I bought a ztto branded one off Ebay for 16 quid i think. An engineering marvel it is not, but it does work.

Etnies culvert mids are brilliant. Really grippy and waterproof. Not as narrow as my trailcross either. Best replacements I’ve found for my old 5 10 karvers

The first time I wore my current knee pads I inadvertently put them on the wrong knee. I had a brilliant ride and didn’t notice until I took them off. I’ve been wearing them back to front since. Left knee pad has to go on the right knee first as well.

GT sensor carbon elite at Stif for 2 grand. Marzochi z2 and coil. Amazing value.

I’ve got the etnies camber mids and they’re one of my favourite shoes. I’m a serial shoe destroyer but they’ve held up well. I’d say grip is on par with most 5/10’s, just a bit less than the freerider maybe.

I think they’re trying to have a presence, they were at Twisted oaks a couple of weeks ago with loads of stuff. Guy was really helpful, gave my son a can of monster to cheer him up after he crashed on a jump.

Shame you’ve had that experience, they came across really well.

Enduro bike with Formula Belva fork. Downhill bike you can pedal? Could change back to the zeb/38 whatever if you felt a bit daft in the local woods.

Depending on where you are, Twisted oaks bike park has the sensor and newer force ss their hire bikes this year. Good day out too. Looks are a bit marmite, I bought a new shape force from Paul’s just before Christmas at 50% off and love it.

I’ve got a 6 litre Stanley one, its just a generic 6 litre sprayed yellow and sounds like a v8 when fired up. The replacement I’ve had my eye on was the Stanley fat max wall mounted one.

It’s only 2l but seems quiet and very compact. The Yorkshire bike mechanic reviews one on YouTube

I suffer from this. I can’t find the video I watched, but it suggested getting resistance bands and doing a side step movement against the bands.

Apparently as cyclists, our quads can be over developed and it causes tracking problems with the patella. The exercise warms up your glutes and keeps everything in line better. Worked for me, I used to get bad pain from jumping. I do this as part of my old git warm up now.

Complicated bit of kit, the knee, but it may help and is nearly free.

Not been there, but Manzaneda bike park looks good. Has an uplift and loads of enduro/bike park stuff. Probably a couple of hours from Santiago though. Kevin Broda on YouTube is from this area and has loads of good videos for inspiration.

Going through the same choices at the moment. One bike needs new wheels, knackered hub, and the other has made of cheese stock WTB. I got a Halo vortex in the sale at the weekend for the bike that needs it and am eyeing the E1900 for the other one.  I would have liked the Reserve’s if I didn’t need to buy 2 sets at once, with Swiss hubs and lifetime warranty. I think that’s every choice recommended now 🤣 Can’t go wrong with any of them I reckon, but the lifetime warranty is only on reserve I believe.

I had an se6 on the front of my Rail, absolute beast of a tyre, I didn’t get on with it and now run an exo Assegai. But yeah, I had it down way lower than usual for the same reasons you said and didn’t die. Sorry, can’t remember what I run it at though, but it was low. Down sarf as well so surrey hills etc, never ripped an exo. I must be sh#t

As above, the extra weight and therefore grip, is a big bonus I find. My Rail is also my smallest bike in terms of reach, I think that helps keep it a bit more agile. It’ll still do plough because of the weight, I think there’s definitely an argument for a slightly smaller full fat than other bikes. 

Boiler service is included. Gas plumbers hourly rates are high, quite rightly. The training and re certification alone costs a fortune. Its whole heating and hot water system, my cylinder is pressurised, around £800 just for that. Two gas plumbers, two days installation pluss sundry parts. That job alone was the price of a combi boiler.

My British Gas cover has been completely worth it. The only original part of my Worcester is the casing. I’ve also had a brand new pressurised h/w cylinder as well, thousands of pounds worth of work. Never any problems getting them here either. 

I’ve recently binned all my sky stuff and gone to just streaming. Discovery plus is a must for me, moto gp, prem rugby etc. Been flawless for me, watching it on samsung smart tv and fire sticks.

The coloured line for the compound type is on the disc brake side, supposed to help when fitting them 👍

I think Stif still demo them don’t they? You could try both. Just bought a high pivot myself, GT Force, it’s not as high as the forbidden bikes, but its not just a ground hugger,  it pops still.

Just bought my 1st GT. Had a carbon Force pro delivered last night. 2 grand off the RRP is what swayed it but I’ve always been soft on the looks of the Force. It looks proper tank in the flesh, pedaled round the block very well though, considering the type of bike it is. Looking forward to taking it out this weekend.

Great deal on that, would love one. Very similar geo to my hello dave which is a great laugh and surprisingly normal to ride. Didn’t hardtail party review one? 

Nukeproof neutrons are really good, and dirt cheap on Chain reaction at the moment 

I put a couple if turns of low speed compression on the fork to stop me collapsing into the bike on the compression of the lip, and I run my shock on firm mode so it doesn’t kick me otb. Try to have the rebound as fast as I dare with back being just a bit slower. I can swap easily between jumps and trails like this, I just leave the air pressure/sag alone now I’m happy with it.

Just had the email my freeriders have arrived. If they’re still in stock, reckon you’ll be safe to order 

Had the delay and same emails from evans with the freerider part of my order. Hung on because I was in no hurry and they’re nearly free! Just had an email confirming they’re on their way so they must be clearing the backlog. 

Went to 417 once and wouldn’t go back, maybe it was an unfortunate weekend but the tracks were all completely blown out. It’s all loose stone and I struggled for any grip at all. Not good when even a small fall would batter you and your bike on rocks. Not for me I’m afraid, obviously others like it but it’s FOD all the way for me. 

Try ‘Trail POV’ on YouTube. He compares and explains quite a few of the different designs, their pros and cons.

Yorkshire bike mechanics method is simple and has always worked for me

Never been too bothered by weight, but just weighed my  medium pro, 15.6 kg. It’s got big tyres, mary/hans dampf and a big 200 dropper. I’m 95 ish kg so not exactly a lightweight myself,  I’ve had bigger dumps than the weight differences between bikes. Mine is 2.5 years old now and has been bomb proof so far. I think it’s way more capable than the 130mm would suggest.

Saracen ariel 30? Got a good sale on, base model is 2k and the pro version 2.7. I’ve had one nearly 3 years and it’s been bomb proof so far, does a bit of everything and I’ve never seen another one.

Sorry to hear that, I’ve got the same thing. Finally had it diagnosed by an MRI scan as a herniated disc between c4/5. This had caused osteophytes, bone growths, that are pinching the nerves down my arms. I have had medication and physio. I try to just use stretching exercises  as the medication is not very nice. I have 1 flare up a year, average, and with careful management and luck, I can get these down to a 3 weeks or so in duration. During that time I don’t ride and try not to do the things that provoke it, sitting down is really bad for me, luckily I can walk about all day at work and lay down when I get home. It can be managed and still ride. Good luck

As youve you have guessed, you need to be careful if you fill the joist void with insulation, there must be an air gap.  Otherwise the heat exchange contestation rots the joists and possibly causes condensation inside. Your foam board on top of the rafter looks to maintain the air gap? so should be good.

I’m 5’10” on a medium, so have sized down. It’s very agile, ebikes are inherently more stable because of the added weight. Can you try one? Loads of places have them as rentals. Love mine, great bikes

Have look on YouTube at Hardtail party’s channel. He’s done a video on new v old school geometry. It helped me with understanding the technique to suit longer slacker bikes. Doesn’t mean you have to, just if you do by one, don’t ride it like an old school hard tail. It’s a brilliant channel as well.

3 in 1 oil. Never felt the need to use anything else. Gradually converting my friends as they admire my nice, clean drive train.

You need 4×4 with the ‘roads’ around here. Nice truck, balls to haters

I’m 5’10” and ride my sons medium Laufey, it’s lively and good fun but I’d probably prefer a large if it were mine. Great bike though

My slx is silent.

Have a look on Stif cycles, they had some s/m size sweet Protection massively reduced, just over a hundred I think. Bargain for what they are.

raceface90, that cracked me up, I clearly need to up my game