I can not really offer any advice, because I have never been, but I am heading over at the end of June. All the below is my interwebs research, so please take with a pinch of salt. Only there for 7 days of riding.

We have booked 2 days Squamish guided riding on arrival (with Ride BC). The guiding was recommended, although many people seem to make their own way about and use Trail Forks. Worth looking up Shred Shuttle for when/if headed to Squamish.

For Whistler, we are actually staying in Creekside, mainly to help with cost. But the pedal to/from Whistler Village isn’t too bad and it has its own lift access to the trails.

As others have said, don’t discount the valley/outside the park trails. I am very keen to ride Top of the World, but there is every chance that it won’t be open when we are there.

Ard Moors looks great, but I can not do it.

Am doing Ard Rock (Sunday, I just want to get round the course level). Hopefully I will be able to completed it this year!

Southern Enduro and Pedal Hounds good for anyone located in South East.

Can anyone recommend a fitter in Surrey / West Sussex/ Surrey Hills area? Still considering doing it myself, but if I don’t, I would like to pay someone to do a cracking job.

Thanks all; gone with Invisiframe (mostly as there was a saving online). Will see if it was the right choice.

I have shared the ridewrap ‘bunching’ on my hardtail, but it still works. I think I may give it a go myself; doing the hardtail gave me some confidence in giving it a go. Will see if I can spare half a weekend to have a crack at it when the time comes…

Really interested in this thread. I am heading there (only 2 days riding) end of Aug/start Sept (so almost last few days of the season).

I am with family and we are flying – so can not take big locks and many spares, but will make sure I have brake pads and mech hangers. And will see if I can get a lock in under the weight limit for carry on!

Would love any feedback on greens/blues or suggestions of routes. I am staying central Morzine. All of the family have had trips to BPW/417, with some limited red route experience.

Thanks all.

Kind of live for the holidays. The further you get away from the South East UK (where I live) the better. Devon/Cornwall, Scotland, Wales, Northern remote parts of UK are all amazing. But prices can make it much cheaper to run to the sun. We were lucky enough to get a campervan in Covid and it’s been great for family trips and weekends away. Have noticed camping prices on the increase in UK/abroad.

Going to Ile de Re in August. Busiest possible place to chose in France, but it is by the sea and others requested this location! The ferry prices in August (and same comment goes for Eurotunnel) are insane. I would recommend going mid week if you can (we couldn’t) as the August tax is a lot.

I think crazy prices for camspsite/ferry will make this trip the most expensive camping holiday ever; that is saying something, as last year we went to the Swiss Alps.

+1 to Rickmeister’s suggestion.

I think it would be great to be able to take all your spares/biking bits with you; don’t necessarily need a big car if there is only two of you plus bikes and this would save partially disassembling bikes & packing in bike bags for travel; but worth pricing up airport parking/flights/Geneva car rental, versus renting a car in UK/fuel/tolls when driving out.

2 weeks of riding in France sounds ace though!

Am going down in 5 weeks. I might hold on booking ski rental.

First world problem, but is it worth taking a bike if it sill has no snow – the place we are staying is the opposite side of the valley from the bike park? I don’t know the area, but would love to bike there in the summer. I

Sorry, I wasn’t clear. I have centre lock hubs and want to stick some centre lock rotors on; I assumed all CL rotors worked with all CL wheels, but apparently some lock rings are different.

NealC – Many thanks for your tips so far. And no worries, all feedback is good feedback!

Just by any chance in case you know the answer, I tried looking for a Singletrail Map (107) online and they seem to be out of stock; do you know if these are available elsewhere by any chance: Singletrailmap 107 ?

I think I could download a pdf version but didn’t know if these are available in local shops etc.

Thanks NealC. Have unfortunately not had much time to research the riding locally, but it looks interesting.

We are staying at Camping Santa Monica, which was recommended. Although that is not going to address the heat/wind issue you mentioned.

@weeksy & @thegeneralist I think it is as you both say. All bike racks seem to have a compromise in one or more areas; I am currently fitting 2 bikes that are boost and 2 bikes that are kids bikes, but the kids will be on boost bikes before long. I have an old(ish) Volvo XC60 and fitting four bikes on the roof is a challenge. But it was way better than my pendle bike rack which hung off the back of our hatchback.

I think on the Yakima & Thule ones, the last of the three trays is higher than the other two; hopefully this will allow one of the bikes to sit clearer of bike next to it. I think the other thing to factor in is that the bike closest to the back of the vehicle will need to not have bars that are too wide (my bikes have 780/800mm bars).

Bike Tetris.

Thankyou iainc.

And having done a bit more research I see from the above you can order the Yakima and get the longer straps too (to help with longer wheelbase bikes, or if I ever go full deviant and get an awesome fat bike).

@iainc – what size wheelbase are your eebs (or if you don’t mind letting me know the size/model, I can look them up). I am just seeing if the Yakiam rack can work.

THe Yakima Just Click used to be made/branded as Whispbar and then another company before that; I have found on RoofBox/Yakima they say max wheelbase 125cm, yet the pdf download on Roofbox website says max wheelbase 128cm (which happens to be just what I need).

I am tempted to go for the Yakima and save £200 versus the Thule XT (which looks excellent but expensive at about £800). However, Thule one does allow you to get longer straps (which I thought may help with the loner wheelbase).

@Green In terms of the tilt, the bike rack is going on the back of a Fiat Ducato type camper with ‘barn doors’, so I am not sure if any rack will actually clear them when they open. ALtera looks like they tilt the best (sort of slide backwards).

Thanks all, some very helpful comments. I think the Yakima looks good. My issue is that RoofBox are saying I need a 73mm height between the top of the tow ball and the flat part of the arm that the tow ball sites on. I am trying to double check this (apparently the Thule & Yakima ones have more depth to their clamping mechanisms).

I am based in Surrey, but thanks for the offer highpeakrider.

Hi iainc, what were the issues you had with the first two racks?

Thanks all, some really helpful feedback. I was leaning more towards Thule originally, but the price is not insignificant. So now looking at all those mentioned above.

Thankyou Madhouse. My brother has an Altera (I am not sure which mdoel), but I think it is a challenge to get all the bikes on (none of which are boost). My wife’s bike and my bike are boost, but the two kids bikes are smaller (and on our old VW camper, we had a VW bike rack where we had to play jenga to get the bikes to fit).

I am impressed by the tilt mechanism on them – they seem to be able to move with the weight of the bikes without issue.

I’ve got a Stumpy that came with the T7 Butcher up front. I have since swapped it out for a T9 Butcher (and over winter I have been running the T9 Hillbilly). The T9 models I have is their gravity one, rather than trail. Both are 2.3 width 29er.

I have to say I like the T9 compound. I am not a good rider but I have found it gives me confidence (it may be a placebo affect), but feel like they provide decent grip. I am a massive Maxxis fan, so pleasantly surprised. I am using the tyres that came with the bike as rears/spares – keeping the grip up front.

I have had experience in the past with some Spesh tyres being far too thing (leaking sealent bad etc), but these all seem fine.

Thankyou. I need to get myself a pair of those!

Hell yes. Having a Friday beer and realised the world is decent and full of people who still concentrate on the important things. Well done STW, this is a great thread.

I have been looking for an excuse to update a pair of 20+yr old Mission book standing speakers for about the last 10 years, but they sound good to me and there is nought wrong with them. But a subwoofer…

Thankyou to wheelsonfire1 – his advice was spot on and he absolutely nailed the advice. Now fitted to the bike.

Thankyou @wheelsonfire1 – that is really helpful. I think you are right; I just measured and the diameter is just over 35mm, so it looks like 35.8mm would be spot on.

I’ll PM you, but very kind.

Thanks both. As a Hope spacer fits, I’ll order some of those and then will hopefully have a bit more adjustment in terms of stem/bar height.

Thanks, good to know on the SRAM mechs not being more delicate Shimano.

In 2020 I trashed a GX 12 speed & late 2021 an SX at Rogate Bike Park (on a different bike); I’ve moved across to an NX (what was available).

I find SRAM mechs long and easily broken; I think when I changed to an XT on my old bike, it was cheaper for the LBS to get a shifter (SLX) & mech (XT) than just replace the SRAM mech with another GX. I think the GX models are marginally better than the NX.

I’m still on SRAM on one bike, but annoying they seem so fragile.

I love Afan; had a cracking ride there after a few years of only going to BPW. Loved Blade (which I have only done once) & Whytes Level, although I agree with the above comment – the climb up Whytes Level sucks.

Y Wall is a cracker – really fun descent and a reasonable climb, mostly up a fire road. Cafe there serves great food and there is a friendly shop – ‘Afan-a-Blast’.

I have a pair of ZEBs on my bike. I have reduced these to 150mm travel (or the bikes shop did) and have them up on Stumpjumper (not an Evo). I shall open myself up to the subject of ridicule, which I deserve; but they feel great, look ace and I was upgrading from a basic fork that came on the bike. They are the ones with the fancy damper. Lots of people have put ZEBs on Stumpy (non Evo models) on FB forums etc, so I’m not the only one who has made this investment.

I don’t need them. I am not that burly a rider (although I ride some steep stuff) and weigh 85kg on a good day. The forks are good but honestly I’ve heard Lyriks are also excellent and I never had a problem with my Pikes on my hardtail.

Thanks for the input. I’ve never had any carbon bars so wasn’t sure. That is really helpful.

I will also try and re-use the cable outer on the dropper – will make me install the new dropper quicker.

Thanks for the feedback all. I’ve taken a punt on the T9 Gravity, 2.3. Would have gone for T9 Trail, but stock not available. Looking at the reviews the T9 Gavity version can cope with lower pressures, (I presume because of the stiffer casing).

Am a big Maxxis fan, so will see if I live to regret it…

Thanks all. I see that Spesh also do a HillBilly in T9 compound, which I am sure would be a decent winter grip option.

Just got back. I rode Blade & White’s Level on Saturday. Blade was ace, although my first time and felt techs and rocky – would like to do it again, just to have another go but with having more idea what is coming. White’s was closed in a few places.

Few puddles, but nothing too bad.

I have been to BPW on a few occasions over the years and have always had a good trip. Even when I had to go to hospital with my son, or had to wait with a friend who had hurt themselves. Staff were very helpful. The balance between a big bike park and smaller, more family vibe venture is a difficult line to tread.

Interesting comments on the qualifiers, I thought it was just me! I do think the Locomotion first drop is way above my pay grade; but part of the fun is working up to these features and challenging yourself to get down stuff in one piece.

Well, I might change my short & long term plan(s). I have realised that the cost of a bespoke build up of a Bfe Max is going to be pretty expensive – almost double what I can sell my full susser for. Appreciate I would be getting a new bike if I ordered a Cotic (and I need to be realistic about depreciation with my FS), but currently probably not stacking up.

So, alternative is for me to ditch the heavy sled via eBay, then (a) work with the HT I have (I have recently put on riser (30mm) bars with more backsweep than my low rise (12mm) bars and (b) try out a shorter travel full suss, without going so boutique. That way I’d have both a lightweight HT and a FS.

Long term, if I enjoy 29er, I can see myself trading in the Bird and going 29er for both. I probably should have done it years ago…

Not that I think anything is a bad suggestion above, but you can also consider (a) training out to Swinley (can’t recall closest station but think Birch Hill is the one) or (b) you can train to Haslemere. From Haslemere Station, probably max 10-15 min ride into the hills around Devil’s PunchBowl. You are also near the Green Sands way, so if you are looking for an XC work out, you can do right out to Peaslake (and then train back from Wescott/Dorking).

Also, if you fancy a long pedal with pub stops, Thames Tow Path is fun. Rode from Weybridge to Central London and a lot of it is very pleasant, along the edge of the Thames.

My brother used to live in London and washed his Giant Anthem in his landlady’s bath. :-(

Thanks Marksnook.

I’ve done exactly the same with a 27.5 Fox 36; it was an OEM fork taken from a Santa Cruz eeeb. It has been absolutely fine; it is a burly fork and suspect a bit heavier than a normal 36. I am selling mine, but only because I am looking to change my FS for something lighter, not any reflection of the fork itself.

I wouldn’t have any concern, but as per the posts above I suspect they are a bit heavier.

Thanks all for the comments.

Trying to respond to a few comments at once:

@chakaping – I’d considered a short travel FS (in fact, I picked up a friend’s old carbon YT and thought ‘holy crap Batman, this is light’). For me it is a budget issue – don’t think I can stretch to something like a Transition Spur or something of that ilk that would suit a lot of my riding. I rode round The Gap a few weeks ago and I absolutely rattled my way down the 4km descent on the HT.

@chiefgrooveguru – will look at that as an option, but secretly want to fill up the bike spaces before N+1 becomes just 1…

@mrwhipp & @tuboflard – thanks for the comments. I think my thinking is exactly this – 90% of my riding will be fine (there is lots of soft soil for my southern soft riding), but I will rattle a bit on the occasional trip; I did survive a trip (was awesome) on a dirty Swiss Alps weekend with my wife – I was on a 26in Bfe. And noted on the stock comment. Seen a few wheel sets, but forks & frames harder to get. There are also very few ready made short travel FS bikes that I can see in stock.

I’m also going to try & go for short a ride on a couple of local friend’s 29ers – one has a Bird FS which looks awesome, the other (who lurks on here) has a 29er Sonder HT. Both have a fair degree more skill than I…