A 26″ Hardtail with 80mm travel, to remind everyone what they’re missing (and how much money they’ve spent “upgrading” over the last 100 issues).

Watching thread with interest, as I also feel like I should be wearing a helmet on the commute but want something light and super ventilated.

I have a lot of float in my SPD’s and have pre-angled the cleats to allow my foot to sit more naturally where I want it, so don’t think it is that. Knee pain is ok, now, as I say, just this pins and needles in the left foot under the little toe area.

Really liked the Schwalbe Marathon GreenGuard on my old bike. Plenty of grip in all conditions, including grit and grass verges. Also never had a puncture and last forever.

Also used Continental SportContact. Good enough grip in all but worst weather, zero grip on grit (you know, like newely resurfaced tarmac or dusty footpaths).

Would go for Marathons myself.

Banshee or Zephyros are both good tents if you want something smaller and lighter. Banshee probably has a bit more space in it but a bit heavier.

The Vango Alpha 300 has plenty of living space for £70, or the Vango Soul 300 is compact but only £55.

Loads of options!

Great stuff, I have the same rear panniers already 8)

I went for this over racier urban bikes as it did seem tougher (frame, wheels and components).

Never.

Surely it depends on where you’re riding? Never felt the need for XC or red runs at trail centres. Would if I ever did a DH course.

This, so much so that I am picking it up on Saturday 8)

Reason? I’ve always wanted to own a Kona (never thought it would be a hybrid though!). And in the spirit of Kona, it’ll mean I cycle more, and that’s gotta be a good thing! It’ll also save wear and tear on the mountain bike, and I won’t worry about leaving it locked outside the shop/pub.

a pal reckons we can drill it out then he can retthread the mudguard eye

Should be easy enough, and certainly no reason to replace a frame! Even if it doesn’t come out (which it will) you could just use a p-clip for that mudguard mount. Or drill through and use a nut and bolt. Or cable ties. Or have have a new mount brazed on. Or anything, other than replacing the frame :roll:

I’ve just bought a Kona Dew Plus (delivery expected Saturday!), and reckon it fits the bill. 3×8 gearing, hydraulic disks, rims that’ll take up to 40mm tyres, rack and mudguard mounts, and importantly, strong frame and forks. It’s light enough at 12.5kgs as well.

Oh yeah, and you can get one for £419 from Wiggle at the moment 8)

That’s a LOT of change for accessories and pies.

old-school 2 x10

You lost me at this…MOST of the mountain bikes out their (actually ridden regularly, not in magazine adverts) are still running 3×8 or 3×9.

Edit – ignore me

Look at a map, plan a route, sketch out some route cards and head off. Something takes your fancy, go look.

1998

Go rigid, 26″. Ditch the 29-er HT.

I’ve just got the one bike at the moment (a 26″ Ti HT with rigid forks at the moment), and in no rush to even put a fork on. Really enjoying riding rigid and think it should be encouraged!

Rockshox TK 30 Gold Solo Air, 100mm fit the bill. Under £200.

If you swapped the wheels and tyres I reckon you could easily save 10kg in weight…

Used to do it regularly. Only reason I set wheels on the South Downs Way!

I recently went from 18 years of SPD’s to flats and have gone straight back. Tried them for a while but didn’t get on with them at all. Perfect for the commute to work, pants on the trail.

Guess it’s what you get used to, but I do like to be attached to the bike.

I just do it by eye while stood over the bike.

Not sure I can find a Ground Control in the 2.3″ flavour (26″ wheel)? Unless I’m missing something?

Based on that and the above I reckon the 2.3 Purgatory Front and 2.1 GC Rear looks like a good option. Give me a chance to suss out the tyres over the summer decide which combination/tyre I prefer.

Thanks for the tubeless advice also. I have UST rims but will get sealant for them anyway.

Make sure you have £7 for the “entrance/parking” fee. Yes, £7!!!

I bought a CX bike, loved the speed for a day, hated drop bars around town/city. Also hated riding on the road – it isn’t fun where there’s traffic. It’s just a headache. Much prefer flat bars and an upright position for bashing wing mirrors off to be honest.

Signed.

Thanks Martyn, is your riding similar to mine (bridleways and trail centres)?

Unfortunately I don’t think there’s clearance for a 2.3″ in the rear, hence the 2.1″ option. Plus I do think I’d find that a bit weighty compared to what I am used to.

Cheers all, may be that the rim width/tyre combo just doesn’t work. My mate runs these tyres and has no problems, just found out his rims are “extra wide”.

Rode to work on it today, it’s not even that confidence inspiring on the road, which perhaps sums up the above!

Will start a new thread for recommending me a new tyre!

How wide are your rims? Sounds like they may be narrow.

I think they are 19mm internal width, looking at the Mavic website. States suitable for up to 2.3″ tyres.

Might have a look at the X-King instead, based on another forum topic.

Tried lower pressure today, just in local wood. Gotta say, they like sandy/loamy/woody stuff fine, but anything harder or rocky and they are still rubbish. Also, at low pressure, they squirm around something rotten.

So that’ll be coming off then!

Not Conti Verticals.

Following this thread with interest, hoping someone raves about the Mountain King II…

Why is it more selfish for the person in front to want to have an uninterrupted run than for the person behind?

This.

It was tough in the wind yesterday, and we all have rubbish days.

saying that, if it’s an ongoing problem then maybe best to walk away. You can always come back (I sometimes do, had over a year off not so long ago but SO glad I didn’t sell the bike).

Don’t share your routes with the public? It’s not compulsory you know!

After taking off the mudguards, slicks and rack (from my commute) I didn’t notice that I had left my front reflector on. Been like it all week. Visited three three trail centres and no one pointed out my error. Saying that, I have not died!!

I am, however, amazed that there’s not a thread or photo mocking me on STW :?

Judging by how many folk didn’t return a “Hi” or nod to me at the trail centre the other day, me?

Might try lower pressures tomorrow, before I remove it for good. Too high a pressure would explain the skipping/snapping off stuff I guess. They are on Mavic Crossmax rims, so should be OK?

motorman – I was doing the blue and red runs at Whinlatter today, the explorer on the back was doing it’s usual thing, and I was thinking the 2.3 front, 2.1 rear would be a good option with the rigid forks.

Sounds like it might just be tyre pressures. My mate runs Verticals front and rear at way higher pressures than me and seems to like them, but he does ride much slower than me :twisted:

Yeah, I did run lower pressures in the wider tyre, around 30psi (as low as I dare go to avoid pinch flats). Started at 40-45psi but immediately dropped them. I normally run about 40-45psi.

Not sure about the compounds, that may explain the rock slabs.

I wasn’t having a great day anyway, but this was immediately noticeable from the go.

I guess I’m the odd one out then, but I like to see how something like a bike “feels” when buying it. Each to their own though, but no way the geometry can tell me how stiff or compliant a frame is etc.

On paper a For Mondeo and Audi A6 may look the same, but both drive very differently and you wouldn’t know that without a test drive.

Each to their own though :)

You’re spending THAT much on a bike without so much as sitting on it or test-riding one? :?

Whichever you can afford/already own and enjoy riding?

Get yourself in to Cotswold Outdoor with your DofE kit list and ask them. You’ll get a DofE discount and some great advice and answer all of your questions above. They even price match if the discount isn’t the cheapest.

Vango kit is reasonable for the money, but not the lightest. Unless you’ve got very deep pockets you’re not gonna ket super light quality kit.

No one has mentioned boots yet either. Your money should go on comfortable boots and a comfortable pack first.