36t front and 11-36 rear (1×10) works fine with the wide range Zee mech. Just make sure you check the chain length at max growth

I used a Nukeproof Critical back protector (Sas-tec jobby) in the Alps. Had a lot of major offs and walked away unscathed, used it for an all-day epic and didn’t notice it was there.

Recommended

Just googled that Copenacre place, holy cow!

Sorry, no M820 Saint are single-ring only. I’m running 1×10.

I have Saint cranks on mine – as you say, so long as they play nice with a BB92 bottom bracket, you’ll be fine.

Large SX here – love it!!!

I’m 6’2″ and run a 35mm stem – I’m long in the body so at your height the Large would be on the large side IMHO…

I went from a 17″ Blood to this – comparable in terms of ETT,HA etc but the SX just wants to go faster/higher/rougher due in part to longer wheelbase + more travel

Use mine around Brizzle, FoD, S Wales and have just done a few days in the alps – just laps it all up :-)

i switched from Minion/RQ/HR to Ardents (2.4 F, 2.25 R). Fantastic tyres, haven’t been outgunned yet, although the depths of winter may prove to be a tipping point….

Roll v v fast and amazing grip, especially from the big front one. Seem to be fussy with pressure though

Try Ardents

In answer to both questions – i top my pressure up extended and regularly leave my reverb compressed for a few days at a time.

Nothing bad has happened ;-)

Recommended from me – no code though, soz

I’ve done an oil change on mine – piece of cake. I’ll see if i can dig up some instructions.

Basically you remove the top caps, take the spring out, turn them upside down and pump the oil out.

I have an Asgard – it was broken into last year. They’re not impenetrable by any stretch of the imagination, but they’re better than a wooden shed.

Insurance paid out no problem , but they stipulate big locks.

As above, I’d go with big locks on the outside, ground anchor, big locks inside, alarm, but definitely check with your insurer.

Rode Ardent EXOs set up tubeless on Sun Ringle Chargers on a long weekend trip to the Alps a month ago.

They’d been faultless in the UK, but holed the rear (2.25 flavour) on the first afternoon and burped the front (2.4) massively on the 2nd day.

I love the tyres but I think there’s a limit to tubeless conversion IMHO

Another Vans Gravel users here – getting a bit knackered now though.
Am tempted by the Five Ten XVi Elements when they make an appearance in the autumn

new version is out end Sept in the UK for £200ish gauging from what i read today

Although in the summer it can look very nice, do some house hunting in the depths of winter to get a view of how dark and depressing the FOD can be

^^^ very much this

As I said earlier on, I loved growing up & living there very much and would love to move back one day, but I know it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. It’s the loveliest place on earth in the summer, but winter’s a different ball game….

If your missus is NHS, she can always try and get a job at the Dilk?

I grew up in the FoD – as per psling’s comments above, I’d spend a long while trying to understand what it’s actually like via long weekends etc.

I loved living there, but it’s not everyone’s cup of tea….

If you have kids or are planning to, the schools are the key thing to consider. As you’re an IT contractor, Brizzle-side (Chepstow-way) may be the way to go?

Most have the shower head designed for clientèle of a maximum height of 5ft3 too. Which is annoying for people of a normal height of 6ft+

This. Showers for hobbits in most hotels IME

Dirt is ace and I really like Jones’ writing style.

His reviews on kit & bikes help me make an informed decision – I have in the past bought two bikes, based in part on Jones’ reviews. Those bikes have been the best bikes I have owned.

I was running 2.25 & 2.4 Ardent EXO (f & r) on a set of Sun Ringle Chargers (licenced Stan’s tech, similar to Flow EX).

They were fine in the UK but I burped front and rear massively in the Alps last week.

Seem to be ok with tubes in ;-)

I can recommend O’Neal Sinner – SasTec based so very comfy

As above – it knackers the headtube when you do it up tight enought to stop the clamp moving. My boys used it very briefly between child seat and riding solo stages

I’d recommend getting a proper tagalong instead

if it’s hard shell type stuff, just bung it in on coolish wash. If it’s d30/sastec/vpd etc, remove pads before washing the sleeve

Safety pin attached to the remnants of the zip puller

teensy bit of rain today then dry weds/thurs followed by scorchio Fri & Sat – you’re gonna have a great time :-)

Do you need the travel adjust? If you don’t, there are more options

I’ve been using a Blackspire Einfachx for the last month – it’s been faultless combined with a clutch mech.

+1 for O’Neal Sinner. Dead comfy, and more importantly, they work

As above – Marzo 55 RC3ti is the one. Have used Fox 36 Vans, Floats, Lyriks etc – nothing compares to the Marzo in terms of performance, let alone durability.

IME, the dads’ race is like a charge of unruly elephants, quite chilled out elephants mind.

The mums’ race on the other hand brings new meaning to the word “compettive” – running shoes and pointy elbows a-go-go ;-)

I’ve got one of these (albeit in a slightly older version). 661 Core Saver.

Good back protection plus a bit on your shoulders and chest to take the sting out ;-)

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=72489

+1 on Red Bull TV being aceness (due in large part to Warner!)

It’s on my TV for nowt thanks to the interweb and magic, and I like it very much. I spent an hour or so on Father’s Day watching the WC on the big telly with my sons, they loved it :-)

mine did this – give the clamp area a good clean and re-tighten

good news! Nice one Brizzle 5-0 :-)

I’m running Maxxis Ardents at the mo (2.4 f, 2.25 r) and quite enjoying the experience (have been running Rubber Queens, Barons and Minions up to this point).

Riding is forest, rocky stuff & trail centre conditions, although it’s been mostly dry….

Don’t if it hurts too much
Don’t fall off
Don’t let anyone make you laugh (that’s what made my ribs hurt the most whilst they were healing!)

Upload your CV to Jobsite & Jobserve and make it searchable – most agencies crawl for CVs from these sites.

See if you can find out who the big employers in Peterborough use

A lighter bike definitely means less work done by your engine. A corresponding drop in body mass (assuming you maintain the same strength and fitness) will yield the same results when using the same engine.

I’d go along with this – obviously weight dropped from wheels needs to be multiplied by a ratio to cater for rotational forces

Conti Rubber Queen 2.4 BC up front and you’ll be riding like a boss. You won’t find a more confidence-inspiring front tyre

+1

Maybe I should give Mud Dock another go – I haven’t been to either shop or restaurant for a long time due to poor experiences from both.

I remember being confused by Mud Dock being shortlisted (or even winning?) some “best bike shop” award a few years back (when it was going through a “challenging” time)