I’m premier and still have lots of adverts on show!?

I’m running a Trailstar front and ralph rear. Seems to be the best of both worlds.

Thanks, will stick with it as 120

Both types are for sale on Bike Discount for 30 quid each. It’s around a fiver for delivery.

I have a trail star in my BFe and found it draggy but rather grippy. I asked the same question a while back and apparently not noticeably different in drag but some compromise on grip.

If it’s a 2013 or earlier model, 17 or 18 will be spot on. I’m 5 11 and owned both sizes.

Expensive bikes are lush. XTR is just damn sexy! To imply that you need a 6k bike is debatable and once I owned one, and loved just looking at it as well as riding it. Nothing wrong with having nice things in life. Nothing wrong in being a savvy shopper and getting something on the cheaper side. Anyone is fortunate to own any bike and more importantly the health to ride it.

I was always under the impression to buy the best bike you can afford.

Surely if your heart is set on a Ti Slackline then you have to go for it! Anything else won’t stop you wanting one and will just lead to disappointment and regret! If that’s the bike you really want then do what you can to get it.

The fierce competition on the internet shopping sites keeps it grounded. Buying at RRP on the high street would be no fun. £350 for an SLX groupset, what more do you need.

I like Joy Division but love New Order. Ceremony IMO is the most haunting song I have ever heard. I am though very insecure but equally supercool.

Ramsey Neil. I couldn’t get my tyres on without first stretching and seating them. However I have only recently switched to TLR tyres and rims from UST, so still mastering the art.

It’s just fashion! Some folk want nice blingy stuff but it has nothing to do with biking. It’s like saying ‘going out is really expensive’ D&G jacket £1000 Y-3 trainers 250 etc. There is bikes, kit and clothing to suit almost any budget as in all aspects of life.

Mactheknife, I run a a crappy car and crappy second hand bike bits !!

I would go back to a triple on my next build. I like the simplicity of the 1×10 but I do miss caning the bike down fire roads. But I do use my bike also for commuting.

I guess it depends on your fitness. I’m of average fitness and run a 1×10. 34t front, 11-36 back. I find it really good. Isn’t XX1 quite expensive?

I fit the tyre with a tube and put sealant in. Pump up to 40 psi. Leave a few hours. Then pop the bead on one side remove defeated tube then pump up. All with track pump. Just swapped my tyres over this morning. Once the tyres have had this action done once then it’s easy to swap over, as I’m a serial tyre changer. Swapped my tyres over this morning in less than ten minutes.

I have been running tubeless for years, first ust tyres on mavic 819 rims and now Shwalbe tlr tyres on flows. I would never go back. I find using an inner tube to seat the tyres is the easiet option.

In my experience people rarely change, if your gut feeling is to walk away, do it. One short life, don’t waste a minute of it being unhappy.

‘Ride and ‘Spoke’ on Zinio are ok for around a quid an issue. Singletrack and Dirt are ok. The rest are fairly repetitive.

12 years in the military, 4 years in the Middle East. Spending the last two years travelling and especially the six months I spent in Cambodia, amazing place.

You can get the Lev with the 150mm drop in the 30.9 size.

My dream build

I read that same article and it was in MBR. Of course those cheaper bikes are no good for the Alps or Fort Bill, but more than likely are suitable for certain trail centre routes and general riding. IMO bike magazines are more about the ‘bike’ rather than the sport of cycling.

Donk. The point I’m getting at is that 2k isn’t that far out for what many could afford, compared to elite cars for example. I think realistically reviews on sub 500 bikes tested on say red routes would be excellent information for a someone looking to get into the sport without feeling they have to spend more.

Personally for me the whole aggressive marketing is the most depressive aspect of Mountain biking. It must put off people who haven’t got the finances to afford luxury bikes. The magazines really don’t help at all with promoting the sport for first timers. Why focus so much time on 2-5k bikes when most folk just do trail centres on a weekend for fun. I’m sure it’s intimidating for someone to turn up at somewhere like glentress where it’s soooooo middle class.

I think you can only regret the things you knew at the time was going to be the wrong choice. Giving up my ‘single’ status’ and getting engaged! I knew at the time I was making a mistake.

A Rockhopper on the cycle to work scheme is about the same as a sky subscription. A decent second hand hardtail the same as decent tv. I know which I would rather have.

Donk it was due to the fact, that several sets of parents believed their kids would turn professional. Invested so much time and money into that ‘idea’

Football was not that cheap! I played for four teams. So four games a week adds up to a lot of fuel. Plus training, soccer schools, kit etc.

I guess it depends how far you want to take it. Same with biking.

Football is the most accessible sport for youngsters but probably the most competitive, good or bad, I’m not sure. I played in my youth up to county level and the abuse I and my teammates received from parents ( including my own!) is something I’m sure I wouldn’t want for my own kids.

A few weeks back I was at Glentress and they had some youth cross county competition and the parents seemed to be cheering even if they weren’t doing that well. Big smiles on faces all round. We never got cheered on in football when we were losing!

I would want my kids to take up cycling.

As for the expense, well if you ignore all the marketing hype then it’s accessible for a few hundred pounds.

I have a mk 3 BFe frame for sale. 17.5, 5 months old. If you’re interested email elston23@hotmail.co.uk

I would agree with devash. I went 50mm to be all trendy and it was amazing on the downs but the climbs felt awkward. Back to 70mm where I belong!

Aye but mines 55 on merlin, and it’s new! No worries.

That’s a great deal on the Havoc from wiggle.

45 posted?

I can send you a photo if you like.

I have a solid black easton haven, brand new, never fitted if you’re interested. 70mm

Why won’t the 180 and 160 hope rotors fit?

What size are the xt rotors?

Wiggle have some good deals on easton stuff at the moment.

Looks really really good 🙂

Dragnet for sure.

To be self aware.