Rub this into your chamois?

I built up an awesome Dave Lloyd CATS WISKAS a few years ago… I soon started breaking bits and decided that one of us was too old for proper mountain biking 😆

I love looking at old bikes but I would not let me ride them (except my 1995 Kona Explosif but that’s because I’m trying to break it 😈 … again… 😈 ).

I’ve ridden Carn a Mhaim, it gets a bit narrow and gnarly in places.

I enjoyed that, thanks for sharing 8)

I fancy a change sometimes too… good thing my Helius AM is so versatile 8)

I doubt you would go far wrong with either option but once you’ve owned a Nicolai it’s very easy to become a devotee (this is my third Nicolai… in 8 years 😉 ).

I’ve had this two years and so far there is nothing I’ve seen I would change it for… if I had the money I would simply pimp it a bit more to drop the weight.

Quite a few BMX threads lately 😀

Which sisters jeans?

There is a big thread about these on MTBR… I’d be very tempted to give them a whirl (on a hub of your own choice).

Light Bicycle Carbon Rims

Edit – comment to say that many of the ebay etc carbon wheels I’ve looked at have crap/heavy/unknown hubs for which spares could be a problem… this way you can choose your own.

what about going from aviemore to benmacdui and descend to braemar? then sleep in braemer and the day after get back to aviemore…. does it make sense? which trails should I follow ?

I’ve done this… I live nearer Braemar so we go the other way starting from the Linn of Dee and staying at Glenmore Lodge (or in Aviemore). Another reason we do it this way is that it’s surprisingly far between Braemar and the Linn of Dee on knobbly tyres 🙁

Last time anyone mentioned Macdui in Singletrack it ended up in a 10 page epic thread save-the-cairngorms-from-singletrack

My way of riding this and enjoying it is to travel light… I’m talking credit card light. The climbs and carry’s are killers and the descents are brutal so it would not be much fun if your carrying loads of gear (I realise other people think different to me but you’ll not be riding the descents with panniers or a big rucksack on, and even travelling light this route is two long days out).

It’s an epic route in many ways and it’s one we plan and do spur of the moment if the weather is good… with the weather we are having this year I don’t think I’ve seen two suitable days in a row all summer 😕

If I haven’t put you off enough and you want more info send me an email. No gpx files etc as I’m purely old skool map and compass (with my Titanium and Carbon fibre)… 8)

It’s because ‘ex mountain bikers’ have a distinct advantage on a road bike the minute the road points downhill, due to their bike handling skills.

That’s what ITV4 keeps telling me anyway.

Why do they keep saying that? I’ve been a mountain biker for years and I can assure everyone that my bike handling skills on trail or tarmac are frankly pitiful.

Ex world champ mountain bikers tend to be rather good bike handlers… you can fill this bit in about yourself and how much/little you actually ride and what that says about how good a bike handler you are really… not in your head but really 🙄

Experience from my group is that you’ll need the spare wheels for when your rinkydinkydreamwheels are away to Mavic getting fixed… and prepare for a shock when you find out how much it is to replace the rim you just dinged 😯

What would I do? Buy another pair of Hope Flow’s so I can swap between my identical wheels in a matter of seconds (same disc’s etc), one set running lighter tyres for more XC riding… which I actually keep on my other bike… it’s genius I tell you.

If you’ve made your Flow rims last 1-1/2 years your doing good… I destroyed one of mine after two weeks. So I threw my old wheel on and rebuilt it with another Flow one evening while enjoying a beer… try that with your rinkydinkydreamwheels.

I’ll need to do another rim swap soon and I’m quite tempted to try one of these smell-the-carbon… good comments so far on mtbr, and a substantial weight saving.

I liked mine, great fun bikes 8)

I had 120-150mm U-turn forks, IMHO 130 was spot on, 150mm (or longer) and the bottom bracket became a bit high and it felt a little ponderous (IMHO etc etc).

It’s quite a light frame for it’s travel so a lightish build is quite easy to attain if you spec cleverly. Wheels being (as always) the best place to lose wight (within limits of course). Tyre clearance is MAHOOSIVE so pretty much any tyre will fit – I liked it with 2.2″ Conti Rubber Queens.

Short stem and wide bars for fun. I ran this 18″ with a 70mm stem at first but prefered it with a 45mm stem (both with 745mm wide bars).

This build was about 26-27lbs which meant the 1×9 drivetrain worked well.

The Reverb was a later addition; it was fine with a normal post although the QR did need to be done up tight which sounds to be a common complaint.

Is it just me or does that mech look like it is not sitting correct.

It looks like it’s “pinged” past the “stop” which keeps it in the right position.

More like this in that the funky star shaped mech bolt should sit below the main frame to mech bolt.

Nice, my wee boy has a Mongoose 8)

Budha smiles when I have any of my bikes in the garden 8)

I’ve also had a smoked lager on tap from Brewdog which was interesting.

Wiggo seems a bit like Indurain in that he doesn’t do accelerations… he keeps the big diesel chugging over and grinds away.

Perhaps Sean Yates had one two many Pernod’s at lunch and was slurring into the mic?

i reckon the clutch mechs and no chain device at would work for most general xc riding/ peaks /lakes etc, not sure about full on downhill…

You can’t run a clutch mech on 1×9 as the clutch mechs are new and hence for 1×10 only 🙄

For a Soul running 1×9 a top only type guide is probably all you need. The superstar one is cheap and works for most people (the E13 and MRP versions are better(er)… but more costly).

Cheap enough that if it doesn’t work for you ebay will get most of your pennies back as other folk are happy to try them.

That is cool… bunnet off to the man.

XTR because I’m worth it*
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*very old and tired M960 XTR which needs to be done up really tightly as the splines are a bit worn.

Sparkling water seems to stop any evening drink cravings… Rock n Roll

Try a proper soft drink, this’ll help. “It’s fine to drink even if your pregnant coz it’s got fruit juice in it and everyfink*”

* overheard on a bus… may not be true

Thomas Voeckler is, apparently, one of the morst unpopular riders in the peloton.

Is he unpopular because their wives talk about his tongue?

Was there a performance problem with your current shock that your trying to fix with the Push upgrade, or is it classic upgradeitus?

A custom tune is a custom tune, and a Push custom tune is only an ugrade on a custom tune if the Push gubbins is actually doing something inside the shock which is of benefit. From what I remember of the two Push upgrades I’ve had the reason for TFT reccomending them is that because of the particular issues I was having with “packing down” on repetative hits the Push system allows more oil to flow and improves this aspect of the shocks performance.

A custom tune improves what you think is wrong with the shock if you give the tuner the right information/feedback. Buy a new shock and your starting from baseline settings, which may or may not suit you… which is the right thing to do?

So… how do you think the performance of your old shock could be improved? Will a new shock with it’s bells and whistles do this or would tuning the old one be better?

Edit – reread the first post. It’s a 2005 shock so 7 years old, and it’s a 165 eye to eye so probably on a shorter travel type bike. Shock sophistication may not give huge benefits in this type of application (IMHO etc etc) so get a standard service (or custom tune if you think it’s worth it) but if the tuner tells you the shock is tired by a new one.

DMR Revolver hub used to have a screw on disc adapter

I go to the local skate park at lunchtimes unless it’s the school holidays 😥

Check out your local skate park or shop and speak to the folks there, you might find that one evening tends to be when the older riders hang out.

Excuse the crap photo but this is what I got for my 40th and where I take it some lunchtimes… not during the school holidays though 😥

I was advised by friends who I used to BMX with back in the day (and who still ride and own the local specialist BMX shop 20twenty[/url]) that the best way to choose a BMX is by colour or brand/rider allegiance. Top tube length becomes an issue if your very tall but at 6ft I as advised not to bother with a longer one… you’ll get used to whatever you get.

Mine’s a FIT Brian Foster… Brian is a hero of mine and we share the first name 😉

Jones’d M960 XTR crank, 32t Homebrew ring, E13 LG1+ guide.

Whyte 146 will be available with XX1

Specialized S-Works Enduro, Epic and Stumpy hardtail will be available with XX1

I think we will see a lot of bikes appearing (in brochures and on the interweb) with XX1 over the next few months… the more I see it the more I like it.

Avoiding refined sugar is the key for me… which is easy as I’m not much of a cake muncher but I do have to take care with certain foods that have a hidden/surprise high sugar content.

Beer/alcohol on a nice day is my downfall sometimes causing near instant sneezing fits and red dripping eyes… sometimes I just have to MTFU and live with the risk.

More XX1 information dribbling out.

drool[/url]

i though the 721 and the flows have the same rim width?

Don’t know… but your comparing apples and pears… A Flow rim is a ~480g AM type rim where a 721 is a 580+g DH rim.

If you want all out strength the 721 will have it at a weight penalty, whereas a Flow may well be strong enough and has the advantage of being considerably lighter… which of the two you are willing to compromise on is up to you 🙄

Flows are a great compromise rim imo. Lightweight, wide, tubeless and reasonably strong.

Only point I was making there is that people read a lot into the absence of eyelets but in reality, is it such an issue? Wheelbuilder mate of mine puts it thusly: “It’ll definately mean they don’t last as long- but then if they’re being used right you’ll kill them way before that’s an issue”

These^^^

What I like about Flow’s compared with Mavic options are the extra width; running wide tryes on the wider Flow rim means I can run less pressure than on Mavic’s skinny rims before I get the dreaded squirm. The extra width of the tyre given by the wider rim and clever profile also help protect the rim from some damage… that’s not to say I haven’t destroyed Flow rims (I have)… but I think the width and profile go some way to make up for the reduced strength of the Flow rim vs Mavic options. Until I felt the benefits of the extra width I was a Mavic devotee… but Mavic have dropped the ball by not producing wider rims (IMHO etc etc).

A better Kitchen 😡

XC… Post slightly higher due to spd’s.

As Northwind says, my Mmmbop was best at 130-140mm. The fork being 160mm travel is not a problem as long as the frame is designed to work with it, a frame which can take a long fork but rides like poop with one is another kettle of fish… 😉

I wasn’t saying the OP at 6’2″ should ride a 17″… I was saying that at 6′ I ride a 17″… Which I did for indicative sizing awareness to help the OP make an informed decision.

Sheesh 🙄

PS. I had an Mmmbop with Revs before the Troof, it was nice but I didn’t like the fork flex and I eventually broke them. The 160mm 36’s and the Troof are my xc bike for a reason.

160mm forked hardtails are for downhill only.

Nope. My Troof is my xc bike… frame weighs less than a Soul, fork weighs less than a Pike… hustle’s along the trail just fine, and when your at the doonhall you can unleash the Beast 😈

I prefer my Lusso shorts to all my others (Assos included) – and they are made in the UK 😉

I bought some of the shorter ones for the winter but I’m still using them… grrrrr.

32″ waist (with thighs like Hoy) and the mediums are fine with the belt done tight.

Part of the fun, the downside is the extra faffing and cleaning up time involved.

I’d rather be riding dry trails but given the choice of mud or no riding I’ll be the one with a mud filled grin on my face.

Sometimes I’ll take a rigid SS out and go blast wet fireroads to avoid the worst of the mud (and prevent cutting up trails), but usually I just go with whatever I think is most suitable for where I want to ride that day.

If however you are just doing it to avoid tax then you shouldn’t be!!

HOWEVER it is for contractors not disguised employees!!

I know a few folk who went contractor because some large companies (HR departments run by muppets) are unable to offer sufficient remuneration by other means…