Cheers all
I think it’s between another pair of eh500’s, xt trails, or more mtb Flat style Orientated DMR versa/funn mambas

I have thought about something like xt trails or other spd with a cage, just to make riding spd’s with flats a little more comfy For short rides
The t8000 look ok though

N+1 is not an option, as I would have the same problem with any bike… whatever bike I jump on, it will have to suit different purposes, plus I don’t need more than 3 bikes (gravel, road, mtb), that’s just getting silly! Haha

I just need some double sided pedals a bit better suited to mtb than eh500’s

I don’t care about the look of spd shoes… it’s just it’s constant jumping on and off bikes… we all ride a lot and most of the time it’s just not realistic to be packing kit..

It’s also a massive pain, to be constantly clipping in and out every five mins on kids/pub/shop/surf check rides.

I genuinely need a double sided pedal, so I can wear standard shoes when needed.

Hols2… that’s the point! I only want flat pedals for rides with kids etc
I prefer to be clipped in for my rides, I don’t like riding flats

Cheers all…
Looks like seeing out the end of the year with some solo epics and then see what next year brings race/event wise

Exactly what I was looking for and I have just ordered a nordest britango…
Now I have to stop myself getting carried away with speccing the parts

+1 for bramble whiskey… it’s bloody ace and a bog standard blended whiskey actually makes the best bramble whiskey

@twonks… cheers, I’ve replied

@twonks… well if you decide to keep the suspension forks, I can help you rehome the selcof forks ;)

Max lights look good but still a tad on the short side, think I’m looking for 510mm(ish) length.
Likewise xct’s look good but I’m after lightweight and carbon
Cheers

I live about an hour from you in north Cornwall and my gravel bike is easily the most used bike I have owned.
Loads of trails around us down here but more importantly, the gravel bike allows you to actually ride to them.
Good example of a recent ride: bude to minehead, then two moors way, across exmoor and Dartmoor, then princetown back to bude… 220 miles 18000ft of climbing, loads of off-road and all on the gravel bike.
Also if the roads down your way are like ours up here, a road bike is useless and a gravel bike fills that void for fitness and training on the knackered B roads.
Also all the lame trail centres down here, that are dull as dishwater on an mtb, cardinham, haldon, llanyhdrock etc, are all tonnes of fun on a gravel bike

Cheers for all the options… I like chameleons but I am specifically looking for a steel frame.
Due to lack of anything second hand around, I’m leaning pretty heavily toward the Nordest britango, just waiting to hear back on delivery dates

Large… I’m 6ft

Hadn’t really looked at the switch9er… a couple of years ago, that would have been. The perfect choice but if I’m honest with what I will use it for, the Sherpa is probably more suited out of the stantons…
Looks like a wait for any new frames there too

A new fly rod, a copy of fly fishing by jr hartley and a new Welcome skateboard deck… I was pretty stoked

Surprisingly, giro ventanas… I just bought a pair and usually find giro too narrow. These fit perfectly and are wider than my Shimano xc5

Saracen mantra bikepacking

Saracen mantras never seem to get mentioned but they are ace little bikes, well built, well specced and a good price

We bought our firstborn one when he was 4.5 (he’s a tall lad) and now, a year later, he’s cranking out 40 plus mile, two day, off road bike packing trips… hitting trail centre and generally gooning around.

Only downside is, they are heavy but then most kids bikes seem to be

@nixie
I believe it’s main frame, around seat tube… it’s a goner. It’s been cracked a while but he told me yesterday it’s finally gone too far.

Cheers I’ll pass a few ideas for older cheap frames with similar travel…

Frames cracked, not really repairable, certainly not cost effective in such an old bike

@northwind

@connect2

@johnnypanic
Thanks everyone
He’s about 6ft and I’m pretty sure it’s a large, so unfortunately none would work… thanks so much though, an old used replacement would be ideal for him

Cheers all
Happy with a big drive, I’ll just do it through the night while the kids sleep…

I think far north for us anyway, we are happy being very remote and away from any conveniences.

I’m terrible at being organised though, we usually just float about in the van in the alps visiting friends, stopping at usual climbing spots and generally winging it. Sounds like I need to get organised and actually book stuff in Scotland then.

Good to know most are fairly welcoming, that’s certainly the case down here (although a few small villages have some wicker man esque approaches to tourism still but few and far between)

Cheers…He’s after a full suss that he can swap everything onto
Not sure if the specs of shock length etc
Just said I’d ask on here I case anyone had been in the same situation and replaced a meta with anything in particular

Thanks though

He has his heart set on a rondo, so ns is out of the equation.
I don’t think any shops retailing over the web have any in stock.
Just wondered if anyone’s local small shop had any, or anyone knew of any good used ones going?

Thanks everyone, still no joy… I’ll keep trying, or buy something else instead
Cheers

Yep, that’s what the post was about, haha

Thanks guys, I’ll call them all

… and out of interest, does anyone know if the in one decals are lacquered over, or just stuck on top?

I too am tempted at the current price… I’m a bit out of the loop on new parts..
Does anyone know anything about the stick wheels that come on it? Quality, weight, internal width?

I’m tempted with the gx but at £1000 the sx seems better as a base bike to upgrade?

We’re the frame and fork really at £300 today?
Damn, I would have bought it, forks back up to £200 now

Damascus…Just well built, nice lines, skinny tubes… it’s worth a bit of a weight penalty

Cheers but no good for me
I want used (cheap) large and not in Italy haha
Cheers

I wanted a p29er while ago but gave up looking as I couldn’t find one used anywhere

I’d love one!

I think I will also have the same problem finding a soma

Thanks shark bait… pm sent

Cheers everyone… some great size info and suggestions
I’m more tempted with just a frame set than a full build.
I may have a set of hope 20fives (if I buy myself new wheels😬) and a few other choice bits
Could be interested in the pompetine, or something similar

Thanks but its for 24” wheels and rim brakes
I’m after a nice, proper gravel frame, with tyre clearance for at least 40mm 700c, disc brakes and carbon forks
Cheers though

I also quite fancy giving spray.bike a go, so initially was looking for a ratty cheap used frame but also wondered if anyone knew where to source, cheap but good, unbranded Chinese frames from, I could then paint it in radness and start the build from there

Been looking for a while for fun, used frames, like the pompino but very little around.
Definitely needs to be an upgrade to the islabike frame though

Wow, that’s a bargain but also a lot more than I want to spend on just a frame set
Cheers though

Thanks again for the options
Unless I’m missing something, I can’t seem to find lighter for the money, than the hunts?
As I ride a steel bike, any weight saving is a bonus but also the whole point of considering the seal to 650b is so I can ride it even harder, so strength vs weight vs not spending much…