That’s amazing! Would it be strong enough for mountain bike frames? I want to get a tourer soon, I could get a bamboo one! Who makes them, I can’t make out from that photo?

What is the environmental cost of carbon fibre?
What is the most environmentally friendly frame material?
Anyone know?

The anti car revolution is so necessary, and when it happens, it will be glorious. I’ve thought about setting up the HLA: the Human Liberation Army, as a vanguard guerilla movement.

And just above that, some handcuffs for after the spannering is done.

EDIT: whoops, perhaps some bad word choice there…

What are the environmental costs of carbon fibre? Its plastic isn’t it, essentially? Is it in any way sustainable?

My guess is that steel is the most sustainable, and probably requires the least energy to manufacture (lower heat, etc).

I would love to hear what an engineer/materials expert thinks is the least environmentally destructive material to build a bike from.

If you ‘take a curb at speed’ on your commuter, i’m not surprised it bucks and leaps into the air! Learn to bunnyhop on a hardtail, sized properly for you by people that know what they are doing, either experienced bike friends or a bike shop. Knee problems will probably not be helped much by a full susser, more by correct riding position, spd/flat position, saddle height etc.

TJ, that’s great to hear. It sounds like you are trying to be a positive change in the world. That’s awesome.

I agree with RudeBoy here. All too often people are keen to point out the terrible environmental destruction caused by this that or the other: be it mtbers, plastic bags, plane flights, etc. But, when it comes down to it, to the real nitty gritty, in your face, brutal truth, how many of you do anything about all that?

TJ, do you drive your car to get to all these amazing mtb trails that are eroding away? If so, then I would, politely, ask you to, ahem, shut up and put your money where your mouth is. Do you fly to the Alps or Spain for your summer fun?

Its all very well getting angry about people being unsustainable or environmentally ignorant, but until you actually do something about your own lifestyle and practices, then you are in little position to preach.

I have no car, don’t drive, nor fly. I shop locally and am a vegetarian. But I pollute, I buy things, bike parts, newspapers, etc. I am no eco saint, I am a consumer like the rest of us here, and that means I royally **** the environment up. Maybe we should think about environmental matters in a much more holistic manner. It’s harder to do, and asks real questions of us, but at least it would address the real problems with our lifestyles.

I love my Wahwahs, they are excellent. Really grippy, good pin design and feel lovely under foot.

I logged onto STW a few minutes ago to ask just this question dobo, and what should I see, but that it had already been asked!

This forum helps lots of people and is a great resource.
Thanks everyone.

Its a car. Essentially, it is a planet destroying, cyclist murdering tool.
Offer to give the bloke a £197 bike instead, that’s what I reckon.

Wahey! I’m going this year for the first time with my mate!
However, I’m a bit worried by all this beer training that seems to be taking place. I don’t drink at all, will I be allowed in? If I don’t fall off my bike in a drunken stupor, is it considered bad form?

Cotic Simples are the best ss frames, so much fun. I love mine!

Flats FTW!
Sorry…couldn’t resist

I’ve rounded the spindles off before, it seems such an obviously bad design. Splines make loads more sense to me.

Anyone have any opinions on other cranks?

I’ve had the Simple for over a year now, sorry.
Thanks BigJohn, I didn’t realise they made them to order, that is impressive. I definitely don’t want square taper thats for sure though.

I’m sure you’ll manage it Cy. I would just like to say that I love the ride of my Simple, it is just wonderful. If I ever decide to get a full sus, I will get a Hemlock. If I break my Simple, I will buy another in a flash. I might be getting a roadrat in a few months. Cy and Cotic have been a pleasure to deal with in emails, forums, and in the riding.
Thankyou Cy.

No, units were right. Thats for a jump, not a drop though. Drops with trannies about two, two and half metres. I weigh about 70kg with all my riding stuff, so I’m not a big guy. Likewise, I ride BMX so think I’m pretty smooth.

I’ve got a simple, and ride dh tracks often. Its no problem for it. I don’t do the massive jumps or drops, but I do anything smaller than say, three, three and a half metres, so reasonably big. My simple has air pikes set to 120mm, xm819s and a short stem, and it feels great.

So go for it, you’ll have a blast!

s8tannorm, I think solo is perfectly viable, and not stupid at all. You will meet lots of Bolivians and other travellers. I will repeat, as a warning, though, that the areas you would be travelling through are extreme, but there are often people about in what at first seems to be wilderness, so if you do get into trouble, you might be less alone in most areas than you would be in the highlands.

A steel hardtail would be great. Seeing as you will need to carry everything for cooking/sleeping, you can’t really go with a full sus, which is a shame as it will be rough in places. Try and limit your gear to two panniers so you can have front suspension. Definitely get a steel frame, as it could be welded anywhere if it cracks or whatever. I can’t really imagine you’d have any problems. There’ll always be a friendly Bolivian to help.

When you do go, please post up your experiences, as I’m sure they will be a great read!

Yes, I have. I worked as a mountain bike guide in La Paz. The whole country is incredible, so beautiful, wild. I worked for a company called B Side Adventures. Most of the guiding was on “The World’s Most Dangerous Road”, but we also took people down Chacaltaya and on some choice singletracks, including the one Cedric Gracia rode in NWD7 or 8, can’t remember which. Those are well worth doing, and can be done as day trips from La Paz.

As for cycling north to south, I thoroughly recommend it. I haven’t done it myself, but am sure it would be an amazing trip. I would take a mountain bike, as the roads are rough in places and it will be sturdier and easier to get tubes and tyres. Bear in mind also, that Bolivia is a very extreme country. Cycling at 5400m is not easy straight away, so take it easy for a while to aclimatise. Saying that, when you do drop off the Andes to the Pampas, you will drop maybe 4000m in one day, and go from alpine conditions to the edge of the Amazon, which is mind blowing, I tell you! It does mean of course that you will need hot and cold clothes, etc.

Get Hep A and B injections, rabies if you’re paranoid, better get malaria pills and a mozzie net if you really want. I would get tythoid injections too, tetanus. Bring a camera… Visa situation is dead simple, you collect it at the border, for most likely zero hassle. They are simple to renew as well in La Paz. Bolivians are generally great fun, friendly, and helpful. Their Spanish is clear and endearing. Add ‘ito’ and ‘queno’ to everything and you’ll fit right in. I have many friends their now, and can’t wait to go back in a couple of years.

When are you thinking of going?

I have a mate with a Solid dh bike, and he loves it. Obviously this is a completely different bike, but it might be worth a go. The frame price is great compared to so many full sus frames these days.

The SDG I-Beam is one of the greatest innovations in cycling I reckon. Why everyone doesn’t run them, I don’t know. A £50 I-Beam post/bel air combo is far lighter than a Thompson with a ti railed bel air. They are strong and reliable, simple to adjust.

Some people claim to have regularly stripped the plastic grooves off the saddles, but when I was working as a guide in Bolivia, all our bikes were running them. They descended, that’d descended, hundreds of miles a week, with lots of crashes and fat people and sketchy rocky riding, and we never had one break. They are awesome.

What about that gearbox?! Keep your hardtail (though it looks nice) I’m interested in gearboxes? Are you building a frame for the Suntour box Brant?

Thanks everyone,

I_did_dab, can’t quite see who that works, does it not put a lot of levering forces through the fixings and the crank?

I started riding with a bike that was about a size to big for me, as that was all I had. It was rubbish trying to learn stuff on, but I did, and ragged it. Getting a new bike, that was a nice, chuckable size for me was a revelation. I do ride BMX too, so maybe that was partly a factor.

I will say though, that if you are facing two sizes, one slightly too big the other slightly too small, I would go for the slightly too small on every time.
Good luck finding a nice bike, and enjoy it when you do!

Thanks for the opinions everyone. I’ve decided to buy the Kona Wahwahs because they are thin and cheap, Steve Jones likes them (I think he’s ace) and they look fine. Think I’ll save the difference for something else.
Really appreciate everyone who proffered their opinions, ta.

I was just looking at Easton Cullys too, they look pretty good. They have grub screw pins, but any opinions on these?

Thanks for your help everyone.
Its great to hear advice from people who have used the various pedals.

Thanks very much everyone.
I thought to myself “oh loads of WC riders use the Burgtecs, maybe I’ll splash out on them.”
But I think I’d be better saving the money clearly. Do any of you with experience of them know about their reliability in the mud?
Clearly I should think less.

Sorry Dusty Lilac, didn’t realise this topic had been done, I did a search and couldn’t find anything really.
Whats so good about the Straitlines then?

Sorry…

My Cotic Simple is just like the name says, simple. Beautifully so. I also ride BMX and appreciate the simplicity of it, the direct ride, with 120mm Pikes, and loads of bunnyhopping, pumping and hauling the bike around, I don’t believe I could have more fun. I recently tried SPDs on my bike. And they made me ride like an XCer, just rolling over things, not properly riding the bike, being involved in the ride.
Hardtails are ace.