Cheers for this guys, super useful really appreciate it!

Cheers for the insights all, super useful!

Headed over this morning, insane weather – 19C in Wales in April?! Fantastic.

I’m weird and really enjoy climbing but there was a lot of it which wasn’t often broken up, followed by fun, very fast descents that seemed to be over very quickly. Not as much tech as I’m used to in the FoD and elsewhere.

Enjoyed it, being so stony and open I expect it drains well, so will keep it for wet months whilst the stuff in the trees elsewhere is finally dry.

Can also confirm the carpark is still free, machines are still donning covers.

Absolutely fantastic, cheers! Really useful. Cracking blog too, enjoyed reading through that!

Prefer the looks of the V1 for sure, but need the warrantee so bug zapper blue it is! Thanks again for your insights.

How did things go with Ripley vs Ripmo Alex? I’ve nailed it down to these two but wonder how they compare.

Would be interested to know which is more fun in places like FoD, and how either hold up after winter rides? I’ve heard the seat for the link on the top of the rear triangle can get damaged picking up grit etc

No one needs it, it’s definitely innovation for the sake of innovation, but I’d be willing to bet most of us will be riding around with wireless mechs in 10 years, if not 5.

You can happily boil water in a pan to make a brew, ultimately a kettle does the job more ergonomically. It’s just nicer to use.

Even the most ardent tinkerers don’t love indexing gears. I service my bikes meticulously and I hate how mechs never stay perfectly indexed long. Electronics will sort that.

No chance am I paying double the cost of a high end analogue setup. But when it comes down, and it will, I’ll be all over it. Because it’s progress. And it’s better.

I used a Park Tool CC-4 on the SX chain, changed at 0.5. I have a GX on there now which has done just over 300 miles so far and is currently ok.

Recently found this, tonnes of info if you read the whole thing but the important part is the section relating 12 speed drivetrains. NX and GX are the same in terms of longevity. X01 as stated above is significantly better than anything else out there at the moment, that’s where my money will go next:

https://cyclingtips.com/2019/12/the-best-bicycle-chain-durability-and-efficiency-tested/

Depends on the spot! Out on the ridge of a hill/mountain with an epic view, up. Half way down a gnarly descent, down.

The setup should suit the tone for sure.

Lots of fair points well made. Immensely complex this mess, the relative simplicity of the summer is almost too incredible to risk thinking about.

I’ve been surprised by how fast even sticky trail tyres are on the road if you pump them right up and lock the shocks out. I’ve been setting a Magic Mary Soft and DHR2 to 45 psi to get to some local trails by road, letting them down to trail pressure there and then pumping back up for the trip home, and it’s quite easy to see 15/16mph avg on tarmac.

BBC are reporting an expected date of 29th March for outdoor activities with up to 6 people, and a removal of the local enforcement rule, ahead of tonight’s announcement.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-56148160

I thought it would be May so 5 more weeks isn’t too bad. I believe in the science and have followed all the rules carefully since the beginning but enough is enough now.

Frankly it’s been frustrating seeing people (including friends and family) come up with their own empty justifications to break the rules since the beginning, based entirely on first world privilege and a total lack of basic perspective, only to see the numbers ramp right up and lose access to outdoor exercise in the woods miles from anyone that causes no harm at all in reaction. I fully appreciate it’s more complex than that, but each time a mate’s excused ‘just going round to one mates house for dinner’ during a lockdown, then another a few days later, I’ve made it clear how selfish they’ve been.

SAGE are working on the basis that outdoor transmission is causing 1 in 100 cases, but it’s thought by their scientists the actual number could be between 1 in 1000 and 1 in 10,000. That all paired together has meant losing trips to trails has really pissed me off.

That in itself is a first world problem I totally appreciate. Others have lost their sport entirely. But cycling is one of the lowest risk activities, if not the lowest risk. Can’t wait to have those weekends back again and put this all behind us, the escapism is phenomenally important for the mind.

There are still second hand bargains out there, despite market conditions.

Appreciate NBD may line up better with a new shiny rig, but having recently sourced one for a mate there are decent options out there which keeps things interesting. His budget was a round £1k. Found a 2020 Sonder Transmitter with a Pike for £800. Felt that was an absolute bargain in the current world, missed out on it and got something else but really liked the Sonder.

Totally agree. The genuine SRAM item is a bit of a rip off bought alone, there are bright green copies of it on eBay and they’re exactly the same.

Does anyone know which chains are the best bang for buck? I had 550 miles out of an SX chain, have a GX on now but will go higher next time if they’re considerably more durable?

Same for me, I was at FoD once or twice a week until it wasn’t permitted, also Bristol based. I’m very lucky to have Ashton Court and some other local trails on the doorstep, I’m out on them 3-5 times a week to keep me sane.

The key with Ashton is to hit it up in the week, it’s dead at lunch time, totally empty at night at the moment and great fun with a decent helmet mounted lamp (treated myself to the MagicShine Galaxy 8000S which is insane).

The second trick is to fit XC tyres and lap it as fast as you can, as the lines are far more difficult and challenging. Run sticky trail tyres and it’s too easy to rail and slow, run fast tyres which eventually understeer and its a right laugh.

Cannot wait to get to the FoD and Quantocks again. Will be heading out for dawn to avoid the crowds, of all types. Me and the missus do that with the (endless but actually great once you’re out on them) walks too or it’s just too hectic.

As far as I understand activities can be shared through to the world community if you have open privacy settings, which they are by default.

I used to get the random person kudos too, until I locked down my account properly (paranoia/diligence around ride tracing and my bikes getting nicked). Now I have to accept followers as part of my privacy settings I don’t get those anymore.

Neil you’re not wrong haha! I hope you’re not too banged up. I hit them up for the first time a few days ago and koala’d most of them being totally honest.

The tech level is significantly above what I’m used to at FoD or the Quantocks, I’ve worked up to them for that reason as I’d heard they were pretty raw. I’ve got the skills to ride other natural stuff in the area in the slop and get off the ground but as you say the trails are a mix of wooden spears everywhere with rutted claggy lines through them at the moment. I also didn’t want to tear up the more embedded trails for those who can ride them properly, I couldn’t get enough grip to hold decent lines.

Quite a step up, everything in the immediate area is (fantastic and lucky to have) XC then its over the cliffs to steep/tech city!

Another vote for Fox Water Pant 3L, really well thought out and top quality. Not had them long but have the same range of shorts and they’re holding up really well.

Had to get them from ‘Murica though via eBay as there’s nothing left in Europe as others have mentioned, and everything’s slightly delayed at customs at the moment. Worth the wait.

Cheers all that’s super useful!

I’ll scope out a few then and see what they’re like, at least there are less trees to hit now if I run out of talent :D.

Bring on the drier months, not long now.

Hey guys, has anyone been riding these again recently, are they still viable or completely written off from the works?

The Fox is a MM tune and I need an ML…

Rear shocks are going to be harder to pick up second hand I think!

Haha I know what you mean, so easily done! With a lot of my rides fitness focussed now I’ve got a lot better at being on top of it, still I get it wrong regularly!

If I’m honest with my requirements, which is key here isn’t it or you just keep going up the spec sheet, I absolutely need a lockout/compression reducing lever. That’s my bottom line. I’d also really like some better small bump sensitivity, but I realise that’s what you pay the big bucks for, shocks that can do that and provide the necessary support.

Massively appreciate the shout on the Cane Creek piggyback, but at £599 it’s too high for the frame for me right now. I think I’m down to these at the moment:

Top End: DVO Topaz, £440

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/mobile/dvo-suspension-topaz-air-rear-shock/rp-prod163107

Fantastic reviews everywhere, tuneable but simple to set up and can come with a free custom tune if you ask nicely, looks wicked, comes in a padded pistol case for extra points.

Mid Range: Cane Creek DBair IL, £327

https://www.singletrackbikes.co.uk/m7b546s428p56211/Cane_Creek_DBair_IL_/Rear_Shocks/RS_GB/142395

Fits my requirements perfectly, looks brilliant, but questionable reliability record – although apparently whilst the original units were a nightmare, the return figure for these is 2% which isn’t awful. It’s tempting because it’s bang on spec, but it’s a gamble right?

Low End: Fox Float DPS, £200

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/254787753271

Gets me the lockout I need. Sounds like it’s a PITA to tune but then rides really well (https://www.ambmag.com.au/feature/tested-fox-float-dps-performance-elite-482126). Totally appreciate it’s not going to be night and day, but it’s £360 for a DPS new vs £110 for a Monarch R, so it may be a bit better?

Head says the DVO, and keep everything it comes with for resale whenever I change the frame, what do you think?

Great to hear re Cwmcarn, that place sounds ace. Cannot wait to try it out, do you prefer heading there or to FoD?

Cheers guys all super useful!

I’ve found a few new shocks that suit my needs perfectly, but they’re all (understandably) higher end haha – £400 plus. Which I don’t think I can justify simply because they’re so bike specific and I can’t take it with me to the next frame.

This one looks like it’s possibly a good solution though, with the DPS it should be a solid option for climbs as well as descents? And I don’t think I’ll be riding much that demands a piggyback, maybe Cwmcarn when it’s open what do you think as I’ve not ridden it yet but hear it’s a long drop? Anything like the Alps where you’d really need one I’ll hire a rig out there with mates.

I’m I right in thinking this is the right fitment?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/254787753271

Cheers again for all your input on this guys, went out on the Magic Mary and DHR II combo tonight for the first time in the slop at 0DegC and the tyres were phenomenal. So much grip, deeply reassuring through off-camber corners or berms, very very predictable they just dig in and yet roll really well on the trail, they want you to keep building speed all the time.

In terms of off-trail and climbing, way more grip in slop, noticeably lighter and easier to spin up to speed in most places, but also much more drag on gravel or grass which you do notice, particularly at the shallower start of inclines which you just don’t have the same zipp up the starting ramp. That all balances out though I’d say and the grip makes it worth it 100 times over.

The only place I noticed the WTB Vigilante Tough/High Grip was better, at least in these conditions and bearing in mind it’s rated for dry/damp, was on flat dust over hardpack corners as you guys mentioned… there are a few corners I’m used to really hustling the front end round sharply for fun, and the Magic Mary wants smoother lines on that stuff, where the WTB had more widespread grip like a car tyre across the hardpack and so could pull those off. Again well worth losing for the massive capabilities elsewhere, it felt like a different, more capable bike everywhere else.

Worth noting for the uninitiated getting a Magic Mary to seat tubeless is biblical compared to other tyres, but totally worth the pain!

Cracking cheers guys, that’s wicked. Great to hear it’s hopefully a solid choice!

Thanks re the rear shock advice also, is this the Cane Creek one you mean Joe?

https://www.singletrackbikes.co.uk/m7b546s428p56211/Cane_Creek_DBair_IL_/Rear_Shocks/RS_GB/142395

It has a variable lockout that reduces both compression and rebound which is interesting, that could be super useful for the climbs as my current one (RS Monarch as you say) does bob a bit.

Also it comes in 190 X 50mm, my bike is 190 X 51mm… will that stretch or do these fitments have to be bang on?

Cheers Joe! You’re advice is sorting my bike right out!

It seems Pikes went Boost only a few years ago, but Ive managed to pick up a late non-boost one just now (https://m.pinkbike.com/buysell/2909564/), it’s only been used once or twice and year by the sellers wife, and serviced annually so fingers crossed it’s a good one!

Which brings me to the rear shock, would you recommend a Monarch Plus RC3 or similar?

Thanks JoeBristol and oiKeith, really appreciate your responses! I’ve recently transitioned back into MTB from the dark side and tyres are a bit of an art form… you’ve saved me a lot of spending and swapping.

I’ve gone for the Magic Mary Soft Addix Snakeskin 2.35 F, and DHR2 3C Exo 2.3 rear this time. Whilst I hit up FoD and the Quantocks on the weekends I do Ashton Court/Leigh Woods/50Acre 2 or 3 nights a week after work for fitness and take the hardest routes up, so the 850-odd gram weight of the DHR appealed this time to see if I feel the difference. I’m dropping 506g from the WTB pair (Vigilante High Grip/Tough F and Trail Boss Fast Rolling/Tough R).

I also noticed after pulling the trigger on the DHR2 there’s a WT option, I’ve got 29mm rims so hopefully I’m right on the cusp of the regular DHR2s window and the WT would be overkill.

I’ll be on non-reinforced tyres for the first time, after running 18f 22r psi on those it’ll be interesting to see how high I need to go on the supple casing tyres.

Will keep all these recommendations in mind, I’m keen to find a sweet spot for a set of winters and summers for around here!

Out of interest, would these work in summer well too or would you switch them out for something like an Assegai F and fast rolling rear?

Fantastic thread, thanks op and not to side track but to prevent opening another similar thread as was about to!

JoeBristol I haven’t used the Assegai but for all round riding in winter I’ve found a Magic Mary front and DHR2 rear pretty good. 2.35” front (addix /
Soft / snakeskin) and 2.3” rear (exo 3c max terra).

Cheers Joe, I’m also based in Bristol and starting to find the WTB Trail Boss that came on the rear of my bike lacking grip up steep sloppy tech locally and at the FoD. I appreciate the Vigilante on the front probably isn’t the best for winter either as it clogs up really fast.

Re the Magic Mary, asking to get the right one rather than being a pedant, there seems to be a 2.35 Addix Soft Supergravity or a 2.4 Soft, is it the Soft Supergravity you reccomend?

https://www.merlincycles.com/schwalbe-magic-mary-addix-soft-folding-tyre-275-102166.html

And this for the rear;

https://www.wiggle.co.uk/maxxis-minion-dhr-ii-3c-exo-tr-650b-folding-tyre

Cheers!