Off on Saturday for a week with Trail Addiction.

I will be representing hardtail poverty. :sick:

Confusing this one as the blokes behind looked just like me.

robidoo I have an SX24 – amazing frame.

The brief to Gary was to make it feel as close to that as possible.
Inevitably the frame has to be bigger I had to be able to get the seat high enough to climb comfortably.

I'm 5'11 and opted for a 16.2" seat tube. This was based on having ridden a 15.5 a 16 and a 17 and I knew I could get the post high enough but also super low.

I've currently got 2 curtis frames and I'm a bit of a fan.
I love the way Gary's frames ride. I like small frames with lots of stand over height so you can get
really low over the bike. This gets used for Jumps, XC, BMX tracks, Pump Tracks and Alpine business.

The 'standard' head angle works for me but I'm no expert like the rest of you.

The best thing for me is the Curtis refurb – a new colour and a brand new looking frame
each time it looks tatty for £100. Think its going grey next.

Why would you want a super light weight dirt jump bike?
Just get one made from pig iron.

A troll I guess.

I find a jump bike with 24" wheels is much easier to control and learn for dirt jumps. But on here 26" seems to be more in vogue.

The less front suspension the better 80-100mm set up hard (you don't want to suck up the lips).

Frame size – it doesn't need to 'fit' you as your not going to be really pedaling or sitting down that much, just make sure its small so you have plenty of stand over, you want the saddle super low. I prefer a longer TT but that down to personal pref.

Oh and its got to be steel.

Its your left knee.

Let the Right One In. (just ignore the cat scene).

Genre re-defining.

In my experience the mouthy forum gobshites tend to be the ones that are shy and don't really get that involved in banter when you meet them on a ride.

I guess they have more confidence when sitting behind the internet.

Anyone else tackled long rides (5 hours say) on a steel bike with 140mm travel forks?

Yep. Really helps if you have a fork such as a pike that you can wind down and lock out.
Don't get a frame with a very short TT as they don't like climbing.

I'm 5'11 and ride a 16.2" frame with a long post for the ups. I also commuted on it with no problems.

Is that No1 London Bridge?

Edit:

Tooley St

Nope, wasn't going for the gap (the lamp post and tourists make it impossible).
– just an ugly landing to flat 🙂

ps. got a bit excited on a riverside pub ride (I usually always wear a lid).

Electric bikes pretty much contradict the spirit/ethos of a bicycle.

But if it gets people out of cars…

Highlight was probably as rider number 118 went past, to amplified cries of “we’ve got your number”.

Comedy gold.

No comment.

Trail Addiction checklist looks spot on:

http://www.trailaddiction.com/checklist.php

Curtis braze their tubes.
http://www.curtisbikes.co.uk/info.html

If your looking for something stronger T45 will do the job.

Start bouldering.

The Kaws paint job for trek was pretty out there:

Who gives a F*ck.

'People who ONLY ride trail centres sure they are fun but surely
you want t see somewhere remote and proper countryside?'

Disagree. I go hiking to properly see the countryside.

I'd rather ride something challenging with nice flowing jumps and berms.

The best way to learn to jump is to ask the experts who frequent internet chat rooms.

Heading back this year. Can't wait.

I wouldn't worry about it – you should have seen the bikes we jumped at 13!

Any old steel hardtail will do with some second hand bombers – cheap as chips.

'are women who ride bikes a bit different to those women who dont ride bikes….'

There's a going down joke in there somewhere.

Small enough to get seat right down.
Post goes high enough to climb.

My perfect do-it-all uk hardtail.

Evil Sov can **** right off 😉

BoardinBob just illustrated my point.

Why you would want anything bigger that 140mm on a hardtail is beyond me.

Bikes that are ridden don't look new for long.

Scuffs and scratches are good.

I think many on here are more excited by the kit than actually riding.

The amount of bikes people go through in a short time amazes me.

For me jumping and bunny hopping just adds to the riders toolkit.
Hipping bus stops or lifting your front wheel to manual and then spotting a line to bunny hop a root section.

The fun is being smooth and silent as possible – hanging up back wheels and flat landing is horrible – if you can't jump it doesn't help with that.

At least unicycles have a home in a circus.

'Butter my arse'

Biking publications I have read are pretty poor, it takes more than nice pictures for me.
Not read STW so I can't comment on that.

'The Ride' is only a few copies old but is the only one that cuts it for me.
It has real insight on what it means to ride bikes: http://www.theridejournal.com/

I think he would be wasted riding anything but BMX.

Amazing.

From my roadie days as a youngster I used to look at the road no more than a few metres
in front of my front wheel but never to the top of the hill. Seeing how far you still
have to go can break you a bit mentally. I find I can pace myself much better like this.

This method still serves me well – you can also just lock on to a back wheel of the rider in front.
Anyone else do this? :unsure: