Thanks all! Can I just ask about the rear shock position? Is it exposed to the rear wheel ?
Cheers

Thanks all. Saxonrider it is Aldi bike compared to a Pivot Switchblade alloy which is 4.5k!

It’s great, trails being built there all the time. Definitely worth a visit . Has a great cafe too.

I’d go for the Bird AM9 but then I prefer 29’ers. When I demoed the 145 it felt awesome downhill but a bit lethargic on the flatter stuff.

I crikey ! I was only asking the question !

I think Starling would be a better buy anyway.

thanks for your opinions anyway.

Thanks all that’s something to think about .

Cheers all.

I bought Hope Easton Arc 35mm off CRC for about £375 on offer. Great wheels and not a bad weight. I used to have 45mm rims but I didn’t like them, too heavy and cumbersome. 35mm is the sweet spot for plus tyres in my opinion.

I’m my experience biodegradable usually means crap.

I’ve got a purgatory 3.0. I ride South Wales trail centres and supper steep natural rooty stuff. It’s great and I don’t even think about roots anymore.

I’ve never seen anyone go fast uphill on and orange. It always looks like hell.

yes its the same one as yours. I find it works ok but its massive and pretty ugly. To be expected of a mudgayrd I suppose :)

I’ve ridden a really steep trail up there and a more flowy one. I need to explore it more really but it’s a bugger of a climb.

I’ve got NX cranks and they are direct mount. They dont feel any different to any cranks I’ve ever ridden and I’ve had X0 in the past. They are just heavier.

Cheers !

I did Glentress as a novice on a HT about 8 years ago and it was a doddle. Afan is more challening.

save some cash and buy a Bird AM29, they look great value.

Well I’ve got a size large Alu (Same Geo as carbon), NX Revs build and I’m 5’11, perfect fit. Amazing bike. It’s so stable and grips like hell, be prepared to beat plenty of full suss riders which is great fun! I was going to buy a full suss in addition to this bike by probably wont bother now as I’m worried that I’d never ride it, its that much fun!

Get Pikes

I live 20 mins from BPW. Great place but I never go there because its full of the all the gear no idea crew. I prefer the quieter natural trails and Cwmcarn/Afan. Earn your descents!

No idea about those sorry but I’ve got a purgatory 2.3 on mine, its great in the wet loose stuff,not that wide. Cheap compared to Maxxis though!

Ive got the 120mm RC revelations and they’re great, very stiff. I’ve got a 3.0 tyre though which takes most of the small bumps. You can always convert it to a Pike later if you like by droppping a Charger 2 damper in it, £200.

Overpriced!

Thanks!

No ? Nothing? Lol

I’ve got the transmitter and its great, couldn’t care less about the flag.

The Bird Aeris seems better value than the Evol as it has Decent wheels. The Evol wheels are very heavy!

I have an Equinox, its great. I can do a lap of Cwmcarn on it as long as I use low setting on the climbs. Superbright on full beam.

I went from 45mm to 35 as the steering felt lethargic and heavy with 45mm. 35mm transformed the ride. Lighter, quicker and more responsive steering.

Alpkit will post you a transmitter to demo for a weekend, worth a go.

https://www.alpkit.com/support/stickies/sonder-bike-demo-days

I have the Sonder NX Revelation and I love it. I recommend trying a plus bike before you buy one though as they do feel different to a normal hardtail. I changed the wheels to a set of Hopes with Easton 35mm rims as I didn’t like 45mm rims. The standard wheelset is very heavy, the Hopes transformed the ride.

The carbon and alu frames have the same geo now. I have a large alu one ,I’m about 5’11 with 33 leg , its a perfect fit. Long enough to be very stable but plenty of standoved. Awesome bike!

The 2018’s will probably have metric shocks.

Whatever you buy, just make sure it’s a plus hardtail. The fatter tyres take hardtails to another level. I’ve got a Sonder Transmitter and it’s brilliant !

The alloy version has very tidy external routing which is one of the reasons why I like it.

I guess 2.6 will drop the BB a bit. Im going to be trying Specialized Purgatory 2.6 tyres in the the winter, I’ve always liked the 2.3 version so should be good. Maxxis plus tyres are silly prices!

I’ve recently bought the Alu NX With 2018 Revelations. It’s a brilliant bike! great for trail centres or big natural rides.I sold my full suss in January with the intention of buying a new full suss and a hardtail. Since getting the transmitter, I’ve decided not to get a full suss, its that good. In my opinion plus tyres are brilliant on a hardtail and I cant imagine riding one with normal tyres now.I did find the stock wheels too heavy so I changed them to Easton ARC plus on Hope pro 4 hubs, they transformed the bike.

I have the rumpus wheels, they seem solid but very heavy so I’ve just bought ARC 35’s on hope pro $’s from CC for approx £350. The change in performance is massive! Teh front wheel of the rumpus used to be really hard to turn as it created a gyroscopic effect. The ARC’s are much lighter and responsive when turning. 35mm seems to be the sweet spot, 45mm to wide for my taste.

Great thanks both will check them out.

Bristol is really close to Wales which has great walking and bike trails.

I’ve been holding out for the Whyte S150 before deciding between that and a Bird 145. If this is a full suss 29er I’ll almost certainly get one.