I rode all the red trails at Afan this weekend on my FS,a Giant Anthem with only 100mm travel.

It isnt much travel but Id been battered to bits if I`d done it on my hardtail.

So I`d say yes big difference.

I was riding at Afan at the weekend and on the first day my Fox F100rl forks started leaking.

So on Saturday morning I popped into Skyline cycles,and got tem to fit the new low friction seal kit.

I`m not sure if my original seals were just a duff set,but the new seals are great.My forks were suffering from stiction on the first part of the stroke,now that has gone and they are just nice and plush.

I will see how they go for long term reliability but I rode Skyline and did Whites level with the new seals and they worked brilliantly.

Pair of Biofuse Swimming goggles
Easton EC70 bars
carbon spacers………

You need to bear in mind that most standard postposts have a degree of setback anyway.Indeed very few have zero layback.The Thomson layback posts look as though they put you back further over the chainstays but it is in fact a bit of an illusion due to the fact the layback is in the post rather than at the saddle cradle.

The amount of layback on Thomson is only 16mm,so if the bike is really off for reach it won`t make much of a difference.

You might need to think about a longer stem or a bigger bike…..

How much did you pay?

Because there are some good deals on CRC at the moment.

Next SL risers for £62,Turbine risers for £35…….

I`m on my 4th chain,on the same cassette.I change them 1t 0.75.
With the price of XT chain rings anywhere up to £60 ,and XT cassettes at £45 a pop as they are,I`d rather spend £14 on a chain,thanks.

Used to use Finish line wet,but now use Squirt.

Not as messy and gunk attracting as Finish Line but you do need to reapply more often when riding in the wet.

Stitches being taken out is a little uncomfortable but it was about 18 months to 2 years after the transplant mine came out so no need to worry about that for a while!

Again the thought is much worse than the reality.People are so squeamish about eyes but after 15 years of visits to Moorfields I became immune!

Which is weird becuase I`m normally the most squeamish person going…..

Forgot to add,if you need any advice feel free to pm or email me.
And if you have Mr Tuft or his team at Moorfields to do it you are in great hands.

Have you found the Kerataconus forum? I got great advice on there.

But no regrets at all.The thought of it was so much worse than the reality.In fact it was pretty much painless.

I`ve got so used to having my eyes prodded and operated on I had the ICL done under local anaesthetic……..

Hi

Having had kerataconus for years,I finally got fed up with lenses and figuring I had nothing to lose because my vion in that eye was so poor,took the plunge.I had mine done at Moorfields about 7 years ago,then subsequently had an ICL implant too about 4 years ago.

I`d say it had a positive impact on my cycling because my sight in the left eye is now massively improved and I no longer have to wear hard lesnes which were ridiculousy susceptible to dirt and dust.A month off the bike is a small price to pay.

The 110mm stem on my L was way too long,so I swapped it out for a 90mm.(I`m 6ft).Reach is perfect,nice balance between flickability and stability.

Might yet be tempted to try an 80mm butI think anything less would be too twitchy for me,especially given the Anthem`s geo.

I can thoroughly reccomend the Giant Defy Advanced.Comfortable yet still fast and nimble handling.

A bit racier than the likes of the Roubaix.

Specilized rib cage
I`ve been using a Specialized rib bottle cage for the last few years and never had a problem.

Giant Anthem X5http://www.pedalon.co.uk/acatalog/giant_anthem_x5.html

Having had an example of both I preferred the Defy.If you can affordd it go for Tiagra,partly for the more intuitive levers and if its 10 speed it will allow easier upgrades.

I`d go for the 901.

I got a perfectly good one in Decathlon for about £5.Like others I`d rather have everything on the bike ready to go rather than faff around.Hate stuff on my back too.But I also often use a seatpack and a bottle rather than a Camelbak too………

Virtually every entry level bike is spoilt by cheapo undamped forks,to get the all important SLX/XT mech on………
You even see £1500 bikes with Alivio shifters but a higher spec rear mech.If you are going to penny pinch shouldn`t it be the other way round?

Iam normally around 16-17 mph on the road bike over that time.Over the same route on the mtb I`d be similar to you.

That is lovely.Great colour choice too.

My local KF were always very good when I used them when I was a coMpany car user.

I will be there again.Our company is a major sponsor and I will be on on our stand at least one of the days.

£70 per month for both wtih Scottish Power.Thats for a 150 year old two bedroomed terrace with solid walls so not bad considering poor insualtion.

Addiktion in Victoria Street in St Albans is good.

Whats included in the lease? Is normal servicing covered? Do you just have to pay for your own insurance and for consumables?

I recently worked out that I lose, £175 a month on depreciation alone and thats on a second hand car.Factor in running costs and I can imagine why leasing might be worth considering,if you want to be in a new car.

Just finished “All hell let loose” by Max Hastings.I`ve read the Anthony Beevor boooks on Stalingrad,D Day (and Hastings book) and Berlin too,but “All hell let loose” really puts the whole war and all the western allies campaigns in context when you start looking at them against what happened on the Eastern front.

Essential reading if you want to get a comprehensive overview.

I can also thoroughly reccomend Guy Sajer`s book which is his first hand expereience and strory of fighting on the Russian front.

Both wheels off,yes.Rear wheel on no.

£1 in this part of Bedfordshire.

Sorry 33″ inside leg.

I`m a gnats whisker under 6ft and ride a M/L Defy Advanced.Absolutley spot on fit.
Shame they don`t do there mtbs in M/L………

Same problem here.Im afraid that your best bet is to shop where the old farts go.M and S or anywhere that doesnt do high fashion.

Previously used Victoria Plumb. Very cheap.

My kids playground was still covered in ince this morning,and given that it hasn`t risen above 0 all day here,I reckon its safer all round.

Top peak mini 18 is really good.The Chain tool actually works too.

Sounds like you`d be best served by a 29er!

My nearly 5 year old rides an immaculate Carrera Luna 16 that we ppicked up off ebay for £16.She flies along on it,great little bike.
I`d advocate buying the best you can secondhand.Totally pointless buying new as they will scuff and scratch it in no time.You normally recoup most of the caost at resale too.
My kids are riding,Carrera,Dawes,Giant and GT bikes.
All good.
I want to like Isla bikes but very spendy even if you do get good resale.

I had a creak which I couldn`t pin down.Checked the drivetrain,cranks,pedals,everything.Turned out it was the saddle rails.I have a Fizik Gobi with ti rails and it seems ti rails are particularly prone to creaking.Some copperslip makes it go away for a while but mostly I just live with it.

Im interested in peoples views on these 2.This or a Whyte 901/905?

I`d just get it fixed and keep it.If you bought it from a dealer,I bet he will still have made a decent margin on it which you will lose as soon as you sell it.
I`d get it checked over by a good independent garage for peace of mind,though.

I have a lot of seatpost showing on my Giant hardtail and never had a problem with a Thomson.The original Giant seatpost and a later Easton EA50 both slipped,but the Thomson just does the job without fuss.

Cy did made a comment recently about finding the Thomson less comfortable than other posts,but I guess that the price you pay for the strength.