Pretty sure half of Tosside is in Yorkshire so Gisburn ‘just about’ passes. If so Hully Gully is a right laugh imo.

Other favourites have been mentioned:

Top of Skipton Moor, through the woods to Shortbank road.
Decent from Malham Tarn area to Carlton.

Add to the list:

High point of Barden Moor, continuing across the road and down to Halton East.
Mastiles Lane running down to Kilnsey.

Tim Davies is a member of retrobike and brought his Alpinestars Ti-Mega to one of the rides. Think Caroline Alexander and a few of the other names mentioned have popped up on there from time to time.

One of the original Raleigh team bikes (think it was Nick Craig’s), Hemming’s Yo Eddy and Tim Goulds Roberts built Peugeot are now owned by members. A chap who built all Jason McRoy’s early bikes is also on the site.

Another member rode with the original Repakers and often posts up current pictures of the crew when they meet up for rides/beers.

Some think the price Orange charge is too high but I priced up getting my 5 repainted at a local powder coater. When you added the cost of decals, pivot kit and postage the local chap came in very close to the Orange price in anything but the most basic colour. I’d defo use Orange if I get mine repainted.

that 5 29er – anyone know when it might be available?

http://www.orangebikes.co.uk/bikes/gyro_black-gold/

Nope, never on either of the 5’s I’ve owned.

Interesting mixture of views on Gisburn. I’ve been going there for years from when it used to be just fire roads with some nice bits of cheeky trail.

Its not the hilliest of trail centres, but you actually know you have ridden round it by the time you get round the new loop.

I like the fact it takes some peddaling and requires a bit of effort, I think this in part makes it feel a bit more natural than other trail centres can do, I also think the trail as a whole feels more natural than some, with out loosing the fun element.

As to its rocky ness, I didnt think it was that rocky !??! Perhaps those who find it rocky are just going to slow on their 6″ travel full sussers

I live about 1 hr away and tend to go every few months, just for some thing a bit different to the good local natural riding.

Exactly the same for me, the change over the years is a credit to the trail builders. Live around 15 miles off so visit often and it always puts a smile on my face.

Not alleged issues with my mate’s Bluepigs. First one’s (Mk 1)seat tube was the wrong size leading to damaged parts. Took a year for a warrenty replacement to come (Mk 2)and when it did the head tube was out of shape and wouldn’t take a headset. That one went back and he bought my old Orange.

Agree with Kitz. I had 9sp XTR shifters and they were the best I’ve ever had and miles ahead of the 10sp SLX that replaced them. I’ll be upgrading back to 10sp XTR asap. I’m happy enough with the rest of my SLX/XT mix that works as well as my old XTR mechs, crankset etc.

Have Ragley sorted their QC issues yet? If not I’d steer well clear.

*Edit* His current bike is an Attack Trail.

My friend had a 2005 Marin fs (Alpine Trail I think) and he liked it but it never quite seemed up to the job. It worked but just felt a bit wrong, a bit old tech. It put him off full suss a little as he didn’t really see the benifit over his ht’s but I kept telling him not to judge all fs the same. He then got a great deal on a 2010 (I think) Mount Vision and loves it. It feels much more modern and he now knows what all the fuss is about. Hope that helps and I’d go for it if I were you ;-)

Panaracer Fire’s are the worst if for no other reason then the coloured edges make any bike look mince.

Never had a problem with Kenda’s. Had Nevegal f+r on my new 2006 5 and am now running a Blue Groove/Nevegal combo on my current 5. Great all rounders. Pal runs Small Block 8’s on his 29er all year round and loves them. Saying that, the Kenda’s that came on his old Marin were quite possibly the worst tyres ever as they didn’t grip on anything and were simply dangerous if there was a bit of ice/frost about.

Ah, mine are twin shot so are different to set up. Even so,I’m sure you’ll find the right balance with some tinkering.

My favourite places in Thailand are Koh Samet (as mentioned), Koh Chang, Krabi area (good base to island hop), Kanchanaburi with a visit to the very moving Hell Fire Pass, and of course Bangkok as long as you keep away from the backpacker areas.

Mine are superb Shorty and much better over small stuff then my old Floats. Sounds like you need to mess about with the settings a bit. Can’t remember exactly which dial does what but there’s one that really effects the small bump ride. Do you have the the set up guide that came with the forks? I’m a numb head but managed to set mine up using the information supplied with the forks.

First thing to do will be to get out of Phuket as soon as possible! It’s the Blackpool of Thailand and a hole imo. So many more beautiful places to go in the land of smiles. Never saw much about bike hire tbh but if you find a bike I’d head to Koh Samet as it’s a small island that is covered in dirt tracks. Ace island as well!

I’m 6′ 2″ and used to have a 20″ that I thought was just right but when I changed I had a go on an 18″ and that fit me perfectly. Sold the 20″ frame to my mate and it feels huge compared to my 18″ now.

As others have said though, only way to tell is to test both. Check out the Orange website dealers section to see what’s available locally to test.

“A repaint costs £200”
Best check out Argos first.

Forgot to add that the £200 includes new decals, head badge, bushes/pivots and postage. I priced up getting my 5 powder coated somewhere else and when you took the extra’s in to account there was very little difference in price.

They’re ok for small stuff but I had to send two pairs of RS Revs back as they were not as described. Took the Revs back myself the first time and the chap on the desk was next to no use and didn’t seem interested which cheered me up after a 50 mile journey. Then on the second set I had to go from nice to not so nice in the tone of my emails to get it sorted.

Maybe just bad luck but I’ll never fully trust them in future.

I’d get Orange to do the work if I were you. A repaint costs £200 so £150 for a new rear sounds ok. You can then sell as a minter and get loads of lovely cash. I’d expect around £700 to £800 for a 2009 5 frame so I guess an Alpine would be around the same?

Get yourself over to gisburn forest if you don’t mind a drive out. Lots of routes to go at, from easy to not so.

Agree on the orange Orange idea. When I got my latest one second had I really wanted a orange new one. Was going to get mine repainted orange but tbh I couldn’t justify the cost as my paint’s still in good nick. Will get a new one in the next couple of years and that’ll defo be neon orange, probably with blue Hope finishing kit.

Another vote for Triple-S. Work I and others I’ve recommended have had done has been superb.

Here’s mine. 2009 upgraded last year with 10sp groupo, DT forks, new decals and other bits.

@KingOfBiscuits – that’s just plain black

Not so, the black cherry is as it suggests, black with a hint of cherry in certain lights. Bloody lovely it is too.

Don’t think people are anti-purple but many, like me, seriously overdosed around 1993 and still have not recovered!

Another vote for the Orange 5. Had a couple and love them. They brought out a huge one this year as well.

Mate of mine is a gibbon like you and rides my old 20″ with no problems at all.

Is it a 2007 or 2008? Got a feeling the 2008 had a slightly different geometry before they changed to the current one in 2009.

From memory the last 5 with 130mm as standard was the 2006. I had one but it was end of season so was specced with 2007 140’s as Orange had run out of the 2006 forks ;-)

Standard for yours would have been 140mm although as others have said it should be fine with 130’s. I had 160’s on my current 2009 but thought they were more fork then the bike needed so went back to 140’s.

Don’t have the XRM’s but I have some XMM Twin Shot and they’re ace. Prefer them to both the Revs and Floats I had before. I’d defo go for DT at the right price ;-)

My old 36 Talas did exactly the same. Took them apart and found the foam ring dry and full of gunge. Was quoted £250 for a replacement stantion/crown set up. The wear issue with fox is totally unacceptable imo and I won’t get another set until they sort it out.

Replaced them with some Merlin Revs. Beware as mine were not as ‘new’ as I thought. The original set + the replacements had marks on the stantions so both went back.

Got some DT Swiss now which are ace. Can’t comment on durability though as I’ve not had them long enough but I think they ride better then the Fox + RS.

Really good news :-)

Me and a couple of mates will be leading the retrobike crew round this route later in the year. Anyone that’s interested can get dates from the Yorkshire section on the site. You don’t even have to have an old bike ;-)

That route is best if you miss Bolton Abbey / Addingham out all together. From the top of Barden moor (where the fire road meets the tarmac road) go straight across and head down to Halton East. Lovely little downhill is that. Then cross to Draughton and meet the Addingham/Skipton route at Draughton Top.

I would never choose a bike simply on the spec as a groupo can be upgraded as and when but you’re stuck with the frame unless you’ve deep pockets. I’d try as many as you can and see what bike suites you.

How about the Settle/Malham loop? Or head over to Lee/Crag Quary if the weather’s naughty?

Lot’s of local rides around you are organised on retrobike.co.uk. Go on the site and check out the north east and yorkshire sections for upcoming events. friendly bunch and you don’t need an old bike :-)

Don’t worry about the forks. I’ve had Fox + RS Revs but much prefer the DT’s I’ve now got to either of the ‘big 2’. DT’s are superb IMO.

I’m 6’2″. Had a 20″ 2006 5 for a few years and I thought it was spot on but then changed to a 18″ 2009 5 and find it fits me much better. I do prefer a smaller frame though.

As a 5 owning Yorkshireman I understand all the angry posts by my fake tanned, skinny jean wearing, shandy drinking southern chums. I would also be upset if I had to live down south and ride nothing but fixies (whatever they are) and my only roll models were some Essex idiots off the telly and that **** David Cameron.

Highly recommend the 5 for any type of riding. I have other bikes but usually grab the 5. Anyway, can’t stay as I’ve got to beat the wife, eat some coal, drive my tractor and drink my body weight in bitter (Copper Dragon is the current brew of choice. Us notherners will leave the fizzy stuff to the southerners so they can spoil it with lemonade). ;-)