It’s “piece of kit/nice piece of kit” for me – don’t know why, just sounds ugly.

I fount it took a while to get used to getting a long/low/slack 29er to turn in when I first got one. Just takes a bit for adjustment in your riding style. A friend told me to ride it like an MBR cover photo (exaggerated leaning/”aggression”). It works a treat.

Also I find that bikes with long front centres/short stems give you more confidence in weighting the front, as you don’t feel like you’re likely to go over the bars if hit something mid corner, so you can really move forward if needed.

I did try slamming the bars, but it didn’t work for me.

I know that its often the STW way to just chuck money/believe there is something wrong with the bike, but I find things often just take a bit of time to adjust (as long as you are on the right size bike!).

Thanks Darren, that’s good to hear.

Have you tried ATB Sales? The used to do distribute Marin and still do Whyte, which were designed by the same people. I’m fairly sure the caps off the Whytes of that era would also fit.

Thanks thepodge, you’re a gent!

I sort of thought the Honzo by mistake – I’d bought a Simple frame, but it and it’s replacement both had quality/tolerance issues and I got a refund (same as I really fancied one, but looks like I was unlucky).

The only frames I could find which would fit all the bits I’d bought, and where SSable, were the Honzo and the Quaterhorse, both of which where a bit more gnar than the Simple. I went for the Honzo as it was a fair bit cheaper and I could buy it locally. To start with I wasn’t sure it was the bike for me, but after working out how to ride it properly I really love it. I like it so much that I replaced my suspension bike with a Process 111 for the Alps and days when I want gears and suspension. If I can fit both bikes in my tiny car, then I intend to take the Honzo to the Alps too and do a couple of uplift days on it!

What no Honzos?

Edit – balls, still no Honzos!

Edit 2 – I hate computers! Sorry, you’ll just have to use your imaginations!

fr0sty125 – Member

I find that if you go long reach short stem you can shift your body weight forward to give more front grip without the feeling you are about to be ejected out the front at any moment.

I’m with frosty on this one. If you aren’t used to it, then it takes a while to adjust (well it did me), but I wouldn’t go back.

This may be of interest…

Not dogs, but…..I used to have a mouse problem in the house. My house mate wanted to use a humane of getting rid of them so bought some ultra sonic devices. I saw mice casually wandering past them on more than one occasion!

Have a great trip OP.

There should have a decal on the back of the seat tube with the bearing details. Should be able to get them from your local bearing supplier or the internet.

I must I found that very difficult to watch and very upsetting (even before I knew the outcome), but am glad I watched it. Thank goodness we have these amazing people out there to help us when things go wrong.

Very impressive – well done Sir!

I watched the first 40 or so through stages 1 and 2 – I reckon about 60% came off on the steep switchbacky bit on stage 2! No one hurt though.

Thanks chaps.

Does anyone know if the stages are fairly near the visitors centre? I was going to pop down and cheers some friends on, but if I’ve got to walk a few miles between stages it may not be practical. Thanks.

There is a small and not brilliant one (only 2 berms)on the waste ground adjacent to the Slyfield Industrial Estate. I don’t know of any others though.

Ah, that explains it – I went down there earlier to do the same and couldn’t find anything! Please thank your buddy Matt.

Munrobiker – I’ve just checked and the bearing part number is HK1812. Happy trails!

I did what you are thinking of doing and bought a couple of bearings from a local bearing supplier (mainly for speed as it was the day before xmas). When I realised that I needed the other bit I contacted Hope and they very kindly sent me the part I needed FOC(but they don’t normally sell directly or that part separately). When the bearing needs replacing again, I’ll buy the whole HUB301 thing – more expensive, but less messing about. My LBS can usually get hope spares pretty quickly.

I’ve got one at home and will check and let you know when I get home (if no one gets back to you sooner). The problem I found was that the part which the bearing runs on wears/corroded too and you can’t buy this separately from hope, but it does come with the bearing when you buy it from them.

That could be a nasty surprise! Thanks for the info. Is it a small moveable one?

It feels like it’s been a long winter – I’ve been looking forward to the season starting for ages. Now Claudio’s track preview is up I consider the season officially started!

That’s excellent – thanks.

I know when I fitted a Hope headset in the upper bearings became very tight in the cup, where prior to fitting the cup into the headtube they easily pushed in and out. I presumed (possibly incorrectly) that the tolerances where so tight, that fitting the cup into the frame squeezed the cup just enough to make the bear fit tight. If this is the case then maybe removing the cup may help things.

BBC2 geetee. It’ll be in the iplayer soon I guess.

It must be a very difficult thing to go through.

If you are on Facebook, it’s worth liking Louis, as he tends to post updates about the subjects of his shows.

I saw the first and last races, but managed to drag myself outside for a bit in the middle. Not a Plato (or Neal) fan either – the whole tap to pass thing and the constant whingeing when he hasn’t got the fastest car.

Out of interest, when there is a bit of a dice going on, does anyone think – oooh, what I really want to see right now is one of the driver’s wife/girlfriend/mum?! It makes me shout at the telly every time!

How is it trolling?

I know some on here seam to think that cyclists should be beyond criticism, but living in the area I agree with the OP. There appears to be organised events most weekends from Easter onwards, sending 100’s or 1000’s of riders up narrow single track roads.

It’s all very well saying “boohoo, you live in a busy part of the world, suck it up”, but all these events and poor riding standards make us (cyclists) very unpopular with others, and I can often see their point.

As someone who rides more than they drive I also know that there are lots of crap drivers on the road too, but that wasn’t the OP’s point.

Good call on the folding chairs.

Make sure you both take a little radio so you can keep up with the action on Radio LeMans. If you get there early enough, go into town and watch the drivers parade, night qualifying and the pit lane walk.

Make sure you watch the cars going through the Porsche Curves at night and braking into the Ford Chicane. Try not to camp next to any mad Dutch people or anyone with a generator. Have a wonder around the campsites, as there are usually some interesting cars about. Make sure you are near the start finish straight at the end so you can get to see the podium.

On Friday there are normally lots of drunken fools stopping traffic somewhere and demanding burn outs – usually fairly amusing. There is often a bit of drag racing going on a camp site somewhere on Sunday night too. My favourite race was a London bus against a ’60’s fire engine! If you have a couple of “pub bikes” then they are well worth taking for getting about on.

It’s a great event and should be a great year with at least 3 manufacturers (maybe) able to win in LMP1, plus the new Nissan which is an interesting car.

Oh and if it’s hot, make sure you stay hydrated – and not just on beer!

I also built a Ami Super chassis’d 1300 GSA engine/5 speed Dyane with a pair of twin Dellorto’s – it was the best fun car I’ve ever had. Sounded awesome too! It was so low that the chassis would hit cats eyes if you were two up and hard on the brakes!

I’ve also had a Barbour 4×4 Dyane, a 1300/5 speed Ami Super Service van, a 2CV race car and a few standard cars – I love ’em. There is lots of clever engineering in them too.

Pete of Sparrow Automotive is one of my best mates and he will be the first person I’ll call when I win the lottery – those BMW engine cars really do shift – 600KG and 110BHP!

Elans aren’t cheap to maintain and parts are getting difficult to get hold of. The last few we’ve repaired we have had to use some used parts (I work for a Lotus Main dealer) and like any older car its likely to have issues. Even though they are FWD they are great to drive. The aren’t immune to rust either – we had to repair a chassis last week and the wishbones rust through. The Izuzu bits tend to be reliable, but the rear brakes don’t do much so often need tinkering with.

Like I say, they’re not bad cars, but if you are on a budget I’d steer clear.

To (probably slightly mis)quote Colin Chapman, “if you can just about afford a Lotus, then you can’t afford a Lotus”

I’d definitely recommend Bike Village – amazing trails (as mellow or techy as you like), lovely people and great food. They are always happy to help with your riding too.

I thought the idea was just to make it easier to fit the rear wheel and not a stiffness thing, but I might be wrong.

I love my Kona Process 111 – not lots of travel, but lots of fun. It’s pretty sturdy. I’m 6’4″ and ride an XL – it’s pretty much the same geometry as my hardtail (a Honzo) so I knew it was going to fit, but feel your pain in not being able to get test rides. The last bike I bough blind was a disaster! You are welcome to try mine – I’m in Surrey.

I’m off to Bike Village again because they are lovely people, the trails are amazing and the food is brilliant. I’ve been a few times before, but as I bought a new bike last year couldn’t afford a holiday as well. Can’t wait.

Oh, excellent it’s even on YouTube! STW – better thank Google and probably even pay some tax!

The disappearance of Alice creed it is – Brilliant, thanks guys.

Not 44 inch chest either, but thanks.

I’ve not seen it, so it is possible, but think it’s unlikely. :o)

The Graves thing was in an interview at the time.