XT’s – no contest

Put them on the radiator.

Brand-X defo best option. Had reverbs, and plenty of annoying problems. Have an Ascend on each bike now. They’re great. Next frame I’ll put and XL ascend on.

Muddy Mary. Perfect front tyre all year round.

I tent to agree with fr0sty125. Been burnt many times finding stuff gets in a sale moments after buying. Never buy from some retailers unless they have a sale on (Gap for example).

In this instance, I’m also using the wait to January as a cooling off period. How much do I really want a new frame? Do I need two hardtails? Will I regret not having a full suss (I never ride it)? Will Switchback really be better than the Mmmbop I love? How much will my Spectral frameset get second hand?

The lower the price, the less relevant these questions become – if I get it wrong I lose less $$$

And, I’ll need a new dropper for Switchback so that’s another $150

Hmmm, having written that down, Switchback feels less of a good idea!

Depends which tow bar track you buy. I had a four bike steel unit that weighed 20kgs. Hated it, too heavy to lug about. Also, meshing four bikes together on it was an art form. Drove me nuts. Moved to roof bars, much easier. Helps that I’m quite tall. Also find roof bars are easier to stash out of the way. But, check how easy to roof rack is to install. Some are pigs.

+1 for Magic Mary – ride them on the front all year. Using Hans Dampf on the back now and Minion ss in the summer.

Thanks all. Dumbbot, I’ve speed that one. But it’s fair way to Coventry esp for £525. Are Stanton’s warranties transferable?

Thanks for the info. I’ll get it upgraded.

Just back from a ride. Yaris are sagging 10mm in lock out. Service needed?

Rockshox, Endura, Shimano, Hope

+1

I suggest the Sonder Transmitter

is lovely looking, but built for 120 forks.

The Mmmbop with the mudhugger front and rear looks like a real work-horse…

It gets 3 singletrack rides a week in all weathers and mostly in the dark (at the mo). A hose down (if lucky) and chain clean between. It’s been brilliant. Hope hubs, Yaris and Shimano everywhere else – bullet proof.

Workhorse it certainly is.

My full-suss never leaves stable any longer. May put it out to grass soon

Eccentric

mmmbop

I built a friend an NS Eccentric Alu. Looks lovely, ride well. Also hard to source!

After owning Avid and then SRAM brakes, that were both a nightmare to bleed, I’ve given up on them. Always run Shimano purely because you can bleed them in 30 seconds. Last new bike came with SRAM, sold brakes immediately and fitted XTs.

Had a Bluepig for a bit, didn’t like it much. Heavy and dead. I wonder what they have in mind for next years mmmbop?

I find Five Ten Impact Vxi’s, with Merino socks works well. Occasionally your feet get wet, but they warm up fine and you don’t notice after a few mins.

+1 for the Mmmbop. Absolutely love mine. So much fun. Slack and long, very competent going up or down. Also light. Tough to get hold of, Ragley sold through rapidly.