What Pentax DSLR body would I need to buy to be able to use the lenses I have? I have been keen to get a DSLR as (a) I am expecting a yowler soon and (b) fancied a DSLR for better holiday pics/mtb photography.

I have the following lenses, obviously on Pentax A body and an Asashi K1000 body too. Thanks for all the tips on breaking the up and selling separately.

Hoya Wide 35mm
Pentax A 24mm
Pentax A 35-105mm
Vivitar 28-85mm
Pentax M 50mm
Pentax A 70-120mm
Pentax M 80-200mm

Well, I think it is not recommended, but I have run a 115mm reba on a frame designed for 100 mm for about 5 years. Some people worry about a crack of the head tube, as the longer fork adds more stress.

Looks the nuts. Don’t go in for too much modern nonsense myself, if the bits you have work, would not bust a gut to change them.

Well, I bought a Trance X frame and have built up the spec over a couple of months. Probably not as good value as the base model from a shop in the sale. However, I have been able to spec stuff that while still basic, is at least my choice (so coil sektor dual position forks v tora, deore drive train and brakes, except for XT rear mech, Mavic Crossride wheels v own brand Giant). While not being a pimp build, at least I could go for stuff that was all ok quality wise.

Down sides are not such an easy warranty deal if you have a problem and some of the total cost of build has been hidden by my creative accounting, so some of the value is in my head!

Hi,

For those interested, the older is a K1000, as you suspected.

Newer Pentax is Super A.

No 28mm Pentax lens I am afraid, but have a mix of lenses for each. If anyone is interested, I can email pictures – my email is christophergribbin at gmail dot com.

Get that checked out re: stock options. Some companies can get difficukt when thy know/guess you are going to a competitor. I wouldn’t risk your stock options.

I had to cough up import duty and comedy handling fees on importing a Trance X frame from the fools ok US of freakin A. I did expect to have to pay this though – you should have received a note through the post wight the amount owing clearly written out – I think mine came from Parcel Force/Royal Mail.

I sympathise in some aspects. I am 35 now and am expecting a kid in May (or at least my wife is). I have also just built up a new mountain bike, first full suspension. Timing was not great. I am also a bit immature (not saying that the OP is though!) in that I still am holding onto a cupboard full of N64 games from a distant time. WTF am I going to use all that for, god knows, but I still find it hard to let it go…

I am slightly panicking, not due to anything in particular, although how we will manage with child are does concern me. (We both have ok jobs, but my wife travels 1hr 40 mins to work, me about 1 hr, but I travel a bit too). Stuff like this will get figured out though.

I think the biggest thing I will miss is the decent holidays away and doing outdoors type stuff, like biking or hiking etc. thing is, I think I just need to learn to do it in a different way, appreciate that I am lucky to be able to have a kid at all (ours was IVF) and be open minded. Lots of people say negative things like ‘you won’t be doing much of that with a baby’ , but on the flip side I see plenty of people going against the rule books and enjoying stuff as a family.

I know some friends who have kids make the effort to do stuff early doors – cycling for example on a Sunday morning before the nipper awakes, taking turns to do stuff individually so that the one parent can get out of the house whilst the other does the parenting bit. Compromise word does have to be used though, which will take a bit of getting used to from me.

iain1775 – whoops, meant to say thomson post! Although I think my first mtb had a nice 110mm+ stem, ace…

My other finishing kit is mostly black – forks, stem (70mm!!), bars, wheels, cranks etc.

Sonos look like the Bo Didley’s. I use an Apple TV to stream stuff to a Yamaha soundbar. Quality to me seems fine, but Sonos does look very neat. I already have apple stuff and a spare stereo, so next purchase for me will be an apple airport express, much like an Apple TV, but with music only.

Thanks both. Have moves seat forward and will try it for size. Reach seems fine, but just concerned that the post is at the top of its adjustment. Will try it as is and see how it goes.

Thanks, does drive straight. Wheel just sits squint, so it does not seem to feel heavy in either direction.

Thanks all for quick replies. Local garage said they can have a look for 31.99. Perhaps I shouldn’t grumble – serves me right for purchasing a BMW.

Cheers toppers – will the pests at BMW give me hassle over getting it done at another dealer, as car is inside warranty?

Ski – my outlaws live locally and also refer to ‘that new bridge’, although as far as I can tell it has been there for a while!

Lesbians in Malvern, I’m sold.

About 15. Started new job at end of December and have put on half a stone, staying in hotels and eating And drinking more. Feel fat and slow, weather is really busting my balls.

Decathlon Rockrider 8.1, about 500 roubles. Not sure where you live, as they don’t have shops everywhere, but have a look on their website. Also Specialized rock hoppers are good in my opinion, heavy but solid bikes that are worth upgrading.

Built half of my new trance in the ‘posh’ lounge, which only gets used on special occasions (building a new bike being one of them). Also managed to take apart both hardtails in the kitchen, prior to a US bike holiday. Wife remained relatively relaxed about it, but I am usually too under the thumb to bring the bikes inside.

Had DMR V8s and some Nukeproof Neutrons. Like the low profile of the Nuetron, but V8s fine and cheap. Just don’t know, (and can’t be bothered to research how to do it and where to get replacement parts), how to change the bearings.

V8s on hard tail now, seem good value.

I have roof bar and thule bike carriers – they are excellent, but use more fuel. However, I found rear mounted rack a pain (although it was not as well designed as a Saris Bones). Roof or proper tow ball mounted rack are worth their price, in my opinion.

Pleased with mine, seems up to what I need it for (simply logging distance and routes off road). Not massively accurate according to some people who know more than me, but then I could never get too excited about a regular bike computer that always needed re-calibrating for different tyre sizes.

I find Strava and Garmin website ok for logging rides and also useful to try and identify routes you may not know about yourself.

Would love a mapping model, but price is an issue.

Went for a ride around Devil’s Punch Bowl via Gibetts Hill and some cheeky single track on the way home. Great to be out, only 2nd proper ride in as many months.

Stopped to make some yellow snow and take a photo.

Tomorrow, bike out with knobbly mud tyres on. Couldn’t do today, was driving home from working week away. That was entertaining enough in a rear wheel drive automatic.

Best thing about the snow is dumping the car and playing on the bike, although it does encourage those special looks from the neighbours and local townsfolk.

Reba’s are great. Have on on my xc hardtail, a 2007 model. I think almost all go to 120 mm now, but check or specifically order one listed as 120 mm. Also worth looking at Recon, available in 120 mm. Spacers on Rebas are easy to remove. Was looking on CRC before Christmas, there was plenty of options. Also worth checking out On One.

I have a coil Sektor DPC, which I have just put on a giant trance x. Can you not adjust the position to always keep the fork at 120 mm, or are they only designed to do this when climbing?

I have a generation 4 ipod touch. Great quality screen, use it for much more than I expected I would, including personal emails, web browsing, films, music, loads of handy apps (weather one being particularly useful at the moment).

I bought it primarily for music, but glad I went for a touch as it does so much more that I find useful, especially whilst away with work. I use itunes and am quite happy with it, but it is not to everyone’s liking.

Edit: I also have an apple TV (circa £100), which allows me to stream both music and video direct to my tv. I use this loads to play music as I have decent speakers hooked up to the gogglebox.

Thanks both, have got the LBS to order me a front mech (thanks for the offer though thepodge).

Need to get me some calipers, always seem to need them.

[quoteReckon I could get it it flown for free if I had no other luggage?[/quote]

Think BA used to allow you to take one regular bag and a bike bag as a piece of sporting equipment for free on long haul flights. Definitely worth checking the options, I think my brother has flown from Geneva to LHR with his bike bag for no additional cost. I have definitely done it to USA with no charge, but flight luggage allowances are different outside Europe. If you can keep it sub 23 kg, not only do you avoid any additional charges on some carriers, you may find it a bit less of a pain lugging the bike on and off buses, even if only to the car hire pick up. I am lucky though, as my bike was a hard tail xc, so hardly a heavy weight monster.

Good advice re: cardboard, helps give soft bike bags some shape and hopefully protects against angry baggage handlers. My wife and I have taken bike bag to the USA twice, both times bikes were fine. I would advise ‘locking’ the zips with cable ties – apparently customs officials like to search bike bags, so rather than lose a lock, I just let them cut the cable ties.

I bought a 220 lumen cheapo ebay aa batt powered effort. Bright enough, but then it lasted about 20 mins. Ended up buying an Exposure light for 4 times the price to replace it.

I think the lights online from the likes of Deal Extreme are excellent value now, worth checking out the mag reviews from late last year which have reviews on them as they tend to do every winter.

Am building up a regular Trance X frame myself. Can not really help much on specifics, but you should check out mtbr dot com, which has an excellent giant area on its forum. Probably biased, but I am sure there will be people who can assist there.

High Roller 2.35 front and ignitor 2.1 (about 1.9) on the back, seem to be good mix. I have panaracer trailrakers which are awesome in mud, but I don’t use them much.

If anyone wants them for a song or £25, let me know. Sorry to thread hijack.

Thanks both for the rapid replies.

One option is to be less of an interior designer about it and just get the decal from petra cycles or even leave it blank. If I want to ‘bling up’ the bike I can always get bile green grips to match – either way the more flashy bits I have, the higher the expectation will be for me to actually ride well.

Ask my wife: high expectation + me = dissapointment

PAul D, many thanks, that is really helpful.

Bump for the lunch time crowd.

Tinsy, thanks. Looks like Sektor is the choice then…

Shame, quite liked the look of the black bombers…

Gonzy, thanks.

They do seem very good value at 200 roubles for a 140mm fork. I have a mate who says they are good for zero maintenance and I know he uses stuff properly, no car park posing.

I heard they can be sticky/notchy when new, but that then goes with use. They also come with a 3 year warranty now I believe, although I need to check.

Thanks both. It is for a new build on a Trance X. The frame is circa 127mm travel, they are sold with a 120mm fork on the budget model, 125mm fox fork (specially made for Giant) on mid range and top end comes with travel adjustable Talas 140mm.

I wanted to therefore go 120+ but Recons only seem to go to 120, hence looking at slighlty longer travel options. Want it to be reliable and have heard very mixed reviews on Marzocchi – some very positive and others have had problems.

Bumpiity Bump for the bored as anything Friday 5pm can’t come quickly enough crowd.

Thanks, that is annoying but did not know would be getting a new frame for building up a full suss then.

More haste, less speed required from me…

Thanks for the above all, I have seen the Sektor Coil Dual Position forks on CRC, which seem good value at £280ish (they are 140mm). Revs can be had from Merlin for circa £270, but are 150mm.

I would like to go for a fork with 15mm to make the front stiffer, although I could sort out QR wheel for the front much more cheaply.

There seem to be plenty of people who do run a Trance X with a longer fork, but not sure if this affects warranty (although I know some models can be had with forks that adjust to 140mm from Giant).

Anyone know where there are good deals on 140mm travel forks?

Bump again for the Sunday morning crowd – any thoughts?!