Neil, many thanks for the feedback very helpful.

Cheers

Rick, thanks and noted.

@neilforrow, bit late to the party on this one but hopefully you will see this.

I had an inline coil on my Banshee Spitfire till the frame snapped in half last October. It was a TFT conversion from the Inline Air which would p*** air out of itself about 3 months after a service. The coil completely changed the ride, loved it.

I have recently built up a V3 Bronson CC with the stock Rockshox shock, disappointing the stock tune is quite poor for me and I can use the travel too easily. Currently running it about 50 psi over recommended (even then I am on 30% sag) and 8 or 9 clicks of compression damping and it is still not very good. I don’t see why I should be messing about with tokens and a fiddle fest so it doesn’t bottom out.

So I have been thinking about going back to the Inline coil. I am a bit nervous because of the SC warnings (repeated to me by Jungle). Your feedback is helpful in countering that advice. Did you use a stock Vault spring or one of the newer progressive jobs? Also how did you work out the spring rate, standard calculator or other method and did you end up going with a higher rate than estimated (I’ve seen posts elsewhere suggesting that is the way to go)?

Appreciate any feedback you can provide. Cheers.

What Sui said, it is what I did with a Spitfire. Great bike whichever wheel size.

Something like this, someone bought me one as a present and I use it strapped to front of the top tube. Seems pretty stable except on the roughest territory. Mine has multi tool, CO2 bottle and a few odds and sods. You won’t get a tube in it but you could strap that elsewhere. I also have a bottle with other spares.

I use a spare OneUp components EDC strap round the bottle and back of the bottle cage. Pull tight and friction with a standard bottle is very high. The bottle never moves,

Orange line up Stake Pass but carry onto the pile of stones and take the good path (at least to start) heading west from there. As said above skips the pointless height gain.

I once rode down the pink route, good track to start with peters out and was a tiresome shove till the valley widened and I picked up the path again.

The Shan is a pretty good all rounder, done a few big days out in Scotland/lakes and Wales without bother. It does like going down :-) Works fine in either wheel size. It seems a bit more forgiving than the BFe I had before.

You can add it as an out and back on the main loop, might be a bit too much for my liking. Doing it the other way I suggest is a (relatively) short day. If you do it that way you an always ride up and down the Coire Lair for extras.

Should be pretty obvious, look for the col between Fuar Tholl and Sgorr Ruadh (West side of the Corie Lair) find the path and follow it down hill to the river where it joins the usual descent path.

Bealach a’ Choire Ghairbh is all ridable from the top, took me a bout a minute to find the descent path so don’t worry about the “missing” section on the map. Personal opinion, but I prefer that descent to the Bealach na Lice. Be prepared to an hours pushing and portage to get up to the top.

The Damph circuit involves much effort that was not really rewarded at least in riding terms it is a grand day out in fine weather (we did it in the drought last June). I’d probably do it as an out and back from the pub.

If you look on the map you will see there is a track that heads up towards Fuar Tholl from the Coire Lair path. You can do this as an extra to the descent of the Coire or you can ride over the Coulin from Achnashellach, the round via the Tea House to Drochaird Coire Lair up to Fuar Tholl (about an hour depending on how much you ride, I can be a lazy git in th sun). Then return down the usua descent to the station.

I’ve and one since the end of last summer, it replaced a BFe. Originally rant it as26″ but now 27.5″ which seems better to me. It is rather short in the top tube but that suits my short arms and encourages weighting the front. Taken me awhile to get the hang of it but it is a keeper and a bit more forgiving than the BFe if your landing is not spot on.

Cannock is well worth getting acquainted with and perhaps even become a regular venue; I do and live between Leamington and Stratford.  You can easily get a good days riding.  A bit of imagination helps, there is the rest of the Chase to explore (including some bits remarkably close to the Monkey) and Stile Cop.  Most of the Monkey rather lends itself to repeating/sessioning you favourite sections or working those bits you can’t quite get.

My BFe is a 26 small, known as the fun bus :-)

The Talas 130/150 I had on my BFe was ok but I always felt it was compromised at each end. You could consider converting it to a fixed 140mm float.

What size BFe are you looking at?

Can’t offer much help with bikepacking.  Not sure what you mean by a long fork but at the upper end of the BFe range the front end has the habit of wandering about and lifting up on climbs. That might be relevant to the previous post. I have tamed mine (for general duties) by dropping it to 140mm.

Mine cost a standard service plus about £100 including the spring. Worth it, if only because it won’t be p****** air out after a few months. Also the bike feels very different mostly in a good way. The climb switch makes more sense on the coil for me.

I had the Inline air on my Banshee Spitfire which had problems from very early on.  I had it upgrade when that becme available.  The upgrade lasted about 8 months before it starting losing air.  That was the 3rd time it had the same problem.  Spoke to TFT about it and decided the sensible option was a coil.  After much discussion I took up the option of converting it to an Inline Coil with Vault spring about 6 weeks ago.  It was bar far the cheapest option.

So far it is has done a weekend in the the Lakes, Bike Park Wales and Cannock and is night and day compared to the air.  Never having had a coil previously it does feel very, very different in a very good way.  Should also note TFT (Dave in particular) were very helpful and tolerant in helping me set it up and explain why it was so different and generally provide excellent customer service.

Recently bought one with a bladder.  Used it on couple of rides, works fine, much less intrusive than a back pack.  If you fill the bladder to 1.5L space is limited so I have been running mine at 1L which is enough.  Agree about it not being the easiest to cinch when wearing it but even when not fully tight it doesn’t move around much.

The bladder is made by Hydrapak but Evoc branded.  It fully opens so can be turned inside out to dry.  The hose routing is a bit fiddly and attaches to the waist band or jersey using a clip and magnet, ultimately it might require a Plan B for when the clip goes AWOL.

See

Hunters silicone lube, apply with bristle paint brush, Q tips are naughty single use plastic.  I usually push the pistons in and out a few times before putting the pads back in to make sure the lube has solved the problem.

Might be tempting fate but I have Vaults on my BFe, been there for 5years still going fine never been serviced.

Also have some F20’s on another bike, you need to play about with the pin location and numbers to get optimum grip. I took the middle pins out so I could push my feet into the pedal.

This might be useful, usually includes snow level:

Torridon

The usually has some photos;

Little Change

I had my original inline loosing air after about 9 months.  Had it serviced by TFT and it went again last March so TFT did another service and upgraded to the current version.  I paid for both services and upgrade.  The thing has done the same thing again mid way through a trip to Scotland after less than a year from upgrade.  Another chat with TFT coming up but I have lost all confidence in the thing, probably time to move on at significant cost.

You can keep up to date find out what is going on with trails via Chase Trails web site or Facebook page. They do a remarkably good job all things considered.

Ref RA’s shoulder have a look at this from 11 min 35 secs in. It was back in the socket in about 35 seconds.

Yes. NowTV app seems to have cured it now but computer not playing well.

Spare tube or get an anchovy kit from Weldtite or similar for the trail. Normal trail or track pump is fine.

Not really, Cannock is about an hour away.

There is a pump track https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.24606,-1.5441529,91m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en

There is a 4x track at Newbold Comyn

Ridden both places on a hardtail and had a good day out at each. From what you describe I’d suggest BPW for a more varied and probably enjoyable riding day. Just stay within your limits.

Personally I’ve never had a problem with BPW staff, I largely ignore the cafe/shop as far as possible. I don’t find it particularly welcoming but then I’m there to ride so just get on with that.

Never really had a problem with the uplift even when on the “pay as go” option. The drivers are always helpful, friendly and keep things ticking along nicely.

He does clearly state he takes full responsibility for what happens and apportions no blame to BPW.

There is a legitimate point for discussion (nothing to do with “blame”) about how the trails are checked after the last run to ensure everyone is down safely. And, by extension, if there is an incident how it is co-ordinated by BPW to ensure medics/rescuers can get to the casualty in a timely manner.

Chipster, don’t get the last bus!!

Seriously, you do get tired by the end of the day and it is easy to get caught out.

Two way street, riders have a responsibility, so does the Bike Park.

Yes, you pay to enter the park and ride. You pay extra for the uplift service.

Thanks for sharing, hopefully you’ll make a full and speedy recovery. Some good points for everyone to take note of, including BPW. I love the place and get there 3 or 4 times a year. However, I am unconvinced the culture is quite right with respect to safety. I got tuned in the hard way when the start to Viscous Valley got changed and was poorly signed; hurt a bit but I got off lightly compared to others.

It is all well and good signing the disclaimer (all about rider responsibility) and being given an emergency number on a bit of paper which is soon lost. And in any event what is the point if it goes to answer phone? There is nothing to say what BPW will do in an emergency, what the accident policy is or at least nothing I have seen or been told. For balance, I have seen the drivers getting walked wounded back down the hill during the day.

Comparing BPW to an hour up the local woods isn’t really a valid comparison; as far as I can see I have a contract with BPW and they have a duty of care.
In common with other riders I assumed at the end of the day there was a sweep or similar to check everyone was down safe. I’d like to think that were the case but I have suspected not for some time. I think that is poor practice and poorer still that it is not publicly stated, I have often been on the last bus and never been told that is the case. I also find it a bit surprising they don’t even check the car park at the end of the day.

I’m all in favour of self reliance and no fan of form filling, intrusive H&S nonsense but I’m not sure the balance is right. I’d loved to be wrong on that

There is a good one at Roybridge, also reasonably handy for a trip to Laggan on the way home. Stayed there during the WC a few years back, was assured it would be heaving for the weekend but nowhere near full in practice. There is a reasonable pub a few minutes up the road and you can get the train into The Fort all be it a rather limited service.

http://www.bunroy.co.uk/

Another Polar M400 here, mainly for running but do use it on the bike at times. My experience suggests 7 hours tops before it gives up the ghost. You can get more by taking a portable power store and plugging it in if you stop. Given the new one (M430) is on the way there may be bargains to be had on old stock.

I’d buy a 19mm socket.

You could try using your 19mm ring spanner on the Hope tool. If you need more leverage you could slide something like an old seat post/handlebar over the other end of the ring spanner. That might slip of and/or round the tool end.

Do you have the crankset specific tools shown in the video and the instructions?

Yes. Left hand trigger, cable runs along the right side of the top tube. Mine is 1*10 so no cable for a front mech.

Yes. Mine has a KS Lev something or other external routing.