Ha ha, I take it you must be liking your new wheels Boxelder?! I was told to ask you about your Solaris, but thought you must have the Mk.1? Unless that’s B+ compatible also?

Drofluf – it was a Stache 7 I had a go on because that’s what my budget would have allowed. I called in at another shop on my way home and they had the top model, which had been the owner’s own, with £800 off. It’s a good job it was a size too big!

I’m still not sure what to do. I think some demo riding is in order, otherwise I’m never going to make my mind up or might make a decision I regret. I’m even starting to consider an all-mountain hardtail with a travel-adjustable fork!

I definitely know rigid won’t be for me longterm though, and a second bike is out of the question.

Thanks everyone for your input, it’s brought me to my senses. It’s a good job I didn’t take any forms of payment with me yesterday!

Edit – Boxelder – MrVear up there is the man you mention! :lol:

Scotroutes – not as wee as I thought! There was plenty of room for my saddlebag, plus more importantly, the eff-toptube will be slightly longer than my current bike, even with a 17″ seat-tube.

Nobeers – I’m actually more concerned about the tyres holding up than I am about lack of suspension. I’m wanting a bike to do bigger distances on, with a view to going travelling for a few months next year. What will shock you more is that the bike would be rigid for a bit while I decide/find a suspension fork. Anyway, if I don’t get on with it, it can soon be sold. My current bike has 26″ wheels, so I’ll get next to nothing for it, but that will go in my favour if I need to buy something similar back.

Allthepies – you could be wrong, it would at least end the misery of reading up on all these different bike specs and new standards like I have been all week!

Rene – I’m confused as to where Trek take their measurements… I actually measured the 19.5 eff-toptube to be 24″ C2C, but also measured the same on the 20.5 which is supposed to be nearly an inch bigger. I couldn’t measure the med Krampus, as that the size they didn’t have. I was caught out by their sizes though, as the 20 (actually 20.7) is the XL! I’d been confusing the med with the small before I went in the shop.

Rob – I’m the same myself! I know I’ll regret selling my current bike (mojo hd), but I’m just not using it as I’m not prepared to drive everywhere to ride anymore. I do live in the Lakes though, so know I’ll really miss a full-sus on the descents!

I think my problem is it’s a while since I’ve had a hardtail, and they were always set up with poor Dual-control brakes and skinny tyres!
Regarding the Stache though, I was put off by not being able to mount a front mech and of course, the boost hubs, mainly because I can’t just pop a standard wheelset on, plus I’d been thinking of a dynamo front hub.

It’s the Krampus I’d decided on, especially as I definitely wanted a double chainset. I was told that because of my short’ish legs that I might not be able to fit a saddlebag to any 29+ bike though. I’ve been and tried mine today and there’s plenty of room – if it hadn’t have, I would definitely have ruled 29+ out. I was put off that I was recommended the medium frame (17.5″) even though I’m over 6′. Turns out the large Trek has the same effective toptube length, so nothing to worry about.

Good point Andy!
Mr Hoppy – I’d reserved some judgement on the Stache’s weight and fork because I’d be going tubeless and the fork wasn’t set up for me. Maybe I just liked it because it was a novelty? I haven’t ridden a normal-wheeled hardtail in ages either. Thanks for your insight, it’s helped cast some doubts (which I’m pleased about).

I would have had one but my computer’s give up the ghost. Have a look on Gpsies.com.

Did your belly button dance?

I very much disagree with those recommending any Maxxis Exo tyres for the rear (even though it’s what I’m using myself til it wears out!). I just don’t think there’s enough meat on them compared to proper UST’s or, of course, dual-ply. The problem I’ve found with the HRII’s in particular are slices to the actual tread… The only other tyre I’ve had similar problems with was a paper-thin, non-tubeless Panaracer!

I agree with trail rat. Don’t do a cowboy job… Putting electric cables where folk wouldn’t expect to find them is lethal.
I had a similar problem, but with living in a bungalow everything was more accessible – I ended up cutting the chases in the walls myself, ready for the electrician.

Oury Lock-on’s? I had to sell mine as I thought they were too thick!

I’ve been wanting to have a crack at it before I’m 40, but between my own thoughts of the route and reading comments like ‘The only other thing I’d say is most of it is doubletrack, not single track. Just saying.’, makes me think it’s not for me. BUT, after reading a trip report like the one Jameso posted above that makes me want to do it!

I once went on a trip to Spain and found the terrain too boring (just that particular region). I ended up hiring a van and took off to a different area. It makes me wonder if I’d be better off trying something like the Colorado and/or Arizona trails, if going to the US?

Anyway, good luck OP if you’re going to do it.

I know it’s not what you’re asking for, but TalkTalk are offering a simple, unlimited broadband package – it’s supposed to be £5 on top of line rental. It’s free for 18 months at the moment though, and you get a £100 voucher for somewhere or other.

Is your frame broken? If not, I’d have thought you’d still get at least a few hundred quid for it (worst case scenario). And, when it comes to getting a new frame, shop about…I’ve never paid full price for any frame, however new or in demand it was. I think you’d save more than the Turner deal this way – ignore the exchange rate. I’ve bought plenty from the US, but never to save money.

Thanks for all the replies. I’m going to take it to my LBS, as I only do minor tweaks to my wheel’s anyway.
There’s nothing wrong with my frame, plus it’s had two sets of wheels that were bought separately fitted before without this problem.
I can’t check my old wheels, as they were stripped down and the hubs sold. No, it’s not the tyre – the measurements above are how far the rim is out.
I need to make sure they can be altered or I’m not going to be able to send them back if the job’s started and can’t be done. You might be wondering why I don’t just send them back – I just haven’t seen any others with this hub/rim combination for sale, let alone in the condition they are and at the price I paid.

Try Parcelmonkey or Interparcel – I recently sold a massive gas fire that weighed over 40kg…it still cost less than £30 to send!

Ignore the other posts. You’re looking in the wrong place for the route – go to ‘where to’, then ‘saved rides’. That’s where it will be.
If you have any problems with it displaying correctly, convert it on Gpsies.com from a GPX track to a GPX route.

One of the posters on here is the bloke who makes the £180 ones.

All I will say is look in to when the 3 Kings holiday is – I was once out there over New Year and everywhere was closed for a few days. We only had basic supplies and were absolutely starving! It might not be too bad if you’re actually in Malaga itself, but if you’re in the surrounding area you’ve been warned.

I’m hearing of this happening a lot with the Stan’s Ex rims! I’ve never had a problem with the older Flow and Arch.
My thoughts were that it was to do with EX/Maxxis tyre combo’s though, so obviously that doesn’t apply to you.

Cheers for the replies. I’m just going to ignore it for now. It just seems too much of a coincidence that I’d looked at the ad about about the wheels when I’ve never looked into anything like that before.

The reason I don’t run is because I’m sure if I didn’t wear the tights and reflective clothing (never gonna happen) folk would think I was a mugger coming to get them!
The last time I went walking with a group it was mentioned that I looked like I was ‘on the rob’!?

Gary_m, not really, a lot of burnt food has more in common with some plastics…not something I’d willingly eat! Anyway, who wants to eat something that tastes burnt?

As per Twinw4ll and Mattbee, burnt food is bad for you!

I agree with calling these companies out when they spout bollocks, but posting up where you can buy goods cheaper isn’t really on, or is it just me? You wouldn’t go and stick a poster up in someone’s shop window pointing out something they sell is cheaper elsewhere. And, with anything on a computer, don’t most people do a search for the best price (I could be wrong there with the folk on here asking where to buy from!)?

Are those who are in favour of open carry the same kind of folk who wear mobile phones and keys on their belts’? If so, I know all I need to know about them. :D

I think OKCupid could be the dating site for the stereotypical STW’er, at least if you live in or close to a city.
Regarding Manson and Hitler, I suppose they had done a few ‘interesting’ things to get themselves noticed…have you?

Sorry to hear about this. I’ve had problems as a seller and as a buyer, but luckily not like this case.
I sold something to someone in Thailand, then they claimed fraud to PayPal after two days, but not to eBay…luckily I got the email from PayPal an hour before it was going to be collected by courier. I didn’t want to refund the money until I was sure sure I’d get the postage fee back (£40) – I got no response from eBay or PayPal, but luckily the courier company refunded me after a few more days.
I paid over a grand for a MacBook on there as well. The seller never posted it, had created loads more MacBook ads over a few days and was receiving lots of negative feedback with folk saying he was a scammer! Ebay kept telling me I had to wait a few weeks to see if it turned up! So I had no choice to wait a fortnight to have my money refunded! Raging was an understatement.

It’s no wonder so many cowboys get away with shoddy practices with what some of you lot seem happy with. Regarding tarring or laying resin on top of existing concrete or tarmac – it’s only something that should be done if the existing surface is sound. If it is, theres usually no point! Any cracks, expansion joints or movement will cause the new layer to crack! I’ve known some of those resin companies go bankrupt too, as they had to keep going back to repair where it was scrubbing out due to power-steering.

Keep reposting something in the classifieds that you know won’t sell. A few do it, but far less than those who do/have the things you mention. :-)

If you’re meaning the Woodcock route – haha. The current best time is 28hrs 31m and that was with vehicle backup.

Edit. You though the offroad route would be similar to the road one when it goes across Cumbria?! Are you from southern England?

Most bearings, as long as they’re not completely knackered, can just be knocked out with a punch or pointy hammer. I don’t think I’ve ever had to use a threaded rod setup to remove a bearing.
The only time I’ve had a nightmare was when the centre of a bearing popped out, leaving only the outer-race behind – the bearing was extremely worn though, so I guess the same thing would have happened with a puller.

Don’t know if it’s of any use or not, but it’s on Mixcloud and Soundcloud.

Don’t bother – buy through the education store instead (there’s a link on here somewhere where they don’t ask for proof), then you’ll make a similar saving but with 3 years Applecare as well.

I was told the easiest to work out what’s best is if there’s less folk than there is bedrooms, a meter will always work out cheaper.
I’ve gone from paying close to £50pm, now down to about £14 with a meter.

Alex – the cabbage thing means you’re not daft. I know folk who say ‘I’m not as green as I am cabbage looking’ when someone tries to take them for an idiot.

Chip – did you have a good time? :wink: