OK thanks. I have been looking at them wondering how round they actually are (like any rim sourced from anywhere). They certainly look very nice.

Thanks squealer but It would be black ones I’d need. Have the rims already.

Thanks folks. Will that convert to 15mm Stevie?

That’s useful info thanks. I will definitely have another look at the Hope hubs now. The noise isn’t a big issue really especially if they have better pick up than the standard 350’s.

Ok thanks. These are Chinese carbon rims. If there’s not much in it, which design would be easier for me to set up (considering I don’t own a compressor)?

It will be for MTB tyres. Probably High Rollers.

Haha thanks folks 1,000,000 lumens it is then! To be honest most of my night riding is alone on local stuff I know really well so I don’t think it’s worth getting anything expensive or really powerful.

1000 lumens with integral battery

I’m hoping to get my other one back and when I do it will go on the bars so the one on the helmet doesn’t need to be so powerful. Do you think 1000 lumens will do it, or even the 300 lumen version of the above (which will seemingly run on any AA battery not just the special one provided)?

I think that might be the Nomad I was looking at on pink bike! Not tested one of those yet. I’m quite surprised at how slack the head angle fashion is right now. I always thought it took the life out of a bike going too slack.

OK thanks. Looking for something with 6 inches of travel 67/68 degree head angle and shortish chain stays. Fun handling.

Interesting to hear that about the Giants. My old Trance was very well built but it just never filled me with much excitement. I would possibly go for the Reign if it rode nice but it’s incredibly slack and I was hoping for something with shorter chain stays. Something with similar geo to the Mojo HD3 but half the price!

OK thanks. I had a Trance before and wasn’t really blown away but I think they’ve got better. I’ll go and test one.

I meant to say that I’m looking for an ‘all mountain’ design with around 6 inches of travel preferably frame and shock only so I can build it up.

I don’t think pedal bob is the man issue here they all do that to a certain extent it’s more about forces working against each other restricting the climbing ability of the bike.

I did find when I tested the Heckler that it felt like it was struggling to get over square edged type bumps going up hill because the way the suspension works is to force the back wheel into the ground under power which was a good thing until it got technical. I did however enjoy the supportive feeling. I hate the saggy slack thing other bikes can do when you’re going up hill. My Trance was like that I could never get the shock dialed to my liking found the ride dull and ended up going back to hardtails for 5 years.

I think one of the things that appeals to me about single pivot is the fun factor. The Heckler was great going down hill and people rave about the Orange bikes too. The main thing is that I end up with something that is really fun to ride not just boringly efficient but if it can do both that’s great.

I’m very tempted by the Heckler. I could quite possibly go insane trying to decide which of the very many floating pivot point type designs to go for then wondering if I made the right choice.

Whatever frame I go for I’m looking at doing a really nice light weight build with carbon wheels and stuff so that should help with the climbs I suppose.

Where’s Heisenberg when you need him?

Thanks folks. It seems that rims are getting a lot wider, I’m quite out of touch!

I read somewhere that having lighter spokes on a carbon wheel is good to promote a bit more spring in the wheel as well.

If you do, just avoid alloy nipples. That will be hard/impossible though. Currently there’s problems with galvanic corrosion between carbon and alloy, the only fix being new nipples and spokes, which gets expensive if t’s £4 a pop CX-Rays!
Personally I wouldn’t touch carbon rims with a barge pole.

What are your findings on this issue? I’ve read up a bit about this and folk are saying ‘just use brass nipples’. I found a chart that say’s brass reacts much less with carbon and titanium much less than that.

It seems there’s a risk of corrosion if the components are touching one another or do you think there could be a risk to other alloy components like forks and frame?

Edit: You can get copper nipples too which is even less conductive than brass.

Surely any refinement in ride quality can be better mitigated with a carbon bar?

I’m getting one of those too from China for about £15. The carbon rims are around £100 each so I’m thinking it might be worth a try. It might all explode but then again it might be awesome.

galvanic corrosion between carbon and alloy

This is a bit concerning though I shall have to look into that.

I rode a xl new nomad I got rid of it as it was to small I’m 6”1″

Even with a longer stem?

I’m 6’4″ with short legs and ride an XL superlight if that helps.

Thanks. What’s it like to ride? Do you get any flex out of the back end?

OK thanks sturmey. That xl tallboy is pretty much the same geometry as the xl heckler.

Ok thanks.

Some nice looking options there thanks.

Anyone else got any suggestions?

Quite a nice tyre them. Got them on my 29er but never liked them on the 26 strangely.

Thanks they look nice. It say’s for tyres over 2.35″ but I wonder if I could get away with putting a 2.25″ on them?

Liteville 301

That looks very interesting thanks!

Thanks ebennet that’s useful feedback. I’ll need to try out some of these bikes. I can’t find anywhere that demo’s XL unfortunately. I suppose I could try some large’s for size.

The Heckler ticks almost all of my boxes but I hear it’s quite heavy. Do you think it would be ok for all day epics with a lighter weight build? What’s it like pedalling over rough stuff and up hills?

Edit: That’s interesting. Just had a look on the Santa Cruz website and the Heckler frame isn’t much heavier than some of their other bikes that are carbon.

Thanks for the suggestions. That’s a few more for me to check out.

glasgowdan – Member
Why do you think the nomads too slack for all day rides? I did some huge days/weekends on a reign that was slacker and never once thought about it!

Well not too slack it’s just the handling might be a bit more enjoyable with steeper angles. I’ve had slack bikes before and found them a bit lifeless on anything but downhill. From the reviews the Nomad sounds great and I’m quite tempted by a frame I’ve seen.

Didn’t realise they’re not doing a carbon Heckler. Maybe it’s not very popular anymore. Everyone used to want one of those.

Thanks Warns it looks nice.

Thanks folks I’d overlooked the Bronson. What are folks thoughts on the Heckler these days?

Any other suggestions would be appreciated too like your thoughts on 29er all mountain designs.

My other riding is stuff like Ben Lomond so I suppose if you had to pigeon hole it would be ‘all mountain’. So I’m looking for something light enough for an epic but strong and fun enough for some fairly serious adventurous riding.

OK thanks. The 29er handled it fine but I would want more comfort to do it in one day. I’m thinking about my other riding too though. I had a Giant Trance in 2008 which never felt quite up to the job so wondering if getting another 5 inch travel bike might not be a great idea.

Haha yea minti! The Voodoo weighed a ton along the lochside!

Obviously if it were a 29er I wouldn’t need as much travel.

I’m not too fussed. I like simplicity and low maintenance though. Any other suggestions for big wheeled full suspension appreciated.

Thanks.

I cleaned and lubed it set it up again and it soon stopped working. I’ve fitted a spare Deore shifter and cable I found in the shed and all is fine now. I’m glad it went wrong today and not half way through my WHW adventure!

Thanks.

I’ve undone the cable and it was a bit sticky in the outer. The mech is moving. I’ll set it up again and see how it goes

No the derailleur won’t move at all. It’s on the biggest ring right now. I’ve put some oil on the cable. It’s routed under the frame and the inner is exposed in places so gets muddy.

Thanks for the input folks. Sounds like the sort of things i take anyway.

It’s the WHW so a reasonably brutal 50 miles. I know what I’m letting myself in for as I’ve cycled the good bits a few times already. I’ll just take my time on the tricky Loch Lomond section. Very excited!

Only use gels etc if used before, can cause interesting side effects..

What like Viagra or something?

Ok thanks. I usually stop and eat every couple of hours on a hard ride. I don’t like to eat all my lunch at once as I find it hard to get going again.

Lee’s teacakes have jam in them so it’s a no brainer with them.