When I first built the bike with new shifter drivetrain mech and cables it wasn’t briliant, and has now gone terribly downhill, have rerouted the cable as well but no improvement..
So Saint seems to be the way to go, worth the extra 12 quid over XT?

I ended up having to drill one out once, just look up the internal diameter of the relevant female thread and go for a drill bit 1mm smaller.

Got a 95% worn EXO ardent bought off the classifieds for a fiver, since has been round cwmcarn dowhill, all of afan, BPW black runs and loads of local hammering all on the rear. I weigh in at around 90kgs all kitted and am most definetly not a smooth rider. So far not a split, cut or tear. I think that’s pretty damn good. Lots of flint round here too, several X king protections and schwalbes have all died within a few weeks.

I like the sound of this.. How does one go about finding a CEO’s email address? Surely it can’t be CEO@company.com?

Yep, can’t remember the name but that’d be the 27.5 Covert killer.
Not saying they’re ugly bikes and will probably perform better with Horst links but that doesn’t shout out Transition to me…. Just looks like another Trek/Giant/Scott etc.

Have seen pics, now look like any other ‘mainstream’ bike imo.. No Covert either

Can’t find any pics on the web, but it looks nothing like the current Transitions, and there is no Covert either!

Transition are launching a whole new range for 2015, have seen pics, all new and a new 155mm 26″ bike

and you’re ashamed of where you live? these are my neighbours:

http://www.channel5.com/shows/benefits-britain-life-on-the-dole/clips/episode-2-clip

I live in a very nice little house and pay alot of rent and the neighbourhood is generally quite nice, and I have the best riding around on my doorstep. But I have this lot next door

I’ll keep my eye out for one of either to come up second hand, if it’s cheap I could spend a couple of quid on headsets etc, maybe swap the revs for some sids…
Problem is a few weeks down the line I’ll be looking for bits to build the steel 456 back up…

I’m fortunate enough to ride from home 90% of the time, but was out yesterday on the Covert with a mate on his Marin CXR and did a rather XC route, and he was all over me on anything but rough descents, whilst when we both take our full sussers I’m normally waiting for him.. Which is no surprise, however the fact that I have a very nice HT sat in the shed with rather nice kit on it that I don’t use does annoy me, hence the will to find it an ‘edge’ over the Covert..

Chew: I’m thinking I might just have to do that, or get a new frame, thing is I really don’t want to have the frame unbuilt…

chakaping: Was thinking about one of those, not too expensive brand new either, but what’s the ride like? stiff power delivery or flexy forgiving ride? If i’m going for a new frame it’ll be purely XC aimed

Have never used MIG but was going on what my landy defender obsessed uncle uses, I use TIG for bikes and as said above stick ARC for odd jobs. The trick with stick arc is to strike the rod a couple times before starting, warms it up and means it needs less contact and hence less risk of sticking the rod to whatever you’re trying to weld.

MIG for car panels, TIG for bikes.

This looks fun, excellent music too :?

We would like to do natural wild riding, just that It’s going to be a long drive and wouldn’t want to end up lost atop a moor or riding along the sides of fields! With trail centres you can be sure it’s all good.. can anyone reccomend where to find good maps and guidance for proper natural singletrack riding?

Chunkey monkey here too, whatever the conditions. Maybe X king for XC mincing

That holiday pirates has some great stuff! Can’t leave till the 17th though and the mrs only has 7 days / 6 nights off work and they all seem to be 7 nights. Will keep an eye on it and pop into a travel agent in the week. Sure we’ll find something.
Cheers!

Will send them with some descriptions and pointers when I’m off work later in the week! Might be able to dig out some maps too

I lived nearby until last year, excellent riding, I would thoroughly reccomend a guide with gardaonbike in Riva. Can’t remember matey’s name but when I went back on holiday without the bike I went to them and really enjoyed it. Takes you on a load of secret natural runs, right to the top with a van then back down. We even descended a path people were climbing up with helmets and ropes on! I got a proper dual crown DH rig for the day.
If you prefer to spend less or just want to get out on your own then i can send you a couple of my gpx files for a couple of good local rides up from Riva. And direct you to some cheeky singletrack I found!
yes most trails are clearly marked and maps are available, the issue is just finding the start and knowing which are good to ride plus the fact that missing a marker in the alps on your own can end quite badly

Just finished. Did cafall, which is excellent, then with the direction of some very friendly locals did what dan said (just read the post now, cheers) and descended the old dh track. Awesome! Best fun ive had on a bike so far, the steepness made me commit to stuff i wouldn’t have even looked at normally. Real buzz all the way down and defo worth the neverending climb

Will try and convince the guys for the new one then. then maybe blast up the old trail and down the DH, how long is the climb?
Did the Raven last year and loved it so going for the gorlech this year

My Xkings were 2.4 and the sidewalls tore, the tread was covered in cuts and the knobs tore off

Del, totally agree, heard of people splitting them and hating them. People mostly like them though and I swear by mine. Wouldn’t want it on the back though, a bit power sapping surely?

On one chunky monkey is good on the front and excellent value, mine has clocked at least 800 miles and doesn’t even look slightly worn yet! Trail extreme compound, 20 quid. But for the back ardent/ardent race for grip and good rolling speed, or crossmark for speed

Is knob-shredding associated with smaller sizes?

If anyone could elaborate on ‘knob shredding’ I would like to know more

Love the Xking, but have had same problem. Recently moved to a Maxxis Ardent EXO as they seem to have the best reputation for sidewalls etc. Very impressed, sameish weight as the Xking and maybe slightly faster rolling (My one is rather worn, down to the tread height of and ardent race) and just as grippy so far. Also no splits cuts or punctures so far

Black ones do

I was gonna say that’s one man with his priorities proper sorted! Furniture doesn’t make you faster

Yep, ordered from them as I’m off to Wales at the weekend and knew they’d be quickest, but it’s still in processing..

CRC do one for 23.99, good reviews, will be getting one myself soon

steak n kidney?

I’m waiting for the ccdb inline to come out, I think I’ll be having one if they live up to the hype..

What stoffel said, it’s when you suddenly realise your spares box actually amounts to a bike. Mine’s a rigid singlespeed kona fire mountain from 1993 with road cranks with the extra tabs ground off, a 25mm rear rim, xt v brakes with shoddy levers and some very wide bars and a stupidly long stem. Actually more fun than you would think!

I am suffering this alot at the moment.
There’s a decent size drop in my local woods that I was always terrified of, I eventually bought a big full susser and rode it a few times, but it was just a case of rolling off it and hoping for the best.
I then bought my Covert and rode it only to have my foot come off the pedal and the saddle to come a few mm from castrating me.
Obviously this didn’t do my confidence any good. In the meantime I built a quite big kicker further down, probably harder than the drop itself but I’m fine with it, I fly off it no probs, because I built it myself.
Last week I spent about half an hour trying to ride the drop and bottling, until some I spotted some people pushing up the trail and had to ride it! yesterday I was out there and spent an hour trying to do it but just couldn’t, brakes came on as if on their own.
The fact that someone got airlifted to hospital after crashing it last week and ending up with spinal injuries doesn’t help i suppose…

Get a volume spacer in there then if you weigh over 75kgs. Otherwise it just eats travel.
Internal cable routing is the one reason I wish I’d waited for a 2014 one, the 2013 external cable routing is shocking, and the paint rubs far too easily.

I have 2 spoons and a scoop, spoon is more comfy I think. The scoop is a little harder

Good choice, my Covert is the bestest thing ever. What colour and year?

Cheers all, by the time I decided to get them they’d sold out of the racing ralph i wanted, so just a hans dampf from them, still a tenner less than crc though..

Because complex tubing is more nice, and also more niche! :-)