Hi all
Certainly some memories there. This is my early riding era.
No photos I’m afraid but in terms of bikes mine are:
Suzuki AP50
Honda XL125
Kawasaki KL250
Yamaha RD350LC
Suzuki GSX250
Suzuki GS550
Suzuki GS550 Katana
Kawasaki GPz600
Suzuki RG250
Suzuki GS750
Suzuki GSX750
Kawasaki GPz900R
Suzuki GSF1200 Bandit
Honda CBR600
Kawasaki ZXR636
Aprilia RSV1000 Tuono
Triumph Speed Triple 1050R (current)

Just typing that made me go all misty eyed
Cheers
Steve

@ Jordan
Cheers for that I’ll keep
An eye on it
Steve

Hi
I still have it and am definitely waiting on a decision.
@damascus-my thoughts exactly
Cheers
Steve

Hi
Picked the bike up 3 weeks ago from the factory and very nice it is. Thanks to Doddy for the factory tour and the whole experience and got some freebies thrown in!
XL with silver and green bits, Hope cranks and Santa Cruz reserve rims upgrade. (Figured I was only going to do this once so pushed the boat out a bit).
Came with tubes installed but went tubeless very easily ie minutes!
Came in the “low” setting which felt really good but set it in the “high” setting for one ride at Hamsterley (just to try) and it made it too long and a bit unwieldy so it’s back the way it was and feels better for it.
It’s a bit weighty at 31lbs and I can feel the weight on climbs but pedals very nicely.
The plus side of this is it feels very solid and reassuring on descents. Jumps and lands nicely and feels very settled.

Been to Hamsterley 3x and Whinlatter once and I would say it’s not the ideal trail centre bike (compared to say, my Evil Following).
Have yet to do an xc/trail type ride but hopefully this week sometime at Reeth maybe.

The Fox suspension was set up as per manufacturers recommendations and I’m not sure I’m subtle enough to improve much beyond that.
At 6 foot and evenly proportioned could maybe have gone L with a 50mm stem but it’s done now.
Some minor teething problems:
-The Fox seatpost is a bit “sticky” and needs some care to keep operating smoothly. Only ever used reverbs before with no issues.
-First experience of SRAM shifters and don’t like the lack of multiple downshifts. Going to stick with it for a while but may swap shifter and mech for Shimano (probably XTR)
-rear brake lever doesn’t return like the front one does but probably just needs some lube.

For reference also currently have:
-2016 Intense Carbine-fantastic all round trail bike. Weighs 28lb and Large is spot on.
-2016 Evil Following-lovely “poppy” trail bike and excellent for trail centres. Large possibly a bit small and maybe should have gone XL?
-2017 Trek Slash 9.9RSP-full on trail flattening enduro monster. If I’m honest maybe just too much bike for what I’m capable of.
-Recently had 2013 Santa Cruz Tallboy LTc- excellent xc/trail bike and with 150mm fork fitted geometry not too xc. Again maybe XL would have been better.

If I had to choose one the Hope would just pip the Intense. If the Hope was 2lb lighter it would win hands down but it’s a close call.

Going to use it (the Hope) on Ard Dales and Ardrock later this year but so far very good overall.
Cheers
Steve

Bollocks wrong forum.
Mods -move if you wish
Cheers
Steve

Hi
I’ve dealt with him a couple of times in the past but always at his house.
Not sure if he’s still about or making them.
I have a 2 bike one taking up room if anyone wants one.
Cheers
Steve

Hi
Me and a mate are in.
Have ridden in this area a few time’s but not massively so.
First ever event Like this for both of us -was supposed to be doing Ardrock last year and have carried over my entry to this year.
Looking forward to both
Just need to get fitter now
Cheers
Steve

Hi
I have a Trek Slash 9.9 and although it’s a fantastic bike I find it too much bike for most of what I do.
Mainly ride my Intense Carbine or Following so I would say unless you are seriously competing in enduro events go for a trail bike.
There are loads of massively competent ones out there which will do the odd enduro too
Cheers
Steve

Hi
First off talk to someone who’ll listen to you properly. This could be a friend or family member who you can relate to. Alternatively counsellor/GP.
Get plenty of sleep if you can and eat a healthy diet.
Exercise more
Investigate mindfulness Techniques
Avoid alcohol/non prescription drugs-they don’t help at all in the long run
There’s lots of signposts out there with access pointers-please use them
Cheers
Steve

Hi
NFU for me since I left M&S
Claimed once in 2016 and sorted with no hassle. Didn’t even charge me an excess.
Limitations include max £5000 for any single claim unless from inside the house but garage and gardens included.
Bikes are specified with values.
Local broker that you can actually talk to or even call in also helps
Cheers
Steve

@ton
Just bought some too based on what you say😈
Was considering buying some more expensive ones but was unsure how much I’d use them but for £8 what the hell!!!!
Cheers
Steve

Hi
I have the one you describe and am very happy with it overall.
It’s not as sophisticated as other activity watches. Some mates have some Garmin type thing which gives them a lot more data but the Apple is enough for me.
Charge lasts about 2 days unless you do something else eg Strava which eats the battery quite quickly. A 2 hour ride uses about 30%.
I don’t use it for music so can’t comment on that.
It charges quickly though so it’s no real problem and it can be used aaa type of clock on the side of your bed overnight while it’s doing it if that’s your thing.
Would buy another if I needed to so don’t know what else to say
Cheers
Steve

Hi
I’d recommend a stay at the Dales centre in Reeth for a few days. There’s loads of good stuff from the door and Stu can point you at the best stuff.
I’d be happy to meet up as I know the area well.
The cake is excellent too which is a bonus
Cheers
Steve

Hi
Definitely don’t need another bike but I went to the Hope factory last week and speccd an HB130 just because I really want one
Get it mid Jan
Cheers
Steve

Hi
I emailed them earlier this month and was told demos would be available in January.
No other news and decided to order the new Hope 29er.
Looks good though and reasonably priced especially for frame only.
Cheers
Steve

Hi
I believe so
I have had the same set of Pikes at 120/140/150 just by changing the internal shaft.
I can’t see why yours would be any different
Cheers
Steve

Hi
Visited the factory today to check on sizes and have ended up going for XL.
It was odd as the L is longer than my current bikes which have more traditional geometry but when I was stood up with the seat down the bars seemed to far underneath me.
The guy from the factory (Doddy) seemed to think that this was because the position of the seat tube (Due to the angle) relative to my normal position was different-or something like that! He confirmed my feeling by saying that, watching me, the XL seemed a better fit.
Have gone for silver bits with green hardware. Apparently this hasn’t been done yet???
Delivery mid January hopefully.
Cheers
Steve

Hi
So got to see one in the flesh for the first time at Peddlers in Redcar.
It was an XL with blue bits and it was very nice. Blue wouldn’t have been my first choice but it looked very good.
My preferred colours are silver or green.
Fit seemed spot on which I was slightly surprised at as I thought a large would be the size for me but I think a back to back test is in order.
May need a visit to the factory to try them both.
Didn’t get to ride it in the street as it was pishing down.
It had Forteus 30 wheels on which although not the lightest have made me realise I probably don’t need to pay an extra £1350 for the Santa Cruz rimmed wheels. I would just have new rims built on at a later date.
Weight of the whole bike including Hope pedals was 32lb on the shop digital scales which also surprised me as I didn’t think it would be that heavy.
Anyway I’m even more convinced that I need (want) one just need to work out how to finance it .
Cheers
Steve

Hi
Not sure how to post pics but I did similar a couple of years ago.
Bought a full bike reasoanably cheap that had been used as a race bike for one race (full 11 speed XTR)
I swapped the 100mm Fox 32 fork for for a 130 Fox 34 and the 2.0 semi slicks for maxxis 2.35 HR/Aggressor (IIRC), 700mm bar became 800 and the carbon seatpost was swapped for a reverb and 160 front rotor became 180
Still only weighed 27.5 and ride really nicely.
Cheers
Steve

Ok
Make? Company? Link?
Cheers
Steve

Hi
I’ve found most will help you out if you ask and will have one in a couple of days.
They’re just going to sling them anyway or so I’m told
Cheers
Steve

Hi
Not sure about concrete steps as you don’t come across them often in the Dales and NYM 🤔
However have used mine in all sorts of natural terrain in these areas and the Lakes and various trail centres (Hamsterley, Dalby and Whinlatter) with lots of drops, rock steps etc and definitely don’t baby them or hold back in my riding.
As I stated above I have some PBs on Strava on these wheels on descents in these same areas and this compares against my other bikes (Trek Slash and Evil Following).
I considered doing the Ardrock on them this year and the only change I was going to make was to put a Maxxis DD tyre on the rear.
Don’t know what more to say really.
Cheers
Steve

Hi
Used to be. Not so much anymore but still 14stone fully kitted up
Cheers

Mine don’t 👍

Hi
I bought a set (29”) on a whim last year for my XC bike when CRC had them half price and with a years Paypal interest free credit.
I’d read the report on stw and they had been very impressed so I thought I’d take a punt.
I have to say that I agree with the review and they are very nice wheels and “really make the trails come alive”.
Acceleration is crisp and responsive and noticeably more so than the Mavic Crossmax Pro wheels they replaced and the other wheels
On my other bikes.
No problems mechanically and they scrub up reasonably well too.
They’re on a Tallboy LTc so I guess more “trail” than “XC” but I ride them just as hard as my other bikes. In fact I have some PB’s on Strava on this bike for descents in the dales rather than my other heavier bikes.
Would happily recommend especially if you can get a good deal.
Cheers
Steve

Hi
Similarly keeping my very high spec Cotic Soul and Rocket (both 26) for junior (now 11) in the vain hope he’ll want to ride them
Cheers
Steve

Cheers All-I’ll sack that idea then

Hi thanks for the extra replies.
Tried to sell the Slash frame but couldn’t get what I thought it was worth so I’ve decided to keep it, along with the others, and save my money for now.
Cheers
Steve

Hi
I think the issue was air shocks if I remember correctly.
In any event I’ve always used Parcelforce and just declare it as a bike part.
Never had any bother.
Cheers
Steve

Jordan-Cheers for that.
Interestingly when I was at the factory last year when my mate was getting a 160 we tried both and I would have got an XL without a doubt.
I prefer a roomy bike so would tend to go XL with a short stem I think 🤔. May have to look at a shorter dropper though.
Thanks
Steve

Hi
Not that I can afford one at the minute but I would love an HB130.
Not sure whether I would go for a L or XL so could I ask how tall you are and what your proportions are like-gibbon arms, short legs etc?
For reference I’m 6ft and fairly evenly proportioned with 32” inside leg
Cheers
Steve

Hi
I’ve demoed the cheaper version (5k) of the SB130 and whilst it was nice it didn’t blow me away. Heavy for the price but very very capable nevertheless.
If I was in the market the new Ripley would be very high on my list but so would the new Hope.
Cheers
Steve

Hi again
Thanks for all of the feedback again it’s been useful.
For clarity I have my V1 Following in Large. This is my play in the Woods/trail bike and it excels at that. I don’t use it for longer rides (maybe I should have sized up) as I have a Tallboy LTc for that which is my xc/trail bike and is noticeably lighter.
The Slash was my big bike and if I didn’t already have it and the bits then I probably wouldn’t be asking this question. I would just make do with the other two as they are more than capable of dealing with everything I am.
I’m not looking for one do everything bike-if I was I would be looking at the Offering or the new Hope 130. I’m also not looking to sell the other two as the return would be pointless when compared to how much I’ve spent on them
I appreciate I am lucky having so many excellent bikes but this is my hobby and it’s only money at the end of the day!!!
I would still like a big bike but something more trail orientated hence the Ripmo reference.
I feel that the Offering may be too similar to the Following but I’ll check it out later.
Had a V1 Jeffsy and was a bit meh so not interested in that but the Hightower May be worth a look.
Cheers
Steve

Hi
Thanks for the feedback so far.
I do use the Following for trail but I fancied something longer travel to complement it and I’ll have all of the bits to transfer over from the Slash anyway.
@twonk-so for sizing would you also say I should get an XL?
Cheers
Steve

Hi
I had one and ran it on 130 forks and loved it.
Built up nice and light for a “trail” bike with decent tyres and a dropper-about 27lbs.
Only got rid as I felt the 100mm rear was a bit too little for some of the riding I was doing in the Dales and ended up swapping the bits onto a Santa Cruz Tallboy LTc that I picked up off here for a good price otherwise I might still have it.
For xc you won’t go far wrong.
Cheers
Steve

Amongst other areas in the Dales The Dales Centre and the Ardrock organisers have just been on bbc news.
Very sad for the area.
Steve

Hope everyone’s ok and thoughts are with everyone up there but Yep gutted!
We were up there this time last week getting some miles in and saying ”hope it’s not this hot on the day”. The ground was very dry.
If it’s cancelled and not rescheduled it’d be good if the entries can just roll over to next year?
Good luck to all involved
Cheers
Steve

Hi All
So moving on 6 months I’m not that much clearer unfortunately!
Been riding both bikes a fair bit recently to get a feel for them and having ridden both on similar terrain at Reeth in the last couple of weeks including some very off-piste stuff I’m tending towards the Evil.
Reasons:
-The suspension just seems to work better for my style of riding
-Better brakes (Saint over Hope-I prefer Shimano brakes)
-Rear tyre is already DD carcass
-Ultimately it’s just more fun to ride on this type of terrain and not overkill!
Thanks for all the feedback
Much appreciated
Steve

PS Anyone want to buy a Slash 🤔

Hi
I find it ok to ride most, if not all, of the year round. Swapped it for a DHR at the end of last year and it was a bit slower in terms of rollability but there was a bit more grip in proper gloop.
We try to arrange rides to avoid real gloop though, and in just wet and splashy conditions it’s been fine.
Just going to keep it on this year.
Thanks
Steve

Hi
I like DHF front and Aggressor rear.
Not everyone’s choice but hey….
Thanks
Steve