Thanks a lot for the replies people 🙂

I’m now looking at the Bird TR. Some good reviews for the on-one too.

Size wise I’m 5ft9 (and a half!) would I be better off with a 16″ or 18″? I ride a Kona 153DL Medium if that helps.

It’s whatever comes stock on the Kona Process 153 DL 2015 – WTB Frequency Team i25 TCS

Thanks guys, certainly gives me some good insight. I’m leaning towards the DT rims now.

I currently have a set of WTB i25 rims and I’m not that impressed, I’ve dented them badly already and I’ve not had them long.

This is a relatively common problem with the CCDB air (google it). Both me and my mate have this shock and within 6 months have both had to send back to be resolved by TF.

TF are great about it and return the shock promptly but it does reduce my confidence in the reliability of the shock, especially since my mates broken half way through a riding holiday in Slovenia.

It’s not the wet I was asking about, I’ve ridden it loads of times and well aware of how wet it gets up there. I was more asking about if they still have diversions.

Great, thanks mate, so just to confirm it’s these 2;

http://www.ukbikestore.co.uk/product/402/160_6465/fsa-th-873s-mr054s-1-18-acb-36-x-45-cc-headset-bearing.html

http://www.ukbikestore.co.uk/product/402/160_6740/fsa-th-073-mr127-15-acb-36-x-45-headset-bearing.html

Thanks again

Thanks all for input. I’ve saved some of the options as a back-up but looks like we’ll have to do a fair bit of travelling if we get bored.

Like to think we’re half decent on bikes so hopefully we can make the best of it.

Just hope the weather holds out for us, not looking great at the moment….

I’ve got an i spec b shifter and brake. Just need the adapter then. How would buying a new shifter help if they don’t come with the mounts?

Right OK I’ve not got it. Any ideas where I can order one from. I go to France on Thursday so need to get something sorted ASAP!

Thanks

I feared you might say that…I’ll have a look for it in the box…

I really like this tyre but in answer to your question I don’t think they are that tough as I’ve also ripped a sidewall.

I run a 2.2 on the back of my trail bike. Good grip, roll well but can slide it around when I want to. Not sure I’d run one on the front in the winter though, it’s definitely not as grippy as the 2.3 Baron I run on the front.

Thanks. Well the plan would be to ditch the CTD mechanism and have it replaced with the Push tuning conversion kit to a high speed and low speed compression adjustment;

http://www.pushindustries.com/2009/index.php?menu_id=38&type=products&title=FOX%20FLOAT%2034%20CTD&product_id=108

But like I said previously this isn’t cheap at £200 and giving I can pick up a pair of 55s for about £450, providing I can get £250 for my Fox 34s it then becomes a cost neutral decision.

Decisions decisions…

Very interesting, was just looking at these last night. I’ve currently got a set of Fox 2013 34s CTD and not massively impressed. I’m debating on whether to spend c£200 getting this plush tuned by TF or selling and getting some of Marzochi’s.

Not sure at the moment? Anyone had the opportunity to compare the Marzochis with Fox 34s?

Something to do with the eyelets not fitting with the Float X

Thanks for the info. Mojo accepted an order this morning and then a technician has just come back to me stating that the Float X can’t be fitted on the Stumpy but the normal CTD Float can. Shame but not sure there is any massive difference.

Just ordered it all so I’ll let you know how I get on

Cheers, reckon I’ll go for the 34t then. I’ll give it a go 🙂

I’m seeminly convinced on Carbon wheels, thanks all for your input. I quickly got over any anxiety of having a carbon frame a few years ago so don’t see how this is any different really.

Out of interest is there a UK Dealer for the LB Carbon wheels, I can’t seem to find one?

Thanks again

The new Nano pedals come out in the next few weeks and look pretty good. Might be worth holding fire until then!

Yeah there is a study by Bath University although it doesn’t disclose who the manufacturer of the other carbon wheel set is. They do compare it to an aluminium Stans Crest rim and conclude its stronger in every way.

I might just go for it, main concern is if they do go it’s usually in spectacular fashion unlike aluminium…

First ride on Saturday with a Race face narrow wide 34t with Shimano Zee clutch mech. Removed my chain device too. Normal 10 speed chain.

The chain stayed on and it was a pretty rough ride with us doing a loop around Hope Valley (some quite fast and rocky descents). No chain slap too.

I’d recommend

Black Chilli Baron up front and RQ on rear has worked an absolute treat for me!

Not sure I’d want 2 RQs though…

Thanks all.

Akira – let me know via a PM.

Happy with either, peaslake is closer to you so could be the better option

OK could do somewhere out near you? Do you know your way around pitch hill area?

Based in SW London, Clapham Junction. Usually dont get the train until 7ish as otherwise its too busy.

I commute roughly 7 miles each way through a busy central London everyday. I enjoy my commute but not sure I feel entirely safe on the roads, having said that the cycle lanes in London are often used by pedestrians or are littered with gravel/glass which isn’t kind on 23C tyres, I much prefer to use the roads.

View on helmets being compulsory? Keep with the laissez faire approach, they’ll only hurt themselves. It would put a real dent in Boris’s Barclays bike scheme if helmets were compulsory…

I feel your pain living in a new build flat with no outside space…!

I used to wash mine in the bath but not sure it’s all that great for the health of the bike as it’s almost too wet! As my shower has a fixed showerhead water pools in vital areas like the headset and BB, it’s also pretty annoying with the bike falling over without the wheels on. I agree it doesn’t make a mess though, the first time my mrs caught me washing the bike in the bath was an interesting conversation, but testament to the fact I’d washed it several times previously without her noticing…

I’ve made ‘friends’ with the local car wash guys and now just head down with a few quid in hand and they let me have free reign of the facilities from buckets and sponges to the jet washes, its much better than a petrol station jet wash as there is no time limit and you can do a proper job.

Might be worth scouting at your local area to see if you can find somewhere like a car wash place.

I worked for Halfords for nearly 5 years in a mixture of part time and full time positions within the bikehut whilst at College and University. As a company they served me relatively well and I think in return I offered some much needed experience with bikes and products, as well as meaningful advice for customers.

For me one of the main problems with Halfords is the staff, they pay minimum wage and only incentivise sales of accessories with bikes as opposed to customer service. This leads to ‘pushy’ sales techniques and a distinct smell of desperation at the till whilst someone was almost forced to buy some lights or a helmet… Many of the staff across the 3 stores I have worked are not interested in cycling nor have any desire to learn, it’s a pure 9-5 type job. Compare this to your LBS and it’s not hard to see why there is such a difference in customer service.

Halfords need to work hard to attract staff that are passionate about their strategy for bikes and balance this with part time people who don’t have as much knowledge but are trained appropriately. I have many a horror story of bikes going out of the store PDI’d by someone who has received no training and the bike has failed and caused injury.

Halfords have a long way to go in my opinion as the damage is already done from what I can see

I’m currently running some of the Superstar Nano pedals, for £40 they are awesome, light, grippy and so far pretty robust.

Previosly I’ve ran DMR V12s which I wasn’t hugely impressed with but they did the job. The best pedals I’ve owned in terms of weight and grip and robust ability to fend off rocks were the E13 LG1 flat pedals, ridiculously grippy when used with five tens, to the point where you can’t adjust your foot position on the pedal unless you pull your foot completely off and re-position, this can be a pain if you don’t have much of a run up to a drop/jump/obstacle, they also bite pretty hard if you fall off, I have the scars to prove it! Not cheap at £118 though…

People always commenting on this with me too, it’s 8 miles takes about 25mins its not the equivalent of a marathon.

Somone recently asked me if I was going for a run when leaving in my cycling gear, with my SPDs, helmet, glasses and gloves on, they’re obviously a keen runner…

Main bike is my road bike/commuter – £1100 Carbon Giant Defy ex display last years model type deal

Weekend Bike – c£4000 Carbon Stumpy with Fox 34s, XT brakes, Stans flow rims/superstar hubs, reverb dropper post, clutched x9 rear mech, nukeproof 50mm stem, renthal 740mm trail bars, E13 LG1 pedals. Worth every penny 🙂

I’ve not read all 6 pages so this may have been covered previously but to lose that last bit of fat I’ve found doing 3x weight sessions per week works really well to tone and build some muscle.

Keep it relatively light with the weights and high reps, keep the form good and aim for big compound exercises like squats, pull-ups, dead lifts and chest press. I see so many people fail by going into the gym more often than me who stand chatting with a mate and seeing who can lift the most on the bicep machine with awful technique… Might even be worth getting a personal trainer for the first few sessions to put you on the right lines, there is an excellent workout named Tentigers (look it up).

It will take time so try not to lose patience but as noted on here, once you have a good base its much easier to maintain as you are buring more calories at rest and have that feel good factor about working out.

Its often not easy to fit in these kind of work-outs into your dailly routine but if you want to make it work you can, whether that be going at 5.30am before work (I do this quite a lot) or at lunch time or the twilight shift like 10pm at night.

To echo the comments on here, reduce calories and work hard and the results will show.

I’ve also been looking at a set of these for my stumpy FSR Carbon Comp, the Talas come with an adjustable dial on the top so you can wind them down to your desired height (120mm-160mm adjust).

Think the basic version is an internal adjustmenent only but as stated that would be done by Mojo