Also miffed and in Canada. We used to have the Eurosport Package but got bored of the VPN shenanigans, so switched to GCN+ and it’s been great. Really not many, if any, affordable options here and compared to UK we already pay Bell far too much for our cable and internet package.

Using it now

We’ve done a week road riding with Tenerife Bike Training on their classic tour, Alberto and Marcos Delgado – highly recommended and I’d love to go back. I’ve also done a guided day trip from Mt. Teide down with Darran at Lavatrax which was excellent.

I loved my 2008 335d SE Touring, just effortless for long distances and the BMW hidden electric tow-bar was brilliant. Needed nothing apart from routine maintenance and sold it for a good price to Sytner Sheffield. I’d have another but you can’t get the Touring in Canada it’s all sedans.

I raced XC fairly regularly in my mid-late 40’s, have participated in a few stage races, and even managed to win a B road race after a lot of training. I’m now keen on 24 hour races and long distance stuff, and was supposed to ride DK200 this year. Assuming all well next year and the US survives November hoping to get to Kansas in 2021.

I went through this looking at the usual suspects and I ended up using iThoughtsX on Mac. Excellent piece of software with iOS companion app, regularly updated, good communication with the Developer, and it’s designed in Yorkshire.

My GX Eagle RD exploded, replaced with Shimano and thumb shifter and just better / less fussy all round, works perfectly with GX Cassette. I’ll replace the Eagle on other bikes as stuff wears out.

I haven’t tried suspension on my ISO but have seen some interesting builds with Lauf etc. I don’t need to go in that direction as I also have XC HT and FS. There’s definitely some overlap with my other bikes but the Mason is a unique proposition and a fast smile-inducing bike-packing rig. I regularly ride it on mixed terrain with a mate on a Scott gravel bike and as soon as the gravel gets looser the benefits of the 29er 2.4 tyres and confidence inspiring geometry help it maintain speed, so overall there’s little in it. I’m also a big fan of the 44cm Venturemax bars, and the GRX brakes plus XT Di2 combination is brilliant. The luminance package with the Sinewave Beacon was a good upgrade, and I’m looking forward to Dom and the team releasing the ISO front carrier that they teased a while ago.

I’m biased as I’ve got a green ISO in Canada and love it, amazingly capable and comfortable mile-muncher. I got it for future adventures such as TD. I’ve never ridden a Cutthroat but did consider it.

What swayed it for me is that I already have a Bokeh which I love, and I’ve been really impressed with the design, thought and level of service from the Mason Team. The looks definitely grow on you and the integrated front mudguard / carrier is ace. The new Vela colour looks great too. Both excellent choices.

I’m just waking up here in Canada on the East Coast. I landed here as a Permanent Resident in January, aged 49. My wife is Canadian, and we have in-laws and friends which is a massive help. Overall, I love it – the remote outdoors, fresh air, view of the sea etc. But it’s not without it’s challenges. I was fortunate to land a job pretty quickly which I enjoy, but pay lots of tax, have gone down from 6 to 4 weeks holiday + stats and have to recertify, which is somewhat irritating. The country seems very bureaucratic; internal travel monopolized by Air Canada is very expensive; and construction industry, attitudes are 1980’s UK. We love the West Coast and initially considered Vancouver Island but priced out of the housing market, and its a very long / expensive journey to the UK if you go back regularly. I don’t think that $80k is enough to enjoy Vancouver, depending on what you’re doing for housing but it’s a fantastic city with access to some of the best MTB trails in the world. Hope above is balanced, I found the Canadian BritishExpats Forum excellent, and happy to try to answer questions. Should say the most irritating thing at Christmas is there’s no bloody mince pies 😂

Good move, I’ve just received a 16” I9 with 32Gb, 8Gb GPU and 2TB SSD. Expensive but very impressed so far and I spent weeks reading about specs and problems on MacRumours. I also rationalised that if I keep it for 4-5 years, the extra costs for 32 Mb would be reasonable and provide some contingency. My BTO took 8 days from China to Canada.

My GX RD top jockey wheel exploded during an enduro race wrecking the cage, although to be fair it had worked fine until then. So despite having Eagle on other bikes, I’m now XTR RD & shifter, with sram cassette and chain – works perfectly and TBH I prefer it. The XT will be great.

Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 here in Canada, on the car 6-7 months of the year, like driving on dry roads.

Also using a set of X-Track Race Carbons on a 29er HT XC bike as the Mrs has been using the XTR Race pedals that were on it. Still using the Shimano Cleats, and the guys at Dirty Reiver confirmed that they’re fully compatible. If anything the slightly bigger platform on the Looks is a positive, there’s less noise on pedal strikes with the composite body and overall I think there’s a slightly more positive and definitive click in / out. Happy so far.

I’ve got a Vertex for racing and Mrs has a Thunderbolt BC Ed. We’ve had them for a couple of years & used them for stage races etc. with no problems, fun bikes. Can’t comment on UK support but common as muck here in Canada. The Instinct is a very capable bike.

I live in the neighbouring sandpit, have been to KSA for work in the past but I wouldn’t move there & not allowed to travel there anyway at the moment.

My C2W 26″ mmmBop is still being ridden & enjoyed in Newfoundland. It was a bargain really…

My new FlareMax is heavy compared to my normal short travel carbon XC bike, but definitely agree with the above that it doesn’t ride heavy – it’s probably around the same as my old 26″ Mega. My first plus bike too, but about to put some carbon 29er rims on it so will be interesting to see the difference in feel and weight.

I’m also getting stronger lifting it in & out of the car :-)

@ianpv I’m about the same size / proportions as you and had the same dilemma over sizing compared to my current bikes – discussed with Cotic and went with the large and 35mm stem, and bought without a test ride.

It’s a great fit and positioning wise feels about the same as my large Whyte M109c and Vertex XC bikes, with the longer stems.

I’ve got the 27.5+ wheels on mine which has been a fun experiment and about to try a 29er wheelset for longer days.

@bowglie good info – couple of quick questions if you don’t mind please. How tall are you riding the medium? Was the demo 27.5+ or 29er? I’m hovering over the Cotic order button for a large FM with 35mm stem, I’m 179cm with long legs, short torso, long arms – so medium seat tube seems very low compared to my current bikes in 475mm range.

XC endurance race

Comedy corner crash

Broken calcaneus ORIF

I’ve got 2 No. for different bikes, my favorite seatpost. Both purchased from Germany https://www.bike-discount.de

I’ve ridden in Oman and raced Trans Hajar on a short travel XC bike. Would definitely take the MTB as lots of rocky off-road stuff but there’s also plenty of gravel. It can get very remote, so carry lots of water, emergency kit etc. It’s still hot out here compared to the UK so may take a few days to acclimatize. I’m going back in Feb to race this: http://bikingman.com/en/bikingman-oman/ on a Mason Bokeh…

I’m in the sandpit now. The weather means we ride here far more than in the UK – 8 months of the year it’s pretty perfect. The mountain-biking is poor but we can now afford to travel to some amazing riding places, and Oman is close and excellent. There’s a massive ex-pat cycling community and a full season of road races.

I’ve been here since 2011 and it has been a great work opportunity. However, we’re all ‘guests’ and for a number of reasons we will never be truly invested, it’s a very transient environment. We’ve been careful not to become too reliant on the money and haven’t attempted to indulge in the ex-pat lifestyle, aside from bike related purchases! We’re saving for our future and actively planning our exit strategy.

As someone said above, for most it’s a means to end… and fine as long as you’re realistic about the pros and cons.

We did the Volcano Tour with http://tenerifebiketraining.com/ at the end of 2015 / New Year. Fantastic and challenging place to ride, and was perfect prep for my season.

Alberto, Marcus, Eloy and Terry were excellent ride leaders and we’re hoping to go back in the future.

Signed up for 2017 with the Mrs and a few mates, one of whom is doing for a second time and highly recommends it. Take it you’ve seen this?

For South Island have a look at simbs.com

Hartland, Harborview and Broom Hill are great places to ride – and I think i got my trail book at http://www.sookemountaincycle.com. There’s also a good Trek Bike Store in Victoria.

I was staying in Victoria and rode out to Sooke and Harborview on the Galloping Goose Regional Trail.

My Cannondale came with the SES 3.4 tubular wheels and CK hubs, 17 months ago, they’ve been faultless and so good I keep considering getting a deeper set for TT’s. If I wanted an all-round set I would think the 4.5’s would be perfect, but really depends what your riding terrain & weather is like.

I’ve also heard similar stories about the attrition rate at Cape Epic and it’s very expensive, on recommendation I’m looking to do Joberg2C next year as it supposed to be more fun. This helped sell it to me:

My money has just gone on a 7D Mark 2, and there’s been some great promotions from Canon at the moment such as free battery grip / rebate on lenses etc. The Ken Rockwell site is a good resource.

Very happy with my CK Hubs and Enve 3.4’s, if they last as long as my MTB hubs with minimal maintenance its a no brainer.

I’ve got a 2014 M109c and very happy with it. It’s my first 29er and with carbon frame I was surprised how light it was. I bought to race XC and for endurance events, it”s a fast bike, it’s just the rider that needs to get faster now!.

See a few details on thread below: http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/whyte-m109

I’ve got a M109c, bought for training and racing. As stock so 100mm Fox 32 CTD fork, Whyte Carbon Rims, XTR Trail brakes, pedals and mech, XT triple chainset and FSA bars, stem and seatpost. Will probably change to 2×10 in due course and go tubeless when I can get round to it. Overall, very happy with it although as expected the 32’s are a bit wobbly compared to my previous Pikes and Lyriks.

Another 310xt user, it’s great for multisport and water resistance is good, previously had a FR305. Picks up signal quickly, and all Ant+ devices. Seamless transfer of data via Garmin Express to Connect / Strava etc.

Have you tried Leisure Lakes that’s where I got mine from? (And no connection either just a happy customer.)

Another vote for a Whyte. After a lot of research I’ve just purchased a 2014 M109c, my first 29er. Went for a ride today and I’m seriously impressed, it’s very, very fast.

2003 Heckler still going strong, Purchased from Stif and was about £2600 new then with 5th Element, XTR chainset and gears, Hope Hubs, Fox Vanilla 125 RLC etc. Has survived all of the UK, Alps etc. as well as my crap riding / crashing and refuses to die. Come to think of it’s only had a few bearing changes as well.

Watched it last week on iTunes well worth the money on any platform. Early days, NPS and JMC my MTB era. Fiancée loved it too, great entertainment and captured the development of DH into what it is today.

Be really interested to hear your views at the end of your M-109S demo, I’m currently resisting the temptation to buy the C as a stage-race / endurance type bike.

Amazing effort Phil, MENA colleagues have been cheering you on!