Enjoyed that. Whereabouts in Pembrokeshire?

Why don’t Kona do the Taro frame only, instead of draping it with dross components?

I reckon there’s a serious gap in the mtb market. Kickstarter anyone?

At the risk of reopening the dreary 26 v 29 debate, my admittedly fairly limited experience of 29ers so far suggests that ‘normal’ length chainstays = very stable and fast but not as playful as the 26in bikes I’m more used to riding. The Yelli on the other hand is probably the most playful mtb I’ve ever ridden. I’m no geometry expert but I suspect the next bike I buy will be a Yelli or something with similar geometry. That said, I’d love a go on a Stache.

@ andycs I reckon you could build a Yelli with a pretty damn good spec for close to that with a little clever shopping

Yup, I reckon you’re right

Seems there are lots of ‘fast’ 29ers about. i’m sure they’re great but I want something that’s fun first and fast second. I need to try a Stache and FF29 but my gut tells me that – for me – they’re likely to be no competition for the Yelli. Buzzard and Honzo are also on the list to try but I’m worried about the weight. After all, most of my mates are buying those ‘fast’ bikes.

Come on On-One, where’s the cheap carbon Yelli-a-like I’m after?

Matt, you’re right. Get out now while there’s still time 😉

Seriously, though, I’ve never ridden a bike that was so eager to get sideways.

Fun fun fun funfunFunFUnFUN -> hospital 🙂

Personally, I’d go for something less racey. ‘Racey’ usually means it’ll be uncomfortable for anything over an hour or two and be compromised on technical stuff.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure you’d manage fine on it on the sort of stuff you describe and you could always swap out bits and pieces but I suspect you’d be better off with something more trail-orientated from the off. The Kinesis FF29 or whatever it’s called looks like it would be perfect.

I use both Middleburn RS7 (on a rigid 29er SS) and various Shimano and Raceface external bearing cranks on geared 26in hardtails and FS bikes. The Middleburns *must* be flexier but I can’t say I’ve ever noticed while riding or been bothered by it. As said above, it stands to reason that tyres, frames and wheels will flex long before a crank.

Someone needs to design the PooBazooka – a compressed air dog egg canon that straps discreetly to your seatpost. When you spot an offender, you simply deploy the Weapon which sucks the turd into the firing chamber, blends it with a little liquid to achieve a smooth ‘ganache’ consistency and then ejects the mixture at the culprit at high velocity, hopefully as they have their mouth open explaining that what their dog does is none of your business. Of course, it could be kept preloaded with one’s own night soil for added piquancy. Jus a thought.

Ha! I’ll need to sell some stuff before I can buy anything and I’m in no rush (I keep telling myself, sternly).

I don’t agree that the Yelli’s ugly. And anyway WGAF when it rides like it does

Had a proper go on a Yelli Screamy today and I now believe the hype. I’ve never ridden a bike that was so eager to get all sideways and unnecessary. F.U.N.

It’s convinced me that I’m after something with similar geometry. The Buzzard looks favourite at the moment but it’s looking likely to be a weighty old frame like the Honzo and I’d like to end up with something that’s not too much of a porker.

The Genesis High Latitude is also still in the running, although I’m guessing the frame is still chunky. Anyone know frame weight and if they’re warrantied to run a 120mm fork?

Buy the wider ones. Bet you like the extra width

I use a Singular Swift steel fork. Not the lightest but nice feel and only £70

+1

I got Uri Geller to do mine.

Mind you, it’s a bit wonky

Underground monorail

Looking forward to a test ride on that Si. 😆

The ten-yard Tarmac spin I had on Matt’s Yelli last night left me lusting after something similar even more. Be interesting to see how they compare…

Bacon is a carcinogen – linky.

If everyone stopped eating it, hundreds of animals’ lives would be saved

😉

I think it looks shit

Ah, so that’s why I need to go 650b. I knew there was a reason. Actually, I think I’ll try adding a psi or two

I cooked a layered chocolate cake with ganache icing in the office microwave a couple of weeks ago. Tarted it up with whipped cream and strawberries and fed about 25 people.

It was really nice.

So the consensus is that a burp’s no more likely on a 29er, all else being equal?

My experiences have been with proper tubeless ready rims (Crests and whatever comes on a Whyte T129) running 2.3ish tyres (Bonty TLR on the Crest and Ardent or Advantage on the other). I run about 22-24 psi. The T129 burp was on a borrowed bike, hence the vagueness about tyres and rims, and I suspect it was at lower psi.

I was thinking about this, having previously turned my Inbred into a rigid 69er and liked it. However, I abandoned the idea after some back of a fag packet maths seemed to show that even with a 100mm fork it would be as tall or taller than with a 150 fork and a 26″ wheel. I like my 456 with a 130 fork.

Make sure you report back if you do try it.

1. Bend arms and legs and stay loose
2. 29″ front wheel
3. Big front tyre
4. MTFU

I do like the look of these. Must resist …

FWIW the weird noise I mentioned above went away once I cycled the fork a few times. Something to do with storing the bike with the front wheel in the air, I think. Still really impressed with these forks

Superstar or Carbon Cycles for pedals

That’s it, I’m going to put *that* video on YouTube. Oh yes, you see if I don’t.

And it won’t just be you that suffers. There’s a whole family of penguins who’ll never be able to look their dad in the eye again.

£150. Take it or leave it.

Ooooooh bad mistake, Matt. That’s never going to fit you properly and the depreciation on those frames is terrible. I’ll give you £200 for the frame and forks. I’m robbing myself.

I’d second the above advice to get two bikes – a cheap roadie and something like a C456

Went with them last year and would recommend it. Good set-up and great riding.
There’s a bit more pedalling up than some other places but the downs are worth it.

Don’t be a fool, man. That’s how the dinosaurs were wiped out!

I’ve a couple to rival that. They get to the point where you think the whole lot could shear off in the middle of your next ride and that’s when you start thinking about ordering the next one 8)

You can replace the chain when it wears if you like. I got three years of hard use out of my last SS chain.

: )

Ignore him. Buy the Yelli.

Buy the Yelli.

That Whyte is loooooooong. Buy the Yelli. Buy the Yelli. Buy the Yelli. Buy the Yelli. Buy the Yelli. Buy the Yelli. Buy the Yelli. Buy the Yelli. Buy the Yelli. Buy the Yelli. Buy the Yelli. Buy the Yelli. Buy the Yelli. Buy the Yelli. Buy the Yelli. Buy the Yelli. Buy the Yelli. Buy the Yelli. Buy the Yelli. Buy the Yelli. Buy the Yelli. Buy the Yelli. Buy the Yelli. Buy the Yelli. Buy the Yelli. Buy the Yelli. Buy the Yelli. Buy the Yelli. Buy the Yelli. Buy the Yelli. Buy the Yelli. Buy the Yelli. Buy the Yelli. Buy the Yelli. Buy the Yelli. Buy the Yelli. Buy the Yelli.

Have you bought it yet? I’m waiting…

Matt, buy that Yelli now.

Then devalue it by a couple of hundred quid (quickly and without harming it in any way) and sell it to me.

Thanks. 🙂