Yes, and no; if you want it to look pretty yes, but you can perfectly well just keep teh existing poploc dial, put a small rubber gasket under it for friction and use that instead; with a bit of engineeering you could add in a small bolt as a lever; me I bought the new dial, when received it thought that for what it was it was very costly and wished Id just kept the poploc dial and bodged it a bit

no but you need to remove damper and then release the return spring which is inside damper—this spring would otherwise cause dial to rotate back to unlocked position if left in place. Spring can be removed by unscrewing bottom of damper (by hand) pop out spring and jobs done (see similar thread on Bike Radar, this is where I got info for identical job)

Thanks for offer but live other side of country, welsh borders!!

The two headed unicorn being the rarer species to collect semen from I suppose

i've got wide flat bars on my downhill bike, they look weird, and people point and laugh at me. but they feel great.

pay attention james:

look good but I use old fashioned?? 25.4 bars and stems!!!; are o/s bars another fashion fad too?

One of the best cycle holidays I have ever done.1050 miles, away from main roads, 15 days supported organised camping. Do not rely on southerlies! Last section, across from Lairg to Bettyhill, tehn along north coast Scotland big battle against strong NE winds, rain but still fabulous. Make a trip to Dunnet Head, most NORTHERLY point UK mainland and look south from it, and think of all miles covered to get there. Hope you manage to egt to do it, and enjoy

oh well, manage with it as it is s`pose

…and if you head Elan Valley way call by on Clive Powell MTB shop in Rhayader for route info in Elan area, lots to choose from and LOTS of climbing / descents

wide flat bars……..
such as? when I last bought bars, 6 month ago I couldn`t find any graet choice

Midges all year now in Scotland and up to 4000ft!!!

bar ends on low rise bars are great….ONLY reason I use riser bars are almost total lack of wide flat bars now that rise bar fashion has swept MTB world

apart from cramp??? surely that is not mental but a physiological effect due to a lack of oxygen / energy supply to muscle

is that off a shovel???

Sportives cost a lot, some / many people may now feel they are overpriced, sportives provide feed stops, of varying quality and quantity. Sportives have waymarked routes. Audaxes cheap, DIY feed stops, read a route card. Mudguards and beards now optional in Audaxes I think!

which is what I will do, remembering to count the clicks….as long as it wont harm the fork??

surely all this though depends on how low you also set your stem? ie one inch risers will give same position as flat bars set one inch higher????is not thsi a big mfr marketting hype?…leading to demise of decent wide flat bars???

hopefully do NOT need a service as <20 hr use!!! I am trying to reproduce Pace half travel lockout setting which I found good on steep climbs

Re Radnorshire / Elan valley, home area for me :D. Trails are getting sticky and there are few rocky trails mostly grassy or peaty. Out this morning in Radnor Forest against the flow of Trans Wales` and was slipping about on Kenda Karmas, thinking of putting back on winter / soft conditions tyres. Peaty trails are soft now,forestry tracks around Great Rhos quagmires (tree felling + motorbikes +rain =big goooey mess) grassy ones getting soft and slippery. Monday local forecast is reasonable but thereafter rain, rain, showers and rain again so it is going to get pretty soft on the ground. It may ahve dried out a bit today but quite humid so not that much

from what I recall Motts road quite rough and loose at lower end (Light Spout section) and several stone cross darins on it so ascent may be best bet; I think also NT at Cardingmill have map showing MTB routes / rideable sections on Long Mynd

A couple of issues spring to mind…..1. Ben Lawers is a nationally important National Nature Reserve famed for its Arctic Flora, and base rich rocks; the rangers have put in a boardwalk to reduce erosion pressures / soil damage from the visitor centre for the above reasons. 2. It is a great WALK and as above post says you will spend more time pushing than riding. Why oh why do you want to MTB it???
There is a great road ride over from Loch Tay to Glen Lyon via baelach between Lawers and Ptarmigan, and then back from Kenmore alongside Loch Tay

Not riding it but may do bit of spectating; anyone know set of time from Builth Day 1 and expected time at Water Break its Neck special stage (just 1 mile down road from me)???

You could always go to Scotland and camp virtually anywhere under their access laws…….

Hurrah hurrah for CRC!!! First order of last five from CRC to arrive next day, same time as a Merlin order which helped as one was a carbon seatpost , t`other torque wrench to tighten bolts on said post…..

Yep totally agree CRC standards going downhill, none of my last 4 orders came within the T&C times (ie order before 2pm, next day delivery 1st class Mail) ; similar thread btw on Bike Radar, same line of comments / complaints.
Currently awaiting both a CRC and Merlin order, will see who sticks to their agreed delivery times tomorrow!

Sealskins when its cold,
otherwise Primark / JJB sports etc cheapo bundle of 5 for a £5er. End of day my socks get so horrible and gritty then will be binned after a while so stick to cheapies IMHO

Nant Yr Arian and Devils Bridge campsites; AND look at the FC websites!!!!

Having got both a Giant Trance 4" travel and Van Nic Ti HT I agree with your issue, former gathers dust / cobwebs and is 4lb heavier than the Ti hardtail. Go for a Ti HT, fit either a good quality carbon post or suspension post and it`ll be a very good ride. Enjoy the experience!

Yes; gear ratio, in inches, = chainring teeth number / rear sprocket number x 27

so currently you are running a 32/12 x 27 gear, ie 72 "; if you opt for a 16t sprocket then you need a 42.67 tooth ring, lets say 42T for simplicity; 17 T and you need a 45. 33, ie 45 T……. 😐

look on bright side at least Hope hubs are easily serviceable and full stock of bits and pieces genearlly can be found; on my Pro 2s have had 2x sets bearings replaced + pawl leaf springs in last 5 years which is I feel fairly good, better than having to bin whole unit thro lack of bits isn`t it???

Big thumbs up too for Pyractif, great company and have superb road routes (off again C"C in August!) and also selection off road routes; also accommodation packages, best wishes

how about from Merlin Fox F120s at near 30% off then?? and delivered in 2 days!!!

you`re well spoilt for choice then!! how long does it take for you to make up your mind on excat combo?? personally I spend FAR too much time changing tyres for different rides eg Kenda Karma 2.0, or 2.2, or Panaracer Razers or Schwalbe Black Sharks……

Road frames come in normal, compact, semi compact designs with top tubes of varying length according ratio to seat tube from each mfr.

So decide your budget, a range of waht you fancy and take it from there. For info at 6ft I ride a 56 semi compact Van Nic with 55cm top tube, 11 cm stem

Thanks muchly, job done, sticking sorted. Looks though like this should be a regular job maybe as seems to be a point where muck could easily get in!!

what about west of border in Radnorshire too???? some top top whack natural riding there…….lots and lots of routes I could help with too!

Thanks for all advice on this; having eventually snapped tips off 5 torx sockets took along to helpful and friendly local garage and mechanic; using a T27 high quality socket a couple of good hard bangs on bolt to reset head fitting and then a proper 6" ratchet wrench and out came bolt no issues ; goes to show what a difference quality tools can make too (his T27 was about £8 for teh socket alone….)

Something very savoury usually, eg got back from Devil Ride Sportive yesterday….one can lager followed by left over rice salad and then chilli con carne with extra tabasco sauce and salt, salt and more salt (it was a warm day later!)

I`ve fround that the more cycling I do the more my legs hurt on descents, very much DOMS and quads feel like a meat tenderiser has worked on them all over…..HOWEVER from experience doing quad stretches (ie bending leg back, foot to bum) for about 30 sec after cycling and after hill wlaking does seem to lessen the DOMS effect

Rubinos very hard wearing, and also look at mich Krylions. Both have served me well and are very puncture resistant and easy rolling, though not as much so a higher end tyres.
Beware mfr size variations though, some 23 s are smaller than others, and also have a look at how various tyre / rim combinations go together, some can be very difficult indeed to fit

hope hoops 717 / 521 s and forget the white!!! Great wheels