Theres a lot of choice but for me at that budget, http://www.commencal-store.co.uk/meta-ht-am-c102x3044342 all the way, I have the steel version and love it. Its the same geometry and rides as well downhill as you’d wish, climbs well, well made, looks nice, steal!

63 is quite extreme, some people wouldn’t consider your unmodified head angle never mind that.

Yep. But, if like me, you enjoy hooning around with no worries about times/averages/stats and are happy to plod/winch the ups it is a lot of fun having a slack bike. If you read the Pole thread, that bike wb and ha appears way out of kilter but everyone that has ridden one rates it. Maybe the next ‘phase’ of MTB development is exploring more extreme angles? Tbh, Id love a BTR Belter (61.5) but, cant hit a £1k steel frame at the moment!

“Suspension, ABS, Traction control, etc. has moved on massively”
that might be the problem, its very easy to go very quickly these days. but not always engaging.
Have you noticed how the high end sports saloons have all gone LOUD. to make them a little more exciting?

And a lot of the noise comes through the hifi I understand.

er, nope.

Even the more cooking hot hatches would murder it in terms of lap time, rock up in an RS/R etc, let alone an current M5 and the poor old carlton wouldn’t even see which way they went (before it boiled it’s brakes and engine trying to keep them in sight)

Er nope. Top end hatches would be quicker for sure but ‘cooking’, nope. Lotus Carlton is tested by Motorsport at 3.3 seconds 50 – 70 which is as quick as a Focus RS. Way faster than a GTi. To leave a car standing, the difference in performance has to be huge.

The Carltons weakness might be in brake fade over x number of laps etc but I would not imagine it getting hammered by many saloons. Comparing like for like even.

First ride reflects what others have said, Im now at about 63 I think. All in the bike feels more planted. Downhill is as stable as I expected, uphill though improved, I found it easier to ‘flick’ the front up over roots. All in win for me. Also, Works have been exceptionally good form sales support through to returns (ordered the wrong one first time), Off to Aston Hill friday to see how it feels downhill proper.

I aim at twice a week locally from home on the Chilterns, weekend to either Aston or Chicksands, once per month an over night in the Peaks

Definitely go for the refund, how about using the components of your old bike on a new frame?

How about the Ohlins fork? http://www.bikeradar.com/mtb/gear/category/components/forks-suspension/product/ohlins-rxf-34-fork-review-50453/

You already have complained.

Just not anywhere relevant.

Exactly

Just fitted a works -2, not ridden yet but will do tomorrow, should be fun, not a great photo, in fact awful

I saw a mobile bike repair van the other day, sounds like a tough line of work to be in. But, given our ‘local’ LBS is pretty much a high end boutique/0% store, you never know. Might have been this one; http://www.cycletechuk.com/2014/05/mobile-bicycle-repairs-leighton-buzzard.html

Thanks guys, I went for a Petzl Nao v1 as there are some deals available at the moment, £100 to my door. Thanks all for your help

Thanks, that topic is closed and a year old. Ill keep googling though 😉

The common denominator in many new bikes appears to be the ever slackening HA. With the pole the chainstays provide the extra wb which if I am right creates the comfortable climbing position. Though the compromise is weighting the front when descending. I wonder how slack HAs will go

why move the saddle?

I like this bike. Its interesting. Mr Pole, did you test a shorter chainstay frame? What was the outcome?

Edit: Just read your website, it folds up! How cool is that!

Edit 2: How does offset vary? Surely the HA decides offset? 😕

https://www.ssafa.org.uk/

Ive got 2 sets of Clarks brakes on 2 bikes and they are working exceptionally well, great value for money is my experience. One DH bike (used in Alps on long descents) and one all rounder

Michelin Wild Muds, amazingly grippy in/through deep mud, no wheel spin and clear in seconds. Feel ‘tall’ when its dry though which you’d kinda expect

Cheap lifeline ones from Wiggle

This is quite revealing, looks good to me

Calibre Bossnut 2017 Prototype | Bike Check

You never know, he may surprise us

There is an App now too; https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.atlogis.sovietmaps.free

I quite like winter, it never lets you down like summer often does. And I like nobbly tyres too.

I think they will keep counting until the result changes

ferrals – Member

@BigJohn, so you post the location on a forum

Snigger, snigger!

Still free?

Can ye ney bunny oop

The sun rises in the East lighting the world for a reason

I have found that the Michelin Mud thingamys clear and deal with mud incredibly well

Everywhere has a wheeler an’ dealer raised in the back streets of town
Everywhere has a spieler who’s a clown

What does an offset bush look like before and in situ?

Nice idea but not very well executed.

OTSDR: Thanks, bit the bullet and gone for this one, http://www.workscomponents.co.uk/20-degree-ec44—ec44-89-p.asp.

Should get me down to 63deg

For a ZS44 EC44 semi integrated, any recommendations for headsets?

Eventually, checked air, serviced/bleed and used a can shim and all seems well so far. I guess the tolerances on a steel seat tube are not as tight as we would imagine/like

😯

Needs moar saddle!

Although I see these making a comeback on new massive ENDURO bikes, with a double dropper setup

Quite clearly more is more. I wonder if flipping the stem would have given an uber aero ride? Some clip on aero wheel discs would not have gone amiss either

I think it is sad, the whole idea of getting into the countryside is experiencing the natural side of it, bogs, gulleys, rocks and all. This continual creation of easy access routes hugely dilutes this. I’m amazed that with austerity as it stands, the local govt can afford it too.

Mine stay at 3 then turn off immediately – which can be colourful, …colour being the lights behind my eyes when crashing in pitch black. Nice to know mine are not faulty 😀

Nice bike mate. Genuine question, is the chain the right length?