Haha I’ve got plenty of time for that! What better a time for biking than paternity leave?! Can’t face mountain biking in Hudds anymore, havent been out on it in months!

haha! That’s one of many variables that makes a good descent! Wouldn’t mind a guided tour around MTB-Hebden Bridge – heard good things

I live near Marsden and very rarely go down Wessesndon – It’s probably fun on a road bike but far too dull on a MTB! Packhorse trail is a good one though! But for me (Not done much) its the nice steep (and not entirely legal) descent from Stoodley Pike near Todmorden, it was a few years ago but I found it miles more exciting than anything Huddersfield has to offer.

Thanks, was concerned about corrosion but nobody has mentioned it…

Ive got the same forks and had the same problem when I put too much oil in. See number 32 on this list for correct oil levels: http://service.foxracingshox.com/consumers/Content/Service/oil_volumes.(assuming yours are 2005 – 2011). Have a look on Youtube, there are loads of good videos on how to service properly.

Dave

no right or wrongs then, everybody has said something totally different so far! Managed 8 years without servicing/ cleaning the internals once – hope I can manage that again!

Halfords all the way! They sell full suspension DH bikes for only £70, beat that for value!

Should I say, I don’t notice any flex! – whereas the flex from my old crap/cheap bar and stem combination was quite scary!

25.4 Easton Monkey bars with Thomson Stem, hard as nails, no flex – does the trick!

cheers – just bought some of that fox float fluid in bulk

How often (miles or age) do they need servicing?

What is the difference between fox green and red fluid? (both 10 wt.)

Many thanks

Check how tight the chain ring bolts are first, having even one not iron tight makes my bike creak loads, drives me mad!

Dave.

Get these pressed into your BB

http://www.mountainbikecomponents.co.uk/items.asp?CategoryID=237&Name=Hollowtech+II+bearing+upgrade

they’ll last years!

Follow this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jmWaIb8gmrA
It’s really straight forward, make sure you get scrubbing with a toothbrush to get all the crap out. The seals bit is self explanatory once you get the pistons out – very difficult to go wrong.

Good luck!

New £5 RaceFace steel chain rings seems to have sorted it. Is there any decent tools out there to grip the sleeve thing?

+1 on that – I got 4 clamps and think the grips are mint

Thanks for the advice, trying the washer one first – will feedback how that goes!

Ive got a 28.6 black elite you can have for £20 posted? Got photos if interested

Has anybody tried Pule Hill in the pitch dark? Thats the one on the left when you cycle upto Manchester Road near the stanedge cutting.

Its a good climb and v.steep drop, might be a good idea if time becomes short on Wednesday evening?

I’m up for the jonny rocky mountain route, if we are short of time we could cut out half of the goat track and drop from the goat track straight to the deer farm – its fun, particularly doing it sideways

Packhorse trail sounds good in the dark! Got a good route up from the goat track which would be mint in the dark

Think you’re forgetting a HSW member Ben! Work can’t be much of an excuse (assuming you still work in Slawit) and your baby is the same age as mine and I’ll be out!

Dave.

got to agree with you there – Wessendon is a little tame. What do you think of the drop from goat track to the deer farm? Love it!

Is there a planned route for Wednesday? Or a rough idea?

+1 to Yorkshire Pudding! It’s awesome for riding, there are no end of good trails.

+1 – Spray where the rails are built into the saddle itself too. That has been the cause of a creek for me In the past.

Climbing, it does everything cycling doesn’t! Seems to help biking skills such as balance, coordination and fear of heights!

My mate is a good climber and MTBer, he throws his bike around like it weights nowt.

Gyms, exercises and yoga all bore me to tears. Like when friends go on a two week diet – find a sport you enjoy that has a big focus on what you desire to improve.

Above & Beyond podcast + Dave Pearce trance anthems.

Nowt like it to get your adrenalin going. I ride like the clappers when I’ve got music on, and chillout without it.

I find escapism comes quicker with music!

Don’t think so, I can get the cassette on and off easily enough. The cassette isnt the problem. The freehub body seems to be seized to the rest of the hub.

Dave.

Beagleboy,

Just given it some not so gettle encouragement as you suggested. I tried whacking the cassette with a 4lb hammer, using a big heavy chisel. I used a metal ruler between the chisel and the cassette to spread the pressure and minimise damage to the cassettle. I’ve hit it as hard as I dare (very hard) and it’s still stuck firm laughing at me!

Any more (constructive) ideas anybody?

wow! My Fox seals seem to be letting a tiny amount of oil out even though the seal were recently changed, this is evident as there is always a buildup of muck sticking to the oil on the stantions by the end of my riding… I’m guessing its probably allowing crap in, as well as oil out!

Do the Enduro seals let out a tiny amount of oil too?

I wouldn’t worry! I doubt Steve Peat was downhilling with anything other than QR clamps a few years ago!

Ive just bought a pair of QR 2007 Fox Float RL 130mm for £150 – would recommend to anyone! They get smashed around the trails just 20 miles north of you with no probs!

Do it yourself, once you spend 15 mins learning you’ll kick yourself for ever paying someone to do it.

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/article/workshop-how-to-set-up-the-gears-on-your-bike-23582/

read from point 12 onwards on the above link. All you will need to do is tighten the cables, don’t mess with the positioning screws.

If the above link doesn’t flick your switch – find a video on YouTube.

I bought the parktool big blue book when I was a poor student to save repair costs. Due to the book, the only thing I can’t do now are jobs with require expensive tools which I do not have (and would not make any economic sense buying).

Good luck

So, in conclusion… there isnt a favourite?!

Cheers for the help guys, getting sick of my SPDs and considering changing back.

http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/bikebuilder.asp?action=showframes&sub=conf_BBRW&type=RIBMO

Ribble all the way for a good budget bike!

http://www.mountainbikecomponents.co.uk/items.asp?CategoryID=237&Name=Hollowtech+II+bearing+upgrade

Get these pressed into your Tiagra cups, they’ll outlive a £70 Hope BB any day!

Any should cost you much to press if you have a decent LBS or mate with the correct gear.

Dave.

Look on YouTube, there are loads of official AVID videos which make it totally fool proof

Excellent, really not bothered about looks or weight for the chainrings. Keep the opinions coming

Many thanks.

Dave

My £20 Shimano Deore pedals have outlived my old Time XS pedals (£70) as the Time cleats seem to be made of cheese!

You probably have too much flexibility in your shoes, with a more rigid sole you can unclip much easier as you’ll be twisting the cleat rather than the sole of your shoe!

Stick with em, they’re worth it

Get yourself a hammer and some wood (to soften the blow). Then a large G-clamp to press the cups.

Saves a trip to the LBS

Agree with Three Fish. I’ve used SRAM 991, 971 and 951 in the past. Got sick of replacing expensive chains so went for the cheaper KMC X9. They last longer than SRAM 991 chains and are much cheaper. Well impressed with KMC!

haha like it – lubricating a MTB chain (believe it or not…!)