I’m currently testing the 740mm flat bar. Claimed weights are accurate.

Was a bit nervous about using it when it arrived as it just seems too light for All Mountain use. Have fitted it to an Orange Gyro with a 50mm stem, seems to be very stiff so far, was anticipating it to be a bit flexy tbh. And I will eventually pluck up the courage to hit some DH trails soon :)

Shape is pretty nice, nice bit of backsweep but also feels like it has a bit of downsweep to begin with, which it doesn’t, just takes a few rides to get used to it.

Engines and running gear are the same.

I assumed this to be the case, yet when you look at driver power survys etc, Skodas are consistently top, Superb and Octavia, even older versions.

Tbh, I thought the Focus reliability looked ok which is why I bought the C-Max, turns out the C-Maxs are made in a different factory and have much worse reliability record than the Focus hatch despite same engine and running gear.

I hate cars.

Yeah unless the inlaws decide to buy us a new one, I can’t see replacing it ending up any more economical than maintaining this one (they’ve offered but we want to avoid as we’re hoping for house deposit help soon!)

Skodas seem to score well on reliability but it shows in the residuals. Octavia Estate would be nice but £££

Did think about leasing new when we got the C-Max but banked on long term ownership being the shrewder option given we were planning on children (and have since had one). If we were to replace the car now, that would be all of our saveable income gone so not really an option I want to consider.

*sigh* I chuffing cycle to work too!

Argh, so the recommended ‘specialist’ had it all weekend, didn’t contact us, didn’t answer the phone and then still had the bonnet open and hadn’t fixed it when I arrived Monday morning to pick it up. Baring in mind I had just returned a hire car and he knew I wasn’t local, this was pretty poor form.

I don’t know for sure but my suspicion is that he had only just started looking at it that morning. Eitherway, I drove it away as I had no choice, and have decided to just take it to Ford which is practically next to where my Wife works and is at least convenient. Very frustrating though!

However, I do know that the Turbo is fine and this second Garage found a fair amount of oil all over the back of the engine and there was quite a lot in the drip tray while he was ‘working on it’.

*sigh*

househusband: FWIW I’ve done around 1000km since October in all conditions on them and they’ve been bullet proof so far.

I am old… so that is 28.6lbs… ummm, it would have been nice if it had been a bit lighter,

A FS 29er with 120mm and a dropper post for £2k and you reckon it ought to be lighter! 8O

I’ve seen a medium up on Park tool scales at 13kg but it was minus pedals. IMO it’s a bit under-tyred for what it is though which flatters the weight.

I’d work on technique and maybe even get some skills training. On the types of trails you mention, the bike won’t really be that much of a limiting factor. If I find a steep, tight switchback I can’t get round and cock up on, it’s not the 29er that’s the issue it’s me.

Alternatively, if you just want a new bike, MTFU and admit it’s just N+1 syndrome and get one… don’t try to rationalise it though :P

We’re planning on getting a dog eventually, but we’re taking the approach that we’d be getting it for ourselves. If the kids muck in and take responsibility then great, but assume it’s going to be you at 6am getting up for the morning walk.

They’re actually £599 for 2013, up from £499, and with no image available, I’d be very suspicious. Despite the £100 price hike I still think they’re great value for what they are though.

I believe the 2013 and 2012 wheels are identical aside from graphics. But I think 2012 saw a new rim design so I’d buy 2011 wheels with caution as well.

I’ve ridden 2012 26ers and 2013 29ers and they’re frankly superb wheels; very, very superb.

The 28mm rim width eclipses a lot of other so called All Mountain wheels, the 1760g weight eclipses a lot of so called xc wheels, yet I’ve had them down the FOD downhill trails and they’ve been nothing short of impressive. The real deal IMO.

Alternative guides:

Rear: http://www.cyclistno1.co.uk/features/maintenance/hope-pro-ii-rear-hub-service.htm
Front: http://www.cyclistno1.co.uk/features/maintenance/hope-pro-ii-front-hub-service.htm

no, the dare is soooo wrong it’s right. It’s a bit like granny porn, you know it’ll make most folks vomit and then after a while you appreciate that you can still get jiggy with it

8O

Argh, even the Preston looks good next to the Dare! *says the Five owner*

Terrible things. Just because they’ve always worked for you, doesn’t mean things haven’t moved on. Tyres are a personal thing but pick any allrounder designed in the last couple of years and it will roll faster while offering more grip. Why wouldn’t you take that?

Different example but used to think Nevegals were great. Recently got Hans Dampfs. Manage to offer a lot more grip while simultaneously rolling faster, offering more puncture protection, and only being a fraction heavier despite being noticeably wider.

In the dry, something like a Racing Ralph or a Small Block 8 will be hugely faster and as, if not more, grippy than the Fire XCs IMO…

Is there anyt kind of limit as to what that Acor jobby will cope with in terms of chain growth? Like maybe an Orange?

Just thinking if I ever man up and enter the puffer, I’d want to go singlespeed but want to stay full suss.

Self building is always going to better value if you can manage it though.

Well the rims aren’t Hope on Hope Hoops, so as nice as it would be to retain the Hope hubs, I’m more interested in the rims.

American Classic All Mountains, £499, 1750g – They’ve survived FOD DH on the Gyro no sweat without mincing, and I’ve generally tried to not be precious with them, with a set of Hans Dampfs on, plenty wide enough rims.

Had the 26ers too, can’t fault them, even stingy-radar gave them 4.5 stars: http://www.bikeradar.com/mtb/gear/category/components/wheel-sets/product/review-american-classic-all-mountain-wheelset-12-46217

I gave the 26ers 5 stars: http://www.cyclistno1.co.uk/gear/components/wheels/american-classic-all-mountain-26-tubeless.htm

This thread failed in google because of the OPs thread title IMO. Missed out on getting the business name in the html page title, the URL for the page and the H2 at the top.

Reckon it would have front page easily otherwise.

Wider bar increases the relative reach… I tend to follow a very rough 2:1 rule, so a 40mm increase in bar width would see me drop 20mm in the stem length.

Recently went from 700mm bars and 70mm stem to 740 bars and 50 stem, seemed to work. The wider bar tends to compensate for the shorter stem so don’t assume shorter stem will be twitchier either.

So I’d try going up to say 620mm and down to 80mm stem…

I’d say the wheels are more important than ever on a 29er. Quite a lot of sub 2kg, £250 ish wheelsets are dreadful for just being wobbly, flexy messes. The bigger wheels have more room to be compromised than 26ers and it’s harder to get a good/cheap wheel…

The Pro IIs/TN319s that came on the Gyro are about 2.1kg but they’re plenty stout and I’d prefer that and suck it up a bit in terms of the weight than have a soft wheelset.

The American Classic All Mountains I’ve since put on at 1750g are lighter than many ‘xc’ wheels, not insanely expensive (compared to carbon and other top end wheels in this day and age), have wonderfully wide rim and are very stiff too. Landing sideways, dropping to flat, they’re still as straight as can be.

If I was speccing a new 29er build, I’d choose my wheels before I’d even chosen the frame I reckon.

Tidy! Just needs a Kashima dropper now :(

How was the cheeky trail? :)

mattjg: no not ridden a Rumblefish but very interested in getting on one at some point.

If you’re looking for more XC biased but to be used as a Trail bike. Both the Tallboy AL and Superfly 100 AL cover the XC bike that needs to double up as a trail bike very well. Superfly is a bit lighter than a Tallboy but no less capable IMO assuming you run the TB at 100mm. Superfly won’t take a 120mm fork, TB will.

I’ve ridden Superfly and Gyro back to back for some time now. Gyro is very much the trail bike of the two but very surprising as an XC bike. The Superfly is very much the XC bike of the two but very surprising as a Trail bike.

The key difference is that I wouldn’t enjoy attempting something like the FOD DH trails on the Superfly. The Gyro on the otherhand was a surprisingly good giggle and not particularly slow doing that stuff.

Nope, it’s not rated for 140 forks, I thought it was but the website shows 120 max.

I’ll ask orange about the double chain set, I think nice mates was on a double. Solution could be to space the chain line out perhaps? I’m 32t 1×10 and it’s great. I never had a prob ratios wise on 32/24 2×10 either. 32-11 gear is quite big for a 29er so even on road it wasn’t too bad.

Roverpig, I did but that would be a spoiler :-P

Ok, update.

Driven and it’s the same. So it’s off to ‘Harris On Ford’ in Keynsham next week…

I’m not joking about his garage name either!

Well I wasn’t expecting that tonight :wink:

Only went and bumped into nicemates out on the trails tonight with his shiny new Gyro! Small world!

Right, Garage has confirmed Turbo is fine and well, have checked what they can but have put their hands up and said they’re not kitted out to deal with it any further (can’t do computer diagnostics) but have recommended an independent Ford diesel specialist across town.

Wife has collected it and driven it home, no engine management light anymore and reckons it’s getting a good boost. I’m off out for a spin in the morning so I’ll report back.

Gut feeling is one of the younguns hadn’t bolted something on properly and in pulling it apart and putting it together again, they’ve sorted it. I hope so anyway.

Thanks again and I’ll post up once I’ve driven it myself.

I want an all day bike capable of the odd enduro race, light enough to ride around for 4 days with a bivvy sack on my back. but solid enough to get silly on the descents. Early days but think I’ve nailed it.

Nail on the head. You said it in far less words than I’ve need over two blog entries :)

Descent mode is terrible I’m afraid. Run my 32s full time in trail mode which will help with the diving on lower speed stuff but they still blow through on big highspeed hits.

Orange have given me a bigger volume spacer for the rear shock which I’m hoping will give some more ramp up on the aircan and I’m hoping Si can sort the fork :)

Hi guys, thanks for everything, I’m talking to the Garage this morning so will update then.

Pitchers!!!

I’ve done the 1×10 and put an XC tyre out back. Still got the dropper and HD up front. 28lb 13oz ain’t bad :)

Hey Steve, interestingly that’s exactly what happened to mine not long after I bought it, I’ve had that exact same work done about 3 years ago… hmmm, suspicious of the DPF again now.

Basically a DPF car is not for us as we’re only short trips most of the time. I was assured by the dealer it wasn’t a DPF equipped car, next thing I know, DPF needed sorting and the dealer had gone out of business. I hate this car, I hate cars in general :(

Well I’ve got a few things to pursue anyway, will keep you all posted.

Trust me, they are pretty sh*te on things going wrong prematurely and outrageous on cost as well, especially if you are thinking a Touran.

I’d have liked an Octavia Estate tbh but the Touran was very much on the list. I did consider a Accord/Avensis Estate too but I couldn’t bring myself to own one of those while in my late twenties. C-Max was bad enough…

Edit, STW is pretty awesome. Also posted this on the C-Max owners club at the same time. Zero replies. I’ve had several already here :D

Thanks Maxtorque, very comprehensive!

Ta Flying Ox, don’t need to be told what a turd I’ve bought. The money I’ve spent on this since we got it (AA Gold Warranty covers **** all when you need it) would have easily funded a VAG for example which we really wanted. But hey, you live and learn.

This was done at an independent, and my gut feeling is ineptness rather than them being a crook so far which might be as good a reason as any to take it elsewhere (although I’m not naive about these things, hence my checking here)

Intake pipework problems have been the cause before, a last minute Kwikfit (yes, we forgot about our MOT until last minute) job resulted in a cracked intercooler pipe (they were the ones that forced it on).

I’ve got no black smoke, no oil burning, engine sounds fine. It’s just as if the turbo is off, hence me immediately thinking it’s limp home mode that’s kicked in :-/

I saw it smiths yesterday I think… well it had a free muc off sponge anyway…

Rob: I’ve played Mario World and Zelda as recently as last year, they totally hold up! Reckon Star Fox might be best left alone, always found that a touch underwhelming at the time as it was.

Just remembered, Shadowrun on the Snes was a cracker too! I remember getting caught by my mum (aged 10) pulling an all nighter on it on a school night. Somehow managed to convince her to phone me in sick but god I got a hiding for it!

Zelda Link to the Past is still massive playable and enjoyable, and not in an ironic retro way.

Ton, I find the calorie burn predictions for exercise ambitious at best. Garmins are known to over exaggerate calorie burns but even that comes in well under what Fitness Pal predicts.

I’ve lost 4kg in a month, I try to not rely on the exercise to meet my target – that is I eat what I’m allowed and any exercise is a calorie bonus.

Barcode scanner on the app helps