I’ve got the grade FB (flat bar version) and it’s a cracking bike – running it with 35mm Vittoria tyres at the mo and it’s showing its versatility

Forme Ripley for £499? http://www.startfitness.co.uk/forme-ripley-1-hardtail-mtb-blue-for93.html
Seems cracking value

Probably not fashionable, but the Voodoo Bizango is a great bike (I’ve had one but moved on to FS now) and would leave plenty of change for upgrades including dropper, etc should be around £460 with BC discount

Brilliant, many thanks. Will take these pics with me to the ironmongers/ local bearing shop tomorrow and see what they have.
Once again, thanks for taking the time to help out

Thanks all, very much appreciated.

Will send some dm’s, and that would be great if you could measure one for me

Thanks, but it’s the actual bolts I’m looking for. I’ve got the frame, I’ve got the shock and bushings, I’ve got the measurements for the mountings but just can’t attach it all to the frame

Yep, that’s the one

Hi

Thanks all

It’s the silver and green model & no, I haven’t got the bolts or the mounting hardware as it didn’t come with the frame

Brilliant, many thanks.
Now I’ve got to find one!

I’ve got a GT Grade FB (flat bar NOT Fat B……!) with a Sora set – I’ve put a pair of bar ends on and find it ideal.
I had a Voodoo Marasa before which was also great, especially for the price, but the Grade really is a step up and as it uses the same frame as the drop gravel bike it would be easy to change if I wanted to (which I don’t as I really like the flat bars)

Thanks all

It is more a pain in the posterior!

I wear padded shorts & trousers, usually of the Aldi variety – is there anything wrong with these? Would a better pair of shorts provide more protection?

I’m using the standard Carrera saddle that came on the bike, I’ve done the sit bone measurement and it comes out around 110mm – would a specific saddle make much difference? Any recommendations? Charge Spoon?

I’ve got wide feet compounded by having gout attacks which can be worsened by wearing narrow shoes. I ordered some Shimano wide fitting SPD shoes from Evans in half a size up and they’ve been brilliant

Definitely consider a Voodoo Marasa – doesn’t meet the Alfine or single ring criteria but is so adaptable – from road going hybrid to being a rigid 29er

I picked up a Madison Road Race Apex jacket for £45 a couple of weeks ago from singletrackbikes via Amazon.
It’s a roadie cut, but it is a very good waterproof jacket. Wore it last wek when it was lashing down and stayed dry, I like the fact that it has got vents on the chest and also the forearms so ther is plenty of air to circulate to keep you dry on the inside.
I asked the same question a couple of weeks ago and the consensus was to get something that vented well

I don’t like drops either, so I’ve bought a GT Grade flat bar bike. Comes with the same frame as the gravel drop bar version but with a handy triple sora groupset with shimano hydraulic brakes.
I really like it and having put bar ends on it find it ideal at commuting with the ability to fit wider tyres to go off the beaten path. You can also pick them up pretty cheap at the minute

Just by way of an update

I managed to pick up a Madison Road Race Apex 2015 fully breathable jacket from Amazon for £44 – seems good value. Arrived today and fits nicely, it’s a roadie fit but not too worried by that as its got the all important venting – 2 chest/pits and interestingly two on the inside of the forearms – should help keep things cooler

Thanks all

Will look at the Decathlon ones – does they size well?

I bought one of the Dare2B Reverence jackets a couple of weeks ago & thought I’d try that again tonight with the pit vents open. What a rubbish jacket, I was wetter inside than a…………, well it was just wet!
Having played golf in monsoon conditions and wore good quality waterproofs that weren’t top of the range, I know how they should work – but to call something “breathable” when it plainly isn’t is just wrong

Thanks again, will report back when I get some thing sorted (good or bad)

Thanks

Bought some Schwalbe in the end

Cheers

I got some SKS Velo 42 mudguards for my GT Grade FB – they fit really easily and provide good coverage with the benefit of being fairly quick to remove.
Mine is the alloy frame version though, so has the permanent bridge
GT grade

All open when I took the kids up there last week.

Marstons Starling Cloud in Aberystwyth have a travelodge style hotel that is only 10 mins away

Thanks all

Will try parcelforce online

Clive Powell, Elan Valley Cyclery in Rhayader

Apparently, I’ve got some 29er My16 Rebas coming tomorrow for the princely sum of £143 including pump and service kit – seems ok to me. Will see if they turn up

Just got the Voodoo Marasa – a cheap bike at the minute.

Have put CX tyres on it at the mo so can do a bit of road, bridleway, etc, but there’s enough clearance I reckon to get some 2.1’s installed

Just to add another one to the mix

the Raleigh Performance 20

I was looking for a first “big” bike for my 6 year old. I’d looked at the usual Islabikes, Frog, etc and whilst they were great, they were really expensive. Looking at other brands, I can’t believe that they make kids bikes that weigh nearly as much as my Bizango!

Anyway, I stumbled across the Raleigh Performance 20. Specs look great, triple butted frame, junior size controls and a weight of 8kg.
A bit of searching on ‘tinterweb brought up what I was looking for at Tredz and using a 10% off code the bike cost £165 – which is a lot cheaper than the established premium brands.
It looks fantastic. I’ve just given it a quick weigh, and with the pedals on it comes out at 8.5kg so not bad at all.

Just a quick heads up in case anybody is searching for an affordable but light childrens bike

There’s a drinking fountain opposite the post office by the village green in Llangurig that you could use

New here but been a lurker for a while

Garmin available on Amazon for the same price – only 4 left though