I’m 1.74m and have just started my first 29er experiment. I’ve test ridden a few previously but like Ming I’m now riding a Superfly and loving it. Quite different from my 26″ FS.

I’m not sure it’s quite what you are after, but I use Google Latitude. It allows an invited person to view your location on a Google map. Supposedly realtime but my wife often finds I don’t move for a while (probably that’s because I’m slow….). Not sure what else is out there….

@bwaarp… plenty of old tubes hanging around, so will give your trick a try. Thanks.

I was looking into the 900 previously but struggled to find any review. My understanding is that are only just landing in the shops.

This is a review of the 100

I don’t know a thing about vans, but Angel Tuning often appear in the pages of AutoItalia for their work on Fiat group cars. certainly worth having a chat with them. Also, as a serial Italian car buyer I always recommend regular servicing and oil changes. The Italians cannot understand why people complain about their reliability when servicing has been ignored!

@sleigh62, any pics of that bodged protector? I’m also a Rocky MSL owner who gets anxious…. I was looking to zip tie a piece of knobbly tyre around the down tube/BB.

As a fellow Alfa 159 Sportwagon owner I can honestly say it’s the worst car for bikes. It’s just too lovely… go buy a sh1tty audi instead ;)

25s Gatorskins for the Welsh potholed back roads. Back to 23s in due course.

Yep, Evans. Failing that try emailing them directly.

What about lowering your budget and buying without finance? If that’s possible, you’re likely to get a bigger discount from your LBS.

I don’t think Canyon offer test rides but from a VFM perspective it’s difficult to look past them. Cube are also pretty good VFM but I’ve never ridden them. Spesh rarely produce a bad product IMHO but tend to be pricey. Can’t go wrong with Giant.

Yep, Veloce on my Bianchi road bike. The campagnolo stuff just seemed right for my Bianchi but I’m sure SRAM or Shimano would have worked just as well.

Had a ride out with a mate the other day. He was on his newly built Ribble 525 frame. Looked good especially considering the price he paid for it. He commented that it was heavy especially when compared to his carbon bike but had good geometry and rode well. Having said that he did mention “carbon fork” as a possible upgrade in the future…

Hope this is of some help.

I do like that! A lot!! Damn you, I’m now going off to google…

The 10% admin fee is the about the going rate. Your GF’s employer is likely to have signed up to a company. The key as to whether it is worth it or not is the end of term payment; make sure you are aware of what it is.

“Tredz10” used to give you 10% off all full price purchases. I haven’t used it for a while, but would be worth a go.

Manitou emailed me a reply…

For 2013 the Tower LTD is the new name for the Tower Expert located on our website here. http://www.manitoumtb.com/index.php?page=fork&fork=Tower&discipline=all

Our website just has not been updated.
Thanks for the replies.

Had to abandon last night after child#2 took an age to settle and with an early start this morning and a big day ahead I couldn’t afford a late night. Will be out tonight though… late start tomorrow :)

Thanks chaps! Back in the day I had a set of Mach 5’s… nice considering elastomers! But like others I’ve neither seen nor heard of Manitou since! Good to hear the Pros are rated but on their website they list a 26″ Comp but it comes in at a portly 2.5kg. I know their budget but the rockshox equivalent comes in a fair bit lighter.

A selfish *bump*….

I like that. I like that a lot! And the lefty seems to work.

When I was in Oz a few years back enjoying hard packed dusty trails, Larsens was the tyre to have. Dunno about the weight though… sorry.

I have to agree the Alpine is a lot of bike for Qld. Most of the riding is XC style especially around the trail centres and places such as Mt Nebo. Soul sounds the perfect bike…

Sanderson Soloist: lovely geometry for XC with a forgiving rear… wish some scrote hadn’t wandered off with mine!

I’m in a similar position with work (still) discussing opening a C2W scheme.

On spec and price, I’ve short listed
Genesis Mantle 20
High latitude 1×10
Trek X-Caliber
Felt Nine 30
Merida Big Nine TFS 900

When work finally confirm the go ahead I can start looking more seriously. Let us know how your friend gets on.

Shed loads of riding in the area! You have the trail centres (not just Afan), the beacons, Gower, plus road stuff if needed.

Camomile with a splash of lemon juice…. I don’t like “tea” tea

I know the biblical definition of faith and its rather neat you need it because lets be honest, as you accept, there are no facts

Boys and girls, be careful when stating that the bible has “no facts”. Don’t forget that the Jewish people and the Romans kept many records which back up some of the life events written in the bible. I’m trying to choose my words carefully as I don’t want to offend anyone here.

tube, levers, multitool and a bit of “shrapnel”.

I suppose you get what you pay for. Yes, they’re an old design and compound, but if you can pick them up at a bargain price and don’t feel the need to have the latest in black circle technology, why not? Personally I preferred the Cinders.

Degrease, only to re-grease? Nah, sounds like too much effort.

I can’t even imagine how difficult this time must be for you. Thoughts are with you and your family…

I will be entering in due course. Never done it before due to various reasons but this time it’s marked in all diaries. I think it involves the Gap with a bit around Llangorse. I’ll be on the FS… my other bike is a roadie.

Another vote for Shimano.. can’t go wrong!

Probably no different from the garage where I leave mine, so long as its dry and well aired. Don’t wrap it in plastic though as it will cultivate a good dose of penicillin.

My (poor) understanding is that it also brings the front wheel in tighter, thereby reducing the wheelbase to quicken the handling.

very individual. FWIW, I very much like the saddles from WTB: Devo and Silverado. Also had a Rocket V in years gone by. Certainly worth a look. Some have trial saddles to try-before-you-buy.

Yep, just as @mintimperial says: crap springs! Apparently mainly on the OEM stuff. I had a new X9 under warranty… problem solved. Keep your jockey wheels… you’ll need them later.

I have the Element 50MSL. I wasn’t sure about the whole 29er so went for the 26er option. Interestingly, the two differ in spec beyond their wheel size and I preferred to go with Fox over Rockshox (not a deal breaker, but an influence). That aside looking through various international reviews and forums they both get very good reviews. From memory, the only consistent negative of the 29er was rear tyre clearance. For £1600, bleedin’ good VFM

Cyclescheme so seem to offer the extended loan period for a small cost in order to reduce the (larger) “fair market value”. This seems to maximise the financial benefits.

@martymac, nice to hear a similar proposition may be on offer from Wheelies, otherwise by reckoning I would only save £50 over a £1000 bike…

May as well get a second set whilst your at it!
I used BBB but nothing is seemingly safe from Welsh mud!