No, take the original tape off. Watch the vids on the Stans site

SLX. No brainer

By the time you’ve bought new rims and spokes and paid someone to lace them you’ll not be far off the price of these http://superstar.tibolts.co.uk/product_info.php?cPath=74&products_id=656

I’d go for the TL28s

Try drinking a pint if olive oil for breakfast. It worked for me. If you can’t stomach olive oil try melted butter.

I had a similar dilemma. I solved it with a Singular Buzzard. It’s about the most fun bike I’ve owned and is more playful than plenty of 26in bikes. Yelli Screamy, Kona Honzo, that new Niner are also worth a look …

I have a Lumi NiMH charger lying about somewhere if you need a replacement. Not looking to make my fortune on it. Email in profile if you’re interested

Egg yolk and olive oil instead of chamois cream.

And you get a serving of mayonnaise to put on your post-ride chips into the bargain!

I was in Dorset with the family and went with an inexperienced mate to Puddletown Forest on Sunday am. Lots of nice trails but my mate took a head first dive Ito a 10ft deep pit full of sharp sticks and sliced himself open a bit. Embarrassing.

Singlespeed it. It’ll give you something new to try and you might just like it.

Weight over the front. Lean the bike, not you. Weight outside foot and inside bar. Look round the corner and into the distance.

Yep, I have Swift steel forks on my Inbred – £70 from Sam at Singular and extremely ace.
I’d second going for a wide flat bar and a 50-60mm stem. CRC had cheap Nukeproof bars a while back which are excellent. I have 800 mm ones cut down to about 760mm.
On-One smorgasbord (rear) and Chunky Monkey (front) are great tyres and unbeatable value.
Merlin have good deals on wheels.
Get a stem, chaInset,etc off the classifieds and you’re away.

I’ve gotta get a go on a Jones. That frame looks fun! How tall are you, assuming that’s set-up for you?

Old enough to know better

Sorry

I’m going to be a party pooper. I think it – and all other DW-link Turners – look gak.

The front and rear ends look like they were designed by separate teams who hated each other.

Ron Hills.

We destroyed our guide one day. He had to have a lie-down. So you might want to pack a spare.

Seriously, it gets hot and there’s often very little shade and you’ll be doing plenty of climbing. Be prepared.

It’s a top place to ride though. Have fun. And make sure you do 57 switchbacks / Flowtastic

There’s no doubt that some bars flex more than others and IME that can make a difference to comfort, no matter what the bars are made of. As others have said, hand position, suspension and tyre pressures are probably more significant.

30% stiffer, 10% lighter, 80% more marketing 😉

Sorry, unhelpful I know 😳

Ghetto inflator is much easier – and probably more effective – than going to a garage. I’m surprised no one has produced a commercial version yet.

I’ve got the Revs. They’re a bargain at that price. I doubt they’ll be as stiff as the Trace but good in every other way.

Grease +1 – based on instinct, not science (but I’m convinced by the link above).

No brainer – 2 bikes wins. Build a Buzzard though.

Had a period when my front brake caliper was sticking and I’d get this rising whiney hum which would get louder and louder until the whole frame was resonating. A quick tap on the lever would sort it for a few seconds but then it would start building up again.

Even when I couldn’t hear it I was tensed, listening for it to start again – like a new parent with a restless baby.

I ended up riding about 15 miles home with the brake almost full on because it was driving me ABSOLUTELY F***ING CRAZY APES**T!!!! AAAAAARGH!

And relax …

I think my blood pressure’s gone up just remembering it.

It’s OK as a means of getting places but I wouldn’t ride it for its own sake. SDW is much more interesting

I have an Inbred with a Swift fork. People on here seem to agree that the Swift fork is a good’un and it’s a bargain at £70.

Yup, we all have bad days and if you don’t push yourself you don’t improve.

I would definitely have bottled that if I’d rolled up to it at that speed. I hope.

Very glad you got away with it OP.

Superbike schmuperbike!

Once you’ve bought your overpriced, over specced bling machine you’ll be stuck with it. One single bike that, once you’re over the thrill of buying it, will be at best marginally better than each of the two or three bikes you could have bought for the same price.

A cheaper selection gives you more choice, more variety in your riding, a better chance of having the right tool for the job and generally more bang for your buck.

Of course if you only ever ride the same trails in the same way in the same conditions with the same people then ignore me.

This. Is. Insanity.

Spoke tension?

I’ve done – and loved – both. I’d go to Molini

Yup, I reckon Bionicon or similar is the answer

I can’t coz I sold it without taking pics but it was ace – an Inbred SS with an Exotic 440mm carbon fork. It convinced me to get a 29er SS but it was good in it’s own right

Very little quality mtb in Pembrokeshire IME. Having said that, I’m not sure where Bluestone is. If it’s up in the Presellis you’ll find a bit. Take a roadbike if you’ve got one, would be my advice

Had a quick go on a T129 and was impressed by how playful it was. Pop-tacular!

I’m generally pretty relaxed about this.

I didn’t add the supplied decals to my C456 frame because they were gopping. I did design some of my own but in the end decided I liked it unbadged.

The only decals I’d really like to remove are the several hundred bizarre and unnecessary logos and marketing tagnuts on my Focus roadbike. I mean ‘Discover freedom’ WTF?

Rock n Roll Super Slick grease is supposed to be good. I’ve used Judy Butter with good results and have just finished a tube of some no-name stuff which was also great

Yup, I rode Leith Hill and Ranmore on Sat and Sun and barely saw another cyclist.

Crests aren’t that narrow. I – and thousands of others – used to run 2.35 tyres on Mavic 317s, which are much narrower. Not ideal but I never had any problems.

No good will come of this dabbling with gears. Mark my words