Peaky Blinders is fab – script, acting, music (and accents!)

I love it

My experience of Five Ten Elements:

I bought some last autumn and I’d ripped the sole off by June – it’s pretty thin. This is riding in them pretty much every day (weekdays are commuting).

Grippy and comfy but the weatherproofing is “interesting” – they tend to fill with water and then don’t drain! So you end up riding around with pools of water in your shoes.

They don’t dry particularly quickly either. Couple of days on the radiator when sodden.

My recommendation would be to get a set of “regular” (i.e non-weatherproof) shoes that are grippy and not too built up so they don’t become waterlogged and dry quickly. Shimano AM40/41 or Vans Gravel are very good in this regard.

I’ve got a set of Giro Jacket Mid which I’m putting through the Autumn ringer at the moment, look good so far.

Tftuned told me a few weeks ago that they were getting some in. Bronson-specific ccdba that is, not Audi A4s… :-)

Formula brakes are cack – you will definitely see an improvement if you replace them.

I run Zee 203mm fr/180mm rr – there’s a lot to be said for the ability to brake hard and late.

That was fab :-)

I’d check with TF Tuned – IIRC the PUSH tuning removes the Boost Valve so it doesn’t matter.

I *think* it’s a Kona Bass with aftermarket rocker arms (poss BETD)

Friend of mine had one of those 46er BigHits back in the day – we used to affectionately call it the Penny Farthing ;-)

That Spectral does look nice!

erm natch = naturally (natch ;-))

i guess so, but adjusting geo + travel in this way may suit “winch + plummet” style riding but does it suit your regular mixed up type riding?

A solution to a bike that combines “XC efficiency when you need it” and “DH plush when you need it” is may be better implemented via something like the Lapierre Ei?

Just a thought…

Possibly Ruckus? Or maybe Skyline?

Looks like a largely pointless gimmick to me

+1

Solution to a problem that doesn’t exist (see also Bionicon)

IMHO natch ;-)

Been to BPW 4 times, ridden up the fire road every time due to not booking 3 months in advance. Great trails, enjoy it every time, would be nice to get an uplift though…

Do tend to go to Cwmcarn and use Cwmdown more recently as I can get on the uplift pretty easily.

From your list, I’d go for Pikes.

However, having been through the same thought process as you I’ve landed on BOS Devilles. Very happy

I always put my left shoe on first. I tried doing my right shoe first but it felt weird.

e13 trs?

I’ve been having the same thing with a Hope headset – hopefully it’s just the bearings sorting themselves out. Needed tightening up pre-ride last night and then mid-ride.

I say tuck it in – and tuck your t-shirt into your jeans for good measure ;-)

Untucked baby

Palmer is a legend! Great to have him back involved in the sport.

Such a shame he narrowly missed out on 2 x Winter Olympics qualifications

+1 trying a Mini Enduro as your first race – I’ve done 2 (Haldon & FoD). Really well organised and a lot of fun :-)

I remember seeing Portishead at the now defunct Ashton Court festival – awesome. I have no idea when that was – late ’90s possibly?

Echo all positive comments above – have had a MaxxD and Joystick for a looong time (both Mk1 IIRC) and they’re still going strong. MaxxD switch broke off recently and Exposure fixed it for a couple of quid.

I have used Chinese torches as lights in the past and they’ve been crap.

I know you said you’re not keen on flats, but my knees used to give me loads of grief until I switched to exclusive use of flats.

I’ve had both and would go for Zee – as above, the only differentiator for me was the bite point adjust, do you need it?

2 scoops here (done 26″ and 27.5″ HDs, in SG and Snakeskin flavours)

For local I just take phone, tube, pump + widdy multitool.

Just read that article you linked to DanW – not a lot of love for the article author/content from the comments!

i guess shock set up is a personal/contextual thing…

I checked the ones I ordered previously and they don’t come up on the bike-discount website anymore. I think these are they http://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/dura-ace-hollowtech-ii-press-fit-bottom-bracket-cups-sm-bb92-41b-87651 but can’t confirm.

re: Commencal – it is **** annoying that there’s a great lump of metal in the BB shell! The RF BB *looks* like it’ll maybe work sans sleeve but it does look like there’s a lip coming off the back of the BB cups they may interfere with the lump of metal.

Sorry Veero, my bad – missed that crucial detail, should pay attention!

Just had a flick through my old email and that’s where I got mine from. They look like the ones – have ordered plenty of stuff from bikediscount, no problems. Shipping fairly quick – you should have them by w/e if you order today i think.

Yeah, 7800 is the one – just did a quick google and looks like you may be pushed to find one (maybe eBay?). I got mine from Germany too.

Dura Ace BBs are your friend for the Meta SX – most push-fit BBs have a collar/tube, the Dura Ace ones are just the cups and so play nice with the Meta’s BB. Or you can hacksaw off the collars on other mfrs BBs ;-)

My ti spring snapped in my 55 rc3 ti forks and tf tuned replaced it with a lyrik spring as it was the closest fit. They still had to tinker with it (cut it down a bit).

Have been using a Suunto Ambit 2s since Christmas – very good bit of kit.
Accurate, battery life seems pretty good, can upload to Suunto’s own Movescount which can then sync with Strava (if that’s your thing).

Haven’t tried using it as a mapping/navigation tool, just tracking runs and rides. It can also track swimming and other sports too but I haven’t tried that.

Recommended.

once over the bridge? 30-40 mins – I’ve never timed it from there but it’s just over 1hr door to door for me from Brizzle.

A lot will depend on what day/time of day you’re going

Thanks Rick – CCDBa CS is on my spec list for the Bronson

Thanks Rick, that’s kinda how I feel about my Meta SX. It’s super capable but rather than haul it around when I’m not doing DH I thought I’d go for a Bronson as a more do it all bike. Had my head turned at the last by the blue Nomad!
How did the Float X work out on the Bronson?

Thanks gardron – anyone want post up their pics of blue/pink Nomads? Or Bronsons for that matter (any colour!)

Thanks gardron – as I’m currently riding a slack 160mm bike with beautifully plush Marzocchi suspension the idea of having something more flickable is very appealing :-)

Good point about swapping the stock shock – I’ve never got on with RP2/23, they tend to always get swapped out. If I do go for a Bronson after my demo, a CCDBa is on the spec list :-)

Those black Nomads are very lovely

Are you guys both running the Vivid?