Both – it is very obvious visually but when you run your finger over it there is a pronounced ridge.

Very pitted and worn.

I can only assume that grit has obviously been getting in between the nylon and the metal shaft.

Most probably a right off, unless it is possible to get a replacement shaft.

Just popped the crankset off and seems that most of the play is coming from the shaft, as it is seriously worn on both the drive & non-drive side, right where the bearings sit.

5 years old so can’t complain.

I assume that pressing in a new shaft is not an option?

Going to get a Square Taper cranskset as a replacement.

Cheers. Will do.

“I’d ring my bell and have a rant at anyone I thought was ‘scoping new trails’ as well, I’m afraid.

Couldn’t you just ‘ride round for a bit and see if you found any new bits”

Excuse me………… We were riding the trail in one direction and they in the other. As they were climbing we kindly got out of there way.

Judging by your comments, sadly it seems that they are not unique and there are other uncourteous idiots out there too.

Cheers.

Be nice to salvage something from the planned weekend away.

I shall expect the worst then, given that its currently raining.

Not sure what’ll be worse mud n roots or snow n roots?

Thanks for link.

I am in hants and appear to be somewhere in between the SE & SW lists on the orange website. So have found another couple of shops that are not too far away in the SW sector.

Plus going to S Wales in 2 weekends, so may arrange a demo at Skyline.

Thanks for all the advice.

Well one thing’s for sure sounds like it’s a great bike.

But still unsure about the sizing.

Definitely going to need to track one down before committing.

Recently bought a Genesis IO frame off the web. After advice went for the L not XL or was it M instead of L. Anyway with hindsight I think it’s too small.
Only cost £200 so not so bad.

But want to be sure with this one.

I have 33″ inside leg.

So sounds like a 20″ for me too.

Cyclestore also have some with a bag for approx £120.

Be interested to see hear how this compares to an EBC.

Why is the EBC one so good?

SJS Cycles have something similar to an EBC trailer.

They also have some on their ebay shop without a bag.

I was looking into getting the EBC trailer last week and was also surprised to see that it was no longer on their website.

Rang them up and they said that they are all out of 08 stock.

New version apparently coming out in Mar, which has an improved bag with taped seams.

No indication of price.

Thanks for all your opinions/advice.

Yes totally agree about that perched feeling. Very unnerving.

I think am erring on the side of the Five, with rear maxle.

Only issue now is getting management approval.

If Marin did frames only. I would have one of the new Attack Trail frames without question, as I have found there lifetime warranty and customer service fantastic.

Have had one swingarm and a complete frame out of them for the Attack Trail, no questions asked, so haven’t needed to buy a new bike for 5 years.

When I first bought one 5 years ago it was great. But we are now riding much harder and more aggressively than 5 years ago and I have got heavier. I just dont get on with the latest replacement i.e. the ’07 frame, as it too flexy for my current weight! Plus it pitches foward too much for my liking.

I was wondering about the size for the Orange. Both the Five/160 seem very similar in terms of geometry and the 18″ are almost identical to the effective TT of my P7.

The 20″ Five just looks too big.

Haven’t measured it exactly but the Marin is somewhere around 70-69 degs.

Orange Five is quoted as 67 with 140mm fork, 66 with a 160mm fork.
Alpine 160 is 66.5 with 160mm fork.

Meta 5 = unsure
666 = unsure.

If I go for either of the 160mm options, i.e. Alpine 160 or the 666 with the pikes, then as suggested above, i assume i’ll not be much better off in terms of head angle than I am at present. Although I note that the 666 is adjustable (not sure in which sense, i.e. does it increase or descrease head angle from the standard setting?).

I would hope that whatever I went for would be a lot stiffer than my present FS.

Being 6″2′ and 16st, the stiffness is very important. So rear maxle essential.

Perhaps the best option is the Five as even with the Pikes I’ll get approx a 2 deg improvement in head angle, with the potential for another degree if/when I can afford the 160mm forks.

In terms of handling, is there much difference between the Orange & Meta?

From a protection point of view, it is my opinion that the chin guard design of the Casco is stronger/better.

However on the downside being closer to your face, it makes breathing harder and the whole helmet/guard combo has less ventilation than the Parachute.

And the end of the day, by their very nature these helmets will always be a compromise.

Well actually yes!!

As the viper chinguard was so easy to snap in/out, I did exactly that.

Off for the climbs, on for the descents. Yes a bit of a faff, but not in comparsion to having years worth of dental reconstruction.

I must admit to not being overly enamoured with the Parachute, but there seems to be no other options, as I don’t want a full on full face, as call me picky, but I don’t particularly enjoy the sensation of feeling like I’m boiling my head in a tin can!

At 58cm I’m most probably a large but only just so hopefully that’ll give some ear room!

Thanks.

Just checked my kit and it has blue/green plus white/silver.

It’s going on a P7 so luckily I need th blue/green.

I assume the hub comes with the axle?

I’ve got an 07 frame and was originally running Fox Talas 125mm.

Have Pikes on FS and was thinking about getting same for P7, but like you didn’t want expense of 20mm front wheel.

Opted for 140mm Van R as that is standard spec and thought that it would be a safe bet.

No regrets, fanstatic fork, really plush, good small bump sensitivity and bike feels spot on.

Having said that i didn’t want to waste any cash, have just ordered a n-gear, as only £9.

Cheers for all the advice.

Thanks.

Waiting on a blackspire chainring from CRC, but will definitely stick the mech on.

Just being lazy really, as I could easily fit the whole front drivetrain, but seeing as it’ll be coming off in 2 weeks, can’t be bothered.

Yes. Only a single chainring.

Yes. It’s definitely jumping off the top, so chain tension shouldn’t make any difference.

I assume that fitting a front mech may help but if I do that I might aswell fit the whole front chainset plus front shifter.

I was just trying to bridge the two week gap between singlspeed and my alfine arriving, so dont really want to buy any kind of device.

Sorry explanation wasn’t clear.

I was running it as a singlespeed, but as i am training for an adventure race I wanted some gears for longer rides and more hilly terrain.

Hence I fitted a 9spd cassette, rear mech & shifter.

Rear end is fine. It’s the chainring that it jumps off.

Had a very helpful response back from Tracklogs.

They are going to provide me with full licence discs if I return my v2 ones.

Ok, so I won’t have my V2 discs anymore, but as V3 is back compatible into v2 I can’t see that it is an issue.

Thanks

Sounds like I might need to buy the full version of some of the V3 maps then. :-(

Emailed them first thing, but no reply back yet.

I agree they have been extremely helpful in the past, but it appears that you can no longer ring them.

I’ll just have to sit it out.