Schwalbe Racing Ralph evo snakeskin or Maxxis Ardent. That’s what I use anyway.

Hi, I did get a demo but had to go over to eds bikes near Scarborough. They have a small spitfire and large rune built up, I tried both as I was looking for a large spitfire so tried the rune for size and the spitfire for feel.

On my Soul I’m running Easton Havoc bars cut to 740mm on a 55mm Ragley stem, I run a dropper but have previously used Easton & Nukeproof seatposts and been impressed with the quality. Tyres are a 2.35 folding Minion on the front and a 2.25 Racing Ralph evo pacestar snakeskin on the back. I realise this setup may not suit some but it’s perfect for me (have run narrower bard & longer stems but found the above works best).

Banshee’s are lovely bikes. Here’s my Spitfire at the back o’Skiddaw :)

Supplied with green tape as standard that needs removing. Cheapest option (assuming you have some spaff) is tape and valves from Superstar, £15 for both. For Flow EX get the 29mm tape rather than the 25mm as the 25mm isn’t wide enough to cover the holes in the bead bench.

Hope Tech E4 brakes instead of XT (I hate the feel, although others don’t), Hope hoops with flow EX rims instead of the Eastons and swap the Haven bars for Havocs for the extra length.

I’d also go for the frame in Gulf Racing colours, it looks a bit garish in photo’s but I’ve seen one in the flesh and it looks lovely !

Pics when done please !

Here’s my Spitfire at the back o’Skiddaw:

Have used them a few times but only been to the shop in person as I’m only 5 miles away. Never had any problems.

I had mine done back in Febuary. I felt fine after 5 days so went for a ride with the kids and had to get off and walk after 2 miles :( It was just over 2 weeks from the op to being (as opposed to feeling) ready for going on a proper ride so I would plan at least 2 weeks off the bike.

Can’t think of any reason why it wouldn’t work. Just to make sure, remove your forks and stick a piece of 40mm plumbing pipe up the headtube. If it goes all the way to the top cup then you should have enough clearance for a 1.5″ fork.

I have used many Maxxis tyres (3 Ardents, 3 Minion DHF’s, 1 Advantage, 1 Beaver, 1 Minion DHR2 TR, and an On-one Chunky Monkey / Smorgasbord combination), mostly not TR on flows for years with no problem. Any Maxxis tyre should work ok tubeless with sealant on Flows.

I suffer with the same cramps. Use Noon or High 5 Zero tablets in your drink (1 tablet per 500ml) and take a banana or two to snack on. Should sort it out.

Fit the cassette before the adaptor !

650b. Putting me off buying MTB magazines for 12 months now as I’m sick of reading about it.

c.
I don’t understand the mentality of folk who tell me they don’t use mudguards because it makes their bake look crap when they have a foot wide streak of sh1t up their back !

Have ridden both and preferred Brechfa.

I ride the same areas and use a Butcher on the front and an Ardent rear. Butcher is the best all-round tyre I’ve used as it copes with all conditions really well, including rocks and mud. Ardent is a great rear as it rolls really well, is grippier than it looks and it’s a tall tyre so gives good cushioning.

+1 for the marin, I’d happily drive past Llandegla to go there. More climbing than Llandegla and a fair bit of forest road so it may not float your boat. descents are definitely worth it though.

Sounds to me as if you’re measuring the total width of the rim, the 21 mm distance is between the bead hooks.
For the riding you’ve described I would go for the XM319 (cross mountain) In preference over the EN321, however that would be my 3rd choice behind the stans arch EX and mavic XM719.

Or convert to pro 2 EVO by fitting the EVO freehub, axle, main bearings and end caps.

As a previous owner of a Blue Pig, I would definitely recommend the Ragley Piglet (if you can stand the colour scheme).

Mine are exactly the same as what you have. No need for a washer on the front as the bolt head is up against a nice spot-faced & anodised surface. At the rear the surface depends on the frame finish (usually painted) so a washer is used to provide a nice smooth surface under the bolt head.

1.35″ will be fine but if I was touring I’d be going for the 1.5″ for a bit more comfort.

I’ve had a Xar for 12 months now and personally I think it’s no better than the Hex it replaced but was 50% more expensive. Save a few quid and get the Hex, but try it first to make sure it fits.

Head doctors are crap. I bought a top cap & bolt from CRC instead, used the existing SFN and saved a few quid.

If you look at the end of the axle where the lever is, there is a tension adjuster with a small hexagon head (2.5mm I think). Give that a couple of clicks and that should tighten it up nicely.

Demo’ed:
Spesh Stumpy EVO Carbon
Orange 5
Cotic Rocket
Banshee Spitfire
Banshee Rune

Bought a Spitfire.

I lost patience at the last delay and ended up going for a Banshee Spitfire. Had it built for 3 weeks now and really loving it, done everything from local XC rides to 20 mile loops to an uplift day at BPW. Not regretted my decision so far.
However if you would like a small ex-demo black Rocket, give EDS bikes in Scarborough a ring. They had one part built in the shop when I was up there last month.

SS Excel or Lizard Skins Northshore for me, both work equally as well but the lizard skins last longer.

OP, your description could have been about me. I run an on-one chunky monkey on the front and ardent EXO on the back. Does the job really well.

I have flow EX’s, the best option imo is to use the superstar 29mm rim tape and valves as the 25mm stans tape isn’t wide enough to cover the small holes in the bead bench. Tape, valves and stans sealant is all you need if your tyres are suitable.

You haven’t mentioned your rims so I’m guessing they’re not tubeless ready. I’d suggest trying with a Stans rim strip which will take out some of the slack between the rim and tyre. Be warned though, Not all rims convert easily, I’ve converted some rims where I needed to use a compressor to get them up.

SRAM 9sp powerlinks work perfectly for me with HG93 chains. Can’t see why the HG73 would be any different.

If you want advice as to what fits your crank, it is a good idea to tell us what your crank is.

+1 for the blue pig. I used to have one and absolutely loved it. Only got rid to build a banshee spitfire.

Cosmetic. Aluminium forms an oxide which protects the base metal underneath. Don’t rub it off !

BPW day 1, ‘The Gap’ day 2 (That’s what I’m doing on the 11th and 12th April anyway).

I put one on the back of my soul yesterday, which will probably have more grip in mud than the knackered mud-x it replaced. Will be a few more weeks yet before the 2.25 beaver comes off the front though.

Pics ?

I’ve ran both on stans flow rims without any problems.