Thanks caffeineokdbean, am very pleased with it my first Cotic, it’s a joy to ride.

This year my work/life balance is a mess, been out twice this weekend Friday and Today. With views like this I have to make sure I keep the balance right as you feel so much better for it, hardly ridden this year with so much on and many demands but it’s been good to be back in the saddle last couple of days.

Don’t get views like this waiting for a phone to ring or sat at a desk. I’ve not ridden as much as I have the last three days all year.

That’s excellent :)

Northwind has it, don’t keep a wrong one, I tired in the end mrsforge was like were off to get a new bike!!! It’s a shame buy one that’s doesn’t work for you but it’s best to move on, plenty more to try :)

Yep Santa Cruz Nickel, bought to replace a Zesty never got on with it just didn’t feel good, it’s replacement is the polar opposite.

It happens you just have to trade it out and get something else, life is to short and we have to few nice weekends to waste them on bikes that don’t work for you.

loving the bold look, nice bike enjoy the maiden ride

New back pack arrived so need to sort that for tomorrow ride, just had a from the supermarket Pizza Express Pizza and some salt and pepper wedges, will watch footie and about to have some Mango.

Normal Man mines 28lbs with a cheap heavy wheelset and dropper post, reckon 25/26 is doable with some choice parts if that’s your want :)

Thanks MTB Rob will take a look, nice little write up :)

First time I did two consecutive days of riding not big rides but still got some miles in which is good, been a very nice weekend, finished bike build Saturday and then rides Sunday and Monday and some time to relax with family and friends.

Goes out to tape up BB and bottom of down tube…………… :wink:

As above put a USA map on our TomTom worked perfectly.

I’m confuddled by all that tape?
So it stays nice and shiney underneath? Which doesn’t really make much sense

Me too, I never understand preventing a little bit of rubbing that doesn’t even look all that bad in person, close up, by covering the frame in tape that looks terrible even from a distance, in a photo.
Presumably it’s the prospective resale thing.

I don’t like the rub marks that shoes can leave, but then I am not looking at the tape when riding :) and it does mean it stays in fairly good shape should I want to sell it sometime in the future.

I’ve a small frame size, 50mm stem, 740mm wide bars 10mm rise and I’m 163cmish tall,

Thanks Normal Man, I don’t think you’d be disappointed had a fair few different hard tails, Dialled Alpine, Prince Albert’s, Carbon 456 and this seems to take all the best bits I liked from those and have it in one bike.

It feels very stable, rolls well and carries speed wheel though corners and over obstacles. It’s certainly more nimble and fun to ride than my 29er Scandal which it replaces.

Look forward to next weekend now….

Does that double up as a jetski?

Can’t swim that well so gave that feature a miss today :wink:

Both 275, and it’s still great today :)

My new bike feels great

I’ve X-Fusion Sweep’s only done two rides Cannock and Llangdegla, I am impressed so far, front wheel tracks well and over the two days not noticed the fork (which is good means it’s doing it’s job), I need to take the bike somewhere with a bit more rocks and drops just to see how it is with that but on the trails thus far it’s a great fork.

I’ve never noticed any of my forks over the years giving “more accurate feedback from the trail” so not sure i’d miss it if I didn’t have it now :-)

Not off the shelf but recently fitted a Hope 40T Sprocket and removed the 17t, works a treat, this has given me 11-40, good ratio’s and means that even though I am not as fit as I was a I can still ride 1×10 and get up some hills that otherwise I’d be pushing :)

Not a mud bath a few deep puddles of course, but in good shape I thought today considering that last few days of rain.

First ride today, good fun, it feels very much like a Prince Albert that I had many years ok, but with a little more stability and comfort, carries speed well, handles nicely very pleased now to see where I fancy riding tomorrow.

what about the TISSOT PRC 200 there is a version with a rubber strap.

Ernest Jones[/url] other watch shops are available :-)

And finally happy upcoming birthday

Thanks JRM – I sold on my 29er Scandal for the Soul, I also had a 456 Carbon a few years ok that is one stiff bike fun though I thought.

I’ll see the soul rides tomorrow riding around a flat small garden didn’t tell me much!!.

Thanks Normal Man

Nowthen – you might be right, I’ll check :wink: I did it so it matched each side :oops: :-)

jonny rocky mountain – how was it and what did you ride before?

Ready for it’s first ride tomorrow

Lost much fitness since last summer and wanted to keep 1×10 added this to help :-)

I’ve been looking at the Tissot nice looking watches, colleague has a C Ward it’s very nice too, he’s pleased with it.

I only spotted these last night but Hamilton Watches and 88 Rue due Rhone, while looking for a new watch myself ;-)

If you have dimensions of bag I can measure against the spare foam boot liner the dealer supplied I have and let you know.

Assuming new shape Leon, I can get a bike in the boot seats down front wheel off comfortably.

I had a 24/26 Cannondale 8O

Cafe was open on Saturday nice brew and fruit cake.

There are some trail closures but the majority was open last weekend, beginning of the end is shut as is part of the blue.

The guys there have done an amazing job we rode The Beast and there was many tress that have been chopped up to clear the trails.

Trek Remedy ?

When I had an offset mortgage I used that for Tax Dues, now I just use Premium Bonds as relatively easy access and you “might” win something, bit a free bet really.

I’ve had what can be called a cycling hiatus for a few months and not visited the forum so much, and with threads like this it’s like coming home same same old :-)

I rode the blue at Llandegla which had a diversion missed some signs did some red and the the blue again, second ride of the year, lungs felt it and not sure i am gelling with my SC Nickel either. Nice to be out though on such a lovely day.

I did the full year and going to do 2014 too, enjoyed it and it’s a great pictorial diary.

I have them dropped in my eyes yearly, quite something, bit of a sting then you can’t read anything close only stuff in the distance it is quite unpleasant :) fortunately was a dull day when I had mine done this year, but have had then done on a sunny day that is really uncomfortable.

Still happy to have it done yearly to keep a check all is well.

Might do the wash out think next time or get some optrex maybe?

Can answer one question, Seats and seat base are 60/40

Only put one bike into mine so won’t answer your first question.

Be there tomorrow :)