If you’re in the Luchon area, you’re only 30mins (ish) from Loudenvielle…..

There’s loads of great riding there, on waymarked trails from the lifts, or via regular van shuttle.

It’s really very easy to have a great day on varied terrain. Big terrain, but great.

Barking mad, amazed they don’t get knocked off…

Well, that is what actually happens to them eventually. I was a courier in San Francisco for 2 years and in that time, I remember quite a few riders had accidents and did not return to riding.

A profession for the young and foolish.

You can get most powertool batteries adapted to fit the Worx range. My Dewalt to Worx adaptor works well.

I have a Worx battery chainsaw I use for trail clearing, which runs for longer using the Dewalt batteries than it does using the Worx ones.

The Worx washer is very compact and useful.

Any multi storey car parks for sale?

I’m pretty sure NCP car parks have a good profit model already!

switched my trips to Southern Spain in winter to get some blue sky fun and dry trails.

Out of interest @Marin, where do you go? who with etc:

Dianese Trails Skins are pretty much un-noticable when they’re one.
Might be worth trying a pair.

I’ve been quite a few times in September, guided and looked after by The White Room.

It’s a great week riding and uplift via the van and trailer. It’s one of their ‘backcountry’ weeks so there’s a bit of riding up hill too, but the spectacular long Singletrack descents are very worth it.

Can’t go wrong with them tbh.

Firstly, get the bike up onto roof rack, while still wet/muddy (don’t know when people are so precious about muddy bikes on roof??? )

Then, stand in one of those big plastic laundry buckets to strip outer layers of muddy gear into. Get into fresh clean shoes/sliders, put spare hoody/sweatshirt on to stay warm.

Drive home and deal with bucket/bike when convienient.

Having said this, 90% of muddy rides are from the house. Still use the stand-in-bucket technique though.

The YHA just over from Pen Y Fan is a nice spot

Second this. If it’s the one at Llangatock, it’s a great location for a YHA. Open fire and smaller/larger dorm rooms.

Must have had about 150kgs of stuff aboard on the rack and running boards.

Plus my ‘not insignificant’ 120+kegs.

Risky plan leaving a decent cargo bike outdoors in Brighton

I had a Yuba Mundo locked outside my house in Brighton for nearly 4 years. Wasn’t nicked. I think they’re not THAT desirable/resellable.

It was fab for moving children and building materials around when I was renovating my house. Even up the steep hills around here. Bags of cement, plasterboard, wood, and lots of shopping.

A good car replacement, if you’re happy to do multiple trips and get a little wet from time to time.

I carry a 27.5 as a spare whatever bike I’m on. Fits all 3 sizes, got me and several others out of trouble many times.

I was going to start a thread to ask about this for a mullet bike. 27.5 it is 🙂

Yes, i carry a 27.5 tube in my pack, as all the bikes i use are different. 1 tube works for all.

have you reached the maximum size available in the Fox, Dakine stuff?

Thanks – forgot to ask about the sizing – “road whippet” or “larger gentleman”? I’m looking for bib shorts and a jersey. Every normal item of clothing I own pretty much is L, but in cycling tops I end up with XXL and shorts/tights XL.

They’re not the largest fit. I have some XXL jeans and a top, and normally wear an XL. Still a bit snug.

They’re more ‘whippet’ than ‘whopper’

Never had a Troy Lee before, does anyone know how they size up?

I’m usually a L/XL but that straddles 2 sizes for TL.

WTB Riddler on my hybrid/gravel/XC/road thingy….
Works well on nearly everything.

With TF Tuned’s courier pickup/return service, I’ve always just used them.

Always did what I asked and offered good advice too. Ohlins approved and fast turnaround.

What’s not to like?

My winter riding becomes about 50/50 gravel and proper trails off road.

100% trails as soon as the winter dark/bogs start to recede. Just can’t be doing with roads/drivers in this country at all.

Have a look at the loop from Bala to vyrnwy and back. Lovely quiet roads compared to the Snowdon loop and feels really remote.

I’d second this! Just driven back from Bala today and although I didn’t ride this route, I did drive over to Vynrwy reservoir and thought how great the riding would be there.

I don’t because:

I don’t have a good space at home to do messy servicing jobs.

Hassle of sending off to TF or wherever.

Being without fork/bike for longer periods.

No good local shops who are either able to do that particular fork, or can do it within about 4 weeks lead time.

It’s just an annoying job, which takes time/hassle to sort.

I’ve got the Showers Pass waterproofs!

Great fit for the chunky of shape, like moi. Braces keep them high on the waist, and they fall over the front of my boots.

Combined with Shimano Goretex shoes and an E-vent jacket, they keep me really dry but not too sweaty.

Dianese trails skins (if you can be careful about how you pull them on, as the can rip when pulled) or Bliss Arg.

Both very comfy and don’t notice you’re wearing them while riding. They’ve also survived a fair bit of crashing and still intact.

IMHO, there’s not actually very much in it. But enough to buy one (instead of a 29er).

If you’re stumpy legged, like myself, the extra bum to tyre clearance is welcome (evolution has precluded me from a 36er for example) and VERY noticeable.

Fast direction changes are slightly (but still noticeably) improved with smaller rear wheel, whereas less traction and braking from smaller rear wheel size is a negligible loss.

The 29er wheel up front definitely improves traction and cornering, that is immediately noticeable.

My bike originally came as a 29er/27.5 fatty, so running mixed wheels was fine. Slightly slacker front end would benefit quite a few bikes anyway.

I didn’t weight my Giga before building it.
But was surprised by how heavy the frame felt. Large/coil.

I only have an S-works stumpy to compare it to, but I’d say it felt a good deal heavier. Which, for me, is re-assuring.

Loads of my SportPursuit orders have been pushed back to Jan now.

They may have over committed with stock/deliveries.

I know it’s neither of your ‘set-ups’ but i find the 11 speed bits i’m running are a great combination of price/durability and range.

Shimano 11 shifters and chain. I’m running SLX (best price)
Sunrace 11-50t cassette (best price and range)
12speed Shimano slx rear mech – for the extra range. (works fine on 11sp cassette)

Ninja edit. Old thread.

Mine fitted really well over my enormous thigh/calf circus show, but were gaping at the waist.

Had them taken in at the waist, so now they’re great. I wouldn’t say they were very long per size though.

If it needed to be a trail bike, for main use, I’d get the Mega over the Giga (although I’ve not actually ridden that) as it’s a monster bike which steamrollers everything, so might be a little too much.

For descending and long Alpine trails though, it would be ace.

Can anyone give any comparisons on how the Giga pedals, the reviews seem to say very good but has anyone any ridden one and compare it to anything shorter in travel?

I’ve got a shorter travel 135mm/150mm stumpjumoer too, which is a 4 bar Horst link, as opposed to the linkage actuated single pivot of the Giga.

I’ve not had it long (3 rides in) but I’d say it pedals nearly as well at the stumpy.
Seat angle is steeper, which means it’s pretty good to pedal uphill.

It moves a fair bit compared to the Stumpy though, so I’m aware of a fair bit more bobbing whilst climbing. Conversely, the movement and traction while cornering is considerably improved over the 4bar. It covers level/undulating ground at speed very well.

The Giga is amazing on harder landings, like landing on a cloud. On lumpy chatter/knarrr/roots, it’s very plush and settled. (I have the Fenix coil version)

It doesn’t ‘pop’ off jumps the way the stumpy does, (my previous 180mm bike was a 4bar coil enduro, so I’m comparing it to that) but it’s just different more than bad.

Downtime podcast did an extremely thorough episode on this precise subject. Included timed runs of the 3 versions of the bike in the hands of a pro, a coach and a weekend warrior.

Hi Steve…..
Thanks, good info.
Hope you’re all doing well in down there Bourg during this uncertain time?
Looking forward to being able to get out and ride with you again.

Lee.

Got some great deals on 12 speed mechs from the Germans. £40 notes each.

Yes, I am.
A recent bike purchase meant I had used all my 11sp rear mechs and so I tried a 12sp one.

Works a treat.

11sp shifter (xt) and chain.
Sunrace 12-50 cassette.
Xt 12sp rear mech.

No issues yet.

Ive got 2 Fjern jackets and they’ve been great. Sale type prices at Sportpursiut means i run then for a couple winters as my ‘biblical mud’ jackets then retire them.

They’re still beading after 2 years winters, but i don’t wash them at all, just spray down with water and wipe off is necessary.

Their clothing is of a VERY slim cut… If you’re BMI is in single figures, you’ll love Fjern products for actually fitting properly and not being incredibly loose. If, like many of us, your BMI is the wrong side of 25, you’ll have to breathe in heavily to get into the right sized item

My BMI is into the TRIPLE figures, but an XXL is actually a good fit, and i reckon they quite similar to other brands.

@breninbeener

when i look at the nukeproof site and CRC etc they link to setup and spring rate table, but it seems to be for a 290 or 275 not the 297? I got a medium but at 84kg i feel the spring may be a bit light for me. How you getting on with spring rate?

I got a little Spring chart with the frame, but as a 115kgs biffer i’m always at the end of the spring range. My spring settings are unlikely to help anyone i’m afraid.

I have used a 600lbs Ti Spring that came off my Spesh Enduro (now retired to the shed).
Seems to be about right, but i’ve only done a couple of rides with it so far. The bottom out resistance on the Fenix is great and matches the HBO on the Smashpot coil i have in the fork.

With the HBO capacity, front and rear, i’m happy to run my coils at the lighter end for my weight. Which is a good job, as i’m already on the last springs available for both. Flat landings are diving onto a big bed with 5 duvets on top.

I hqve jist received a Mega 297 Carbon Fast Fenix in the amazing purple. It really is a fantastic colour.

I was very tempted by this colour too, but not being able to see it in the flesh meant I was a little wary.

I went for the slightly boring black Fast Fenix version, but have some wheels with gold hubs to add a little sparkle.

I use BackBlaze. 6 macs in our house, all using it.
Sits in the background and just gets on with it. It’ll back up external drives too, and there’s no limit??? All stored off-site with complete restores available from them, inline, or via new, posted drive in a couple of days. Amazing.

Cheaper over the years than buying a new external backup drive every few years and i don’t have to do anything.

First complete backup takes a long time, but then only adds new files etc:

Yeah, really, why bother?
Honestly, it’s clothing to ride your bike in. Some works better than others, for sure. Some looks better than others, which is subjective.But really, the difference between Decathlon and Rapha is nowhere near as big as the price differential would make you think.

Rapha stuff half price in ‘Sportspursuit’ sales right now too. It’s terrible looking (IMO) but it might float your boat without sinking your bank balance?

Sportspursuit

I have a Giga 297, and also a stump jumper.
The Giga is really good. Proper braaaap braaaap moto supple and cushdy. I have the coil version with coil fork.

Now, although it rides up hill very well, it’s not nearly as nimble, reactive or poppy as the stump jumper. It’s a steamroller.

For 90% of my riding, it’s way over kill.
For BPW or alps, then great, but trails and ‘southern’ mountains, it’s just a bit too much.

I’ve not ridden a Mega, but I’d be tempted to go for that. If it’s your only bike.

I just measured my 45c Riddlers (not Raddler) on 21mm internal rims and they come up exactly 44mm.
So, pretty close.