Iamtheressurrection’s got it right, An XT/XTR mix is good, works for me. I can’t really justify spending 400 quid on an XTR chainset when less weight and perhaps some stiffness are all I would gain. XTR chainrings are also way to pricey to replace and a bit like cheese, allegedly. I think shifters & dérailleurs are worth it though. I’m really happy with my XTR shifter pods. They were pricey but have upped the performance of my bike.

I was in Japan last year and was told by a few locals that Britain has a reputation abroad for having cameras everywhere. They make jokes about it apparently.

Having used Exage, Deore, LX, XT & XTR over the last 20 years I’ve come to the opinion that XTR shifters & dérailleurs(which are made in Japan [not Malaysia} to closer manufacturing tolerances than other Shimano kit) shift better. There’s less flex in the lever & give in the internals as you push so has a better shift feel and is more precise. Spring tension is also higher which means they work better in muddy conditions. In my experience I’ve spent less time adjusting XTR kit than I have XT during my maintenance routine, the metal parts fall out of adjustment less easily.

XTR is this, XT is this.

These are good. I’ve had them on my bike for three weeks now and am impressed. I’m running them at 35psi at the front(40 is the recommended pressure)and 40 rear. for me the front felt twitchy cornering at 40psi. These are the first 2.2+ tires I’ve run on my xc bike and although the extra 200g is noticeable they have a very fast rolling tread. The casing is high volume so feel really plush; good for long days in the saddle.

Bikes themselves aren’t that expensive to produce but hype and marketing is.

I do 20 minutes on the x-trainer, it builds up leg strength a lot quicker than riding the exercise bike which usually has a semi-recumbent position. It also works on your upper body a bit as well. Ask your gym instructor about it.

Definitely take a full-sus if you’ve got one, any XCish sub 30lbs will do it. I finished the 1 day SDW randonee a couple of years back and the guys on hardtails were effing & blinding their way down the last 3 hills.

Get a SC Heckler and spend the money you save over the Tracer on a really good fork.

“The breed had such strong aggression toward other dogs that the males and females would rather fight than mate”

sounds like my Mum & Dad.

This a common topic then?!! I’m new to the forum but certainly not new to MTBing; there seems to be a lot of nutter dogs/owners around this year. I don’t recall being chased before. Maybe it’s more people are out in the countryside walking than in town shopping. So guns, knives and toxic gas are out of the question. Meh.

get some park tools cable cutters. I’ve had a pair for 8 years now and they’re still going strong.

I googled “Spanish sounding chap” + “suspension” and got nothing. Google’s sooo rubbish 😉

that fs-kinematics site looks pretty tasty thou, will have a play later.

Cheers guys.

http://www.dafont.com/

All broken down into different stylistic groups so will be easy to find what you need.

Those Barracudas are dream bikes. Handmade in SoCal by Frank the Welder.

Do TFTuned fix Gordo forks?

I bid on it. 400 quid is a bargain.

I’ve had my Endura eEvent jacket since last October and used it on a 27 day cycle across Japan where it performed perfectly through snow, high winds and continuous torrential rain. Check here to see what it went through:-

http://timvsjapan.blogspot.com/

I never tumble dry it and only machine wash it if it’s really, really muddy after an off road ride.

I’d say a new Stumpjumper too. You obviously really loved it.

Thanks Compositepro,

So why was 6061 so popular on posh ‘handmade in the USA’ bikes? My old Heckler was made of 6061 yet my Kona Cindercone was 7005?

Anyone got any ideas?

Can you build a reliable 7005 alu frame without post-weld heat treatment? Brant mentioned 85%(I take it that means percentage of potential strength, correct me if I’m wrong though…). Would that make a safe, reliable ridable frame?

Also, I’m aware of the different properties of different brands/types of steel tubing because this stuff get discussed to death but does anyone have opinions on the different types of alu tubing available: 7005, 6061, Easton tubsets, Alcoa etc? if anyone knows of any good resources on the web?