Loco – would that be RLC? Was RC2 available with the Float?

I’d probably go with what loco says though as he knows his onions… but you won’t be getting them cheap 😕

Sorry legend

I’m very torn myself. I rode with guys in Phoenix last year who swore by Avalanche stuff… their trails are very rough, rocky and long so dampers get a very hard time in the desert heat. Main reason I haven’t bitten yet myself is after breaking my 160mm travel hardtail the 36’s are reduced to 130mm and on am Mmmbop so the wallow issue is greatly reduced. The 55’s are on the big bike where the 36’s used to be… but where they would be with the Avy kit, but I can’t put the 55’s on the mmmbop as they can’t be shortened. Until I find a replacement for the stopgap Mmmbop I’m not going to faff too much with my forks.

PS – I’m tight. My 36 RC2’s were second hand and my 55 RC3 Ti’s were very cheap – I like 1.5″ steerers 😉

Sorry if I confused. The 36 lost a chunk of weight with the 2009/2010 version – as I said after that it’s marginal gains. I would try to buy from that age onwards either an R or RC2 and see what YOU think.

Before I bought my 2009/2010 36 RC2 I spoke to Mojo and Stendec. Stendec prefered the open bath as they were more tweakable (by them). Mojo prefered the FIT as they considered it a better system which has more user adjustment. I found the RC2 FIT okay as long as I don’t adjust it too much as it screws things up as the low/high speed interfere with each other too much. Which is why I want to ty the Avalanche.

PS. I also have a Marz 55 RC3 Ti which is a better fork in many ways but is 250g heavier… worth it at the moment but would the Avalanche turn the tables????

I’d love to try the Avalanche Racing Fox 36 Open Bath Cartridge Kit

I think it’s 2009/2010 pre turning the FIT upside down when they were as good as they get. After that there is marginal gain (Kashima and inverted FIT are marginal gain I believe… MOJO advised me not to bother upgrading).

When you find the cracks in your Alpine 160 you’ll know it’s time to change 🙄

Most important thing is get the CORRECT SIZE[/u] of frame/bike… easiest spot the noob ever is seeing the guy struggling with the frame thats too big.

Building up a bike from a frame is a lot of fun, and it’s possible to build something amazing or a right-old-dog.

PS – of the three you mention I would Soul. 160mm forks on a hardtail are not for many riders – IMHO/IMHE etc… It’ll be a long time until (if ever) you need the extra ability offered by the Shan. The 27.2 seatpost on the Stanton limits the dropper post and for that reason I would be out.

That look is concentration… it’s hard to tell in that picture but he is actually travelling from right to left and has pulled off half of a frontflip-nofoot-360-combo.

Local Asda had some very good deals recently. I went for the Laphroaig Quarter Cask and an Aberlour for myself… but was very tempted by the Ardmore which would also suit your requirements.

Hold the handrail when on the stairs.

binners
Can we soon expect most men in certain areas to be strolling around the isles in Tesco in hello kitty PJ’s and Ugg boots then?

I hope so, looks very comfy… but I could do without having to put the fright mask on.

Edit. Mens pyjamas will offer loads of opportunity for “fallout”

Vic and Bob did that look years ago.

I should have added… neither is me… just a funny doing the rounds.

Having read all that it’s time for some light relief.

A couple of layers of this as big as you need. If the split is big/gaping then stitch and glue as required. Superglue is fine on the outside and use normal vulcanising solution on the inside. Works a treat for me and I regularly slice sidewalls 🙄 .

It’s not steel but Mmmbop*

*Note – this is STW; there are very questions about cheap secondhand hardtail frames to which the answer is not “Mmmbop” (and with very good reason).

Prefer Fentimans to Fevertree, to Schweps, to Asda/etc.

Will look for Mahon Gin, and the 6 0-clock Gin and tonic, always happy to try new stuff 😉

Monkey47 is lovely, if you like that try Deathsdoor and Coldriver which are my “blown away by” favourites… but I’m happy with most others too 8)

Secondhand xtr crank
Gusset staff stem
Mtzoom/kinesis-strutt/exotic 740mm carbon bars
silent guide – or any guide with NO moving parts
Rubber queens

I miss my Troof.

SRAM X0 Carbon crank (or X9/AKA) and MRP Bling Ring (Homebrewed components also do a ring if you can stand the wait/alleged-lottery).

Second hand Mmmbop… many components cost more.

Fashion is a fickle thing. 8 years ago all the dirt jump kids where sticking 24″ wheels on their bikes and raving about how brilliant it made them feel.

Some interesting comments at the bottom of that link… but they only thing they can agree on is that they disagree.

If one size of wheel was faster/better than all the rest it would be obvious at the races and on the trails… but it’s not. I think the biggest difference most riders feel when trying a 650b (or 29 or whatever) bike is the joy of relearning old skills on a new bike… if the industry does indeed have us all on 650b’s in 5 years; will they in 10 years be raving about how manouverable the new crop of 26″ wheeled bikes are?

New bikes feel ace… go buy a new bike and feel the difference 🙄

Conspiracy theory… everytime I click on a 29er thread Match.com is showing me blokes. The horror.

I ran Mavic 823’s for three years and they were bombproof, but weigh a freekin ton. Since going to Flow rims I have had to rebuild my wheels more and have dented rims half the time but the bike is so much better feeling. The trade off for the lighter rim is worth it in my book… and as a result I’ll recommend the Flow rim as it’s what I use for the riding you describe.

I’m awaiting delivery of some Wider Carbon rims from China which have the dimensions of a Flow but weigh 363g each… there were some the same built into wheels on the clasifieds the other day for a good price (if your willing to try 24 spokes Here ).

I dunno, I just get a load of trout pouts from zoosk in mine.

Ah, maybe it was zoosk… but it switched gender.

Never mind the “clown-wheel” jibes… since I’ve started searching for info on 29er’s the Match.com advert at the side has changed from pictures of women to blokes… what is this trying to tell me?… read into that what you will 😉

@ Candodavid that could be the frame that pulls me over to the clown-wheel side… it looks lush 😀

Learn to enjoy being bored.

Botanist is my favourite uk gin. i find blackwoods and most orhers overly sweet.
From the USA
Aviation – touch of anaseed which makes it interesting and worth trying.
Deathsdoor – expensive but amazing… gin to the power of gin
Cold River – sherbet, makes an interesting G&T but on its own its very special.

This is a few years old now but it’s still my go to:

http://www.anthembmx.com/

If you have a dig around there and on the Facebook page they answer all the obvious questions asked in great detail… it looks to be a very well though out product.

Wow, lots of folk have bought into this: they wanted $15,000 and have nearly $60,000 pledged with five days to go.

Looks like a great way to fund a project… although perhaps not as TV friendly as Draggons Den.

My Chinese carbon rims are in the country… 🙂

Santa arrived early.

All I had to do was pop one wheel and the pedals on… and the threads were already greased 8)

ir_bandito’s link is awesome 8)

Doesn’t bother me and I’m a fussy bu**er who can tell when any of the bushings are loose or other things are wrong with the bike.

It means nothing. It’s just a way of reminding us all they are there in the lead up to Christmas; we will tell our families about the 10% off and they get us bike kit from CRC rather than socks and chocolate from the local shops… marketing 101.

Mavic for building. Stans for riding. I prefer the eyelets and stength of a Mavic to build, but give me the width and lighter weight of a Stans for riding. I wish Mavic would WAKE UP and build/sell wider rims (without having to buy into their wheel sets).

DT spokes used to be best to build with as they were better finished; not sure if this is still the case.

Super light spokes and alloy nipples are good for race/posing wheels IMHO. If you do this and use them hard your looking at a rebuild in 1/2/3 years… which might not be a bad thing with a Stans rim anyway.

If you want a long lasting wheelset and don’t mind the extra weight go Mavic with DT Super Comp and Brass. If you want weight weenie and are willing to rebuild a bit earlier then go with your plan.

FWIW – I ride with the lighter and wider Stans now as I like the feel. I know the rims are weaker and won’t last as long as a Mavic but I’ll live with that compromise. The next wheels I build will have carbon rims… wish me luck 😕

Have you looked at the new Whyte 29er?

Poor me!