Graveyard and Zigzag trails currently being maintained ruined by puddles of slippery mud being placed in the slightest trail imperfection (which is ironically making the trail much worse because the soft mud now has major divots forming already- i’ve no idea why they want to sanitise the trail anyway?)

Horrible detour on Whites climb as well!

Revelation RCT from CRC at @£290 have to be the best deal at the moment. 140mm but easily reduced to 120mm with the included spacer.

I bought a Hope 44/56 ZS to replace that superstar one (only lasted two months)- buy cheap, buy twice.

I paid £56 posted from UKbikestore.co.uk for the Hope.

You can get 135 dropouts to fit a 2011 covert- but alternatively couldn’t you get a 142 axle for the hope hub and have a stiffer rear end?

Check your frame and forks can take the Hans Dampfs, they come up VERY big in 29er size. I had to take my rear off as it was rubbing too much and replaced with a Racing Ralph in 2.25- which is a little bit too small if anything but riding better than I thought it would. RR’s were £25 from OnOne a couple of weeks ago.

I don’t think the Van RC is 4x the weight of a RP shock, my CCDB is about twice the weight (not put them on a set of scales though). My bike is no lightweight and neither am I so I can’t tell much of a difference riding the bike except climbing where the Propedal helps a lot to limit the bounce.

The DSP shocks that Loco mentioned come with a Ti spring iirc, so they should be a reasonable weight. Good price too, if they came in 190×50 I would have had one instead of the CCDB.

I alternate between a CCDB and the stock RP23 on my covert, I don’t really notice the extra weight of the coil when it’s fitted but its much better when descending.

What size frame are you after? 20″ Scandal 26er in black with vertical dropouts any good? I have a nice set of fox f100 to suit it as well. Email me if you’re interested.

I couldnt bear to read past the first few posts, just too close to home…

My deepest sympathies for you and your family.

Tried to ride the wall today, its pretty bunged up with snow at the moment… Its a good 6″ deep up the top. Most of it is rideable but its a struggle. We didnt go over to Whytes but usually the snow and ice would be even worse over there.

If anybody bought a 21″ scandal V2 frame on impulse and has changed their minds, email me and i’ll take it off their hands. :-)

Fox polarpaw gloves and mid weight sealskinz working well for me this year so far.

Another running HDs tubeless on flows with no problems, both 26 and 29 sizes.

Simon, do you have a price for the parts to convert 36 talas to vanilla? I have a 2010 set I believe 160-130-110.

Email me if you like, in my profile. Thanks

I had no clearance for a muckynutz with a set of 29er Recon’s running HansDampfs, a crudcatcher isnt enough so i’m going to augment it with a neoguard and hope for the best.

Alan, yes a right PITA with the lack of 120mm forks available. I’ve got a set of recons that I’ll stretch out to 120mm but they’re qr and very heavy so I’m wanting to upgrade soon. Those revs are too pricey for me ATM.

Big Pete, cheers but really want to get Maxle forks.

Definately looking at the budget end of the scale so the Sids are out.

Conclusive then, 120mm not possible.

http://www.oneclicksports.co.uk/suntour-fork-epicon-lite-100mm-p-35899.html

Are these any good, they can be set at 120mm supposedly.

Ashley, are yours the same forks as in the OP? I haven’t bought them, so can’t comment on any stantion markings.

What fork did you fit instead coopersport?

Ok,cheers. The search continues…

+1 house insurance claim. If that’s not possible and you want to build up a replacement bike, I’ll donate you a set of wheels gratis- qr 26″ disc specific, complete with tyres. My email is in profile.

John, you’ve got this issue all out of proportion. Several people have taken the time to explain that any central registry of bikes, number plate system, tagging system are all non-starters.

You are understandably upset and annoyed at the theft of your bike, everyone who owns a bike can empathise with that. It sounds like you have some coping issues though; you seem to be ruminating it over and over in your head and that simply isn’t healthy. You aren’t the first person to experience bike theft and you won’t be the last. Just accept that it has happened, you have tried (above and beyond) to get the bike back with no success and that it’s time to get a new bike. It sounds very much like this issue has taken all of your energies that you could be using in a healthier and more productive way.

If you do visit the police again, ask them if they can offer you ‘victim support’.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a348/rsj1975/photo-4.jpg

Ive been giving my Covert a spruce up after a summers worth of Dust mud and found this bit of cable wear that was hiding behind my chain guide! Another area that rubs nicely is the brake hose against the seatstay, i caught that one early on thankfully. The frame bearings were all dry and gritty and a couple had some corrosion, a bit poor on a 6 month old frame IMO.

Have a browse on Hasbean, a little bit more expensive than Whittards but leagues ahead on quality.

As per Konajames’ advice; you could have some dangerous side effects if you just stop drinking and go cold turkey, this depends on the extent of your drinking habit.

Seek medical advice (GP) asap, also find out if you have a Community Drug and Alcohol Team(CDAT) locally and ask them for advice/assistance for the short&long term.

Good luck.

Abandon the granny ring and fit a chain guide?

I really like mine, my first 29er and surprised me with how much fun it is to ride. Very agile when you get some speed up and climbs very well with a 100mm Recon fork. You can’t do better for the money IMO.

I’ve been re-watching all the episodes of Soprano’s on Sky Atlantic, last episode tonight. If you’ve not seen them already I’d recommend it, I think it’s better than The Wire IMO.

Coed Y Brenin/Dyfi Valley and stay here?[/url] If the weather is a bit dodgy for camping, their camping barn is pretty useful and cheap.

I too have just satisfied my 29’er curiosity with an inbred, silver Recon and wheels combo from on-one. I’ve only had 2 rides on it but I’m amazed at how quick it is uphill and how nimble it is going down. I’m running it with the forks set to 100mm travel and 1×9 chainset.

I still have the bars (and stem) from a 2010 x4 that I used to own, yours for a tenner if you want it. My email is in my profile.

Paul, if you email me I will reply with a parts diagram from a 2011 Remedy rear triangle (if that is the model you have). Address in profile.

EDIT- just spotted that you have a 2009 frame, in that case my diagram would be of no use. Give Trek UK a ring, they’re pretty helpful.

Cubeetc, head back towards the start of the wall and there is a track heading off towards the left signposted as a walking track, takes you back to the Bryn Bettws cabins. You deserve an extra biscuit if you can pedal the whole way up!

As Ryan says, its all pretty easy to navigate from Rhyslyn car park. It is a good idea to print off a map fromthat site as well. As you have quite a few hours up at Afan, let me suggest an alternative route:

Do the wall climb, you will go through 3 gated trails with fireroads in between. At the top, turn right along the fireroad and head for Whytes (signposted as W2) on the link road. When you get to Energy, do that then follow the diversion signs to the Skyline descent. When you get to the bottom, have a break at Glyncorrwg centre where they have a cafe/ shop. Then do Whytes climb, black run/windy point/both, then return over same link road to finish off on the wall descents, more or less where you started at Rhyslyn.

Just saw the weather forecast and it looks wet, Take a spare pair of shorts for the train home, you’ll be muddy!

There is a cycle path from Port Talbot to Pontrhydfen which is very near the end of the Wall level. At Ponrhydyfen, find the Rhyslyn car park and take the left fork towards the trails. Depending how much time you have to ride around at Afan you have a couple of options- the Wall on its own will take 1 1/2 to 2 hours for a first timer. If you have longer, you could carry on the fire road past the first wall climb and do the Whytes climb instead. That climb is more interesting than the Wall climbs and you emerge at the top of Whytes level.

Then you have a few options- the skyline descent then reclimb Whytes; go down the black run, do Windy Point and maybe Energy before going over the link road to the Wall to do the descending trails over there. You will finish not far from Pontrhydyfen and a roll back to the train station.

The Whytes bits would add another 2ish hours to the ride depending on which trails you chose to do. The Skyline descent is my pick of the trails up there, but zig zags at the end of the Wall is pretty good as well.

Shame I won’t be out for a ride until the afterrnoon, I could have shown you around. Have fun.

Does anyone know what time the highlights of this are on TV tonight?

This is a local event for me, definately booking a slot although I don’t expect to be in the top end of the table!

Terrible news for you and your family, I cannot imagine how you must be feeling right now. My best wishes.

Your local Citizens Advice should be able to signpost you to the help you need with any benefits. I also suggest talking with somebody at Mind or any other councelling service just to talk over whats going on, it should help.

I have currently:

34T, 11-32 cassette on my Covert
36T, 11-34 cassette on my 456

It’s initially difficult to get used to not having the escape of the granny ring but makes you a much stronger pedaller if you stick with it. I wouldn’t go back to a double/triple setup on a mtb.