@dvowles – if the reverb at full extension is too high when fully inserted into the seat tube then I guess a size large is just too big for you. Still sounds odd though as size wise I’m pretty much the same as you and my large is fine. Only you can decide what works for you though.

@thorpie – I changed the bar and stem on mine too. 65mm Race Face stem and Renthal Fat Bar Lite. Changed the grips too. The rear tyre was from Chain Reaction.

Here’ me/in action last week –

@dvowles – sorry to hear the T130 isn’t quite right for you.

The comments on seat tube are a bit confusing to me though. I’m pretty much exactly the same size as you. 5’10” with a 32″ inside leg. I run the seatpost on mine as you can see in the picture above. i.e. it’s not all the way into the seat tube (probably a cm or two of the lower sticking out), and I can run full extension no problem at all. Maybe you just prefer a lower seat but that would have to be really low.

Here you go –

2014 ‘Dale Trail SL SS – cheap

null

The ‘Dale is a lot of bike for the money. I picked up a 2014 model for £530 which was even better 🙂

Stock brakes were rubbish so swapped straight away to XT. Changed the cranks/BB for better ones I had in the spares box.

I also swapped out the standard tyres as I’m not a big fan of Racing Ralphs, especially the OEM versions. A 2.35 Hans Dampf on the front still has loads of clearance and can be run fairly soft (tubeless), to soak up some of the bumps.

The EBB is ok. Well, mine has been so far. I’ve run EBB on SS for many years though and never had any problems with it.

Not strictly answering your question on alternatives I know but just adding my thoughts.

I picked up a new 2014 ‘Dale 29er SS for not a lot (£530). I really like it.

There are a couple of weak areas in the spec but for the price you can’t complain. I swapped out the standard brakes for XT straight away. I also swapped out the cranks/BB as I had better ones available in the spares box. I’ve also recently changed the bars to carbon. So yes, I’ve spent more than the original cost but have ended up with a bike I’m really happy with for really not a lot of money.

Yeah I preferred the other colours but the spec I wanted was the grey one. It’s not horrid or anything. I quite like it – but I like the orange one more.

Here’s mine –

I’m 5’10” and the bike is a large. I tried medium and large but preferred the extra length in the top tube.

Got me one of those too

Obligatory patio shot –

Annoyingly, the new rear tyre has a yellow Maxxis logo where as the original front is white. That messes with my OCD.

Update

Loving the T130 SCR so far. I’m off to Spain with it for a week on Sat so will get a better feel for it then.

In the meantime, I’ve gone up in stem length a bit – now running 65mm (down from the original 70mm and up from the 50 I had changed to. Also changed the bars to Renthal Fat Bar Lite (carbon), and replaced the rear Maxxis Ardent Race with a standard Ardent. Tyres converted to tubeless (which was very easy as the rims are UST).

DB 🙂

And knowing most people are sat at home staring at the TV. It rocks.

Mboy – Yeah, I know. I prefer that extra bit of length In the top tube rather than in the stem. As you say, personal preference. I also find the standard stem pretty ugly but that’s also a personal thing.

AT 5’10” I’m right on the cross over of the two sizes. I decided I preferred a bit more length (fnar fnar), which fits in with the two other bikes I bought this year. If you’re a similar size I’d say try the two options and see what works best for you. I’ve now changed the stem from 70mm to 50mm on the large frame and it feels pretty much spot on for me. It’s all highly subjective though……

Just been to have a look at a T130 Works SCR as I wanted to try a medium and large as I’m right on the crossover between the two according to their size guide.

At first I thought it was definitely going to be the medium but I kept switching between the two (just riding around the car park), and started to like the large more. It just felt a bit more roomy with more space to move around when out of the saddle.

So the large came home with me 🙂 I may put a shorter stem on it though as the standard 70mm is on the long side and not particularly attractive. Standard grips will have to go too. Way to skinny.

Tyre wise I’ve used Ardents before and quite like them. I’d have preferred a standard Ardent front and rear rather than the Ardent Race on the rear but I’ll see how I get on with it before changing. For that size of tyre there is a reasonable amount of clearance. You could run a slightly bigger tyre ok but the Ardent is fairly large volume anyway so it looks ok to me space wise. Depends how big a tyre you want to run I guess.

I’m off to Spain for a week riding in the hills in a week so will be able to put it through it’s paces properly then.

Thanks leftyboy. Same measurements as me so quite probably a medium will be right for me too. Hopefully I can try medium and large to confirm though. Bought my last full suss unseen from the web and guessed the sizing. Never been quite happy with it as it’s just a bit too small even with a longer stem. That one (Kona Abra Cadabra), will be up for sale when I get the new one.

Oooooo that looks exciting mboy.

I’m leaning towards a T130 Works SCR. Going to have a look at one on Thursday but probably wont be able to test ride. I want to check out sizing as much as anything as at 5’10” I’m right at the top of the size guide for medium or right at the bottom of the large range.

If it feels good it may be coming home with me.

27.5 most likely.

Cool. I ride single speed more often than not so used to not always having the perfect gear.

Sounds like it should be fine.

At the moment I’m thinking either one is a good choice. Either would be good but they would both be a bit different to each other.

My current 26″ 160mm is probably more suspension than I generally need although sometimes nice to have the option.

Tough call as I’ve only ever ridden 26″ full suss.

At the moment I’m probably leaning more towards the T130 but not for any logical reason. Maybe it’s jut because it’s closer to what I currently know in terms of wheel size.

You need a winter bike and a summer bike. 🙂

Currently in the shed –

None of the above get used all that often now although until early this year the Cannondale and the Tinbred were my main bikes. I’ve added a couple “modern” bikes this year and I have to say really enjoying them so the older bikes aren’t getting used as much. I have a 27.5 geared carbon hardtail and a 29er rigid single speed. The wheel size does make some difference but the biggest change/benefit for me is the more modern geometry.

I use Chris King on mine.

On 26″ I have always used 2:1.

On the 29er I’m running 34:18 and that seems to be working out ok so far. Certainly seems to work for most things around the Chilterns.

Hi Hounslow

That’s a great offer thanks. Can’t see how to PM you though. No option on the profile page.

Does the map SD need an activation code or anything? If not, I’d be happy to copy it and return.

Cheers

DB

They sent me the wrong bike.

To be fair though – communication was pretty good and they sorted it out.

Above Les Arcs –

Black with a bit of blue……..

My newest bike. About a week old now but it’s already had a few cheeky upgrades.

In the past I’ve pretty much always gone with Hope. XC4s, C2s, Enduro, M4, E4 etc.

Lately though I’m using XT. They’re pretty ok looking, fairly cheap and work well. Have Avids on new bike but don’t really like them.

WTB Phoenix – 1996 ish.
Klein Matra – 1998 ish.
Cannondale F200SL – 2000 ish.
OnOne Ti Inbred – 2001 ish
Kona Abra Cadabra – 2012
Giant XTC Advanced 2 – 2014
Cannondale Trail SL 3 SS – 2014

Plus a couple of road bikes. Plus the wifes bikes.

Ok cheers. Can’t be bothered with porous tyres that take a while to stay up properly so I’ll just get some “proper” tubeless tyres.

Not OnOne. Not Yodell.

I’m being nice and not naming names. Not until I have my bike anyway 😉

Allegedly. Not actually proven though is it? Could be some manufacturing defect or failure. Or he could have just fallen off. There’s no information about what part supposedly wasn’t tightened properly. Not taking sides or defending anyone, I’m just saying there’s not enough information to form any kind of reliable opinion.

I assume you’ve seen / read this –

http://media.cannondale.com/media/Manuals/2004_eccentric_double_wedge_owners_manual_supplement_en.pdf

I’m going to be replacing the eccentric in my Dale SS pretty much as soon as it arrives with a Niner Biocentric II. Also changing the brakes and the cranks. That should fix all the main issues and give me a much “better” bike for still a very decent price (given that the bikes can be had for a good discount).

Not sure about the Cannondale eccentric but guess I’ll find out soon as I ordered one today.

With Bushnell eccentrics though, you unscrew the bolt until it feels loose. At this point you’ve probably release one of the wedges but not the other. Keep unscrewing and you will then feel more pressure as the other wedge starts to release. It’ll then start to feel loose again. Once you’ve done that it should be possible to rotate or remove the eccentric pretty easily.

I’ve got one but I don’t use it all that often . Occasionally for biking or a bit of snowboarding or other sports. I find particularly for riding it’s generally just too much faffing about and unless you are going to spend the time working on getting interesting angles and putting together a nice edit it will be very boring to watch. When I do use it tends to be for stills more than video.

Couple of recent examples –

I like it. What is it people don’t like? It’s a bike ride. It has decent variety. Not every bit of it is going to be everyone’s cup of tea but that applies to everything. Do people really go out expecting something tailor made for their tastes? Just enjoy what is there rather than thinking how it might be better for you personally. Or take up go for something. But then you’d probably moan about that too…..

Mine works fine. No issues. Sounds like a decent price.