Probably not an issue,but I regard it as cheap insurance against me absent midedly failing to tighten the retaining pin!

Dez B,Yep that one.

It will depend on whther you go for 6 bolt or centrelock hubs and what model XT.

The older XT M756 6 bolt hubs that many builds come with are a fair bit heavier than the newer M765/m775/m785/centrelock versions.

Having said that my set which are M756 6 bolt hubs with ACI db spokes are around 1940g which puts them in the same ballpark as Crossrides at 1920g.

xt centrelocks are likely to be substantially lighter.

Nothing wrong with Shimano if you are on a budget.As long as you keep on top of cup and cone adjustment and regrease them regularly they will go on for years.

Thanks will go see what I can find in Halfords.

XT hubs with 717s are reliable,and have the benefit of being easier to source spares and spokes for.

Nothing in it weight wise between them and Crossrides.

I might have a pair of Merlin built XT 6 bolt hubs with 717s going spare if you are interested………..

Not had a similar problem,but none of my 3 kids used a balance bike.
All 3 learnt on pedal bikes,2 at the age of 4 but my middel kid didn`t learn until she was 6.They do it when they are ready.

GFs son is 7 and still cant ride.She tried him with a balance bike,which he just wasnt interested in.Now he has a pedal bike which he can balence on but doesnt seem to realise that you need to pedal to mkee it go.To be fair he isnt the most sporting kid and doesnt really have much aptitude for most physical activity though he will ride his scooter all day.

Down to the individual kid as much as anything!

Thanks for the input chaps.Think I`m going to get another RR and an NN both in 2.25 which gives me a few combinations to try,eg:
2.25 NN front and 2.1 NN rear,2.25 RR front and RR 2.1 rear,or 2.25 NN front and 2.25 RR rear (in the TL versions.)

Was thinking Rocket Ron but slightly nervous about them being deemed race use only to use them at a trail centre……..

Any good bargains or should I just go on bike-dicount.de?

Ordered some road bike tyres from them.Were quick and reasonably priced.

Hand me down bike with steel rod brakes!(frame snapped….)
Raleigh Jeep
First racer (Carlton I think)
1984 Carlton Criterium
Claud Butler Touring bike (sold to fund first car)
Long break from biking…………
Mid 90s Saracen Hylander hybrid and first foray into riding off-road.
2004 Specialized Rockhopper
2006 Giant XTC (Still own)
2006 Trek 1200 road bike
2010 Giant Defy Advanced road bike
2010 Giant Anthem

Running BBB on both bikes.Been at least as good as the Shimano OE ones so far.

KMC.Specifically the X9 93.Last one cost me £14.

I second RJ,and totally recommend Afan Lodge.Bike storage,great rooms,good hospitality and decent bar food.

I bought a secondhand Giant Anthem recently.Since buying it I`ve shaved about 3 pounds off the weight,but by far the biggest gains came from losing 350g off the wheels.
It was nice to ride before,but a little less weight particularly off the wheels just makes the whole bike that much sharper and satisfying.

I`d not save weight if it compromised strength,but definitely prefer lightweight where possible.

Ahh that was me just 3 weeks ago.Nice fry up,then downstairs to get the bike out of the bike store and a short ride to the first rail.Perfect.

I was doing really well having a week of selling bike bits on ebay rather than buying.

But I splurged a whole £7 on a Blackburn Slick bottle cage this afternoon because my inner weight weenie just had to have a 23g bottle cage!

Manitou Axles are heavy.I`d see if you could pick up an air recon or reba off the classifieds.

I ran an Accord Tourer as a company car for a while.It was a great vehicle.Much more refined and than the gruff Passat TDis of the same vintage.

Don`t know about the high mileage issues,I had to give mine back when I changed jobs!

I`d also be looking at Mondeos.Nicer to drive than the Passat.

Ribble have a tyre sale on at the moment.Imurrently running the older Pro 3s which I like a lot,but for sportive use Id look at Schwalbe Ultremo ZX or Conti GP4000S aswell.

When I was starting out I went out and bought a secondhand Rockhopper off ebay.

It was in fantastic condition,almost unused.It was too big but through riding it over a year I got a feel of what I liked and what I didn`t.

I sold it a year later for pretty much what I paid for it and bought a Giant XTC which I still have.

The point Im trying to make is that,there is no definitive answer to bike bike buying.I tried loads before I bought the XTC,but although it suited me then isnt necessarily what I`d buy now.

Go try as many as you can,buy on what feels right to you.On an £800 bike try to get good forks but don`t get to hung up on the intricacies of which groupset it has,but concentrte on the geometry,and how it feels.

I used to end up going round and round in circles ,confused by the number of choices.The important thing is just to get out and ride!

I found myself liking the orange a lot at first but in the same way as brightly coloured cars go out of fashion,I reckon that black has a more lasting appeal.

As mentioned colour matching is a lot easier too.For instance the red lettering on RS forks and some components would really jar with orange,whereas black goes with anything and you can always add some red or blue anodised bolts if you want to add a splash of colour.

I borrowed the work I pad 2 and compared back to back with the gfs new I pad 3.She said she could notice the difference on screen seoltuion butI couldnt really tell.

GF has since bought a refurbed Ipad 2 for her kids and its pretty much as you`d expect,just like new.

I reckon I`ll be doing the same.

As you say if you go 10 speed ,you need shifters,mech,cassette and chain so it will be costly.

Ultrgra or even 105 cassette might shed 50g or so.No reason you can`t use either with your Sora kit assuming you go for 9 speed.

Weight advantage of most 2 x 10 chainsets over their 3 x 10 counterparts is usually 50g,so the weight advantage is often over stated.Then if you go for 36T cassette instead of a 32 on the back you gain most of that back.

As for wear,assuming you use the 3 frot rings (and dont leave it in the middle ring)wont it be spread over 3 rings rather than 2? Granny rings rarely wear out…….. ;)

Can see a bigger advantage going to 1 x 10 where you lose a shifter and a mech and a whole load more weight,and gain simplicity,but 2 x 10 isn`t quite as clear cut over 3 x 10 for me apart from less front changing.

Found a lovely Scott Voltage last year for my son at my LBS which was an XS with 26″ wheels but it was just too big for my nearly 9 year old son who is above avaerage height for his age.

He is now on a 24″ Gt Aggressor which is a really good fit.

Its a shame because 24″ wheeled bikes seem to cost a lot more than 20″ wheel bikes.I reckon a samll 26″ would cost no more,plus youd have a much better choice of forks and wheels,but its no good if it doesnt fit.If a kid isnt confident on a bike they wont ride it.

Mr Flaky if you are in St Albans there a fair bit to ride around Lemsford,Wheathampstead,the Ayots and Symondshyde woods.

Addiktion in Victoria road used to organise a mid week night ride,or OTT based in Harpenden arrange local rides starting in Harpenden or Sandridge.

There`s a manufacturer of sensors in St Albans with their company name SICK proudly emblazoned down the side of their office.

My kids always point and giggle when they pass it.

I love Fizik Gobi saddles but wish they could make them in such a way that the front edge didn`t wear away.

Bikeradar has a useful forum for feedback on its classifieds section.About time we had one here….?

+1 something eVent.I have a Gill Pro speed which is excellent.Its now branded as a DHB something or other,and can be had from Wiggle.

Im 6ft and ride an M/L which is perfect.Id say an M would be spot on for you.

Recent convert to SS sintered ahving been a Shimano user of both organic and sintered.

Too early to compare to Shimano sintered which were exceptionally long lasting for durability,but they do provide lots of
“bite”.Very happy so far.

Whyte 905?

Penhydd closed bu there are well advanced plans for it to reopen later this year/next year.

Skyline will be affected over next 5 years by construction of new windfarm but plans for phased alternative trails in place during its build.

BTW,The GF has an iphone 4 and doesn`t experience the same problem.

I have the same problem.And it happens with different routers too so I`d love to hear if anyone has a fix.

White 120mm Reba RL with 15mm thru axle120mm 15mm Reba RLS?

Check chain for stiff links.

Crossrides are ok.Might also be worth looking to see what you could get at Merlin.SLX hubs with Mavic 317s would be the same weight,and have the adavantage of having easily sourced spokes.
I`ve always found Shimano cup and cone hubs reliable and easy to service too,if you know how to adjust cones………..

“Unidentified object in bagging area……….”
Arrrgggh!

Pointing to SPDs "Wheres the rest of your pedals?
“What gear are you in?”
“Why do you need so many tyres?”
“Why do you clip in to the the pedals? Thats a bit dangerous isn`t it……?”
“Bloody hell that`s light!” When picking up c/f road bike.
“Where`s your bell and reflectors?”