We bought a base model Specialized Myka hardtail for about £250 new. Seems quite good for the money.

How do the bearings last on these, are they well sealed?

That was my first question to my mate who’s just taken delivery of a 601 (and got a 301 on order too I think).
Obviously too early for him to say how they last, but he did assure me that all Liteville bearings were standard commercially available sizes.
I’ll be taking a close interest in how they go on in Calderdale slop.

Regardless of the wheelsize sideshow, I’ll be looking at the Liteville 301 as next purchase, if I ever fall out of love with the Five that is.

Quite like the idea of the 601 too.

This weekend Im starting at 7am and salting my bacon butty

Euphemism?

b r – Member
My bike is more like Triggers Broom, about the only thing that is still on it from when it was built 5 years ago is the front mech.

I’ve got a bike that is officially 100% Trigger’s Broom and it’s not much older than the OP’s Meta.
I bought a Rockhopper in 2007 and I’ve since broken or upgraded literally every component on it.
Finally, a few months ago I broke the frame. Thanks to good old Spesh warranty department, I now have a bike with NOT ONE SINGLE original part remaining. 🙂

Head rules the shortlisting process and heart makes the final selection.

yes, absolutely fine on a hardtail.

My problem is that I sweat like a pig whatever the temperature.
In these conditions though, it’s impacting how far I can go as I just can’t get enough water and electrolyte in.
eg. Last Saturday was only about 5 hour/25 miles and less than 1000m climbing but I still went through 3 litres and suffered cramp later that evening.
Anything above about 15 degrees is getting a bit too warm for my liking.

I’m a hater when it comes to Fox forks.

They were the least resilient of anythin I’ve had.
RS faired little better. Neither lasted more than 9 months from new before waring through the stanchion coating. They’d both had lowers off and oil changed at about 3 month intervals.

2010 Marzocchi ti coils have been excellent for me though. Oil changed annually and still on original seals/wipers. So much nicer to ride and far more resilient.

glacier 79 is correct in every respect.

I’ve had the ’09 Meta UK (Large – which snapped as described)
and the ’10 as a warrenty replacement (XL)
The ’10 onwards bikes are in a different league re build quality.

None whatsoever. They are basically the same caliper and lever in both cases.
The XT lever has some extra adjustment and the XT caliper uses a fancier bolt to retain the pads, where the SLX uses a split-pin. Otherwise they’re identical.

Have you had a look at the “activity top up insurance” from https://www.sportscoverdirect.com/activity-topup-insurance/%5B/url%5D

It supplements your existing cover whilst undertaking that excluded activity.

[edit] a day’s “Rafting Grade 4/5” looks to be about £20 with a £90 excess [/edit]

Took me exactly 2 hours to get up the Llanberis path, and about 30 minutes down.

Only ever been up then back down Llanberis once. (‘cos Rangers is 1000x better)
2.5 hrs up 🙁
17 mins down 😀

and don’t forget to post up your Strava times after
[…runs for cover]

What is the air speed velocity of an unladened swallow?

African or European?

Don’t know which route we’re assuming here but I’d always suggest it’s better to ride with a buddy when in proper mountains, even the honey-pot ones like Snowdon.

I’ve had a close call riding Rhyd Ddu in Winter. It would have been a long time before anyone found me if I’d been alone and fallen any further than I did.

For a trail bike – Minnion DHF, Maxpro, dual ply, 2.3, tubeless

We did the classic 4 passes (AKA tour of Great Gable) route a month or so back. It’s definately worth doing.
The Honister-Buttermere and Sty Head descents are the better ones.

http://www.hitthehills.com/blog/index.php/2012/02/tour-of-great-gable/%5B/url%5D

lowey and easygirl are both descibing the same general area. There’s loads of stuff in there. Explore at your leisure or get someone local to guide you.
Don’t know where robj20 is describing, as there’s nothing near the dog kennels until you get to Wilderswood (that could be what was meant).

ICR is not that good, the descents through the gardens are generally better IMHO.

Where-ever you explore up Rivi, don’t forget that you must submit the requisite application forms to Lord Lowey in triplicate at least 6 weeks in advance of riding, as it’s all his land. 😆

I think the only pubs are in Bala itself.
It’s a good few miles down the lakeside to the campsite that we use but it does allow fires on the shore, so you can substitute with tinnies around the campfire. (The pubs in Bala ain’t so special imho)

Pant yr Onnen[/url]

I recall a recent instance where a member wasn’t happy with decisions of the commitee.
The commitee declined to accept the aforementioned individual’s membership renewal. 😛

pigeonthing is correct. The tolerance issue is between middle ring and pivot bearing clamp. Bash size is irrelevant.
Use the smallest bash that you can to protect the middle ring.

I have some sympathy with Hora (OMG, did I just say that?!!!)

I’m >6’2″ with long legs.

I had a 2009 Meta 5 in Large. Standard 350 mm seatpost was too short. Fitted a 410mm one which was fine at min insertion but not surprisingly I felt perched on top of the bike.
When the frame snapped (as they did), I took the opportunity to increase the frame size to XL with the warranty replacement. The bike now felt totally different but was more like a barge, even with a 50mm stem.

I bought a 2011 20″ Five and ran both this and the XL Meta 5 back-to-back for a couple of months to see which I prefered.
I found that I could get the Five over/round/through a lot more than I could the Meta 5.

I sold the Meta.

Ecky….is it really worth buying ski’s for a 14 yr old? …
… What are the maths?

In purely financial terms, probably not.

Being the first on the slopes in the morning – priceless. 😀

We’ve recently received a renewal quote for £75 per month with an excess of both £75 plus 25% of remaining cost.
7 year old Golden Retriever. M&S pet insurance.

At this point we cancelled!
I appreciate that they’re not a charity but I’d have to be in real danger of consistantly claiming over a thousand pound every year to make that look attractive.

Bung em in the machine and wash like any other garment.
Never even thought about whether to spin or not. Can’t see what harm it could do.

Have you considered Garda?
Warm climate. Italian Food. German beer. Riding to suit all tastes.
Sorted.

Bikemagic review of garda here

Yes, go down Dollywaggon. Yes it’s brutal but it’s fun, it’s a challenge.

I know you said you’re not too bothered about extra summits but I’d still recommend going up over the Dodds from Dockray if it’s not too wet. A much more gradual climb that way and more of the ascent will be ridable.

I love the 6:30 Wednesday night comedy slot but not with this fella. 😕
Cabin Pressure was good IMHO.
The Castle wasn’t too bad either.

We’ve booked flights and accomodation for Feb half term.
Same as last year.
Fly LH Manchester-Munich.
Pick up a hire car and over the Brenner to Kronplatz.
Brilliant little family run Gasthof outside of Bruneck that we’ve used about half a dozen times over the years. http://www.neunhaeusern.com/%5B/url%5D

My 14yo daughter will need new skis this year too. She’s got her heart set on Volkl Race Tigers but she’s probably a bit light to get the best out of them. Any suggestions for other 80%+ piste ski for a light but very fast & capable intermediate? (not looking for a full-on GS ski)

+1 for auto aid
It’s about £39 now I think and yes it includes home start.

NB. It’s a pay and claim insurance policy, meaning you have to pay for the rescue and then claim it back from Autoaid.
On the rare occassion that I’ve used them in the ten years or so that I’ve been with them, they’ve always paid out before I had to pay the credit card bill.

Tremalzo is mainly easy stuff but with some spectacular views. Yes there is some exposure but you’re on a doubletrack at those points so that would make it easy enough to keep him a suitable distance from the edge.
Depending on your route down, there are a couple of short sections above Pregasina that he’ll maybe have to scramble down but they’re just rocky steps/gullies and not exposed.
You’d also get the whole Old Ponale Road in at the end of the Tremalzo run.

Michael (aka qwackers, up there^^^) is a good source of info. He knows the area well.

[Edit] too slow 🙂 [/Edit]

In my camelback at all times:
3 litre bladder
First aid kit
Two tubes (even though all bikes tubeless)
Tyre boots
Patches and levers
At least 2 pairs of brake pads – 1 sintered, 1 organic/kevlar (same brakes on all bikes)
3 different mech hangers c/w bolts (one for each bike)
Gear cable
Chainring bolt
Rotor bolt
Multitool with chainsplitter
2 missing links
a short length of chain, maybe 3 links.
Mini pliers/tool
Cable ties
Pump
Gaffer tape (wrapped around pump)
Cheap packable waterproof
Liners for gloves
Emergency Haribos or Marsbar

Optional as appropriate:
Spare gloves
Rear mech
Spare buff
Lunch
Map
Compass
mid layer
waterproof jacket

and previously a spare cleat and bolts (no longer as now on flats)

A couple of North Lakes uber-cheeky summits on Sunday (sweary northerner style).
Feeling slightly achy now after carrying a 39lb bike up 1800m of ascent but still smiling after those descents 🙂

That is clearly NOT an Orange Five!
An Orange Five would have destroyed the barrier and come away unscathed.

Serious answer: New frame

Another insurance option with a lower excess = Sportscoverdirect.com
They do a top-up policy for DH racing, to cover what your regular travel insurance excludes.

2 Alpes was NOT included in the pass we bought last year (I think it was a full week). It’s definately worth visiting after you’ve done with the Mega.

Tips: The quali result is critical. I was on the very back row, managed to make up over 80 places and still missed the mass start 🙁
The quali is way more fun to ride than the race itself. Practice this.

Dual plys and either DH tubes or tubeless.

Another option to consider. Garda has a fantastic mix of trails for all abilities.
http://bikemagic.com/mountain-bike-trails/mtb-travel-guide-lake-garda-italy.html

Bike wise, Orange Five is perfect for what you’ve described.

That infamous euro-pop “Alarme” stuff at the start of the Mega.

fergal… exactly!
I wouldn’t travel just to do Glencoe red (caveat: IMHO of course)

Good allround do-most-things-well-enough bike.
Not owned one myself but a couple of riding buddies do. Pretty similar sort of thing to a Five I’d say.

If it’s primarily for uplifts & Alps, then it might be a little under-gunned but would cope (as would a Five)