How much time/money do you want to spend on maintenance?

Not been with them but have been with Rivierabike, also based in Molini. Riding is fabulous and I can recommend Rivierabike

Have:
Rigid SS Inbred
C456 with flats, Revs, double and bash
Hoo Koo E Koo hack
Roadbike
Steel 456 (daughter’s – in theory)

Want:
Whippet SS or 1×9 race bike
Poss rigid SS 29er

The ‘old’ Soul looked perfect IMO. I understand the changes but I just don’t like the look of the new one as much.

Cy, is the 26″ Simple dead and gone forever? Nearly bought a Custard one years ago and I’ve always regretted not going for it. :(

Cheers all. Think I’ll probably take my chances with some Crests. If they’re not up to it they can go on my SS and I’ll go back to the 321s on my 456 or try some Flows. Matt, ta v much for the offer but I’ve got some tyres ready for this experiment. I would like to borrow District 9 though :-)

b r – so how tough a time have you given the Crests?

Hmmm, that sounds like sense, so will I feel the difference between my 321s and Flows?

Cheers Matt, yes it’s the weight of yours and the way they roll that got me thinking.

Yup Nicko, I guess Arch EXs are the obvious compromise but I’m a skinflint after a bargain and I can’t find either rims or a wheelset using them that’s as cheap as Crests or Flows. Also, I want to notice the difference so want to go as light as poss. So who’s really hammered a set of Crests then?

Always wanted a Custard Simple <sigh>

Exotics. Cheap, light, strong (Mr B was wrong :D)

Lucky swine – you’re going to the most beautiful place on earth IMHO. Hope you get good weather.

Can’t be much help with riding ideas, I’m afraid, as I’ve never managed to get up there with a bike but do a search on the forum – it’s been discussed lots before.

Yup, I know you can fit horizontal dropouts. I meant a nice tidy frame without extra guides and a non-press fit BB. Should’ve been clearer 8)

Hmmm… thanks for the replies. I love my Inbred and thought the Whippet might be the same but bettereR but seems my nagging doubts might be justified. I have a couple of mates with geared Whippets who are v happy with them though.
Mmmm. Tinbred would be fab but I’m guessing a bit more than £250 even if they did get made. Now, a ss specific carbon Whippet with a normal bb would be pretty cool. How about it, Brant? :-)

Not far off and definitely creaking. However, just tried Strava for the first time and surprised myself with a couple of good results on local trails which has made me think I shouldn’t write myself off just yet :-)

You need to know what diameter your current fork’s steerer tube is. They come in 1 1/8, 1.5 and tapered.

For a straight swap you need a fork with the same steerer. However, depending on your frame’s headtube (again there’s a range of options) you may be able to use a different type of steerer, but you will need a new headset if you do.

If you swap to a QR or 15mm axle you’ll either need a new front hub or, if your existing hub can be adapted, a set of adapters to suit the new fork.

Why do you want to upgrade? Your existing fork should be pretty good

Seriously impressive! Go on mate, keep those pedals turning!

@IanMunro – Fair cop. I thought that myself after I posted it :D

Just think it’s incredible that the only thing people can think of to say about this guy’s effort is that it’s a bit unimaginative or somehow wrong.

Good luck to him!

For clarity, fitting AM parts to an XC bike will actually cause Sting to release another lute record, this time with Nick Knowles off DIY SOS on backing vocals.

Please don’t.

Can’t believe all the people carping about whether this is a valid challenge. FFS!

If you don’t like it, either just ignore it or go and do something more impressive/imaginative.

Like my dear old mum used to say: if you’ve got nothing positive to say, don’t say anything.

There’s always a compromise, no matter how light your 160 bike is and IME it tends to be on relatively flat terrain that it’s most annoying.

For me, having a DH-biased trail bike and an XC bike makes a lot more sense than having one super-bling lightweight 160 ‘all-rounder’

Definitely cut shapes. And don’t overdo it. Big vulnerable areas, yes; nooks and crannies, no.

Sounds like you’ve got muck in them but they may be running dry. Whip the lowers off, give them a good clean and top up with oil as recommended by Fox. If the scratch is deep you can fill it in with nail varnish (search the forum for more details) and smooth off with v. fine emery. If it’s not losing air and there are no rough edges then you probably don’t need to bother.

Mobile butter churn?

Spain sounds good. Where’s the best place to head for. Not got much time to plan so I need somewhere near an airport or some means of getting bikes to final destination. Anyone know anywhere with good riding, a good campsite and easy airport transfer? Moon on a stick would be handy too :D

Stumpy 120 built Lightish and Reign built for Alps. Don’t ride the Reign much (it’s a slog on the flat) but glad of it when I get a chance to use it properly. Tbh though I spend most of my time on a hardtail and most of that on a rigid SS. God I’m spoilt
:D

@Mattg – you still had to put your ‘Pretty Man’ camo trousers on when the going got tough though :lol:

That Whippet is the funniest thing I’ve seen on here in ages.

Who would do such a thing???

I’m going to have to scroll up for another look … but I feel strangely guilty.

Yup, great ride last night, although I did pick just about the most inappropriate route possible – over Ranmore, 3 Amigos, Wiggly wood, Druids Grove steps,etc. Man that chalky clag is slippery! Hoping to be out tonight Matt – see you then

Aha! Sun’s out and I’m going for a slither. Actually you can avoid most of the mud if you choose your trails carefully and accept a bit more fire road than usual. Perhaps surprisingly, I find the built trails like BKB and Summer Lightning are not the most fun in the wet but them I’m a slime pervert :-)

I made a split collet extractor by following Kaesae’s vid on YouTube (thanks Kaesae!) and they came out without too much hassle despite the fact that they’d been in there untouched for 7 years (2005 Stumpy). The bearings are tiny on pre-2006 Specialized frames and the only tubing I could find to make the extractor was an old v-brake boss. Worked like a dream.

Link goes to silly sign-in page

Try this: singlespeed the C456 and get some lightish wheels and tyres and a rigid carbon fork. You should be able to do that for around £200 if you keep an eye on the classifieds.

You’ll definitely notice a difference. If you don’t like it you can go back to the way it was and flog the stuff on.

My wishlist is: beautiful (tough) finish, 26in wheels, 853 or similar, light as poss, singlespeed-specific, 27.2 seat tube, standard head tube, matching rigid fork.

However… I know I wouldn’t pay what it would cost. I wonder how many of those above would.

XML torch from Ebay, as recommended in a thread on here. Cost £11 and gives similar output to, say, a Diabolo with a really good beam pattern. Runs off 18650 batteries and I very rarely need to change the battery on a 2-3 hour ride. It mounts low-ish (using a lockblock) and doesn’t feel heavy in use. Can’t think of any reason to pay more.

I have 3 On-Ones and I’m happy to live with the company’s foibles if they keep knocking out great bikes at prices no one else gets close to. I’ve been frustrated by pricing, no stock etc in the past but that’s been balanced by getting some great deals. I like the fact that they’re idiosyncratic and not just another anonymous corporate monolith designing the bikes they think we should have and spending half the value of the purchase price on marketing to convince us they’re right.

I’ve got a 2008 Reign 1 with Wotans on the front. It’s a fabulous bike when it’s pointing downhill and is brilliant for the Alps, uplifts, etc but I find it a chore on flat or up and down trails, especially if riding with mates on lighter bikes.. It climbs very well (albeit steadily due to the weight) but it doesn’t come alive on anything but the downs. I could build it lighter but I’ve got another bike to do home and trail centres so I’m happy.

I’d go for S. Wales or Peak if you’re bored of Afan etc. Black Mountains has some great riding but better with a guide. Or there’s always the South Downs

Been twice now and will be back. The riding is superb, the location, guiding, accommodation and hospitality are spot on.

Aha! So the back section should screw off. I’ll give it a go. Thanks Martyn