thanks 16stonepig. I see your google skills spank mine (which is not hard, I am useless). Looks like simply a question of is it worth another £17 per tyre for a bit of extra sidewall support.

16stonepig – tempted by the Specialized mud tyres. Do you know what the difference is between the Hillbilly GRID 2 bliss tyres (on sale) and then the Hillbilly GRID trail tyres?

The more expensive ‘trail’ tyres look marginally lighter, but both seem to have Gripton compound. just a newer model?

Well, I only read this thread last night. What a great thing to do OP. I am too late to do the 100 days, but I’ll try and do the 90 days now left.

I am a middle aged biker, with kids, so know what a huge benefit regular exercise can be. I also happen to be trying to learn how to manual and ride drops, so I am going to try and combine the exercise with the much needed practice. Weather look perfect to be on the bike 🙃

I am not sure the protection is anywhere near as decent, but I have a convertible helmet (so the chin piece can come off). Seems to be comfortable as a normal trail helmet, but you can put on the chin bit when/as you want.

I have a now discontinued Bell Super 2R; Bell have updated versions and there is now lots of alternatives for the same type of product.

Kayla1 – I am pleased you wrote about the Barons being so draggy. I thought it was just me being unfit, but they are hard to get going. Will keep them for the gravity days.

Get an independent valuation. You can ask estate agents as well, but an independent valuation will allow you to explain to others that you paid a fair price for it (assuming you agree a price near the valuation). For the cost, I think it would be worth it.

This is not massively helpful of me, but if flying I would look to get a really short transfer time to the location, to maximize riding time. I did Heathrow to Geneva, Geneva to Verbier (train) last September and rode for two full days. (half day Friday, Sat all day and then half day Sunday). It all worked, we caught or train connections and met the guide; but I pushed my luck timing wise and it was a long few days.

I would also look at flying with airlines that include luggage; I got a very cheap off season (well, end Sept) deal on flights (with vouchers) and ended up flying two rtn to Geneva from London for £100, which included the bike bags (was so cheap we flew Business to get the free extra bag allowance each). Train part was more expensive.

I would be interested to see where you end up, as I want to treat my wife again in 2020.

I got mine direct; very quick service, now fitted and miles better than my 150mm RS Reverb (or if not miles, about 60mm better at least).

Weeksy – Not that I am in any way qualifies to give any fashion advice, but I regularly sport vans and hoodies. I am 42, so look like I am pretending to be younger than I am. Which is possibly true.

Anyway, I go for comfort.

I got some 5:10 Freeriders at Go Outdoors recently. They were £65 plus £5 for the card. I think the sizing availability was a bit limited though – I had to go to a couple of shops. I think I wore a new pair out on a flight once, but generally just keep mine for riding (my old pair are 8 years old and I am still riding them, too comfortable to try the new pair yet).

Could you get away with Vans? That is what I wear on the office, but it is fully dress down.

I watched it. Loved the music, loved the riding.

Had the same problem on a Specialized Camber that I set up tubeless for Mrs G. They had Speicialized 2 bliss branded rim tape fitted, but leaked from the joints at a relatively low pressure. DOn’t know if the tape was wide enough (and the rims are quite wide) – just looked and thye are 27mm internal width I think.

I whacked in some sealent and they have been fine since – I think I only put up to about max 30 PSI in them, but they usually get run at about 20 PSI (ish).

Your lawn is better than mine. Paint also looks ace.

I have just set up a non-boost 650b hardtail with 2.6 DHF 3C front and an Aggressor 2.5 DD rear. The Aggressor is supposed to be fast rolling and it feels it on the trail.

I found the bike felt sluggish on a short bit of road I was on today, but this could be a host of other things I have not set up properly, including: rubbing rear brake caliper, too little air in the tyres (I am 85kg and have around 15 PSI in the tyres, which I am not sure if enough/acceptable), the fact that this is my third ride in three days, I was inpatient and ordered the rear tyre in DD rather than regular casing as they had it in stock at a good price.

Have a good ride; such good memories of doing that on my hardtail a few years back. Would love to go back and have another go, will make sure it stays on my list of trips to do with the kids when they are slightly older.

Bumping for the i was watching the cricket and/or tennis crowd.

Thanks all. Had some cash for my birthday so treated myself to some Hunt hoops.

Really unhelpful but I note BA 1st class is 3 x 32kg. I will never have the issue of worrying just what I could take to make that much up that much luggage allowance.

Honestly though, if you can keep the bike bag under 23kg, it makes the airport/travel hassle a lot less of a ball ache.

Well, a thread about flying out to ride in Whistler does not make me at all jealous. Nope.

Have flown a bit with the bike and it is all covered above – only thing I would add is that if you want you can use cheap pipe foam lagging to protect frames/forks, if you don’t have pads to do this. Also, if you have a weak sided bike bag I have successfully used a bit of bike box to act as bracing, although some would argue this is unnecessary and adds weight.

I always take discs off, but my elder brother used to just pretty much lob the bike into the bag, leaving discs on the wheels etc.

Have fun.

Thanks Steve. Have just got a hard tail in 27.5, so don’t want to switch back and forth with tyres at the moment so will try and leave them in place throughout the winter season.

mjsmike – I have that set up on my full suspension (26) currently. Ardent is very fast rolling and I have had it on the front before as well, but if used up front it is definitely better somewhere that is dry.

Big Yim – I can’t answer your comment properly yet but that is what I am hoping. I have gone for the biggest rubber I can get, to try and make the bike more comfortable. I will be trying it out tonight hopefully.

Hi. I did the same thing and used a RADR cage I believe.

I have a sunrace 11-42 cassette and a regular long cage XT rear mech. Works fine. At the time it was circa 1/2 price of the 11 speed option. Front ring is I believe 30T; altogether it all climbs fine.

Well, funnily enough I have just fitted a 2.6 DHF front and a 2.5 WT Aggressor rear for my 150mm forked hardtail. I did not need such big tyres, but wanted to get high volume on my non-boost bike, which has only just been built up. They do the Aggressor in a Double Down, harder wearing casing.

I think the DHF needs no introduction, but the Aggressor is supposed to be fast rolling.

@Steve fatfgit – how do you find the Aggressor as a rear. I have heard good things, but not sure how they cope in the wet.

It is awesome. I was there with Mrs G last year, in September. I would like to recommend Pure Biking Verbier, if you need a guide.

We had Jose (colleague/friend of Ludo May, in the above video with Matt Jones). Pure Biking Verbier MTB Guides

The blue was a lot of fun, but PM me if you would like and I can share Strava trails of where I rode.

Yes, often feel overtired. Or just listless.

Buying some new, not entirely necessary stuff does help I find. Just did that today. Has not made me any fitter, or faster, but temporarily has made me feel better, Like a Big Mac.

Yakima HighRoller. Not cheap, but ace.

Hi Lego – I am not sure what I can fit in a non-boost Pike Probably a 2.6 without a mudguard, maybe 2.5 (ish) with.

Thanks Slack. 150mm stem!?

I’ll perhaps try and run some even fatter and fast rolling tyres to see if it’s helps. I have some Ardent 2.4s in the garage and they should be a lot faster rolling than my 2.4 Barons.

Had one three weeks ago, just below the knee. Sent it off for testing and had an email back confirming the flavour.

Horrible little things; I used tweezers to get it off – think he had been in about 36 hours.

They are amazing. I say this because I have been drinking (a little bit) and I also have a L 2017 26in Orange Bfe frame for sale.

Seriously though, in a ‘it is not you, it is me’ break up fashion style, I am only selling it as I think I am just too gangly for it. Really fun, ‘flickable’ frame and as others have said, just use fat (2.4 Conti tyres work fine) and it will help the bike (and your bottom/legs).

I took it to Verbier for some late season steep Alps descents and it was no problem.

Going for an XL frame now (27.5, but using my old 26 in wheels with a newer 27.5 fork).

I assume 27.5 are also ace too :-(

Mine look exactly the same. Glad you did not install the BB from Race Face, as it was rubbish.

Many thanks all, just requested a quote from PedalCover.

Thanks all, I wanted to buy new. I went for some Pikes in the end – just over £400 from Amazon for 27.5 non-boost.

OP. It is a really nice idea – he sounded like a cool guy to think like that. I am lucky enough to have mucked around on boats a bit in my youth. They are great fun, but even small ones need more maintenance than most stuff.

I personally would spend some money on something that brings you all together as a family in the fresh air, so for sure a boat fits the ticket. But for more frequent use (and something you may be more able to do with other friends), as above I would get some cool camping gear. Kids love spending time outdoors, it gets you away from home chores and can be the basis for holidays away, bank holiday weekends with friends or biking trips as and when. Memories will be made and you can enjoy almost every ‘chore’ with a beer.

I would get a pimp bell tent for that cash and then splash out on a stove for the inside. I don’t have either (we just have a basic 4 man dome which cost about £150), but they look cozy and I think would extend the camping season a bit (as in the evening you could enjoy beer/hot chocolate inside the tent). I was camping last weekend and looked on with envy at those who had such sweet set ups.

I would also love a campervan, but as above I think that requires a bigger budget.

Enjoy the shopping.

Well, I am not much help but I think the OP has got the idea spot on. I would put on a pot of coffee and get the atlas out.

I would love to do something similar in both North America and across Europe. I can dream…

Thanks DC. That is great.

San – is that what you have? Happily take them off you for cold hard cash/contribution to your favorite charity.

Thanks DC

North wind – I have come to the conclusion that I am better to cut my losses and shift the whole bike, rather than try and upgrade the frame.

Shame as I like the bike and have no problem with 26 in. Time to look at fresh options.

So I spoke to the LBS ref: my Cotic and the suggestion was that perhaps it is a bit short.

So I got a price list together. Shan frame is £600 & bits, plus new reverb (my old one is wrong size), plus BB. All in all looks like this will be expensive, even if I ebay off my old stuff (Cotic frame, reverb etc). I would want to change the fork (just me going nuts, not justifiable :-(

Is it better to simply offload the lot on ebay and start again with a Whyte 905 (or something similar)?

Well, this is like the thread of temptation I don’t need.

I bought a 26 in Bfe. It is a lot of fun, but at 6ft2 I find the L size a tiny bit short for me (2017 model I think, so a very slight fraction shorter than current models). My dropper is also massively up from the frame (a 150mm RS Reverb), so I was wondering about fitting a 200mm/210mm dropper to allow me to really get the seat down low. Although short, it is very confidence inspiring when going downhill and did me proud in Swiss Alps for a weekend of riding.

However, looking online that Production Privee frame looks lovely. All reports I have read online are that it is more forgiving than the Bfe. But it does not look cheap…

I went through this exercise about 18 months ago. Sold a Giant Trance X I was not in love with and intended just to get a HT.

Went for a Cotic Bfe. It is fun to ride, lightish and confidence inspiring going downhill. It was supposed to be my only bike. But I then got the itch, bought a full suss frame and built up a Transition.

I rode my Bfe round Cwmcarn the other day and it felt like hard work. It also does not work as a ‘winter harditail’ with skinny mud tyres – you need the volume to help with the stiff frame. However, I know there are some fun 27.5+ HT bikes around that if I were doing it again, I would definitely consider.

My full suss is at least a kilo heavier (I have not measured, could be a lot more), but so much more fun to ride. It is also too much bike for most of the time (160mm round the Surrey Hills) but it pedals fine and I love it. I still like the HT though for the nimble woodland type riding – it does feel stiff, but that is only because I don’t use it how it was intended to be used.