Did you buy the frame off ebay a few weeks ago? There was one the same on there then… I didn’t bid and now this makes me exceedingly grumpy that i didn’t!

Goood on you, it looks fantastic, especially for being about the same budget i was working towards. (though i might question the matching seatpost as being teensy bit try-hard!) :wink:

As a teacher, (Prepares desk to hide behind) like any other profession there are plenty of useless types who are good at talking the talk, but don’t put the hours in, or have the ability to relate to kids. The job does demand an unusual ability to juggle administration, subject knowledge and relating to people, a fair amount of whom are actively working against you. (Kids!)

As far as the money is concerned, it’s pretty good really, but if i compare my salary after 10 years of teaching with that of my colleagues who have gone into business/private sector jobs, then there is nothing like the progression, for a similar level of qualification, application, etc.

I’ve seen Paxman up near Turville too- was riding up there last night and it seems several people have seen him there, so he definitely has a pad in that manor.
Sat next to John Hannah and family outside of the Cherry tree in Stoke Row post ride- trying not to be star struck…
Met Fabien Barel at Cwmcarn in Feb- they were on a Mojo jolly.
My favourite has to be riding in the same group as Ian Wright in the Brit Etape a few years ago- he had his personal trainer with him and he was still slow- apparently took him over 8 hours to finish!

for that money i’d go for an Anthem x3, or maybe an X2, if you can find a 2010 one in the right size. It’s just over 2K, and gets a rp2 shock- plenty of platform damping there! Also has a 15mm thru axle-tapered steerer-fork, XT/SLX drivetrain, leaving you a few quid on the side for the inevitable spd/disco slippers/helmet/glasses/camelbak/alternative tyres that come with getting back into the sport…?

The Cube AMS 110 SL is about the same price, with a smidgin more travel- which might be the thing for 90% of the riding you can do in this country!?

I’m tempted myself! :D

I don;t really want to stoke the FS/HT perpetual fire, and i should add that I have both, but if i was looking to have one bike, i’d probably get something like a Scott Spark, Orange ST4 or an Anthem X.

I ride a Cotic soul for most riding, and i’ve happily done some long (100k+) marathon rides on it. I also have a Yeti 575, which has done me proud in Scotland/Alps/lakes/DH trails.

However, if I was older, getting back into riding and wanted to do some big rides i’d definitely have a short-ish travel full sus. Bear in mind that an Anthem x4 as a whole bike is a similar price to numberous Ti frames, without so much as a headset thrown in.

For the record though, if, in my current situation i could swap my soul for a soda, that would be first choice! :wink:

So it looks like paint is the way; Anyone know the best way to approach spraying an aluminium frame?

Argos cycles looks idea, but this is not the most top notch or collectable frame, so i’m inclined to a cheaper solution. Depending on cost, could i get this done in a motorbike shop? Any goos DIY approaches?

true- The plan was to mask the carbon and powedercoat the rest. They get paint onto them somehow when they are made, so it must be doable somehow..!? :?:

i’d like that SC Blur 4x carbon as detailed before-

With Wifi seatdropper and gears, with telepathic brakes too please!

I’m sure shimano have a prototype somewhere…

Either that or a Cotic Soda 29er with swapouts…

9 miles on the road bike each way, or 10 miles xc along the Thames and through Reading,. The record is 28minutes, at 6am with no green lights or much traffic in the middle of summer.

Drive in once a week and take clean clothes shower at work, bike the other 4. I can do a nice route back of about 12 miles or as long as a can justify, more likely in the summer.

Someone told me that in additon to the saving on petrol, a tax break of 20p a mile can be claimed if you commute by bike. Anyone know about that? :?:

No, the KM is female specific alu one. it looks nice and the reviews are good: i’m just interested in other options! That PA looks pretty good, i must say….

I did fancy something like a Yeti DJ, as I could then nick it for my own amusement… (It has a front cable stop!) But i’m not sure about weight.

Good to hear about sizing! I will have to check as 16 in frames are always more common second hand. I have a Soul and love it, so it might work.

Anyone heard anything about the kinesis KM-210L? it looks nice on their website.

Last year was following a very dry period, and despite some rain on the day it was smooth going, so it was defintely doable on a CX bike, which was my thought at the time. I can think of probably two short points I might have dismounted due to roots/ obstacles.

I did the 121 on a steel hardtail comfortably though. I guess it depends on your fitness regarding the climbing/suitable gearing, as well as the state of the terrain.

She’s about 5’6″, budget is for fairly cheap, (£300 max) No material preferences, 100-120mm travel, and i’m not too fussed about the travel; as light as can be expected with a crossmax wheelset and a mainly SLX groupset+ RF Deus finishing kit

As a past champion of innuendo, I feel shamed to have missed that one in my post… I would like to reassure readers that [/i]“I’m interested in either a racily light hardtail” is not a veiled enquiry about the availability of athletic ladies on this here forum….

Random question for Tracey; what frame is that pink giant? It looks a perfect match for a lady in my life!

From what you say about the curve on the new ones, I’d presume they are early carvers- a bit wider at the ends than they are under the foot/binding? With these you will find that anything longer than you are tall will be a pig to turn- and as the years have progressed, then the ‘curve’ of skis has got more pronounced, and they’ve got shorter. I have a pair of 1992 K2 carvers at 188cm, and I’m 6″. They are still shit hot on a smooth compacted piste, and fun enough on a local field!
I’d totally agree about the bindings thoug, set them nice and low, and the falls will still be comedy. I should say though, that the fit of your boots is probably far more critical. If your heel has any lateral movement it will not help at all.
Hope this helps.

yes, piece of p1ss. Get an old road frame with forward facing horizontal drop outs. make sure the wheel is an ss specific, as the read hub spacing on older frames is usually narrower. you can run it fixed, ss, or have a flip-flop hub. voila.

Best steak was in a random restaurant near Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina. It was a ‘bife de lomo’, a kind of mega-fillet. Steak, watercress salad and tomato salad, with a bottle of Finca Flinchmann Caballero de la Cepa. Sublime.

As far as the Argies are concerned, Santa Fe produces the best steaks. It’s low-lying, humid and flat, so the vegetation is lush, meaning the cows don’t have to move much to eat lots.

PSA: If you want a decent Argentinian style Parilla (BBQ) over here, the best I’ve been to is Santa Maria de Buen Ayre in Hackney. It’s proper argie and not bad pricewise.

A proper Argie steak has salt rubbed into it, for a while, then barbecued slowly over wood embers, raked under the grill- no direct flames or charcoal! The wood burns in a brazier at one side and is then raked under as required. The result is a toasty, caramelised outside with a tender, juicy middle.

-I’m salivating now, so it’s a good thing I’m going back over to Mendoza at the end of next week…

Yes, cheap laugh is about right- ithing when mine is done it will have cost a little over £50, as most of it was lying around anyway!

If the cinelli bars don’t do it for you, i thoroughly reccomend the on-one midges- they are a lot more off road friendly, as well as being a lot wider for ss-ing.

WIll post photos when it’s done- be warned, it is freakish! :wink:

Amusingly enough, i’ve just built myself a very similar project. I’ll list the spec rather than a photo as it is back in bits at the mo -i’m going to respray it, but the spec is:

old ? lugged frame, horizontal forward facing drop outs with Weinmann centre pull brakes.
I’m running my old ultegra wheels with 32x 700c tyres on it: a fast fred cx on the front and Conti travel contact touring on the back. (these may change!) Brakes would take much more, but the frame is rapidly losing mud clearance space, so 32mm it is.
Old deore square taper cranks with 32t ring. rear is running 15t, so a bit higher than a usual ss gear.
The bars are on-one midge bars, which are proving to be ideal for this.

The ride is ok, not the lightest, but a bit of give over roots and rocks, the ratio is fine for me off road, but on flat road it is a bit low for my usual spinning pace. I’m hoping to reduce the rear sprocket when i’m a bit more played in with the single gear, as i haven’t ridden one for a while.
Might even run a flip flop hub, with a higher ratio fixed for the road sections, if i really get into it!

Sweet. Grips and saddle could be white to match the fork tho.. ;)

How are those ardents treating you? I fancy some.

Plenty of riding in the chilterns, it varies quite a lot between the northern part towards Aston Hill, and the riding further south towards reading. I ride a lot in the southern part, would be happy to meet for a ride sometime? There's also plenty of routes south on the downs, along the ridgeway, but this is bin in terms of mileage, not very technical at all though.

More indecision… anyone know if the zaskars are at all forgiving? there's a couple of '96 era ones on the bay… and do THEY take bigger tyres!?

lovely, off to trawl the 'bay i go….!

hmm, have just got used to riding baldy 2.3's for everything i guess, but most of the riding is dirt road and bits of fairly smooth foot/sheep/goat/cow path, so i could do a 2" tyre.

Ah, bombers would really make it a nostalgia trip. In fact Argie biking is a bit like when i was first riding; there's not a lot of money going into it, and the scene is all racing and bike show rides, with a few tours for tourists!

excellent stuff. I was thinking about 80, i could probably pick up a set of old SIDS for not too much.. (especially as i'm looking for something with v-brake bosses!) Any idea what sort of tyre clearance there is on the Konas? roughly? :?

hmm, i think my instincts agree with your comments. This would be for riding in and around Mendoza, which runs into the Andean foothills. (probably not SS territory then). I will probably put sus forks on it, as i have a past wrist (scaphoid) injury. Anyone know how much the Kona frames weigh, and if the mid-1990's ones could take an 80 or 100 mm fork?

again, for balance, I have one set of J7's and one of J ultimates. Both have been trouble free, i've used one set of pads on the J7's in 3 years, including a week's riding in Verbier. The J ultimates needed bleeding when i got them second hand, but have worked flawlessly since then…? I don't knwo anyone who's had aproblem with them, and i've ridden them in all conditions… :?

I met a guy on a singular swift yesterday, set up with drop bars, looked the mutt's n's. I'd not considered hub gearing actually, that is another possiblity! does the singular have dropouts>

I have a cotic soul: could always keep it in the family…

I suppose i'm not sure if i want a fast, roadable 29er or a cross bike really…?

Shotover? for an hour maybe. There are a few trails around Boars hill for an hour or two, and it's very easy to get out from the city centre.

Far and above all of this would be the Chilterns. There is some great riding heading out of Watlington. The triangle between Watlington, Marlow (-ish) and Henley is the pick of it, within easy reach of Oxford at least.

Riding around there a couple of evenings aweek usually if you want to email. (in profile)

fattatlasses- Just riding along or Freeborn will build you whichever colour combination you fancy… if you're feeling flush!

More questions, but does anyone know if they will do the hope hoops with a choice of hub colours for the Crest? I'm on the verge of buying a wheelbuild, but could hang on for a couple more weeks if i have to…!

Fulcrum Racing 3's; light, stiff, campag bearings. They don't need rimtape and take tubeless. There are some 2009's still kicking around for about £350…?

Will do later, with photos?

I have some Pro2's on 719 rims which have been excellent on both my Soul and Yeti 575, they are pretty light but rock solid.

I'm selling them if you're interested? (I'm moving to a weight weenie carbon hardtail and want wheels to match.)

Anyone mentioned Balvenie yet? Always a good allrounder. The came out with a "Golden Cask" one recently, matured in rum barrels. It was yum.

Locally, Grims ditch, including the cheeky section.

Otherwise, i think some of the stuff i rode at Pila 2 years ago was pure fun fun fun…

Almost makes me want to skip summer and go straight to summer alpinism! :D

look for etapeDOTorgDotuk- it's a chap called Ron who does entry only for an extra tenner.

Worked fine for me last year, although I was in the last pen (9000-9500) which was not ideal- although if i'd got my eontry in early enough, it might have changed.

Let me know if you take it up,i'm keen to do it again! -last year's was unforgettable (and not just due to the cramp..)

arriving late to this one, but have ridden both and plumped for the 575.

I've been riding this for about 2 years with Pikes on, but after a summer trip to Verbier and the fact that most of my local riding is done on the hardtail, I have gone against the grain and stuck some Lyrik 2-steps on it.

Initial rides have been ACE. It is only slightly heavier, but the longer travel has made it into a big fast descending bike. it's not really jumpy ans the back end seems to soak everyting up (will be playing with rebound) but drop-offs and rockiness are handled with ease, desite any of my numptiness.

It seems that with the travel down to 115mm, the back sits up, firming it up for climbing, and once the travel is booted out to 160mm, it has a great feeling of sitting 'in' the bike for descents. The spec you've gone for sounds great, a real epic riding/ marathon bike, but it can go much beefier, with only a tad more weight gain.