My friendly local garage seated my Conti Supersonics for me, even with their compressor it wasn’t that easy to be honest – just very floppy tyres!

Good luck!

My beloved out in the Peaks. Check out the frozen waterfall in the background – some of the icicles were over a foot thick!

Almost right, but actually completely wrong. And a wee bit shouty

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Is anyone else reading this and just thinking they’re very happy not to exist in a world of petty smallprint and backstabbing? Sounds just like playground nonsense but with lots of other people’s money.

Which isn’t to say that I’m not sorry you missed out, of course I am, but what a horrible way to have to be.

😳 😆
Sorry, must have got here from google!

I do find it amusing that a lot of the casual riders obsessed with bike weight are often proper fat bloaters who never actually ride!

Hey, I take offence at that … I ride regularly… 😳 😆

Well, not being an engineer I cannot imagine how it could be designed to do one and not the other.

Fatigue and impact strength are totally different things & a material could be great at one & rubbish at the other.

Bottle bosses are just about acceptable

Really? And just what are your pit crew up to??? I suggest you have a word! 😆

Yeah – nothing wrong with converted tourers etc – my first ‘crosser was a road frame with bosses welded on (I was lightweight then!) and it did just fine. In fact my first ‘cross racing was done on a 19″ Raleigh Mustang SIS when I was nine… 😳

Just that a pure ‘cross frame will give a pure experience in the right environment, and be a lot more snappy fun imho. I’d rather see folks riding/racing on 3speed shoppers than think it’s actually necessary to spend silly amounts of cash on niche bikes though!

That’s true oldgit – they do beg for a sound thrashing! 😆

And NFT may be enjoyable, but it isn’t exactly brutal – always makes me crazy when you hear the ‘can I ride that on this?’ bullsh1t. I’ll stop there before I get going and head OT! Dunc covered it anyway 😉

Harry the Spider’s comment is really interesting though! I really would’ve thought just the opposite over time 😕

And I’ve absolutely nothing but love for the CTC, wouldn’t wish to be mistaken in that respect! 😆

what’s an average weight of a decent cx bike? (lets say £1000 worth)?

I sold my pair a few years ago – think for £450 in top condition and 19 & 21lbs with nothing fancy (really!) on them.

As mentioned above, a lot of the ‘cross bikes on sale at the moment are basically tourers, search out something ‘proper’ (like a an old Alan or Vitus) and you’ll get one of the most pure experiences available on two wheels

How so? I don’t see the point of losing rack mounts, bottle cage mounts etc…[/quote]

It’s more in having to beef them up to take the weight of racks etc, slow down the steering, add weight and lose the spring & rapid feel of a dedicated frame. Not saying those bikes are bad in any way, but it’s comparing a day-to-day machine with a pure racer, never going to be the same 8)

Cross bikes are way faster until it gets really nasty/rocky and much, much prettier… 😛

Do need to be ridden properly though – you probably shouldn’t just expect to jump on one & go fast in the rough stuff, you really have to apply some finesse.

As mentioned above, a lot of the ‘cross bikes on sale at the moment are basically tourers, search out something ‘proper’ (like a an old Alan or Vitus) and you’ll get one of the most pure experiences available on two wheels 8)

Totally recommend trying ‘cross racing too – on any bike – no friendlier sport out there, fantastic bunch of (slightly-odd-but-in-a-good-way) people in my experience 😆

Damn there’s some ugly beasts amongst that lot! 😆

More info on English cycles can be found on, you guessed it: http://www.englishcycles.com/ 😉

Liking the Indy Fab 8)

Jesus, this thread definitely did NOT NEED PICS!

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Good work, sooo much better than just buying some soulless lump, now this is a proper present and something she can get attached too, very cool 8)

New Blue Pigs with the updated stays are coming very soon – and defo 20"!

Ti ragley, no question, everything except your frame is expendable 😀

Crikey – I think we all agree… 😯 😕

Never had any trouble at all, surely this is the most common set up there is? Been well impressed with longevity on my XT BB as well – outlasted the hubs & freewheel on the same bike & still going strong…

Short cranks are definately a good call – will make a massive difference (sorry)!

I've got a 14" Barracuda Subway (sold as Blackjack, Cardwhore and some other names) that comes in very low but not overly short.

Bunch of parts to help the build if you'd like too.

In Manchester, but I have a big box & friendly postman!

I'd think it's worth £50+postage, but I'll do you a lot of extras very cheap! 😉

Could even build it up if you like (I can't resist a project!), have wheels, tyres, stem, saddle and so on, and someone's selling some RS Dart 1s on here very cheap…

Have some 24" wheels too, but they're pretty beefy – probably not what I'd recommend for a youngster!

Let me know what you think,
Pete