Looking at them, Id have thought so, so long as you don’t expect wonders in mud. Have just ordered some in 30c flavour for my commuter, with the intention they should manage a bit of light off-road …

I’ve used Landcruisers as my go-to cheap and tough general use tyre a lot over the years (search around and you can pick them up for £20 a pair!), and if they did them in a 30/32, I’d have them. Really want to come down from a 35.

I’ll jump on here, as I have a Hack in need of full length mudguards. Like the look of the SKS Bluemells too, but what size do I need for a 30/32c semi-slick tyre? Will the 45’s (rated for 23-28 tyres) ‘just-about-fit’?

Some good suggestions. Cheers.

Currently running 35 Conti Cyclo X-Kings which have been great actually as a do it all tyre in a range of conditions (commuting -> 3PCX!) whilst my Hack has been my only #dirtydropbargoodness bike. But now I also have the Pickenflick for more playful riding, I just want the Hack as commuter/winter road bike with close-fitting full length mudguards, so faster-rolling, narrower tyres preferred, but still with a bit of volume and the option to play on the (easy & dryish) dirty stuff on the way home. CX Comps look to fit the bill.

I joined in with my local riding mates a few years back and converted my Boardman HT to SS. Loved it and kept it like that through one muddy winter season, but as it was my only MTB at the time, it just became a ball-ache putting gears back on for trips away to steeper terrain, so left it geared for a few years. But always had a hankering to go back. An old Inbred frame came my way for nothing, so decided to gather the parts for a SS build which I did over several months, and it’s been running this winter.

It’s also rigid. Love it. Will definitely keep it. It’s a touch too highly geared (32/16, 26 wheels) but I feel proper Old Skool (and seeing as I wasn’t into MTBing when old-skool was new and modern, am enjoying it all for the first time now). At the ripe old age of 50, I also think my gnarr tendencies are on the wane, so enjoying the SS Rigid in a more XC/pootling kind of riding.

At the moment it’s the only MTB I’ve got again … have got the parts to put together a Prophet FS build which will do the ‘proper’ MTB duties, but will keep enjoying the SS until my knees go pop!

I didn’t really rate the CM in 27.5 flavour, it was ”okaaaay …” and had the advantage of being cheap, but felt draggy and despite the chunky tread, not that good in the slop.

BUT. Am running a CM on the front of my rigid SS 26er (with a Smorgasbord out back) and it’s great actually. Recall someone commenting on a previous thread that they work well as a 26 tyre, not so much in other sizes … not really sure why that would be, but hey-ho.

Don’t buy them at current price (£25ea), but if you see them at £15 or under (I paid £13 each), I think it’s great value, and a pretty good all round tyre.

Quick update …

Sent the rear wheel off just over a week ago (and with the country ground to a halt with winter, they won’t have got it until last Friday probably) … Email today saying that they have replaced the freehub and driveside bearing, and it’s back in the post to me.

Guess that is satisfactory customer service after all. It probably doesn’t solve the doubt I have about the quality of the wheel/components being up to the job on a long term basis, and if it develops the same problem again in the next few months, I’ll probably just have to suck it up. Probably keep this set as a spare, dry road set, and get some better (650, as was the original plan) wheels to run most of the time.

It’s been brilliant this week.

Double (extended) commutes in light snow Tuesday:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BftgoflnPik/

*Working from home lunch ride Wednesday.

*Working from home lunch trail run Thursday.

Day off ‘drift’ riding today

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bf09VHlH-QG/

It’s all gradually starting to melt now though …

Rondo Ruut CF?

Road’s not my passion either – never has been, just a way to get to / between the trails …

BUT … the Pickenflick I’ve recently bought as my ‘nice’ CX/Gravel bike I’ve been running on 28c slicks for the last few weeks, and what with the sh**y trails we have currently, I have been choosing tarmac over dirt in recent weeks and … shhh … enjoying it!

That said, the trails look set to be all frozen and buff over the next few days, and Spring is (theoretically) just around the corner so sure I’ll soon be returning 95% of the time to trails / mixed terrain rides (either the MTB/CX).  And I certainly don’t see myself, when conditions are good, to choose a road ride over a trail ride.

A CX/Gravel bike is a good compromise … you can indulge your dirty habits whenever you like whilst having the option to try ‘tarmac-curious’ with a quick change of rubber whenever you fancy.  A used CX/Gravel bike in your price range should get you something that will do offroad and not be too shabby on road.

I got this stuff …

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F111786647945

These work really well for the front mudguard, just slot on over the QR skewer and you attach the guard mounts to these.

https://www.westernbikeworks.com/product/tanaka-qr-skewer-fender-mount

Can’t find any in stock in UK (didn’t look beyond a very quick Google search) but you should be able to find some. Think mine came from SJS cycles.

Or these look similar / better, and are available in the UK:

https://winstanleysbikes.co.uk/axiom-set-of-4-mudguard-axle-runners?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI1KLDm5612QIVQbgbCh0mUAi3EAQYAyABEgIKFPD_BwE

I’ve used the SKS raceblade XL (currently got one on the back of the hack, but only cos the full length one broke). They’re ok, found the front difficult to keep secure and in place, and I’d your doing mixed terrain commuting, they bounce around a bit. They also aren’t a full ‘guard, so you do get a bit more spray/much (particularly down the back of the seattube and over the front mech) but they keep the worst off.

If you’re anywhere near Leeds, Woodrups is worth a look. Long tradition of custom frame building, some lovely looking bikes. Mate has just got one and loves it.

I like it …

^^^ agreed, I do find it a bit odd though that people keep starting threads like this & feigning surprise 🙂

I wasn’t feigning surprise, just checking out whether I was being reasonable in expecting a product that works for a reasonable length of time, and if not, whether I’d grounds for comeback on PX.

The Vision Wheels are listed as being £300 wheels (albeit reduced to £179 currently). I’ve got budget Shimano CX wheels on the Hack that must be a similar price, but have been bombproof for the last 4 years and 20k kms, put through all kinds of muddy, wet, commuting, Dirty Reiver/3PCX abuse, with just one strip and regrease of the rear hub in all that time!

“Of course they can, just being cheap doesn’t mean it’s OK to supply substandard products, or to fail to honour guarantees”

^^ This.

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don’t buy anything from them where you expect any sort of quality / warranty / customer service?!!?

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That’s not fair..

you shouldn’t actually expect what they’ve advertised either!

Overall, I’m ok with PX … They do sell some good value stuff and I’ve bought from them a lot over the years, mainly as I don’t have loads of cash and appreciate the good value. Customer Service has been mixed IME … They were great with 2 dropper posts on my 45650b that developed faults (but maybe that was SRAM covering the warranty) and have (eventually) refunded me a couple of items of clothing I sent back due to premature wear. I know they’re never going to go ‘above & beyond’ in terms of customer care, but I don’t think it’s unreasonable to expect them to spec, and build (even to a very keen price) a bike where everything is reasonably fit for purpose. And, if they’ve got something wrong, to put it right …

So, I am pi**ed off … irrespective of whether they eventually resolve this satisfactorily …

“I think it’d be better just to replace the bearings and move on.”

Hmm. Maybe. But is it likely to be just crap bearings that were installed in the first place, or just poorly designed and sealed (likely OEM) hubs? If I replace the bearings, can I just replace with better quality / better sealed ones?

“In the meantime, buy a better set of wheels elsewhere and ebay the ones they send back.”

That’s not a bad shout, especially since I’m toying with some 650b wheels anyway. Trouble is, money is tight having just bought the bike, without having to spend extra on better wheels, as well as new-sized tyres …

Exactly how noisey should it be? Compared to what? What’s actually wrong with it other than it’s noisier than your lbs thinks it should be? Is it draggy, does it not engage etc.

Clearly this isn’t an issue about noisy Hope-type hubs.

The LBS is very well respected (generally, and in wheel-building) … They know their onions! The mechanic hadn’t investigated any further (I’d not asked him to, and his view was that as the bike was so new, I should get advice from PX), but his view was that the bearings sounded more rumbly than they should, and suspected that water had got in and degraded the grease /bearings

Complaining it’s not fit for purpose, quoting the SoGA Consumer Rights Act seems a bit premature.

In fairness to the OP and speaking from past experience that was probably a reaction to px’s terrible customer service, ‘it’s just wear and tear’ my arse.

Exactly. I don’t think I was going in ‘all guns blazing’ … My initial enquiry had been “this is what my LBS have told me, what would you advise/suggest I do?” It was only after the “F*** off, it’s not our problem” first response that the blood started to boil a little, and when I started to suggest that IF a problem existed on something so new, then SoGA/Consumer Rights might be relevant …

^^^ … I get that it is a wear and tear item, and if I’d put it through a couple of thousand km’s over several months, would likely suck it up. But it’s 5 weeks old and has done under 300km FFS … So, either faulty or not fit for purpose IMO.

Anyway, more positive update. Email back within the hour with a Collect + label, saying to send the wheels back and they’ll have a look at them.

Ok, so for my intended useage, I’d assumed I would err on a fastish rolling knobbly tyre given that mud and wet trails are not uncommon in the UK … So how do the ‘road-plus’ tyres (ie a slick/nearly slick central section, with a bit of tread around the shoulders, eg the WTB Byway/Horizon) fare on typical British trails? I’m sure on hardpack, dry, or well-drained gravel, they’re fine, but mulch, mud, wet woodland singletrack?

What about a wider, knobblier front and a slick/nearly slick rear? (Eg Riddler/Byway … If they did them in the same wheel size?) Anyone tried this approach and what tyres did you settle on?

Tang & Epicyclo … Like you, I have traditionally seen tarmac as a necessary evil to get to and between the trails. But the advantage of this type of bike is, of course, to mix it up, cover greater distances (and get to further away trails!). I’ve run my Hack (which until now, has been my only drop-bar bike), used for commuting, local trails, 3PCX, Dirty Reiver with mildly knobblie tyres in the 35-40c range … Landcruisers, Conti Cyclo X-Kings, Nano. That’s been a pretty good compromise to cover all those bases, but now I have the Pickenflick, think I want to run it with tyres a bit more capable and comfortable off road.

Think I’ll stick with the Conti AT ride 42 for now, and when they run out, see if I can squeeze the 45c Riddler’s in.

Think 650b is still an option for when funds allow … As a couple of people have noted, should be able to run wider rubber whilst remaining fairly nimble & light.

Hmmm … Mixture of experiences.

My tops are cheap Aldi/PX baselayer tea’s, so lightweight. Not used as an outer layer so not subject to brambles, falls etc. Often worn as ‘normal’ clothing so maybe they snag on jeans belt buckles etc. I have a LS half zip top from Go Outdoors that has been a bit better, and a LS half zip cycling jersey with windproof front panel from Aldi which seems pretty good quality. Maybe I’m just buying too cheap/too lightweight …

So, will look out some stuff with a Merino/techy blend, a bit heavier duty, and consider washing a bit more carefully. Cheers all.

No, I’m happy with the bike, and purposely didn’t want a 29er HT. But you’re right, I don’t want it to be a drop bar 29er/650b MTB either … Just trying to figure out the sweet spot for wheel/tyre size that allows it to be capable-enough off road whilst brisk-enough on the tarmac bits.

Planet X are doing the Pickenflick (titanium) SRAM Apex (presume mech disc, but haven’t checked) for £1k just now. I’ve got the Rival HRD build and love it as both a ‘gravel/cx’ bike, and as a road bike. If you can live without mudguard and rack mounts, it’s worth a shout. Or they do the XLS (Carbon) Rival HRD for the same price … Only available for a few days.

Swanny853 … Bingo! Didn’t even bother to check Alpkit, just assumed (despite their reputation for good value) it would be more than I wanted to pay.

Yes, I know … Not good is it?

Organic I guess (or cheese) …

Have been mostly gritty muddy rides, plus some snow … But even so, not impressed.

I picked up the Pickenflick from Planet X when they were £400 off back in December for £1299 (SRAM HRD 22)… There may be current deals?. Loving it so far. No rack or guard bosses so if you plan to tour with a rack and panniers you’re screwed. But frame/seat/bar bags, you’d be fine. Bags of tyre clearance, I plan to get some 650b wheels in time which should take 2″ ish rubber.

Nan Bield & Kentmere. A bit of hike-a-biking. But worth it.

I’ve just fitted a Chunky Monkey/Smorgasbord combo on my rigid SS Inbred, and rate them for grip / value (bought when £13ea). Had been underwhelmed with the CM in 650b flavour on my old HAT, but they seem to work well in 26″ guise. Great at this time of year, and not *too draggy (faster rolling tyres are available!). Tough too.

Ah no! I’m not talking about full mudguards, those will go permanently on the Hack which will be the commuter/winter road bike (and, which, I agree are fine)

But I don’t want them on the ‘flick, cos I want to be a muddy/gravelly/cxy badass (who doesn’t get mud splattered in his eyes, and keeps the worst of the (bad) ass.

Can you not order back issues from the ST towers?

Great … Lots of interesting / unexpected advice!

I’m after something that not only polishes, but gives at least a bit of a protective coating, ie will reduce greasy finger print marks, and allow the water to bead, so thinking along the lines of a wax. Realise it will need to be regularly re-applied (and I’ll probably get bored of doing so after a few muddy rides!) … Will the brasso / silvo give a bit of protection too, or do they just polish?

Heard others recommending pledge furniture polish too …

Anyone wax or polish their Ti frames? And if so, using what?

What do you mean by ‘plus’ tyres vis a visit CX? Over 33/35c? Or proper ‘monster cross’ 2-3″ rubber?

I run my Hack most of the time on 35c semi-knobbly tyres; it does commuting, road duties, general dicking about on the local trails. For events like the Dirty Reiver, I’ve run 40-42c tyres, which give further comfort and ability off road. I’m about to get a Pickenflick which I hope to run most of the time with 45/47 rubber, and in time, plan to get 650b wheels and run 2″ish tyres, although would like to hear others experiences of this … Does it become too draggy?

I’ve used both, like the OP, I often need to pop out to a meeting or visit booted and (not exactly) suited.

Prefer the A530, think they are a little lighter. Grip on the flat side is not great whichever pedal. Also found the M324 rusted after a while. No issues really with getting the wrong side of the pedal.

Excellent!

I’ve not really bothered with my other bikes in the past (raw steel, painted aluminium), but as this bike is a bit more *special, wanted to keep it looking nice as well as being used hard. Good to know I don’t need to bother much.

The fork is a matte black carbon item … Helicopter tape for that, or will that bugger up the finish if/when I come to remove it? (Used a cheap heli-tape imitation on a carbon fork years ago and removing it peeled away the lacquer and some of the paint)

Any recommendations for where to get Heli tape?

Mrs Hardtailonly had her PX London Road nicked from Leeds Centre a few weeks back :-(

It’s a horrible feeling, coming back to find (in her case) just a cut cable lock. The aftermath (and a bit of background reading I did after the event, including this https://www.google.co.uk/amp/amp.timeinc.net/cyclingweekly/news/latest-news/bike-thief-reveals-tricks-trade-stunningly-candid-interview-225130%3fsource=dam
left me feeling even more pessimistic about bike safety …

All you can do, really, is use the best D-lock (or locks) you can/are prepared to afford, and lock to something properly secure and robust … and have good insurance!

Insurance in our case were excellent (underwritten by AXA), although with a bike claim and a damaged garage door claim in the last year, the renewal notice has the coming year premium at almost double last year’s … :-(

The police seem to have been quite active in this case, had apparently picked up a couple of lads for something else who are ‘known’ to be light-fingered when it comes to bikes, and one of them is on a CCTV still image near the wife’s bike … Last we heard, however, CCTV didn’t show them actually committing a crime …

Just the thread I was looking for, and will follow with interest … Got my Singletrack 2018 calendar to fill up! :-)

I turn 50 this year, so was wanting to do some new ‘challenges’ … and have a new bike on the way to put through its paces.

Balancing what I want to do, with what time I will have available, will be the trick / challenge, and it may well be that it will have to become a decade of challenges! And the money – available cash has bought the new bike, but I still need bike-packing gear / entry fees etc!

So far, musing on:

1. Dirty Reiver – done it the last 2 years, so not sure I will enter again;

2. Turin-Nice in September – would be a great trip, trouble is I think I’ve probably spent my air-fare on the new bike,. so funding this might be the problem …

3. 3PCX – first time last year, definitely got unfinished business! Only takes a day out so would fit in well with other commitments

4. The ‘This is not a tour’ Welsh Audax bike rides in the spirit of Mike Hall – possibly the 400km event.

5. One or some of the ‘Racing Collective’ Cross-duro events

6. Possibly a 24 hour or a marathon MTB event?

7. One or two weekends away with the lads, playing on MTB’s in the mountains (North Wales, Lakes), enjoying beers and having laugh’s.

Do it …

Had an Inbred frame given to me by a mate who no longer needed it, picked up a Nukeproof carbon fork for about £25 from eBay, rest of the parts from boxes in the garage, cadged from mates, or bought second hand …

Very old skool … But old skool used to also be fun back in the day! Great winter slop bike!

Got a Saracen Hack, second hand about 5 years ago. Easily my most used bike by about 10x. And the one that has given me most satisfaction (not necessarily all out enjoyment, or an adrenaline rush … That’s still the MTB) and challenged my riding the most.

Commuting, and has been great for extended mixed terrain commutes. Have ridden most of my local North Leeds trails on it, it’s not great for the more technical stuff, but as I do 95% if my riding on local trails rather than travelling, it has (along with the SS rigid MTB) spiced up the familiar by challenging my riding in different ways.

I don’t have a road bike, really prefer to keep off the tarmac, but works ok on the few long road rides I’ve done. Done events like the Dirty Reiver (ideal bike) and 3 Peaks CX (not at all the ideal bike, but since those are the rules, that’s the kind of bike you have to ride!), and again, that event (and the training for it) really challenged and pushed my riding, and what I thought that kind of bike was capable of.

Like the OP, most of my leisure riding opportunities are limited to 2 hour blasts … On the MTB that’s a 30-35km loop, on the CX it’s 45-50km, so you can get further, and access farther away trails (albeit generally easier ones) on the Hack than on the HT.

Love it …

Oddly though, whilst it does all my commuting, the ‘versatility’ that such bikes are sold with (ie trails on the weekend, rack & guards in the week) is the thing that has frustrated me the most … I can’t be bothered taking racks and guards on and off, so have just run it without for the last 2 years and put up with the road slop and spray and sweaty back when commuting …

As I’m 50 next month, and had the green light to put towards a ‘nice’ bike, I’ve ordered something of the same ilk … the new Pickenflick will be more of a dedicated gravel/monster cross bike, the Hack will revert to commuting only …