I’ve got one I’d consider selling: 27.5 2.3 maxterra tr exo. Done 90 miles. Just came on a new to me bike I’ve just bought.

Pretty sure last year’s mega was won by a 27.5 Commencal with 26″ wheels fitted. So hora might be onto something!!! But it was so bloody muddy that clearance was everything.

Run a 650b frame with 26″ wheels and its super low and rails like a demon. Might be something to do with the fun feeling before (but of course beware pedal strikes).

I bought a Canyon Strive a while back. Loved it. Then realised they’d fitted the wrong shock (too short i2i). Got the right length shock fitted and it was never the same. Guess in my case I was lower and slacker but you get my point.

Silver for me too

From what I’ve read you are right. But zero experience of riding it.

At least with the ccdb you know you can get it set up for the frame, and there will be recommended settings or there. Don’t know the adjustments / base tunes you get with the vivid, but do you think you can get it set up right for the frame?

Tyre clearance is a tight on those Whytes. Had one a while back. Fitted a new tyre, then put wheel in frame, then pumped up tyre. Came to take the wheel out and couldn’t get it out without letting the tyre down. Was the side knobs that were the problem rather than height of tyre.

I’ll have a set. Probably play it safe with the front loader to keep 30t compatability.

Never used a threaded 30t. How do they get round the centering issue Speeder mentions where the nut supports the chainring in the crank.

Sure I read that Jared Graves runs (or at least ran) ghettoed standard rims on his EWS race bike. Reckoned it was more reliable than a ‘proper’ set up: something about the extra lip of tube at the bead protecting against pinch flats I think.

They look fantastic. Nice work. Definitely interested in a set.

Interested too

I’d say a Codeine with Pikes is a very different (and much more capable) bike than a Camber with Rebas. The Camber I loved was an evo with 120mm Pikes, and I think the Pikes went a long way to defining how the bike rode.

Not sure on the weight of the Codeine, but the frame could definitely be made lighter (at cost of course). It does not feel heavy at all to ride though.

Camber Evo was for me the most fun of the 29ers I test rode (Camber evo, Stumpy Evo and Remedy). Great angles, low weight and felt like it could attack anything with the Pikes up front. Very impressed with its climbing ability (but I’ve not ridden anything remotely approaching an xc bike in a long time). Very good bike.

Now own a Codeine and no regrets. Heavier (but never feel it riding), slightly longer travel. Brilliant descender and climber with a bit more ability when it gets rough. feels super nimble and likes to get in the air.

If you want a fast xc bike that can descend very well get a Camber Evo. If you want something with a bit more confidence when it gets fast and rough get a Codeine

I do still remember the fun I had on the Camber!

I’ve ridden a fair few 160mm 26ers. Rode a top spec Stumpjumper Evo on a demo last year. I couldn’t get it to feel plush even with running a fair bit more sag than recommended. I wanted to love it but was underwhelmed. Could well have been down to shock setup though. Rode a 29er Remedy on same demo: felt more plush, as if had more travel. Bought a Cane Creeked Codeine: feels as plush and forgiving as 160mm 26ers I’ve tried.

So much more in it than just numbers.

No idea on torque settings as I’ve never used a torque wrench on a bike. But as far as the loose headset, I’d suspect some other issue as said above. I can imagine twisting stem with too low torque, but to loosen headset the top cap must loosen and the stem is going to have move vertically. Have you checked the spacer underneath the stem is making full contact with stem and headset?

Sorry no particular advice, as it was a while back, but I really enjoyed it. Felt better value than the Ranger and nothing scary/ massively exposed. As has been said above I walked a couple of very short sections at the very top, but apart from that great fun all the way. Mystified why more people don’t seem to ride it! Our only problem was hitting (not literally) a load of 3 peakers on their way up.

Struggling with this myself. Anyone able to pass on the wisdom? email in profile. Many thanks in advance

Thanks DrP. Followed your instructions and problem solved.

Round should be fine but square would be better as the legs of the optics sit on the corners of the square boards. Sure YOU will be able to bodge something though 😉

Handyman, the new upgrade changes the way the rear preload system works: old versions tended to come loose leading to bearing wear. Not had a problem with mine since the upgrade.

Codeine’s only got 130mm travel (but feels like more).

Canyon Spectral 29 looks good if you’re after a full bike

I’m on my second pair of Haven Alloys (sold first set with my last 26″ bike). First set had 2 years of fairly hard riding. I like them a lot: fairly stiff, light and hubs roll fast. Had a few dings in the rear rim of my last set but still sealed fine. Never had a problem burping. I’ve also had good bearing life. They have preload adjusters on the bearings which mean you **** up the bearings double quick if you over / under tighten them.

I have a 15mm Haven front axle for sale. £28 posted.

this one:

http://www.silverfish-uk.com/ProductDetail/15787/16214/M1-12-Axle-F15x100mm

Still on the website for me. I am 5’8″ and ride a medium with a 35mm stem. Feels perfect for me though I tend to like bikes on the longer side than many of my mates. From my experience they feel bigger/longer than the measurements on the website suggest. I’d also watch the stack height on the large size. Mine is slammed with a flat bar on 150mm Pikes. Not a problem if you don’t like your bars low.

I rode a stumpjumper evo, camber evo and remedy on a demo day and found they had very different suspension character. Can’t remember sizing sorry.

Remedy felt nice and plush. Handled well.
Stump evo not as plush as the remedy, like it had a lot less rear travel. I fiddled with air pressure but could not get it feeling as good as the remedy.
Camber evo obviously less travel and taught feeling rear end. Felt fast and a lot of fun. A little rocketship!

£140 on-one posts are not stealths.

I’ve got a 31.6mm 150mm LH stealth. Only a couple of months old and working perfect: rock solid. For sale at £180

Like mine in 29″ flavour. Chunky Monkey is a bit bigger with deeper tread and looks to be a better front tyre though. I ran a front CM at the megavalanche without pinching or burping. Good balance of soft compound and wear resistance.

FWIW, Codeine owners I’ve spoken to say they wish it had a lockout- one’s replaced the shock with a CS model which is pretty drastic.

I’ve got a Codeine and never once wanted a lockout on it. Pedals fantastically for me. My previous bike was a Canyon Strive: 160mm travel with a shock lockout which didn’t seem to do much. I wanted a better lockout on the Strive.

I like my Codeine a lot. Very happy with how the rear shock works, stiff, playful, big wheels roll over stuff very well, all pivots tight after a dfair bit of hammer inthe short time I’ve had it. Was surprised how much the frame weighed (heavy) when I got it out of box but definitley rides light.

Blatant plug but Sombrio Shazam X are perfect in the wet. Now discontinued but I have a pair in a UK 8.5 for sale in the classifieds.

Blatant plug but Sombrio Shazam X are perfect in the wet. Now discontinued but I have a pair in a UK 8.5 for sale in the classifieds.

My 29″ Minion have “Exo” and “DH casing” printed on the sidewall. They weigh about 1250g. My guess is those Stif High Rollers are just standard Exo: no “DH casing” printing on the picture.

I’m liking my On-One Smorgasbord / Chunky Monkey combo.

Pretty perfect balance for rocky peaks stuff for me.

I’ve looked for 29er tyres for megavalanche and ended up getting Maxxis DHF 2.5 Dual Ply. Only seem to come in 60a compound.

There’s also the On-one Chunky Monkey 2.4 which are fairly big and well protected, though probably same as an exo Maxxis

I also looked at Michelin Rock’R 2 (think they are a 2.35) which looked promising, get good reviews and come in 2 tread compounds, but probably not as burly as the 2.5 DHF.

Thanks Brant: got the hanger off Ben’s desk put by for me to pick up tomorrow. Good luck in the future..

No climb switch, but really does not need one on this frame. Pedals brilliantly: very little bob.

Mine’s doing the Mega (plus 4 days riding beforehand) in a couple of weeks time. Brant: any chance there is a spare hanger somewhere?

For routing mine goes inbetween the non-drive swing arm a non-drive BB shell: really neat though there is a bit of rub on the CNCed section above the BB.

I’ve got a medium. Sheffield local but taking my Codeine with me down to Bristol next week (training week with work but looking at getting out most evenings). Happy for you to have a go if you’re near bristol.

If these are the bars that come on the On-One Codeine full builds they are pretty much flat

Aaaaaargh!

Non-drive seal out, no freehub = spinning perfect

Non-drive seal out, freehub on = binds

By process of elimination it seems to be down to the non drive side seal number 15 in the diagram. Spins perfect with seal out, binds with seal in. Very strange…