Look at the reach/ETT numbers on the Aeris 145 as well – the larger ones are properly long. Steep ST as well, though the HA is 65° with a 160mm fork. I think the BB drop comes in at 13mm too.

Heard good things about the Specialized Zee cage.

Come to the Ash/Pirbright open ranges most summer weekends and you’ll see our four ex-racers being given a flat-out gallop on the appropriate sections…

I kind of know what you mean. We have a stables cyclists up our road and they are constantly riding horses bikes up and down the road. We are surrounded by fields and god knows why they don’t ride in them. Isnt riding a horse bike up and down a road just bloody boring.

😉

In the eyes of most drivers, cyclists and horse riders are both second-class citizens and an inconvenience, rather than vulnerable road users who have a right to be there. Let’s stick together, eh?

I don’t know if Specialized still sell an externally routed version of the Command post?

They do – the Blacklite. It’s what I’d go for.

Yup, I knew within a couple of rides that I didn’t like the feel of a hardtail. Rigid – fine! Full suspension – fine! Just couldn’t get on with how a HT felt, so moved them on. Maybe in time I’ll try again and run the forks a lot stiffer..

daviek, if yours is a second generation Sharan with the sliding rear doors then I think they’re smaller than the first generation that I’m looking at – cheers!

Five rides (used them for a week with White Room in the Alps), and I’ll trade them for a donation to one of the animal rescue charities we support. My email is in my profile, drop me a line 🙂

I’ve got a pair of Specialized Clutch SX that I could use shot of if you’re interested? Halfway between a single- and dual-ply and very sticky.

Heavy feet, light hands.
Move your foot further forwards on the pedal, so that the ball of your foot is over the inner front pin on the pedal.
Legs bent, drop your heels.
Ride bike like it’s a big BMX!

Based on the numbers of the older Carve 9 29er, maybe the new 2017 MDE Carve? Will be able to tweak the reach, ST and HA to your liking. Probably be about £1650-1700.

Not full custom, but MDE bikes offer their “Rider tuned geometry”; http://www.mdebikes.com/rider-tuned-geometry/

“The geometry you can choose are:
_ST’ (Seat tube lenght)
_TTR (Virtual Top Tube) Or Reach
_HA (Head angle)
_HT (Head tube length)”

For an additional 150Euro on top of the frame cost.

<opens thread to recommend Aeris>
<reads OP>
<exits thread>
😉

I swap between an Aeris 145 and a rigid steel singlespeed with no real issues – crucially, the saddle-to-bars dimension is roughly the same on both though.

Never owned a Beatles album (but growing up my Dad had them all, so listened to plenty).
Never seen 2001: A Space Odyssey, any Godfather films, any Rocky or Rambo.
Never done karaoke, and never will.

I was going to suggest the Edge 200 tbh – picked mine up for £40 last year and it’s been fine.

Given that you have (I seem to recall) a full sus, I’d say chain length is maybe too short.

I have to say though, given your propensity for knackering almost everything on your bike, maybe a couple of the STW regulars should go for a ride with you so they can report back on just why this is so..?!

Popped into Halfords yesterday, and their £1.99 basic bottle looked pretty short. The cap from a Camelbak Podium fits too..

6’11”!? 😮

To use the Bontrager remote you need to use the barrel clamp from the post end of the Brand X but counter-drill the cable hole halfway to create a recess for the cable end ferrule to sit in, that’s all.

^I’ll bear that in mind Idiotdogbrain. I don’t think it’ll be too much of an issue.

Sure? Going from a setback to inline seatpost is the same as going from a large to a medium frame in terms of ETT…

I’ll second the advice to NOT get the recall ECU reflash. Had it done to our company 1.6 and less than two months later the EGR died. Thankfully VW fixed it for free after I complained, but still..

Had no idea, but yup, rode the usual 2.5 miles in 🙂 Nice and sunny at the moment but there’s supposed to be rain later…

Be warned – almost everyone here who’s demoed a Bird has bought one.. 😉

Got one on my Aeris too, five rides in and it feels pretty good – can’t comment on longer term longevity yet though! The remote it very flimsy though, and the cable is prone to pulling through the end ferrule at the base of the post unless cranked tight – I’m going to convert mine to the Bontrager lever which clamps at the lever end.

Bear in mind that your stock seatpost probably has about an inch of setback and most droppers are inline, so that’ll shorten your seated reach significantly.

Not that you can see the bike…! I remember the first time I went to Swinley many years ago, I looked at this and though “I’ll never be able to ride down that!”

Another 145 convert! I have a snot green Large (I’m 6′) with the Super Deluxe/Lyrik setup, GX, Hope/DT M502 wheels. Again, saved a bit by getting a Brand X Ascend, but I wanted a cable-activated dropper anyway. Despite the 1260mm wheelbase there are no issues with tight, twisty stuff that I can tell!

I find it interesting that almost everyone who’s on the cusp of M/L and Large sizing seems to size down – even several people who are 6′ and taller are choosing the M/L; I wonder if they’re looking at the geometry numbers and just assuming it’ll be too long (when it really isn’t)?

^^^^^^
Forgot about that – been so long since I looked at a front mech!

You say you’ve backed off the barrel adjuster in the smaller chainring to stop it rubbing – you shouldn’t be needing to alter the cable tension there.

Disconnect the shifter cable and set the small chainring/large sprocket position using only the limit screw. Wind the shifter barrel adjuster all the way in, then a turn or so out. Reattach the cable to the mech, with only light hand tension. Shift into the bigger chainring and run through the cassette, adjusting the barrel adjuster for the front mech so as to obtain the least rub at either end of the cassette. Finally, set the other limit screw to prevent over-shifting. Job done.

Not quite a 500ml bottle, but I’ve found the Elite Youth bottle/cage for £7 – 350ml so should fit a small space?

https://www.sigmasport.co.uk/item/Elite/Ceo-Youth-Bottle-Kit-Inc-Bottle-Cage-and-350-ml-Bottle/DL70?

http://www.carboncycles.cc/?s=0&c=84&p=940&tb=001
Carbon Cycles’ version of the original Superstar Nanotech.
I’m loving my Nano X but never had a problem with the originals. Would have them over any DMR bar the Vaults.

This thread is relevant to my interests.. I have the Super Deluxe shock on my Aeris and the oil reservoir means even with a side-load cage I don’t think I can get a stock bottle in. Saw the YT one but ouch, £42 for a carbon cage and two bottles – plus it’s RHS load and I need left.

I wrote a big post about the reasons for the build choices but no-one will really care!

Suffice to say it rides great – I have a suspicion I’m going to have a proper off on it before long, it’s that easy to ride fast!

I went for the Super Deluxe rear shock, boost Lyriks, Hope/DT502 and GX – figured that I’d be better off getting the best suspension and wheels I could (not really) afford! Did Ben tell you about putting lighter weight oil in the Yari to make it a bit suppler?

I got a slime green Large Aeris 145 after demoing it in January – trust me, you will not regret it one bit! The guys at Bird are just so passionate about what they do, and the way the bike rides is a testament to that. Enjoy!

Picked mine up Monday, maiden ride yesterday – complete build though – and I still get shocked at how good it is. Needs a more aggressive riding style than my last bike but I kinda like that..

Feels a bit fanboi posting this now, but given the levels of service, advice and assistance – on top of making bikes so fun and fast they’re bordering on lethal – Bird will now be our go-to first choice. Just need them to make a rigid steel 29er and I’m set..

It would have previously been Specialized but their geometry seems to be headed in the wrong direction of late, plus it feels good to support a local bike company who are putting their all into what they do.

Only thing that isn’t current on that is that it’s non-boost – so maybe 60-65% of the (most discounted) new price depending on how little use it’s had. I think once you start looking for over £1500 for a second-hand bike, regardless of spec, people start thinking about buying new instead.

I actually think you could get a bit more than is being proposed; Giant are a mainstream brand and the Anthem is well known as one of the default XC FS bikes. Given that it’s got a good spec and looks “right”, if you held out I don’t think £600 for the complete bike is out of the question.

Just not on here, where 26“ stuff is automatically dismissed as being worthless.. 😉

The other half is now thinking of selling her Pitch (small/16″, RP2, Blackbox Revs, Reverb) and within half an hour of a speculative advert going up on eBay we had 68 hits, several watchers and an offer not too far off what she’s looking for, so I’d say it definitely depends on what it is and where you advertise. #notastealthadverthonest