Haven’t personally done any of their events but we know Neil and he seems well-organised and professional. His background suggests he knows what he’s doing with these events.

Several of our regular customers have done various enduros, marathons and sportives they’ve organised, and feedback has always been good.

The enduro series this year has had a significant sponsorship investment and I can only imagine it’s going to be bigger and better.

Not in Benidorm itself (why would you?) but not far away – we’ve stayed here a couple of times and it’s great:
http://theorangehouse.co.uk/

Not specifically bikey (they’re climbers really) but very welcoming and in a great location for riding bikes.

The owners have great local knowledge and might be able to point you in the direction of hire etc.

I don’t think you’ll end up disappointed if you go with a better-specced bike than you envisaged. I’ve never heard of anyone saying “I wish I’d bought a lesser bike”. If you can afford it, and especially if it’s a good deal, I don’t think you’ll wish you’d bought the cheaper one.

Have you test-ridden that bike though? I wouldn’t buy a bike based on what some people on the internet said.

– Peterstone Court just outside Brecon
– Nant Ddu Lodge to the south of Brecon – not sure if this fits the criteria of only an hour’s drive, it’s about 20 mins from Brecon.

I’ve had their smuggler out myself.

What did you make of it? It’s the one I’m most looking forward to getting in, to be honest.

It won’t cause problems. Can look a bit messy but you might want a chain guide – if not then blanking plates are available.

^ Applogies for the hijack but…have you built that Scout demo yet? I need to come up from Swansea for a cuppa and a sit on it…

It’s still a frame at the moment but parts are ready to go so it could be built up on Monday if you want a go…

New Transition Patrol/Scout have 73mm threaded BBs

This. Plus Merida if you’re after a value-for-money full bike.

That looks like a cracking build!

Go on a demo ride and find out.

Not sure if its still the case but a couple years back Transition had a demo fleet that they could send out to your LBS.

Absolutely this. Or your local Transition dealer may have their own demo fleet. If they don’t, surely worth travelling to somewhere else with great riding and a range of bikes to try. Just sayin’.

If you want “fun” then the Pyga should definitely be on your list.

Yep, I was going to say this has Surly written all over it.

Tredz & wheelies are the same company are they not?

Yes. Any independent bike shop which stocks Bell has access to this offer at the moment, mind.

Highly recommend Hilleberg – we (2 people) used a 3-person one for two years’ cycling in Africa and it’s still going strong. Lightweight for the size/durability/function/waterproofness too. They’re not cheap though, but well worth it if you can afford the price.

Terra Nova are a little cheaper and also make very good tents.

Plenty of cheap rubbish around too which will be fine for most purposes but will be relatively heavy and not last as long. Bit like bikes really.

Yeah a BigNine or a BigSeven what what I was thinking, there are models above and below that one too which can be had at good prices.

Some very good deals around on 2014 Meridas at the moment.

No worries. Understandable that it’s tricky to know what you want – TBH it’s tricky to keep up with things in the bike industry when it’s your full time job, let alone if you’ve been away from riding for a while.

Best advice I can give you is test ride as many bikes as you can. You’ll know what works for you by riding it, far more so that the spec or geometry on a screen can tell you – especially so if it’s a new bike.

If you’re ever headed towards mid Wales give us a shout and come and try some bikes here – or just swing by for a look around and a brew.

I’m guessing i can adjust the travel on Pikes if i needed to?

Yes and a set of 150mm Pikes may very well be what’s going on the front of our Scout demo bike which just arrived today.

Looking at the bike you’re coming from I think you’ll be impressed at how capable a good modern mid-travel bike (whether it’s 120/30/40 front or rear) is.

It seems quite specific to be looking at 130mm bikes and ruling out 120mm or 140mm bikes – I would have thought that there are 120mm bikes with more bottomless travel than some 130mm bikes and 140mm bikes which climb/handle better than other 130mm bikes.

Merida’s One Twenty 7.800 is 120mm rear and 130mm front travel. Or, given that there are some deals to be had on Pyga this month, a OneTwenty with a 130mm or 140mm fork might work for you – and I’d challenge you anyone to reach the limits of its travel on terrain suited to a 130mm bike.

EDIT – beaten to it multiple times above!

In case @nsbikescore1 or anyone else is still interested, our medium Transition Scout frame just landed… some rough and ready pics up on FB now at https://www.facebook.com/drovercycles/posts/10152488438507531

Demo bike will be built up soon – can be ready to go as soon as anyone wants to throw a leg over, really…

We’d probably send them to SRAM Tech or J Tech and either way they’d be back in under a week.

We have a set of brand new but slightly shop-soiled Mavic Crossmax STs which would be perfect. Thought we’d sold them today but they didn’t work (135×10 rear was needed). They do 15mm front and 142×12 rear. Give us a shout if interested!

UK plus:

France, Andorra, Spain, Morocco, Mauritania, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, Lesotho, South Africa.

Hoping to add some more!

We have a similar set up and ours hate being left in the run all day – we’ll do it occasionally but generally just let them out – as above, they put themselves to bed and we shut the door when we get home.

From time to time one of them will roost somewhere random in the garden so we have to get the torches and out search – sometimes we’ll find her, sometimes not, in which case she usually reappears the next morning, looking perplexed at why she is outside and the others are all shut in…

We’re not too far away either – in Hay on Wye. Local club, based around the shop, runs road rides on Tue evenings and Sunday mornings, MTB rides on Wed evenings, and will be doing some indoor turbo sessions shortly too.

We’re in Hay on Wye. Not sure which sizes we’ll have, probably a 19″ for the Saracen but we may be able to arrange for you to demo a 17″ too. The Scout we have coming is a medium.

We have a pair of ex-display unused Mavic Crossmax STs you could have for a good price…

We’ll have a Kili Flyer and a Scout set up permanently as demos shortly. What size would you be after?

Mauritius in indeed lovely, have been several times under the umbrella of my “other” job.

Hotels are generally very good for the money, whether top-end or mid-range. It’s a very laid back an relaxed place, stunning scenery, and very easy to get around – hiring a car and driving yourself is very straightforward (though when we took the hire bikes from one resort out for an 80km ride we got some strange looks…)

In terms or price, the only reason you’re seeing such high costings is, I’m sure, the dates. If you’re taking in Christmas, or in particular New Year, the flights will be expensive and hotel offers thin on the ground – especially if travelling out after the start of the school holidays and/or travelling back before they end – which I am guessing you’d need to with a 14yo. If you can go earlier in December, come back before NYE, or travel later into January, that would help. Early December is in fact one of the most affordable times to go to Mauritius.

This doesn’t apply only to Mauritius, of course. Those commenting about how cheap their flights were to different parts of the world at different times of year, are missing the point somewhat. If you want to travel anywhere hot and lovely over the peak Christmas dates, it won’t be as affordable as it would be at another, less busy, time.

Zippy – Mauritius is not bad at that time of the year, it’s the SE monsoon which means the southern and eastern coasts are windy and best avoided if you want to relax on the beach (hotels on those parts of the island have silly offers though in these months) but north or west are more sheltered. It’s pretty dry, especially in the lee of the mountains in the north and west. Temperatures are not that high – it’s “winter” – low to mid 20s during the day – although the water is still warm. It’s a good time to go in my opinion if you’re happy with not-scorching temperatures.

Other tropical places which are in their dry season at that time include east Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Zanzibar) – better in September than June though – and the eastern parts of the Malay peninsula (so east coast of Malaysia, mainly – less visited than the west coast and very attractive)), Borneo, and Bali in Indonesia.

Great pics! Good to see the Pyga in action again.

Depending on budget I’d take a look at a Transition Smuggler or a Pyga OneTen, too.

I’ve been using a Mountain Morph for many years and would definitely recommend – one of Topeak’s best products IMHO. Unlike BBS I’ve broken the foot plate but it still works perfectly well for me.

Lezyne do a similar pump, probably a bit slicker-looking and may work even better, but a bit more expensive I’d imagine.

We’ve got 32 x 260mm and 32 x 259mm here if they’re any good. DT Swiss Competition, you can have whichever nipples you want with them. Give us a shout if interested, they could go out in the post today.

A Genesis Equilibrium Disc sounds almost like the bike you want – steel not alloy (with carbon fork now) though.

Mavic Ksyrium SLS?

You’d get them for under your budget in a sale…

If you’re going to tour with heavy loads and climb steep hills, especially on rough “roads” you can’t really have “too low” a gear. Spinning at 4kmh in a 22 chainring and 34 sprocket combination is far preferable to getting off and pushing.

That said touring doesn’t always involve heavy loads/steep hills/rough roads (or at least all three at once).

44T big ring does seem a bit low, easy to spin out on that even on the flat, and again if you’re touring with heavy loads on good roads, you’ll want to build up some momentum on the downs to tackle the next rise.

I have 26/36/48T on my expedition tourer and would recommend that if carrying big loads. For lighter touring, on decent roads, your current setup sounds like it should be fine (if it is indeed a 50/39/30 triple – if your smallest ring is 39T then I’d get it swapped!). Are you actually finding the low gear is too high, or just feeling that you “should” change?

I’d prefer STI shifters

To be fair, it wouldn’t be £899 if it had STIs. I wouldn’t want them on a proper touring bike, either – though if it’s not going to go further than Europe or North America, then I can see the appeal.

We’re going to be linking up with Red Kite to support the enduro series this coming year and have been dealing with Neil for a little while. I’ve not ridden the events, but the whole outfit is very professional and well-organised, he has a wealth of experience, and knows the trails in this area fantastically well.

They’ve invested heavily in timing equipment which they tested thoroughly last year with no issues.

I have no doubt that the series will be very successful indeed and we’re looking forward to being involved. Hope to see you there – give us a shout if you do come along!

Most of their stuff does come up quite small. The bib tights seem a bit more generous though. I’ve got XLs and they fit well. 6’2″ and 14 stone or so.

If he’s not had any paid holiday then he’s entitled to 5.6 weeks’ pay divided by whatever proportion of the holiday year he’s been there. Plus backdated to last year if he’s been there longer than one (holiday) year. If the start/end of a holiday year is not specified in his contract then it defaults to when he started employment. This could add up to quite a bit of money.

If the contract states something unlawful, that bit of it can be ignored.

It’s never nice for an employer when employees “work to rule” and make life difficult (I imagine, thankfully we’ve never really faced this!) and life is not easy for small businesses who employ others and create jobs… but it’s completely out of order for an employer to screw their staff out of their minimum legal entitlements in this way. It’s not fair on the employee, it’s not fair on other taxpayers (as there’d be tax due on that holiday pay which would help the exchequer a little bit) and it’s not fair on other small businesses who do play fair, and end up at a competitive disadvantage (though perhaps having motivated staff, who feel appreciated and work harder as a result might make up for this….). So I’d say go after them for every penny!

/rant