Have used both because of On-One’s cheapness.
Monkey is much grippier on wet rocks/roots (IMO), I think it’s a heavier tyre but it’s not noticable when riding.

Really enjoying the Smorgasbord on the back as well, looking forward to more On-one tyres :D

I’ve got a Chunky Monkey / Rev combo, still a fair bit of mud room.
It’s on an Arch EX rim so blows up BIG, really grippy tyre, dead impressed considering the price.
Smorgasbord on the back, doesn’t seem massively different in shape as the High Roller ir replaced.
Both are coping well with the compacted snow / sheet ice lurking around here….

Have a Team Pro on my tourer/commuter/road bike, after years of getting to know one another, it’s really comfy.
Hopefully if I keep taking care of it, we’ll have a long happy life together.
Already outlasted several plastic-y saddles on other bikes.
It matches my brown bar tape as well :D

Agreed.
Weight saving is only good if it’s cheapish and noticable (makes the bike quicker/ more fun) IMO.
I’m not looking to win any races so 130g saved on a cassette doesn’t really add up to much.

Why can’t Shimano develop some bearings for my FSR frame? :wink:

[/url] 20130118_105643[/url] by doom_mountain[/url], on Flickr[/img]

[/url] 20130118_110350[/url] by doom_mountain[/url], on Flickr[/img]

Dead jealous of the amount of snowfall in everyone’s pics, Keswick hasn’t seen any snow below about 200m :(
Had great fun sliding around in the ice tho :D

+2

I have a pair of 520’s and 540’s, both 4+ years old, I stick to the same ‘maintenance’ schedule as the OP. They continue to defy logic and work flawlessly.
I reckon they are the best value component on my bikes…

Another vote for Meindl Burma’s here, wide fit, really tough boot, not light though…

But ultimately, go to a shop that will measure your feet and advise on a suitable boot, much more useful than any of us :wink:

@birdage what size tyres can you get on the Peregrine with full guards?
How does it handle when fully loaded?

Really like the look /idea of them, looking at swapping my rim brake tourer for one, this thread isn’t helping..!

Cake.

Yup, wet and windy here in the Lakes.
Loughrigg / Iron Keld should be alright as it’s mainly rocky.

Quick early blast of north’n’south loops at Whinlatter.
Wind was too fierce to stop for photo’s, ended up with very wet,cold feet. Friendly peeps about.
Fantastic start to the christmas break.

Making mince pies and mulled wine with my gf this afternoon, meeting friends for drinks and going to see the Hobbit this eve.
Merry Christmas all!

I’m aiming to build up a HT again with bits from the shed, hopefully a secondhand Soul.
I’ve ridden my one MTB lots this year, so feel I deserve to be a two bike man again!
I’ve been toying with the idea of trading my touring bike in for something with discs and room for bigger tyres.
I like the the Salsa Vaya.

I ordered one yesterday with a Chunky Monkey for the front, a pair of tyres for £27 – definately worth a punt!

I just took a punt on a Chunky Monkey for the front and Smorgasbord rear, a set of kevlar, Maxxis-in-disguise tyres for £27.48!
Can’t even get a single high roller for that kind of money….

Keen to get some while they’re cheap, how do they size up?

I mix and match cheap and expensive kit.
I have some Aldi stuff wich fits and works well (windproof jersey and gloves) but my favourite pieces of kit are my Gore winter bibs (3 winters old and still going strong) and Pearl Izumi pro bibs( half price and still way more than I’ve ever spent on padded shorts!). Both are well made and fit really well.
As someone already pointed out, expensive isn’t necessarily good… and I always buy my winter kit in the summer :wink:

Keswick is cold and frosty, trails are crispy :D

Thanks for the update Mark, it’s really nice to read an honest and measured response regarding price hikes.
I’ll happily keep subscribing as I think Singletrack is still great VFM.

Congrats! I completed my first home build this week, really pleased with it.Nice and true and fairly round :-)

Took a couple of hours spread over a few nights.
I used an old fork with some zip ties as a truing stand, will be trying it on the bike this week…

Currently gathering parts for a rear wheel, which I think may be trickier.

Managed a quick loop at Whinlatter in between chores.
Fantastic weather :D

JRA built up Arch Ex’s for my Pitch after killing some DT EX500’s, they seem pretty light but are still true after a few months of cumbrian rocks.

Do it! :wink:

sonofapitch +1
My Pitch is my only bike since I broke my Soda, perfect bike for the Lakes IMHO.
I have a road bike but that doesn’t count :wink:

Just moved, it’s now a 2 mile round trip!
More time and legs to ride off-road after work :D

KMB – helpful staff and lots of shiny things….

I ended up going for Arch Ex’s over Flow’s for my Pitch.
No problems so far, even got some Schwalbe tyres on them.
Seem pretty light, they replaced Dt EX500’s, so saved about 100g a wheel but just as wide.

I’m not gnar enough for Flow’s.

I have the very same hubs, they look smart, but had trouble getting spokes for a rebuild. Had to buy them direct from Hope, wasn’t cheap… but they look cool :wink:

I think the dodgy rasta graphics are quite alarming.

I have an Aldi Windproof jersey which is about 3 years old now, still wear it regularly, fits really well.
The quality and fit has got significantly worse over the years.
The socks are ok.

They’re brilliant.
I use them for touring and mtbing, as above they aren’t invincible if it’s lashing it down… but they’re nice and warm.
I wear them a lot more than just winter time.

I would agree with Loco, use them all year round.
They’re not amazing in mud but better than other ‘all rounder’ tyres I’ve tried.

JRA built me some lovely wheels with A23 rims (running tubes tho), used for commuting, bimbling and touring.
Seem to be pretty strong and give a 25mm tyre a really nice shape.
Still nice and round after commuting through the lovely smooth roads of cumbria :wink:

No bike today as I killed the back wheel last week, lovely walk in the fells instead, spotted a few promising cheeky sections :wink:
Weather was glorious.
Bike is currently being cleaned / serviced in preparation for new wheel…let’s hope this ‘Indian Summer’ holds out!

Cumbria, which is why I moved here…..

I’ve had a Camelbak Mule for about four years now, great solid piece of kit.
Recently got an Inov-8 Race Pac, which is super light but already has holes in..!
If you’re limited in budget a secondhand Mule is the way to go.

I test rode a Five and really enjoyed it.
Was waiting for a decent second hand frame, ended up with a Pitch.
The angles are pretty similar to a Five and it’s lots of fun… and cost much less than a similar age Five.

@Grum – yup straight up Coledale Beck past the mine, mainly rideable.
Then carry upto Coledale Hause, after that it’s all ridealbe round to Craghill and then fun all the way down… some of it’s pretty darn steep.

I’m looking forward to doing it again.

I did Whiteless Pike a few weeks ago, was fantastic (and scary in places) unfortunately my forks blew up about 200m from buttermere….

Highly recommended though, can ride quite a way up if you go past Force Crag mine.

Ullock Pike is on the list.

Nice, I’ve just built up a Pitch frame as well, mucho fun!