I’ve had mine all of a week now and echo the comments above. I went RRP pro front but SKS rear and it is much longer and prevents brown stripe on my back.

Moved all components from previous bike so just frame and a stupid deal on fork, so factory for me, and hence  few blue anodised bits from previous bike.

Will try and get a pick up with mudguards so you can see the difference over the weekend, post ride, post clean :)

James

I’ve been through Fizik winter boots before, with the zip up the middle, and yes the zip failed but to be fair to Sigma they took them back under warranty.

Moved to Shimano MW70something, nervously at the cost, but they are awesome, could ride with no waterproof socks and I still have dry feet! When they wear out I will buy another.

James

Like @DrP good air but also think about what software you use. I started out on Zwift but for me I found Rouvy better.

Both do just ride along and training, but (for me) Rouvy held more interest as you ride in a real life video as opposed to video game (plus Rouvy has gravel / offroad tracks too!) – but we’re all different.

I found going to the MTB meant racing was out as you don’t have the gearing for it, but I did find upping the front chainring helped me to get more from it, again we’re all different.

At the end of the day riding the bike and training is better than not riding the bike.

James

Finally succumbed to Yeti Arc itch scratching after selling my Epic Evo for £1450 and getting small discount on frame but free Fox Factory fork!

Comes next week – does happy dance – as moving bits from garage to shiny frame and fork.

It is my only bike for everything.no plus 1 for me and will keep me till ebike time in 1000 years or when legs cannot spin, whichever comes first.

James

Ummm .. as many others have said not fast, but big fun.

The other thing that constantly surprises me is how quickly people who you don’t know ask you about the bike wherever you go.

If I was down to two bikes one would be fat.

James

7mesh Thunderpants bought from ebay, a godsend in wet and crappy so from now till about June in the UK :)

Have used o ring mount, never had it move, but currently on out-front mount and crashed twice of merit and still no damage to the Garmin. Pays your money makes your choice.

James

Topek also do a bottle cage mount that fits 22mm bars, gives you the option to add another bottle cage or two on the bars.

Have also used some of those zip tie on types before and all good.

James

To give you another viewpoint  – just sold my Epic Evo as whilst a fabulous bike the wear, tear, and ongoing maintenance was costly and a good hardtail was a better option for me as more maintenance friendly and more fun / satisfying to ride well, pick lines and beat mates on ebikes.

Now shopping for super bling hardtail  :)

James

Garmin 830 here and works fine offroad, either plan my own routes (Komoot or others available) or downloaded routes and all good. Previously had Wahoo and that was good too.

James

Done similar gouging on a DUB with GX crank and SRAM Dub BB x 3 :(

Thanks all really helpful, makes me wonder if that Hope crank and BB have better tolerances perhaps from @blazin-saddles comment and run it till it dies then review has always worked for me :)

So in summary it works but only if you use 24mm spindle, bugger, so how does that fit with transmission then? As I think, but don’t know, it’s just SRAM cranks and their all 30mm :(

That is super helpful, thanks all, particularly interesting to hear from @nickc as that is the very frame I am looking at – Yeti Arc.

James

Recently came back from 6 day epic offroad ride so good timing to ask – my experiences, but all off road.

1) The right tyres, not too much, keeps the energy in moving as much as possible

2) remove excessive anything from you and bike – I even went packless to keep weight / heat off my body

3) As almost everyone above put eat and drink lots, possibly more than you think, I was doing energy gels I was very used to every 30 minutes as easy to plan and regulate, never do anything new, not anything set up / food – nothing changes

4) Think about clothing and weather up front, if you can take what you need it saves carrying stuff you don’t

5) If off road think about brambles and stingers, as if you’re trying to sleep and recover they can really screw you over after a few days of incessant stinging.

Have a ball and enjoy it.

I was lucky enough (?) to have time to plan to train so by the time it came around it was easier than expected, which weas useful as my planned route had bridleways in that dfidn’t exist in real life, bridleways that were completely unridable (for 6 miles!), and despite using 3 route planners underestimated total height by 20% but still got through it.

James

Another one for EDC but I have only used it in the pump since investigating as find it easier to move between bikes that way and keeps all the essentials in one place.

James

Pace RC429 could do this for you, been looking at one for MTB duties but takes drop bars too.

Designed with dual use in mind.

James

Use 611 and aside from the normal new saddle bedding in ie faff for the first week and finite adjustments, once there all good and have on two bikes.

James

Everyone is different bones and tissues but for me tried a couple of Ergon’s and didn’t suit my arse but SQlab mentioned above 611 has been a gift for me, and I’d buy another at full price if I had to – they’re that good (for me at least).

James

I came in to say Halo (as I’m the same as you) but reading your post I can see you’ve had a not so good experience.

I’m using a slim, never stop to ring it out  (designed to guide around eyes not be rung out?) but perhaps I’ve been lucky as mine a few years old now and used 3 plus time a week, but I don’t ring it.

When I asked this question myself a few years back most responses said Halo hence my choice, perhaps just unlucky with the one you got?

Perhaps another option is a lid with sweatbguard in like the Oakley drt5 for you?

James

I’ve just done a 6 day epic offroad from Plymouth to London on a Mezcal front and Terreno rear (which is surprisingly slick) and found it worked all really well.

No punctures, no drama, but did have to think about heavy rear braking as it certainly doesn’t brake as well as others.

I have a lot of love for the Vittoria tyres.

James

Last 48 hours got a really odd standard view on the forum overview, left half of the screen blank, 1/3 forum as per normal and then last tiny sliver adverts on the right – very weird. Using PC and Chrome.https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/4g4zujuxvsviscwfmmdro/singletrack-forum-screwed.png?rlkey=rw02uczf1gn63qpa5tzmfqu2m&st=959ciw1y&dl=0

Hopefully image will show up so you can see first hand, but if not message me.

Once you open a thread all as normal though, overview only knackered.

James

A vote for the dynaplug here, simple, easy to use even for ham-fisted (me) and works. The only issue I have had is they are obviously popular as sometimes getting the refills can be tricky.

James

Sadly I know too much about this and it shapes me and what I do and yes truly F*** cancer.

What I have seen if that the people that fight it tooth and nail do better, and it is not necessarily a killer as many can and do survive with interventions but brain tumours are particularly tricky to deal with (blood brain barrier etcetera) but there are some fabulously good organisations out there doing bloody good work, research and huge steps forward.

The one I support (in oh so many ways) in Brain Tumour Research and they have rafts of good info and great people as well as 4 research centres across the UK etcetera.

From a complete random forum dweller I wish you the very best of luck and if a chat with a random person might help drop me a message (IT gods be willing it works) and I will make time.

I am currently getting very close to heading off for an epic 6 day ride to raise more funds for them, I am that committed to it.

James

I jumped from Zwift to Rouvy, partly as it is much cheaper, partly they do a x2 good deal for a second user and partly I found riding inside a real world video with super imposed me / training better than the full video game style in Zwift but we’re all different.

It has certainly made me want to ride in some different places after seeing the videos though ;)

James

Recently got a deal on the Specialized epic ht and much to my surprise find it more comfy than my epic evo fs. We’re all different but there’s some bargains on them around.

Done 800 miles on mine in 5 weeks and v happy. Currently running 36t oval.

James

Very timely question as if you asked me this 4 months ago I would have said <30 miles 2500′ coffee and cake was my normal but as I am in training for a silly week long offroad ride my new normal is a 50+ 4500’+ twice a week so perhaps the normal ride evolves with need, trails, location, time etc I Know mine does.

James

I am not sure this will help much but I have a lovely XL Specialized Epic Evo from 2020 carbon full bouncer and I thought it fitted me well, no issues. Then I had to buy another bike (don’t ask I “had” to) and it was a Specialized Epic HT as I thought it would be identical but as a 2022/3 model the geometry is different and it fits me much much better. So much so the Epic FS will go soon. (and loads of this years Epic Evo and HT going cheap if you shop around in the traditional recommend what you have STW way).

The moral for me with this little anecdote was that in both cases I bought them with no test ride (simply couldn’t get one) but they are night and day different so next time around test ride no matter what for me as the best way to find that comfort for long XC type rides :)

All bikes I think are pretty damn good now so if you can ride and then pick you will be a much better place and air suspension is so easy to tweak and tune to suit your needs and style of riding.

Good luck hunting, trying, and buying the next bike :)

James

Have ridden that path a lot recently and I am on summer tyres! So yes doable and mostly dry ish, the odd patch of mud but easy to ride around so go for it.

James

@tonyd for me night and day better, but we’re all different.

Big fan of the SQlabs 611 here, the active one with little elastonomers under the rails, works for me but we’re all built different.

Spendy new but ebay is your friend :)

I’ve had the ShowersPass, Goretex, MT500 and for me (everyone is different) they never worked out well as I got wet, either as they wetted out or perhaps from the inside out :/ I do tend to ride all year biblical rain included.

I managed to pick up a 7mesh jacket in the right size on ebay, don’t ask me which model, think it might be copilot and if you’re really fussed drop me a message and it has been awesome! Don’t get me wrong RRP is spendy as hell, but bargainous if you look around and very functional.

Have since matched up with a pair of (equally ebay sourced for less than £100) Thunderpants to match (not just for the cool name, but what a cool name) and they too are awesome.

Have had cause to get in touch when I self inflicted damage on the second hand coat and the customer team were equally awesome in terms of help to get fixed or replaced so I am sold and a convert now.

Not saying i would pay full RRP but I would definitely consider them first.

I’ve used the 3d printed one for around three years now, mentioned it on here a few times. I don’t have a 3d printer so uploaded the file on line and heh presto arrived 10 days or so later.

Found it to be really good and made a huge difference to crud getting caught up in the little concertina gap thingy but then I do ride all year round and in some right awful sloppy cr*p.

I am driven to get out more, I almost have no choice, committed to an epic ride in June and if I don’t get my arse on Rouvy or out in the mud and real world (rain included) I will suffer – done wonders for the first 10 metre motivation.

Once you crack the first ten metres it is easy, so I now scheme to reduce the distance with prep and friction removal.

I’ve had three rouvy rides and one long outside one (yep with a rain shower to start, and mud, and wind) and a huge grin.  Tomorrow back on rouvy, nowhere near as fun but easy to do the first ten metres.

James

I have a pair of Aftershokz  and use them all the time, on a 5 hour ride today, every work day for webinars and conference calls but my office is solo and hence quiet.

Is the sound quality as good as proper (expensive?) headphone well no, but good enough for me yes :)

James

Same here

I run a weecog bag on the rails on mine with no issues so far if that helps.

James

Have one, 6’2 on xl and other said not at all heavy other than stock wheels.

Good base to use and upgrade as time / wear out / cash or addiction dictates.

Only stock bits on mine now is frame and shocks :/

But then i have done 5000+ miles apparently acvording to strava.

James

For me 50% is how I think and get my arse in gear, the other 50% is the exercise and I find the mental aspects harder than the physical!

James

I love a good prediction, especially when they are written to grab a headline, but the cynic in me goes to check what they predicted last year to compare to ’23 and see how that played out. Not good it would appear as last years prediction was (cue drum roll) over 1bn, hmm how did that play out.

https://store.mintel.com/report/uk-cycling-market-report-2022

James