i really like the marin (the end and middle sections are the best), it often gets poor remarks as people really don't apprecriate that it was built quite a while ago and the latest manmade trails are quite different and at least it drains, which is my biggest issue with penmachno – even after a week of no rain you still get soaked (but we have just had a fab dry september though)…

6'1" – large with a 90mm stem, considering changing to a 80mm stem

i've got a chrome grey one but i saw a brand new apple green five waiting for it's new owner at the llandegla trail shop a couple of weeks ago – looked absolutely amazing…

tried them both, prefered the Maxxis Medusa over both of them

hi john – sorry to hear the news…

we lost my mum to cancer this June, one day all is well, the next mum's in hospital, ten day's later it was the wheatfields hospice is leeds and she died one day later, i managed my emotions all the way though this until i left the hospice and i fell to pieces in the hospice car park in front of my best mate (who had offered to collect some of my things/clothes etc and drive them over from chester to leeds) – and again in front of family/people at the crematorium do, i think i was the only person in the room who didn't cry – i guess we all just handle things differently in a own way

i too did a few 'clear the head' rides during the period she was in hospital, fortunately we had time to get folks round to visit and see mum before it was too late

take it easy fella…

cp

utter nonsense…

i'd like world peace too… does that mean i'm going to win next year?

make sure the valve is tightly screwed down, yes the rubber bit can simply sit on the yellow tape – i don't understand why you have been filing the tape, just push the value though the hole…

are you using any wheel milk to help seal any leaks?

sometimes the seal isn't great and the use of a small rubber o-ring on the outside of the rim helps

nbt – out of interest the ceriog diversion you mention, its not this one by Llangadwaladr is it?

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=318040&y=330130&z=120&sv=318040,330130&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=585&ax=318040&ay=330130&lm=0

have you tried reducing the oil in them?

i never got full travel out of my rock shox or magura forks either… but then maybe i'm not rad enough

like as scaredpants says, i'd be getting very arsey as well

if your condition is significantly degrading your quality of life, keep pushing for a scan or even an operation to check the problem area

i work with a guy who had two years of physio following a back operation and kept returning, in the end their operated and discovered part of his vertebra and nerves rubbing (very basic descripion) which was causing severe pain in his upper legs, he required a further work to shave off a bit of the bone to elevative the problem – three years later he is nearly back to normal but still has physio work

Another late e-mail just sent…

The Family Cat – Remember What It Is That You Love

Cud – I've Had It With Blondes

Pixies – Where Is My Mind?

Bang Bang Machine – Geek Love

shit news paul… looks as if its starting again in chester :(

had 2 x Pikes pushed – brilliant in the fast rocky stuff now

thats nice to know, as my pike is being done as well… :)

quite honestly – i never finish the MF articles, i just don't like his writing style or the message he trys to get across…

i'll let you know when i get mine back (next week – new shock body on order), i'm more interested in improving the mid-range of the shock so it doesn't blow though it so quickly

i'm having trouble believing someone would be that stupid to do this 5mm from ton's face… up would have to really have to believe you could handle yourself suitably in a fight against him!

i've been in similar circumstances earlier this year in the petrol station with two pedestrians threatening to kick the crap out of me, but i walked (or drove even) away without any violence occurring – but words did pass… ;) i think at one point i was also threatened with a kicking from their father as well, i did actually laugh in his face as that point and told him to **** off home and cry on his mummy’s skirt…

there are some really stupid, angry and aggressive people out on the streets – hopefully this one will have learnt that their threatening and inappropriate behaviour has consequences and they will not treat other road users in the same manner

hope you have chilled out about it now ton… something like that would **** me up for days..

cheers

dave – you aren't a school teacher are you? ;)

fox float 32 140mm qr's came on mine, pretty flexy so replaced with pikes

wish the 36 talas and rear maxle were options when i got mine…

my stock 2007 5 SE 20"

now with reba forks – the minute absolutes sucked

now ss'ed

being re-built as a 1×9 for my next project

reckon the clamp would work but you may need a longer bolt

i've just received a 31.8mm one and its a perfect fit, i doubt it would fit on any larger seat tube size

i've got a Manitou Minute 2 130mm QR, 2004 i think, never had a issue with them – very reliable

serviced twice by TFTuned in the first two years of ownership – give me an offer if you are interested

seems to be missing the side gussets – fnnarr!

sheppie – does the missus know you had it on the dining room table ;)

i recently had a similar problem… creaking when climbing out of the saddle

turned out to be the front wheel mavic bearings and not the bar/stem at all.. check for play in the front wheel

my 2007 18" XCEL model is around 3.8kg with a manitou air shock

i also (greedily) have a 20" 5 as well – which is slowly getting beefier with 160mm forks and a rear maxle at some point

the patriot will be gradually turned into a coil only monster, as i think it suits the weight better – it just seems to plough through rough terrain with ease, climbs really well with the 2-step lyrik

no issues running it as a trail bike around the peak; it gives you a good workout and when you do ride your race/marathon/ht, you are stronger for it….

during this years SSUK event someone had thoughtfully supplied the thunderboxes with "emergency toilet paper"…

basically the front covers of past MBR's and WhatMTB….

i'm thinking about one for my patriot (i'm really not interested in the "it'll be better on a horst link frame" crap)…

the CCDB comes with lots of options for spring size

165 x 38mm (6.5" x 1.5")
171 x 44mm (6.75" x 1.75")
190 x 50mm (7.5" x 2.0")
200 x 50mm (7.87" x 2.0")
200 x 57mm (7.87" x 2.25")
215 x 63mm (8.5" x 2.5")
222 x 63mm (8.75" x 2.5")
222 x 70mm (8.75" x 2.75")
230 x 70mm (9" x 2.75")
240 x 76mm (9.5" x 3.0")
267 x 90mm (10.5" x 3.5")

i'm also using a 65mm sunline stem and 28" wide bars on an Orange Five with Pikes – it climbs fine with the forks wound all the way out; i don't know whether its the fact that its just the long top tube that helps, or whether a nice wide bar also aids the climbing

2007 model

NN and RR UST are fine in rocks…. yes they do have thicker sidewalls

Terrydactyl at the hair dressers

"would you like me do trim your eyebrows love"?

i once bought a 19.5" secondhand one through the classifieds, lovely condition, built it up really nice but can't say i liked the geometry that much and boy was it harsh…. plain-gauge tubes i think

long gone now… but ride with two people who have and regularly use their kobe ti and MG and they love 'em…

big tyres and an appropriate seatpost recommended

yes – just rebuilt mine with new 120mm rebas; its fun – well impressed with the maxle lite

on my 2007 20" orange five – the head tube is 140mm plus i'm estimating the steerer is just over 200mm, i'm running a hope headset and a 5mm spacer under a Sunline V1 stem (which has an approx. height of 35mm)

if you are running a tall stem it may be right on the limit for a 20" frame with the 195mm steerer – my lyric 2 steps (190mm steerer) won't fit on my five with a thomson stem and hope headeset but should with a crank bros headset and sunline stem as these both have smaller stack heights…

exposed seatpost is around 220mm to saddle clamp

stop wasting your time john and just use what you have ffs…

must do that route again…. :) right of way or not

ta – i think you need an account for it to show up

anybody know what they charge for postage of suspension forks?

thanks