Power connectors are essentially the same as have been used on Lumicycle lights for years without any problems I'm aware of.

I've had the same on my LEDs over 2 years and water has never got in.

Troutie likes his silicone so they are pretty well sealed!

I've had 2 Seat Alhambra's (first was nicked), been really happy with them and totally reliable (though aircon had gone on the first one: and never got to find out if it just needed a regas as it was nicked before I got round to it).

I recently picked up an '04 130bhp diesel SE (top of range) with 60K for just over £5K. Does an easy 45mpg out of town. Nice drive (think the SEs have a stiffened suspension).

Rear seats removeable (but heavy and bulky to store) to give a huge bootspace. Loads of passenger room and all 7 seats are adult comfy. All 7 seats are separate as well (not bench seats): helps to keep the kids that bit further apart to avoid stray elbows!

Zafiras smaller, middle bench seat & rear seats only really comfortable for kids but do rears do fold flat into floor.

When we bought our first Alhambra a few years ago the Seat's were cheaper then the Ford Galaxy: now its the other way round as Seat's image turned around with the Leon etc. Galaxy's fairly cheap looking internally, Sharan's ugly & expensive, I much prefer the Seat's.

Chainreaction sell Hope connectors

I find the best setting for me on the Maxflex drivers is the UIP mode, using the 'Force Setting' option set to L3 gives a very useable low mode, easy switching to high power (or back again) with a press (so essentially duomode).

But crucially also acccess to 5-level multimode by press and hold on turn on. Best of both worlds! Do lose the strobe option in UIB modes but have never used that myself.

First ride out with mine tonight. 4 of us out: 2 of the new lights, 1 Troutelight mk1 and 1 Hope 4 LED.

I've been spoiled with my last light (a mk1) so not a complete revelation but really happy with it. a few thoughts:

Comparing the mk1 and mk2 housings side by side shows a real progression in the quality of the machining and the thought gone into the new housings.

Mount super stable and easy to use, a real step forward over single bolt mounts.

Liked the 'bottom window': I was concerned that there would be glare back from stem & cables etc but not distracting at all and gave some useful light down low for slow techy stuff.

Beam pattern was really even, nice bright centre area than a good spread of light over a wider area, no discernible hotspots.

Did a quick comparison with the mk1 (6 xpe r2) and the new light was significantly brighter, but very similar throw and beam pattern. mk1 had (I think) 4 narrow optics & 2 wide ellipticals and mk2 5 narrow optics and 1 medium (I had a few spare optics from my previous build which I used). So xpgs do seem a bit more floody, but not massively so.

I do seem to like a narrower beam than most, and I'd be interested in trying some narrower xpg specific optics (if they come out) to give a bit more throw. But to be honest on todays fairly techy ride I never wished for more throw (or more light for once).

BTW our mate with the Hope4 opted out of the comparison and was asking a fair few questions about the Troutelights!

many thanks Chris.

PS: meant to take the camera for some pics but forgot

Tried the Spotify Beta trick but didn't seem to work for me.

Anyone got an invite?

davewoods33(AT)hotmail.com

Misinformation from Swisstony I'm afraid!

The Lumi battery bag to fit a 2.6ah 4 cell battery is the Elite: works a treat with Smudge's batteries. Also compare the Lumi battery price (£95) to Smudge's prices!!!

Built up my 2 kits last night with Swiss. Build all fairly straightforward and no problems. Evrything supplied except wire, silicone and Arctic Alumina paste. The housings have been really well thought out to make the build as easy as poss, but is still very fiddly: if you're new to LED building I'd consider the full build option!!

As others have said these lights are beautifully made and finished: a real step up in quality and looks from the Mark 1 Troutelight. This is far from a new an untested product: been through many iterations in production and Trout's feverish mind! 🙂

Yet to try mine out in anger, but can't wait!

ChrisTrout, and great to meet you yesterday. Don't want to fan the flames of those knocking Trout and the lights, but he's just a very passionate guy who enjoys what he does and seems to take pleasure in producing a product that many of us also seem to really like and get pleasure from. Great to see the 'little guy' producing a product that beats the big companies, and moves lighting forwards at a pace.

After meeting Chris even my wife hasn't objected to me spending all that money on a bike light: now that's a real endorsement!!

Pics later

Dave

This is helmet mountable: there are a couple of slots in the bottom edges of the lights that take a velcro strap that should go through helmet vents (will work best iof you have a centre ridge rather than centre hole in your helmet). Some might say it is a bit heavy for helmet mounting which I think is partly the reason that the baby trout 4 LED version was created.

Dave

I've got a Remedy after having a coil shocked (but 160mm) Patriot66, and I like!

Remedy more towards the XC side of things than the Patriot. The Scratch looks mint, and more oriented to the downs. Depends where you want to make your compromises.

Lifetime frame and bearing warranty (on Remedy anyway) is a big plus.

Not sure about 5s but my mate snapped both dropouts clean off his '05 Patriot 66: no warranty as 3 years old.

He then bought a Alpine 160 (with just 1 year warranty)!?!

I think 223s are quite noted from frame failures out of warranty.

I guess whether you value a warranty depends how hard you ride, and how concerned you are of frame failures. I personally would not spend full whack on an Orange frame with limited warranty. I just replaced my Patriot with a Trek Remedy: the lifetime frame & bearing warranty sold it to me.

Check out the new BFe in the Cotic Bikeshow video on the homepage: looks sweet in blue.

If you're after a Holeshot I've got a frame maybe for sale. Also in blue in pretty good nick: hardly used. Also fitted with ProblemSolvers front mech stop.

I'm 5'9" and could get the saddle up to xc height with a 410mm Thomson

Dave

Not sure of TT lengths but I'd look at an Orange 5, Trek Remedy, LaPierre Spicy. Also a Cannondale Prophet if second-hand.

I've got a Remedy and its great. Not sure on frame weight but judging by looking inside the BB and the ping of the tubes I would not want to go any lighter.

Didn't one of the guys on ChocolateFoot do just this? Not sure if a piggy back shock though.

Split innertube wrapped round there, held on with a couple of zipties. It deadens sound and protects, and I for one quite like the look.

Looking good Trout. Can't wait to get fettling!

I guess the bottom finning will tie people to your mount, rather than using a single bolt Electron style one. If you do go this route I'm assuming you'd lose the thickened area on the bottom 'lid' for drilling and tapping a mount: will gain some extra space inside.

D

Trek Remedy? I've just got one and rate it highly. Couldn't imagine a better climbing bike that can still descend well, though not tried a lot of similar bikes. May be some left at JE James cheap

D

Long-term user here of troutie's creations: I've had 2 of his earliest 'prototype' round housings, 1 of which I still use, and have built 3 of the v1 6xpe lights. Only ever had 1 issue with one lamp i built for a mate, which was my fault I think, but the beauty is they are fully rebuildable (but a pain in the arse if you are the only one of your mates who can fix the things!!). Looking at the Hope innards you'll see that there's not a lot of rocket science in light design.

Me and a mate are buying new 'v2' housings.My reasons for sticking with the Trout brand:
– get the latest LEDs before any of the big companies = brighter lights & bragging power
– Chris has probably spent as much time in product development as many of the bigger players: I'm more than confident in his judgement
– He's a great guy to deal with
– I like tinkering!

There are many things I object to spending money on. These lights are definitely not one of them & i don't object to Trout making a few quid out of all his hard work: if you've followed his various creations over the last couple of years you'll know he's definitely not in it for money.

Might well have a new 16T cog in the spares box if you want to make me an offer. If I remember right I ran 36-16 without issues tho' outside recommended range.

I've bought one of the James' 9s. Might stick a pic or two up in a bit. Previously had a coil DHXed Patriot 66. i've kept the frame and front shock and moved all myold kit over.
Still very new, and is getting better and better as I tinker with shock setup and the shocks break in.

My thoughts:
Pedals superbly
Very stiff laterally can really throw it into corners
Fox talas still not feeling quite as good as my old Lyriks but getting there.
Seems to blow through its travel at the back: I'm running just over 30% sag and can bottom it fairly easy: some people seem to be stuffing strips of rubber in the rear air can to reduce volume and make it more progressive.
Geometry how I like it. Fairly slack and low BB (which can cause issues if you do a lot of techy climbing (particularly with forks down). The 2 step Lyriks at 110mm will be far too low for climbing IMO: I'd be tempted to convert them to Uturn coils.
Lifetime frame and bearing warranty!

All in all a very good bike. Great all-rounder, a better climber than my Patriot, but i think the Patriot was a better DH bike.

I run a super short cage saint mech with 22-36 and 11-34. No poblems at all.

Its the spacer on the drive side I can't get off. Which means I can't get the freehub off. I had thought of trying to tap the whole axle and freehub off by tapping the axle from the non-drive side.

Dave

Guess we are all recommending our own bikes, or bikes we sell, so I'll join on both counts:

how about a Trek Remedy: my new frame: great climber and singletrack rocketship, bit compromised so far on the downs, hopefully will improve as the shocks loosen up…

Or my old bike: Orange Patriot 66: just like an Alpine but a lot cheaper!

http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/orange-patriot-66-16-frame-clearout-3
😉

Slower climber but fantastic descender: loves the rocks.

200 X 57 GIVES APPROX 160MM TRAVEL, you can adjust the shock mount to give almost 'Alpine' geometry.

http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/orange-patriot-66-16-frame-clearout-3

I have fitted a statLED to my 'old' v1 Troutlight very easy to fit: a 4mm hole IIRC and a bit of silicone sealed it fine. Main issue is having enough room inside the housing but looking at Trouts pics there should easy be room if you keep the wiring neat.

Dave

Hope I'm not breaking any Cotic vow of silence…

New BFe will apparently be a mix of 853 and 631 main tubes to keep costs and weight down: maybe cheaper than last year but should be a very similar weight due to a few new nice touches on the frame….

I guess you could mail Cy if you're interested in more info.

deadlydarcy: unfortunately a way from Bristol: I'm in Sheffield

Thanks for the great advice so far.

'Garden room' is just what we've been calling it and a bit misleading. Not a conservatory: basically a single storey extension with patio doors: blockwork cavity walls and fully insulated tiled roof.

BTW we'd be getting a new condensor boiler anyway.

Shame about the insulating effect of wood: had our heart set on a nice dark wood floor…

And BTW angles on my 160mm 66 are almost identical to Diplomatt's Alpine 160. My 66 HA is v.slightly slacker, BB v.slightly higher, seat angle noticeably slacker.

I've got a Patriot 66 with a Pushed DHX coil. Like Matt above its running a 200/57 shock giving 160mm travel. U-turn Lyrics on the front.

Love the bike: climbs fine: cranks up steep stuff pretty well. Got a fairly light build on it (about 34lbs) and don't really feel the weight. No noticeable pedal bob. Descends fantastic: holds a line really well, very plush and lots of 'feel' (could well be helped by the Push tuning).

Adjustable shock shuttle lets you adjust as suits. Mine is low and slack and corners great.

Had it about a year and a half, ridden a fair bit, and all winter long and bearings still perfect. Paint is good, and realy easy to care for (I've done no more than hose it down).

After all that I'm seriously thinking about getting a Remedy: love the look of the Remedy, enticed by the weight loss, and just ready for a change. Need to have a proper test ride on the Remedy first though 'cos I've got more than a nagging feeling that the Patriot is a better bike for me.

If your after a 16" 66 give me a shout: mine may be for sale….

Pook: where's this area SWT are looking at mountain bike trails???

I've had a pair of Nikes resolded at FeetFirst: top job.

Check the inner 'insole' of the 5:10s first though. They are made of something like cardboard and mine were completely shot.

I rode all last year with decent walking socks and some older suede 5:10 Impacts. Got very wet, but never cold.

I just bought myself some 5:10 Karvers. No venting, and lace cover should keep a fair bit of the water out. Look special but should keep me drier.

I'm selling a large Xen in the classifieds 🙂

Mate of mine runs Lyriks on his older Prophet, probably had them on there for at least a year without problems, but then he is a bit of a mincer.

Think he runs them at about 145mm for most stuff, up to 160mm for rougher descents.

BTW: i was just joking on the mincer bit hoping he's reading: he's actually given it a fair bit of stick.

Thanks guts: heat isn't an issue as I can turn the current down. Washing up liquid ball sounds like a great idea.

I was looking for something similar recently and ended up with a Traser H3 Chrono.

Enduro will probably feel more of a lump than the Patriot due to teh more active suspension. I’d guess the frames are similar in weight (or the Enduro slightly heavier). I had an Enduro but got sick of the sluggish climbing so got rid of it for a Meta5.

I wouldn’t touch a Commencal secondhand because of breakage issues (my Meta5 cracked on me).

I now run a Patriot with a shorter travel shock (160mm) and feels fairly lively. I’d be interested to try a Five to see if it felt a lot lighter / quicker.

For a similar but much cheaper second-hand bike I’d look at a Prophet: sorted geometry and seem to be able to take a beating from a couple of mates’ experience.

I’ve got a Patriot 66: v. similar (but a bit heavier I think) than the Alpine. Built with coil Lyriks, coil shock and some strong but lightish stuff: Stan’s Flow tubeless wheels, XT, Ibeam, stinger chainguide, heavy Saint rear mech etc. Its about 35lbs with DH tyres. I’ve a hardtail as well but it only ever gets ridden at the jumps or bmx track.

Single pivot is virtually maintenance free, goes great up or down, U-turn forks do help with steep climbs. Great for tech xc or DH.

I think either a Heckler or Pitch would be similar. I’d bet you’d find an ‘all-rounder’ as good going down as the Quake, but not quite as quick in xc mode as the Fuel.

Loved The Specials back in the day: well actually about 10 years after their day. Still play the album a fair bit.

Seems I’m the odd one out, but I thought the Glasters performance was dull as. Terry Hall looked like he couldn’t be arsed. Not sure if he was always like this: acting cool? Might have worked as a brooding teenager / 20 something but looking at him I couldn’t help thinking he’d had a hard day looking after his teenage kids, and couldn’t wait to sit down in his armchair with the Guardian and cup of cocoa.

On the other hand I loved Lily Allen, the Maccabees & Friendly Fires. They seemed genuinely excited to be there and made the effort. Playing live is about more than just knocking out at few (albeit classic) old hits that everyone can sing along to.

Was going to send a pic of the cracked one that is an expensive wall-hanging in my garage, but didn’t want to add any doubt to your new relationship….

I was running Lyriks on it though so guess could be seen as my fault.

Lovely bike while it was in one piece!