Re: the rim swap, from my experience with similar situations you will be totally fine. Most of the time I’ve simply sized both rims up by eye and it’s worked.

Really enjoyed that, thanks!

I recently tried the push seals (as they came with the coil conversion kit) and they are significantly better than the skf ones. When doing a lower leg service recently the old oil was super clean compared to what it is normally like for the same service interval time.

Thanks for the bike snob link Ned that’s a great article!

On Kesteven I think he’s generally ok, a lot of the criticisms of him could also be made of all bike journos past and present…. take it or leave it. his videos are entertaining and he comes across well. Good luck to him.

Cheers for the heads up about these, my Huck Norris setup needs replacing so I’ve ordered the Rimpacts, I’ll see how they go, but for the price they seem pretty good!

That was an interesting read, thanks!

Just trim/cut off the offending parts of foam? Custom fit goggles!

Great advice above, not much to add and sorry if it’s obvious-  but it’s always worth checking how often or not the fork and shock were serviced (if at all…), if they haven’t been serviced regularly you could knock the seller down a bit.

Haha BillOddie I had that Lowe Alpine one back in the day too! It was great, 2 bottles and a Mt Zefal fluro pump on the bike and everything else in the bumbag and that’s all you need! I ended up losing mine otherwise I would probably use it again now! I think we as mountain bikers look silly enough already to the outside world so making yourself look a little bit more silly doesn’t really matter….

+1 for works components. I’ve tried sram alloy, superstar and absolute black, and the works ones seem to last much longer. No idea why. I’d like to try a steel ring but am waiting for a reasonably priced oval steel sram mount one. Any ideas anyone?

Hasn’t the grid casing changed recently though? I bought a butcher in some new brown packaging (amusingly labelled as an e-bike  ready tyre) and a slaughter in the old packaging and the butcher grid was much thinner. Has anyone else noticed this? Sorry if it’s been covered before..

Not really relevant for this time of year, but I found the Minion SS 2.3 to be too narrow, the cross section’s too square and the tyre does’t really work because of this….

It’s fantastic there… there’s a bike park in saint luc, it’s pretty small but the best thing about that is that you can use it to access other better high level trails. You can also use the excellent post bus service from any town to do uplifts.

This company are great and will show you the best trails,but to be honest having a look on a map and picking one at random would also work.

http://ridethebesso.com/

There’s an enduro race in Zinal every summer that uses some great trails, sorry I don’t think there’s a map online for that. You could have a look at the classic map.geo.admin.ch site for general maps, or this site is pretty good – bikingspots.ch<span style=”font-size: 0.8rem;”> . Their descriptions are pretty reliable. The chandolin ride listed there over the Illpass is simply incredible. Access by bus and then a chairlift in summer. Finishes all the way down in the Sion valley.</span>

I have had 2 santa cruz’s and they were very good, but changing to an orange stage 6 this year was an eye opener, it’s both faster and more fun to ride, a little more trail feedback but such efficient suspension that the feedback becomes a positive attribute and helps you find more grip if that makes sense?

So sad. Horrible news.

Some excellent advice here I think. I would suggest supply teaching or working in the private sector first before a total career change. Apologies if you have already considered this, or tried it.

Supply teaching gives you the opportunity to discover different schools with different and perhaps more favourable ways of working/pressure etc. I was ready to give up after 7 years in 2 different primary schools, but instead did supply for a year working in good, bad and ugly schools and then ended up working part time (job-share) in a good school with little of the stress I had previously experienced. The private sector is worth considering too as I have friends who say that the paperwork and pressure is vastly reduced (at primary age).

Same height as you here and I have a large. It’s great with the 40mm stem. I tried both sizes before buying too.

cheers! I must get better at the internet in 2015…

hmmm interesting. Can’t see the link, it’s all been taken down I think. Can someone who saw them tell me the colours and rough spec of the Pro Race (or whichever one has BOS suspension) please? Many thanks!

a good read, it’s good to hear different opinions. It seems that (as far as I know) his is a relatively independent (from any manufacturer) opinion so it is welcome. Certainly better to read that article than the latest spiel from any bike company you care to name. Not sure he is right but it gets you thinking a bit.

I found merino doesn’t wick very well at all…. all the other miracle claims about it are true though. If you want a fabric which transports mositure away quickly I think it has to be synthetic. Arcteryx Phase base layers are the best I have tried, and I have tried a few. Not cycling specific but that doesn’t matter.

dunmail I snapped a chain on a pitch dark night, sprinting downhill on the way home. Went back to find it and couldn’t! Freewheeled home, so it might have been mine, although it was only there for 1 day as I went back the next day after work in the daytime to pick it up….

Deadkenny that’s a good solution for me, thank you!

arrrghh as above. New does not seem to be better. My specific problem is that I am running ubuntu, not Windows or Mac, and I am unable to download Express!!! bastards! Anyone know a work around or other solution? Ridiculous….

Yep, as above for me, the fit on the jersey was ok, but shorts just didn’t work properly, i thought it was impossible to mess something like that up but apparantly it is. Fabric seems good though?

caustic soda worked for me (obviously alu post in steel frame) when nothing else did. If I was doing it again I would definitely wear glasses as it was a pretty violent reaction when it came free!

Great PSA, many thanks. I can see past the graphics for that price.

Wouldn’t recommend Leznye as my micro drive had charging problems, may just be unlucky. I would say either spend a little and get a USB rechargeable one from Edinburgh bikes which is amazing value for a “be seen” light, http://www.edinburghbicycle.com/products/revolution-flash-front-silicone-led-light

Or spend a lot and get an exposure one as these are really well made and reliable as well as obviously being very bright. Joystick seems to be on offer at the moment.

Royal MW 365’s are pretty good, slim cut, low key logo etc.

Mine have been fine too, as above I’ve had to tighten spokes a couple of times, but it’s very rocky on my local loops so this would be normal for any wheelbuild. The hubs have been great, coming up to a year’s worth of use in all weather with no issues.

another vote for going up a size. I’m 42 in all other cycling shoes apart from some odd shimano ones, comfortable in size 43 Sidis. I must have lady feet though as I don’t need the mega wide ones…

http://www.bournesports.com/shoe-goo-repair-paste-black.html

this stuff works well, used it on bike and rock climbing shoes.

I’d echo exactly what IA said, it’s a fantastic loop. Got lost at the same turn off and walked first couple of switchbacks. One of the best days riding I’ve ever had.

I’ve the same setup as banks and find it ok, maybe a little tight on the 36. Clutch is a revelation, just brilliant. Can’t answer triple/double question but suspect it would probably work, but require you to avoid lots more gear combinations than the obvious big/big due to too long/short chain. I think this as I’m running 3×9 on the commuter mtb with a 105 super short cage rear mech and to get it all to work ok I can’t use a few gears due to too much or too little chain.

You’ll love the Heckler with the right setup. Got a bargain there I think.

yes

lyrik coils are great, I’ve broken two sets of revelations now through normal trail riding (and arguably poor servicing on one set…) on a blur lt, nothing beats the reliability and feel of coil. Marzocchi 55’s seem good too. Bos are probably better, but way too much money. Reading your requirements carefully I reckon lyrik coils or 55’s.

It was interesting although I think he talks a lot of rubbish as others have said. His is just one (non-DH rider) riders perspective, interesting that it’s just really his views referenced and not any respected downhillers. Articles like that need the views of more people to back them up.

It’s worth searching for this topic on retrobike, much good advice. I was thinking of recoving a flite, got as far as getting the leather from ebay, realised it was too thick and gave up. poor effort. Thickness of leather is key! – it just wouldn’t fold under the saddle well enough. Best comment I remember about this was a guy who had bought a 2nd hand leather jacket from a charity shop and used it to recover a number of saddles…

I’ve just bought this one, been assured it’s correct but not got around to fitting it yet.

http://www.workscomponents.co.uk/new—15-degree-ec44–ec49—tapered-steerer-tube-headset-181-p.asp