Ourys are my fav and the largest I found, never seen or tried the Sunlines mind. Worth a punt is DezB has a 2nd hand pair to try.

Well, as professional as it can look from a begineer with the software 😉 Text and animations are very preofessional.

I have been working with an excellent sub-contract company who have created the animations, they have quoted for creating the e-learning side of it as well but it was more than we had in the budget for this year. So I offered to have a go as I’m reasonable with most software once the learning curve is done.

I’ll drop you an email.

Actually, ditto what ourman said above, we also used a BabyBjorn Active for the first 8 months, holding your head up is one thing but being bounched about is another. I’d use a BB for <6 months or so. Plus the BB is very light and easy to use, the Macpac is 3.4kgs empty! Then add baby & accessories and it adds up but you do get use to it.

My lad is 10.5kgs now, so with the pack full it must be nearing 16kgs, which you feel after a few hours of walking. But the Macpac is really adjustable and padded so it doesn’t dig in or feel awkard.

Beautiful little lad, I went through the same research about 6 months ago. There are a couple of real good options depending on your budget and personal prefernce.

Good options are Deuter, Littlelife & Bushbaby.

In the end I went for the MacPac Vamoose, was one of the most expensive but managed to pick up a deal so it wasn’t so bad in the end.

Very happy with the pack, even take it on the plane as hand lugage and fitted in the overhead ok. Has some really nice techy feaures. Can’t really comment on the other brands as not used them but have a read around and you’ll get a feel for the basic pros/cons etc.

My little lad loves it, just make sure you have full sun block on as they’re quite exposed sitting up there, even with the sun shield.

Any excuse for a pic of my lad 😉

DP doh!

Hmm, they look nice 8)

They can be, that’s true, luckily we don’t have muddy trail conditions in my region and it’s never been a problem for me. The bike is cleaned after every ride as well.

Been running KCNC for the last 2 years since my X0 wheels wore out, seem to be wearing really well, very very happy with them.

Certainly not the cheapist option but when it comes to buy again I would almost certainly buy them again.

The scales I borrowed from a friend are accurate to within 0.01%, accordinging to the manufacturer Berkley TEC.

Thanks for the links.

Indeed are there any other “False weight savings” that people have found? Where taking a weight reducing measure has actually made the bike overall slower?

Tires surely, wouldn’t like to run furious freds on a wrong day!

Hmm, seems A2Z do have a 15mm option front hub HERE, UK Bike Store are checking for me now if they have stock in the UK 🙂

Hadn’t found another source, but thanks to this thread and you guys I have now 😉

Just need a 15mm option now?

The Swedish Chef
Bream did you race Ränneslästuren yesterday?

No, not fit enough yet 😉

Next planned race will be Snapphaneturen.

B.A.Nana
Bream, It’s no good bragging about your bike without pics (especially twice). It might just be a fantasy you’re living out

Pressed return twice mid type = doh!

DP doh!

I’m rather proud of my new build, at 21.5lbs for a FS ally 29er running 3×9 I think it’s rather good 8) Plus I reckon I could take another pound of it easily if I really wanted to.

Giant Anthem X 29er frame (L) with Fox Float RP23 Boostvalve
Fox F29 FIT RLC forks, 15QR thru axle and tapered steerer, 100mm travel
Giant FSA tapered headset
XTR SIS gear cable set
Shimano BB71 Press-Fit Bottom Bracket
FSA K-Force Light XC Chainset MegaExo
XTR pedals
Thomson masterpiece seatpost
Ritchey WCS Carbon Flat Bar
Ritchey WCS 4Axis Matrix Stem
Hope mono mini pro’s in Team Issue Green, Ti bolted
X0 Twist grip changers
X0 Rear mech with KCNC jockey wheels
XTR front mech
KMC SL chain
160mm Ashima rotors, Ti bolted
PG990 cassette
American Classic hubs (15mm front, QR rear)
DT Super Comp spokes
Stans Crest rims
Alloy nipples
Racing Ralphs 2.25s UST front and back
Fizik Arione saddle

I guess you can always improve on perfection, would rimming the wife count as well 😀

Ditto on the Stans website, I followed THIS GUIDE and all worked out well with my Racing Ralphs Evos on Crest rims, with Stans yellow tape, they leaked a lot at first mind and as they’re 29ers I ended up putting about 4oz in each tyre.

Arione for me, run them on every bike I have, just fit my ass nice 😀

Finally finished (for now anyway) and I am extremely happy with the result and ride, can’t recommend it enough, I think the biggest helper is the wheel build, super light yet stiff/strong, makes a huge difference. I compared them to my make who just bought a Trek FS 29er (new superfly) and my bike was nearly 2kgs lighter! Just the wheel setup alone were ~1.5kg lighter!!!!!!

Final weight was 9.76kgs.

Now for the pretty pics 😀

Also depends on your budget, the current Tallboy frame sets are expensive, as are the Superflys, Spearfish looks an absolute bargain, for me I went with the Anthem X 29er. It is absolutely the best XC bike I have ever ridden, my build wasn’t cheap but you can get the X3 giant builds for fair money.

You’re lucky to find a Giant dealer willing to ship as they shouldn’t really, so don’t start spouting about who it is until your deal is done 😉

Done it myself on a frame/fork set and worked out well, plan to pay the full VAT etc and if you get it cheaper then you’re quids in. Best bet is if the shop can write down the invoice value.

For £600 tax it would almost be cheaper to fly out there and bring it back checked in 😆

I was in Moab during June 09 and it was baking then, it will be brutal mid summer.

There are stacks of tour companies in and about so you shouldn’t have any problems finding a few options. I just turned up and rented a bike and did my own rides, the famous ones have free map but with Slickrock you don’t even need a map as it’s fully marked out etc. Had some great views 8)

Ok, good to know, I run the regular Evo version.

The type of trail you are likely to get hard tire impacts or sidewall damage. Or where you need a ~160mm FS bike. These RR have thin sidewalls.

A really great tire and at that price a bargain. I run them UST on Crest rims and they run great, needed 4oz of fluid mind to seal them up as they leak a lot without anything.

Been riding Ralphs for 4 years now and are great in dry/damp conditions on light medium XC, but they don’t do mud or heavy XC so well, you’ll need Nobby Nicks for that.

Pretty much straight & 610mm, been riding this setup for over 4 years now for XC. DH setup I use 750mm Bergtecs and love them, just doesn’t feel right to me running wide riser bars for light XC. Must admit, I am tempted to try a slightly different bar, quite tempted to try the Mount Zoom bars that njee runs, they look a really nice size/shape.

I’ve been running Hope Pro 3 24 spoke for over 2 years, all XC and racing. Been a faultless ride, only broke 1 spoke due to a stick, simply replaced. Still running perfectly true and nicely tentioned, based on this I would highly recommend them for normal/light XC.

Had 2 Kirk MTBs, snapped them both at the steering tube 🙁

99.9% finished now, had the first ride out yesterday and it simply blew me away. This is not only my first 29er, but the 1st time I’ve ever ridden one, took a gamble to buy without trying and it’s totally paid off.

It feels just so natural, up to speed quick and just rolls faster & better. I did a lap of my local training loop and I’m sure it’s the fastest I’ve ever been round there. Not only that it also feels more efficent, not just the FS thing, but in your legs.

This without a doubt it the best XC MTB I have ever owned or ridden, simple as.

Final spec (waiting a new Arione seat and Ti bottle cage this week for the last 0.1%):
Updated spec list:

Giant Anthem X 29er frame (L) with Fox Float RP23 Boostvalve
Fox F29 FIT RLC forks, 15QR thru axle and tapered steerer, 100mm travel
Giant FSA tapered headset
XTR SIS gear cable set
Shimano BB71 Press-Fit Bottom Bracket
FSA K-Force Light XC Chainset MegaExo
XTR pedals
Thomson masterpiece seatpost
Ritchey WCS Carbon Flat Bar
Ritchey WCS 4Axis Matrix Stem
Hope mono mini pro’s in Team Issue Green, Ti bolted
X0 Twist grip changers
X0 Rear mech with KCNC jockey wheels
XTR front mech
KMC SL chain
160mm Ashima rotors, Ti bolted
PG990 cassette
American Classic hubs (15mm front, QR rear)
DT Super Comp spokes
Stans Crest rims
Alloy spokes
Racing Ralphs 2.25s UST front and back
Fizik Arione saddle

Weighs in at 9.86kgs, and that’s with my Garmin 705 fitted, will weigh it again without just so I know.
Front wheel complete is 1.2kgs (Inlc disc & bolts, plus UST Racing Ralph)
Rear wheel complete is 1.6kgs (inlc disc, bolts, cassette, QR skewer & UST Racing Ralph)

Yep, I live in Ängelholm, Skånelandshire 8)

You’re welcome for a spin at Bockstensturen.

It will be raced, just this year I’m not racing as much due to new baby etc. But I’ll do a couple of marathons after the summer vacation, when I’ve had chance to train more 😆

Probably will do at a minimum:
21/8 Snapphaneturen Hässleholms CK
3/9 Bockstensturen Varbergs MTB

And my local XC race:
17/9 Åstorps MTB

I did have the Ritchey post before, but had to sell/swap because they don’t do a long 30.9 version.

Result, good service that.

For the last 4 years I’ve been riding an Anthem Advanced running 80mm forks for light XC. But I recently rode a Anthem X setup with 120mm forks on an evening ride with the DVATC guys. Got to say I was extremely impressed, felt perfectly balanced and rode the fast techy DH parts extremely well.

I was thinking to build a Trance up for some general AM stuff, but now tempted to run this setup instead.

Updated spec list:

Giant Anthem X 29er frame (L) with Fox Float RP23 Boostvalve
Fox F29 FIT RLC forks, 15QR thru axle and tapered steerer, 100mm travel
Giant FSA tapered headset
XTR SIS gear cable set
Shimano BB71 Press-Fit Bottom Bracket
FSA K-Force Light XC Chainset MegaExo
XTR pedals
Thomson masterpiece seatpost
Ritchey WCS Carbon Flat Bar
Ritchey WCS 4Axis Matrix Stem
Hope mono mini pro’s in Team Issue Green, Ti bolted
X0 Twist grip changers
X0 Rear mech with KCNC jockey wheels
KMC SL chain
160mm Ashima rotors, Ti bolted
PG990 cassette
American Classic hubs (15mm front, QR rear)
DT Super Comp spokes
Stans Crest rims
Alloy spokes
Racing Ralphs 2.25s UST front and back

Hurrah, the wheels arrived.

Got to say I am extremely impressed so far, they are really really light, ~1400kg for the pair. The new American Classic hubs, DT comp spokes, alloy nipples and Stans Crest rims.

Going UST for the first time as well, fitted the Racing Ralphs 2.25s front and back. Pumped them up all fine but both seem to leak so will need to put some sealant in tonight.

Went on to fit an XTR gear cable set and then had to leave it for the night. Should be all finished tonight, so will give it a test ride tomorrow, really really looking forward to riding it.

A pair of 160mm Ashima rotors fitted, along with a new SRAM PG990 cassette.

Nearly there now 😀

Yep, I’m lucky enough to have a brick insulated & heated bike workshop, big enough to store my bikes, and have a service and desk area. I run a dedicated PC with my Tacx Fortius trainer through a split screen/projector setup. Makes riding in the mountains RLV or training with the Schleck brother much more involved 8)

Also doubles as my cinema 😯

It was a lot easier than I had imagined to fit the BB, I used a tool I made a couple of years ago to fit headsets. Basically a threaded bar with 2 turned plastic thick washers & 2 nuts. Pulled in very easily, needed very little force, if I hadn’t of had a tool I would have been happy to gently tap in into place with a plastic mallet.

That said, if your BB ID demension is smaller it could need a little more force. Either way it is dead easy so you should be ok yourself.

I was told that frames won’t be heading outside of the US until the Autumn!