? ffs). Nick Cave and PJ Harvey soundtrack, what’s not to like?

I got a Surly 110 bcd chain ring for my singlespeed Cross Check and am using the same one now it is in 1 x 9 guise. Never drops or wears out apparently….

Also to be fair to Surly the V brakes on my cross check work just as well as the Spyres on my Tripster (in the dry anyway….). Also rides as nice in it’s own way so stick that in your scaffold pipe and smoke it.

Hummerlicious that look’s really nice, how do they go on the SD terrain?
That Tripster trip looks like the adventure of a lifetime! Really striking pics.

Posted this before. Works for me, seatpost hasn’t slipped once since I put it on and it weighs nothing!

http://www.xcracer.com/shop/viewproduct.php?productid=351

Weirdly at 5 11′ the 54cm fits me fine. Fantastic bike, gone from SS to geared, racked child carrier. Not sure I’d want to race it though that’s probably more to do with me than the bike…….

Given it’s a prototype, is the cable routing likely to be the same on the production model? Didn’t look quite as neat as on the regular Jones.

It’s a bit like being dry-bummed by angels. My Swift has been comfy from day one over any distance unlike the SDG Bel Air which I also like. I don’t care about Brooks’ aspirational BS but I do like their saddles. Just wish they could deal with getting wet a bit better.

Having just left Tim’s shed I can confirm it’s huge! Much longer than my Diamond Jones. And that Gulliver stem………I really don’t get it but I’m sure it will ride nice etc. etc.

Think Fresh Tripe had a few similar, seem to remember looking when I had my Peregrine

Hoped they’d be even more expensive then the less obese tyres might become cheaper?

Also got some Blunts/Paul hubs with an 18th tooth freewheel on my Jones. Started off a few years ago with dedicated freewheel but in recent years used cogs and spacers. Not really noticed any difference in practice but I do feel a bit more confident digging in up the really steep stuff. And it sounds good! Probably wouldn’t have gone back if the chance to buy them on here hadn’t come up. Off road it’s fine, I know I’m single speed and what my gearing is. Having had cog/spacers on my commuter I’m glad I’ve been able to replace with a cassette for kid transport etc.

A bike lock that’s really small, light and completely impervious to scum bags. Something like a long retractable spider web cable with the properties of adamantium.

Ran my cross check single speed and now 1 x 9. Forward facing drop outs make set up flexible.

If you think the Croix is perfect for your common blasts you are going to be blown away by the ATR!

Another vote for Carradice saddle bags, easily fits in as much as a rack bag. Got mine on ebay for about £20 secondhand. BUT you need to factor in the fixing system, whether support or SQR. Just got back from a few days using it, absolutely faultless.

Life cycle analysis would be the whole life and not just your ownership so the recycling aspect really comes into play as does the components you choose to put on the bike. Also if you want some real context look at your ecological footprint and see if some small gains in CO2 are completely outweighed by other lifestyle choices either in or outside your control. I talk to supposedly ethical people all the time who don’t seem to consider how it all links together. After 20 years in this field I’m as depressed as that polar bear that’s being bandied around at the moment.

Various loops taking in Black Cap Lewes, Ditchling, Plumpton, Kingston Ridge. Really like Lewes to Cuckmere via Firle, Coach Road, Alfriston and then along coast to Telscombe or Rottingdean and back into the Downs to Lewes.