^^^ That’s a shame – we could’ve hooked up. AUGUST! 8O You’re brave! We found it VERY hot when riding in September.

Flashy – Member

Went up to the top it looked awsome. A choice of routes ranging from about 40 to 4 miles down from the top………the short one looked “interesting”

Do you mean here…..(WE LOVED MAMMOTH! – so much so we’re going back in Sept :D )

Repack Rider – Member

Repack. Of course.

Ahhh….the Repack! Memories – that hopefully will be repeated! I will take a look on Retro Bike. Thanks Charlie.

JPcapel – Member

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.

Interesting…..I was looking at the Mavic Crossmax SX!

Lots of votes for the Pro2/Stans Crest – I will take a look. Thanks for the replies!

If I wanted to go slightly more on the bling side….what then?

Thanks Zinger _ very similar to the one we did last year, but I’ll have a read and hopefully find something new in there! :D

Lifer – thanks buddy I’ll look that up.

Thanks FR…

As for the offer of the other, thanks but sorry – I am after need Front & Rear.

Thanks for those links, I should have said I am running 20mm front hub and not totally XC – I like to take on the ‘rough stuff’ once in a while too!

rolkin – Member

i’d check the weather before you go…

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/38/20110118/tsc-scientists-warn-of-superstorm-headin-98fda55.html

Good job I’m not going until September!

Both….all rolled into one!

I would never want run it below if I could help it, but I have done so as long as both the stem tightening bolts were below the top of the steerer tube.

Close up of the sign!

Put it this way….. I would stick with today’s budget range. These also look like they have been repainted & modified etc. etc.

8O Don Simon…. :lol: :lol: :lol:

£200 – £225 (ish)?? That’s if they are in as good as condition as you describe.

Goes back to the early 90’s. More mainstream 29ers sold from late 90’s. So a fairly long time now.

They look like the Marzocchi Bomber Z2 (29″) – you can tell they are for the 29er’s because of the extended arch (i.e. higher) over and above that of the normal 26″ Marzocchi’s.

Mine legs hurt behind the knees when I cycle with the saddle at the wrong height??

Just to balance things up here’s a black one…

Changed the seat post to a Joplin since this pic.

Good choice DarrenH!!

25-30% I run on mine – its a 2009 model and I ride ‘All Mountain’ i.e. a little more extreme than XC, less heavy than DH….

Stayed at the San Remo Hotel in Sept and it was everything you asked for!

Press and hold black button on top….the rest will be self-explanatory!

I have 26/36t with 11-32t rear and it is absolutely perfect! To me anyway.

I run XT (M776) wheelset and I have to say they have been perfect! As ‘James’ says a little extra grease from new and you are good to go. I service my bearings/freehub every 6 months or so and they have performed superbly.

I have really given mine something to think about this year too – a trip to Morzine/Les Gets & to California (Mammoth/ Downieville etc.) too and despite this, they still run completely true with no bearing or freehub issues along the way.

Therefore I would clearly recommend the XT’s! (And I did used to have Mavic XM819’s + Pro 2’s)

Came 3rd in a recent survey I did behind Maxxis & Kenda – and it was based on the specific model you have mentioned.

Broken ribs – OUCH!

Many years ago I had a motorcycle accident in which I broke 3 ribs – from memory it was about 4 weeks before the pain started to go away, don’t worry it does gradually subside over that time! (I know how painful they will be right now!). I remember in the first couple of weeks everytime I moved it was like being stabbed in the chest!

I can not advise & wouldn’t on how long it will be before you can go back to work? I remember the main issue for me was putting on a seat belt (I was also a Sales Rep at the time?) – it was about 6 weeks before I went back to work if that helps? Probably not!

Get well soon buddy.

Should have also said….

There was enough room in the bag for a large full suss bike, parts, tools and riding gear (inc. helmet).

I have one of these – traveled to the US last year with it and it was great! Make sure when you pack it though, that you ensure the weight of the contents are balanced across entire base.

The wheel bags go inside.

I had NO DAMAGE to my bike whatsoever and will be using it again this year to repeat a trip to the US!

Great buy for the money IMO.

cynic-al – Member

Hmmmmm.

When I look at this thread I see only the reply box, and none of the previous posts.

The clue was in the title ‘Puzzle Challenge’ – you were supposed to work out where all the posts went!!

I have been issues for days! Sometimes long loading times, sometimes it just times out and then it’s impossible to get back in again.

I was using a layback until just last week (in the pics above – black Heckler) and it did make a difference, but now I have gone for the Joplin & so I am currently looking for an extended reach thomson stem instead. I will be selling my layback when I get around to it.

I mentioned that I was considering a change of frame – funnily enough I was thinking about the Carbon Nomad (here were go again, changing my mind as much as the Met Office!) – the Nomad is slightly longer in the top tube (and I currently feel a little squashed on the Heckler) and the seat tube is 0.5″ shorter, I figured this might help the awkward feeling I have when riding downhills on the Heckler? (Hence why I was also thinking a slightly slacker head angle with the longer travel forks may also help?). Decisions, decisions!!

jedi – Member

holiday riding blues!

I think you could be right! I have even started planning to ride in California again this year and do some of the place we didn’t get the chance to do last time (and do more in the places we enjoyed most!).

Yep, think about it a lot! The strange thing is that after riding in California last year, I now struggle for the motivation to get out in the UK (but think abot riding EVEN more!), as I have this feeling I won’t enjoy it as much?? :cry:

Jeffus – Member

Coil Back end is a must, its a different bike with the coil out back, I had the DHX-5 from new and had it Push’d awesome. the Lyric coil matched nicely to the DHX, superb ride. Only sold the bike because it was too big , didn’t realise until I rode a medium, made a huge difference to me.

You’re not the first person to say that, about time I made some changes then – rather than changing my frame, which was the other option! Out of interest how tall are you? I have a large?

jwr – Member

I’ve had RS Pikes up front as well, but prefer the slacker feeling of the Lyriks.

Has it made that much of a difference? I was seriously considering a change to the Fox Talas 36 or RS Lyriks to get the extra travel??

Here’s some of mine….

A bump for our Californian friends – Morning!

Easier Way of doing it….

Here’s a map of the route we took and if you want any info on places to ride on this map then let me know.

Map of California Route

Ok – A few questions….

Are you going as far North as Downieville?

Are you going as far North West as Marin County?

Have you planned to go in the Lake Tahoe Direction?

Are you planning to do a loop?