Apologies, thought I had figured out to post pics, clearly haven’t and now can’t delete this…

I read the review in MBR last night, a good read.  All 4 were under 12.5 kg from memory, and I think my old Boardman is the wrong side of 14 kg so they will seem light to me.  The Mason took the top honours, as their bikes nearly always do; the Fairlight just behind.  The Yeti seemed to have some budget parts included that didn’t belong on a £4k bike.  My issue is one more crash might see me give up MTB altogether and I would hate to have a £4k bike not being used.

I posted a while ago about crashing my old 26″ Boardman too often.  Sonder got a lot of mentions, either the Dial or the Ti Broken Road.  I’m a similar age weight and size to you, live and ride in the South Downs.  Let us know what you think of the Holt if you get one!

This thing about tyre pressures on the side of the tyre has been bugging me!  Road tyres always say 100 psi, or thereabouts (with tubes anyway) so I that’s why I had the MTB ones at 45.

The tyre pressure monitor is great fo 8 quid, I check them once a week now.  You lose a few psi over a week or two anyway.

Keen on the Sonder bikes, can’t work out if the Broken Road is more suitable for me than a Dial.

Southdownsbikes have a Whyte 140 RS with £1600 off, it’s full sus and is very tempting, reviews seem quite good.

Not going to buy anything just yet, got to have shoulder replacement surgery which could mean 8 weeks or more off the bike altogether, so will have a lot of time to research and irritate shop people with my slightyl niche requirements.

Update, first ride  on lower pressures.  Set both front and rear to 25 psi and headed out on the Downs yesterday.  This is on my track pump, got an order in for a Wiggle tyre monitor, hopefully that comes through.

Straight away, it felt comfier (!)

The conditions were pretty bad, had to abandon the Downslink near the new bit as it was under water as far as I could see, the 180 cost me a dab into about 3 inches of puddle, so I had one wet cold foot all ride.

Climbed up through the pig farm, plenty of green chalk on the way up but climbing on it is rarely a problem.   From the top I went south towards Steepdown which is on a narrow wet overgrown trail with a definite rut.  Managed most of it but the tyres were clogged with mud so I had one off.  Was going slowly, a combination of braking and managing to unclip meant I didn’t hit the deck.  Put some doubt in my mind but thinking the knobblie bits had been clogged I carried on.

The front tyre is a Maxxis High Roller 2.3, I think there is room for something as big as 2.5.

Definitely interested in the Sonders, will probably go with the ones around £1k.  The titanium looks nice, but I want to restore my confidence before I go mad.

The Pipedream isn’t available at the moment, and it looks like it would build up to around £3k.  This is getting close to the Mason Raw I mentioned which I am sure I could get a demo on, on the trails I know.  There’s a Ti version of the Pipedream though!

Pads are more expensive than I thought but I guess you don’t need to buy them every week.

Got a pressure gauge on order and will try with 25 psi.  I’m 78-80 kgs depending on the beer consumption that week.

These crashes happen when I am in the saddle, often coasting I think.  I guess the front end is relatively unweighted, so perhaps being aware of that and maybe leaning more on the front whenever I need a direction change will help.

And thanks again.

RE Sonder/ Hoops post, I’ve read reviews and they seem more downhill focussed?

Many thanks for all the replies so far, genuinely, I’m humbled!  I’ve posted similar on other forums and barely got an answer.

A couple of folk used the abbreviation LLS – is that long, low, slack?

Not going to reply to each individual response above, but thanks.  I’ve summarised what I have learned.

No guarantees with green chalk; glad it isn’t just me!  I knew it wasn’t but all the same its reassuring.

Tyres seem to be the main area.  I’m not running cheap brands, I think the front is a Maxxis High Roller, and I had Spesh Ground Control before that.  I’m tight fisted but I don’t scrimp on tyres, if nothing else they puncture more as they get older.  There’s definitely a clearance issue, at least at the back.  I went from a 2.25 to a 2.3 and noticed the wheel would occasionally rub on the chain stay.  Might be room for more at the front though, will have a good look at the tyres next time I go out.  5Lab linked to the Maxxis Ardent which could be a good shout.

I understand an aggressive tyre might be more draggy but I would put up with that for less crashing.

Pressure – I still have inner tubes so usually pump up to 40-45 psi (how accurate are the gauges on these pumps anyway).  Might try 30 or 35 next time.  Less than that will probably have to wait until the new machine and tubeless.

A mention for braking, but I don’t think either recent crash I touched the brakes.  I use clipless pedals but again both the recent crashes were so quick there was no chance of unclipping.

I checked my mileage, this year already done over 1500km on this bike.  Was 1600 and 1800 the two previous years, and then 2800km in 2020.  I was trying for 10k that year though…This makes me think I don’t need to look at training or skills; I’m not a newbie and I know these trails like the back of my hand.  Also, everyone agrees green chalk will get you in the end so perhaps I will get a session with someone that may be able to coach something into me.

Vision – I lost my left eye over 20 years ago, so I think I can rule that out.  I look where I want to go and further ahead, I think I pick a good line normally.

Pads – never really thought about them, assumed they were for spotty youths who wanted to launch themselves off a rickety wooden ramp into the biggest bombhole they can find.  But will look into these too.  Any go-to brands?  If we accept that some crashes are inevitable then I need to do something to protect my sticky out bits.  Chunkier gloves too.

So, which bike is perfect for the South Downs?  I think I am talking trail bike or maybe cross country?

I’ve never even had a dropper post, so I want that, tubeless tyres as wide as possible, designed for UK conditions.

Kinesis released an updated FF29 frame recently which might well fir the bill.  Trouble is, I think it’s frame only so no chance of a demo.  Merida Big Trail 600 also reviewed well but the brakes are weak so would probably go for the 700.  Whyte 629 V4? Hardtails seem to be a bit thin on the ground in the £1k to £2k region.  If you go lower you don’t get a dropper, if you go higher you’re into full sus territory.

Full sus then – Boardman MTR 8.9 or 9?  On the 8.9 the reviewer says the seat tube angle means it isn’t so good on technical climbs. The 9.0 is meant to be the same frame, but this problem isn’t mentioned.