Nooooooooooooooooooooo!!! Just bought a Spec Storm for the same price as two of those. :cry:

This was in the press a few days ago. The predictable reaction on one right wing paper’s website (think it was the Torygraph) – “Oh no! Not more cyclists!”

I’ll second Rivierabike for lift up, ride down fun

You can’t go wrong with the Exotics

I have a 2005 Stumpy. It came with a 90-130 Talas fork. It’s not a great climber TBH and is the only bike I’ve ever had that really needs the fork wound down for steep climbs. I’m sure it will be fine at 140 but I expect it will be wandery on the climbs.

Purple. Obviously. :lol:

Today was a day for just enjoying the view. Was up on Ranmore this morning just after 8am. It was just beautiful. And there are plenty of dry-ish trails if you know where to look.

I’d really advise buying a bike maintenance book or just going online to learn the basics of maintaining your own bike. Even good bike shops are no replacement for knowing what’s wrong and being able to fix it yourself. Sounds like you’d have saved yourself a lot of hassle today if you’d had a chain tool and a bit of knowledge.

Middleburn Uno
Xt 760 34/22/bash
Race face evolve triple
SLX 36/22/bash

I’d be surprised if this thread is representative of mtbers in general. Lots of Middleburn mentioned but I don’t see that many of them out on the trails

@matt
A good deal but a) I’m skint at the mo, b) I would be swapping kit over so only need wheels, frame, fork and c) I really want Stans rims for light tubelessnesss. Fortitude does look proper nice, though.

Can’t help thinking that light rims are a must on a 29er. Please convince me otherwise, cos it will save me a few bob. Ta.

Don’t leave it till the last minute to service your bike, round a bolt off and have to spend £600 on emergency forks :oops:

Looks nice, ahwiles. But I have to say that Fortitude up there looks even nicerer

I have:

120FS
130HT
160FS
Rigid SS
100HT commuter
Road bike

Weirdly, feels like one too many (I know, WTF!)

Currently thinking I’ll ditch the 120FS and go 29 with the rigid SS

I have got a beard at the moment. But I’m not enjoying it.

No

SPDs give a definite advantage when the ups get steep IME. Never had any knee problems from SSing either (well, only from crashing :oops: )

I bought one a few months back from one of the online shops advertising them (can’t remember which, sorry). It wasn’t marked as ‘in stock’ but I got it quickly.

I have an older Reign with 160 forks and it’s very good. Someone posted a pic of a Pitch lookalike made by another brand a while back but I can’t remember what it was.

Yeah, there’s no way I’d pay more than a tenner unless it came with a mane and a swishy tail

I walked it back in July. I think you’ll find there’s still plenty of technical interest. They’d need to do a *lot* of work to make it dull

I have AM 41s and use them with Nanos and Gusset Slim Jims. I like them and have no complaints. The top cover overt the laces is soft and gets nicked quite easily but it doesn’t affect how they work. Grip is good – less than 5.10s but That suits me. Weatherproofing is OK but they’re not a winter boot. I’d buy them again. Oh and my feet are about your size and a 44 suits me fine.

32:16 for me (26″ wheels). 33:20 would be shite

We’ll be seeing a lot more of this.

And FWIW I’d be a bit careful what you post on a public forum

This may be of some use:
http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/Pages/improve-mental-wellbeing.aspx

Good luck OP

Yeah, I’d be interested to know weights. Some of those Genesis bikes seem a bit lardy but that may be down to the build I suppose. It’s how it rides, not what it weighs, though, innit?

Difficult to tell from a vid but it looked like death on a stick to me.

Would love to try it but I suspect I’d be carrying the bike up and carrying it back down again.

Matt, that English is lovely but I’m guessing it’s *slightly* more expensive than the Genesis

OK, prettier = better but anything else?

Both are better than a standard geary hub.

Genuine question: How? I mean, I like the idea of the proper tool for the job and I know in theory an SS hub will build into a stronger wheel but I’ve been SSing on normal geared hubs (Hope and Shimano) for a few years without any problems at all. So what’s better (that I will actually notice)?

I’ve got a couple of Karrimor rucksacks, a soft shell and two tents. All were superb value and good quality for the price. As said above, if you use your head there are some bargains to be had

Check out Nirvana Cycles in Westcott, they do a variety of rides. Or come out with us on a Weds night – we start at 6.30ish from Nirvana. Not beginners (mainly old gits actually) but happy to show you around. Failing that, mail me and I’m sure we can fix something up for a weekend

Pics when ready please. Geared or SS?

Yup, would be SS’d and I’d stick a rigid fork on it. Not too bothered about dropperability.

Talk to Nirvana Cycles. Sounds like you’d like one of their jumpy rides

Yellow lenses are great for dull days but no good at night. You def need a clear lens. Mate has some clear Fakeley Jawbones (lens and frame) which seem very good quality. Don’t have a link, I’m afraid

That review basically says ‘I prefer long-forked 26in hardtails to short-forked 29in hardtails’ Not very helpful really.

Anyway, the High Latitude has shortish chainstays and a slackish HA and looks on paper like it might be fun. The track-end version also comes in tasty ‘burnt copper’.

I’d be building something from the classifieds for that budget. Should be able to do a perfectly good rigid SS for 300 smackers

Inbred or Scandal slot dropout, Singular Swift, Dialled Love-Hate can all be run SS or geared. All nice bikes.

I’ve got Superstar 9mm front and 10mm rear QR axle. They work well but I can’t say I’ve noticed a big increase in stiffness.

I’ve got 4 and 5in droppers, with and without remote. I’d say 5in with remote is def worth paying for.

I use mine constantly on every ride, not just on the steeps but anything rough, techy or jumpy – it just gives you more room to move around and get your weight in the right place. I find it especially handy when riding flats because you’re moving your feet about on the pedals more and, without a dropper, saddle height is always a compromise IMHO.

I almost never used to drop my saddle in the bad old days.

Trails are sopping and have been all summer. However, I’m feeling strangely enthusiastic at the moment. Loving sliding about in the glop :D
There’s still good riding to be had in the Surrey hills if you know where to look and where to avoid.