I’m South Manchester (and useless too) and have used Andrew Mee from Ride With Mee coaching. He has raced Enduro to a decent level and is very patient with a middle aged dosser like me. He is N Manchester based so can coach at Rivi, Phillips Park etc. Got me from wheels on ground riding to small sends at Phillips Park in one session – highly recommend

BikeShak in Altrincham have always done a good job with my MTB and Road bikes.

Have also used NWMTB as Generalist says and  Craig Evans of 50:1 often pops up on the spanners there

Izzo owner here – love mine and had it around 2 years without any issues.

It was a ‘Pro’ then which at the time was well specced. Can see spec not as good now but in current market still looks great value.

Only changes were to get rid of the Forekasters (made of cheese) and ridiculous twistloc lockout. Been faultless once they were replaced.

I have subsequently changed the fork spring to make it 140mm but that was personal preference, it was fine as it was really but does run out of poise eventually in chunk (albeit well after my skill runs out normally).

I’m 6ft, 92 kilos with long arms and legs so YT told me to go with the XL. I went with the L as it felt more natural coming from a 27.5 – I think you would be fine either way but the YT guys know their stuff so would trust their assessment.

I don’t think you will be disappointed – the only bike I would swap it for is a Spur, but they are like rocking horse poo, witches tears etc etc

Lakes – Claife Heights/ Low Wray route Q

If you want a quick blast then you can’t go wrong with Claife Heights.

Not Gnar by any stretch but you can park at the Ferry and there’s a couple of loops you can build in over the tops and down to Hawkshead.

There’s a few threads (search not working for me) with GPXs and try and build in Colthouse descent if you can, it’s mint.

I’ve got an Izzo Pro – whilst I bought it because I couldn’t get or afford a Spur, I love it.
I ride Peak/Lakes so pushed the fork out to 140mm and got rid of the useless Forekasters, but the Uncaged with the SID looks like an XC bike on steroids and I imagine it’s a riot!
If I was lucky enough to have a Spur on order I would still stick with it as I agree it’s more ‘special’, but if you run out of patience I don’t think the Izzo would disappoint.
Or buy both and sell the Izzo when the Spur comes!

Saw Pete Tong & Orchestra at the Manchester Arena on Saturday (wife’s kind of music) but was genuinely blown away. Everyone up dancing and having a good time and even a cameo appearance from Rick Astley!
So good to see the place rocking again after recent history – still buzzing today

That video is spot on. My advice on the bike is let your kid choose something they really want to ride. I was all for getting a frog or Isla bike but my son couldn’t care less and wanted a Halfords ‘Police Patrol’ as it had lights and a siren. He rode it none stop for 2 years and at 5 has now progressed onto a Scott with fork, gears etc. I’m not sure he would have got ‘the bug’ if I bought him the ‘good’ bike.
Enjoy teaching little one – going riding with your kids is ace

Wife got me VIP tickets for Wales v All Blacks in a few weeks – limo from home, the works.
Mum and Dad got me MTB coaching with Andrew Mee.
5 year old got me an imaginary dragon that lives in the back garden.
Made up with all of that!

Izzo owner here – love mine and Andi has it right with his comments. Efficient climbing due to the geo (not the lockout) so most either ditch the lockout or go for an aftermarket lockout. There was a lot of negative feedback on this issue when the Izzo was first released so I believe the new models are now shipping without it. Pointed downhill it’s ridiculous given the 130mm travel – way more capable than I am and urges you to go faster over the rougher stuff. Real world help or issues:

1. I’m 6ft and 95 kilos in riding gear and I was on the line between L and XL. Went with the L as I was coming from smaller wheeled bikes but suspect would have been roomier/quicker on the XL
2. At 95 kilos I sometimes feel the Fox 34 is a bit flexy
3. The Forekasters the bikes are shipped with are made of cheese – budget for 2 new tyres
4. No experience of warranty issues but the very iffy customer service appears to have improved now they have the uk ‘YT Mill’ down in Surrey. I’ve spoken to Alex a few times on hangers and other spare parts abs he has been very helpful and responsive.

I’m made up with mine and would only swap it for a Spur – like you I narrowed it down to these 2 and couldn’t find / afford the Spur
HTH
Dave

Not sure about the fitting as LBS did mine, but mine is really smooth, just a gentle press and it releases dropper and my shock lock out (YT Izzo).

HTH

Has worked well for us – converted garage with concrete floor and little insulation.

After much deliberation ended up with a Delonghi Dragon.

Does the job, heats up the room in around 10 mins and if you get the mid range models they have a thermostat so can keep it toasty whilst you are working.

Big advantage over fan heaters is they stay warmer longer and there is very little noise once fired up.

Not had any heart attacks from electric bills either, which is the big red flag with using them apparently.

HTH

Sadly I concur – been using for years and the last set are garbage. Sanded and bedded multiple times but struggling to get any bite.

What alternatives are working for people? Very little online in terms of testing or reviews unlike other components

Cheers

Another vote for riding down to Windermere Ferry – you can loop Claife Heights a few times or stretch it to Parkamoor. Fun and challenging if you are on your Tod but not too gnar so that a spill would be a major issue without a riding buddy. Also the coffee hut at Sawrey Ferry before you get back on the Ferry has some serious cake options…

I was after the same thing last year and with your budget the Transition Spur was what I would have bought if I could find one. It gets rave reviews everywhere and on the forums from owners.

I didn’t have your budget though and bought a YT Izzo Pro and I’m delighted with it.

It’s quick on the ups and flats but still planted enough on the descents for the riding you describe.

130mm front and back is more than enough for me and saves lugging something like a Mega/Capra around for the 90% of riding I do that isn’t rocky downhill.

Have fun choosing!

Even the mud was grippy rather than sloppy!

Highly recommend Alex – enjoy

It was perfect Binman – made my weekend and was also eerily quiet. Big thanks for the intel 👍

Thanks Binman!

I got mine at the end of last year as my do it all MTB and I love it. I got the Bonty droplock and changed the front tyre and saddle but other than that it has performed impeccably despite the stories about iffy build quality and customer service. Enjoy the hills!

Mine (ti) is currently in this mode (strangely with the same tyres as Turnerfan) and is perfect. Deals with mud, grit and horse poo on road but easily heads onto BW or tow path if needed. Won’t set any land speed records but I flip the stem and put some Hunt aero wheels on in the Summer and keep up with the carbon race bike crew.
I love mine and only changed the very flared bars which were aggravating an old wrist injury

https://www.bmj.com/content/331/7531/1498

Just reporting back that your work is great Count and much appreciated.

Kenworthy is running great and bedded in well – avoided the jump line as not the time to further burden the NHS but definitely one for next Summer.

Chorlton needs more people on it to bed it in like you said and will take my shears next time to cut some of the brambles which will take over quick.

Really enjoyed myself and have got the bug back!

Thanks again!

Great work the Count – I regularly ride these mini loops and will check it out in the morning. You have rekindled my interest in my mtb after using the gravel bike for easy miles lately.

If you want to add a bit extra on your loop there is some mini jumps and a bit of gradient in priory woods on the sale side of the sale water park. Added to your bits it would be a great loop on an old school mtb.

Happy to show you when were allowed again.

Cheers

Dave

Me too- I’m in Brooklands so will keep an eye out

Afraid not- assuming the seals have gone somewhere unless anyone has a bright idea

Bump for the morning crowd!

I’ve got an old Giant NRS frame 19″ in the garage about to be stripped you want something old school (2005)?

Same as Weeksy for me but 2 things I would share from my experience:

1. get the sling off as soon as you can, it messes with the nerves and muscles in your neck and opposite shoulder

2. when lifting use independent exercises (dumbell press rather than bench press) to avoid straining the opposite side by subconsciously compensating for the weakness in the injured elbow

Get well!

+1 for Lavatrax, was out there last month and was picked up from Costa Adeje for uplift to Teide and ride back down.

I told Darran I wasn’t a great rider and he asked a few questions to pitch the ride correctly.

Great riding and guiding – highly recommended

It’s good for a quick blast if you are local- not worth any significant journey when llandegla, Rivi and the peaks are within striking distance.

It drains reasonably well so a good option to avoid a mud fest.

Go early in the morning to avoid dog walkers wandering across the trails.

MartinB beat me to it- 2003 model is 6000 2RS.

Would be interested to know the forks you guys are running – the original manitou forks are cack but never got round to replacing them after the build. Anyone running more than 100mm?

I have some spares from my build last summer- will check for you when I get home this weekend.

They are a pain to swap but I love that bike!

Singletrack surfer you are missing people who leave their car at the petrol pump whilst they go and do a big shop in the forecourt mini-mart.

Utter ****-ends.

Lodge at the Falls is comfortable if you want to placate the Wife but its not exactly wilderness camping for the Kids!

Whatever you decide make sure you book well in advance if staying at any of the NPS places as they book up really quickly, especially around the US holidays.

If you want to just see the City there are some very non gnar hire shops along the front called blazing saddles or something equally corny

You can do a ride of about 20 miles from the City, over GG bridge, lunch at Sausalito and then get the ferry back from Tiburon which sails past Alcatraz

Not even slightly mtb but good fun and great views all the same

Broke mine in ,june- not as bad as yours so no surgery required and I was on the bike within 5/6 weeks. The best tip I got from STW was to buy a figure 8 sling and use that rather than the traditional NHS one. The NHS one left me with a frozen elbow and neck pain which took longer to sort out in Physio than the fracture after only 2 weeks wearing it- fortunately someone from here told me to take it off before the damage was made any worse

There’s a pub in Birkenhead called ”the cock and pullit”.

The landlord has just opened a sister pub in Liverpool called “the cock and seaman”.

I 5hit you not……

Fair point- you can disable them if you don’t want some or all of them coming up on a particular ride, but there is an element of ballache to it…..

Finally got it sorted – thought I would share in case anyone has the same problem.

Even if you have already linked strava with garmin connect in some cases you need to unlink and re-link them before syncing with a new device.

The live segments should then appear in garmin connect for transfer to the device.

Hope that helps someone next time.

Stevious – sounds like thats the issue, do you remember where you got the walkthrough from to do this?

Thanks