You get post on a Sunday

No, I’m lazy and only check it every other day or something. Unless I’m waiting for a bit of bike in which case I’m out there waiting for the postie!

Ha ha what a muppet! From what I’ve read the Ragley frame is possibly a bit lighter and more supple in the seat stays. Is this the case Brant?

Do they differ much?

:). Thanks. I’ve done some of the Aberfoyle stuff and walked Ben A’an but not had a look at Ben Ledi yet.

Nice thread. I’d be very keen to hear about anything in the Loch Lomond area other than Ben Lomond. I’ve tried Ben Narnain which was a bit much for me. There were a lot of loose boulders which I didn’t fancy riding as it was so cold and the consequences of injury could have been quite nasty. Very muddy in places too, lower down near the Cobbler.

Not a Munro either but Ben Venue looks good and I’ve ridden the Glen Ledard bit down from the track west of Creag a Bhealaich which is very nice (very rocky and rooty).

His Val De Sole run was very impressive too, especially when he slams it into that corner near the bottom and somehow comes out of it smelling of roses.

This is probably blasphemy but I much prefer the ride of my Inbred than the Cotic Soul. The Soul felt a bit unsure in the corners whilst the Inbred just seems to beg you to slam it into the corners as fast as possible and it rails them. The Soul felt a bit too soft in the back end to me when I tried to corner it hard. One thing I did really like about the Soul was that it had a really springy, spritely feel like it just wants to keep going. The Inbred feels a bit more ‘agricultural’ but I just love the way it handles.

I think it gets much more fun as you get stronger and more skilled. It’s certainly worth putting the extra effort into it. I was riding a full suss for ages but last year I built a singlespeed hardtail and it’s transformed my fitness and skill. I’ve always enjoyed mountain biking for so many reasons but now I’m stronger and more controlled I get much more excitement and satisfaction.

I got back on my FS bike yesterday after a long while riding my hardtail and thought ‘what’s the point’? Heavy, ugly, expensive to maintain and just plain annoying on pedally technical sections, where if you make a mistake the rebounding suspension causes the saddle to attempt ass rape. I’m not old yet but I hope age doesn’t stop me riding hardtails.

Oh I see. Thanks I didn’t know that.

OK thanks. I’m assuming the ‘BB Drop’ is compared to the standard 456 which according to a review I just found has a BB height of around 13.25 inches (depending on lots of things). So an un-sagged drop of around 11mm wouldn’t be too massive?

I just don’t want to be compromised if I’m dodging through rocks and roots which I’ve found my other inbred to be great at. Cheers.

Does anyone know what the BB height is? I’d probably stick my Pikes on it at 120mm most of the time. I’m hoping it won’t be too much lower than my Singlespeed Inbred (about 13 inches) but just as much fun.

Has anyone here ridden the 456 EVO yet? I got my FS bike going again today and have decided to replace with a hardcore hardtail, much more fun and less annoying.

Thanks guys, some useful info here. I’ll still probably go for the blender and like folk have said just add a liquid to the mix to make it all drinkable. It’s more about getting more fruit and veg intake than cutting the cost of fruit juice. I can’t imagine juicing half a ton of fruit to get a shot glass full of juice much fun, then having to clean all the equipment afterwards too. I’ll be making a lot of milkshakes too so a blender should be good for that.

I didn’t like my Kenda Nevegal’s. They were really good on the climbs but rubbish for anything else I think.

I really like Maxxis Advantage they seem to be a really good all round tyre.

Some travellers sit about on the West Loch Lomond Cycle Path in deck chairs then complain when you try and get past them. One woman said to me ‘I think someone needs a bell’. I was tempted to say ‘I think someone needs a house you fat b**ch’ Other than that everyone’s great.

Wouldn’t the time it takes to stop and have a piss defeat the purpose of it all?

I think seat rails are boring and there’s nothing fun about working with them. Brakes are good fun though. I just finished servicing my Hope Mono M4 lever which was very satisfying and easier than I imagined it would be.

OK ta. I’m a big fan of simplicity.

Isn’t there some kind of new tax on pies, or did I dream that?

I live and ride in Scotland and haven’t had any falling outs yet. I give way to others where I can but usually the walkers just stand aside and laugh at these nutters on bikes. Other path users are actually more tolerant than I thought they would be so I think it’s worth being friendly and thanking them if they move.

OK thanks! It sounds like the blender is the way forward.

I was shown how to do it once. The tutor said to get used to where the balancing point is first. So you have the front wheel up in the air with someone holding it tight as you balance the bike. About 5 mins after doing this I pulled a really nice manual (for about 1 second) before veering off into the ditch. I’ve tried since with my new bike but not had much luck party due to being chicken and having a long top tube.

I’d recommend getting a good quality press. I bought some home made jobby off ebay for a fiver and it was rubbish cos it wouldn’t keep it all straight. I took the frame to my lbs in the end and they fitted it with a proper one no bother.

Ouch. It looks like you didn’t manage to get your arms out in front of you quick enough. Get well soon.

I built up an Inbred single speed for about £350 but I already had some forks so you might struggle but worth a try.

Brant- Do you know how long the 456 EVO frame with the mat raw finish will be available? It looks amazing but I don’t have the funds just yet. Cheers.

I don’t like to grease my seatpost, I find it makes it stick in the long run. Like I said in my post I’ll treat the frame, thanks for the suggestions all.

Have you tried a set up that utilizes a tensioner? I used the slot dropouts with chaintugs on my Inbred but didn’t get on with them so put the vertical ones on and added a tensioner which has been a much simpler, far more reliable and less faffy system for me. Some of my problems were probably caused by a wobbly rear sprocket though. It’s worth checking your chain for tight spots caused by dodgy sprockets.

I’m about the same height as you but probably longer in the leg and I have long freak arms too. I have the 20″ standard Inbred and it fits me nicely. I’m reckoning you’ll probably be ok with the 18″ as a lot of folk say it’s a big bike anyway and you’ll probably be going down more gnarly shit on the 456 too. I’ve not ridden 18″ though. Hope you have as much fun as I do with my Inbred.

Yea sounds good and I’d travel from West Dunbartonshire. I’m not a big trail centre fan so would be looking for something a bit different. I’ve got a bit bored of the standard forest trail centre so anything a bit different would be great. Any chance of some rugged exposed trails along some of those hills by the coast?

I’m by no means an expert but I’ve recently discovered two key things that have improved my general riding (especially my cornering) massively.

They are ‘look well ahead’ and ‘strive for perfect balance on the bike’ It’s almost become a mantra for me.

I always thought I looked far enough ahead but I did’t and as soon as I did I speeded up. Switching to a hardtail from a full suss made me more aware of balance and the benefits of being in that perfect attack position. These two things have for me at least helped my cornering. Now I attack corners at speed out of the saddle daring my bike to lose grip. Sometimes if I get my weight in just the right place I can get the back wheel to drift out on loose corners which is the best feeling in the world.

Thanks everyone, useful info. It sounds like the Summer Season is the one to go for rather than the 456 especially for the kind of riding I’m intending to do. It would be getting Pikes put on it so I’d have a bit of adjustability anyway. As long as it’s as fun to ride as the standard Inbred then all is good. I like my full susser but would like something slacker in the head angle that isn’t so pricey to run.

I’m only 6ft 2 but have long freak legs (about 35″). I ride an On One Inbred 21″ which fits just about.

When people start a new hobby like mountain biking they want to get a good bit of kit because they think it will help them ride better and have more fun which is perfectly normal.

When I started I got the best FS bike I could buy for a grand on the C2W scheme (ok so it wasn’t that amazing) when experienced mtb friends said I’d probably be better off getting a hard tail.

Since then I built a hardtail SS which I now do most of my riding on and is helping me to learn a lot quicker.

As long as your happy riding that’s what counts.

Tech 2 EVO.

Thanks. How long did it take to arrive from Hong Kong?

Some kind of light so I can see where I’m going in the dark.

Thanks Charlie! I’ll have a look at it tomorrow and let you know how I get on.

Ticks, Cleggs and Midges.

All the kit is proper singlespeed stuff by the way including the chain and cogs. Having read oldnpastit’s post I’ve just had a closer look at the bike. It seems that the chain tension is not constant as I turn the crank and that the rear cog looks kind of oval as if it hasn’t been welded onto it’s ring properly. Hopefully a new rear cog will fix it. I can’t remember where that cog came from but it wasn’t Charlie the bike monger.

Thanks Charlie, handy video. The bikes an Inbred and I just use the chain tugs that On One sell. One of my mates who’s single speeded for a long time suggested putting a tensioner on like the one in your video. I think this could be the solution. My gut feeling is that when I put the power down the chain slackens due to flex in the frame and the addition of hitting a bump helps flip it off. It’s just a theory. Maybe a sprung tensioner will help take up the slack in these situations?