In a similar position to you having just got back into biking and moved down to Horsham.

The guys in Quest in Worthing seem really good, just picked up my new bike from them last weekend. They “sponsor” or at least support and promote the sussex mtb and I think the Brighton mtb groups wwaswas linked above, why not pop into the shop and ask them?
As soon as I start getting back from work at a more decent hour (and get fit enough not to embarrass myself) I’m going to try to join them as well.

Right time of year to be looking lots of offers on the 2011 bikes just now. The spesh rockhoppers around the 500 – 600 Mark seem to be getting loads of praise just now as are the Carreras at this price point but you have to deal with Halfords…. Most important is that it fits you properly. Try before you buy even if it means try and then sneakily order cheaper on line.

Remember to budget for gear for yourself ; helmet, pedals (shoes if going clip less) shorts jacket gloves some basic repair stuff and water carrying (bottles or hydration pack) but I’ve beef using same helmet shoes etc for more than 10 yes as I spent on the best I could afford.

Be careful though you’ll soon be stashing money away for bling and trying to explain that your £2000 bike wasn’t actually that much given all the stuff they gave you with it 😉

Nickel plated steel like simondbarnes above but with Pace Rc35. Loved that bike one of the worst days of my life when it got nicked, didn’t replace it or ride for ages….

Got a proper bike yesterday so good timing on this thread, reminds me how much fun I had on my P7 and hopefully how much I’ll have on my new Whyte.

Just got one today from Quest when I was picking up my T120. Not had a chance to try it but I was going to get a diablo and they rated this one better for overall use and obviously better value. Looks like better run times I normally do about 2 hrs during day rides so am aiming for something similar and that seems on the edge for the diablo.

Not tried it properly yet but will feedback when I do.

There was a post last couple of weeks where someone was asking about the 2011 as his lbs had it at 2k. If it’s the 146 s I think they’re the same for 2012. I did think about it but 2k was already pushing my budget and couldn’t find the 2k 146 so got 2012 T120 as it was sufficiently better than the 2011 to justify the extra, plus got my lbs to include pedals and change of grips in the price. Also as it will be my first fs bike willling to pay for the support of a good lbs rather than pay Evans.

The castle is ok but bit funny about some things. No ice cream before 6 last time I was there with my 10 year old nephew a couple of weeks ago. Alternative is the cafe in Southwater park its only a mile further south and just off the path when you get into the park car park.
Overall though should be doable the nephew has no problems with it but we’ve not done the whole length with him yet.

Unfortunately I still can’t see where we will get a TDF winner from, hope I’m proved wrong but don’t think he has the right mentality for it.

Sky will have plenty of time to practice it for the olympics. We’ll probanly be seeing it all through July assuming the rumours are true.
Hope they do manage it on the 28th as I’ve got tickets in the grandstand 🙂
Must be a real p***er for the highroad management they would have had 2 reigning world champs in the team for next year.

If they ciuld prove that I might think about getting one

Were the neutrinos on 29ers?

Dave Brailsford interview after tge race was good explanation of it. We had a plan A get Cav to the last 500m near the front of the bunch. We had no plan B… Unfirtunately as soon as the course was confirmed 2 years ago everyone worked out it suited Cav and what our tactics would be so planned counter strategies with German and Belgian breakaways, Voekler’s attempt in the closing kms and the ausies sitting back and waiting for GB to crack. Gilbert’s form seems to have dropped right off (or maybe these issues wuth his team?) so he was a non event and the aussie decision to drop Renshaw baffles me he’s one of the few folk who could genuinely beat Cav if it had been him instead of Goss it may have ended very differently. Millar’s role as road captain was played brilliantly as well, no radios so any changes came down to him.
I’ll be voting Cav to be SPotY come Christmas!

If you’re riding the Surrey hills give freeborn a call and ask when they’re back doing demos. They’re there most sundays with dexter, Dixon some elsworths etc. Also have a word with Quest down in Worthing they’ve got a demo Whyte T120 in just now and should be getting 146s in soon really helpful shop too. Also pedal and spoke in peaslake have loads of demo Santa cruz’s but I think they charge £50 a time for them so maybe test them last?

I tried a load of 120 and 140 bikes recently (2k budget for me) but ordered a T120 just felt “right” pretty much as soon as I tried it. Fuel ex8 was good as were dexter and Dixon, didn’t like the stumpy just too slack and bouncy with the brain, thought zesty was too long in the rear could feel it following along behind me and 5 was just a bit heavy too expensive and too on-off for me wanted something more active and it stretched my budget too much for any decent kit. Wanted to try the remedy as I liked the fuel but couldn’t find one locally. Overall Whyte was best package for me but if I had your budget I’d be waiting on a 146S just now…

Trumpers shaving creme rather than soap, used to use the soap but creme much richer and the tubs last ages. I have the tube for travel as well, recommend GFT or cedarwood personally although Rose is not as bad as you might imagine.

If you’re down in the smoke book yourself a proper shave with them and you can try them out, the one near Jermyn st I always found better than Mayfair. Don’t bother with a haircut tho just the shave.

Have a look on the forums for what’s on offer at Costco. 5 year warranty no quibbles and 90 day no questions asked return policy. Get the executive membership for £55 and you get 2% cash back on everything you buy as well (actually a voucher) got my samsung 40c7000 with bd6900 blu ray (Inc wifi) and 3d starter set plus extra specs in box and by mail in to samsung. Total was £1100 Inc vat. Nearest equivalent was over £1500 at the time, plus really good service, hot dogs and big jars of skippy super chunk 😉

Been trying a lot of the same. Freeborn is my lbs so pretty obvious choice. Dexter was really good tight, light very active and seems a lot more travel than 110. Problem is given the price you don’t get a lot of kit, forks are ok, but only 9 speed transmission and pretty basic finishing kit. You do get eggbeaters though but still expensive for the overall package. Dixon was surprisingly similar and seems better value, not a lot of difference in the weight or feel but a lot more travel for an extra £200 and I preferred the build of the Dixon xp to the Dexter.
Trek fuel ex rides pretty similarly (same style with the abp rear end) the DRCV shock seemed to work really well. It was the 2011 ex8 I tried, good package with the fox forks, xt and slx. The green version is an acquired taste but the black looks really good. £1900 from Evans just now but only collect from store with Trek, once you add pedals same price as dexter but dexter frame much better quality.
But I tested a Whyte T120 yesterday from Quest down in Worthing, 2012 model so lighter and proper seat tube size so you can get more than one type of dropper post for it. Absolutely loved it, really active, maybe a bit more bob out of the saddle, great cockpit, more relaxed head angle than the others but felt perfect, great overall package except for the grips which were far to small for my hands. 2×10 x9 and x7 kit, maxle front and rear, tubeless wheel set (although its fitted with tubes but comes with valves and sealant when you buy it) even fits on my bones 3 rack. So I’m picking my new one up in 2 weeks along with xt trail spds and ergon gel grips ( they’re even White with green to match the rest of the bike ). Can’t wait!