Ah yes. The Nightfreight delivery lorry that delivered from Falcon was classic every week. Looked like it had been loaded with a catapault.

GB

I do teach now, but worked in my LBS for 10 years on and off before that (15-25) around school, uni then a year full time running the place post-uni while I worked out what to do with my life.

The massive dent under the paint/decals is a classic. That's pretty common…

The no BB threads, BB or chainset made me laugh.

We once sent back a Universal Stowaway with a head tube that had sheared off with an added symbol on the box next to the "Fragile" and "This way up" symbols. A professionally drawn skull and crossbones with "Deathtrap" underneath. They called us up when they got it back and were rather cross.

GB

Universal cycles with "Blowout Technology" stickers on the top tube. Like that's a selling point?!

6 speed freewheel fitted to a 5 speed shifter. On every bike of that model they sent out. Every single one needed changing over…

GB

Rocket Rons
Little Alberts
Crossmarks

All ok round Swinley/Thetford/N Downs at the moment. The Alberts are brilliant.

GB

Plastic cover on rear wheel nut that the idiot thought was a gear protector = nobody's checked the wheel nuts are tight.

GB

Highs

Summer Hols and Half Term co-inciding with dry weather
Mamasita 29" race bike
Getting an Elite license after 3 years in Expert
All the 24s, Enduro6 and D2D were dry (well, dry enough)
Both the trips to Scotland being worth it – awesome races, brilliant courses

Lows

Having to drive to Scotland for an SXC race at the last minute
Having to fly to Scotland for the Nat Champs the day after flying in from Barbados – another hopeless Nat Champs result! Maybe next year…
Missing the pairs podium at Enduro6 by 13secs
Double flatting at the Southern Champs which lead to the drive to Scotland…

They're lovely. I just lost my old cufflinks and am after some more…

How much?

GB

The tubeless version is pretty heavy – the standard version is 500g, tubeless is 700g.

Anyone who says they are slow through tight trails is either too unfit, unable to ride quickly or hasn't ever ridden a good 29er.

They are brilliant – I have 2 – geared and SS, and 2 26" bikes which don't really get used any more. The 29er cuts the chatter bumps right out, it rolls over things so much more smoothly, you don't really notice the extra few grams (my 29er race wheels are 300g heavier than my 26" ones and the tyres are 100g heavier each, so 500g overall – not a huge amount). I'm using the geared one for racing over the winter. 2 races, one win and a 2nd so far.

Riding the 29er back to back with the 26" bike at Dalby this year, on the NPS loop, the 29er was faster. Far more control on the big rocky sections like Worry Gill, plus all the dropoffs look and feel smaller as the wheels are larger. Riding a 26" bike now feels like riding a BMX – the wheels keep disappearing into holes and all the trails feel less smooth.

I am seriously considering a 29er race bike for next year – I have a choice of 26 or 29 – and at the moment I think it'll be a 29er. The only thing holding me back is a lack of decent mud tyres for Mayhem and SITS – Schwalbe need to do the mud shark 1.5 in a 29er… And lightweight suspension forks – no 29" SID yet. Even so, I'll probably go 29er.

GB

2 1/2 hrs, also at the Brass Monkey this weekend.

That's also my record for a big ring at the same race.

GB

Pay the £40 and get it mended properly. A no-brainer.

I made a seatpost shim. 28.6mm – 30.9mm

It was brilliant.

GB

When your carbon frame breaks, which it will, Specialized will warranty it with no hassles. Trek will whinge that you bought an undersized seatpost and not warranty it (even though you bought the correct size seatpost).

I'd stick with Spesh purely on the outstadning level of warranty they offer.

GB

Been riding since 1996.

Mountain:
Specialized Rockhopper
Specialized M2 HT
Specialized M4 S-Works HT
Another Specialized M4 S-Works HT
Specialized M5 S-Works HT
Specialized Epic S-Works M5
Titus HCR
Kona Something or other – the Easton tubed race bike
Klein Mantra
Titus Loco-Moto
Specialized Enduro S-Works
Specialized Epic S-Works Carbon
Salsa Moto Rapido
Salsa Selma
Salsa Mamasita
Kona Cinder Cone Singlespeed
Yeti AS-R SL

Road
Cannondale CAAD2
Ambrosio Rapide Carbon
Trek Madone 5.2
Specialized Tarmac SL S-Works
Scott Bowery

Other
Focus Cross Expert

Still got the HCR, Selma, Mamasita, ASR, Tarmac and Bowery.

Had the cross bike for a month and hated it.

GB

I've just Facebook messaged Paul (and Nick) this thread to see if they know anything.

GB

Are you sure that's the same Paul Wilkinson? That's who I thought it was at first too, but I couldn't find his email address to confirm. I'd be surprised if it was him.

GB

Sorry, no. I know a different Paul Wilkinson! That's not the right email address.

GB

Well they have the bike dimensions printed on the tubes. Makes for fascinating conversation.

Other than that, they look ok.

GB

I'd give Falcon a ring. Or Concept. Quality distros.

They were wet enough on the road bike this morning! I saw several riders out looking very muddy and very soggy…

I might know that last one – I think he might be based near me. Do you have an email address and more details of what happened? If it is the chap I'm thinking of, I am surprised to say the least.

GB

The SSUK one is a lovely sisal shoulder bag with a nice red inside. Very cool. Well, I think it is.

f you're planning on getting one for SSEC that's be lovely too :)

Stans is similar to JRA – but it seals a lot more quickly and doesn't dry out.

Race Face – rubbish. Over-hyped. Poor design (cranks).
Royce – bearings died really fast. Overpriced.
SIDI – Nope, sorry. Soles came off after 18 months.
Assos – hmm… Shorts good but the chamois came out after 6 months in all 3 pairs…

Shimano disc brakes – brilliant. They last forever.
Hope – Mono minis – ditto (as long as you don't get carbon levers).
Hope – Hubs – brilliant. Last forever.
King headset (12yrs old is my oldest one).

Hi

I used these a couple of years ago as proto tyres – they were good in sticky conditions, but pretty skinny and hopeless in mud. They went up eventually with Stans and a compressor. Once up, no probs with burping. I'd stick with Schwalbe.

GB

I'm going!

I fancy an SSEC bag to go with the SSUK one :)

GB

Yeah they do this. It is a known issue with the 2008 ones. 2009 ones are fine. Send them to Windwave if CRC don't want to know,

GB

I used to ride loads round there while I was at Uni in Durham. You can head out along the old railway lines, there are some very nice trails off those that lead up into the woods and beyond. I can't quite remember where though… It was 5 years ago…

No as the light is so heavy it'd make your helmet move around. Joystick for the helmet, MAxx-D for the bars.

GB

I've got some 2009's with 160s front and back. They are very powerful and easily lock the wheels.

I suggest you get them looked at by a decent mechanic so as to identify the problem.

GB

Renthal – now available from Ison Distribution.

GB

The hubs are great, I've ridden Kings for a few years before, and while I wouldn't expect these to last as long, the pickup is faster: kings are 72 point engagement and these are 120.

GB

Spec for those that care…

18" (Med_) Salsa Mamasita
Fox F29RLC
King headset
Halo Superdrive hubs (bzzzzzzzz)
Stans 355
DT Comps with red alloy nips
Schwalbe Little Albert 29×2.1 (I've also got some 2.25 Ralphs to go on – anyone used these? They look huge!)
XT chainset, f/mech, cassette, brakes
PDM540s
XO R/mech and Gripshift
Salsa Shaft post, carbon low riser bars, Ti Skewers and (soon) Ti bolt Stem
Gusset R Rotors and DHX chain
Specialized Toupe Ti

GB

Workman? Tools?

Seriously… Get the proper Park one with the blue plastic handle – they're £30 or so. Mine's done countless chains and is fine.

"nobody makes significant time up on the downhill"

Have you done an XC race recently?

GT85 – Remove.

Hairspray – Fit.

GB

Oh, go on then…

The Superleggera hubs are the same as the Halo Superdrive ones, which we've been using for 2 years with no issues.

GB

Good choice of bike there Daffy.

GB

They're great for SS – the way they roll over stuff suits not having any gears, as it means you don't have to brake as much on the downs, so you keep momentum better.

As for geared ones, watch this space and the results at the Thetford Winter Series ;). I know the frame handles really well, but not sure about how well it goes at race speeds – guess we'll fimd out next weekend! Also not sure about the gears either – I may change to 40/26 double, as I have a 44/29 and a 12/34 on the 26" bike and love it, just want to test out the "bigringability" of the triple first. I usually use 44/3rd largest cog on cassette and harder gears on the 26" bike round Thetters, so I'm wondering will this mean I'll be on 44/2nd largest? Anyone got any experience with geared 29ers? I've fitted a 12/34 cassette, same as I use with the double on the 26er.