I passed on my way back from Brechfa on Saturday. No snow, looked very dry. There was some snow on top on the hills to the north toward Builth Wells.

should be good.

i’ve been to a few diferent resorts in france and the les arcs is up there with the best i’ve ridden, espiecally long and natural descents.

Get a guide to get the most out of it. On reflection one of the best places i’ve ridden.

This might fit your requirement. Here’s a review..

http://m.bikeradar.com/mtb/gear/category/bikes/mountain/product/review-giant-anthem-x-29er-1-12-45906/

Not my thing but got some mates who swear by them for longer days out and Mtb marathon riding.

Lot of choice out there though. Good luck.

I did the last dyfi gravity enduro on a 140/127mm full sus, was fine for pretty much all of it, there some brief moments when I wished I was on my bigger bike but overall it was fine. More importantly Iearned that flat pedals should be used instead on SPD as the starts were tricky to clip in and get going.

The linking stages were pretty long so a lighter bike was the way to go. I’ll prob enter it again this year on the same bike unless someone wants to give me a yeti sb66c, then I’d happily pedal that around 🙂

Here’s my alpine160 in mega action….

@ae212060 – loving your sb66!! How does it ride on full on dh tracks?

[/url]
DHR_Scanned_Image_20110810-1[/url] by dan45a[/url], on Flickr

Orange website just seems to show the current model.

I’m very interested as if they can make a 160 that can descend like the current one does but is lighter, so has abit more trail zip, thats an enduro weapon 🙂

Out of curisoty does anyone have any links to a new alpine 160 with pics or just details? Ive tried googling and get nothing?

I did LA up to san fran and onto lake tahoe and back down via Yosemite and Death Valley and Vegas a few years ago and was the best holiday I’ve ever done. I loved the costal drive myslef.

Def book yosemite and sf in advance as said above. You can Just wing the rest. You can pick up booklets in Denny’s dinner with local motel offers. Also book your Alcatraz visit in advance if you know your sf days.

If you are biking make sure Tahoe is on your list. Some stunning trails around there. Also North Star bike park is worth a look.

not sure if is says on here.. http://www.silverfish-uk.com/Technical/9946/Yeti

but you could email silver fish UK they are pretty quick to respond usually.

dual ply minion 2.5 DHF’s ST did ok for me, no punctures. That was on an SX Trail.

I have an ASR5C (also 140mm upfront, awesome bike!) but would be on the nervous side taking it to Les Arcs just in case I broke it…. it gets pretty rough and rocky on some of the off piste stuff. So big tryes are the way to go.

If you dont have the 142×12 rear axle fitted, i’d really recommend it as made a big differnce to mine.

Amazing place to ride though… enjoy 🙂

I’m assuming I can leave the cassette on then or does it restrict access?

thanks ratrap – that def shows the need for some tools but looks ok. I think that one tool came with the wheels.

Not sure if this helps….Afans demo SB66 is a medium fitted with a 65mm stem and 711mm bars. I tried it, i’m 5’8″ and found it pretty long to start, I slide the saddle forward halfway up the climb and it felt really good then. On the downs it felt really good, apart for the spindly for 32 fork in the turns…

I’d probably still go with the medium myself and run with 50mm stem as I like a long bike. each to their own…

ndg – go to afan and do a proper test and have a great day out… then you’ll know for sure 🙂

I really like the stump evo.

But I tried a Yeti SB66 and thought it was pretty awesome up and down for a do anything trail bike.

so SB66C with fox 34’s would be my no limit budget bike 🙂

lancslad – sort of going back on my first post…If you can have the 2 bikes perhaps getting 160mm full sus (spicy/enduro type) will have you well covered for more techy UK trails plus easly handle bike holdiays and uplifts.

He’s my 2 which has me well covered…almost… always room for more 😉

For trail centre bashing and loner rides I use my asr5…[/url]
Yeti ASR5 Carbon[/url] by dan45a[/url], on Flickr

For the alps and uplift days I use this…rarely feels out of its depth, I used to use a full on DH bike but found I can do more with the alpine in more places.

[/url]
IMG_0356[/url] by dan45a[/url], on Flickr

lancslad – Sound like you’ve got it covered. Just get out and try as many as you can and see what feels good…oh and also what looks good as that always helps 🙂

thought of any 650b or 29ers? My mate has just got a new 650b cube Stereo…it so quick up and down…
http://www.cube.eu/en/full/allmountain/stereo-super-hpc-160-race/

I agree with boltonjon, the zesty for doing everything, I’ve had 2 in past they are great. New ones have an even more agressive geometry so would suit your list of uses above.

Lots of very good bikes out there though…

Stumpy Evo, Yeti Asr5 or SB66, SC Blur Tr….all top drawer 140-150mm forked bikes.

suppose it depends largely on your budget.

crossmax sx’s are your only real option to save weight then (1755g) but they are pricey. They are probabaly the strongest versus lightest out there before you get into carbon rims.

You might get away with stans arch rim on pro2 but would not go lighter on and sx trail, but I am assuming you are using it for more gravity focused riding? If not perhaps you are on the wrong bike for wieght saving??

I had an sx trail and it was awesome for the alps and DH stuff, but was a slog on 20km plus trail centre rides.

I now run some 2012 crossmax ST’s and although slightly heaiver than the crest/pro2 setup they replaced they are definetly quicker wheels. The quicker engament is very noticable.

also just remembered CRC have some easton havens with 50% off they are pretty strong and only 1650g htat would meet your budget, easton have also released some sort reworked part free of charge for the known rear hub issue.

i would say hope hoops but flow rims on pro2 evo not crest on an sx trail!! I was really dissapointed with my crest hoops I ran on my 5″ trail bike. they got really out of shape with just regular trail centre stuff.

My flow hope hoops have help up perfectly on my orange alpine 160, mega avalanlche, UK DH, trail centre riding, I think they are approx 1850 grams.

I agree was there yesterday and a mess sums it up. Not sure what they thought they were doing removing all the rock from the part of trail that runs down next to the road after the top descent. It’s all mud now and super slick…I went off quickly expecting to get grip and was sliding everywhere, I don’t mind this usually but not when you are 2 foot from the road.

Lets hope the new trails are better surfaced.

bennyboy1 – if you are in the area make sure you do the climax trail ,yes its all about the final descent but its so much fun. I;ve ridden it with XC wippets to DH riders and they all finish with a big grin. You can easily pedal up to do it a few times which is well worth it.

As already said and I agree the dyfi forest is one of the best places I’ve ridden. The dyfi enduro route might be just what you are looking for as lots of natural riding with execllet techy descents but it pretty long (50k ish around the forest), and you may want to save some energy for CYB the next day.

heres a link to some good gpx’s for the area
http://www.dyfimountainbiking.org.uk/Dyfi_MTB/GPS_Routes.html

Turbo 1397 – Thats is lovely!!

Enjoy it, i havent looked back since I got one! soo fast up and down. 🙂

what fork is that? I went 140mm.

Each lap took us about 30 mins with a bit of chat. You ride out on the blue for a few km’s then join the black for the 30 min loop. I’d probably have done 3 loops on my smaller bike as the climbs are steep. Once you’ve done your loops you descend back on the blue to the car park…great fun.

Don skenes, ask for Owen, he’s got skills.

Thanks guys, this feedback has quashed my fears of being left under biked. certianly doesnt seem to be the case with 36’s.

FoD and Cwmcarn are my local uplift haunts so they should be fine.

I’ve also got trip to Finale palnned this spring so good to hear it held up in Molini.

Hope to do the mega again next year so again it sounds like the SB66 will do the job 🙂

also found a fair bit of pedal strike, could this again be down the 32 150mm fork giving a really low BB?

anyone got the sb running with 36’s find pedal strike an issue?

only trail I feel a DH bike is better for is Ski run. Others are all more suited to a 6″ bike.

I take my alpine 160 nowadays and its perfect for the uplift sections.

Not so great on the xc loop.

Thanks deanfbm! I thought as much with that fork. Can’t believe how it climbed, wasn’t far off my asr5 pace!

Anyone else with sb66 gravity based builds out there? Or how you finding them on uplifts or in the alps?

Ok so I tested the sb66 alu today and must say I am impressed by it, but… It felt a very light and nimble ride to me and as I am looking at it as an orange alpine 160 replacement for alpine holidays/UK enduro and the odd uplift day I’m wondering is it too similar to my asr5c?

I found the sb66 climbed amazingly for 6″ bike, and quite liked the zippy feel it gives along trails, i can understand how people say it comes alive when pushed hard as also found that.

But when pushing hard into corners it did feel a bit flexy and skitty up front. I believe the issue could be the build kit it had, fox 32 150mm forks with dt x1600 wheels and nobby nic tyres.

I’d plan to build with 36 floats and hope/flow rims, so can anyone tell me if this bike can handle more gravity focused riding? As don’t want to feel totally under biked in the alps or on uplift days.

Any feed back from sb66 owners welcomed.

Les arcs is amazing, especially for more natural all mountain riding. It’s plenty technical enough. you can do about 2-3 days on the marked stuff but to get the best riding get a guide. We used rob from cool bus.
http://www.thecoolbus.co.uk/history.html

I’ve done morzine twice now and after the second visit much preferred les arcs, it’s higher with longer descents and less braking bumps. I’m tempted to return but so many other places to try.

Stayed at chill chalet in bourg which was also very good.

Def go for it.

Thanks for the useful feedback guys.

I’m looking at new 2012 frame with rp23, and the intended use will be mini DH/gravity enduro/alps holidays/uplift days, I have an asr5c for trail riding and longer days out, so am used to a spirited non plush ride!!

So would like to build up with 36 floats, reverb, 1×10, pro2/stans flow wheels off my orange alpine 160.

I have a test ride booked for saturday (albeit with a 32 fork) so will hopefully understand the suspension characteristics more then. And now I know what to look out for.

deanfbm, how much cost is involved in modifying the shock?

Thanks for the repsonses! sounds fine, I think the hope converison kit should do it.

I think I was getting caught up in all the must have standards for bikes!

Anyone else done this to an Enduro, feedback is welcomed. cheers.

3 hrs is about right especially if early Friday evening.

You can take mountain road from Llanidloes to Machylleth which may be quieter but more winding, good driving road recently used on top gear testing the bentley.

I got an alpine 160 wieghing 32lb which climbs pretty well, much like what Johnellison says. just doesnt thave the trail zip of a carbon 120-140mm trial bike.

I’ve tried a lapierre spicy and nomad also at 160mm and found the spicy very quick up, and down. Didnt like the Nomad climbing so much, more the pedalling platfrom, but still a very nice bike.

160mm bikes climb fine. Go for it.

@cyclewerx- skyline cycles at afan have a new asr5c frame for £1599. That’s a great price!

I have 2012 ASR5c with 140mm float forks and I love it!! Don’t think you can go wrong whichever bike you choose!

Been up cwmcarn this morning… Road in is closed so you divert through the village.

Did the Xc loop, the forest climb has a fair bit of snow on it 6 inches or more in places with a lot of fallen trees over the trail so plenty of hike a bike!! Up top was clear as were most the descents. A fair workout but good day out 🙂

Doesn’t sound good. Just read that “the wall” at afan is ok so may head there instead. It’s 9 degrees and raining in Cardiff now so hopefully should help shift it soon…

Any update on this? Was a lot of rain in Cardiff last night with more coming tonight. Anyone been up there today?

Stay in swansea then Get down wind street on the lash!! Biking and big session = prefect day 😉

@dirtbiker – that video of the stage at the dyfi round is great. It was a tricky stage at the start to be fair, I went straight over the bars on the drop in!!! Such good fun though!

@op – I thought the standard of rider was pretty high on the gravity enduro series, but all good people and friendly, go for it! As for what bike, any decent trail bike will do but for me the perfect bike would be something fairly light and pedalable with a about 160mm travel. Oh and you need to be fit!! Enjoy 🙂