Ashima from Toronto cycles.

Maccabbees – Wall of Arms. Quality.

First saw the thread a week ago and am now very confused.

So, is sfb getting some money knocked off that Giant or not?

Is it all just elaborate haggling?

Quality biscuit boy, quality. pmsl reading that.

I'd steer clear of the rocky mountain. Don't be tempted by their devilish looks, aftersales and warranty is shocking from Silverfish.

Heading over there for the first time myself tomorrow.

Should be a good 'un. Lets hope it lives up to the hype.

Oh, pizza. I thought it was a thread about the welsh boxer.

Spesh fsr maybe. May be too much of a step down in kudos for most though

Best – Marzocchi Marathon S forks, 5 1/2 years abuse and one oil change. Best fork I've ever owned (and I've tried one or two).

Worst – Avid Juicy 5's. Lasted 2 weeks before I sold on. Pads wore out in a couple of rides and crap wooden feel. And who designs a brake that makes changing brake pads such a hassle?

4 weeks and waiting here.

Shimano every time for me. Pretty much as near to fit and forget as brakes get – they just work – consistently.

And when they do need bleeding, its a piece of piss, unlike the Avid and Formula's.

XT's as much brake as you'll need for UK riding.

What fmh said. Fast rolling on the back but be prepared to slide if you put it on the front.

Crud catchers can be bastardised to fit downtubes with cables running down but its a lot of faff.

Better off buying one of these

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=22990

It has a couple of rubber cables guides that makes the guard stand proud of the frame so doesn't interfere with the cables. Fit and remove in seconds and quite secure.

The Macc Lads, Live at Leeds is legendary

Standard cables with Middleburn cable oilers. Cost next to nothing in comparison and shifts just as sweet for just as long as the other expensive offerings.

Very nice bike Lecht. Looks like there's some hard earned gone on that.

Not sure about the 355's being strong enough for a 14.5st rider! I've got qutie a bit of a buckle in my Roger built Flow and can't say I ever done more that 4 foot drops and weigh in at around 12st. I reckon a 355 would be knackered by now.

I'm not sure the weight penalty the flow has over the 355 is enough to make it a deciding factor.

+1 for the Flows.

I know its not on your shortlist but a Commencal Meta should surely be on there as well. Quality versatile bike. Demo's readily available FOC from JD's in Ilkley.

It's crank brothers. Guaranteed to be sh!te.

Only heard good things about Gravity Dropper customer service.

All issues I've heard of with the posts have all been dealt with FOC (apart from postage costs back to the US)

Wouldn't be without mine. Had it about 6 months and like many have said before, its one of the best 'upgrades' you can make.

If you're in the market for a new frame then I reckon you can do a lot worse than the Meta 5.5.
Cheap as chips at the moment with 09 stock being sold off for as little as £600.
A bit porky but very versatile. Tyre clearance has never been an issue for me.

Mmm, if it's rider not bike then there a lot of inept riders out there. I've never broke a frame before and have now gone through 2 metas in six months. One frame is bad luck, 2 is bad workmanship.

Used a Cane Creek Double XC short on my Cannondale. Was woeful. 'Sealed' bearings never lasted very long and cost a fortune to replace.
Ended up with some reducer cups and can now run whatever headset I want, although granted there are more to choose from these days.

Sounds like you've got people skills issues there tazzy.
And probably a shite bike as well.

Sunline Big S for me. I used to get really sore knuckle joints on long descents but having tried loads of different types these pretty much have eliminated it. Very competitively priced as well.

Is it Mankind with such designs as arms and legs?

Quality control is a big concern for them. So much so that they have moved production for their 2010 frames.

Several people have broke more than one of their frames, me being one. Cracked two frames inside 6 months, with the second frame being in winter hibernation for 3 of those. Sat waiting for the second to be replaced with Madison suffering quite a backlog from what I understand.

I wouldn't buy another, thats for sure. If I can't ride a 5.5 inch 'trail' bike as hard as I can my 5 year old Cannondale hardtail with 100mm forks (the original Crack n fail) without it breaking then I'd say there's issues.

That said, when it wasn't broke it rode really well, just be prepared to be without it for 2 months of the year.

Best of luck but I imagine wet trousers as you piss fruitlessly into the wind.

That seems an unnecessary large amount of pads. However, if you need that many I'd drop Toronto cycles a line. They sell ashima semi metallic pads at $6.50 a set, that's less than four quid a go and at that volume I'm sure he'd do you a deal.

I use ashima semi metallic in the rear and ebc red on the front. Seem pretty good in all conditions and the ashima last an age.

Merlins are doing a cracking deal on Commencals at the moment

I remember the bar, can't remember paying. Didn't realize we'd done a runner though! I blame the guide seen as he was with us ;).

Was over there the week before you with the same company in the same digs.

The guiding was quality, loads off the beaten track, and Glen really new his stuff. The riding round Chatel was awesome.

I'll be back there next year with them.

Just broke my 2nd. Agree with dasnut, cheap Andorran sh1te!

Keep an eye on the classifieds for the replacement once I get it. Obviously, I'll be praising the brand in the advert!!

Last – thomson x4 stem and minion tyre

Next – 456 frame (hopefully)

Not much consolation but wiggle (used to?) carry the 180mm as stock.

http://www.mountainbikerides.co.uk/fettling/hollowtech2bb.htm

Personally, i’d send back to betd and let them do it for £20 (including bearings)

Before bleeding I take mine off the bike and hang in the garage overnight by the levers with the levers pulled on (using spacers for the pads and elastic bands) so the air is in the reservoir before I start bleeding.

I then put back on the bars for bleeding. Seems to work.

I’d try the Imperial rotors from mtb-direct before ebay. About a tenner a go from memory.

These are quite cheap as well http://www.torontocycles.com/Selling/Rotors.html