Works for me. It's pretty well vented, but not as much protection as say a Giro Remedy.

But it's not a full on DH helmet, it's more of an XC lid with a hard shell. Much better than a parachute IMO.

EDIT – Try before you buy as their XL is very big.

The service is very shonky most of the time, but we still like the place and the people.

Blur LT?

Mountain-trax[/url] Localish high end bike shop

Tunnel Hill Trolls[/url] Er, Tunnel Hill area

Gorrick XC races and Trail Trax event in the region. Great courses, good for learning new routes/areas.

Berks on Bikes[/url] Swinley forest riders / trail maintainers.

RAT MBC[/url] Don't know too much about them, but they have a great XC course at checkenden.

Sorted!

Looks SO much more fun than the organised TransAlp event (respect to those that do it though!)

Hope you heal up quickly.

Dainese works for me, but mine are years old, not tried the new ones.

Did this on my Meta 5 – it's slightly stiffer but not hugely.

Flex wasn't a major problem with my frame but I think they have changed the swing arm since.

I went for the Maxle route for convienience and I had Hope Pro 2 hubs, so just needed a new axle/conversion kit.

Not sure if I would pay to do it again, but I would look for a maxle on the rear of any new bikes I bought.

hope that's useful, sorry if it's a bit vague!

I would like to make the switch on my Coiler – with 2.5 tyres I get rub on the brake arm when cornering and pedalling. like you, it's the cost/hassle that is putting me off.

Take it and keep looking

Where in Surrey are you – I having a biking, carpet-fitting mate on the Hants/Surrey/Berks border.

He's done a good job on our last place and we're booking him for this one too.

As already posted, the mounts are different depending on frame size, S/M frames are different to L/XL.

I think the seat post diameters are different too.

Skyline Cycles people are great – dealt with madison and sorted me out when I had a problem with a frame a couple of years back.

Go for lyriks – I have coil pikes on a meta 5 + lyriks on a coilair. The lyriks are so much better.

Some nice smooth riding there.

Bit different to my run – I was amongst the cannon fodder in group 2 of the quali.

Older fives were designed around shorter forks IIRC.

My 2006 Meta 5 frame cracked at the top/head tube join.

Madison/Skyline got me a 2008 replacement despite the fact that it was sold via the previous importers, not madison AND I was not the original owner. Their newer frames have an extra gusset in this area.

No complaints on Comencal's customer service here.

I've had cracks/failures on Cove, Ellsworth and Kona bikes – no one is immune.

Similar story here – one bike with Pikes one with Lyriks – the bigger forks are noticeably better, especially on the rocker stuff.

Back from a good weekend away –

Second the farmers arms comments. Had a pint in the sloop but no sunset on Saturday! Boat trip cancelled due to choppiness unfortunately.

Couldn't get into Jones, but had a good coffee down the road.

Pebbles (only place with a table) – service was slow and prices/portions not good.

Got a short walk in on the coastal path.

I think we'll be back, probably paying Solva a visit.

Thanks again.

Awesome! Thanks for the tips :-)

I have a meta 5 with coil pikes, but I used my coilair with Lyriks for the mega.

I wanted something a bit more solid and with a touch more travel, but I'm heavy and have broken a few things including my original Meta frame (the Mk1 version before they beefed up the top tube/head tube join).

Charlie the bike monger is selling some on eBay at the mo. I know that’s online, but worth a scan.

Think about what you want to use it for too. I have converted a T4 into a day van – insulated, carpet lined, fitted lights etc. Plus added one of these.

http://www.vwt4styleline.co.uk/products-kombi-sleepover.html

This way I have all of the space when I need it, can take 5 people/5 bikes for a weekend away, and it’s pretty comfortable for the occasional night away camping.

We thought the campers we saw lost too much space to all the cupboards/cookers/fridges etc.

Kirroughtree

Wish I’d never bought one – only floats until it’s half full then it’s too heavy, any bumps cause problems and it blows grass and dirt everywhere.

Apart from that, it’s great!

---

http://www.barendholidayvillage.co.uk

Stayed here a few times, but we fill a cabin with 7 or 8 people.

So, which route are you planning?

Not planning on joining you, just interested.

I don’t have enough walls…

That’s a coincidence – we were doing a purbecks recce ride on Saturday as well.

we had a yellow van in the car park – saw yours on the far side.

which route did you do? We ususally do a 30+ miler figure of eight going over to Swirehead.

Sara from Flow usually organises a girls practice day with Petra Wiltshire. Get your missus in touch with her for the details.

Second the comment on arm pump, it’s a killer. Or at least it was for me.

Both me + the missus did it last year. Is your other half doing it Mike?

The browser on mine (an 8310 Curve) doesn’t handle tables all that well so sites using them are at best a bit random and at worst illegible or misleading.

Stu – get Opera Mini on there. Problem solved. Works a treat on my BB 8800

My in-laws managed to get through to TalkTalk’s support.

They have an issue with email it will be out for 48 hours.

Have to say, this quite often happens, seems very poor service.

PM me – I have some docs that might be useful.

Ellsworth/Freeborn – replacement frame + swing arm, both within days
Commencal/Madison – replacement frame within a couple of weeks (thanks to Skyline Cycles)
Cove Bikes – Bought in Canada, replacement frame cost $50 CAD
Hope – no quibbles ever

All pretty good experiences.

Got my appointment this afternoon – in Tescos car park for a change!

Nice interior RedTed – did you fit it yourself or get Tony to do it?

Great warranty on Commencal via Madison – they warrantied my s/h frame.

Can’t recommend them enough after that.

My wife did the Mega last year – PM me and I’ll put them in touch.

Sara from Flow does it every year too and arranges a good girlie practice day with Petra Wiltshire (the Trek-sponsored legend)

IMO, there are some knarly bits, but in the race you’ll probably be walking those due to traffic anyway. It’s more of an endurance test. She’ll love it.