Dirt – Like the look but too DH/dirt for me
MBUK – Sometimes get it at airport when travelling with work. It’s OK IMO.
WhatMTB – Sometimes … but don’t really rate it
MBR – don’t rate reviews or articles or think much of the trail guides. I read it if my mate lends it to me.
ST – about 5-6 a year if I can find it. Apart from the odd duff article, it’s just right for me. Am thinking of taking up the PDF subs.

Bike and riding style dependant I reckon.

The RP2 on my 5″ Trance X2: I never use the PP setting because it makes it ride more like my HT i.e. it reduces responsiveness and hence grip.
Climbing grip seems vastly superior with no prop-pedal on. No amount of pedalling generates any bob at all and you have to lurch around to move it. I find the best strategy is to move my upper body around very quietly and smoothly when honking to avoid badly un-weighting the rear wheel. The sus digs the tyre in brilliantly allowing smooth and powerful progress. If I fail on a climb its usually due to lungs and legs and not loss of grip.
I’ve experimented with different sag. Against all advice, I find 30-40% most effective because the bike seems to squat lower to the ground, gripping into corners and impressions more effectively.
I think the general lack of bob and wallow is mainly down to the firmness of the linkage design, and it actuating the shock in a complementary way.

Got a 302 UTurn

It boing and damps well for the money. It takes 50 miles or so to loosen up.

It feels tough but is heavy and makes the bike front-heavy which is good for pointing and blundering though. I find a pulling the front wheel up hard to impossible (I’m jey).

Using tubes was less of an issue with the HT with Maxxis tyres. It was when I got my FS bike with Nevegal tyres that convinced me to switch because the number of thorn and pinch punctures I was getting escalated to one per ride – it was getting annoying!

Pound vs Euro will correct itself to some extent. The Central Bank is bringing its rates down and Euro has big structural problems looming.

Tubeless (split bmx tubes with latex) – it took me ages to commit, but it’s transformed my Kenda Nevegal tyres on WTB trail rims, from being one puncture per ride to none at all in 6 months. Had one burping incident in a crash, re-inflated on the trail in minutes. I typically run 25/30 psi tubeless instead of 30/35 psi tubed which helps with both grip and rolling.

I have spare wheels with fast XC tyres and tubes for occasional dry/race/enduro use. Takes a few mins to swap disks and cassette over.

Lancashire – too far for me

I’ve done the HONC 50 twice, with my GF. It’s really a CX event so not techy stuff any basically capable off road rider can enjoy it if they are reasonably fit. It has a nice vibe. The mass start is a bit silly but fun except for the “elites” who start too far back in the mob “coming through!”. I usually start about 3/4 back and slowly pick my forward over the ride.

My first year is was hail, rain and mud. The second the dry, hard-packed and t-shirts.

Worth putting fast-rolling tyres on.

Yep they’re no good. I’ve replaced mine with Shimano QRs

I agree with Stoner

Space and Aerospace Systems Design Engineer / Consultant / Analyst / Occasional Programmer, Trainer, Sales and Marketing and whatever needs doing. Most contracts are government/inter-government agency funded so hoping to ride-out the recession – fingers crossed.

I’ve spent a few lonely hours so far on this, but not really getting it. I generally flip off the back before registering that I have to operate the brake ;-(