Thanks!
Lovely yellow 12mm rear hub. Mmmm

If you’re prepared to wait a bit, order some from Dealextreme or someone on Alibaba.com

Leisure Lakes it will probably be then!

Update: I can use the Halfords voucher at ‘other’ stores. Leisure Lakes is a possibility. I wonder if On-One accepts them? Any of my ex-work colleagues on here? (Participants of the great 2010 Rotherham bike-shop exodus!)

Hmm, I think we should start a C2W swapshop!

I’d go for a singlespeed if it was convertible to geared eventually. I will compromise if the unwanted item is easily disposed of!

I dont suppose there is a 120-140mm 29er ht eligible for c2w?

Erm, pm on it’s way. If somewhere is deparate for staff, it’s usually cos the staff are desparate to leave…

Edit: you haven’t got a pm link. Can you use Solidworks or similar?

2005 tour. I discount Evans due to his connections to Dr Ferrari so I’m elevating the next ‘clean’ rider Zubeldia as winner. Unless.. . This is SOME rabbit hole, it just gives me a headache. I’m burning all my Pharmstrong dvds and books tonight. “Its Not About the Bike” no sh1t Sherlock! “I’ve never tested positive”, just like I’ve never been done for speeding.

I tried a fully rigid 29er for about a year. Then I rode a fully rigid 26er for a couple of months. I went back to the 29er, just felt right. It just seems to roll better over the terrain near where I live. I’m going to be going mid travel full suss next spring, hopefully there will be a suitable Yeti by then…

Try Syncros Point’n’Chute (still available new on German ebay apparently). Enduro (reminiscent of old spesh gc) tread pattern with harder rubber centre blocks. 2, 2.3 and 2.5 widths available. I’ve used them on all my 26 inch bikes over the years and pumped up hard they roll fast, don’t wear out fast and the largest one floats great over loose stuff. I just wish I could find similar in 29er size!

+1 smartphone
+1 mm tracker

I currently use a Samsung Galaxy Note with mm tracker. Got a pair of double size batteries and external charger for 15 quid from China (runs 12 hours per battery in GPS mode). Bought a Pelicase that will carry the Note so I can view through the case. In the back of the case there’s room for spare hi-cap battery. Its a bit bulky but the large screen gives a good map view. For mild offroad and road trips, I strap the whole assembly to a modified pair of aero bars so I can check the route as I ride.
The Galaxy Note can use a stylus so gloves not a problem, just have to open the clamshell case to operate, might put an inner waterproof screen cover for extra protection in winter.

Thanks for the info, I’ll mosey on down. I’m waiting for the 2013 announcements from the likes of Yeti etc. Gotta work out how much left to spend on food and fuel between now and March!

Overtaking a headphone-wearing jogger can be hilarious (for you, not them). During my daily commute on early autumn evenings I would regularly scare runners as my large form crept into their peripheral vision. Some of them really screamed loudly!
Going the other way in the morning was sometimes differently interesting as I occasionally had to cycle through gaggles of ‘wiseguy’ students walking towards me who thought it was hilarious to not get out of the way on a 20FT wide dual use path. My solution was simple (inspired by the Masai tribesmen who steal food from lions). Accellerate and shout “make a hole!” I only had to do it 3 times in total but it added to my adrenaline levels for a few miles. Oh, then there was the pikey’s German shepherd incident but that’s another story.. .

Nope. Got a basic 29er with Bontrager XR0 tyres. 60 psi for road, 30 psi for mild trails. It duplicates my full-on offroad 29er except for lower bar height. The roads in rural aberdeenshire can sometimes be a bit rough or muddy so flat, wide bars suit me better.

You were lucky, I was on the road from Rugby to Dunchurch a few years back, NOT using the shiny new dual use cycle track, a nice white van man tried to make a ‘me’ sized dent in his nearside. I was furious, as attempted murder usually has that effect on me.. .

I’ve always used ‘ghetto’ rimstrips on Stan’s to ensure a good seal at under 20 psi. Schwalbe schraeder bmx inner tube, sliced down the centre and opened out to make a rimstrip. If the tyre requires anything less than 2 levers and swearing to mount on the rim, a single wrap of foam tape is applied on top of the rimtape, under the ghetto rimstrip.
Tubeless since 2002 with only 2 blowoffs due to excess seating pressure. No ‘field’ failures.

Hmm, no actual owners yet then?!
I was looking at 10 year old models for under £3k. Planning to do ‘under the floor’ LPG conversion.
I’m pretty handy with the spanners, I kept a couple of E32 BMWs on the road for a few years at minimal cost, did DIY with help from local specialist so not scared to fix ‘expensive’ German cars.
I’ve had several 4x4s over the years, worst was a Disco – eventually replaced the whole drivetrain, not keen on Solihull products, they have a value that far exceeds their quality IMHO. I would choose a Transit County over a Defender. More comfy. More roomy – but rare.
The best was a Mitsubishi Delica but the 2.8 diesel did 25mpg whatever driving I did! A LWB petrol Delica would be ideal but again – rare.
If the online reviews are anything to go by, most of the owners love the M Class but don’t trust main dealers…
Any actual owners out there?

Wife has a Yeti ASR, I’m currently building up a 1995 Marin Bear Valley for me…
Next Spring, I’m getting a 575 (again) though! I have a ‘bottom drawer’ which is slowly filling up with bits for the future Yeti.

Graves has been a disappointment, who can I swap him for next race?
Do I keep Hannah and Beer? Siegenthaler has been good value though!

To dissent a little here. ..
Bontrager Xr0 with ghetto tubeless – fast, light, bit of tread for ‘short-cuts’ and the puncture protection of fluid. I survived all last summer on them with a 16 mile round trip on mixed paths, tracks etc. 1000 miles, no punctures.

Can anyone tell me what the rear end of the 2011 575 is made of and is it carbon flex or alu flex? Rutland have got XL 2011s for quite a good price. (Them and CRC carved up Evolution’s remainder stock obviously…)

I also got my 2007 all alloy 575 down to just over 26lbs with nothing fragile. I’m after a SB95 now though!

I’ve got Hopes so can buy yet another adapter (I’ve owned ALL the adapters apart from 15mm!).
I just prefer the 20mm axle, 1mm extra on the stanchion radius isn’t going to make the forks much stiffer, overlap is more important and so is the construction of the lowers. I had Revs in 9mm and 20mm, there wasn’t much between them…

And while you’re at it, get the deep cup version, just cos you can on a Mega. JE James should still have some left! Nukeproof don’t seem to do them any more.

So that’s: 44EEOS DC

Welcome to the world of cheap, quality stems. I had 4 of them in 1.5″

The one that looks a bit like Rob Warner?

Probably be a few months until I get the funds together, might wait for 2013 Yetis to come out.

Original Raleith Torus Ti frame – cracked top of seat tube/top tube – was replaced within 7 days!

The replacement cracked at the seat tube / BB junction.

The third one was flogged on ebay immediately!

Are they any cheaper yet due to the falling value of the Euro?

I stopped commuting by bike/train (Nether Edge/Rotherham) after my ‘incident’ with a train manager. Felt miles better and got fit. But ended up with bad saddle sores cos I had to sit for 8 hours in my sweat! Still better than commuting by train with a bike.

Interesting replies!
Round our way I think it’s the posties throwing the bottles out of the van on their round. It’s rural so they have transits so they can get them about 6ft into the fields!
The WORST littering I ever saw was a bus driver throwing the remains of a takeaway banquet out of his cab window. BUT the story gets worse. He threw it out while travelling on the roundabout where the A46 crosses the M6 – it went on the bl**dy motorway!

Getting off trains while pushing a bike which has 720mm bars, pedals with pins and 2.5 inch knobbly tyres sure makes a hole through the idiotic throng who try to push onto the train before you have alighted. They only do it once…

It’s like flying low over the ground.
I get fit without knowing the pain cos the technicality distracts my brain.
I like the high-end fiddly technical gear like linkages and rebound rates.
I like the buzz from surviving perceived danger (bit like rock climbing).
You have to focus so hard on technical downhills that everything else in the world fades to a silent murmur.
It’s not a team sport (rider and bike versus the terrain and weather).
Nice scenery, few motor vehicles.

The river Deveron in Aberdeenshire, AB53 postcode area, lived there for a couple of years around 1999-2001, now living back there.
Want to change my name to Pitfichie as that’s where I’ll be living in 2 months time!

I’ve been recommended the Note. There are mounts, armoured cases, ‘fat’ batteries etc. My upgrade has been put back to August now so there might be more stuff out there by then. I won’t be getting anything from apple, no-one I know is happy with their iphone.

Is there a small tablet that functions almost exactly like a massive smartphone? With simcard slot, gps, etc. Just an idea I have…

Well, been here 5 months, got a permanent job with a 100% wage increase on the last one! (wasn’t hard to do, ex- bike shop employee!), survived the winter (mild one this time), been riding on the rigid 29er (learning to ride again!). Just trying to get my mitts on a rental place within rolling distance of Pitfichie! I sold the Mega to fund my move, now saving hard for a Yeti!

During all of the below, I was on my bike or standing within 6 feet of it!
John Tomac was in Bridlington when he raced the Milk Race all those years ago. I was working as event staff on the start of the day’s racing. (My bike was about 20 feet away for this one!)
Saw Gary Fisher at the opening day of ‘Follow The Dog’ at Cannock.
Saw Hans Rey at Cannock in his GT branded motorhome, looking for the camp site.
Saw David Hockney in Bridlington a few years ago.

MK1 GT Zaskar
Yeti 575 25th
Yeti SB95 in Turquoise
Nukeproof Scalp

Stan’s rims are designed particularly for tubeless (with fluid) – stop fooling around and go tubeless!

Mavic A119 – bombproof-ish touring rims. Eyeletted etc. I have been using a set for the last 6 months on my rigid 29er with 2.5 WTB rubber – mount up no problem and seal perfect with the 20″ Schwalbe inner tube ghetto rimstrip method (still use 20″ on 29ers, 26″ still too loose). I ride on rocky trails so they don’t have an easy life.

Just checked, £15.99 each at CRC. Buy the silver ones and no-one will notice the braking surface!