goodgrief,
Appreciate reply.
On the basis I will go at speed for the morning, then have a fatbastard lunch, then pottle round in the afternoon, would you recommend we hammer the red full route first, with you giving that the nod as being best? Assume no big drops to launch, etc and therefore hardtail best?
M.thanks.

Ti spring will reduce weight, however the CCDB is simply heavy versus an air can (RP23), you’ll cop about 1lb extra weight.
A lot of people would argue that the increased control from the CCDB is worth the weight, I;d agree myself but have made the decision to go light and accept the limits of the RP23 shock.

Turner frames do appear really nicely made and finished, they ride well, go for it. Just consider the HA you want, which will dictate whether to go brand new, or find an older, steeper HA model for cheap money. The angleset I am using seems great, perhaps buy a 2010 model and one of these (£125 for head set) and still save some money!

I’ve tried a CCDB on the 5spot- bloody brilliant, however weights 1lb more than the RP23 and I like my bikes light weight.
I still half wonder whether its worth carrying the weight penalty of a CCDB it really was superb, made the bike pop off lips and feel like you could never use full travel, but still had small bump sensitivity – suspect the endless adjustment of the CCDB is why, also coils always feel a bit better IMO.
I currently run about 25% sag on my RP23 shock and it doesn’t bottom out much, but would prefer 30-35% sag but then the travel blows through without using pro pedal – which the DW design doesn’t need.
In answer to your questionm, the CCDB out performs the RP23 by miles. Mine was set up for Hei Hei who uses a heavier spring than me, yet still felt loads better than my own RP23 shock which was set up for my rider weight.

backhander:
Its a really versatile bike.
I have the 2009 model which does have too steep a HA (IMHO) at 69degrees. I originally ran Fox rc2 160mm forks so slacken it off, however this raises the BB height.
I have attempted to make my 5spot as light as possible, it has 1×10 XTR gearing, Roval EL wheels, XTR brakes, etc. Overall weight is 26.75 lbs incl dropping seat post which seems really good and does feel light.
I have recently been close to selling it, wanting something slacker and possibly in carbon. The Santa Cruz blur TRC has appealed as has the Ibis HD (which Hei Hei rides). I decided to try the 1/1.8 headtube angle set that a guy called Saar sells from Israel. He was brilliant to deal with and the headset arrived within 5 days of order, was £125. It has slacken the HA by 1.5degrees, so now sits at 67.5 which feels really good, not ultra slack so steering speed is still reasonable, but much better on anything pointing downhill.
The DW link seems a really good system, the pedal action pulls the suspension taught so you get very little “bob”.
If you run the correct amount of sag it does blow through its travel all too easy (the RP23 has the minimal rebound tune on the 5spot), if you run pro pedal (not to counter bob) but to use this as low speed compression damping you loose the small bump compliance of the RP23 and you get some brake jack, so it seems its a “soft bike” in terms of its suspension feel – think the original HL 5spot design of a really active system, tempered with the DW link design.
I took mine to UKbikeskills last week (Jedi on here), nailed a 10foot gap jump with 3 foot step down more than happily. I’ve ridden it off the ladder drops at chicksands, it seems strong and has taken all abuse dished out. I run my front end low, whack down the saddle and it then feels BMX like, I ride a medium and am just a smidge under 6ft.
Currently I am tempted to keep mine as the slacker HA has made it more enjoyable to ride and kept the BB low.
Am emailing hei Hei a photo to post, any questions come back to me.

Our Panasonic twin DVD set has had heavy use and remains 100% ok, has dropped off centre arm rest, been trodden on, had toddlers attack it when changing DVD’s.
Would highly recommend.

Gutted. Had been dead keen to ride once you had finished work. Was hoping for a local chicksands and all signs were promising for the work you were doing.
I guess you weren’t there ideal type of neighbour (and vice versa know doubt) and they took the chance to bully you out.
Don’t blame you not wanting to sink anymore money into fighting them – could have taken for ever knowing solicitors.
Well done for all work undertaken and what was a brilliant idea and concept that had me chomping at the bit to rock up when it opened.
Complete f.bummer man.

Hats off to your company – most impressive attitude to reduce co2 footprint.
Like the bike, a lot.

Nice route to work too.

rancid.

James

I have B&W 684’s.
Have used them connected to a Denon solo unit (M37 & M38) – sounds lovely, but the Denon unit is quite handy itself, as these solo units go.
Did have some Kef Q series speakers to try, similar size book shelf to 684’s and they were no where near as nice to listen to as the B&W’s.

Now use the 684’s as my rears in the home cinema set up. 685’s at the front, using a Pioneer AV amp – does really well with surrond sound as well.

Had one, automatic movement.
Got it about 5 yrs ago. Friend of family is 2nd stunt director on Bond films and gave me mine FOC having got job lot for the film.

Kept v.poor time, needed a service, service costs were OTT, sold it on.

lovely looking watch though. Went for smaller face, larger size is moo-hoo-sive.

After about 3yrs. if I didn’t wear the watch for say 24hrs it stopped, until you had a hand shandy to re-charge it again.

Mavic Crossmax SX.
Lighter model to the ST.
Can take 15mm front axle as well as 20mm.
Weight circa 1550grams (f&r). On pair with Rovals but not so flexy.
Feel very rigid, so far done 4ft drops and coped fine.
Have transformed bike in terms of reducing unsprung mass and improving accleration.
Look v.bling – quite pricey – got mine via Evans £550 (ish).
Replaced Flow rims on Hope Pro II hubs. Massive weight difference.

hei hei – ha ha – very good.

mr bump
13.1/4″ from floor to centre of BB axle.
I run quite a lot of sag on my floats 140mm travel, preferring a softer set up, think this suits the frame.

Mike – you could well be right, the hold it in each hand test made the alpitude “feel” lighter, but I am not a detail man to weigh bikes – geetee1972 is a local neighbour and does my geek work on weights !

geetee has just acquired an alpine and it is stonking.

Restlessnative.
I ride a Aplitude, having acquired mine about Aug. 2010, I bought just the frame and use a fox float 32 (140mm) fork, plus XTR kit (1×10 gears).
It weighs 27lbs exactly.

I think the bike rocks, I go through phases of only wanting to ride this and not my full suss (Turner 5spot dw link).
It has relatively slack angles, a low BB and really short chain stays – makes it very flickable. I got the 16.5″ frame and am 5ft 11″ tall.
Its quite short, but still fine for long Xc rides.
It really comes alive when using it at chicksands on the 4x and dual track.
I had a dialled bike PA MKII & MKIII before this.
Between friends I ride with, I’ve tried the Dialled Alpine, on-one 456ti, Evil Sovereign, Cove’s hardtails.
In my view, outside of the 456ti which is stunningly nice to ride, the Alpitude does it all, jump bike, 4x bike, Xc bike, street bike.
I’ve yet to see another alpitude on any ride I’ve been on and the non naff angle appeals also. PA’s are everywhere on the Surrey Hills near me.
Has odd seat post size – 30.0mm (can get Thomson in this size) and crap paint – chips really easy.
I got the pewter grey colour and looks really nice.

I have had 2 PA’s, the MKII and MKIII – the latter really is brilliant.

However I wanted less weight.

Bought Genesis Alpitude 16.5″ frame – is possibly my most fav. bike owned to date (have had loads over yrs).
I considered the Evil Sovereign alongside this, but was put off by weight – despite loving how the Evil rides (friend I ride with has one).

Can’t say enough good things about the Alpitude – perfect 4x bike at chicksands, yet still can knock out 10-20mile Xc ride in comfort. Feels loads more “springey” than the PA did – friend has MKIII PA and riding back to back can tell real difference in comfort.
Aplitude is quite slack angled, really nimble, paint finish is poor )chips easily) and seat post size is frustrating size 30.0mm.
Otherwise is outstanding in all regards.
Run it with 1×10 gearing and Float 32 140mm fork, weight 27lbs near enough exactly with mainly XTR finishing kit.

Also use it at local skate park and is able to manage ramp duties quite happily – has super short wheel base and low BB height.

Greg – panic over, stop packing your bike up, I’ll take your place, photos make it look half interresting…..might be worth a gamble to see if its any better than Surrey Hills…..

Man those pictures make me want to puke with envy!!!!

it is more mainstream than most in appealing to a wider auidence, I suspect this is on purpose.
Its enjoyable – IMO.

I think the section that let itself down was cam McCaul flying through the corn field, by not seeing the jumps/landings it lost something and the jumps weren’t so impressive to watch.
I like seeing how the forks react on landing – all geek type stuff.

Against Seasons, no competition is it.
I tried to swap my lifecycles copy for friends Follow me and I was under impressed with follow me, but upon reflection love the last section with Gee and Stevie smashing it down the mountain – that bit was worth owning the DVD for alone.

I went to the Premier of Lifecycles – drunk a lot and think that affected my first view – think beer goggles. When watching my purchased DVD I did come away under whelmed and therefore, to a lesser extent, agree with your OP.

Amp research. I use to droul over these in American MTB mags.
Never saw one in the flesh. The forks were amazing to look at.

I owned a canondale Super Raven SX 900 carbon, first Canondale to get the Lefty fork – was a cracking 100mm full suss. bike, weighed sub 23lbs, the Lefty was a really nice fork, super smooth and plush. The shock set up was never quite right on the frame – was ahead of pro-pedal days and it needed it – was single linkage design system but squatted into its travel. Sold it as soon as it started to creak – fearing “crack & fail” was coming. Was £3,000 quid new – seemed like a fortune at the time – circa Yr.2000(ish) from memory.
Coda disc brakes – they were a joke – using your feet would have been better to stop the bike…..ahh fond memories.

Thanks to all.
Did suspect the Trials had to have better power, as read references to not needing to buy Saint brakes anymore, and the race brakes are def. not in that camp.
Suspect I will go with Trial model for more DH oriented bike.
Thanks again, appreciate advice.

Anyone….anyone……

GF1 – brilliant!
Sold it once, then bought it again for the 2nd time !
Have tried Sony NEX5 – nice camera, but menus are v.fiddly Vs Lumix menus which are easy to get along with.
Oly is meant to be just as good – but not tried it myself.
Made me sell my canon DSLR & lens and now just use the GF1 – of the 2 lens I have 14-45 zoom and 20mm pancake – the latter is the winner by far.
Also have a Lumix TZ8 as a decent compact to compliment the GF1 when you want something even more pocketable.

Stevie,
I am a novice with a camera.
I had a canon D500 SLR (picked as it did HD filming) with a Sigma lens plus the kit lens. Was a right pain to lug around on days out – but took some cracking pictures.
I also had a Panasonic GF1 with the 20mm pancake lens and the 14-45 zoom lens.
I sold the GF1 deciding having to fairly pricy cameras was OTT – the second I sold the GF1 I regretted it, so – sold the Canon and lens and bought for the 2nd time the GF1 – best decision going – take it everywhere – does better HD filming than the canon – the 20mm lens gives remarkable shots (better than the zoom lens I find) easy to use menus – am using more of this camera than I ever managed with the canon’s menu’s. can’t recommend highly enough, copes fine with action shots – got some great snaps jumping at chicksands.
Also have Panasonic Lumix TZ8 – this is a really cracking compact at around £200 – previously had canon IXUS 95 which is similarly priced.

The panasonic stuff is really good.
Friend has Sony NEX5 – seems very similar to GF1 – but fiddly menus to navigate.
Hope this helps.

Brilliant!

Quite stunning film, loved the black and white night time riding worked really well.
Venue was good choice – had beer, HD screen was good.
Cyclesurgery give away was fun – albeit won zilch.

Really pleased I got to go, would go to more mtb films as great to see them on a big screen.

Volume could have been turned up a bit more as only constructive thought to offer.

I am a big fan of both.
I have had trialrakers each winter for the last 3 yrs.

I like Rampages as a summer tyre.

I am finding the Fire Xc Pro the ideal middle ground between the 2.
Loads more wet weather grip than the Rampage, but not so draggy as the trail raker. Now have Fire Xc Pro’s on both bikes and think will stick with them for the worst that winter offers and then go back to rampages come Spring 2011.

James

I had a Panasonic Lumix GF1 and a Canon DSLR 500D.

I sold the GF1 and kept going with the canon, almost immediately I regretted the decision – bought a GF1 for a 2nd occasion and sold the Canon.
best decision ever made, the GF1 captures as good photos, gives better HD video (by far) and is more fun to use.

A friend acquired the Sony NEX5 – this is not as good as the Panasonic, Sony has fidly menu options (so much so a new firm ware upgrade has been released to try and simplify the menu functionality), and just isn’t as easy to use. Also the flash bolts on, where as the Panasonic is built in. I would also say the Panasonic lens, being a leica sponsored lens, is far better than the Sony offering.

I mainly use my GF1 with the 20mm pancake lens and continue to capture some truly awesome shots. Can’t recommend highly enough.

A huge shout for the alpitude.
Possibly fav. ever bike owned.
Bought as frame only and then set of fox 32 floats fitted (140mm) XTR mainly and 1×9 speed. Picked the 16.5″ size and is like a Xc/ 4X/ jump bike in one.
Built into 26.5lb weight.
Was going to buy an Evil Sovereign and decided this was close, similar angles, sizing, but lighter by far.
Gets picked more often than my Turner 5spot (DW link) when going out for a ride.
Love it.
Paint doesn’t seem that durable – as minor grumble and odd size seat tube (30.0mm) made finding a Qr clamp a hassle. Also ISDG mount threaded when fitting a e13 device.

The Pewter colour has grown on me loads.

Brilliant – thanks all.
Am def. running solo front chain ring so all will be well.
Will crack on with the CRC order now !

What sort of riding you do will factor into your choices.
Are you after a hardcore steel hardtail, using long travel forks, or something softer for Xc duties?

If the former, I am using a Genesis alpitude and think its brilliant, builds into a 27lb bike with reasonable thought given to kit. Has massive stand over clearance for jumping/playing. “Feels” very soft, certainly softer on the rear stays than my previous 2 Prince Alberts.
Downside, paint finish seems easy to chip, seat tube is odd size takes a 30.0mm seat post and finding a Qr seat clamp is a pain.
Friend has an Evil Sovereign which I love, but builds into a 30lb bike, the alpitude is close in sizing, geometry but builds far lighter.

I have the Panasonic GF1 plus 20mm pancake & the zoom lens 14-45mm.

Friend has Sony Nex5 with similar set up 16mm pancake and their zoom lens.

The GF1 is far easier to use and is nicer made (IMHO), having seen some of my friends photos having got his Sony a week ago, the Panasonic appears superior.

I have actually sold my DSLR on the back of loving the GF1 so much. Its HD video is stunning – actually better than my Canon DSLR which had HD filming as an option.
Its the size, espically when fitted with the pancake lens, that gets you taking your camera out more often – including on rides!

I’d guess Marvel are leaving the fantastic four behind and not bothering to further their roles in future films.
Current thinking is the Avengers is the route they are adopting to progress story lines across multiple characters from Marvel.

Shame Iron Man 2 was shite, otherwise all good with these films. Can’t wait for Thor & Captain America.

There is normally logic to why a tree is kept in place.
A common factor in the cause of subsidence is removal of trees. They suck up huge amounts of water, you remove the tree and suddenly the soil becomes saturated to the extent things become unstable and suddenly you've caused yourself subsidence.

It could be the proximatey of a neighbour, know problems with soil type, knowledge of root growth, an endless list that meant they had your best interests served when saying leave the tree alone.

Crowing/topping a tree is usually the best thing to do with trees close to your property as this usually slows down root growth, where taking it out completely upsets the equiliberium of the surronding sub soil. If this is all you've done, no worries. If however you've nearly removed the tree then your into a different problem as your breaching the terms of the planning approval provided to you.

I'd come clean to the council, tell them openly and honestly what you've done. Be prepared that they may re visit the depth of the foundations for your build, as you have changed the sub soil consistency.
Best of luck, local council planning departments and building control officers are reasonable people, if your open and straight with them they will guide you in what you need to do to extract yourself from this mess.

On Pitchill, saw a guy who looked like Eric Clapton – shouted to riding group I was with – check out how much that bloke looks like Eric Clapton (the person himself heard) later learn't he lives on/around Pitch hill area.

Chris Tarrant – (when still married) – I was working in their home, his ex-wife couldn't have been friendlier/nicer, he was not very nice.

Jill Dando (RIP), really lovely person, got her out the shower (by accident) and met her for first time wrapped in a towel.

Sean Emmet – motorcycle racer – helped him pick a new Nanny off a selection of photos on his coffee table where we just choose purely on looks alone! quality character!

Oasis brothers – coks.

Simon Lebon – stoner(all the time) but very friendly – into motorbikes in a big way.

Total class picture!
Lovely blue colour still visable in the sky, which seems a real bonus when the foreground is so dark due to the sunsetting.

A ghost, it was there 1 second and gone the next!

Or was it a tree….that looked a bit like one after getting all uncool about riding alone and getting freaked out….

Indianapolis (Motogp) this weekend was poor.
Rossi not riding his best, Colin Edwards literally giving up.
Once the race got underway, not much actual racing, more each person building up a gap. Did enjoy Stoner's crash – always like seeing him sliding off – particularly as was having a go at Rossi just before chucking it away.
Saw highlights of F1 – don't bother watching the racing anymore – but did look quite exciting – Lewis managed to avoid the tyre wall by a small margin.
Motogp has too few bikes on the grid, Ben Spies is proving exciting watching, but otherwise is a pretty dull year. Hopefully Rossi going to Ducati next year will spice it up again!

I was close to buying the 456 carbon myself, the "look" of it was what held me back, am sure it will ride well – am fan of the 456 frame, but do think looks remain an acquired taste…… red as well….

Hope it rides brilliantly(?)

zip ties, can be done neatly with some thought, seems odd frames are still being made/sold with cables that remain exposed – fully encased cables are def. the way to go – cables last much longer as result and shifting stays smoother.

I've run all models of e13 over the years.
If you want a bash the LG1+ is the best in my view, reasonable weight and v.reliable and still works when crusted up with winters worst mud.

A new option is the e13 XCX – have put this on a hardtail with really good results, no loss of the chain – albiet I can run the chain tight as its a hardtail, on a full suss. you can't get away with running the chain so short. Think this would be my decider, if its for a full suss. lg1+ if hardtail XCX.

I use CO2 cartridges always to inflate my tubeless tyres.
Using Stans flow rims and Mavic 819's.

I then use Muck off to "lubricate the rim" and this combo of Muck off and CO2 works each time.
Once the CO2 cartridge is "spent", then I use a track pump and go up to about 40psi shake the wheel around to get the "jizz" (wheel milk) inside to help seal the tyre and then your sorted.

Could I have got more double-entendres into a post I wonder….

Agree some tyre brands are harder work than others, Spez. tubeliss stuff is a nightmare – even LBS gave up and used CO2 when I tried a pair.

Couldn't agree more with original post by rep341

Sold DH bike earlier this month deciding not using it enough beyond odd day to somewhere like UKbikepark or similar – bike is actually useless on local trials – so Gone!

turner 5spot DW link – good all rounder but fails to excit much anymore.

Hardtail – new Genesis alpitude bought about 1 month ago – with 150mm floats – outstandingly entertaining to ride, total build weight 26.5lbs with a steel frame (loads of bling has had to be used to achieve this weight XTR, 9 speed set up – to keep weight as low as poss). Took it to chicksands yesterday usually favouring full suss bike and had best visit ever thrashing down 4X and dual track without wanting the day to end.
Can totally see myself possibly selling the 5spot and getting the brodie holeshot in ti as perhaps the perfect single bike I want/need…..
Nothing to do with trends, just how my riding is progressing, stuff that is easy on a full suss – big drops/jumps is more rewarding on a hardtail when you get it right and smooth. Also I like the clean lines of the frames and relative simplicity of maintaing a hardtail.