Only 4 months to go, take a rest!! The trails will still be there!

So are you saying it’s a tad big for you?

Na, I buy them big in the top tube (or rather I get my reach from the top tube) so that I can run the saddle very much inline right over the cranks and a short stem for handling…

Ta! 5’9″ on an 18″ but running saddle far forward and 60mm stem (deliberate)

Well, better than Hamilton, so far…

Is this just an “is”, “isn’t” kind of argument now then?

Looking at recent results, both drivers only seem to be going backwards at the moment so don’t claim Alonso to be some master class in car development… he’s doing no better or worse a job then Hamilton given their car’s performance from the off – at least the Renault looked promising from the off…

Wow, I’ve posted it twice in 15 mins, vanity!!!

Actually being ridden:

Well no but 18″ – so hardly a small – but that’s with 2.4 Mountain Kings which I don’t feel are up to the job, hence the change on mine.

I’m quite amused at the calls for bullshit on sub 30lb 140mm bikes – we had a thread the other day full of supposed 25lb ones!

As usual, lots of pointless optimism and inaccurate scales going on here. The only way to acrape under 30lbs for a 5.5″ (140mm) or 6″ travel is to spend £4000+ on something with a carbon frame, full XTR, Chris King etc, and superlight inappropriate tyres.

Um, no. Five Pros are 28.5lb off the peg WITH pedals. Mine’s 29.5lb on a digital fishing scales but it built up a fair bit from normal Pro spec. YES that’s a 2.35 tyre on the front too and a 15QR vanilla!

(Yes the steerer has been cut now)

as Alonso did at Renault

Yeah bloody sterling job he’s doing at the moment. I’m not sure he deserves that much credit for last seasons late surge and a lot of it was down to fortune and attrition and front runners tripping over each other.

Alonso’s/Raikkonen’s/Hakkinens experience that got the McLaren onto the front row

I think you’ll find it was Adrian Newey’s legacy still being relevant in the advent of only minor rule changes. First major rule change and look who’s at the front – RBR (Newey) and Brawn…

I honestly think the Mclaren is the worst car on the grid somewhat flattered by the drivers occasionally sticking it in the midfield.

Hamilton however made no overtakes where the driver in front of him didn’t make a mistake and several mistakes himself.

Were you even watching? Duelled with Alonso for about 15 mins before a great pass only to then be run off the road by off-piste BMW returning blinding to the track that thus allowed Alonso back through… *sigh*

Yeah, I can imagine plenty of “it’s only a red” carnage…

I also second Barney’s statement… 😀

Oh and Seasons 😉

Garden State, Lost in Translation

Man, I pretty much realise that’s kinda like asking what the riding is like in England in terms of size of area LOL

Just took an online test – age, degree education (and wife) and profession (designer) seemed to go in my favor… Wife works for an Aussie company here in England too…

What’s the riding like in Victoria?

iFor july, keep riding Skyline until you get to a point where skyline is signposted as both left and right. Go right for July.

The Skyline descents are immensely good! Not epic hard but there’s a few bits on it that can catch you out!

Park at Forest centre and do Penydd and W2, lunch stop at Glyncorrwyg half way round W2.

If you’re really fit you can do July (mini Skyline) before finishing W2 but beware this is 84km and a bloody tough 84km at that!

Not XT but I use an X9 medium cage with three rings with no issues…

I used Locautorent – had a really snazzy and pokey (great fun on the mountain switchbacks!) Clio diesel for £220 (10 days)

Hehe, I’m 5’10” and wanted a 19″ but the plum clearance was far too close for comfort so had to take a 17.5. I like them long with a short stem though…

cinnamon_girl – 100mm fork should be fine, geometry isn’t wildly different to the iO I have and I’m running a 100mm fox on that and it’s great!

I wouldn’t worry about being a wuss rider either. Everyone who’s had a go on my iO comments on it’s ability to bring out that rider in you, comments along the lines of “you just want to go and mash the hell out if it” are common – give one a go if you can! Hand on heart, I believe Genesis are getting the Altitude range very right at the moment!

Dunno about the Bonty but I really like the “Steel as you remember it” feel of it, especially when so many popular steel frames are going a bit more hardcore.

I’d buy an Altitude in a heartbeat given the funds and permission to increase bike quota.

Last time I went to Afan I did Penhydd, started w2, split off to do July and then finsihed W2 – woudl you really tell people you went to Afan AND Glyncorrwyg or woudl you just say you went riding in Afan?

Not sure an iO is a complete comparison to an Altitude but the geometry isn’t miles apart and I’ve actually got a bouncy fork on mine now.

I can second James’s comments – it’s definitely a bike that rewards a firm hand – very chuckable, I find myself hopping and popping this thing more than anything else I’ve owned.

It feels quite soft at the backend, not overly so as it still feels nice and stiff under power, but in terms of hit taking it’s very forgiving. Since fitting a fork, I’m able to hold my own with full sussers as it’s light enough to just jump the nasties and when you do go wrong it’s got that classic steel forgiving nature.

There’s something Joe Murray Kona about it. Long, low, light, forgiving and fast!

Glyncorrwg = Afan for nearly all mountain bikers so stop being a pedant.

“Oh, can I come on that Afan ride”
“Yeah sure”
“Um, Glyncorrwg or the old centre?”

It’s all Afan…

Also, Hopester can vouch for me having the amazing ability to be both skinny and slow – so I’ll be great mocking fodder for everyone!

If I have enough notice date wise I’d be well up for breaking STW group ride cherry – especially so close to where I grew up!

It hadn’t been 3 weeks prior when I rode it… Not sure how much they could do to it without a few weeks to work on it…

A good shop will normally do stem, bar, saddle or tyres on a like for like – esp on £2K

Quite sad that the above image makes for a real cool piece of art… 😥

But I suppose that’s what makes is “art” in my eyes perhaps…

I know someone who has a son called Tomac

So do I!

My riding buddies have never complained about the noise (but they never get close enough to hear it *boom tish*)

But seriously, it never bothers you when actually riding it…

Like throwing a bag of spanners down the side of a mountain!

Sorry Nick, I gathered from your post that it was just strapped onto a bike rack…

Dbl post…

Leaving the bike on the car rack unattended is in reality no different to just propping it up in town really…

This really sucks but yeah, you are screwed. :'(

I understand the answer is neither, it’s outside foot down and weighted, inside foot up.

Compacts don’t live up to SLR performance but if I want to take the SLR, and subsequently/inevitably Flash gun and second lens (EFS 10-22 yummy!), and sometimes third lens (EF50 prime) it involves taking the camelbak motherlode and I generally enjoy the ride less – I have to make a decision as to whether I’m going to out to snap or to ride.

My wife’s Panasonic TZ3 does an admirable job and fits in my regular pack – yes you can tell the difference in the photos a mile away but that’s the choice you have to make.

No matter what people say, taking an SLR out on the bike is a PITA!

Oh and a mate but funny enough to post anyway.

A week MTB holidaying in Northwales – he pipes up and breaks the silence with “What type of Animal is an Araf then?”

Not mine but an ex of my brother – watching the footie on the telly.

“So when you’re at the actual game, how are you supposed to hear the commentators over all the cheering”

Proper mouth open disbelief moment that one.

Fancy passport de Soleil next year and maybe some longer enduro type races.

I’m guessing he’s on about different sort of races to you…

2nd the Five.

Wonders if OP is just looking to justify a nice set of rigids for his old bike 🙄

You seem adamant that this is the best thing for your mrs even though everyone else with experience of this is telling you don’t.

Obviously we don’t know her, but why ask if you’re so sure this is the way to go?