I had the Tractive tune on my Spesh Enduro.

It did a great job of providing some platform to squeeze into.

Before the tune, if I squeezed through my feet through a corner the suspension would by pass the middle of the stroke and give a mushy sensation.

With the tune I could dig the rear end into corners where a tauter mid stroke would then push back, propelling the bike out of the corner.

Overall suspension response was improved. The bike tended to habg up less aggresively on very hard square edge hits, rode ncely at the sag point and had tenacious grip when climbing techy trails.

I was impressed and happy.

Recently bought an Evil Follow MB, found the rear very difficult to find the sweet spot.

Called TF Tuned to pick their brains on the Tractive for the Evil.

Spoke to a very negative guy, said it was more trouble than it was worth, didn’t and couldn’t seem to quantify that statement. He just said fit an Ohlins coil.

I’ve been a fan of TF for years, appreciated their help and input on many things over that time but to be told to buy a £750 shock that doesn’t come in the required size was disappointing.

I am now in an awkward position, I have a positive experience with a previous Tractive tune, would like another but have no faith in the providers of the Tractive tune…. basically I don’t want my shock worked on by the guy I spoke to…. ever.

Seems a shame but one guy has undermined many years of good service and made it difficult fot me to figure out what to do next.

So to sum up…. I liked my previous Tractive, would like another but won’t risk my shock going to Mr Grumpy and Unhelpful.

Or me…. if GKW doesn’t go for it post back on here and i’ll email you.

Chances of it going ahead are somewhat in the air I guess but fingers crossed.

Some mad crazy recommendations there for a bike that is going to be running a Revelation fork aka crap, especially for an XL size rider. Is going to be used mainly for school guiding and will be left in the school store.

Seriously, go buy a second hand anything that fits.

Boost or non boost is irrelevant, just bung non boost wheels in it with adaptors.

Oh yeah, try and forget that you won’t like 29er, it’s ideally suited to hardtail for guys who’s old bones are aching.

Sounds like fit.

I’ve been trying lots of the LLS geo bikes of late and they are just plain bloody awful in the recommended sizes.

Been causing me much discomfort.

Can you shorten one down, I’m talking the virtual top tube length.

For me it is still a vital measurement to get right as sitting on the bike pedalling is still the position I spend most of my time in.

I prefer that shorter with wide bars.

This takes pressure off the hands and wrists.

Good luck fettling, it’s crap when riding is marred by pain.

Did nothing for me.

John I’m going to Nick that.

Just to confirm what’s being said really.

53 very soon and currently the best I’ve ever been.

I’m not a natural but I do enjoy the challenge and work on both fitness and technical skills on every ride.

Going out when I simply don’t fancy it helps, pretty much never regret it.

As said above, manage your expectation, improvement is incremental.

Just get a Frontier.

Love my Transmitter but it’s first job is to be a great trail HT.

It is fine for xc and bike packing but if that were to be it’s only roll, I’d get the Fronteir.

I’d love to hear your views on the Storia too.

Are they hitting the spot, do you need to bleed them on a regular basis, etc etc.

I want one but I’m not a fan of parts that are needy, I want to fit it and never think about it again.

£1000 Is a s##t lot of money to be dropping on a shock.

Many thanks.

Shut up.

Buy the Frontier.

Go ride.

Sorted.

Steel is real………. heavy, overpriced, overrated blah blah blah.

I suspect that the chainstay is what restricts the size of the chainring.

It amazes me the gearing on modern bikes. The geometry and suspension kinetics are such that bikes climb extremely well but there is a drive towards ever increasing cassette range matched to ever decreasing chainring sizes.

I have a 50mm wide roll, just tear it to width.

Hadn’t thought about to soaking in sealant but I over jollop anyway.

Will have a butchers at the Tesa stuff, if it needs warming does that mean the adhesive becomes brittle or less sticky at low temperatures?

Has no one had the problem of the Worx not being able to draw the water through properly, as if it needs priming?

Seems to happen a lot for the people that I know that have them.

Curious as I’m on a pump up Hozel that is brilliant and have an unused Worx that I’m loathe to use as I’ll flog it on if the issues the lads are having are unsolved.

Mate has a Mobi thing that has a battery and has been flawless so far this winter.

15,000 miles off road on Gorilla tape, still on the same roll…. gutted to have wasted my money.

Kayak23, you wanna buy a brand new Spesh Enduro frame? Large and in pink!

I’m just not able to live with it so it’s going straight into the paint shop.

How a bike looks is very important to me and I sweat the details and ensure an immaculate build.

Once built they get a kicking.

I was testing a Pivot a few years back, it was blue and I’d have never have bought it in that colour. I absolutely loved riding it, I’d just look at it and drop what I was doing and kit up. So in the end the bike won me over and I ended up thinking it was a corker.

Similar situation to my favourite ex…. might have to have a think about myself, shallow git. Still not riding a pink bike, simply not good enough.

Firstly, building wheels is not a dark art or even particularly difficult.

It’s a process which when carried out correctly using the appropriate materials results in a wheel that suits its application.

I like the Hunts in theory, they customise the hub to give good engagement.

But there is a suggestion that the rims are not that durable… appropriate materials blah blah.

The DTs are decent value, I like a straight pull when it comes to replacing a broken spoke.

The engagement with the 18 ratchet is appalling, all you are doing is spending £350 to upgrade to shite wheels…. makes no sense. Get the 36 ratchet.

You can thank me later.

So they are doing the European leg before the lifts open, seems a shame to do it that way around but I have no clue how the season falls in Canada.

Sounds a great adventure whatever happens.

2017 Enduro 29.

The Rock Shox it came with wasn’t terrible but it tended to collapse through its travel when pushing through my feet in corners etc.

It went for a service and was replaced under warranty as it was knackered inside.

I got the Vorsprung Tractive upgrade done on the new shock, it is excellent. Gives a real platform to push against and rebounds beautifully, more control throughout the stroke… recommended.

I was hoping for a month in the Alps last year so having Vorsprung (yes, I’m a fan) Smashpotted the forks I thought I’d go coil on the rear too.

Got an old Pushed DHX, the Push makes it a really great shock.

Stuck it on with a 600LBS spring and it’s great, struggles with landings off 6ft plus drops if the landings are a bit flat but outside of that it is excellent.

I’m 200lbs a give it a bit of beans.

Rode the S120 a week or so ago.

I wanted to love it but… I simply didn’t.

What people call conservative geometry now days strikes me as the best geo for most riders.

The S120 has Enduro bike geo with 120mm of travel at the back. Kinda pointless. I found it was good in a straightish line with gravity onside but apart from that it was generally hard work.

You could argue it was quick, I was riding winter conditions and still recorded some top 20 times for the year on trails with 3000 riders on them.

But I had to throttle the thing half to death and was shattered, it don’t ride light.

Now because I didn’t love it I’ve gone and ordered a Ripley frame and as such am a grand or so worse off.

The Ripley is mint.

Of the 2 you mentioned, Whyte if you are a fit as speed freak that has the strength to wring it’s elongated neck. Giant for an all round more accessible ride.

I know it’s not always easy but being honest about your own ability is key.

Run them on my bike packer…. fair much better than I could ever have hoped off road and fast on road… love ’em.

I’m around 95kg on the bike, finesse isn’t a comment that often comes up regarding my riding style or the lack of.

Rotors wise I run the Hayes ones that came with the brakes.

Not a single reliability issue, they are on my favourites list as I simply don’t think about them.

Worth mentioning, they are quiet.

I’m running them on my Enduro, fitted late spring I’d guess.

They have been used for many a trail ride, the Tweed Valley so off piste Glentress, Golfie etc in both wet and dry. The Alps, my favourite thing being long descents, Finale for a week.

They have had a pretty thorough workout.

My favourite thing about them is not many people have them so please buy Codes.

Ok, so my actual favourite thing is the consistency, they are predictable which I love. Power is good, far better than Guides and pretty much any Hope I’ve tried. I’d say Saints and Codes are the benchmark and I feel these are in that group, what there is is better modulation which could be interpreted as less power, the lever action is so good though that very little effort is required to access greater power and the feel is spot on.

I coiled the bike front and back before heading off for my summer trips so that helped regarding reducing fatigue on big days and long runs but I absolutely felt the benefit of having good brakes, made a world of difference and has promoted them to one of my favourite items.

Worst thing about them is limited options when buying new pads but I’m sleeping nights so I guess I’m dealing with it.

In short, recommended.

Disclaimer… if you buy them and hate them please don’t blame me as all of the above is subjective. That said feel free to get in touch and I’ll buy them off you.

Enjoy.

I go out in all sorts….. heading out now too.

It needs to be tough, easy bores me.

Lots of great replies there… thanks for taking the time to write them.

Going ahead and looking forward to the challenge.

Cheers

Thanks for the replies.

As someone that has always advocated riders to invest in themselves and not just there kit by getting skills coaching I am pretty set on going ahead with this.

My only concern is that it might take the joy out of riding but I think that is something I’ll just have to gauge as I go and make choices accordingly.

I’m based in the SE and would welcome any recommendations.

Cheers

No air in ‘ere…. all coil now and loving it.

I’ve been having a study up and am wondering if I can branch off the red and fireroad it up to the top of the black so I get the black drop into the final red.

If it turns out they are felling that section then I’ll appreciate the view, slurp some coffee and roll back the way I came…. it’ll beat working.

For me it doesn’t come down to whether it’s harder or more fun.

The difference is in the levels and nature of the fatigue.

I rode W2 at pace on a HT a few years back, it was exhausting, my whole body knew all about it.

I have ridden it at pace many times on a FS, then it is straight up riding effort not the overall body exhaustion that I got on the HT.

That was a 26” wheeled Evil Sov with Hammerschmit and 36s mind…. **** love that thing.

I suspect my Transmitter would be somewhat less knackering.

Why don’t you just do some back to back W2 laps on both and put the HT v FS debate to bed for good….

Thanks for the heads up.

Gutted as I rarely get over that far but took a job on 9th in Haverford West purely to go and do the Red/Black/Red…. Bugger.

Yep… Hope SS.

I’m local to you I believe.

I am loving sliding around BBH, Blean etc at the moment.

Will pull back a bit on certain sections as things get worse but will be out all winter.

Done Bedge a couple of times in the last fortnight, running ok and quite good fun when pushing on.

I also do a bit of mixed riding on a fully rigid, lanes, trails and bridleways.

Have lights too so night ride once a week.

Best bit of kit is my winter boots with neoprene off cuts from a wet suit to stop ingress from the top…. brilliant.

Knowing your local area and adjusting according to conditions is key for me.

Might see you out on the trails at some point.

I just love riding my bikes.

One of the great things about riding is that every ride is different, even the same trails change according to conditions and where my heart, mind and body are at on the day.

I remember a few years back I did a couple of rides around the Dark Peak, then called into Sherwood Pines on the way pass.

Enjoyed The Peaks but welcomed the variation of Sherwood Pines.

One better than the other…. maybe but I enjoyed both.

As for changes in mountain bikes and kit over the years, I try lots and keep what works for me…. no drama.

Be happy people.

You say you are new to this, so.

Which ever one you buy, a few tweaks and 5 rides will mean you are ‘used to it.

Then you can start to figure out what you’d like from your next bike.

If you are thinking you’ll buy this and it’ll be job done you may find you are mistaken.

In 3 years time you’ll have 4 bikes, a divorce and a massive smile on your face.

Welcome to cycling.

I run 2.6 on Flows.

I am not an advocate of going too wide on the rim, it squares off the tyre which I find messes (sp) with the feel especially the transition into corners.

Stans Wide right page has it about plumb I reckon.

Best for a compliant rear was a Cove Hand job.

Best for rip snorting geometry was my Evil Sovereign.

Best hardtail I’ve ever ridden for a combination of feel and geometry is my current Sonder Transmitter with a 2.6 rear tyre with insert inflated to 17psi.

Geometry is king, tyre pressure is key and frame material and built in feel come in 3rd on a modern HT.

All imho.

Jez, I agree.

When having it down any trail anywhere that is not a dedicated mountain bike trail the rider should be aware of other trail users and act appropriately.

If I’m clipping down a Lakes descent and see walkers I take care, if they have a dog I pretty much expect if to change direction at any point.

The rider and their friends were in the wrong for reacting aggressively.

Your friend might well have been able to do more to avoid the incident, that is unclear.

I am constantly saddened by some cyclists attitudes and behaviours and heartened by others.

The same can be said for car drivers, walkers and anyone else I come across while riding.

Try not to become that what you fight against.

Unfortunately the more people that swing a leg over a bike the greater the number of people that act poorly and give the whole a bad rep.

Be ambassadors not arseholes.

More emotional horse shit.

Whether the lad is 10 or 110 makes no odds, back story irrelevant.

What would you have them do, refund everyone that doesn’t ride when booked…. a nice cold rainy day would no doubt see them in the poor house.

Like listening to the **** BBC.

OP go have a word with yourself.

Alpkit Sonder are one of the best companies I’ve ever dealt with period.

On One are not.

The Signal is a cracking bike and the fork is the main component.

Get the Signal with the best fork you can afford.

If you are not worried about Ti then there are some amazing alloy frames that you’ll get great spec on.

The Transmitter with a Pike for example.

Sorry to say it but steel is certainly real, as is the over inflated cost of a steel frame. Sure there are some that ride with some spring but good forks and larger volume tyres mean the ride feel is geometry based over magic dust steel is real. All steel adds at your price point is weight.

For the record, I have a carbon Transmitter, built up myself and it is stunningly good.

I also have steel and alloy HTs.

I use the tool for pushing brake pads back, get it under the bead and them I use the grinder to cut the tyre off.

First thing I’d do if I won the lottery is find a bod to change my tyres for me!

I never go on these mixed guided holidays now.

I dislike too much wet nursing, hate the stubborn old guy on the hardtail and cringe at watching those out of their depth.

Shame as I’m grumpy but social.

But when I go on a riding holiday I like to ride.

Difficult for the guides and guests… and I know that I have been one of the less adept in my time.