I went to FoD for the first time recently and used the very efficient Flyupdownhill uplift. Certainly don’t need a downhill bike to ride the tracks but it was certainly faster and more fun and because of the uplift there is no downside.
Will be going back again soon to combine with a trip to Afan with friends and so will be doing it on a hardtail. I’m sure that will still be fun but my feet will hurt more at the end of it.

Can’t see that I would need one but I would love to have a go on one

Never had a problem with square tapers and agree that HT2 was the answer to an unasked question. Bought external bb because I thought there would eventually be supply problems for square tape. Probably wrong of course but I had a spare bb knocking about as well

I’ve just bought some external BB Middleburns because I like the non anodised finish that will not rub off, the Uno ring for a 1×10 and they are made down the road. If the are not square taper, does that make me a planet killer?

I use a specific Renault boot rack. Bolts into the roof tracks

Davefarmer
Top tip!
I am so stupid that I had not even realised that the non drive side even had an adjustable collar. Of course it is obvious now that you have pointed it out. Probably in too much of a rush putting it all together!
Thanks

I assume that as with most Maxxis tyres they come in lots of different varieties. I have dual ply super tacky swamp things. They are so slow that you could not contemplate using them as a general tyre even in the winter. They just don’t roll at all and life draining trying to ride them uphill. Only ever put them on for uplift days and racing where they are great of course.
Harder and lighter versions might be OK but mine are like riding around on plasticine.

Mine came with an uno ring. Easy to fit but a bit tight against the BB and so do not spin easily. Have not done anything about it yet as still a relatively new build and not noticeable when riding. Logically however this will shorten bearing life in the BB.

Good ideas.
For this evening it might have to be a bodge with zip ties and velcro!
I bought the big bottle battery because i ride a lot at night but in fact it is overkill, the battery lasts for weeks between charges and the small battery would easily have been enough.

Standard q/r and feel fine. It is not a downhill bike but a light flicky xc bike. If you want to smash rocks take a different bike!

I have just finished building a small orange Soul (before Christmas). Has 120mm Rebas and Hope Pro2s with Stans Flows running tubeless. I just run a 1X10 on this bike having been 1X9 on my other xc bike for ages. Weighs about 25lbs and feels great. Really worried at the time that I should have adjustable forks but didn’t bother and now riding it the forks are a non issue. Doesn’t wander and body position is fine, don’t feel like I am falling off the back at all when climbing. Very happy with it for what I wanted. Seems so simple but able I can’t understand why everyone hasn’t got one!

Hooja, in the light of your subsequent post, forget what I said earlier. If you know that you don’t need it except for the occasional XC then a Blood should be fine. I came to mine from a 224 and have had no regrets. I bought it because the very low bb and slack front makes it feel planted and of course not as good at huge or rock gardens as a 224 but better for almost everything I ride day to day. Steep seat post does mean you can winch it uphill and mine is used abroad which includes a lot of climbing and traversing. It is not even heavy at just over 32lbs for something that feels so solid and of course a hoot downhill and in the woods. Some people have complained eloquently and seemingly very knowledgeably on here about blowing through the mid range travel on the back but I haven’t had a problem. Have mine set with a lot of sag to exagerate the angles and maximise grip and put up with a bit of gentle bottoming out occasionally but I am not doing anything too hard at the moment (if ever) because I am still coming back from injury. When I do use it for a bit more of a ride with friends then just up the pressure in the shock a bit to more normal levels and use pro pedal on the ups. Not a bike expert but have had quite a few and I am very happy with it and would not swap. From the range you are choosing from I am sure they will all be great and whilst I do love hardtails I have more fun mucking about on full sus bikes.

I have an Orange Blood and of course it is good fun. Whether it can be an only bike, only you can say and will be determined by your riding. I sometimes take it on XC rides with friends but only if I know it will be short and we will be riding steep stuff. Also goes abroad where there is climbing and traversing etc It is definitely possible but would not be my choice as an only bike but I also do quite a lot of XC for which I have a Soul. If you don’t ride much XC then it will be OK, but be honest with yourself!

Agree with GT. Have 32/11 on a 2×9, a 34/11 on a 1×9 and a 32/11 on a 1×10. Only need more on smooth surfaces and then happy to cruise.
All problems solved (if there are any) with Hopes 36 or 34-9 cassette that should be coming soon.
Single ring up front is nice and quiet and doesn’t collect mud. Only have a 2×9 because it is a big bike and needs winching up hill.

Cheers and thanks for the tip.
Have not got much to lose really and will give it a go.

I am building a hardtail at the moment and so a very useful thread, thanks. Not many wide flat bars on display.

I was about to buy an mmmbop a few weeks ago but there were none around (at least in my frame size) and so check before you get yourself all excited.

Broke my pelvis in April hitting a tree after landing too far to the right. Air lifted to hospital. Month in hospital, three months in a wheel chair and five months before walking without crutches. Happily riding again but I have sold my Downhill bike.

I have been running a Blood as a replacement for a 224 after a bad accident and absolutely adore it. In the past I have always run bikes quite stiff but with the Blood I try and run as soft and slack as possible.
It is the first and only bike that I have ever had that I think is a ‘keeper”. I don’t care what new standards and technologies they invent I struggle to see how any bike could be more fun. More gears/linkages and more travel doesn’t do it for me.
Short travel but with a big front and very stiff and not suitable for most (probably) terrain with its stupidly low and slack stance but ideal for where I ride and what I do. Not my only bike though. Certainly not all mountain, yes it does climb (unless you have SwampThings on) but it is not fast except on the downs. I am happy with Fox air shocks and Float 36 forks
Expensive but no regrets

Renault Espace
Had mine from new for 5 years and very happy. No problems at all, comfy and quiet.

What a depressing thread. I was going to build an alfine bike but because of the delays with the 11 speed I have gone 1X10 instead. All those photos of lovely simple looking bikes and positive comments have made me question whether I have done the right thing. As stated, very depressing.

I had also been looking. Considered Pipedreams, carbon 456 and Virsa before settling on an mmmBop only to find they had all sold out. So at the last moment I swapped horses and have ordered a Soul and now that I have I am quite pleased that they had sold out of mmmBops.
Time will tell.

Having just ordered a Soul I was hoping for a positive Cotic response. I am going 120mm but 1X10.

Orange Blood
Slack, low, heavy and crap at pedalling but the best bike I own.

Thanks for the help.
Long term maintenance is an issue and so I think the Revelations are edging it at the moment.

Thanks for the helpful comments. I will keep pondering a bit before I commit.

I’d heard that they were good at steep up and down but what about the in between, the gentle up and along?
Not suitable for mince core? I worry that this is what I need it for except that I don’t know what mincecore is (although I feel I should)
Lots of rides with friends involve big XC loops with steep tricky bits thrown in at the end and I just can’t do them on the rigid, arse up and head down it is too scary for me!

As others, not a Beatles fan but saying they are rubbish and derivative is always going to be tricky if you think about what other bands were doing. Remarkable thread.
Thoroughly enjoyed sc-xc and I quite liked muse when they started.

I understand the Jones thing but it is not really my bag. However why is it that so often really expensive rigid bikes have cable brakes?
I have a rigid bike that I have had for years. It has really good brakes because when I am riding it if I can’t jump it then I have to slow down for things.

Best album is Rubber Factory from 2004. You will not be disappointed.

I took loads of tramadol with no problems and no side effects after breaking my pelvis (after 4 weeks in hospital with lots of morphine etc). Had loads left over and took some recently after wrecking a shoulder and was off my tits for an evening.

Thanks for the input.
Just considering them for a singlespeed dog walking bike. Seem really cheap and so may experiment.

Agree except for the 116mm spacing. Have asked Sturmey Archer about 135mm adaptability but no response yet.

Stupidly I tried a Superstar BB and one side managed to disintegrate before I even managed to fit the cranks. As someone else said, for £10 more you can get a Hope BB. Good luck to them but not for me.

Thanks all
A clear agreement and I will wait for the cheque to clear

As instructed I tried the Oven/BBQ cleaner. A lot of white froth convinced me my aluminium link had all but disappeared ( not helped by the instructions excluding use on aluminium).
However, success- anodising came off and the aluminium left. Dull white but not pitted. Quick polish with Autosol from aluminium racing car days and bingo!
Really easy and really good.
Best forum advice I have ever received. In fact the only useful forum advice ever received.
Thanks

Good tips.
I will see how I get on with some oven cleaner!
Cheers

Specialized Deviant. Light and cool. Much cooler than other helmets I have used and the only one I haven't had to rip off at the end of each run. Just smashed mine and so getting another with their crash replacement policy.
However probably not 'cool'.

Thanks, but not what I wanted to hear.

Lots of positive response on Bloods and so should be able to choose with heart and head, thanks. MDE looks good but perhaps a bit too swoopy and complicated for an Orange fan. I've also never understood 'do it all bikes'. I know we are all different and it depends on where we live and ride but if I want to go for a proper ride and get some miles done I take a light XC bike. If I fancy having a laugh in the woods I take a big bike and a full face etc. If I can ride it to the woods and winch the bike uphill then great but not at the expense of too much downhill fun.
As for the 224, I understand your sentiments Jemima and it is great at going as fast as you can over rough stuff, launching off big things and fun for my pathetic racing attempts. However for most mucking about it obliterates too much and is too long and tall. I also think that when I do get back to riding my ambitions may be slightly smaller (if only for the first five years)
Downhill bikes are not usually good things to try and be canny on, simply because you can never blame the bike, it is always a lack of bottle or a lack of skill and that was what got me into trouble in the first place!