I would say yes!

I was looking all last summer and was aiming for a 2007 with 70k miles for £7k inc vat. After looking for a few months I settled on a 2005 with 80k for £5.5 inc vat.

Needed £400 in the body shop to remove a from the side, but has FSH. This is a base white van, 84ps and no mod cons. Expect to pay a lot more for non white / tailgate / elec windows / air con.

Had it 11 months now and use it as my only vehicle. So far has cost me new pads and discs and a £240 service, now on 94k miles.

Yeah they are. Think I have finally sound a downside to the carbon ‘ebay’ 29ers

I see, do you know why that would be?

Looking at the triple chainset it seems they have a 39 middle ring so would have thought that is should be OK on a 39-50 double.

Thanks again!

Haven’t got a pic right now but I bought one as a training bike. Race on a scale 29 but seem to ride better on the eBay special. Built with fox / xt / hope crests I would recommend one over the scale especially considering the price difference.

I live just to the east of Banbury and have a 2.5-3hr route 80% off road. Nothing exciting but it makes a good winter night ride. Drop me an email and I can give you more info on the route.

Not much in the way of single track or rocks but still nice to get out!

In terms of road riding all of the lanes to the east of Banbury / surrounding Brackley and north up to Daventry are good for a road ride. Plenty over to the west (Stratford direction) also.

1 tin of Branston beans, 3 slices of wholemeal toast and a healthy grating of cheddar.

ahh thats even the same size frame! Is that Nick Dwyer? Think I recognise him from the wind tunnel.

Amazing!

Could have done with an hour long documentary, or even a short series because 5 minutes wasnt enough!

Still not cracked 20:00 yet for a 10 but there is always next year!

If you are getting a new TT bike bear in mind that lower doesnt always mean faster!

Thanks for the PSA!

Does anyone understand how more tickets are now available? I thought the whole point of the ballot is that all tickets were available then, and any left would be put into the second ballot for those who missed out first time around. However this doesnt seem to be the case!

None of the riders even have bikes or bicycles at the tour they all ride ‘machines’

9.5kg

Scott Scale HMX 29er XL
Fox F29 FIT 15mm
Full Sram XX
Hope brakes
Bontrager XXX carbon wheels with homemade 15mm conversion
Racing ralph’s 2.1 TL
Bonrtager XXX carbon bottle cage
XT pedals
Fizik saddle
Hope stem
3T alloy bars

Just need to get some XXX bar ends, already got some foam grips. Thinking of changing the bars at the same time.

The description lists 1 set of bottle cage boses, but all of the pics show 2?

I would instantly dismiss the idea of buying one if they only came with 1 set!

Thanks for the replies!

Boxelder YGM

Perfect! Thank you

Great course today! Really enjoyed it.

Only thing that I think could be improved is that a 2nd 500m or so fire road later in the lap would have been ideal for refueling. Other that that is was perfect :)

^ similar lines to what I was thinking! Racing Raplhs or Trailrakers?

Possibly a silly question but is the insurance value per bike or per claim?

I would start at £300, but be willing to accept £250.

The Mediums (19″) seem to fetch a bit more. I picked up my large frame brand new last year off ebay for £350.

Thanks for your replies :)

I shall get one ordered!

Thats what I was told on the phone!

Because the title only listed ‘rim strips’ and not valves then valves were not included. Even though the description listed valves included.

According to them their online terms and conditions state that their images and descriptions may not be correct.

All sorted now, I have been offered me a full refund, on return of the rim strips.

I have been informed by shop that the product description doesnt have to match the product!

The webpage has now been changed following a telephone call about 15mins ago.

It is still very misleading because the image still includes the valve and in the product description the weight of the valve is also included, suggesting that its included.

Do have a screen shot of the original advert though.

Not if you do it carefully!

I found that getting a screw driver under and then using your finger to run around the rim edge is the best way.

Nah thats incorrect because I have a 240 15mm hub with 15x28x7mm bearings in. The 15mm axle sits directly against the inner diameter of the bearings.

Ahh right!

Thanks very much, I shall get me one of those aswell then!

Any idea why they have 2 rubber seals around the centre of the central tube?

I am in the process of doing exactly the same thing with my bontrager xxx 29er wheels.

Assuming that your hubs are the same as mine it is possible.

I searched everywhere for adapters, which dont exist! I then decided to buy a DT Swiss 240 15mm CentreLock hub and remove the components required on my hub. However this did not work because although they look idnetical the width between the bearings are different between the bontrager marked hub and the DT Swiss 240.

I am currently in the process of getting some parts machined up to copy the DT Swiss 240 design although with the correct spacing for the bontrager marked hub.

The 240 CentreLock hub uses 2 spacers (1 each side) held in place by a channeled washer which presses into the hub, just outside the bearing faces. When in position the spacers are free to move slightly within the holding washers but once the hub is clamped into position in the forks nothing can move around.

The 240 also have a tube running internally between the bearings. As far as i can tell all it does is connect the bearings together so that they dont spin inderpendantly. I am unsure whether I am going to get a new one of these made for the bontrager hub because its more cost and I struggle to see the point of it!

If you want a set of the spacers / channeled washers let me know and I will be able to get 2 complete sets made. Not sure on price yet, still drawing the parts up.

Let me know, H

?

Thanks for the link uplink but they are 26″ tyres. They dont list 29 x 2.1’s for sale only the wider versions

Found on the Schwalbe site here. See the last tyre on the Evo Line / Folding list.

Seems that only 2.25’s and 2.4’s are actually available.

H

Just had a look. The shock eyelet has a sleeve in, approx 1mm in thickness. This sleeve is showing signs of wear internally which clearly needs replacing.

The 2 top hat shaped parts that fell out of the eyelet dont have much sign of wear. Is it best to replace both the sleeve and top hats?

Ahh I didnt realise there was one! Will have a closer look. Cheers :)

Thanks everyone! Seems there is quite a range available. Always been a fan of Giants so will try to find out more :)

Thanks very much for the offer TooTall but im quite a way from Bristol.

The 21″ Carbon XTC I have is the largest size Giant make in 26″ wheels. I am sure I could get a larger 26″ wheel frame but Ive seen a large number of smaller racers using 29ers so though I would look into the 29er options.

The Scott Pro model seems very good value, although not in stock anywhere! Does anyone have an indication of when the 2012 bikes will start appearing?

Cheers, Henry

Sorry i shoudl have been a bit clearer – I dont need 350mm sticking out!

The frame takes a 30.9mm post so lined up a 27.2mm post from another bike and decided that a 350m post would be ideal. However I was measuring to the top of the post not the rails. The 'missing' 23mm from my measurements therefore puts the post above its max.

Thanks for your help

Hindsight is a wonderful thing ;)

I knew I should have asked on here first – Thanks for your help!

Many thanks :)

Please can you point me in the direction of where you can buy them for £96.

Cheers!

It was a great day. I went for the 100k on my giant xtc and came in at 4hr 35mins. Huge respect to anyone who did it on a cross bike. I was bouncing around with 80mm forks and was pleased that I left the cross bike at home.

The signs were great – my thanks go to the organisers.

Thanks for the advice, I will get sort the pictures out ASAP and get the process started.

Thanks again, H