Cheers. It’s ok I’m faffing over my new frame and the forks on it. I’ve got some Float RLC 15mm forks which are 140mm travel and my new frame, a Turner 5 Spot DW Link has 150-160mm forks being recommended so I thought of maybe getting some 160mm Floats. But I’ve checked the axle to crown length on my current Floats and it’s the same as the 150mm Floats so I might be worrying for nothing.

You’ve not said which year 575 your buying. I found the 08 swoopy toptube model came up big on me and I ride a medium. I’m 5ft 9ins at a push but they are tall bikes so it depends on how you like your bike. To me you sit “atop” on the 575 as opposed to “in” on say a 5 Spot or Intense 5.5.
I’ve owned all the above and if you can get the 575 cheap then it’ll make a good bike. They’re well made and well designed, the paint can chip easy but the ano models don’t suffer from that. The 08 model I had has the headset that’s faced at the top and is bare metal so when you fit a headset it shows an area of bare material which to me looked odd. But out of all the long-travel bikes I’ve owned and ridden the 5 Spot is the best, not only to ride but also to live with long term. Just my opinion ok.

Cav is just amazing and total and utter respect – for a pushbike rider hehe.

Mincing footballer lol. I suppose we could all idolise a hero who’s denied drup taking in his sport for years and years and years lol.

Mincing footballers everywhere take note.

mcboo – ask Aaron Ramsey if he’s a mincing footballer or many of the others who have broken legs etc playing football! Yes you hate football but lots of football people hate boys who ride “pushbikes” so just enjoy your own sport. I like apples too – and pears and oranges and strawberries and peaches 🙄

The police wouldn’t arrest her in case she “slapped” them. We she did her ex hubby and hard man Ross Kemp which earned her the title “slapper” in the press. I believe she’s got lots and lots of dirty information on some people at the top in lots of organisations and they’re too frightened take her on and her cronnies because of the fall out. She’s got info on Murdoch for sure and that’s why he’s backing her.

I’ll let you know in a couple of weeks as I’m waiting for my DW Link frame arrivve. I’ve had 2 HL 5 Spots (and my latest is for sale in the classifieds 😀 ) and I loved them both but a quick try on a demo DW just made me want one and now I can’t wait!

CK. The end. Go to the Aspire Velotech webiste and order from the States. Dirt cheap.

Saints. My mate runs them and he races in the World Cup downhill events and they’ve been faultless. Enough said.

Remember they have massively optimistic scales, and/or they take several pounds off the actual weight so they can brag about it on forums

I have a set of Ultimate Digital scales which we use in our shop so all our weights are bang on accuate. I got asked when my Yeti came in at under 25lb which isn’t bad for nearly a 6inch travel bike so I took a pictures of it hanging on the scales – job done!

Goldtec Pro Comp hubs on ZTR Olympic rims are light and strong. Easton EC90 SL low riser bars and Ritchey WCS foam grips is a good ight combo. Keep the gears then and be done.

XL’s aren’t that light wheel wise if I’m right. It’s also little bits here and there that add up. For instance I used a Ritchey WCS stem which was mege light, Xpedo Ti/Ti pedals which are as light as they come. My wheel weight was very low but the front hub wasn’t as light as my Goldtec Pro which would have saved quite a few grammes. Not sure what your frame weight is or the size but the Merlin was just above 3lb and was a 16.25 inch.

Below is my Merlin which was 21.2lb including pedals etc and that’s a spot on accurate weight with the posh digital scales. All usable stuff on it that wouldn’t break and I guess if it ran newer stuff like a 2×10 set-up it could be a bit lighter. But it comes at a price as light bikes feel very nervous, especially over rocky stuff and my Yeti 575 which was under 25lb certainly felt like that but I reckon a smoother rider would feel better on it. The main weight area is the wheels and the Merlin ran Tune hubs which were pretty light

What size chainring are you running on the front for your 1×9 set-ups? Are you running 11-32 or 11-34 at the rear as well? Those chainguides look really good but they’re out of stock of black/black ones grrr

Cheers. My first 5 Spot ran with a coil DHX and Ti spring and it was fantastic. My current Spot has a Pushed RP23 but it just doesn’t feel the same so I’m thinking of fitting a coil shock when I get the frame. Best start looking!

I build my own bikes and then get the lad who runs our shop just give it a bit of a tweek but as for fixing it I did always do my own but as I work where we have a shop/workshop I just say “can you have a look at this” and then I carry on doing my job while my bike gets fettled – for free 😉

You bloody tease! Can’t wait see it finished and built up.

Is the eye-to-eye shock measurement still the same – 190mm?

I work at BETD so I’ll get the guys I work with build it up so if they balls the mech up they can replace it hehe. Can’t wait now for it arrive and I’ll be sad my old 5 Spot will have to go 🙁 Oh well it’ll mean a nice set of wheels I guess 🙂

X9 mechs fit but might have to modify a dual-pull if I go Shimano

Cheers Sam. It says you need a top-pull mech but I seem to be only able to find dual-pull which is says need modifying? Puzzled now lol.

Great ride by Bradders but I’m wondering why the Tech 3 team are not putting a protest in for being over-taken while yellow flags were being waved! Surely Sofuoglu should be penalised for that as the marshals were still removing a bike from the side of the track.

Yes, just drill all the way through it. Really though you need stud extractors and a drill that’s a bit smaller than the tapping size drill and then it’s easy. It’s basically one of them jobs – you have the right tools it’s a doddle!
If it’s loose, spray it with something like WD40 and leave it soak for a bit. Then using a something sharp try turn it very carefully and it will eventually come out but this method only works if it’s loose ok.

I think it depends on the start – if it’s dry and Simo gets away first I believe he’ll get his first win but the weather is going play a huge part in it today so I’ve no idea really.

I’m no legal boffin but I’d say there’s nothing you can do about her moving anyone in as she’s paying the bills but I could also be totally wrong. But as for her not letting you have your stuff – and as long as it is all yours as in paid for and not something you’ve bought for between you – then she’s wrong not letting you get it. I would definitely seek the help of a solicitor especially if you have anything valuable in the house and then you can sort your other issue out too.

I worked at a factory many years ago where we had to use the toilets that were in the same building as a production area. This area had quite a few “rough” workers – you know the sort – and their toilet hygeine wasn’t very good at all. One day at break time some of our lads in the toolroom had to go wash up and we were greeted to the sight of an absolutely enormous turd that was over-hanging the toilet! You just beggared belief at “what animal” had “produced” it. I know it sounds even worse but you couldn’t help but look and honestly and truthfully there was hairs and blood on it! Gross just wasnt the word so for those who find pee on the seat, count your lucky stars!

My first film camera was a Canon A1. I then had T90’s and F1N’s when shooting semi-pro and I moved to EOS1’s when I went for auto-focus stuff. I believe having the motor in the lens is far superior to having them in the body as using big telephoto’s like 400mm f2.8’s the Canon lenses were very fast but cameras like Minolta’s pro stuff really struggled with long lenses as they have the motor in the body and that has to work for everything from wide-angle to big telephoto’s and they just couldn’t cope. Nikons were the same too when I tried them.
I now use Canon 1ds mk3 and mk2’s with L series lenses and the buttons, switches and menu’s are just so easy to use for me and so I’ll stick with my Canon gear. I have tried Nikons and the film camera’s were very very good but for me, the DSLR’s they make though don’t do it for me.

I left a trail of notes in our house and she followed them upstairs to our bedroom where I was waiting – dressed! – and then gave her the last note asking her. She even cried so it must have struck a chord somewhere lol.

I saw the new Yeti SB66 in the flesh today and I was very very impressed. Can’t wait try one to see how it rides and hopefully if it rides as good as it looks I’ll be getting one. The Lime colour looked really nice too.

What’s a puncture? Been running Stans NoTubes for years now and no punctures whatsoever. Even had a huge nail go in, seal instantly and then found it months later when I changed tyres because I heard something going round inside the wheel. I’ll never use tubes ever again.

I’m going the whole hog – fully planted set-up with an automatic misting system for it so as I can control the humidity if I’m not at home. Not a cheap set-up but I’m sure it’ll be well worth it in the end as I do all my set-ups as natural as possible – even for my spiders. The GTP is in a pretty adequate viv now but I’ve seen some stunning ones on the specialist reptile forums so that’s my inspiration and I can’t wait complete it all.

Here’s my Royal Python “Crouchie”

My Jungle Carpet Python “Keegan”

To answer your questions Pete, I don’t know the sex of the GTP yet as it’s not old enough to “probe” With snakes, to those who don’t know you push a probe into them and this determines the sex but with GTP’s you have to wait until they are well over a year old as it’s dangerous to probe them as they have brittle bones and it can kill them so as yet I’ve no idea what sex it is.
Snakes get fed once a week, the Royal has a large mouse and the Carpet Python gets a “fuzzie” which is a baby mouse that has hair. The GTP will feed on “pinkies” which are baby mice with no hair at all.
I believe they mature about 3 years old but I’ve not done all my research on the GTP’s yet. I’m not sure if I’ll ever get another to breed but who knows hey.

They do un-coil when there’s something they want – which is hopefully it’s food and not my fingers! They are quite snappy at times but I’m hoping this ones one of the well behaved ones.

This is what he/she will eventually look like – a stunning Green Tree Python “Morelia Viridis”

A very very old one

Fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!! Get in!!!!!!

My sinus infection is back so no ride again! Monday morning phone call to doctors to get it sorted at the hospital as it’s getting beyond a joke now.

Yes you can convert them to normal QR. We also now make 15mm adaptors for them so you have a 20mm, 15mm and QR hub all in one! Go to the BETD website or give us a call tomorrow.

For Canon then either a new 430EX or a secondhand 550EX or maybe a 580EX if you’re lucky

What he says – get the best you can as it will make all the difference.

Zarko moved over to his left which was clear to see from the rear camera view from the side of the track. He also used his elbow and to me what he did was dangerous and not racing. If he had moved to his right then it would have been fine but I think he believed he would have lost a bit of speed so that’s why he did what he did. If Tirol had gone down it would have been very very nasty and I think Zarko would have been getting more than a 20 second penalty to carry over to the next race!