Wrecker – not sure, not sure if as many are load bearing in a four bar vs a VPP

Oohh that 180mm travel enduro EVO looks AMAZING. Nuts.. indecision rules.

Sorry medium frames are too small and VPP bikes have too many bearings.. 🙂

My finger is on the trigger… 🙂

Wow Godzilla I think you may have just swung it for the Orange! Custom colours too!

I think its the Partiot or the TR250 leading the way at the moment.

The Entourage looks like a lot of bike for the money! No larges left though…

Not sure about the Commencal – not heard great things about the customer service. I think the Scott Voltage comes up too short. Transition TR250 is a good call – expensive but the Large looks like an ace bike and great reviews… hmm. Specialized Status a posibility too but not available as a frame only unless someone can tell me different?

WL do you own a new type patriot? I must admit it would be my first choice due to simplicity and durability – I’m not keen on a VPP type bike as I can’t be doing with all those bearings…

To be clear I am after a long-ish wheelbase, but without very long chainstays.

I think they are using the old meaning of Enduro here, more like Marathon XC, rather than the new meaning.

Filing welds smooth? I barely have enough spare time to clean my bike…..

I have become increasingly analytical as time has gone by, to the point that I now have such a good bike for me that I just cannot decide what to replace it with. Now there is a First World problem for you… Almost every single bike I look at is not quite right….

Not me – I’m 39 and don’t think I’ll ever ride a hardtail mtb again. Feeling fitter than ever and having more fun of my FS bike than ever.. can’t see myself riding anything other than a FS again.

Hmm – need to give it some thought. I’d love a new Alpine 160 but they are not on sale….

Thanks jam bo. Most of my riding out of season is winch and plummet hence my thinking that the longer travel on the front should be OK, I don’t do much flat….

I have been using some skinny Continental SportContact tyres for over a year on my commuter, have not had any puntures and they are grippier than they look unless you hit a wet tramline wrong. Or loose gravel. I still have the scars….

Godzilla that’s what I’m after, a mini Dh bike for nothing but mucking around

Wow Ecky thump how tall are you? Bike looks tiny! 🙂 is it a large frame?

I doubt it but I always leave it up anyway for no good reason.

Hi Hora – its the new style one I’m interested in specifically. There don’t seem to be many about from what I can see but it looks like a fun bike to me. Hmm…

Bump – anyone got one of these?

Yep both my lads (5 and 8) use adult elbow pads for their knees / shins. Worth a try before you buy if you can because the sizing and confort can vary a lot, worth getting something that is comfy that they won’t mind wearing.

My vote would be for the Alpine.

Same as a Zerode. Hmm…

Hmm – I calculate the reach to be around 424mm for the long, thats 35mm less than my Enduro bike… a bit short…

Yes that’s what appeals to me – my 223 was bombproof and if I do get another DH bike I’d want it for fun and to last forever, so thought this might fit the bill. I’d love Orange to put a Reach measurement n the site as it really helps when working out if a bike is long enough.

I take your point about Mr Jones not saying its too short – must be alright then! 🙂

Yes getting end of season rough in places but braking bumps are not huge – due to fairly regular maintenance which is very refreshing! I’ve also seen a video of a new swoopy trail on the Les Gets website, not sure where it is yet but that is as smooth as a baby’s bottom if you like that kind of thing. The rooty black runs in the woods are as fun as ever and there are some new scary lines in there too.

Nice! Less destructive than the checks my little lads used to do which usually involved a hammer or screwdriver and a lot of force – NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!

I’ll take that as a no then! 🙂 Doesn’t seem to be as popular as previous versions.

They do look rather good don’t they?

Bump – anyone?

Yes I’m the same, I find my legs really kick in after an hour on my road bike. That’s why pro athletes sit on turbo’s before racing.

+1 for Zerode, I have had the pleasure of riding a G1 and it was ace. Let down a little bit by the sizing at the time I think but the G2 has gone some way to sorting that out I believe.

I only ride a full sus now. Hardtails are fun but everything hurts too much afterwards now.

I bought a pair of boxxers of Mr Warner many moons ago, very nice chap IMHO and a far more entertaining commentator than many. I don’t think people appreciate how hard it is to talk for the whole of an XC race and make ANY of it seem interesting…. 😉

If you can get a 2011 XL Spec Enduro frame then you will find its a great fit. But sadly due to the new wheel fashions Spec don’t make it in XL any more.

Just for the record I would ride over a trail made of cats. But I’m not sure what wheel size would be best or furry trails that meow.

Yeah I seem to be having about one decent off a ride at the moment, mainly due to trying to ride hard stuff. I nutted a tree last night on an off camber run out from a rock drop I found and broke my new helment 🙁

+1 for getting used to it, I found the same thing when I started riding every weekend day for my commute. Also eat something with protein in it immediately after each ride, I have a box of Almonds / Pumpkin Seeds and raisins at my desk at work which I munch a bit of every day.

And finally as you get fitter you will find you can ride within yourself more easily and not get so tired, but still go faster than you used to :). And suddenly the weekend rides are more fun as go faster! Result! 🙂

I ride Maxxis Ardent 2.4 EXO’s in the Alps and find them excellent. Rarely puncture, and that only when I am a clumsy oaf really.