All the above – I’m in some chunky Northwave boots, with room to move my toes around, and some fleecy insoles that I stuck some silver reflective foil to the underside of. Keeps my horrendous circulation at bay for most of the time.

Congratulations Chipps & Beate, and have a wonderful day tomorrow. 🎩🧢👒🎓

it says the code expired on April 30th 2021

Yes, just seen that too – it’s not being accepted in the cart on the SP site.

So sorry for your loss TJ.

@bri-72 – are you on a large? Can’t get your pics to load, sorry. 🙄

@gingersquirrel – cheers! So did you go down the custom route with Sonder? Did it add a lot to the build time?

I’ve dropped them a line this afternoon so hopefully hear back soon. There’s no mad rush this end.

@honourablegeorge – sorry for the hijack!

All these Signal Ti photos are turning my head a little! Is anyone on a large with 31” inside leg? If so, what length dropper are you running? Cheers in advance.

Totally! He’s doing a very good job of selling the dream! 😀

I’m a 31” inside leg and have a 150mm post on the Soul at the moment I think. That’s sitting about an inch outside the frame. Might work then? I certainly like the look of the frame and the rest of the numbers look right for what I’m after. Thanks for your input on it!

Thanks @nedrapier. It’s from the specs on the Sonder website – I’m 5’ 11” so bang in the middle of a large, but the spec sheet has the seat tube at 465mm and the reach at 457.5mm. The reach is spot on but the seat tube is 40mm taller than the Stanton and my current Soul. I do like the look of the Sonder and am a very happy Alpkit customer too.

I’m in a similar place to the OP and the Switch9er Ti is currently first choice though it’s certainly the spendiest option. Looked at the Sonder but can’t get past the seat tube length. I’m on a medium gen 5 Soul at the moment, planning on finally diving into 29er land and have always liked a Ti frame, so will investigate some of the other options too. Following with interest…

Cheers @bruneep!

re. battery performance: check solarider’s most recent post above – last paragraph. I’d not thought about it all, but I guess it’s to be expected – my car’s the same at this time of year!

Shifting never feels difficult because there is a lack of direct contact between your fingers and the mech. For all I know the mech was struggling but you would never know.

TBH, one of the (tiny) justifications for going with AXS was that after another broken scaphoid, the wrist movement required to change gear on the drops is pretty uncomfortable, but I’d never really considered why it’ll be easier, so thanks for this realisation!

Thanks for the other insights too – and apologies, OP, for the slight hijack.

@solarider – I’ve found your experience very helpful looking back over a few threads on AXS and have just pushed the button </pun> on a ‘mullet’ AXS setup for my Tripster. It’s a v1 frame, and has seen a few miles but felt it deserved a treat. It’s my do-it-all bike that’s used for everything that I don’t do on the mountain bike, so wondered how it fares holding up to winter abuse? Also, how critical is chain line on it?

Very sad news. I too fondly remember Simon for his posts and photos over many years on here – my condolences to his family and friends.

For me, getting hearing aids in my mid forties really made me realise how much I was missing. I have used Oticon private ones for about 18 months now and they’re better again than the NHS ones I started with – and should be for the price! The iPhone app is useful but as they’re Bluetooth, and because of the tech, there’s a right bun fight when you introduce the Garmin, so I turn the HAs off before trying to upload the ride…or just wear the NHS ones.

Back on topic, my local (provincial) health hub, who were great in diagnosing my hearing loss and my initial treatment referred me to a more metropolitan hospital that did private work and they’ve been excellent supporting me. @UrbanHiker – might be worth looking at the options at local hospitals if it’s appropriate?

Thanks @pampmyride. I’d only been looking on eBay, but that’s really helpful too.

Thanks @steezysix and @branes – really appreciate your insight. More tempted to give it a punt…

The North Face ones aren’t overly long, @mrb123 but seem quite happy tucked in or out when I wear them with jeans for work. I’m a 42/44” chest and 5’ 11” and the large is a good fit. Never need an iron and pack up small too.

I have all of the above suggestions and they’re good – Adidas golf quite smart, Under Armour a little less fitted. My favourite though are the North Face Tanken polos. Very lightweight, quicker drying than anything similar and wash and wear well, if a little susceptible to pulling.

@eyestwice – have a search on eBay for item 223638322378. It’s a Chinese supplier I think but stock came quickly from a UK warehouse. A bit like @northwind says, it’s more for peace of mind and I’ve no idea of any medical claims or benefits but it definitely feels better riding with it on! I investigated the more expensive MX style braces, even tried one out but it actually made it more uncomfortable. I suspect the ultimate remedies will be a) time and b) physio… Best of luck with it all!

I’m getting back from a fractured scaphoid In January and been trying out various options. I’d had the 661 strap from an off a few years back and am using that without the two inserts over a neat compression sleeve that I got off eBay. That’s got a further strap around the wrist for extra support but is still slight enough to fit under a glove. I’d struggled to find the TLD one in stock anywhere but will have another look as that appears to have more support along the forearm. Hope you heal fast @eyestwice.

The Endura MTR Shell is a nice light, very breathable waterproof. No bells or whistles but it’s a good bit of kit. Depending on how you size up, Cyclestore have an XL in stock.

Fair point, @funkmasterp – I guess it’s the excitement of the new. A fair number of my local PRs were set on a Ti 456, but then I was a bit younger then too! I suppose what I’m really searching for is a fun bike that’s still a good all rounder. The Scout came closest to that, maybe my old BFe as well, just intrigued by what the Max version will add…

I’m seriously tempted. Got a current gen Soul that’s a very capable do-it-all, had a BFe that I loved, not really feeling it with my expensive 27.5” carbon full suss (it’ll be me, not the bike), never really given 29ers a fair shot…

I guess I’m looking for something that can replace both, that I can pedal up to the forest, which is about 35-40 mins climbing, mainly road, then usual Peak District rocky / fast kind of stuff mixed in with mucking about on loamy singletrack for a couple of hours and head home + the occasional trail centre or big day out.  Something that’s as much fun as my Transition Scout was… Barking up the right tree or should I wait for the SolarisMax? Or something else entirely!

It’s a fine looking bike for sure.

Did dress down Friday in my nice new green T-shirt, thank you. Not that anyone other than Mrs gtth and the cats noticed, mind.

Have a look for a Kona Honzo. My winter SS project was based on a 2012 frame and it’s lovely. Barely ridden it through injury and the current challenges but it’s great – sliding dropouts, nice geo and wasn’t silly money picking the frame up 2nd hand.

+1 for Yoga with Adrienne (above). Huge choice of videos, some really good beginner content and a good amount of mental health stuff too.

I’m not going anywhere. Had a scoot round the shop and coincidentally, realised I didn’t have a bright green T-shirt in my cupboard, so that’s now sorted thanks. Stay strong guys. You’re doing good things and we appreciate the comfort and community of STW now more than ever.

Another +1 for Specialized Trigger Pros. Easy tubeless, tough, decent on road and fine on gravel tracks and mixed surfaces. Quite often on offer too.

I went Works with mine and was very impressed. They were helpful and responsive when I contacted them so as above, prob worth dropping them a line to see what the wait is like…

Great read – thanks OP.

Been running a Butcher Grid up front, Eliminator or Purgatory Grid on the back for ages now. As said above, I think they’re really underrated and great value, especially in their sales. I tend to stock up! Just seated a Hill Billy on the front of some new wheels for the full suss as the loamy stuff is so slippery at the moment. Tried it previously on a different bike and didn’t get on with it but going to give it another shot.

Bizarrely, I’ve just stumbled across a post on Mawis Bikes’ Facebook feed and there’s a road/endurance bike on it with a truss fork. I follow Swarf Cycles and they’d just posted that Mawis will be making those stunning carbon mudguards they developed a while back so went to have a look. No idea how to link to it but the post on the Mawis thread was 13th September. HTH!

Great write up – thanks! Totally agree on the bikes on trains thing. For me at least, mine only goes on a train at the start or end of something exciting…

Impressive show as it passed through Cheshire in the early hours. Had the Lightning Maps website open as it was firing all around – surprisingly little noise for the amount of lightning, but an incredible amount of rain and some big squalls.

Took my V1 – and from recollection, it was one of the first to arrive – past 14,000 miles this week. Nice little gravel / lanes tour around the Lakes. Still absolutely love riding it, it’s ridiculously capable, fun and reliable. It’s still on its original headset, though had mudguards on from day one. Currently sporting Hope RX4s, 38mm Specialized tyres on Hope 20Five wheels, Ultegra / XT mix with a Roadlink helping the 11-40T cassette.

Just built up a longshot Soul – first ride tomorrow so I’ll report back! I’ve previously had a 27.5” BFe which was a superb frame, so I’ve got high hopes for the Soul…

I’m still getting this issue. Reduced file size via compress jpeg, tried the permission thing – used to be able to do it fine, but from last weekend it’s been pretty laborious / futile – to the point I’ve just given up on it. Hey ho.

Unsurprisingly, a Cove Stiffee! Did Snowdon on it donkeys years ago – top bike that always felt like it was going to get you out of the mess your lack of skills were getting you into, and it certainly was stiff. That and an old PX Nanolight that pinged you about a fair bit.

Yep, pretty much every ride nowadays. Have some Bliss ones that are basically that light you hardly know they’re on. I don’t expect them to save me from everything but they’re better than nothing and like a number of others here, I’m not keen to repeat previous painful offs…