yep, a great weekend!

Ade – would have loved to have seen that Preston… next time! And why did we spend so long in the tug of war for 2nd place?? I didn't even get a bottle of a small child!

Just one thing that I've been wondering about for the last few days: in the bag of goodies, where they trying to send subliminal messages by including gear cables?

M&S do some of their shirts in 2" longer body and sleeves (for the collar size).

It's not a continuous outer for the rear… bars to down tube, then another under the BB to the right side chainstay, then from the chainstay to your rear mec.

Front mec, you need to be careful, as there isn't much space on the little bit of tube to mount it. top swing, bottom pull is what you need.

less than 2 week to go till I go 8)

:idea: Go see your GP

There's always things to grumble about on a bike, but that's just the way it is.

You should be able to use Shimano, or Hope external BBs. I'm not sure about replacement bearings…

Craig, I also had (have in a box right behind me, ready to sell) a Spec enduro from 2004. I liked it, but got too much into the whole singlespeed thing, and don't like the way a 4-bar does power squats with singlespeed style pedalling technique – one of the things that I like about the Orange is the way it doesn't mind the brute force pedal mashing.
I've not really noticed the rear brake doing anything strange to the back end of the Orange, but then I haven't taken it anywhere near it's limits yet!

Got the frame and forks from Orange (via LBS – thank you Freewheel!) the wheels and a few other bits were from the last bike, the rest was new and collected over a few months finding as many offers as possible!

I Didn't really test that many others, but knew what I wanted from a new bike. just waiting for 5 weeks time! for proper Alpine riding :D

I wouldn't choose another :twisted: the Alpine is the only one for me

there may be some more pics posted up if I ever get round to taking any more…

got mine built up by my LBS about 2 years ago. Very nice they are too.

got another week to wait for mine :cry:
but then it's bike time :D

haha yea, not quite 5mins to set up… that is unless you have your router and airport express wired together with network cable.
from memory 8O for a wireless connection:

connect the 2 together with a network cable, and go through the set up, as join an existing network.
go back into the airport utility
change the wireless settings so it connects to your netgear router, as 'join a wireless network'
put your WEP password in with a # at the start. *edit may be a $*
re-boot the airport express and it should* all work!

I'll have a quick look and see if I can find a better guide for you.

The only problem with 'stuttering' I've had was when the wireless connection to my macbook wasn't too brilliant – the stage where the connection strength makes surfing the net a pain.
I've not had a problem with surfing taking up too much of the bandwidth for he music…

The airport express was 'interesting' to set up with the netgear router I'm using, but possible :)

Time pedals here too, I've also had crank bros pedals in the past and found them similar in their ability to save my knees.
I've had shimano pedals in the past with same cleat position and shoe as with the Time/CB pedals and they did my knees in.
As above though, check they are set up right for how you pedal now.

right, that's it! I'm never cleaning my bike! :lol:

good stuff! :D I would have thought if it's one of the seals on the lever, it should with the lever seal kit. You've got me worried about mine now!
Thinking about it, the only time I broke a hope lever was on the really old "pro" lever on a set of C2s where I got a lovely swinging all over the place lever blade! :lol:

something like this from the Hope site?

don't think so. normal headset for an Alpine.
would you like to buy a (2nd hand) King headset that would fit?

fontmoss, was that me?? Sunday morning?
I shall email you tomorrow.

thank you Sheldon, and the Knights.. was a great weekend :D

If you would like a nice big guided route round the bridleways between Burton Joyce, Southwell and the rolling countryside/Trent valley between, Tonyas challenge[/url] may be worth a look?
my regular stomping ground…

after too long living in the middle of Nottinghamshire, I've come to the conclusion that it is worth the hassle of the hour+ drive…
Yes there is Sherwood Pines, Bestwood and all the muddy bridleways you can shake a bike at, but there is alot better stuff not too far away.
Dark Peak & Cannock as you've said already. Dalby forest isn't that far either…

got a copy of Stroud – Engineering Mathematics if you like, but postage isn't going to be the cheap!
might have a few other engineering text books sitting about??

Southgate tube station?

not really unknown, just unnoticed.

got bought a pint by my dad on my 18th :D

just built up my Alpine 160 :D

acorlett – hadn't really thought about it! I've got the frame/fork/headset as one at the moment, willing to sell that as a unit, or split if you just want the frame…
I also have a Thomson post to go with the frame, and an LX front mec if you would like those as well??
I've just had a look through the classifieds and the frames seem to be going for around £200 posted?? is that ok

Let me know (mjc113 at hotmail dot com), and I can sort out pics!

thought it might be the case.
I've not used mine much in the last 2 years, so if someone else does want an xl enduro frame…

I want to sell my XL Enduro frame… it's 2004 one so a bit less travel and more xc than the recent ones.
It's got pikes and a CK headset at the moment.

I've done it once, doing it again – I'm going off for a week with Bike Verbier in July… :D

As has been said above, its all about the others that are there at the same time. My trip out there last summer I defiantly didn't feel like it was a holiday on my own.

There may be something helpful on the Hope Website ??

page 12/13 may help??

aaah forgetting myself, been a few years since I sold my C2s…
seem to remember it was one of the magic ways for removing stuck pistons, just got the wrong brake :oops:

trackpump 8)

yup, 20" frame, and I'm 6'4". If your around the same height you may need a longer seat post…
Time scale from Orange is just a case of if it's not out somewhere else when you want to test it, and a day or two to get it couriered out to the shop.

Its a bit strange going from a longer TT and rigid 29er to the Alpine. Great fun to throw about :) It was very confident on the downs (trying to follow someone last summer around Verbier showed this).
The front end is quite high, and found it had a little bit of a wonder on the ups (I'm getting a TALAS on the front of mine to shorten it for then) but still very capable and sure-footed – my legs gave up before it did.
It's no xc bike for sure, but will happily go for the big days out.

Frame colour: Plasma Blue with white forks, and mostly black kit to be put on. I'll post up a pic or two when it gets built up. :D

@misterfrostie no chance!!! :lol:
tbh, my LBS sorted out a test bike direct from Orange for me :)
Worth the wait to get a ride on the right size bike. I took it out for a big day in the Dark Peak, so I know how it rides there.
If you can't find anyone near Leeds, wait for Stif to borrow one from Orange (it'll be worth it) but the Alpines do have a very similar set up to a Five.

my Alpine frame is sitting in it's box all wrapped in bubble wrap at my LBS, after just being delivered from Orange :D

really sorry though, it's the right size, but not that near Leeds…

yep, TN719s work well, and have done on my bike for about 20 months now.

why didn't I get given that flier?? :cry:

please go along and support. It's local charity for me, and I'm helping somewhere…

dizcostix I'm using the stainless steel one – its only just gone, with a bit of grit in the non-drive side, the drive side is still fine.

it's been on a singlespeed with xt cranks if that's any use??

Yes, I think so.
Mine has lasted 18 months, and is just now in need of a new set of bearings…