Bb30 cranks, and pf30 bb. Nothing strange!

good call on on-one. Not the angular ones, but at £20 can’t really complain! Tempted to buy two.

I guess the bit I’m not sure about, is if all the spacers, wavey washers, etc come with the BB, or cranks (I don’t have any), and therefore do I need to buy a certain set for me bike. Hope not as I’ve ordered the wheels one.

Leon

yes, to be clear, I have normal annual travel insurance for all the cancellations stuff, etc, but they want a fortune to add “mountain biking” onto the list. I think I will end up getting a seperate policy for 2 days just for myself (the other one is family one), just in case I break my leg halfway up a mountain

every travel insurance I looked at wanted extra for mountain biking :-(

but what for? THat’s what I’m trying to figure out.

I’ll be on a hire bike, unlikely to run anyone over, and I understand that medical is covered by EHIC, so I suppose is evacuation, or repatriation of my body if I happen to die (is there anything to stop it just staying there?)

for what it’s worth, Ive been really happy with the novatech hub on the back of my road bike. I’ll definitely consider Novatech next time I build up some wheels

Hope Pro2 evo, with 11spd cassette body

yep, that’s it. Could you drop me an email please(in profile)?

I think I can get a lift back with my cousin, as she will come to see the end of the race, but I don’t think she wants to come out all day!

I didn’t try a 60, so not sure. 70 was a huge improvement though. Really only felt right once I’d done that. Of course the velvets change it all anyway as they are longer axle to crown, so more like a 140 rockshox I think.

I’ve got a 2014 Reba at 120mm on the front. Now it’s bedded in it seems a really nice match. (nice and cheap from bike24.net, which is where i also got the tyres)

I started off with a 50mm stem, but it was too twitchy. I’ve got a 70mm now, and It’s perfect for me.

I’ve set up 1×10, with a 36t ring, and that ring runs quite close to the chainstay – I wouldn’t go any bigger.

tyres, I’ve got a Hans Damf trailstar 2.25 on the front, and a Ardent 2.25 on the back. Nice and grippy, but a bit draggy, so I’ve also picked up some crossmarks for the summer.

I really am enjoying the bike so far. Sadest episode was my reverb post getting stuffed after a single ride in the mud. I’m on a rigid post now :-(

well, I’m coming from a 26″ anthem, so there are way more variables than wheel size. It rides really nicely, but I would say like a 26er. 29ers feel different, this just feels like a nice bike. Would be interesting to do a back to back with a 26″ one though.

I can’t find a way to get a direct jpg link on dropbox.

anyway, it’s a nice bike. Mine built up at 11.6kg, size large. rides lovely. more agile than my old 29er, for example.

try this link if not

Errr. Dunno why it doesn’t work.

ah, just looked at your profile. Edinburgh is not really just around the corner from Bristol, is it.

If you just want to buy it, £22 posted and it’s yours.

where are you? I’ve got a knife I took off a bike (switched to a fizik, funnily enough). I’m in bristol, happy to loan you it to try, and if you want to keep it, you can buy it off me, or if you just want to buy a new one, then go ahead.

oh, and @leftyboy – flites look good on everything, that’s why you don’t care ;-)

thanks all.

Some good responses and ideas there. In some ways it confirms my experience – not many people do real “work” on them, but there are a lot of really good consumption things that they are good for.

Surprised no-one said handlbar mounted for navigation while touring :-)

Leon

I tried a work trip with mine once. I think it’s doable if it’s a mostly meetings type trip, because then it’s just a bit of email and content review. If it’s a trip where I’m working in another office, I still really need my proper computer, sadly.

Like the idea of storing manuals etc. I suppose if you’re not worried about getting it mucky, it’s quite a good thing to have when you are working on the bikes, if it’s something tricky. There’s always a youtube vid or forum thread to cover the issue. I current;y use my phone for that.

netflix if you have a subscription – that’s something else I use it for

headaches…I have plenty of those

what wallop said. It’s like Robin Hood without but with coffee instead of arrows and sticks.

If it was all about giving stuff away for free, then it wouldn’t be sustainable.

Some good options there – I might call about the Thorn ones, although I note they talk about “Trekking”. If Trekking means hammering down rocky descents on 32mm tyres, then I’m good to go :-)

Spot ones look very nice too. According to here:

UNDER 500g!!!!![/url]

actually, 405mm could be a bit long.

this is what I have right now, and they’re pretty good, but overall my bike is a bit heavy since I disc’d it up.

I just found this:
http://www.trigon-cycles.co.uk/trigon-xc06a-2012-carbon-disc-fork

somehow didn’t find it when I spent ages looking last night. A bit too much money, but it’s the right thing. However, it’s only 30-40g lighter than the Kinesis, and double the cost.

Thing is, on-one were very forward thinking, so I have a nice Titanium cross bike set up for disks. Seems a shame to get rid of it.

I’ve actually gone for this:

http://www.travena.co.uk/citrus_degreaser.htm

Which I’ve seen mentioned in a few places. I’ve gone halves with a mate, so it’s not too expensive a mistake if it’s rubbish. I will report back.

for those asking, my experience with finish line is “put dirty chain in tub with degreaser, shake vigorously, rinse, gleaming chain, inside and out”. Experience with halfords was repeat twice, and go at it with a brush in between.

flamingo urine works well, but is more expensive than finish line, and tends to attract Hyena.

Does that fenwicks stuff really work like a degreaser? I’m looking for something that really clears the filth

I’ve been using DT R1.1, single eyelet, 32h, for my non-race wheels (old Paris Roubaix tub wheels for races :-).

They take a hell of a battering despite being very light. I do regular rides (most weeks) of about 3 hours, mix of road, bridelways and proper off-road with rim brakes, and they last fine, and I’ve used them in the 3 peaks too. It’s sidewall wear that gets them.

I used to run CXP33, but they got dented to hell in one 3 peaks.

Last time round I bought ambrosio evolution rims, as they are a lot cheaper. They seem ok, but a bit heavier. Haven’t dented them, but harder to build up in the first place. Probably down to using old spokes though rather than the rim.

Conti Gatorskins.

I’ve been using them for years now, and not one puncture (JINX!).

25mm on my commuter, 27×1/4″ on my pub bike, and 28mm on my wifes commuter.

They ride really nice. Obviously not a full on race tyre, but plenty nice enough.

I’ve got a couple of CT and they are unexcitingly fine I guess. Interesting to get votes for circus monkey.

I should have said I want 6 bolt and qr. Ya for responses.

another HONC entry here too if anyone wants it.

I am not bored, just out of the country.

the frame will be a marketing sample, of no commercial value :-)

you mean the original, right ;-)

you source it, I’ll bring it :-)

I was just about to post the same question, but a slightly different angle for me, as I’m a total weight weenie.

I just wrecked the cross mark I had on the front, which I didn’t think was the perfect tyre anyway, but I wonder what is for Bristol now?

Something that grips well on the new trail centre type stuff, but will still get you around the plantation when it’s filthy?

I’ve got nobby nics on my other bike, but to be honest the nobs seem a bit too, well, nobby for the trail centre-y stuff. Is there some perfect tyre out there?

I mean by what exact mechanism does a thin sheet of rubber on the inside prevent something sharp on the outside slicing through?

I just thought that a tube might add a bit more rigidity, which might stop some sort of pinch effect? Bit of a long shot though.

I’ll go with the “unlucky” analysis.

I was actually there again today, and had a look. The rocks aren’t razor edged, but they are very jabby. I’ve got a new line now (rather than straight through as before!)

very unlucky. I’d sneaked out for a cheeky lunchtime ride from work. 15 mins to woods, 15 mins riding, then HISSSSSSSSSSSSsssssssssssssssssssssssss.

1.5hr walk back. Luckily persuaded the wife to come and get me so only had to walk for 45 mins. Not very stealthy though…

There’s nothing in the rules about having to complete a lap.

I presume that if I puncture in the first 1/4 or so, I run back and get someone else to go out, and if it’s anywhere near the end, I run and complete the lap.

Not a very nice prospect though. I think I will go for 1 tube, and 1 normal, reliable pump. It doesn’t weigh a lot, and there’s no proper hills on the course anyway.

right, it’s small laps, and I’m pretty confident.

I’m going to top up the sealant and carry nothing.

I’ll be the LVIS guy cursing as I have to walk 3/4 of the course after puncturing!

is the idea with just co2, that if you get a pucnture, it should re-seal, but you might lose a bit too much pressure?

I just wonder if a small pump is better. My uses of C02 in race situations have not been super successful, and if it’s just topping up 10psi into a tyre, perhaps not really quicker?

I spoke to Paul on Sunday, and he said it was full.

Anyone thinking of entering on the line – I’d phone up and check first!

8hr SS team.

I’m running 2:1, but only because it’s all I have. I think you can get away with a bigger gear.

tyres – crossmarks, but only because they are tubeless, and I can’t be arsed to swap to something even more low profile. Anything with small knobbles would be good I think (smallblock 8’s, larsen TT’s etc)

and HT all the way if there’s a HT FS decision to be made. There aren’t any bumps on the course, so it’s mostly just excess weight. I’ve been riding the whole thing with my forks locked out, setup so I get about an inch of travel It’s perfect!

Looking forward to the sun that is forecast for Saturday. It’s going to be filthy rain for the guys on Sunday though, according to the BBC.

wors – where do you get the diffuser for that?

I just bought one of those as a head light to compliment the L&M SECA on my bars, but the spot is quite tight, even for a head torch.