I’ve recently bought a 2022 Trek Slash as a bike for rougher stuff. It pedals OK but I mainly got it for uplift days as my regular bike is 120/120 f & r so I can’t comment on that aspect.

I’ve taken it to BPW (where, to be honest, it felt a bit much for the tamer trails), Antur Stiniog and have just come back from Italy where it proved awesome on the steepest, roughest tracks at La Thuile as well as Pila Bike Park, soaking up red and black runs with equal aplomb.

Sizing wise, I’m 6’1″ and normally ride a large, the fit feels spot on to me

This is my third carbon bike and I have never had any issues even in the rockiest terrains. Also, the downtube on the Slash is very well protected.

All you’ll get on here is snarky comments from beardy Berlingo drivers.

Yeah, thanks. I kinda knew this wasn’t the place to ask but thought I’d give it the benefit of the doubt. I might knock the idea on the head and stick with the pickup…

Best MTB I’ve ever owned. Handles way rougher terrain than 120mm would suggest. There is very little in the UK I wouldn’t tackle on it. Mine is grey but that was because the only one available at the time. Don’t ever feel like I need more travel when I ride it and I do have a longer travel bike to use if I wish

@18bikes yes, that was me. A great day surrounded by lots of great cars

@Furious could you post a link to the Blog as would be interested to see more details.

Sure, check it out here. It’s not quite up to date, but you can follow most of the process. It’s also on Insta under the same name

Cool indeed – but going from a 90hp engine to 270 on the same gearbox – that’s not going to last long surely? I assume the clutch was uprated at least!

The MX5 gearbox is a pretty bombproof and people do run 280-300 and beyond through them with turbo- and super- charged conversions (rear diff is likely to let go before the g/box but should be ok for the power I’m running…)

Clutch is brand new and is an uprated unit (it is part of the Rocketeer kit alongside a bespoke flywheel)

Not sure if this is the right place to put this or not but I made this (sort of)

3.0 litre Jaguar sourced V6 into a 1997 MK1 MX5

It is a Rocketeer kit which, among other things, includes a replacement subframe and an adaptor plate for the MX5 gearbox

Originally the car was a basic 90BHP 1.6 (non-ABS, non-PS) now has circa 270 horses and makes a glorious noise.

All spanner work by me. I do have a build thread/blog if people are interested

Sounds like a Spur would be perfect if you can find one. A lot of the confidence people find from the 150mm travel bikes is more down to geometry than travel, you’re just adding weight and suspension for the sake of it a lot of the time. Short of black runs at the likes of BPW/Stiniog or super, super steep hand cut trails like Macc forest/llangollen, I’d be happy riding my Spur on most things in the UK. The beauty is in it’s weight and geometry, it’s XC bike rapid but has the geo to really let fly on the way down. I adore mine!

^^ I couldn’t put it better myself

I :heart: my Spur. Best MTB I’ve ever owned for UK riding

4 prizes

3x £25
1x £500!!!

Woot – that’s the best ever haul so far

I think I’ve suggested it before on similar threads, but find the cleanest mx-5 MK1 or 2 possible and put a rocketeer V6 kit in it. Don’t think you can get much more character for the money. Admittedly much older than 10 years …

That’s what I’m up to at the minute…

Donor
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Work in progress
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Jammy! Been waiting on mine since before launch and now been told I won’t get it til September at the earliest as it still hasn’t left Transition yet 🙁 Enjoy it, from what I’ve read its an absolute riot!

Windwave put me onto Brink and this was the last X01 in large they had.

I’ve only had little rip around the road but I can say it’s very light and accelerates quickly. It feels really nimble. The fit appears spot on. Seems to manual well too.

Well, I gone and did it…

Transition Spur X01 in Large

First ride this weekend

I had been looking at the Sentinel as I ‘think’ it’s the single bike I need for all of my riding. Then they release the Spur and I start thinking this is the single bike I need for most of my riding. It certainly has the right geometry, I wonder how it handles the terrain when it gets really rowdy?

I currently ride a Pivot Mach 5.5 (although I also have an Airdrop Bitmap) but I want a 29er.

The Spur has me confused now about which would be best. If I went for the Spur I guess I could keep the Pivot for bigger terrain. If I got a Sentinel, the Pivot would be going to a new home.

Regardless, I’ve been told neither are available until November

Basque mtb looking favourite atm… looks amazing but is a bit pricey and doesn’t include evening meals… that’s not a deal breaker but I always end up eating poorly when fending for myself.. burgers or pizzas every night!

Me and two mates did the Back Country Pyrenees trip with Basque MTB a couple of years ago and we were catered for every night. I think there were a couple of meals we had to pay for but we all ate (incredible food) together every meal time. I thought we ate really well.

It’s a well organised trip with, as others have said, great guides, fantastic trails and stunning scenery

If you’re going in Spring – beware the caterpillars…

A mate of mine has one. He rides hard and fast and breaks everything -he hasn’t broken his Insurgent in two years of bike parks, overseas riding and everything in between. He’s really quick on it and with him riding, it seems to climb OK too.

I’ve ridden it a couple of times and it’s an absolute hoot when pointed down thanks to it’s slack head angle (he rides it in low setting, everywhere). As others have mentioned they’re not long bikes. I’m 6’1″ and the XL is the right size for me. I wouldn’t want it any shorter

I got ’em on Wednesday. No help now but you could get them via the Faith No More website. They issued a password a couple of minutes ahead of pre-sale to try and stop the touts

2 x £25 here

£150 total from the last 4 draws

Yep, go back and do it again!

This.

I travel from Glossop to Wilmslow for work and one of the quickest routes (if I’m not cycling or taking the train) is via Hayfield, A6 and the A555 – luckily I’m on a motorcycle when I do this so the traffic isn’t quite as bad for me as it’s a very ‘filter friendly’ route. What I will say is that traffic density does vary wildly across the week. Last week for example I had to take the car on two days, travelling at the same time of day (7:30) one day took 50 mins, the next took 90! It’s an awful route to take with the car. The A555 is great (unless coming home and trying to turn right back on to the A6!) – but the A6 -> A555 is horrible most mornings.

Highlight of the trip is sniffing the air around the Swizzels factory in New Mills – mmmmm, drumsticks

Crossed my mind when I saw those Airdrop Bitmap frames £100 off. I keep telling myself I don’t need another bike but it would be nice.

I saw the sale and they look great but I fear they’re just too stiff and unforgiving for regular riding

I’ve had a Mach 5.5 for just over 2 years. From the first test ride I knew it was the bike for me. It’s geometry even back then was on the more conservative side but this, in my opinion, is what makes it such a great all rounder. It’s long and slack enough. All the elements come together so nicely. 2.6″ tyres, DW-Link suspension and brilliant attention to detail in the frame design.

My riding has come on in leaps and bounds since owning it. It is the best bike I’ve owned so far.

Can it take a beating? Hell yeah. Mine has done everything from long days in the saddle to bike parks (BPW, Revs, Antur Stiniog) to week long adventures in the Pyranees. It’s taken everything in it’s stride.

Does it flatten the trail? Yes and no, although the 140mm of travel at the back feels bottomless it does get bucked around more than my friends 160mm bikes. The big fork up front means you can plough into stuff pretty hard tough.

What are they like for popping off things/wheels in the air kind of stuff?

I’m thinking Llangegla blacks and BPW reds (as well as natural trails that encourage this kind of behaviour)

Tesco Mobile – I’ve never had anything but outstanding customer service.

As far as calling them goes, they’re up there with First Direct in my opinion.

PS, Furious, your linky points at your worpress login, not the blog itself.

Oops – try this

Buy a rust free mx-5 for £2k and get a rocketeer V6 conversion done and you’ll have a much more unique midlife crisis car for way under budget… And it’ll sound better too

I’m somewhere in the middle of doing this right now 😎

Blog

<mod edit: link corrected>

I have a 790 Duke (passed my test in April) and have recently purchased a MT07 Tracer for year round commuting duties. The Tracer is an incredible bike – quick, handles nicely and very nice to ride. However, for riding thrills the Duke is so much more exhilarating to ride. No doubt the MT07 is a very, very good bike, I’m not sure I’d class it as a “better value Duke 790″…

Friday was BPW, Saturday at BMCC. Lots and lots of fun

Wheeeeeeee!

Out of interest (and may be of use to me in the future if I decide to try and get an A2 licence) why is putting a foot down an instant fail? Is it not the same as putting a foot down when you come to a stop sign or a Give Way when there’s traffic coming?

It’s putting a foot down to catch the bike following a loss of control. It’s not putting a foot down when stopping for junctions, etc.

By loss of control, this might be stopping rather quickly while turning and the bike leaning, missing a gear unexpectedly and the bike slowing resulting in a stop. Basically, if you hinder traffic if any way, that’s not a good thing to do. You need to control the bike at all times, rather than the bike controlling you.

Yep, GQ hit the nail on the head. I was already rolling out of the junction so I wasn’t in full control of the bike. A foot down during a maneuver is a fail on MOD1 and MOD2. Seems harsh on the surface but understandable in context.

Congrats 🙂

It was my MOD 2 on Tuesday. It pissed it down the whole time. It was all going tickety-boo until approaching a give way junction I was asked to turn left. I had good visibility of the road so just slowed, kicked down the gears and went to pull out. However, instead of selecting first as I though, I’d managed to get neutral (this, on a bike that selecting neutral is very hard). Went to pull out, realised my mistake, had a wobble, put my foot down. Instant fail! A real shame as I only had one minor.

The most annoying thing of all (apart form the massive damage to my pride) was phoning SMC in Sheffield to tell them I wouldn’t be picking up my new Duke 790 that afternoon after all…

So, following on from a cancelled first MOD 2 and a failed second MOD 2, I’m pleased to say I passed on Thursday morning. 2 minors – stalled pulling away from one of the many “pull over on the left when it’s safe to do so” and accidentally beeping the horn in the kerfuffle getting started and pulling away safely…

Anyway, with a smile plastered all over my face, I headed over Snake Pass to Sheffield Motorcycle Centre in the afternoon to pick up my new Duke 790. Happy bunny!

I used them to fix a TV mount to a hollow wall. 6 fixings to attach the mount to the wall. They’ve been holding a 55″ TV on a highly maneuverable wall mount for over 6 months. I’ve been very impressed

Mod 2 was this morning, in the pissing rain.

Had someone pull out on me, a closed road on the indepentant ride where I ended up taking the examiner on a detour, as I knew the area so could nip around it, then right at the end I missed the entrance to 20mph zone and went too fast….

And somehow only got a minor for it, **** yeah! I think the examiner was being kind as I was perfect up to then, apparently.

Congrats :)

It was my MOD 2 on Tuesday. It pissed it down the whole time. It was all going tickety-boo until approaching a give way junction I was asked to turn left. I had good visibility of the road so just slowed, kicked down the gears and went to pull out. However, instead of selecting first as I though, I’d managed to get neutral (this, on a bike that selecting neutral is very hard). Went to pull out, realised my mistake, had a wobble, put my foot down. Instant fail! A real shame as I only had one minor.

The most annoying thing of all (apart form the massive damage to my pride) was phoning SMC in Sheffield to tell them I wouldn’t be picking up my new Duke 790 that afternoon after all…

Sooo, the continuing story of my journey into mid-life crisisness…

Theory test passed and onto CBT. Been trying to do this alongside my wife but she really struggled on the CBT and never made it out onto the road. I, however, did get my CBT.

Mrs. Furious eventually passed her CBT on a moped as hew couldn’t get to grips with the clutch, throttle, brake sufficiently well. We have a bit of land at home so purchased a 3rd hand Honda CB125F for her to practice on before resuming lessons.

Meanwhile, I’m happily razzing round on a 650 Suzuki Gladius for my lessons and getting on famously. Yesterday was my MOD1.

Test was at 8:30am and my instructor asked me to meet him at 7 as he had a prior test to attend at 8. We’d ride up to the test center together. At 7:07 on the morning of the test I was woken by my phone with my instructor asking “Where teh f@#k I was!”. S#!t, f@#k, bo!!locks! I was going to be touch and go getting to the test center for 8:30. He told me to do what I could and that he hoped to see me there.

If only I had something I could cut through snarled up, rush hour traffic…minutes later, I’m filtering through a traffic jam on the aforementioned 125!

Got to the test center with 10 minutes to spare. The look on my instructors face was a picture as I came through the gate – he knew nothing of the little yellow Honda.

Sat in the waiting room trying to calm down and was eventually called through. Got on the Gladius and realised how different it was to the CB. Test went by in a blur. The parking test wasn’t my best effort but I guess that just nerves. Slalom, I felt was good. Figure of 8 was slower than I’d like, but I have good balance and felt comfortable. Walking pace section went fine, no wobbles. On the UTurn, I did my check-check, pulled away, did the safety and then immediately looked into the turn rather than back to straight ahead before looking where I was about to go. Would that be a fault? Did he see that? The U-Turn itself was nice and neat but I’m sure I’ve failed already.

Controlled stop felt fine and then on to my nemesis – the emergency stop and the hazard avoidance. Both were no trouble with regards to the maneuvers but in practice I regularly cracked the speed trap at 46KPH (pretty consistently, it has to be said).

On the day of the test, I came round the top bend and as I straightened up, gave it the beans. Examiner holds up his hand and I shut of the throttle and squeeze the front brake, apply some rear and pull the clutch in. No real drama, but I felt I could have pulled up a bit smarter. The examiner walked up to me and said that was 60KPH and that I don’t need to be going THAT quickly. Then it was the hazard avoidance. Went round the top, wound it up and went through the cones.

Out of the gates when indicated, park the bike, helmet off. Test over. My instructor said straight away he hoped the safety on my U-Turn was going to be enough. I knew it…

After what seemed like an eternity I was called through to the examiners office where it was difficult to detect if it was a positive outcome or not. My instructor just looked at the floor, convinced it was the small error that was going to be my downfall…

But I didn’t. I passed! Two minors – too fast on the emergency stop and not quite quick enough on the hazard avoidance (49KPH!). Phew, relieved is an understatement.

MOD2 is already booked and up next…onwards!

Is it really worth it? What do people do? Cheap set of rims and swap the wheels? Just get the tyre fitters to swap the tyres and store at home or at the tyre fitter that offers storage? I have a garage so storage of rims or tyres isn’t too much of an issue.

First season for winter tyres for me and although we’ve not really had the snow, when we did have some they were superb. Very impressed with low temperature grip. I got mine from a local tyre fitters who did a good price and I’m storing my summer tyres at home.

I passed my CBT last weekend and had my first ‘proper’ lesson this weekend. Straight onto a 650 and I thoroughly enjoyed it, so nice to ride.

The stuff we went over for the MOD1 was pretty straightforward but so much to take in for the MOD2! The two hours we did on the road left me exhausted

Mazda CX-5 Sport Nav?

Good to see this thread pop-up again.

My wife and I have both decided to do our bike tests this year. She passed her theory on Wednesday, I passed mine this morning. CBT next weekend and then on to proper training. London Bike show tickets booked too!

Been riding Reynolds 36mm carbon rims on my Pivot for over 12 months. I ride with very little fineness and they’ve held up really well to all manner of abuse including regular Peak District riding, Stiniog, Revolution Bike Park and a weeks worth of savage Basque country rock gardens.

I run low pressures and 2.6″ tyres tubeless and I don’t worry about them.

Would I buy them again? Good question, they were an expensive upgrade but I could afford it so in the same circumstances I probably would if they were offered. If I was having a wheelset built I’m not so sure.

My bike came with 2.6 tyres. A DHF up front and a Rekon out back

I really like the (huge) amount of grip in the right conditions but I’m not serial swapper of tyres and I prefer a tyre that is suitable for all seasons and in a variety of conditions. In this sense the Rekon isn’t that great, also at the moment it seems challenging to find anywhere stocking 2.6 tyres.

Watching this thread with interest as I’m considering doing something similar. Alternating between my GT Grade and potentially an Orbea Gain 20 to enable me to commute a hilly 50km (total) a day

I believe it’s just a colour difference. Everything else is identical.

Great bag BTW, so pleased with mine

In the spirit of recommending what you ride – Pivot Mach 5.5. 160mm front, 140mm rear so fits with your 150mm +\- 10mm perfectly 😎