Different question – what would therapy cost you if you didn’t get out and ride?

Just did a Dyed Bro kit on my frame, first time I’ve ever done it and found it pretty straightforward and good quality, especially for the money and should you wish lots of designs to choose from.

James

I used to be an Oakley user, given my varifocal and photochromic needs but like many others on this thread jumped to radio and no regrets.

Fit initially nit perfect but when I contacted them they were returned changed and sent back really quickly with a conversation with their optician too to ensure they did it right first time.

Not only brilliant customer care and kit but saved me over £100 on Oakley:/

More for shiny bike bits.

James

Umm me obviously;)

I got some lovely Evoc ones as a gift, really solid with the normal axle pockets inside but some rigid covers over discs and hubs which is nice (think its fakey carbon fibre too if you like that sort of thing).

No idea what they cost but Evoc so suspect not cheap, well made and great but might be ££

James

+1 Epic evo

Another vote for the pump install from me, as you need a pump and you might as well integrate the tool.

It is small but I’ve used it in anger with great results. Yes it is £££ but it’s a one off and you won’t forget it.

I don’t use the extra storage, did ride with the CO2 for about 6 months before going I wouldn’t use it and saved the weight.

Married mine to a Dynaplug racer and haven’t looked back.

James

I’ve been on the lower profile summer tyres for some weeks and it feels like cheating to me, they roll so much better and feels like you get some free speed.

Now I mostly ride point to point stuff on SDW and they’ve been more than fine so far and much more capable than you think but the riding you do, location and style will have some input here I reckon.

James

I used copydex :) Easy to use, stinks but keep the seal on for years.

James

Thanks all for the views really helpful, I’ve been out and looked in detail over current setup and mulled a lot.

Thanks for the comments, all appreciated, the link that @superficial was using was for the older model (new one in xL is 495) but the comment was none the less helpful to shape my thinking :)

I checked Geometrygeeks, really good resource, bit like the one I linked to above but the there is no calculation for seat to grips, so the additional reach of the XL new bike (24mm) could be offset by reduced steeper seat tube angle but no way to check that I know of but open to any suggestion or perhaps I am not thinking along the right line.

James

I’m 6’2 :) so I suspect XL but the reach makes the new bike (Pivot Trail 429 – good luck finding a new one as I have to order for July delivery thanks 2021) is just 24mm longer, given the current bike has a 60mm stem I am pretty sure that’s the best option but that doesn’t allow for much steeper seat tube angles but then that would bring it in relative to current bike.

All views helpful, thanks

I used this https://bikeinsights.com/compare?geometries=60389977f9df2b00172f140c,5e3d7a976db044001733b9fb, for a good visual comparison but reach versus reach to grip doesn’t include seat tube unless you know a tool that does that?

Ta

James

Perhaps I am lucky when selling but I am a ration of 1 in 1000 idiots so far.

The one idiot annoys me per thousand but if you’re honest in your description, cordial and have the “prat” radar on high alert I’ve always (so far!) been OK and agree with all the above comments around things being what someone is prepared to pay.

As a buyer I’ve had 99 out of 100 good experiences with one dodgy wheel buy (weird axle tolerances) and some good bargains but like all things go in as an intelligent buyer and don’t get caught up in emotions or auction or thinking eBay will be cheapest – it often isn’t.

Tried to buy a new (to me) bike recently and responses from seller sounded dodgy radar and wanted (in my own view) to much as an offer (but would take outside eBay with no seller protection – no thank you) so backed away politely.

If it feels dodgy probably safer to back away.

I’ve just gone from Oakleys to Rad8 prescription and had superb pre and post sales service, significantly cheaper and easily as good if not a little better (gasp!).

Just in case it helps or gives you another option.

James

Sorry, still seeing it on android :/

I’ve had it happening today on Android on mobile, a new pop up ad in the middle of the screen, will try to screenshot next time I look.

James

Is it just me and a few who realise that everything that you might want to legally have, enjoy or partake of ultimately costs money?

I’ve had the odd moan about the site when things change and I don’t like it but for what I get from the forum (mostly), the magazine (somewhat) and the collective wisdom here it’s worth what little they ask.

The days of making money just from a magazine with adverts are dying fast and hence the number of magazines is dying too. They have to do new stuff and find new ways to make money as love don’t pay the wages or pay the internet bills for forums.

Makes me sound like a defender of the team, I guess I am in this instance, but they do a cracking job with little so either put up, cough up and go to another “free” forum, complain there and see how that goes perhaps?

I’ve had a cheap Park Tool, an expensive Park Tool and a feedback one and I’d definitely go Feedback as the clamp itself is much easier to operate and as a freestanding unit I found the base much more versatile and stable than the equivalent Park one.

But if you want a wall mount, which I have now, then the park one is pretty damn good too and cheaper.

James

I’ve got a Ryobi, just used for normal household stuff, I’m certainly no professional and I’ve found it to be a good compromise of cost and function. So much so I just bought a second one to use as well.

I did the whole buy whatever is cheap at Screwfix / B and Screw for a while but it was so random I went branded and haven’t regretted it yet.

As a bonus they have interchangeable batteries which you can move between bits of Ryobi kit and hence replace easily too.

James

Thanks all for the kind views, really helpful and kind of what I expected in terms of US bike design versus UK weather.

For me it is one of those bikes that I shouldn’t like but I do but in my heart the maintenance alarm was ringing loud and it would appear true :/

I am with you @lawman91 and have a long list of could do the job bikes (yes including Spur, Ripley, Following, HeiHei and Yeti) but oddly like the YETI (not having ridden if yet of course) and hence the maintenance check.

The regular maintenance is something I am acutely aware of and on top of hence checking up front :/ I don’t want to buy into a nightmare or a bike I cannot ride as much as I want.

I know what you mean about the character of bikes and it’s been interesting to read and watch all the reviews as they say things like “it’s a DH’ers XC bike) and I go nope not for me :)

Thanks :)

James

Polish the bike in winter to help the crap not stick ;) that includes inside of mudguards – works a treat!

James

Another vote for rad8 here. Just got a new pair to replacement older Oakley and aside from £100 cheaper (yes really!) customer service throughout has been good and vision excellent.

James

Thanks for the thread as I hadn’t seen this and just put some cash towards it as a great cause and if I win its a bonus.

James

I’ve tried a couple of settled on the Dynaplug ones as they self contained, resistant to mud and crap and work really well when you need them – even with cold gloved hands :)

James

You can put the one up inside a pump if that might work for you? I’ve just done it and it’s very slick.

James

Severe cold kicked in badly post Xmas day so not been out since, starting to itch and have to visit the garage to view / stroke the bike till I can get out.

Ride through it normally but three weeks nearly and I can’t shake the damn thing off, worried if I ride will be out even longer :/

James

As an alternative check out the Bontrager one, bullet proof build and done me well for years and I only paid £79 all in including post etc but may have got a deal at the time I don’t recall.

Never regretted the choice since as every time tubeless has gone up no worries, before it was “interesting”.

James

I had this a while ago and pretty sure it was a spacer behind the cassette for me that fixed it, of course your PITA might be different … good luck whichever.

James

I seem to recall Pinkbike had a US based phone holder and mentioned protection hot and cold etc on it, was up in the last few days as a new things we’ve seen this week type post.

James

I use mine with a Giro Chronicle and it’s fine. Music quality isn’t ace but it’s good enough to ride to and you can hear all around you as well.

James

It’s interesting you mention the Gore Phantom as that what I had until it has finally died after many (many, many) years – perhaps another but they are heinously expensive …

The Endura could be a good call, sounds like a Windchill, as I have a lot of their kit and it works well – think it’s the Scottish heritage and will check out the other two suggestions thanks

James

Just to give you another option check out the Vax Blade, like many others sceptical but actually really impressed and not a million quid like the Dysons :/

James

Theres some MAVIC H20 ones, that I have, on special on Sportspursuit at present but limited sizes.

I’ve always found them great, but we’re all different.

James

Like the others here I’d say go for it, did a CX race at 40 on my full sus and almost all other competitors jovial and supportive.

Did full SDW this year over two days and at just under 50 couldn’t give a stuff what anyone else thinks or says, just wait to see what they do at my age :)

Go for it I say, have a giggle, try to race to not be last and then work up :)

James

How about some old school lead flashing? Maleable to shape, up out of kiddy reach and aesthetically pleasing to SWMBO?

The only thing you might want to check out and slides into budget just if you shop around is an Evil either following, calling or offering depending on preference on wheel size etc.

Not sure how you feel about GIANT but haven’t they just put out a Trance X, might that do it too?

James

Prepare to grin and giggle like a kid again! I am a little (cough) biased but do it (you know you want to). Yes tyres are expensive and very sensitive to pressure but when you can ride up anything it is well worth it.

But if you shop on fleabay you will find many things at good prices as they aren’t trendy / enduro / light ;)

Ride all year and it is VERY different to any other bike, I’ve had two and will soon buy another.

You can enjoy the simplicity or go batshit crazy carbon frame, rims etc so depends on budget versus grin.

Be warned wherever you go kids and adults will have chin dropping moments and “look at those tyres” and expect any ride to take longer, not because you’re slower (you won’t be much slower) but others will stop you and want to chat about it all the time – enjoy the experience.

James

I’ve done this same journey as you and I’d say don’t forget your arse is personal so everyone is different.

For me I found going from the Fabric to WTB and Ergon didn’t work and ended up with a SQLab active 611 after agonising about it (not cheap and hard but not impossible to find 2nd hand) but bit the bullet and (for me and my arse) it’s been the best and happily ride 5+ hours and all good but you might be different.

Sorry to add another into the mix but if this one ever wear out I’d pay full RRP for the next one, it’s that good.

James

Another vote for the Park here, had them a long time and still good.

James