I found a tip on another thread to stick it in the freezer. That worked a treat. Freezer for a few hours, then came out easily with a pair of pliers 👍

I found a tip on another thread to stick it in the freezer. That worked a treat. Freezer for a few hours, then came out easily with a pair of pliers 👍

Gotcha – any tips on how to remove? And once I’ve removed it, do i need to put something else in its place?

Yes please @vortexracing can you DM me?

I know, should have thought about it before pressing buy but it was a good deal and the right colour hub ;)

It looks like I can get the cassette of choice for about £85 so it’s not too bad. A new free hub is about the same. And this way I can switch out between my weight weenie American classics and the burlier Hope Enduros when needed…

It’s on an Orange Stage 5 so the American Classics do feel a bit out of place.

I have 😢🤯

Does it use the same tool to fit as shimano or will I need a new tool too?

Although if I could find a good deal on a new groupset id consider something new.

Running a shimano 11speed

Not sure I’ve ever had a ‘new’ one and they all seem to work fine. As a couple of folk have said, got some much older ones which do seem to have weathered better. But that could also be because I don’t rode the 9speed bike as much these days. In fact it’s currently in SS mode

not a bad shout. It’s quite a small office though so might be a bit over the top. Might give it a go as I think we have one knocking about

Thanks for all the tips guys. I don’t think I’ve got the patience though – especially for the brakes. I did actually manage to get one half of the gear cable done but then gave up – maybe I’ll persevere on that one.

How much do you think local bike shop would charge to fit the brakes hoses properly etc?

I think the classifieds here are very good. Most the people on here are honest. Which means you get good deals when buying and no hassle from people you sell to. I don’t buy or sell anywhere else. Unless I have something a bit shit that I know I can do better on eBay ;)

Reckon you’d get around £2.5k if you aren’t in a rush…

Thank you! Weirdly that wasn’t there earlier this morning. Have snapped it up :)

As it happens, I do have a spare Chris King crown race so if anyone knows whether that would work, that would be really helpful!

PORC is only about a 15 min bike ride away so would be ideal to be able to go there any have a try but sounds like all closed? Seems weird as I know there is a cafe etc there. Wonder why the new owners wouldn’t want a bike park magnet?

A skills course sounds like a good plan.

Are there chicken runs in most places so you can have a decent ride with some easy jumps to build confidence?

I know of a fairly well known outdoor clothing brand that recently used BAME models in their facebook ad campaigns and the racist abuse they got was so bad they were taken off facebook. Yup, facebook penalised the brand not the racist **** posting their vile abuse.

Made me worry for the outdoor sector given the ads would have been targetting outdoor folk.

Good. Not just me then. It’s a sheep field (very occasionally) but mostly left fallow.

To be honest if the shit was left in the middle of the field where nobody (including dogs really) should be walking then less of a problem. But it’s the shits around the perimeter and more specifically so close to our fence that I can smell them, that I have an issue with.

Funnily enough we do now have one caught on camera as we had a wildlife camera pointing into the filed hoping to spot deer. Next question is how to confront said neighbour. He seems like a decent enough bloke who I had thought might be a potential new mate (we’ve recently moved to the area) so don’t want to come across all arsey etc….

On a seperate note has anyone evert tried putting 27.5 plus wheels on a stage 5?

Thanks for the mullet advice. Heeded! I am 6ft and going for a Large. Hoping it’ll be OK…

like the extended bottom headset cup idea. Wolf tooth seem to do one. Thanks guys, think I will take the plunge. Suspect I a going to be massively over biked with this but aren’t we all?!

It’s the 2017 Stage 5. Big front tyre or how about bigger wheel altogether? Guess putting 27.5 on the back will make the BB a bit too low?

That’s kind of what I was thinking too Rich. Also, I’m used to very much less slack bikes tbh. 100mm xc bikes etc…but also don’t want it so steep I go over the bars on the first descent. Seems unlikely ;)

Fox Rhthym 34 29er

From a bit of Googling it looks like you can’t extend the shaft on these :(

I’ve got an old rooster I picked up on here. It’s my go to bike for school runs, quick blasts in the woods and go slow ‘gravel’ rides. I’d probably tour on it too to be honest.

Personally I’d worry less about being waterproof and more about being comfortable. If your jacket is ‘leaking’ a bit but you are still relatively warm I wouldn’t worry too much about it and focus on enjoying the ride.

But if you are standing about for hours as a race Marshall or similar I’d get yourself a pair of oilskins!

P.s. Paramo seams aren’t taped so I doubt it’s the seams that are leaking, probably just needs a decent reproofing

Whatever you do get it done tonight! I got mine done a week after we took deliver of the puppy. The next week he got sick. Puking and shitting everywhere because he’d eaten something in the garden…

Ended up spending two night in doggy hospital because he got so dehydrated.

Turns out you’re not covered til 2 weeks after you take out the policy. Some are different but apparently that’s quite common.

He’s fine now. Still eats shit all the time but he’s big enough to ride the shit storm ;) little bugger. Wouldn’t change him for the world though. Happy dog ownership OP!

Great. That’s the one I was thinking. Will press buy!

TP-Link TL-WPA4220KIT 2-Port Powerline Adapter WiFi Starter Kit, Range Extender, Broadband/WiFi Extender, WiFi Booster/Hotspot, No Configuration Required, UK Plug https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01LXOZ4EN/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_194MEDW1RWVQNZ9K71PJ

This is the one I am thinking of trying

Can you send a link trail rat? Does the version you used also have a WiFi signal?

Don’t really want to spend more than about £50 if I can help it

Yeah, I did some pedi-cabbing in London for 6 months or so too. It was back in 2002 so I had some power in my legs! Sadly not kept it up so thinking electric assist.

Budget relatively high as it’ll be a car replacement for me

I wear Paramo Cascada 2 trousers and whilst I’m not massively long legged they are a bit long for me. I like them – apart from being a bit long!

thanks slowol – anyone had any experience of using these older shifters with something like an 11speed 105 rear mech?

Look secondhand. Early rider bikes are also pretty good. Not sure got the reputation of Isla and Frog so can be a bit cheaper secondhand.

Got the Belter for my boy and it’s great. Belt drive too…

My Mum’s got one of those Philip’s.It’s also her only ever bike but sadly she’s not riding it these days, despite me having ‘recently’ (about 10 years ago) having restored it.

Might have to restore it again sometime soon

Did all my longest tours on 26inch wheels bikes. Easy to pick up spare wheels in far flung places and to be honest at the time 29ers weren’t really a thing.

Also wouldn’t worry too much about weight of the bike of you are doing long trips. The stronger the better and if you need to shed a kilo take one less bottle of water or eat a bit less for the week before you ride ;)

Whichever is most comfortable really. Carter’s looks like it would be but I’d give them both a long day in the saddle and see which one ticks the boxes