Loved that video – cool vibe through and serious joy!

I’ve been using one of these for the last 11 years, Yoga Mad Tree Mat Natural Rubber Yoga Mat, yes it’s more expensive but i much prefer the feel of it compared to others I’d tried previously.

I find it grips wells, up to the point when sweat overloads, but I’ve not found any mat really copes with that sort of thing.

Firstly, what a lovely thread, enjoyed reading this and big congratulations to PoopScoop, for his journies in all senses, that’s a heck of a transition!!!

Dare I ask what next? The SDW on a SingleSpeed? Ah, just saw the last Posts, as it were, GO GET EM POOPERS!!

So the BB mounted device is just a normal chain catching thing, not tensioning the chain, just keeping it in the chainring? Any specific ones recommended?

I’ve been toying with this again as I loved my old SS. Is the Surly Single-ator still the better approach for those of us with non SS specific frames?

I had a fab couple of years on my Mk1 Puffin, often regret having sold it, and feel a surge of urge to buy another frame for revisiting those fun times. I can’t help on Sizing, as 6ft3 and so the XL was great for me.
If it’s your first fat bike, get a decent tyre pressure guage too, as one psi REALLY DID make a difference!

To Clarify, definitely talking Hardtails here, and he won’t countenance a SS….

Scope is King. It’s a useful measurement of a security management system, sometimes certification of useful, but try to think of it as an ongoing system, not a once a year audit activity.

Can’t help with Pond design, other to encourage more ponds, they are great fun!!! BUt on a serious note, I can heartily recommend the following podcasts, very informative and aside from incidental music choices all very good indeed!

If that link doesn’t work then search for Jules Howard and Pond podcast.

All sort of options for how to listen etc there, but it’s amazing what turns up in a bit of water.

I’ve been happily using a Pixel and Pixel 2 with my car over the last few years, very reliable connection so I’d recommend it.

It’s a reasonably big county – care to add any additional info? Base location, preferred riding?

Hi Boobs,

They do tour around the country and visit certain spots with their demo fleet. I had a 90 min test ride in Bristol earlier this year, a nice bike indeed.

Definitely worth chatting Sam the Demo man.

Hi Boobs,

I’d definitely recommend testing the Solaris in that case.

CS

The good news is that both Bike companies are very good to deal with, responsive and helpful and that they both make Demo rides fairly easy to attain. I’ll own up now to owning and loving my Bird Aeris 145.

I’ve ridden both HT’s in last couple of months and enjoyed both. The lower BB on the Bird was a problem in the mild confines of Swinley so amongst proper trails with sticky up rocks etc I’d be a little worried. The Bird Zero riding position was just perfect to me but I felt that the frame gave me a lot more of a pummelling from the cobbles on the trails. Sadly the Solaris test wasn’t over the same ground so I can’t directly compare but could believe frame materials have an effect? The Solaris felt pretty good, responsive and agile, I rode it for 90 mins approx but it really only came alive after a tweak of the bar position, then it was very good indeed. One negative against the Cotic at the moment is delivery timescales, especially if you’re after it as a winter bike?

I’m also looking for a frame that will take both 29 and plus options, so another strike against the Bird there, I’d listen to any arguments about the fact that perhaps it’s a more hardcore focused design than the Solaris? Both bikes were tested on 29er 2.5/2.6 tyres, pressures were tinkered with during the ride to even out differences.

As ever – get yourself a test ride on both, then choose the colour you like most?

Hi Science – am in the same boat as you.

Does anyone have one in the UK?

Sponge

Yep, agreed.

Couldn’t agree more!

Have a look at the Ryan Leech Convert from SPD to Flats lessons, they are FoC and pretty helpful.

I think there was a selection of Birds at CC when i went there last Autumn?

Test riding is everything.

This probably goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway, don’t ever follow a link in SPAM, for many reasons but a confirmed “watched” email address is an awful more valuable than an unwatched orphan mailbox.

It might be worth having a look at these as well, they work well with every tyre combination I’ve tried.

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mavic-mtb-wheel-bag/rp-prod33405

Fully recommended.

A big day out in the Black Mountains, followed by lots of beer and food and the Gap ride to mop up the next day.

Yup.

I really enjoyed this trail, late last summer, it is not an easy ride, it split our riding group 50/50 on whether they would ride it again. It is a lovely Valley and the riding is challenging at times with the rut and ferns but I’d do it again. That “reveal” mentioned above and the scenery were stunning.

Jruk – Check with Dan at Stanton, I think he has recently announced something about Sherpa drops outs that will be Boost? I can’t remember much about it, but check with him.

A Happy Sherpa owner.

Done. A good start to the day.

IF you can, I’d avoid FLASH completely – It has a bad track record with security issues, and you’d be safer without it.

120mm here, if I remember correctly it’s up to 120mm travel on the forks. But double check with Dan, he’s very helpful and usually responds within 24hours..

I got some Boosted 120mm Pikes from Merlin last week, decent price and 29er/650plus compatible so happy I can run a 3.0 tyre in there.

Very nice!

Agree with the above, the Trail lens is fine for the road but the Road lens is a smidge dark for the trails under trees.

I started with the road version and swapped to Trail and haven’t been tempted to swap back.

Hope that helps, crikey is this a consensus on an Internet forum?

Starting anywhere in particular?

Sorry to put another “best” option up here, but I’ve been doing Iyengar Yoga for a few years, it is damn good but I’d guess as with all forms, dependant on the teacher/environment. It is non dancy/gimmicky and structured formal trained teachers etc) and supported by blocks/belts etc when needed.
I’d recommend trying a few different classes to see what/who you like, and don’t worry about the chanting clichés!

Excellent, welcome to the club, let’s get others doing it too?

Ignore Currys, go to a decent shop and get a proper listen to it, and then you can decide?

Tex – sorry to hear that, terrible luck. We can both give it a decent crack next year!

I don’t know about anyone else, but I’m officially cheering for Mo Man Fai from here onwards. Such a solid foundation to improve from, I’m raising a beer to him now.

Forum search is your friend….

@Chum3 – what sort of daily distances are in the route then? If its significantly less than originally detailed?

Sadly I’m with Scarey and have had to bale/postpone due to work. I’ll be dead jealous of you all taking part, and I’m hoping you get dry dusty trails and I’ll see you all next year.